News: SpaceX
Headlines from space publications, linked back to the original articles
- SpaceX CRS-22 delivers new solar arrays & science to International Space Station NASASpaceflight · 3 Jun 2021 The CRS-22 cargo mission to the International Space Station lifted off right on time at 13:29 EDT (17:29 UTC) on Thursday, June 3. The Cargo Dragon 2 spacecraft, carrying the first two of six new solar arrays to the stat...
- SpaceX completes static test-firing for weekend launch Spaceflight Now · 3 Jun 2021 SpaceX ignited a Falcon 9 rocket for a 10-second test-firing early Thursday on a launch pad at Cape Canaveral, clearing a pre-flight check before a mission set to blast off just after midnight Sunday with the SXM 8 radio...
- Axiom Space purchases three Crew Dragon missions SpaceNews · 3 Jun 2021 Axiom Space has signed a contract with SpaceX for three additional Crew Dragon missions, enough to meet its projections for private astronaut missions to the International Space Station through at least 2023.
- SpaceX set for second Falcon 9 launch in 60 hours Teslarati · 2 Jun 2021 Update: After successfully docking Cargo Dragon to the ISS on June 5th, SpaceX is on track to complete its second Falcon 9...
- New solar arrays ready to upgrade International Space Station’s power grid Spaceflight Now · 2 Jun 2021 Two new solar array wings for the International Space Station are packed inside the trunk of a SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule for launch Thursday from the Kennedy Space Center, the first pair of six upgraded roll-out panels...
- DoD space agency to launch laser communications experiments on SpaceX rideshare SpaceNews · 2 Jun 2021 A pair of cubesats built by General Atomics for the Space Development Agency will seek to demonstrate optical communications between satellites, and from satellites to a military drone aircraft.
- SpaceX’s second upgraded Dragon set to launch new solar arrays to the ISS Teslarati · 2 Jun 2021 An all-new Falcon 9 rocket and upgraded Cargo Dragon spacecraft have rolled out to Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A (Pad 39A)...
- All-new Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon cargo craft set for launch Thursday Spaceflight Now · 2 Jun 2021 In what’s become a rarity for SpaceX and its workhorse fleet of “flight-proven” hardware, a brand new Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon cargo capsule are scheduled to launch Thursday on a NASA-contracted flight to deliver more...
- Viasat wants FCC to review Starlink’s government funding SpaceNews · 1 Jun 2021 Satellite operator Viasat is stepping up efforts to stop Starlink’s growing constellation, taking aim at the nearly $900 million of rural broadband subsidies that SpaceX won in December.
- SpaceX first Super Heavy ‘test tank’ is almost ready for prime time Teslarati · 1 Jun 2021 SpaceX has almost completed a ‘test tank’ meant to ensure that Starship’s Super Heavy booster is capable of withstanding the immense thrust...
- Who will race SpaceX to the moon? SpaceNews · 31 May 2021 NASA took many by surprise by picking just one company to develop a lunar lander and fly a single demo mission to the moon. Even more surprising was NASA's pick: SpaceX, whose Starship vehicle appeared massively oversize...
- SpaceX bumps Starship booster engine count, ramps up Raptor factory Teslarati · 31 May 2021 SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has confirmed that Starship’s Super Heavy booster will have at least one more engine than expected after hardware...
- Laying the groundwork for Super Heavy amid Raptor Ramp Up NASASpaceflight · 30 May 2021 Just one year after losing Starship SN4 after a Static Fire test, SpaceX’s progress at its Starbase site in South Texas has allowed the company to focus on the debut of its Super Heavy booster. With Starship SN15’s succe...
- SpaceX Starship engine completes orbital-duration static fire test in Texas Teslarati · 30 May 2021 A local resident and unofficial SpaceX observer has reported hearing a test of one of Starship’s Raptor engines that lasted more than...
- Solar arrays, animals, science, and more headed to the ISS on SpaceX CRS-22 Space Scout · 30 May 2021 An overview of the cargo and experiments flying onboard the SpaceX CRS-22 mission, scheduled to liftoff June 3, 1:29 p.m. EDT.
- Five launches planned from Florida’s Space Coast in June Spaceflight Now · 28 May 2021 More than three-quarters of the launches from Florida’s Space Coast so far this year have deployed SpaceX’s Starlink internet satellites, but the focus will shift to other customers in June. Five rocket flights are sched...
- Photos: Falcon 9 launches 60 more Starlink internet satellites Spaceflight Now · 28 May 2021 These photos show the liftoff from Cape Canaveral and climb into space of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket Wednesday. The launch carried 60 Starlink internet satellites into orbit and set a new record for payload fairing reuse,...
- SpaceX sends reused Falcon 9 booster west for first California Starlink launches Teslarati · 28 May 2021 SpaceX has shipped the first of one or two flight-proven Falcon 9 boosters from Florida to California in the latest sign that...
- SpaceX’s first flight-proven Starship rolled back to factory for likely retirement Teslarati · 27 May 2021 While SpaceX has spent the better part of three weeks inspecting the first flight-proven Starship to survive a high-altitude launch and landing,...
- SpaceX Starlink launch marks record Falcon fairing reuse, 85th booster landing Teslarati · 26 May 2021 Update: SpaceX aced its 28th operational Starlink launch without issue, simultaneously marking a new record for Falcon fairing reuse, the 85th successful...
