US Space Force launches tactical satellite with only 21 days notice

The US Space Force has launched a tactical satellite developed in only four months with only 21 days notice. On June 13 at 4:11 am EDT, the Tactically Responsive Launch-2 (TacRL-2) demonstration satellite was launched on a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL r… Continue reading US Space Force launches tactical satellite with only 21 days notice

Rocket Lab salvages first stage after Electron booster fails in flight

Startup Rocket Lab has suffered a setback during the 20th outing of its Electron booster, with the rocket experiencing an issue in flight and losing its payload along the way. The mission wasn’t a complete failure, however, with the company managing to… Continue reading Rocket Lab salvages first stage after Electron booster fails in flight

SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket set to launch NASA moon outpost in 2024

NASA has announced that it will rely on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket to launch the first elements of its future Moon-orbiting space station. The initial core sections of the gateway, including the habitation unit and propulsion element, are currently e… Continue reading SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket set to launch NASA moon outpost in 2024

SpaceX puts record 143 satellites in orbit in one launch

SpaceX’s latest orbital mission has set a new record for the most spacecraft launched by a single rocket at one time. On January 24, 2021 at 10:00 am EST, the Transporter-1 mission lifted off atop a Falcon 9 booster from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape… Continue reading SpaceX puts record 143 satellites in orbit in one launch

Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne reaches orbit on second attempt

It was the second time’s a charm as Virgin Orbit’s airdropped LauncherOne rocket put 10 NASA CubeSat payloads into low-Earth orbit on the second attempt in less than eight months under the space agency’s Launch Services Program (LSP).Continue ReadingCa… Continue reading Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne reaches orbit on second attempt

Virgin Orbit gears up for its second attempt to reach space

Virgin Orbit is preparing its pilots, Cosmic Girl mothership and LauncherOne rocket for a second attempt at orbital flight, today announcing that its Launch Demo 2 mission will take place a week before Christmas. The flight follows the company’s unsucc… Continue reading Virgin Orbit gears up for its second attempt to reach space

SpaceX sends up the same recycled rocket for a record sixth time

SpaceX’s rocket landings have now become so routine that it’s easy to forget such a thing had never been accomplished five years ago. Its engineers’ recycling methods were in full swing again today, with the company sending up and welcoming back the sa… Continue reading SpaceX sends up the same recycled rocket for a record sixth time