With the successful completion of a static test fire, the stage is now set for a SpaceX Falcon 9 to launch the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) spacecraft on the evening of Sunday, February 8th. Liftoff must take place in an instantaneous window occurring at 6:10 PM EST. If needed, a backup date is reserved […]
This may be the most encouraging image of a rocket explosion in the history of the Space Age. A new series of tweets by Elon Musk show photos of the returning SpaceX Falcon 9 first stage hitting Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship at a 45 degree angle during its oh so close landing attempt which too […]
Falcon 9 on the pad Monday evening / Image Credit S. Money Meteorologists with the U.S. Air Force’s 45th Space Wing are estimating an 80% change of good weather for Saturday’s 4:47 AM EST SpaceX launch attempt from Cape Canaveral. Temperature will be in the low 50’s, with the primary concern being thick clouds. In […]
SpaceX has finally confirmed that it will indeed be attempting to land the Falcon 9 first stage on its autonomous drone ship following Friday’s CRS-5 launch to the International Space Station. The complete description is posted on their website’s update page here. America’s Russian engine addiction continues unabated. Orbital Sciences has selected the RD-181 derivative […]
Update: At 10:03 AM CST, the European Space Agency Rosetta control room erupted in hugs, cheers, and a cry of “We’re down! We’re down!” Original Story The European Space Agency’s Rosetta mission is on track to attempt a historic first soft landing on a comet on Wednesday. After separating from the the Rosetta spacecraft overnight, […]
SpaceX released the following video of the first stage return on the July 14 Orbcomm mission. Early front runner for best short film of the year. SpaceX Description Published on Jul 22, 2014 Video of the Falcon 9 first stage reentry and landing following successful delivery of six ORBCOMM satellites to orbit. This test […]
After a number of scrubs due to high winds at its Hawaii test site, NASA was finally able to conduct the first of three planned Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD) test flights on Saturday. From the NASA news release: The balloon launch occurred at 8:45 a.m. HST (11:45 a.m. PDT/2:45 p.m. EDT) from the US Navy’s […]
The SpaceX Dragon capsule safely returned to earth, or more accurately, to sea today, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Baja at 12:22 PM PT. The return marks the end of NASA Commercial Resupply Flight number 1, and a conclusion to the first official commercial supply run to space in history. Future cargo trips, whether to private stations, […]
Recent Comments