SpaceX

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket as seen from Central Florida, making its ascent from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Onboard were two WorldView Legion Satellites that will be operated by Maxar Intelligence, a division of Maxar Technologies. Image: Michael Cain/Spaceflight Now Update 7:32 p.m. EST (0032 UTC): SpaceX confirmed deployment of the fifth WorldView Legion satellite. Shrouded in a layer of thick fog Tuesday evening, SpaceX launched the latest pair of WorldView Legion satellites on behalf of Maxar Intelligence, a division of Maxar Technologies. The two satellites launched into a mid-inclination Earth orbit (MEO) following separation from the Falcon 9 rocket. Liftoff of the mission, dubbed Maxar 3 by SpaceX, from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center happened...

Officials from NASA, Boeing, United Launch Alliance and the U.S. Air Force 45th Weather Squadron participate in a prelaunch briefing for Boeing’s Orbital Flight Test at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Dec. 17, 2019. From left are Kathy Lueders, NASA Commercial Crew Program; John Mulholland, vice president and program manager, Boeing Commercial Crew Program; and John Elbon, chief operating officer, United Launch Alliance. Image: NASA/Kim Shiflett A familiar face is once again leading the Starliner development and mission execution work. On Thursday, a Boeing spokesperson confirmed that John Mulholland is back in the role of vice president of the company’s Commercial Crew Program (CCP), which manages work involving the CST-100 Starliner spacecraft. He previously served in the r...

A artist’s rendering of the SpainSat New Generation 1 satellite. Graphic: Airbus Defense and Space SpaceX launched a secure communications satellite on behalf of Hisdesat, a Spanish communications company, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Wednesday night. The SpainSat New Generation 1 (SNG 1) satellite is supported by the European Space Agency (ESA) and manufactured by Airbus Defense and Space. Liftoff of the Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A happened at 8:34 p.m. EST (0134 UTC), the opening of a two-hour window.  The 45th Weather Squadron forecast pretty idiic conditions for liftoff on Wednesday night, forecasting a 95 percent chance of acceptable weather with just thick clouds presenting a possible obstruction. “Overall, launch weather conditions look favorable as ridging aloft an...

NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams inside the vestibule between the forward port on the International Space Station’s Harmony module and Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft. Image: NASA. In a late afternoon post to X, SpaceX founder Elon Musk stirred up some confusion and consternation among the space community. Without any indication ahead of time, Musk suggested that the Crew Dragon capsule, named ‘Freedom,’ may make an early departure from the International Space Station with NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams onboard.  The pair have been on orbit since June 2024 when they arrived on the Boeing Starliner spacecraft as part of the Crew Flight Test mission. Ultimately, NASA made the determination that they would come home on Dragon because of ...

Thermal imaging sensors developed for OroraTech and Spire Global’s OTC-P1 satellites. Image: Orora Technologies A new batch of eight fire detection satellites are getting ready to launch into low Earth orbit in what Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB) described as a “responsive launch.” The dedicated flight is expected to launch from New Zealand in “just a few weeks” and will be the first OTC-P1 satellites deployed on behalf of German company, Orora Technologies (OroraTech). “This launch is a showcase of all the benefits of flying dedicated on Electron: control over schedule, agility and ability to meet tight deadlines and mission requirements, and the reliability of launching on the world’s most frequently launched small orbital rocket,” said Peter Beck, Rocket Lab’s founder and CEO in a statement....