SpaceX

Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C lander, named Athena, is prepared for encapsulation inside SpaceX Falcon 9 payload fairings. Beneath the lander are rideshare payloads from Epic Aerospace (front), AstroForge (right), and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (behind). Image: SpaceX via Intuitive Machines Two spacecraft that launched as rideshare payloads on Intuitive Machines’ IM-2 mission are dealing with post-deployment challenges that might put the missions in jeopardy. The Lunar Trailblazer, a Moon-bound spacecraft managed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and Odin, a spacecraft from AstroForge aiming for an asteroid flyby, have both encountered communication issues that are being troubleshooted. Odin, a 120 kg (265 lb) satellite, was the first of the three rideshare payloads that deployed fro...

Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C lander, named Athena, is prepared for encapsulation inside SpaceX Falcon 9 payload fairings. Beneath the lander are rideshare payloads from Epic Aerospace (front), AstroForge (right), and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (behind). Image: SpaceX via Intuitive Machines Intuitive Machines is preparing to head back to the Moon following its first trip a year ago. The company based in Houston, Texas, will send another of its Nova-C class vehicles to attempt a landing no earlier than March 6 and begin a 10-Earth day-long mission. The mission begins with a launch onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket scheduled for no earlier than Feb. 26 at 7:16 p.m. EST (0016 UTC). This is the fourth mission to launch as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) Program. It’s ...

File: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands ready to launch the Starlink 7-14 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base. Image: SpaceX Update 9:08 p.m. EST (0208 UTC): SpaceX landed the booster on the droneship. SpaceX launched the first of two planned Starlink flights over the weekend. Up first was the launch of the Starlink 15-1 mission on Saturday, which carried with it 22 Starlink V2 Mini satellites. Liftoff from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base happened at 5:38 p.m. PST (8:38 p.m. EST, 0138 UTC).  SpaceX used the Falcon 9 first stage booster with the tail number B1082 on this mission, which launched for an 11th time. It previously launched USSF-62, OneWeb Launch 20 and eight batches of Starlink satellites. A little more than eight minutes after liftoff, B1...

Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket stands at Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand, ahead of the launch of BlackSky’s first Gen-3 satellite. Image: Rocket Lab Update 7:16 p.m. EST (0016 UTC): Rocket Lab confirms a successful payload deployment. Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) completed its second Electron rocket of the month and its 60th to date. The flight carried with it the first of BlackSky’s Gen-3 Earth imaging and analytics gathering satellites. Liftoff of the mission, dubbed ‘Fasten Your Space Belts,’ from Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand happened at 12:17 p.m. NZDT on Feb. 19 (6:17 p.m. EST, 2317 UCT on Feb. 18).  “Electron is a trusted and reliable constellation builder for companies like BlackSky, allowing them to be in control of how, when, and where to deploy their constellation,” ...

File: A Falcon 9 rocket stands in the launch position at Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station ahead of the planned liftoff of the Starlink 6-61 mission on Oct. 22, 2024. Image: Adam Bernstein/Spaceflight Now Update Feb. 17, 5:43 p.m. EST (2243 UTC): SpaceX pushed back the launch time. SpaceX is preparing for its first launch that features a booster landing attempt in the midst of The Bahamas. The droneship, ‘Just Read the Instructions,’ is positioned off the coast of the island named Exuma. Liftoff of the Falcon 9 rocket on the Starlink 10-12 mission is set for 6:15 p.m. EST (2315 UTC) on Tuesday, Feb. 18. This will be SpaceX’s 21st orbital launch attempt of the year. Spaceflight Now will have live coverage beginning about an hour prior to liftoff.  Comin...