SpaceX
SpaceX, ULA to launch C-band satellites for SES
Commercial satellite operatorSES has selected SpaceX and United Launch Alliance to each launch two geostationary satellites designed to replace C-band capacity in the United States that the Federal Communications Commission is repurposing for 5G cellular networks.
Demo-2 astronauts praise performance of Crew Dragon spacecraft
The NASA astronauts who flew on the SpaceX Demo-2 commercial crew vehicle said they were pleasantly surprised at how well the Crew Dragon spacecraft performed.
SpaceX Starship prototype finally flies
After months of delays and testing setbacks, a prototype of SpaceX’s Starship next-generation reusable launch vehicle made a brief “hop” flight Aug. 4 at the company’s South Texas test site.
PredaSAR may launch 48 satellites with SpaceX, exec says
Synthetic aperture radar startup PredaSAR has signed a contract to launch a small satellite with SpaceX, and is in discussions to launch its entire first constellation with the company, PredaSAR co-founder Marc Bell, said Aug 4.
Crew Dragon splashes down to end successful test flight
SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico Aug. 2, successfully completing a test flight and crossing the finish line of the decade-long commercial crew program.
Crew Dragon undocks from space station
A SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft carrying two NASA astronauts on a test flight undocked from the International Space Station Aug. 1 ahead of a splashdown less than 24 hours later.
Weather could postpone Crew Dragon return
NASA and SpaceX are ready to wrap up a test flight of the company’s Crew Dragon spacecraft, but poor weather could delay the return of the spacecraft and its two-person crew.
NASA safety panel has lingering doubts about Boeing Starliner quality control
Members of a NASA safety panel expressed continued concern about quality issues with Boeing’s commercial crew spacecraft while cautiously supporting SpaceX’s plans to fly reused spacecraft on future crewed missions.
SpaceX Falcon 9 launches South Korea’s Anasis-2 military satellite
SpaceX’s customer for the Anasis-2 mission was Lockheed Martin on behalf of the government of South Korea.
NASA plans early August return of Crew Dragon from space station
NASA confirmed July 17 that the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft, with two astronauts on board, will return to Earth from the International Space Station in early August.
Space hospitality startup to establish training complex
Orbite Corp., a Seattle startup founded by American entrepreneur Jason Andrews and French entrepreneur Nicolas Gaume, announced plans July 14 to establish a Spaceflight Gateway and Astronaut Training Complex offering luxury accommodations, dining and recreation for commercial astronauts, their friends and families.
OneWeb’s revival worries astronomers
A potential return to operations of satellite megaconstellation company OneWeb is a new source of worry for astronomers who previously had been focused on the effect SpaceX’s Starlink satellites will have on their observations.
The long countdown to commercial crew’s liftoff
How a 2005 call for ‘skin in the game’ started a 15-year countdown to the first human orbital spaceflight from U.S. soil since 2011
Commercial launch industry off to slow start in 2020
The first half of 2020 has been sluggish for the commercial launch industry, but its problems can’t be explained solely by the coronavirus pandemic.
SpaceX launches a U.S. Space Force GPS 3 satellite, recovers rocket’s first stage
This was the first time SpaceX recovered a booster following a National Security Space Launch mission.
Exolaunch and NanoAvionics sign contracts for SpaceX flights
German launch services provider Exolaunch announced contracts June 29 with Lithuanian nanosatellite manufacturer NanoAvionics to integrate two cubesats on SpaceX’s rideshare missions.
