About the Author

Daryl Sausse

@Daryl Sausse

Writer and Photographer for Space Explored

What’s that rocket? Meet ULA’s Delta IV Heavy

Daryl Sausse - Apr 26th 2021 1:04 pm PT @Daryl Sausse

ULA

Comments

In a time where we routinely see launches on rockets named Atlas, Falcon, and Electron, the Delta IV Heavy is a rare bird for a number of reasons. United Launch Alliance’s Delta IV Heavy, as its name implies, is the company’s heavy lift launch vehicle.

It’s the big brother of the Delta IV medium that has since been retired and had its last flight in August 2019. In fact, the heavy variant of the Delta IV series is on its way out as well: ULA’s new Vulcan rocket system will pick up where Delta IV Heavy leaves off.

SpaceX Starlink by the numbers [March 4, 2021]

Daryl Sausse - Mar 5th 2021 4:56 pm PT

March 4, 2021: After an abort at a little over T-1 minute, SpaceX got the next batch of 60 starlinks flying. There really wasn’t much to see on this one. After liftoff, the Falcon 9 disappeared into the clouds. There was also no camera views from the first stage, just the droneship and second stage. Both fairing catchers were having work done so both halves were recovered by other support vessels.

Vega rocket to resume flying as scheduled after second loss in two years

Daryl Sausse - Dec 18th 2020 8:05 am PT @Daryl Sausse

Comments

This week the Independent Enquiry Commission (IEC), set up by ESA and ArianeSpace, released their findings and future roadmap after the loss of the VV17 mission. The launch had failed back on November 17, resulting in the loss of the two payloads on board. The loss also came on only the second flight after another Vega loss in July 2019.

ESA and ArianeGroup joining cost saving, reusable rocket game with Themis and Prometheus

Daryl Sausse - Dec 15th 2020 7:38 am PT @Daryl Sausse

ESA ArianeGroup Prometheus Themis

Comments

With reusing rockets becoming the new trend in spaceflight, it’s no surprise that the European Space Agency (ESA) is developing the capability for themselves. The development is spurred on by the same reason as everyone else: cost savings. The ability to reuse a booster turns into savings for the manufacturer and lowers cost to orbit for the customer.

Indonesia invites SpaceX to explore building an island spaceport

Daryl Sausse - Dec 15th 2020 6:31 am PT

Indonesia and Elon Musk are becoming fast friends, and that could mean big things for SpaceX.

OneWeb, back in business, is about to expand its internet satellite constellation

Daryl Sausse - Dec 14th 2020 1:00 pm PT @Daryl Sausse

OneWeb

Comments

It’s back to business for OneWeb, the satellite internet service that declared bankruptcy earlier this year. With 74 satellites already in orbit, OneWeb is ready to send its next batch up.

U.S. Space Command is getting closer to picking a home

Daryl Sausse - Dec 14th 2020 9:50 am PT

The newly-formed U.S. Space Force is in the market for a new headquarters, and they’re closer to making a choice of where it should be located. The team in charge of making the decision is touring the small list of existing installations and doing evaluations both in-person and virtually.

SpaceX Falcon 9 launches SXM-7 for SiriusXM [Gallery]

Daryl Sausse - Dec 14th 2020 9:12 am PT @Daryl Sausse

SpaceX SXM-7

Comments

After a scrub on Friday, SpaceX successfully launched the SXM-7 satellite for SiriusXM on a bright and sunny Florida morning. Maxar technologies built the satellite as an upgrade to the existing fleet. Liftoff was at 12:30 EST followed by a successful first stage landing and payload deployment.

NASA aims to make Space Coast a place for launchers of all sizes — small rockets included

Daryl Sausse - Dec 14th 2020 7:12 am PT @Daryl Sausse

NASA Kennedy Space Center

Comments

In the coming months, Launch Complex 48 (LC-48) will become as talked about as all of the other launchpads on Florida’s Space Coast. NASA has been working on the development of this pad to be used by multiple launch providers with smaller classes of rockets. According to a press release issued today, they’ve set a limit of 500,000 pounds of thrust or less at liftoff.

Bonus CRS-21: NASA’s worm logo make a brief public appearance on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 booster

Daryl Sausse - Dec 12th 2020 3:55 pm PT @Daryl Sausse

NASA CRS-21

Comments

The booster that recently launched CRS-21 also happens to be the same booster used to launch SpaceX’s DM-2 mission with NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken. To commemorate the mission, SpaceX painted NASA’s iconic worm and meatball logos on each side of the booster.