- First phase of SpaceX’s Starlink network nears completion with Falcon 9 launch Spaceflight Now · 26 May 2021 The launch of 60 more Starlink satellites Wednesday from Cape Canaveral could give SpaceX enough spacecraft to complete the first layer of its privately-funded global internet network, but the company shows no signs of s...
- NASA Sets Coverage, Invites Public to Virtually Join Next Cargo Launch NASA · 26 May 2021 NASA commercial cargo provider SpaceX is targeting 1:29 p.m. EDT, Thursday, June 3, to launch its 22nd commercial resupply services mission to the International Space Station.
- SpaceX sets Falcon 9 fairing reuse mark with Starlink launch SpaceNews · 26 May 2021 A SpaceX Falcon 9 launched another set of Starlink satellites May 26 on a launch that highlighted an often-overlooked aspect of the company’s reusability efforts.
- Firefly selects SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to launch NASA-chartered moon lander Spaceflight Now · 26 May 2021 Firefly Aerospace has selected SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket to launch the company’s first commercial lunar lander mission in 2023 with 10 NASA-sponsored research payloads.
- Starlink v1.0 L28 mission completes first “shell” of satellites for worldwide coverage NASASpaceflight · 26 May 2021 SpaceX’s 16th Falcon 9 launch of the year on Wednesday May 26 lifted off with 60 Starlink satellites to finish the first of five orbital shells for the constellation. Liftoff from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) occurre...
- ViaSat asks FCC to halt SpaceX Starlink launches because it can’t compete Teslarati · 25 May 2021 Under the hollow pretense of concern for the environment, Starlink satellite internet competitor ViaSat has asked the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) to...
- Viasat asks FCC to halt Starlink launches while it seeks court ruling SpaceNews · 25 May 2021 Satellite operator Viasat is asking the FCC to stop SpaceX from launching more Starlink satellites as it heads to court to compel a thorough environmental review of the rapidly growing megaconstellation.
- SpaceX fires up Falcon 9 rocket for fifth Starlink launch in four weeks Teslarati · 25 May 2021 SpaceX appears to have successfully static-fired a flight-proven Falcon 9 booster for what should be the rocket’s fifth Starlink launch in four...
- NASA assigns fourth astronaut to SpaceX’s next space station crew launch Spaceflight Now · 24 May 2021 NASA has assigned astronaut Kayla Barron to join three crewmates on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft set to launch to the International Space Station in October, rounding out the four-person team after the space agency was una...
- SpaceX’s NASA Starship contract safe for now as Blue Origin looks to Congress Teslarati · 24 May 2021 Fresh off of a major contract loss during a competition to build NASA’s next crewed Moon lander, Blue Origin has begun aggressively...
- SpaceX test-fires rocket for sixth Falcon 9 launch in five weeks Spaceflight Now · 24 May 2021 SpaceX fired up a Falcon 9 rocket Monday on its launch pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, running the launcher through a pre-flight checkout and clearing a hurdle before liftoff later this week with th...
- SpaceX’s next Falcon Heavy launches delayed by military satellite issues Teslarati · 23 May 2021 SpaceX’s next Falcon Heavy launches will have to wait several more months after issues unrelated to the rocket forced the US military...
- Falcon Heavy’s first national security launch slips to October Spaceflight Now · 23 May 2021 The next launch of a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket has been delayed from July to October to await the readiness of its U.S. military payload, and the following Falcon Heavy flight has been rescheduled from late this year to...
- SpaceX CEO Elon Musk’s hat is safe after ULA Vulcan rocket launch slips to 2023 Teslarati · 21 May 2021 In the latest unfortunate development for SpaceX competitor United Launch Alliance’s next-generation Vulcan Centaur rocket, it looks like CEO Elon Musk may...
- NASA Invites Media to Briefing on Science Launching to Space Station NASA · 20 May 2021 NASA will host a media teleconference at 1 p.m. EDT Wednesday, May 26, to discuss select science investigations launching on the next SpaceX commercial resupply flight to the International Space Station.
- Firefly selects SpaceX to launch its lunar lander SpaceNews · 20 May 2021 Firefly Aerospace announced May 20 it selected SpaceX to launch its first lunar lander mission for NASA, the latest in a series of contract wins by SpaceX for lunar missions.
- SpaceX set to launch six commercial Moon landers after latest win Teslarati · 20 May 2021 After securing yet another contract, SpaceX Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets are now scheduled to launch at least six commercial Moon...
- SpaceX starts stacking Starship’s first orbital-class Super Heavy booster Teslarati · 20 May 2021 By all appearances, SpaceX has begun the process of stacking what could become the first Super Heavy booster capable of supporting orbital...
- SpaceX Dragon XL could double as a crew cabin for lunar space station Teslarati · 19 May 2021 A recent modification to SpaceX’s Dragon XL lunar cargo resupply contract with NASA suggests that the spacecraft could be used as an...
- Tyvak smallsat launched by SpaceX to validate miniature space debris telescope Spaceflight Now · 18 May 2021 Tyvak, a manufacturer of small satellites, disclosed new details Monday about an experimental spacecraft launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket Saturday, revealing plans to validate compact optical telescopes that coul...