Mission Reports – Page 2 – Spaceflight Now

SpaceX launches SES’s Astra 1P television satellite following two weather scrubs

June 17, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

SpaceX is preparing Thursday for its third attempt to launch the Astra 1P satellite to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) on behalf of one of its oldest customers: Luxembourg-based SES. Liftoff from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is targeting 5:35 p.m. EDT (2135 UTC) on Thursday, June 20.

NASA, Boeing set new undocking, landing date for Starliner spacecraft

June 14, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

More testing will be done on both the thrusters on the spacecraft’s aft section. The Starliner crew will also repeat some previously conducted test activities, like the ‘safe haven’ protocol.

SpaceX experiences a rare mission scrub of its Falcon 9 rocket at the moment engine ignition

June 13, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

SpaceX struck out for a third time in as many days attempting to launch the Starlink 10-2 mission. After pushing back the launch time a few times within their window of availability on Friday, an abort was called just as the Merlin engines at the base of the 70-meter-tall (299 feet) rocket ignited.

SpaceX launches 20 Starlink satellites on Falcon 9 flight from Vandenberg Space Force Base

June 8, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The mission, Starlink 8-8, will add another 13 satellites with Direct to Cell capabilities, bringing the total launched to 64. Liftoff happened at 5:58 a.m. PDT (8:58 a.m. EDT, 1258 UTC).

SpaceX accomplishes first soft splashdown of Starship, Super Heavy Booster on Flight 4 mission

June 6, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The development mission includes fewer additional mission milestones compared to the third flight with a focus on demonstrating the reusability model that Starship promises. Liftoff happened at 7:50 a.m. CDT (8:50 a.m. EDT, 1250 UTC), near the opening of a 120-minute window.

Third time’s the charm for the Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test

June 5, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The launch of two NASA astronauts dealt with two previous scrubs due to a valve issue on the Atlas 5 rocket and then a ground system issue at the launchpad. Liftoff happened at 10:52 a.m. EDT (1452 UTC) on Wednesday, June 5.

SpaceX launches 20 Starlink satellites on 14th anniversary of the first Falcon 9 launch

June 5, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The flight marked the first launch of Direct to Cell-capable Starlink satellites from Florida. Liftoff from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station happened at 10:16 p.m. EDT (0216 UTC) on Tuesday.

NASA foregoes Sunday launch, delaying Starliner takeoff to at least Wednesday

June 1, 2024 William Harwood

The seemingly star-cross Boeing Starliner — within minutes of its long-delayed blastoff on the spacecraft’s first piloted test flight — was grounded again Saturday when one of three redundant computers managing the countdown from the base of the launch pad ran into a problem, triggering a last-minute scrub.

SpaceX launches 14th Falcon 9 rocket of May using booster flying for 14th time

May 31, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The mission broke another record for SpaceX, marking the first time the company has achieved 14 launches in a single month. Liftoff happened Friday at 10:37 p.m. EDT (0237 UTC on Saturday).

SpaceX launches ESA’s EarthCARE on a Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base

May 27, 2024 Will Robinson-Smith

The Earth observing spacecraft will study clouds and aerosols to further our understanding of climate change. Liftoff happened at 3:20 p.m. PDT (6:20 p.m. EDT, 2220 UTC).