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FAA approves SpaceX’s Starship rocket for a second launch
After months of investigation and an environmental review, the FAA has given SpaceX the go ahead for its second launch of Starship. Now it’s up to SpaceX to get the vehicle ready to fly.
Expand Expanding CloseViolent solar storm could knock out the Internet ‘for weeks or months,’ scientist warns
A lead researcher out of George Mason University (GMU) warns that increasingly violent solar activity could potentially cause an “internet apocalypse” disrupting all electronic communications on Earth, including satellite communications.
Expand Expanding ClosedearMoon benefactor shares delay to its Starship mission (which we all saw coming)
Yusaku Maezawa, a Japanese entrepreneur, shared on his Instagram account an update to his dearMoon mission around the Moon. Shocking no one, the flight will not take place this year as the rocket is still very much in development.
Expand Expanding CloseThis Week in Launches: Could this be the week for Starship?
This week is a rather slow one with two launches scheduled for SpaceX‘s Falcon 9, yes they’re for Starlink. However, pending regulatory approval, the week could finish with the second launch of the company’s Starship rocket.
Expand Expanding CloseSpaceX nails three launch weekend (ish) featuring two RTLS landings
Over the weekend, SpaceX launched three Falcon 9 rockets from all three of its launch pads. The missions were all commercially purchased wither by NASA, SES, or in part of a rideshare program. Two out of the three flights featured RTLS landings at LZ-1 and 4, a rare occurrence.
Expand Expanding CloseStarship’s next launch could be happening soon
SpaceX stacked its Starship rocket late this week ahead of rumors the FAA will be granting SpaceX another launch soon. While the launch might be another week or so out, the latest step SpaceX has made is attaching flight termination charges on the rocket.
Expand Expanding CloseAstra founders looking to take company private before it runs out of cash
The two founders of Astra Space, Chris Kemp and Adam London, have sent a proposal to the company’s board to take it private with a $30 million valuation. This comes about a week into the search for new funds before its bridge loan comes due on November 17.
Expand Expanding CloseVirgin Galactic lays off 18% of its workforce and pausing flights to focus on next-gen vehicle
Virgin Galactic announced this week it laid off about 185 employees, 18% of its workforce, to better streamline the development of its Delta-class spaceplane. The company also announced during its earnings call that it will begin to slow its flights down before pausing them all together.
Expand Expanding CloseSpaceX adds new crew arm to launch tower at SLC-40
This week SpaceX hoisted up and attached a new crew access arm at the company’s SLC-40 pad. The addition of a second crew tower gives SpaceX the flexibility to launching at either of their East Coast launch sites.
Expand Expanding CloseAstra is running out of cash and is almost out of options
Last week Astra Space, a space launch and engine company, defaulted on its debt leading to the need to take on a short term funding round in hope it can find more before running out of cash. The company has been struggling for the past year to keep its stock price above the $1.00 mark and get its Rocket 4 developed.
Expand Expanding CloseFAA closes mishap investigation of ABL’s RS1 rocket
ABL Space Systems announced Monday that the FAA closed its mishap investigation into the anomaly that took place during its inaugural RS1 launch. The company now has a list of corrective actions to go through before it can attempt to launch its rocket again.
Expand Expanding CloseThis Week In Launches: Packed week of SpaceX flights
This week we have four launches from SpaceX and from both coats. Not just that, but two of the launches this week will feature RTLS landings. That means only one thing, non-Starlink launches!
Expand Expanding CloseElon Musk shares Starlink has achieved breakeven cash flow
Elon Musk shared on X, his social media site formally known as Twitter, that Starlink has achieved breakeven cash flow. While Musk didn’t state any time period, if this means over the operational history of the product, that would be a big deal for the product’s success.
Expand Expanding CloseHow South Australia is connecting its community to in-space manufacturing with Varda Space
In the remote landscapes of South Australia, a remarkable transformation is unfolding as the Koonibba Test Range, located just a 30-minute drive northwest of Ceduna, is poised to become a beacon of hope, empowerment, and innovation. This story weaves together the aspirations of the Koonibba Aboriginal community, the dreams of space exploration, and the limitless potential of in-space manufacturing.
Expand Expanding CloseHow many flights has Virgin Galactic flown in 2023?
In June of 2023 Virgin Galactic began commercial flights of its VSS Unity spaceplane for paying customers. Its ticket holders wait list to fly is over 800 long, with only four available seats, that’s a lot of flying just to get through existing customers and more are on the way. So how many flights has Virgin Galactic performed? Here’s a list of every flight from Virgin Galactic in the year 2023.
Expand Expanding CloseDream Chaser is getting closer to flying
Sierra Space showed off its first flight ready Dream Chaser spaceplane this week before it heads off for launch testing at NASA’s Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility in Ohio. While there’s still some time before it launches, after years of delays it finally has launch in site.
Expand Expanding CloseLeaked new SpaceX Starship HLS renders show a much more refined design
Most likely outdated renders of SpaceX’s Starship rocket in its Human Landing System configuration show a much more refined design that could show where the company is heading. Although their authenticity is not 100% confirmed yet.
Expand Expanding CloseNASA launches new app to see the International Space Station
On Thursday, NASA launched a new app to make it easier than ever to spot the International Space Station in the night sky. NASA has long operated the Spot the Station website, but its new app, available on both iPhone and Android, brings augmented reality features and a handy interface to learn more about the orbiting laboratory.
Expand Expanding CloseIndia sets ambitious goals for lunar exploration and space station construction
India has set its sights on an inspiring future in space exploration, with plans to send astronauts to the moon by 2040 and to construct a space station by the mid-2030s. These ambitious goals were revealed following a high-level meeting chaired by India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, to assess the progress of the country’s Gaganyaan crew spacecraft.
Expand Expanding CloseUK Space Agency working on an all British mission to space with Axiom
The UK Space Agency and Axiom Space have signed a memorandum of understanding to perform a two week spaceflight with an all British crew in the future. No destination or crew have been announced just yet but the UK Space Agency is now working to design the mission around a core of scientific experiments.
Expand Expanding CloseUS, Australia sign technology safeguards agreement to boost space launch activities
The United States and Australia have signed a Technology Safeguards Agreement, or TSA, which aims to pave the way for U.S. commercial space launch vehicles to conduct launch activities Down Under. The TSA not only intends to facilitate collaboration between the two nations but also safeguards sensitive U.S. launch technology and data on Australian soil.
Expand Expanding CloseFAA closes safety review of SpaceX’s Starship rocket
The FAA announced that it has finished its safety review of SpaceX’s Starship rocket. This is another big step in getting an updated launch license for SpaceX to perform Starship’s second launch. However, there is still another step needed before SpaceX can perform that next test.
Expand Expanding CloseHow many people are in space right now?
The International Space Station is designed to always be crewed by cosmonauts and astronauts. For this reason, women and men have been living and working in space constantly since the first Expedition mission in the year 2000. So how many people are in space right now?
Expand Expanding CloseChina launches youngest-ever crew of taikonauts to advance space ambitions
China has embarked on a new era in its space exploration endeavors by launching the youngest-ever crew of astronauts, known as taikonauts, to its Tiangong space station, intended to cement the country’s position in the global space race. Shenzhou-17 or “divine vessel” took off October 26 with three crew members atop a Long March 2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.
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