Latest news with #PeggyWhitson
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13 hours ago
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SpaceX sends 27 Starlink satellites into orbit from California
June 4 (UPI) -- SpaceX on Wednesday afternoon launched another batch of 27 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on the 15th anniversary of the first Falcon 9 rocket launch. It was the 500th orbital launch of a Falcon rocket, including Falcon 1, Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy, Spaceflight Now reported. The Falcon 9 lifted off from pad 4E at 4:40 p.m. PDT. A little more than eight minutes after liftoff, the first stage landed on the "Of Course I Still Love You" droneship in the Pacific Ocean. This was the 26th flight for the first stage booster, which included 18 Starlink missions. It was thge 134th landing on this vessel and the 457th booster landing in California and Florida. The first launch of a Falcon 9 rocket was on June 4, 2010, from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex pad 40. This was a test Dragon spacecraft successfully placed into orbit. In 2020, Falcon 9 was the first commercial rocket to launch humans to orbit. Falcon has sent commercial resupply missions, including astronauts, to the International Space Station. The next SpaceX Falcon 9 launch is scheduled for 11:19 p.m. EDT Friday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station pad 40. The rocket will launch a geostationary satellite for SiriusXM. Private mission to ISS SpaceX, NASA and Axiom Space are planning a launch of the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, Axiom Mission 4, for 8:22 p.m. Tuesday from the Kennedy Space Center's pade 39A. The Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to launch a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. The targeted docking time is approximately 12:30 p.m., June 11. There are nine people currently on the ISS. Axiom Space and SpaceX are planning coverage to start at 6:15 a.m. and NASA at 7:25 a.m. Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, will command the commercial mission. She is 65 years old. The crew also includes pilot Shubhanshu Shukla with the Indian Space Research Organization, and mission specialists with the European Space Agency, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. This would be the first time ISRA will send an astronaut to the space station as well as ESA astronauts from Hungary and Poland. NASA and the Indian agency are planning five joint science investigations and two in-orbit science, technology, engineering and mathematics demonstrations. Axiom Space, which is based in Houston and founded in 2016, is building the first commercial space station with deployment planned in the late 2020s.
UPI
14 hours ago
- Science
- UPI
SpaceX sends 27 Starlink satellites into orbit from California
1 of 2 | SpaceX on Wednesday afternoon launched another batch of 27 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Itg was the 500th launh of a Falcon rocket. Photo by Spacex/X June 4 (UPI) -- SpaceX on Wednesday afternoon launched another batch of 27 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on the 15th anniversary of the first Falcon 9 rocket launch. It was the 500th orbital launch of a Falcon rocket, including Falcon 1, Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy, Spaceflight Now reported. The Falcon 9 lifted off from pad 4E at 4:40 p.m. PDT. Falcon 9 delivers 27 @Starlink satellites to orbit from California SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 5, 2025 A little more than eight minutes after liftoff, the first stage landed on the "Of Course I Still Love You" droneship in the Pacific Ocean. This was the 26th flight for the first stage booster, which included 18 Starlink missions. It was thge 134th landing on this vessel and the 457th booster landing in California and Florida. The first launch of a Falcon 9 rocket was on June 4, 2010, from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex pad 40. This was a test Dragon spacecraft successfully placed into orbit. In 2020, Falcon 9 was the first commercial rocket to launch humans to orbit. Falcon has sent commercial resupply missions, including astronauts, to the International Space Station. The next SpaceX Falcon 9 launch is scheduled for 11:19 p.m. EDT Friday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station pad 40. The rocket will launch a geostationary satellite for SiriusXM. Private mission to ISS SpaceX, NASA and Axiom Space are planning a launch of the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, Axiom Mission 4, for 8:22 p.m. Tuesday from the Kennedy Space Center's pade 39A. The Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to launch a new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. The targeted docking time is approximately 12:30 p.m., June 11. There are nine people currently on the ISS. Axiom Space and SpaceX are planning coverage to start at 6:15 a.m. and NASA at 7:25 a.m. Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, will command the commercial mission. She is 65 years old. The crew also includes pilot Shubhanshu Shukla with the Indian Space Research Organization, and mission specialists with the European Space Agency, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. This would be the first time ISRA will send an astronaut to the space station as well as ESA astronauts from Hungary and Poland. NASA and the Indian agency are planning five joint science investigations and two in-orbit science, technology, engineering and mathematics demonstrations. Axiom Space, which is based in Houston and founded in 2016, is building the first commercial space station with deployment planned in the late 2020s.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Climate
