Latest news with #AShortfallOfGravitas
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Overnight Canaveral launch marked 500th for SpaceX Falcon 9
An early Wednesday morning launch on the Space Coast marked the 500th time SpaceX has flown its workhorse Falcon 9 rocket, reusing the fleet-leading first stage booster for a record 29th time. The latest flight with a payload of 27 Starlink satellites lifted off Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's Space Launch Complex 40 at 2:28 a.m. coming just over nine hours since launch No. 499 from neighboring Kennedy Space Center, which sent up a European weather satellite. The booster, which first flew in 2021 and had since been used on two human spaceflights among 28 previous missions, completed flight 29 landing downrange on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas. The first Falcon 9 launched in 2010, and only two of the 500 launches have ended in complete failure. Elon Musk's company had its first successful orbital launch with the Falcon 1 rocket in 2008, but it only flew one more time before switching to the Falcon 9. It also has flown the Falcon Heavy, which is essentially three Falcon 9 rockets strapped together, 11 times. The launch was the 83rd Falcon 9 mission for SpaceX in 2025 from all of its facilities in Florida and California. No Falcon Heavy has launched yet this year. For the Space Coast, it marked the 58th orbital mission, with all by three flown by SpaceX.
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
SpaceX launches second mission in 2 days from same pad, breaks own record
June 28 (UPI) -- SpaceX early Saturday launched another 27 Starlink satellites, breaking its own record by preparing the launchpad for another liftoff two days after a launch from the same pad in Florida. And 13 hours later, the private company launched more satellites from California. Saturday's first mission went off from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40 at 12:26 a.m. EDT. This was just two days, eight hours, 31 minutes and 10 seconds after the launch of a Starlink mission from the same pad, besting a previous SpaceX record set in March by 28 minutes. Watch Falcon 9 launch 27 @Starlink satellites to orbit from Florida SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 28, 2025 SpaceX also uses a pad at nearby Kennedy Space Station. The launch occurred despite inclement weather that passed through Florida's Space Coast on Friday night. The first stage flew for a fifth time, which has included Starlink missions. About eight minutes after liftoff, the booster landed on the droneship "A Shortfall of Gravitas" stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. This was the 115th landing on the drone ship and 469th booster landing since, according to Spaceflight now. The first droneship landing was on April 8, 2016, on "Of Course I Still Love You" in the Atlantic, which is used in the Pacific Ocean. Ten years ago on June 28, a Falcon 9 that launched from the Cape Canaveral site broke apart in an explosion during a NASA resupply mission to the International Space Station. The first Falcon 9 launch was five years earlier on June 4, 2010, from Cape Canaveral. Launch from California SpaceX launched another 26 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 East in California. The Falcon 9 lifted off at 1:13 p.m. PDT. It was the eighth flight for the first-stage booster supporting this mission, including three Starlink missions. The first stage then landed on the "Of Course I Still Love You" droneship. It's the 139th touchdown on this vessel. Watch Falcon 9 launch 26 @Starlink satellites to orbit from California SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 28, 2025
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
SpaceX launches rocket on Starlink mission after storms, lightning depart East-Central Florida
Hours after meteorologists issued severe thunderstorm warnings and special weather statements across Central Florida, SpaceX crews launched a Falcon 9 rocket under fair skies with 10-mile visibility Saturday, June 28, at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The Falcon 9 lifted off at 12:26 a.m. from Launch Complex 40, carrying 27 Starlink broadband satellites into low-Earth orbit. The post-midnight mission marked the Falcon 9 first-stage booster's fifth flight, SpaceX reported. The booster previously launched CRS-32, NROL-69, GPS III-7 and a Starlink mission. Following stage separation, the booster landed atop the SpaceX drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean. Cape Canaveral: Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, Axiom, ULA rocket launch schedule at Cape Canaveral NASA's Kennedy Space Center had issued its last Phase I lightning watch — giving personnel a 30-minute lead-time warning — at 7:01 p.m. Friday, nearly 5½ hours before liftoff. That lightning watch was terminated at 8:22 p.m. The launch occurred on the 10-year anniversary of a SpaceX rocket explosion following liftoff from Florida's Space Coast. On June 28, 2015, a Falcon 9 that launched from then-Cape Canaveral Air Force Station broke apart during a NASA resupply mission to the International Space Station. That rocket mishap occurred 2 minutes, 19 seconds after liftoff. The Falcon 9 was carrying a