All articles tagged with #space launches
An uncrewed Blue Origin New Glenn rocket exploded on a Cape Canaveral launchpad, potentially delaying NASA's Artemis timeline and deepening reliance on SpaceX as the U.S. races China to the moon; the setback also complicates Blue Origin's broader plans, including satellite ambitions, while personnel were reported safe.
Netflix is partnering with NASA to stream live rocket launches, spacewalks, and other space-related content from NASA Plus on its platform starting this summer, aiming to increase public engagement with space exploration while keeping NASA Plus accessible for free through various platforms.
China is developing a giant railgun to launch its Tengyun spaceplane, while the US is focusing on hypersonic technology for satellite launches. The Tengyun spaceplane aims to carry crew, cargo, and release satellites into space, potentially conducting other missions such as satellite capture or surveillance. Both countries are racing to develop cost-effective methods for deploying multiple satellites quickly, with China potentially exceeding the US in tactically responsive space launch capabilities. While China's railgun-launched Tengyun may strengthen its capabilities, the US is focusing on reusable rockets to reduce launch costs.
The much-anticipated third test flight of Starship is set to take place, while Rocket Lab launched the StriX-3 Earth observation satellite for Synspective, and Space One is expected to re-attempt the maiden flight of its KAIROS launcher. Additionally, a Falcon 9 launch of more Starlink satellites is scheduled, and the third planned flight of the Chang Zheng 2C is expected. SpaceX's Starship is poised for a flight with several improvements and additional tests, including a hard landing in the Indian Ocean to demonstrate internal propellant transfer and the first relighting of Raptor engines in space.
China plans to debut new Long March rockets in 2024, including the Long March 6C, Long March 12, and a modified version of the Long March 8, to enhance its options for space launches. These rockets will offer increased capacity for high-frequency launch missions and the ability to carry larger payloads to low Earth orbit or sun-synchronous orbit. Additionally, China is developing super heavy-lift rockets for large space infrastructure and crewed moon missions, with a goal of launching around 100 missions this year, including an ambitious lunar far side sample return mission.
Northrop Grumman is preparing the first Cygnus spacecraft to fly on a Falcon 9 for the NG-20 cargo mission, carrying experiments such as 3D printing of metal parts and semiconductors in microgravity, remote control robotic surgery, and heat shield testing. SpaceX is aiming to launch nine Falcon 9s by the end of the month, falling short of its goal of 12 per month, while also dealing with rescheduled Starlink Group 7-11 and 6-38 launches. Additionally, Virgin Galactic plans to send VSS Unity on a suborbital flight, and Rocket Lab's Electron will launch four space situational awareness satellites.
European space officials are facing crucial timing decisions in the coming weeks regarding the return to flight of Europe's flagship space launchers. The inaugural launch of the Ariane 6 has been delayed until next year, while the Vega C's return to service in 2023 has been hampered by a failed test. The Russian Soyuz program was also interrupted last year. Europe is working to close the gap in launch capability as competition in the commercial launch market intensifies. The European Space Agency plans to set a launch window for the Ariane 6 in early October, with a test debut expected in 2024. The timing for Vega C's return to operation will be determined later this month.
Four space launches are scheduled for the week of June 24 to July 1, including the launch of the European Space Agency's Euclid telescope aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, Virgin Galactic's Galactic 01 crewed suborbital mission, and Firefly Alpha's first operational flight with the DARPA Victus Nox mission. The week will begin with the launch of a Meteor weather satellite aboard a Soyuz rocket, and the launches will take place in Russia, New Mexico, California, and Florida.
Rocket Lab will launch its first suborbital Electron mission, while SpaceX will launch the Satria satellite to geostationary transfer orbit. China will launch an unknown payload, and the United Launch Alliance will launch the penultimate Delta IV Heavy on the NROL-68 mission. SpaceX will also launch a Starlink mission, which will be the first West Coast launch targeting Starlink's second-generation constellation.
North Korea's attempt to launch a military spy satellite failed due to an abnormal ignition of the second stage; Arianespace signed a launch contract for the Earth observation satellite Kompsat-6, which will fly into orbit on the European light launcher Vega C; ClearSpace has contracted Arianespace to launch its first debris-removal mission to capture and deorbit a 100 kg piece of space debris; Northrop Grumman won a $45.5 million contract to launch a small weather satellite in 2025 using its Minotaur 4 rocket; French launch startup Latitude is pushing its Navier rocket engine to the limits in a new test campaign.
The weather conditions at Kennedy Space Center are iffy for SpaceX's next Falcon Heavy launch scheduled for Wednesday evening. The rocket is expected to face 60% "go" weather conditions due to the potential for thick and anvil clouds. The launch will not include any first stage recoveries as there won't be enough fuel left over for the boosters to return. SpaceX is also targeting Friday for the launch of a payload for Luxembourg-based SES.
China has launched three rockets in the Chang Zheng family and several more non-Chang Zheng vehicles were spotted on launch pads at Jiuquan. Recently published satellite imagery showed new Chinese commercial vehicles on multiple pads at Jiuquan. The company has not yet given a timeline for the return to flight, but imagery before the first flight showed the hardware of the second rocket already in a nearly complete state.