Last week Boeing and ULA rolled a Starliner spacecraft from the former’s facilities on Kennedy Space Center to the latter’s launch site on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. With that, final checkouts are underway before two NASA astronauts climb inside and fly it to the ISS and back.
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Supply chain strains under pressure from increased small satellite demand
The United States space industrial base is currently facing significant challenges due to a surge in demand for small satellites, which are crucial for national security space programs. This rising demand is revealing vulnerabilities in the supply chain as the military seeks rapid deployment of satellite constellations.
Expand Expanding CloseThis Week in Launch: A packed week of launches
This week we’re looking to be a rather busy one with a launch everyday from either SpaceX, China, and Rocket Lab up to Friday. China will be launching its next crew rotation to their space station and SpaceX might have a four launch week.
Expand Expanding CloseThe FAA will now require reentry licenses before launch for payloads intended to return
The FAA has made a new rule that any spacecraft that plans to reenter after launch must obtain its reentry license from the administration prior to launch. This was created out of safety concerns and experiences learned during granting Varda Space the first ever Part 450 reentry license.
Expand Expanding CloseIt’s been one year since we’ve entered the Starship era
One year ago SpaceX launched its first fully integrated Starship rocket, which in my opinion is the start of the Starship era of spaceflight. While that mission was far from 100% successful, this new era is truly changing the way people look at the future of heavy lift rockets.
Expand Expanding CloseHow many rockets has SpaceX launched in 2024?
SpaceX is aiming for 148 launches in 2024, once again another increase over the 98 it completed the year before. This cadence would mean the company would have to launch once every two and a half days. Keep track below of all of SpaceX’s 2024 launches.
Expand Expanding CloseNASA is looking for new ways to get its Martian samples back home
In what I’ve always viewed as a bold move by NASA, since 2021 Perseverance has been collecting Martian core samples for future return. The issue is a return plan wasn’t finalized or paid for before launch, which in recent years has been under attack by Congress who wants a lighter budget. On Monday NASA conceded to complaints that it’s too expensive.
Expand Expanding CloseNASA launches space sustainability strategy to address orbital debris challenges
NASA revealed its comprehensive Space Sustainability Strategy April 9, aiming to tackle the escalating threats posed by space debris in Earth’s orbit. This initiative, as detailed by NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy during the 39th Space Symposium, prioritizes understanding the complex nature of space sustainability and developing methods to mitigate associated risks.
Expand Expanding CloseThis Week in Launch: A lonely SpaceX week
This week we’re only seeing three launches, all of which are from SpaceX and two of those are for Starlink missions out of Florida. About what we expect from a company doing the majority of Earth’s launch capability.
Expand Expanding ClosePolaris Dawn is getting closer and closer to being launch ready
Things are slowly falling into place for the Polaris Program‘s first mission, Polaris Dawn. The mission is nearing milestones that might finally give it a launch date that will actually hold.
Expand Expanding CloseSpaceX launches the first Falcon booster 20 times
Friday evening SpaceX launched a Starlink mission that while not newsworthy anymore, the booster it launched on was. B1062, first launched in 2020, has now reached the big 20 mission milestone.
Expand Expanding CloseThis Week in Launch: ULA is back again to reattempt its final Delta IV launch
After some delay due to technical issue, ULA is back to attempting to get its final Delta IV Heavy off the ground and firmly into retirement. Russia is also launching a decade old rocket that is still in development for some reason.
Expand Expanding CloseWhy is ULA retiring the Delta IV Heavy?
Later today we expect to see the Delta IV launch its final mission. About two weeks ago ULA was forced to scrub its last attempt after issues with a pumping system arose in the final minutes of the countdown. A question I’ve seen popping up in a few groups was “Why is ULA retiring the Delta IV?” It’s a valid question, the large capable rocket seems like it should have a long life ahead still but alas, ULA has other plans.
