While it looks like a light week for launches from SpaceX, over in the Pacific Ocean, China will be busy launching several rockets from around its country. Also, Japan will chime in with a rare H-II launch.
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Vulcan launches ULA (and NASA) into a new future of space exploration
At 2:18:38 A.M. ET Monday morning, ULA debuted its Vulcan rocket after years of delays and setbacks. With a highly expected successful deployment of Astrobotic‘s first Peregrine lunar lander, Vulcan kickstarts ULA’s new commercial launch future as well as NASA‘s new exploration of the Moon.
Expand Expanding CloseULA readies for Vulcan’s debut launch, while concerns over two of its payloads arise
On Friday ULA rolled out its first fully integrated Vulcan rocket, payload included, to ready it for launch early Monday morning. However, a last second meeting at the White House was called over one of the payloads hitching a ride to the Moon.
Expand Expanding CloseHow SpaceX plans to hit its 144 launch goal
Last year SpaceX shared that it wanted to launch as many as 144 Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets in 2024. This week, the man in charge in making that a reality shared the milestones it needs to hit to meat that goal.
Expand Expanding CloseSpaceX launches 5G direct-to-cell connection on Starlink satellites
Late last night, SpaceX launched its first rocket of 2024 out of Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. On top, in addition to the Starlink V2 mini satellites were used to, were six Starlink satellites capable of connecting directly to standard 5G cellphones. These satellites are the first following a partnership with T-Mobile announced back in 2022 to feature the connectivity, and are a major step forward for SpaceX’s satellite internet constellation.
Expand Expanding CloseElon Musk is now safe from eating his hat ‘with a side of mustard’
Early Monday morning ULA plans to launch its first of two certification missions for its Vulcan rocket. What does this have to do with SpaceX‘s CEO Elon Musk? Well after a prediction made over five years ago, he’s now safe from an eating your hat moment.
Expand Expanding CloseThis Week in Launch: Vandenberg to host first SpaceX launch of the year
Welcome to 2024, a year hopefully of many firsts. India started the year off with a launch just a few hours into New Years Day but here in the Western Hemisphere, SpaceX will kick things off with you guessed it, a Starlink launch.
Also, special guest this week since it’s launching so early Monday morning, ULA plans to debut its Vulcan rocket after years of delays.
Expand Expanding CloseStarship: 2023 rocket of the year as voted by you
With this week’s poll now closed, the results for the rocket of year as voted by all of you are now in. Unshockingly to almost anyone, it came down to two rockets, both by SpaceX. Below are your most voted pick and the pick by us.
Expand Expanding CloseSpaceX rounds out 2023 with 98 total launches
Last night SpaceX rounded out the year with a double header, launching a classified mission on the Falcon Heavy for the US Air Force and Space Force and then about three hours later, 23 Starlink satellites. This completed another record breaking year with 98 total rocket launches from the company and many other milestones.
Expand Expanding CloseHow many rockets did SpaceX launch in 2023?
SpaceX is aiming to launch 100 rockets this year, another big increase from what the company did in 2022. That will mean they will have to launch on average every three to four days. Will SpaceX be able to pull it off? Keep track below of all of SpaceX’s 2023 launches.
Expand Expanding CloseULA sale: Here’s who are interested in buying
Three reports have collaborated the current list of bidders that wish to buy United Launch Alliance: Blue Origin, Textron, and Cerberus. The sale isn’t guaranteed but it is likely, as even ULA’s CEO has hinted towards the company’s interest.
Expand Expanding CloseFirefly’s second stage failed to deliver payload to correct orbit
Just before the Christmas weekend Firefly launched its fourth Alpha rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. While the booster and first burn of the second stage perform normally, the second burn failed to place Lockheed Martin‘s tech demonstrator into its intended orbit.
Expand Expanding CloseHistoric SpaceX booster destroyed due to rough seas
SpaceX‘s Falcon 9 booster B1058 fell over on droneship Just Read The Instructions while on its way back to port after launching the Starlink Group 6-32 mission over the weekend. The booster was used on SpaceX’s first crewed flight to space back in 2020, DM-2, which was also NASA‘s return of crewed flights from US soil.
Expand Expanding CloseThis Week in Launch: The final launches of 2023
With New Years coming up at the end of the week, we now know what will end up being the final rocket launches of 2023. SpaceX‘s Falcon Heavy is also set to return this week after a lengthly delay. Meanwhile, China is back with a flurry of more launches, but India looks to be taking the crown as the final launch of 2023.
Expand Expanding CloseSpace Explored Podcast Episode 73: How has the space market fared in 2023?
This week on the Space Explored Podcast, Seth and Jared talk about the biggest and their favorite stories of the past week. To continue to wrap up 2023, the two discuss how the business side of space fared and went down over the year. Yes that means more talk about Astra.
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Expand Expanding CloseStarship Flight 3 hardware testing in full swing
Starship testing is back this week with both the first stage Super Heavy booster and second stage Starship on their respective test/launch stands. Both vehicles either attempted or completed static fires this week.
Expand Expanding CloseVice President announces first international astronaut to land on the Moon through Artemis
At a meeting of the National Space Council in Washington, DC, Vice President Kamala Harris announced an international astronaut will land on the Moon through Artemis before the end of the decade.
Expand Expanding CloseBlue Origin returns with successful New Shepard flight
After a one day delay to fix a technical issue, Blue Origin successfully launched its NS-24 mission Tuesday morning. This marked the company’s first flight in over 15 months after NS-23 suffered an anomaly mid-flight.
Expand Expanding CloseSpaceX launches first rocket in over a week
SpaceX launched a batch of its “Gen 2 mini” Starlink satellites from Florida last night, breaking a week long drought of launches from the company. While usually Starlink missions aren’t something to talk about, the long lull means the company will likely miss its 100 launch goal.
Expand Expanding CloseThis Week in Launch: Firefly back in the loop
After an abnormal lull in SpaceX launches last week due to weather and technical delays, that could change this week with a handful of Falcon 9 missions before the Christmas weekend. Firefly is back with another launch of its Alpha rocket this week, following the success of its VICTUS NOX mission in September.
Expand Expanding CloseRocket Lab returns to flight with Japanese observation satellite
Rocket Lab launched an Electron rocket late Thursday evening after a couple months break after suffering a failure in September. The successful launch deployed a synthetic aperture radar satellite for Japan’s Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, iQPS.
Expand Expanding CloseHow many rockets has Rocket Lab launched so far in 2023?
Unlike SpaceX, Rocket Lab doesn’t have a public goal set for the number of launches this year, but a clear one has emerged. For the first time Rocket Lab, with its Electron rocket, could reach double-digit launches in 2023; here’s a list of all of them to help you keep track.
Expand Expanding CloseSo about that Falcon Heavy launch we were talking about…
What was suppose to be a week full of SpaceX launches has turned into well, not much. Between weather and lengthly technical delays, SpaceX’s chances of a 100 launch year might have just slipped their grasps.
Expand Expanding CloseSpace Explored Podcast 72: Was 2023 a good year for space?
This week Seth and Jared discuss updates in the space industry from the past week including Vega’s missing tanks, SpaceX’s new valuation and more. The two also broke down some quick opinions of the year for spaceflight.
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