December 2023 – Spaceflight Now

India kicks off 2024 orbital launch year with X-ray observatory mission

December 31, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

The orbital launch calendar began just hours into the first day of 2024 based on Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). At 0340 UTC (9:10 a.m. IST or 10:40 p.m. EST on Dec. 31), a PSLV-DL rocket lifted off from India to begin what will likely be another record-breaking global launch year.

SpaceX aces modern-day launch turnaround record with Falcon 9 Starlink mission

December 29, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

The launch of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket occurred less than three hours after the planned Falcon Heavy launch. Liftoff of the Starlink 6-36 mission happened at 11:01 p.m. EST (0401 UTC).

SpaceX launches Falcon Heavy rocket, X-37B military spaceplane

December 28, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

SpaceX launched the X-37B military spaceplane onboard its Falcon Heavy rocket late Thursday night. Liftoff of the USSF-52 mission from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center occurred 8:07 p.m. EST (0107 UTC) on Thursday at the opening of a ten-minute launch window.

Members Bonus Content: Remains of Falcon 9 booster 1058 return to port (4K video)

December 27, 2023 Spaceflight Now

Raw 4K footage from Port Canaveral as the drone ship ‘Just Read the Instructions’ returns with the remains of Falcon 9 Booster 1058. The first-stage landed of the ocean-going platform on Dec. 23 after successfully completing its record-breaking 19th flight. But less than 100 miles from port, high winds and rough seas caused the booster to topple over. Its top half broke off and fell into the ocean.

Historic SpaceX Falcon 9 booster topples over and is lost at sea

December 27, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

During its return voyage to Port Canaveral in Florida, a SpaceX Falcon 9 first stage booster, tail number B1058, toppled over and broke in half. The booster has made 19 flights including launching NASA astronauts to space for the first time from American soil after the Space Shuttle program ended.

SpaceX launches twin radar satellites for German military from California

December 23, 2023 Spaceflight Now

SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying the SARah 2 & 3 satellites for the German military Sunday. The twin craft, equipped with passive synthetic aperture radar reflectors, lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 5:11 a.m. PST / 8:11 a.m. EST / 1311 UTC.

SpaceX launches Falcon 9 first-stage booster on record-breaking 19th flight

December 23, 2023 Spaceflight Now

SpaceX sent a Falcon 9 first-stage booster on a record-breaking 19th launch just after midnight as it continues the expansion of its Starlink satellite constellation. Liftoff from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral occurred at 12:33 a.m. EST (0533 UTC).

ULA stacks Vulcan rocket for the first time ahead of Jan. 8 debut launch

December 21, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

The fully-integrated Vulcan rocket stands 202 feet (61.6 meters) tall. ULA is aiming to launch the rocket and its payload, Astrobotic’s Peregrine lunar lander, on Jan. 8, 2024 at 2:18 a.m. EST (0718 UTC).

National Space Council meeting to discuss legislative proposal for new space activities framework

December 20, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

The furtherance of international space cooperation is expected to be at the heart of the third meeting of the National Space Council under the Biden-Harris Administration. Building on multilateral agreements, like the Artemis Accords, Harris will focus on what’s deemed the U.S. Novel Space Activities Authorization and Supervision Framework.

Firefly Aerospace launches its 4th Alpha rocket

December 20, 2023 Will Robinson-Smith

Firefly Aerospace launched its Alpha rocket Friday after a launch attempt on Wednesday was scrubbed by bad weather. Liftoff with a payload for Lockheed Martin occurred at 9:32 a.m. PST (1932 UTC).