Latest news with #AShortfallofGravitas
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
SpaceX knocks out another national security launch while ULA faces scrutiny
ORLANDO, Fla. — United Launch Alliance's years-long delays with its new Vulcan rocket have flipped the script for national security missions, making SpaceX the new reliable provider. The shift to Elon Musk's company at the detriment to ULA's bottom line took center stage again Friday with a SpaceX Falcon 9 launching the GPS III-7 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's Space Launch Complex 40 at 1:37 p.m. The first-stage booster flew for the fourth time making a recovery landing downrange on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas stationed in the Atlantic. The mission to launch a GPS satellite was the second originally awarded to ULA but transferred to SpaceX under the National Security Space Launch Phase 2 contract. Initially assigned to ULA's Vulcan, both a December 2024 launch and then Friday's launch were shifted to Falcon 9 as ULA faced an extended delay in certification of its replacement for both its Atlas V and Delta IV class of rockets. While called the GPS III-7 mission, it's actually the eighth of 10 satellites constructed by Lockheed Martin to add to the U.S.'s GPS capability in space. It's also part of an accelerated mission timeline laid out by the Space Force for national security missions in which payloads get to space in under three months from the decision to go, compared to the normal turnaround that can take up to 24 months. 'It highlights another instance of the Space Force's ability to complete high priority launches on a rapid timescale, which demonstrates the capability to respond to emergent constellation needs as rapidly as space vehicle readiness allows,' said Space Force Col. Jim Horne, senior materiel leader of launch execution with the Assured Access to Space program. The latest GPS satellites are three times more accurate and eight times more resistant to jamming than the other 38 in space already, according to the Space Force. The Department of Defense's desire to launch more effective GPS hardware, less susceptible to interference, forced the switch to SpaceX in both missions. The NSSL Phase 2 contract, which featured five years' worth of task orders announced from 2020-2024, was originally announced to give ULA 60% of the assignments. All of those were supposed to fly on Vulcan, with its first launches to be completed by summer 2022. But as Vulcan faced myriad delays, the final spate of task orders ended up putting 26 missions on ULA's plate to SpaceX's 22. Now another two of those missions have swapped from ULA to SpaceX, although the Space Force has said ULA will get back two future missions previously assigned to SpaceX. To date, ULA has only managed to fly one of those 26 missions, and that wasn't on a Vulcan. Instead ULA was forced to use one of its few remaining Atlas V rockets, which flew last summer. ULA, which is a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin that formed in 2006, had originally been targeting mid-2020 for Vulcan's debut. But it faced hurdles from COVID, acquisition of engines from supplier Blue Origin, delays from customer payloads and even a fiery test stand incident that all contributed to a nearly four-year slide. It flew for the first time in January 2024, but not again until that October, both as part of ULA's efforts to get national security certification. An issue with a solid rocket booster motor detaching during launch on the second flight, though, delayed that certification until March 2025. At this point, the first national security launch on Vulcan won't be until at least July, according to Major Gen. Stephen G. Purdy, the acting assistant secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration. Purdy, a former head of Space Launch Delta 45 based at Patrick Space Force Base, raised concerns about ULA's delays during written testimony released earlier this month to the U.S. House Armed Services Committee's Subcommittee on Strategic Forces. 'In NSSL Phase 2, the ULA Vulcan program has performed unsatisfactorily this past year,' he wrote. 'Major issues with the Vulcan have overshadowed its successful certification resulting in delays to the launch of four national security missions. Despite the retirement of highly successful Atlas and Delta launch vehicles, the transition to Vulcan has been slow and continues to impact the completion of Space Force mission objectives.' Vulcan's certification is at the point only partial, having only been signed off for five of the Space Force's nine required orbital needs, Purdy said. He did said ULA has increased its 'engineering resources and management focus to resolve design issues' while government personnel have been more involved with both technical and program management. Purdy said ULA's first national security launch on Vulcan will be USSF-106. The payload, Navigation Technology Satellite-3, is headed to geostationary orbit. Built by L3Harris, it's funded by the Air Force Research Laboratory and a potential replacement technology for