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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.

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Maxar Raptor Guide, GPS alternative with 3D Mapping for drones

Maxar launches alternative to GPS using 3D mapping

In a world where access to GPS on the battlefield can win or lose a fight, Maxar is working on a solution for when having it just isn’t an option. Called Raptor, the product uses satellite mapping to build a 3D globe that can serve as an alternative to GPS.

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When will ULA launch this year?

We’re soon closing the chapter on the first quarter of 2025, and so far the only companies in the headlines for launches have been SpaceX and Rocket Lab, with other companies like Firefly soon to follow. However, SpaceX’s supposed competitor has been nowhere, still waiting on final work from the Space Force that its Vulcan rocket is cleared to launch the missions it was contracted to do. So when might ULA, Vulcan, or Atlas finally launch next?

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SpaceX lays out plan for first Florida Starship launch

During the live coverage of SpaceX’s Starship Flight 8, the company laid out an update to its plan to launch the massive vehicle from Florida. Some of the plans we’ve seen starting to take shape already were finally confirmed by SpaceX, such as the massive expansion of Roberts Road.

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Everything you need to know about today’s Starship Flight 8 launch attempt

Later this afternoon, SpaceX will make its second attempt to launch its Starship Flight 8 mission from Starbase, Texas. The launch will largely be a repeat of Flight 7, which concluded early before much of its testing could be done. Below is everything SpaceX wanted to test on Flight 7 but will now be testing on Flight 8, plus other tidbits on the launch!

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Watch SpaceX launch Starship Flight 8

Starship Flight 6 booster and ship stacked on Starbse Orbital Launch Mount A

SpaceX is planning to launch its Starship Flight 8 later this afternoon from its launch site in South Texas. The flight will mostly be a rehash of Flight 7, focusing on testing the changes to Starship Block 2, new heat shield modifications, and deploying its first dummy satellites into space.

SpaceX X Livestream: https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1lPKqMQbAWLKb

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SpaceX shares Starship Flight 7 recap – What went wrong?

SpaceX shared its recap video of the Starship Flight 7 launch on its YouTube channel Monday evening. The company also shared a blog post detailing the cause of the failure. This usually takes place once the team finishes the data review of the mission and is ready to launch its next Starship, which will be Flight 8 no earlier than Friday.

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SpaceX is still having issues with its second stages not deorbiting properly

Earlier this month, SpaceX launched a Starlink mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base out in California. The mission resulted in a successful deployment of its satellites but a failed deorbit burn of the second stage. That failure has led to debris being found in Poland and farmers wishing for SpaceX to cover the damages.

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