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"Elon Musk Unveils Ambitious Plans for SpaceX Starship and Mars Colonization"
1 year ago•Source: Space.com
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2.48 min•1 year ago
"SpaceX's Super Heavy Booster Prepped for 4th Starship Test Flight"
SpaceX conducted a static fire test with its Super Heavy booster, the 33-engine Starship first stage, in preparation for the fourth-ever Starship launch targeted for next month. The test, which took place at the Starbase site in South Texas, was announced through posts on social media, sharing photos and a video of the event. The Starship is designed for fully reusable space travel and has been selected by NASA for its Artemis program of moon exploration, with plans for crewed missions in the future.
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"SpaceX Successfully Launches Eutelsat Satellite on Falcon 9 Rocket"
Spaceflight Now•1 year ago
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"SpaceX Conducts Starship Rocket Test Ahead of 4th Flight"
SpaceX's Starship rocket underwent a successful static fire test in preparation for its fourth test flight, which could occur in early May. The previous test flight saw the 400-foot-tall megarocket perform well during ascent burns, but encountered issues during landing, ultimately breaking apart. SpaceX aims to conduct six or more test flights this year, but regulatory hurdles, including securing launch licenses from the FAA, may impact the timing of these flights.
"SpaceX Prepares for Fourth Starship Flight in May: Latest Updates and Milestones"
SpaceX is preparing for the fourth test flight of its Starship rocket, just a week after the third flight. The company has moved the upcoming flight's Ship to the launch pad for prelaunch tests, with a potential launch date in early May if all goes well. SpaceX plans to conduct six or more Starship test flights this year as part of its development for lunar and Mars missions, with NASA selecting Starship as the first crewed lunar lander for its Artemis moon program.
"SpaceX Preps Next Starship for 4th Flight Test: Exclusive Photos"
SpaceX is preparing for the fourth test flight of its Starship rocket, just a week after the third flight. The recent flight achieved significant milestones, but the rocket broke apart during reentry. The company has moved the next Starship to the launch pad for upcoming static fires and is aiming for a potential launch in early May, pending FAA approval. SpaceX plans to conduct six or more test flights this year as part of its development of the Starship for missions to the moon and Mars, with NASA selecting it as the first crewed lunar lander for the Artemis program.
"SpaceX's 30th Resupply Mission Marks Milestone with New Access Tower at SLC-40"
SpaceX's upcoming 30th cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station will mark the first use of a new access tower at Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) in Florida, allowing a Dragon 2 capsule to lift off atop a Falcon 9 rocket. The mission, CRS-30, is scheduled for Thursday, March 21 and will carry over 6,000 pounds of payloads, including food, supplies, and equipment for the ISS crew, as well as more than 40 science investigations. The new access arm will enable late-loading of supplies, and the mission will also validate the tower for future crewed flights. Additionally, the payloads include experiments involving Astrobee robots, plant metabolism in space, sea ice and wave height measurement, nanoparticle solar cells, and more.
"SpaceX Launch Pad Equipped for Astronauts"
SpaceX's most-used launch pad, Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) in Florida, has been upgraded to support human spaceflight missions, with a Falcon 9 rocket set to launch a Dragon cargo ship to the International Space Station. The upgrades include a new crew tower, crew access arm, and an escape chute for astronauts and ground crews. The mission, known as CRS-30, will deliver over 6,000 pounds of hardware, fresh food, and experiments to the space station, marking SpaceX's 30th resupply mission since 2012. The upgrades at SLC-40 aim to streamline cargo loading and support a higher launch cadence, with plans for nearly 150 Falcon 9 or Falcon Heavy launches this year.
"SpaceX's Starship: From Unexpected End to Potential May Flight"
SpaceX's Starship rocket conducted its third test flight on March 14, 2024, achieving several milestones but ultimately breaking apart during descent. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell announced that the company aims to resume flights in about six weeks, potentially in early May, pending FAA approval. The test flights are crucial for SpaceX's ambitious plans for Starship, which include enabling human settlement on the moon and Mars, and eventually launching interstellar missions. The upcoming fourth flight will focus on perfecting reentry and landing capabilities.
"SpaceX Unveils Emergency-Escape Slide for Quick Launch Tower Descents"
SpaceX has tested a new emergency-escape slide at Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) in Florida, designed to quickly evacuate astronauts from the launch tower in case of an emergency before liftoff. The slide, resembling an amusement park ride, is part of SpaceX's effort to certify SLC-40 for astronaut launches and is different from the evacuation system at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The recent test comes ahead of SpaceX's scheduled launch of a robotic Dragon cargo capsule to the International Space Station from SLC-40 on Thursday.
"SpaceX's Starship: Test Flight Updates and Unusual Discoveries"
SpaceX's Gwynne Shotwell announced at the Satellite 2024 Conference that the fourth test flight of the Starship rocket could occur in as little as six weeks, with Elon Musk adding that it's possible "if everything goes right." The company aims to recover both Super Heavy and Starship by the end of the year, but first needs to successfully splash down Super Heavy and demonstrate control of Starship in space. Despite challenges faced during the third Integrated Flight Test, SpaceX is known for rapid iteration and is likely working on fixes. The FAA is considering adjusting the licensing process, which could enable SpaceX to achieve its goal of 6 to 9 Starship launches by year-end.
"Boeing Initiates Fueling for First Crewed Starliner Launch"
Boeing has initiated the fueling process for its Starliner capsule in preparation for its first astronaut mission, the Crew Flight Test (CFT), which is set to launch in early May with NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore aboard. The mission will send the astronauts to the International Space Station for a 10-day stay. The fueling operation is taking place at Boeing's Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, and the mission has faced delays due to technical issues, but is now on track for a spring liftoff.
"Double ISS Missions: SpaceX's Historic Dragon Launch and Astronaut Arrival"
SpaceX is set to launch three Falcon 9 rockets, including two Starlink missions, while China and Russia also have upcoming launches. The first SpaceX Dragon spacecraft will launch from Space Launch Complex 40, and China will launch a relay satellite and navigation technology experimental satellites to lunar orbit. Rocket Lab will launch a classified payload, and Russia will send a crewed Soyuz rocket to the ISS.