Today
Remember the historic SpaceX rocket launch that sent NASA astronauts to the International Space Station earlier this summer? After the successful demonstration mission, SpaceX is almost ready to start sending astronauts to space regularly through NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
Today, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine announced the next date when SpaceX will send a crew to the ISS. NASA is targeting no earlier than October 23, 2020, for the upcoming SpaceX Crew-1 mission.
Yesterday
Update: “Standing down from launch of Starlink due to weather; will announce a new target launch date once confirmed,” SpaceX announces.
SpaceX will attempt to launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center on Monday at 10:22 a.m. EDT. SpaceX is sending its thirteenth batch of Starlink satellites to space. These satellites will be used for a new global broadband service that will focus on bringing internet connectivity to underserved areas.
Falcon 9’s first stage will land autonomously on a droneship in the Atlantic Ocean about 8 minutes after liftoff. Satellite deployment will occur roughly one hour after takeoff.
Watch the launch, landing, and deployment below.
NASA delays Dragonfly drone meant to fly on Saturn’s Titan moon
NASA has delayed the launch of its Dragonfly drone meant to fly on Saturn’s Titan moon by one year to 2027 due to external factors, including COVID-19. The Dragonfly mission aims to explore Saturn’s Titan moon to look for the building blocks of life.
September 27
Arguably one of the most significant innovations that SpaceX has achieved is the ability to reuse launched rockets. The company has actually been reusing its rockets for years now, but not for many of the more paramount launches. However, in an important shift yesterday, this is about to change.
September 24
Blue Origin, the rocket company created by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, appears to be planning its first sub-orbital flight of 2020. Space Explored has learned that Blue Origin is planning to attempt the 13th launch of its New Shepard vehicle in September.
September 23
Yesterday afternoon NASA disclosed that they had detected a ‘piece of unknown space debris’ that was going to come in close proximity to the International Space Station. Later that day at 5:19 p.m. EDT, the ISS performed a 150-second reboost that took it safely outside the object’s trajectory. This maneuver was done using thrusters on an uncrewed cargo ship that was attached to the ISS.
September 19
LEGO is relaunching NASA Apollo Saturn V and Ship in a Bottle kits this fall
Today LEGO is announcing that it will be relaunching two of the more popular fan-inspired Ideas creations from the past several years. After previously retiring both the NASA Apollo Saturn V and Ship in a Bottle in previous years, the two creations will now be available once again later this fall. Head below the fold for additional information on the upcoming LEGO Apollo Saturn V rerelease.
On September 17, the California-based company Rocket Lab successfully completed a “wet dress rehearsal.” The rehearsal took place at the companies Launch Complex 2 (LC-2) in Wallops Island, Virginia. This is significant because it is the latest step towards the company’s first launch on US soil.
September 15
Originally launched in 2006, GOES-13 was a geostationary satellite designed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to track hurricanes approaching the United States. On September 1, the US military repurposed the satellite to monitor weather conditions in the Middle East.
September 14
Just north of Interstate I-10 along the Gulf Coast of Mississippi is a gigantic, orange core stage that will soon be used to send NASA’s most powerful rocket ever to the Moon. The 212-foot-tall core stage of Space Launch System, the vehicle for Artemis lunar missions starting next year, is currently hoisted up on the red, white, and meatball’d B-2 Test Stand at Stennis Space Center.
Engineers at the space center in south Mississippi are responsible for ensuring that the giant fuel tank and RS-25 engines are ready for action before being transferred to Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Steps range from testing flight electronics to loading and draining 350 tons of rocket fuel.
The ultimate step in the Green Run test is to fire up the four Aerojet Rocketdyne RS-25 engines fueled by the core stage. The static fire test will occur for up to eight minutes, creating a thunderous roar as the SLS core stage is held down by the B-2 Test Stand. Make no mistake: This engine test fire will be epic.
So how far along is NASA’s Green Run test for the Space Launch System core stage? Follow along here as NASA completes each step of the Green Run test:
