Latest news with #satellite
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
A SpaceX rocket may be visible in Arizona this weekend: Where, when to see Falcon 9
Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Arizonans could catch the first Starlink satellite launch in more than a week from neighboring California if conditions are ideal. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the internet-beaming satellites could get off the ground from the Vandenberg Space Force Base before the end of the weekend, if all goes to plan. The impending rocket launch would be the latest Starlink delivery from Southern California since July 18 and the state's second spaceflight within a week after NASA sent two science satellites into orbit for its TRACERS mission July 23. Billionaire Elon Musk's rocket company has of late bolstered its orbital Starlink deployments from Vandenberg – providing entertainment to space enthusiasts and angering some Santa Barbara County residents opposed to the increased launches. As you make your rocket viewing plans, though, an important disclaimer to keep in mind is this: Launches can be – and often are – scrubbed or delayed due to any number of factors, including poor weather conditions or unexpected issues with spacecraft. Check back with for any updates on the rocket launch. In the meantime, here's what to know about the launch from Southern California, as well as when and where to potentially spot the rocket in neighboring Arizona: California rocket launches: SpaceX rocket launches have increased in California, and not all residents are happy What time is the SpaceX rocket launch from California? A Federal Aviation Administration operations plan advisory indicates the launch is being targeted for Sunday, July 27, with backup opportunities available the following day, if needed. However, multiple websites dedicated to tracking rocket launches instead suggest the launch window could open as early as 8:55 p.m. PT Saturday, July 26. Neither the Vandenberg Space Force Base, nor SpaceX, have yet officially confirmed the launch. Where is the next rocket launch from California? The launch will take place from Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base in Santa Barbara County, California. Most launches from Vandenberg fly at a south or southeast trajectory. What is the next mission launching from Vandenberg? The spaceflight will make use of the company's famous two-stage 230-foot Falcon 9 rocket, one of the world's most active, to deliver Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit. The altitude is low enough to allow for things like satellites to circle Earth fairly quickly. How to watch SpaceX Starlink launch livestream SpaceX will provide a webcast of the Starlink launch on its website beginning about five minutes before liftoff, along with updates on social media site X. California rocket launch could be visible in Arizona: Where to watch Because of Arizona's proximity to the launch site, there's a good chance people there can see the spacecraft streak across the sky, especially at night or very early morning. Here's a list of some possible viewing locations compiled by The Arizona Republic, a USA TODAY Network publication. Dobbins Lookout, South Mountain, 10919 S. Central Ave., Phoenix, Arizona Papago Park, 625 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, Arizona Fountain Hills, a town in Maricopa County, Arizona, which in 2018 was designated a Dark Sky Community with little light pollution Superstition Mountains, located 40 miles from metro Phoenix in Arizona Cave Creek, a town in Maricopa County about 30 miles north of Fountain Hills, Arizona Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, 3400 Sky Harbor Blvd., Arizona, which has a parking garage that is popular for plane-watching Black Canyon City, an unincorporated community in Yavapai County, Arizona Any mountain park in Arizona , 14805 W. Vineyard Ave., Goodyear, Arizona , 2600 N. Watson Road, Buckeye, Arizona , 20304 W. White Tank Mountain Road, Waddell, Arizona , 6533 W. Phillips Road, Queen Creek, Arizona Monument Hill, a 150-foot slope on 115th Avenue, in Arizona What is SpaceX? Elon Musk, the world's richest man, founded SpaceX in 2002. The commercial spaceflight company is headquartered at Starbase in South Texas near the U.S.-Mexico border. The site, which is where SpaceX has been conducting routine flight tests of its 400-foot megarocket known as Starship, was recently voted by residents to become its own city. SpaceX conducts many of its own rocket launches, most using the Falcon 9 rocket, from both California and Florida. That includes a regular cadence of deliveries of Starlink internet satellites into orbit, and occasional privately-funded commercial crewed missions on the Dragon. The most recent of SpaceX's private human spaceflights, a mission known as Fram2, took place in April. SpaceX was also famously involved in funding and operating the headline-grabbing Polaris Dawn crewed commercial mission in September 2024. SpaceX additionally benefits from billions of dollars in contracts from NASA and the Department of Defense by providing launch services for classified satellites and other payloads. What is Starlink? Owned by Musk, Starlink is a constellation of more than 7,000 satellites that provide internet service to customers around the world. SpaceX has spent more than six years delivering the satellites to orbit with a regular cadence of rocket launches from both Florida and California. While most satellite internet services operate from single geostationary satellites orbiting Earth at about 22,236 miles, Starlink is a constellation of thousands of satellites that operate from a low-Earth orbit, about 341 miles up. That allows Starlink's satellites to have lower latency and data time between user and the satellite, improving performance of things like streaming, online gaming and video calls. Residential plans for Starlink services start at $80 per month. Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@ This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: SpaceX rocket launch may be visible in Arizona: Where to see Falcon 9 Solve the daily Crossword
Russia Today
3 hours ago
- Science
- Russia Today
Russia launches Iranian satellite into orbit (VIDEO)
Russia has launched a Soyuz rocket carrying an Iranian communications satellite into orbit, the country's space agency Roscosmos said on Friday. The launch took place at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia's Far East and was broadcast live. The rocket carried more than 20 payloads, including two Russian scientific satellites, 18 small commercial orbiters, and Iran's Nahid-2 satellite. Nahid-2 was developed by the Iranian Space Research Center and launched under a commercial agreement with the Iranian Space Agency. According to Iranian state media, the satellite is designed for low-Earth orbit and supports Tehran's broader ambitions to expand its space capabilities. The mission follows a growing series of joint Russian-Iranian space initiatives, including launches of Earth observation and communications satellites. In January, Moscow and Tehran signed a 20-year comprehensive strategic partnership agreement, which includes collaboration on civil space programs and emphasizes peaceful cooperation across energy, science, and technology sectors. Russia regularly launches satellites for foreign clients through commercially contracted Soyuz missions. Last November, Russia conducted a record-breaking launch of 53 satellites from Vostochny, including payloads from Iran, Zimbabwe, and a joint Russian-Chinese device.
Washington Post
3 hours ago
- Science
- Washington Post
Russia launches an Iranian communications satellite into orbit
MOSCOW — A Russian rocket sent an Iranian communications satellite into orbit Friday, a launch that highlighted strong ties between the two countries. The Soyuz rocket lifted off as scheduled from Vostochny launchpad in far eastern Russia, the country's state-controlled Roscosmos corporation said. It carried two Russian Ionosphere-M Earth observation satellites, along with Iran's Nahid-2 satellite and 17 smaller Russian satellites, and put them into designated orbits.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
NASA unveils incredibly precise new satellite tool that anyone can use: 'You can zoom in to your country, your state, your city block'
NASA unveils incredibly precise new satellite tool that anyone can use: 'You can zoom in to your country, your state, your city block' NASA's new web portal reveals ground movements across North America with precision that captures tiny shifts smaller than an inch, reported NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This tool helps people monitor the Earth's movements, whether caused by natural phenomena such as earthquakes and volcanic activity or human activities such as the extraction of underground resources. By converting complex satellite radar signals into user-friendly visual maps, NASA has made what was once specialist knowledge available to everyday users. The project comes from NASA's Observational Products for End-Users from Remote Sensing Analysis team working with the Alaska Satellite Facility. They've created a program that handles satellite information collected since 2014, with plans to include new data from another space mission launching this year. "You can zoom in to your country, your state, your city block, and look at how the land there is moving over time," said David Bekaert, OPERA project manager and radar scientist. "You can see that by a simple mouse click." Right now, you can explore data for areas such as the American Southwest, parts of Mexico's northern region, and greater New York. The portal displays information for millions of spots on the map. When you click anywhere, you'll see a chart showing that location's movement history back to 2016. Water experts have already started using this mapping tool. Take Arizona, where tracking the gradual sinking of land helps manage precious groundwater supplies. "It's a great tool to say, 'Let's look at those areas more intensely with our own SAR processing,'" said Brian Conway, principal hydrogeologist at the Arizona Department of Water Resources. The technology works by bouncing radar signals off Earth's surface from satellites. When these signals return, special computer programs analyze them to determine if the land is rising or sinking. What once took specialists many days to calculate now happens automatically within seconds. NASA plans to roll out coverage beyond its current regions. According to its timeline, people across North America will gain access as the map grows to include all U.S. states, neighboring areas in Canada, and countries throughout Central America before 2026 arrives. Do you think our power grid needs to be upgraded? Definitely Only in some states Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
The Independent
4 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
Russia launches an Iranian communications satellite into orbit
A Russian rocket sent an Iranian communications satellite into orbit Friday, a launch that highlighted strong ties between the two countries. The Soyuz rocket lifted off as scheduled from Vostochny launchpad in far eastern Russia, the country's state-controlled Roscosmos corporation said. It carried two Russian Ionosphere-M Earth observation satellites, along with Iran's Nahid-2 satellite and 17 smaller Russian satellites, and put them into designated orbits. The 110-kilogram (242-pound) Iranian satellite is supposed to circle the Earth on a 500-kilometer (310-mile) orbit and has a service lifetime of two years. In November, Russia launched a pair of Iranian satellites named Kowsar and Hodhod, the first launched on behalf of the country's private sector. It followed two previous Russian launches of Iranian satellites in 2022 and 2024. Russia, which signed a 'strategic partnership' treaty with Iran in January, strongly condemned the Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran last month. Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested that Moscow could help negotiate a settlement that could allow Tehran to pursue a peaceful atomic program while assuaging Israeli security concerns. At the same time, Putin has emphasized that Tehran hasn't asked Moscow for military assistance and noted that the partnership treaty doesn't envision such aid. Russia has maintained a delicate balancing act in the Middle East for decades, trying to maintain warm relations with Israel even as it developed strong economic and military ties with Iran.