SpaceX Dragon capsule packed with more than 5,000 pounds of supplies. On Thursday, Space Launch Delta 45 announced Col. Brian Chatman is now installation commander and director of the Eastern Range at Patrick Space Force Base and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Chatman most recently served as deputy director of the Space Systems Engineering Directorate for the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration. "As the SLD 45 commander, he runs the world's busiest spaceport and is responsible for delivering infrastructure, operations, and support for all Eastern Range launch and test missions," a Space Force press release said. "As Director of the Eastern Range, he is responsible for the safety of launch and test operations across a 15-million-square-mile area," the press release said. For the latest news and launch schedule from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit Another easy way: Click here to sign up for our weekly Space newsletter. Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Neale at Rneale@ Twitter/X: @RickNeale1 Space is important to us and that's why we're working to bring you top coverage of the industry and Florida launches. Journalism like this takes time and resources. Please support it with a subscription here. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: SpaceX launches rocket with Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
SpaceX launches rocket on Starlink mission after storms, lightning depart East-Central Florida
Hours after meteorologists issued severe thunderstorm warnings and special weather statements across Central Florida, SpaceX crews launched a Falcon 9 rocket under fair skies with 10-mile visibility Saturday, June 28, at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The Falcon 9 lifted off at 12:26 a.m. from Launch Complex 40, carrying 27 Starlink broadband satellites into low-Earth orbit. The post-midnight mission marked the Falcon 9 first-stage booster's fifth flight, SpaceX reported. The booster previously launched CRS-32, NROL-69, GPS III-7 and a Starlink mission. Following stage separation, the booster landed atop the SpaceX drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean. Cape Canaveral: Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, Axiom, ULA rocket launch schedule at Cape Canaveral NASA's Kennedy Space Center had issued its last Phase I lightning watch — giving personnel a 30-minute lead-time warning — at 7:01 p.m. Friday, nearly 5½ hours before liftoff. That lightning watch was terminated at 8:22 p.m. The launch occurred on the 10-year anniversary of a SpaceX rocket explosion following liftoff from Florida's Space Coast. On June 28, 2015, a Falcon 9 that launched from then-Cape Canaveral Air Force Station broke apart during a NASA resupply mission to the International Space Station. That rocket mishap occurred 2 minutes, 19 seconds after liftoff. The Falcon 9 was carrying a SpaceX Dragon capsule packed with more than 5,000 pounds of supplies. On Thursday, Space Launch Delta 45 announced Col. Brian Chatman is now installation commander and director of the Eastern Range at Patrick Space Force Base and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Chatman most recently served as deputy director of the Space Systems Engineering Directorate for the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration. "As the SLD 45 commander, he runs the world's busiest spaceport and is responsible for delivering infrastructure, operations, and support for all Eastern Range launch and test missions," a Space Force press release said. "As Director of the Eastern Range, he is responsible for the safety of launch and test operations across a 15-million-square-mile area," the press release said. For the latest news and launch schedule from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit Another easy way: Click here to sign up for our weekly Space newsletter. Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Neale at Rneale@ Twitter/X: @RickNeale1 Space is important to us and that's why we're working to bring you top coverage of the industry and Florida launches. Journalism like this takes time and resources. Please support it with a subscription here. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: SpaceX launches rocket with Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
SpaceX set for overnight rocket launch from Florida's Space Coast
SpaceX crews are preparing to launch another Falcon 9 rocket from Florida's Space Coast. SpaceX plans to launch 27 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The launch is scheduled for 12:26 a.m. Saturday from Space Launch Complex 40, with backup opportunities extending until 4:26 a.m. If necessary, additional launch windows are available on Sunday, June 29, at 12:04 a.m. This mission marks the fifth flight for the Falcon 9 first-stage booster, which has previously supported missions including CRS-32, NROL-69, GPS III-7, and a prior Starlink mission. After the launch, SpaceX plans to launch the booster again on its droneship 'A Shortfall of Gravitas,' stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. Channel 9 will monitor the planned launch and provide updates on Eyewitness News. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