GPS. It was one of two task orders given to ULA in 2020 with a value of $337 million. The other, USSF-51, was the one that launched last summer on an Atlas V. With ULA dealing with a backlog of the Phase 2 contract missions, the company's piece of the next pie got smaller. Earlier this year, the Space Force announced SpaceX, not ULA, would get the majority of the Phase 3 contracts with a total of $13.7 billion to be doled out over the next five years. SpaceX would receive 28 of 54 planned missions, or 52%. Meanwhile, ULA's take is only 19 missions, or 35%, while newcomer Blue Origin would get seven, or 13%. Purdy confirmed ULA had already lost out on some Phase 3 contracts because of the Vulcan delays, and addressed what he deemed to be ULA's marching orders along with other commercial providers that have fallen short on delivery to the government. 'For these programs, the prime contractors must re-establish baselines, establish a culture of accountability, and repair trust deficit to prove to (me) that they are adopting the acquisition principles necessary to deliver capabilities at speed, on cost and on schedule,' he said ULA meanwhile is dipping its toes back into launches, lining up only its second planned mission of the year, a commercial launch for customer Amazon using another of its remaining Atlas V rockets. Following the April launch of the first mission for Amazon's Project Kuiper, an internet satellite constellation that aims to compete with SpaceX's Starlink system, the second mission is targeting liftoff no earlier than June 13. Meanwhile, SpaceX has now flown its Falcon 9 on 65 missions this year, including 44 from the Space Coast. ------------
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
SpaceX launch today: Everything to know about GPS III-7 launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida
It's a meteorological coin toss: Will SpaceX launch a Falcon 9 rocket this afternoon on a Space Force GPS III satellite mission, or will cumulus clouds and summertime thunderstorms trigger a scrub? Stay tuned. SpaceX is targeting a 15-minute window from 1:23 p.m. to 1:38 p.m. to launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The Falcon 9 will deploy a Lockheed Martin-built GPS III satellite into medium-Earth orbit, ascending along a northeasterly trajectory. However, the Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron only predicts 45% odds of "go for launch" weather, with "isolated towering cumulus clouds" and surface electric fields posing threats. The National Weather Service calls for a 60% chance of showers and thunderstorms at the Cape — mainly after 2 p.m. — with a high near 91 degrees. What's more, forecasters cite a moderate risk of poor oceangoing conditions for the SpaceX drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas out at sea for the first-stage booster landing. Check back for live FLORIDA TODAY Space Team launch coverage updates on this page, starting about 90 minutes before the launch window opens. When SpaceX's live webcast begins about five minutes before liftoff, look for it posted below next to our countdown clock. Countdown Timer For the latest news 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 rocket launch today: What to know before liftoff from Florida
UPI
24-05-2025
- Climate
- UPI
SpaceX launches Starlink satellites from Florida ahead of thunderstorm
May 24 (UPI) -- SpaceX on Saturday afternoon launched 23 more Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit from Florida before a thunderstorm struck the area. The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Pad 40 at 1:19 p.m. The first-stage booster landed about eight minutes later on the private company's drone ship "A Shortfall of Gravitas" in the Atlantic Ocean. It was the booster's 24th mission, including 18 Starlink missions and a commercial resupply services flight to the International Space Station. SpaceX has completed 451 booster landings since Dec. 2015 from Florida and California. Watch Falcon 9 launch 23 @Starlink satellites to orbit from Florida, including 13 with Direct to Cell capabilities SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 24, 2025 It was the 44th Starlink launch of the year from Florida at Cape Canaveral or Kennedy Space Center, Florida Today reported. At 11:55 a.m., the temperature was 89 degrees with a heat index of 100, according to the National Weather Service in Melbourne. After liftoff, a severe thunderstorm warning was issued for the area until 4:30 p.m. There were scattered to severe storms across east central Florida with hail, damaging winds and lightning, according to Space Coast Daily. On Friday, SpaceX launched 27 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. From the Kennedy Space Center on June 8, SpaceX is planning to launch the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station. Liftoff for the Falcon 9 is scheduled for 9:11 a.m. from Pad 39A. The four astronauts plan to spend 14 days at the ISS.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
SpaceX launch recap: Live updates from Starlink mission May 14 from Cape Canaveral, Florida
