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Seth Kurkowski

SethKurk

Managing Editor at Space Explored

Seth Kurkowski covers launches and general space news for Space Explored. He has been following launches from Florida since 2018.

Seth’s first launch was SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy Demo in February of 2018 and has been hooked on them ever since.

He also helped start Space Coast Launch Ambassadors, an outreach group advocating for space exploration while helping the general public enjoy rocket launches from the Space Coast.

Seth co-hosts the Space Explored weekly podcast as well as the Rapid Unscheduled Discussions podcast both of which you can listen to here on SpaceExplored.com

Email tips, pitches, typos, and feedback to kurk@spaceexplored.com.

Follow: Twitter @SethKurk + Instagram @sethkurk.

Connect with Seth Kurkowski

Last night’s awesome Northern Lights are scrubbing rocket launches

For most of the nation last night, the Northern Lights, or officially named the Aurora Borealis, were visible in an awesome display. This is due to a powerful solar storm coming from our Sun; however, that same storm that’s causing the beautiful nighttime display is also causing issues for the space industry who are trying to get rockets launched.

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How the government shutdown could delay the launch of Artemis 2

While the majority of federal employees are furloughed, awaiting a funding bill to be passed by Congress, NASA teams and contractors are still working towards getting Artemis 2 ready to launch next year. However, that can’t last forever, and an industry official just shared that some parts may begin to grind to a halt.

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SpaceX’s Falcon 9 triple digit launch years are numbered

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket has been the company’s workhorse since its debut in 2010. It has delivered cargo to the ISS, helped build out a new GPS constellation, redefined the cost of launch, and delivered thousands of Starlink satellites into orbit. It has done so by repeatedly breaking yearly launch records and hitting triple-digit launch years twice. However, with Starship’s soon debut as an operational rocket, the company plans to sunset the Falcon 9, ending its dominance during its peak.

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SpaceX to launch 11th Starship flight test later today

Later this afternoon, SpaceX plans to launch its final Starship rocket of 2025; this will also be the final Block 2 Starship to fly. The launch seems overall similar to Flight 10, which took place a little over one month ago. However, a success on each flight is still important for Starship stakeholders, including NASA.

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