All articles tagged with #spacex falcon heavy
NASA's Psyche spacecraft, launched in October 2023, has successfully passed its six-month checkup and is now using its electric thrusters to travel towards the metal-rich asteroid Psyche in the asteroid belt. The spacecraft, which will arrive in 2029, aims to study the asteroid to better understand the formation of rocky planets with metallic cores.
The US military's X-37B spaceplane is set for its seventh mission, this time launching atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. The secretive vehicle, resembling a miniature space shuttle, is designed for long-duration orbital flights and technology experiments. The mission's details remain undisclosed, but it is expected to test new orbital regimes and space domain awareness technologies. The X-37B will also carry a NASA experiment to study the effects of radiation on plant seeds. This launch marks the ninth for SpaceX's Falcon Heavy and the third time it has been used for a national security payload.
The U.S. Air Force X-37B spaceplane, operated by the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office and the U.S. Space Force, is set to launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket on December 7 from Kennedy Space Center. This will be the seventh mission for the reusable spaceplane, designated as Orbital Test Vehicle 7 (OTV-7). The mission aims to conduct various tests, including operating in new orbital regimes, experimenting with space domain awareness technologies, and investigating radiation effects on materials. The X-37B will also carry a NASA experiment called Seeds-2, which will expose plant seeds to the radiation environment of long-duration spaceflight.
NASA's Psyche mission successfully launched on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, heading towards the metal-rich asteroid Psyche. The spacecraft will study the asteroid's composition and formation of rocky planets, while also testing Deep Space Optical Communications technology. The mission will undergo a commissioning phase and is expected to reach the asteroid in 2029. The use of SpaceX's Falcon Heavy marks a first for NASA, as it is the first time the launcher has been entrusted with the agency's "most complex and highest priority missions." The reliance on SpaceX highlights the limited options for Western launch providers, as other companies face delays and supply issues.
NASA's Psyche spacecraft, launched atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, is on its way to study a metal-rich asteroid called Psyche located in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. This is NASA's first mission to explore an asteroid with more metal than rock or ice. The spacecraft is also carrying a pioneering technology demonstration called Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC), which will test laser communications beyond the Moon. The mission aims to unlock secrets about planet formation and evolution while advancing optical communication capabilities for future space exploration.
The launch of NASA's Psyche asteroid mission, scheduled for October 12, has been delayed to October 13 due to inclement weather. The launch window runs through October 25, with Friday and Saturday being the backup options. The delay is also influenced by the limited launch recycle attempts of SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket. The Psyche mission aims to explore a metal asteroid in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.