Launch recap: Scroll down to review live updates from from Cape Canaveral on the Starlink 6-67 mission. Original story: After a string of nighttime launches from Florida's Space Coast, SpaceX aims to send up a Falcon 9 rocket today during a lunch-hour launch. Welcome to FLORIDA TODAY Space Team live coverage of today's SpaceX Starlink 6-67 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. SpaceX is targeting 12:38 p.m. to send up the rocket from Launch Complex 40. In a highly favorable forecast, the Space Force's 45th Weather Squadron predicted odds of "go for launch" weather at 95%, with cumulus clouds posing only "a very small chance of a violation." The Falcon 9 will deploy a batch of 28 Starlink internet satellites into low-Earth orbit. After soaring skyward along a southeasterly trajectory, the rocket's first-stage booster will target landing aboard a SpaceX drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. Cape Canaveral: Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, Axiom, ULA rocket launch schedule at Cape Canaveral Countdown Timer Update 12:47 p.m.: The Falcon 9 first-stage booster just touched down atop SpaceX's drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean, wrapping up its fourth mission. Update 12:38 p.m.: Liftoff! SpaceX has just launched the Falcon 9 carrying 28 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Update 12:32 p.m.: SpaceX's launch webcast is now posted above, right below our countdown clock. Liftoff is scheduled in six minutes from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Update 12:25 p.m.: Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex officials have opened SpaceX launch viewing areas at the Apollo/Saturn V Center (about 6.2 miles from the pad) and the Atlantis North Lawn (about 6.7 miles from the pad. Update 12:18 p.m.: Today's mission will mark the Falcon 9 first-stage booster's fourth flight, SpaceX reported. This booster previously launched the SES O3b mPOWER-E, Crew-10 and Bandwagon-3 missions. Following stage separation, crews expect the booster to land on the SpaceX drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean 8 minutes, 13 seconds after liftoff. Update 12:10 p.m.: Falcon 9 fueling procedures are now underway at Launch Complex 40, as evidenced by a frost ring forming on the rocket's exterior. That means the Starlink mission countdown is locked in to lift off at 12:38 p.m. without any delays, or else today's launch must be postponed to a later date. Update 11:55 a.m.: SpaceX has not launched a rocket during daylight hours from Florida's Space Coast since the Starlink 6-80 mission back on March 31. Today's launch should occur roughly 43 days and 21 hours after that spring-break liftoff from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Update 11:45 a.m.: Here's a rundown of SpaceX's upcoming behind-the-scenes Falcon 9 launch countdown timeline. T-minus: 38 minutes: SpaceX launch director verifies 'go' for propellant load. 35 minutes: Rocket-grade kerosene and first-stage liquid oxygen loading begins. 16 minutes: Second-stage liquid oxygen loading begins. 7 minutes: Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch. 1 minute: Command flight computer begins final prelaunch checks; propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins. 45 seconds: SpaceX launch director verifies 'go' for launch. 3 seconds: Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start. 0 seconds: Liftoff. Update 11:30 a.m.: SpaceX's upcoming Falcon 9 launch will clock in as the 42nd orbital rocket launch thus far during 2025 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's neighboring Kennedy Space Center. Click here to check out the FLORIDA TODAY Space Team's updating tally listing this year's missions, complete with photo galleries and story links. Update 11:15 a.m.: A few meteorological remarks from the 45th Weather Squadron's launch forecast: "High pressure will build in from the west through the rest of the week. The ridge will create morebenign weather across the Spaceport, with only a very small chance of a Cumulus Cloud Rule violation during the primary launch opportunity," the forecast said. Update 11 a.m.: Brevard County Emergency Management officials have activated the agency's launch operations support team ahead of SpaceX's upcoming lunchtime Falcon 9 launch. For the latest news and launch schedule from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit 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 launch recap: Live updates from May 14 Starlink mission in Florida
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
SpaceX launches rocket from Florida carrying Starlink satellites
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (WFLA) — SpaceX launched a rocket carrying over two dozen Starlink satellites into orbit on Wednesday. Falcon 9 blasted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 12:38 p.m. The rocket carried 28 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit before returning to the surface, landing in the Atlantic Ocean on the A Shortfall of Gravitas drone ship. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