Expand Expanding CloseIntuitive Machines secures $30M crewed lunar rover contract
Intuitive Machines has been awarded $30 million by NASA to conduct a services feasibility assessment for a Lunar Terrain Vehicle, LTV, the first phase of developing a crewed rover for human exploration of the Moon’s surface. This contract marks the company’s first foray into human spaceflight operations, underpinning its role in NASA’s ambitious $4.6 billion LTV services project.
Expand Expanding ClosePioneering the lunar frontier: Artemis 4 astronauts to visit 1st lunar space station
After NASA returns humans to the Moon during the Artemis 3 mission, the agency plans to begin assembling the first space station in lunar orbit. Part of the Artemis 4 mission, the goal is to deliver a critical component to the Lunar Gateway and begin enabling sustainable exploration of the Moon while serving as a stepping stone for future crewed missions to Mars.
Expand Expanding CloseThe space launch industry is surprisingly no longer just about rockets
We’ve seen a lot of changes to the space launch market over the last decade, from hopeful underdogs to defacto monopolies. Now we’re going through another large shift in the companies launching rockets, not launching rockets. Payload spoke with the top executives about the change and here’s what they said.
Expand Expanding CloseThis Week in Launch: All aboard the SpaceX Bandwagon!
This week SpaceX will be launching as many as four Falcon 9s, mostly for its internal programs like Starlink. One, however, will be for its rideshare program with a new name, Bandwagon. Although Monday’s Starlink mission out of California has potential to be an amazing twilight launch for local residents.
Expand Expanding CloseNASA plans to grow plants on the Moon, Artemis 3 lunar experiments selected
NASA has unveiled the first set of scientific instruments selected for deployment by astronauts on the Moon’s surface during the Artemis 3 mission. This endeavor aims to enhance our understanding of the Moon, aiding preparations for future crewed missions to Mars.
Expand Expanding CloseSpaceX’s Starship and the new space race: Reshaping the future of satellite launches
In an evolving space industry landscape marked by both innovation and competition, the emergence of SpaceX‘s Starship launch vehicle stands out as a pivotal development. Designed to place over 100 metric tons into low Earth orbit, Starship has garnered significant attention from companies specializing in the deployment of smaller payloads of about one metric ton or less.
Expand Expanding CloseThe fusion of human ingenuity, robotic precision heralds new chapter in space exploration
In the vast and mysterious expanse of space, a story of partnership continues to unfold. This isn’t a tale of human camaraderie but a narrative of humans and robots joining forces in the pursuit of cosmic discovery, health, and technology. Taking a closer look at this fascinating topic suggests the future of space exploration is not a solo journey for humans or robots, but a collaborative venture that leverages the strengths of both.
Expand Expanding CloseThis Week in Launch: Get ready to say farewell to the Delta IV
The Original Big Orange Rocket, ULA‘s Delta IV Heavy, is set to have its final mission as soon as this week if weather holds. Along side ULA’s second launch of the year, SpaceX has four missions scheduled with Chinese and Russian rockets launching to give us a launch every day except Sunday.
Expand Expanding CloseHow many rockets has Rocket Lab launched in 2024?
Rocket Lab set this year up for great success as it hopes to both bring a new vehicle closer to operation by the end of 2024 while also launching up to 22 Electron rockets. Between the regular old electron and the HASTE test vehicle flavors, here’s a list of all rockets Rocket Lab has launched so far in 2024.
Expand Expanding CloseThis company wants to help more people experience the ‘overview effect’
If you have ever been interested in seeing Earth from the upper reaches of our atmosphere but can’t afford it, then you should be keeping Halo Space on your radar. The company, similar to other new space tourism companies, have been working on a high altitude balloon system to ferry customers up to the jar dropping views of “almost space.”
The catch is, on each flight they will send someone up there for free!
Expand Expanding CloseThis Week in Launch: Super Thursday? Rocket Lab, SpaceX, Russia, and China prepare for launches on the same day
On Thursday of this week we have a total of four planned launches from around the world from the biggest players in the space launch market. They include Rocket Lab’s first LC-2 mission in 2024, a crew rotation to the ISS by Russia, and a cargo resupply mission to the ISS by SpaceX.
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