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SpaceX to launch SiriusXM communications satellite from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
Look for SpaceX to launch another SiriusXM geostationary communications satellite into orbit the night of Friday, June 6, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. SiriusXM reported about 33 million subscribers and $1.6 billion in total revenue during the first quarter of the year, per an earnings release. The satellite radio company's podcast business continued to grow, racking up nearly 1 billion downloads and 70 million monthly podcast listeners. The SXM-10 satellite will lift off atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 40 during a window that opens at 11:19 p.m. June 6 and extends overnight until 3:48 a.m. June 7, a Federal Aviation Administration operations plan advisory shows. Cape Canaveral: Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, Axiom, ULA rocket launch schedule at Cape Canaveral "This latest satellite marks another milestone in our over two-decade partnership with SiriusXM, supporting the continued evolution of their satellite radio network," Maxar Space Systems officials said in a May 15 tweet, which noted the satellite had arrived at KSC via truck ahead of launch. Maxar has built SiriusXM's satellite network, dating to the first-generation versions launched in 2000. The SXM-10 satellite and its two future companions, SXM-11 and SXM-12, represent third-generation spacecraft. During the upcoming launch window, scattered showers and thunderstorms should emerge between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, the National Weather Service reported. Overall chance of precipitation: 60%. Partly cloudy skies should otherwise prevail, with a low around 73 and south-southeast wind around 5 mph turning southwest after midnight. On Dec. 5, a Falcon 9 launched the SiriusXM SXM-9 satellite into transfer orbit from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. That milestone mission marked the 100th time a Falcon first-stage booster landed atop the SpaceX drone ship Just Read the Instructions in the Atlantic Ocean. Looking ahead to next week, another Falcon 9 will launch Axiom Space's quartet of commercial astronauts to the International Space Station on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. Liftoff is scheduled for 8:22 a.m. Tuesday, June 10, from pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The Ax-4 mission commander is former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson. She is joined by astronauts from India, Poland and Hungary. 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 to launch SiriusXM communications satellite from Cape Canaveral
Yahoo
16 hours ago
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Axiom-4 astronauts prepare to launch from Kennedy Space Center in Florida: What to know
The next group of international astronauts are preparing to head up into outer space. Axiom Space, a company headquartered in Houston, Texas, is set to send four spacefarers up to the International Space Station on a private two-week research mission. The Axiom Mission 4, also known as Ax-4, is the latest in a series of human spaceflights in partnership with both NASA and SpaceX. The mission, which was recently delayed for the second time, is due to get off the ground once again from NASA's Kennedy Space Center near Cape Canaveral, Florida. This time around, a crew will be under the command of Peggy Whitson, a record-holding NASA astronaut who has recently made a second career in the private spaceflight sector. Here's everything to know about Axiom Space's fourth crewed mission to the space station: Whitson and her crew are due to undertake about 60 scientific experiments during their time aboard the International Space Station. The research was developed specifically to take place in microgravity on behalf of organizations around the world, according to Axiom Space. The Axiom missions are also aimed at advancing the company's goals of building a space station that will attach to the ISS before its planned 2030 retirement. The Axiom missions began in 2022, with the most recent, Axiom Mission 3, taking place in January 2024. What also makes Ax-4 notable is that it is the first time in more than 40 years that India, Poland and Hungary have had a crew member from their respective nations on a government-sponsored spaceflight. The upcoming spaceflight is also each nation's first-ever mission to the space station. Axiom Space: Ax-4 will launch with former NASA astronaut and new SpaceX Dragon For 25 years, the International Space Station has been stationed in low-Earth orbit, typically about 250 miles high, where it has been home to astronauts from all over the world. The orbital laboratory is operated through a global partnership of space agencies, including NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). More than 280 spacefarers from 23 countries have visited the International Space Station, including 169 from the United States alone, according to NASA. Bigger than a six-bedroom house, the outpost has six sleeping quarters, two bathrooms, a gym and a 360-degree view bay window. As of now, seven members of Expedition 73, including three Americans, are living aboard the ISS – conducting scientific research and working to maintain the station. The Ax-4 crew are due to ride a brand-new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft to orbit, which will get off the ground with the assistance of the company's two-stage Falcon 9 rocket. The launch could happen as early as 8:22 a.m. ET Tuesday, June 10, from NASA's historic Launch Complex 39A – the site of the agency's Apollo moon mission launches. The launch window was delayed Tuesday, June 3, for the second time in a shift that NASA says will allow mission operators to avoid inclement weather and have more time to prepare the Dragon for launch. Axiom Space had originally been working toward a May 29 launch before takeoff was pushed to June 8 as part of adjustments to the space station's schedule. Once the Dragon separates from the Falcon 9 following liftoff, the capsule will continue its independent journey to the orbital outpost, where it is expected to dock by 12:30 p.m. ET Wednesday, June 11, according to NASA. Here's a look at the four international astronauts crewing Ax-4: Commander , a former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space who previously commanded Ax-2 Pilot , an astronaut with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Mission specialist , a scientist and engineer from Poland who is part of the European Space Agency's reserve astronaut class Mission specialist , a mechanical engineer from Hungary The Ax-4 crew members and their Dragon spacecraft are expected to be docked at the space station for up to 14 days. Though their exact return date remains unclear, they would eventually depart the station on the Dragon for a water landing off the coast of California, where SpaceX has recently moved its recovery operations. Contributing: Brooke Edwards, FLORIDA TODAY Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@ This article originally appeared on Florida Today: What is Axiom-4? Private mission with SpaceX to launch from Florida
Yahoo
16 hours ago
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Axiom-4 astronauts prepare to launch for space station on SpaceX Dragon: What to know
The next group of international astronauts are preparing to head up into outer space. Axiom Space, a company headquartered in Houston, Texas, is set to send four spacefarers up to the International Space Station on a private two-week research mission. The Axiom Mission 4, also known as Ax-4, is the latest in a series of human spaceflights in partnership with both NASA and SpaceX. The mission, which was recently delayed for the second time, is due to get off the ground once again from NASA's Kennedy Space Center near Cape Canaveral, Florida. This time around, a crew will be under the command of Peggy Whitson, a record-holding NASA astronaut who has recently made a second career in the private spaceflight sector. Here's everything to know about Axiom Space's fourth crewed mission to the International Space Station: Whitson and her crew are due to undertake about 60 scientific experiments during their time aboard the International Space Station. The research was developed specifically to take place in microgravity on behalf of organizations around the world, according to Axiom Space. The Axiom missions are also aimed at advancing the company's goals of building a space station that will attach to the ISS before its planned 2030 retirement. The Axiom missions began in 2022, with the most recent, Axiom Mission 3, taking place in January 2024. What also makes Ax-4 notable is that it is the first time in more than 40 years that India, Poland and Hungary have had a crew member from their respective nations on a government-sponsored spaceflight. The upcoming spaceflight is also each nation's first-ever mission to the space station. Axiom Space: Ax-4 will launch with former NASA astronaut and new SpaceX Dragon For 25 years, the International Space Station has been stationed in low-Earth orbit, typically about 250 miles high, where it has been home to astronauts from all over the world. The orbital laboratory is operated through a global partnership of space agencies, including NASA, Roscosmos, the European Space Agency, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). More than 280 spacefarers from 23 countries have visited the International Space Station, including 169 from the United States alone, according to NASA. Bigger than a six-bedroom house, the outpost has six sleeping quarters, two bathrooms, a gym and a 360-degree view bay window. As of now, seven members of Expedition 73, including three Americans, are living aboard the ISS – conducting scientific research and working to maintain the station. The Ax-4 crew are due to ride a brand-new SpaceX Dragon spacecraft to orbit, which will get off the ground with the assistance of the company's two-stage Falcon 9 rocket. The launch could happen as early as 8:22 a.m. ET Tuesday, June 10, from NASA's historic Launch Complex 39A – the site of the agency's Apollo moon mission launches. The launch window was delayed Tuesday, June 3, for the second time in a shift that NASA says will allow mission operators to avoid inclement weather and have more time to prepare the Dragon for launch. Axiom Space had originally been working toward a May 29 launch before takeoff was pushed to June 8 as part of adjustments to the space station's schedule. Once the Dragon separates from the Falcon 9 following liftoff, the capsule will continue its independent journey to the orbital outpost, where it is expected to dock by 12:30 p.m. ET Wednesday, June 11, according to NASA. Here's a look at the four international astronauts crewing Ax-4: Commander , a former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space who previously commanded Ax-2 Pilot , an astronaut with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) Mission specialist , a scientist and engineer from Poland who is part of the European Space Agency's reserve astronaut class Mission specialist , a mechanical engineer from Hungary The Ax-4 crew members and their Dragon spacecraft are expected to be docked at the space station for up to 14 days. Though their exact return date remains unclear, they would eventually depart the station on the Dragon for a water landing off the coast of California, where SpaceX has recently moved its recovery operations. Contributing: Brooke Edwards, FLORIDA TODAY Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What is Axiom-4? 5 things to know about mission with SpaceX
