India’s ISRO is launching its 100th rocket, the GSLV F-15, on January 29th from Sriharikota. This launch will deploy the NVS-02 navigation satellite and marks a significant milestone for India’s space program after overcoming past challenges with cryogenic technology and the GSLV rocket.
SpaceX’s Starship, during its seventh test flight, experienced a catastrophic failure eight minutes into the launch. While the booster landed successfully, the upper-stage spacecraft lost telemetry and subsequently disintegrated. Despite the setback, SpaceX views the incident as a valuable learning experience for future missions, focusing on improving heat shield technology and aiming for a fully reusable system by 2025. The failure may also impact the ambitious timeline for Mars colonization.
Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket launch was scrubbed Monday due to a vehicle subsystem issue. The company postponed the launch indefinitely to troubleshoot. New Glenn, a reusable heavy-lift rocket, aims for orbital flight and a booster landing. The first flight is also a National Security Space Launch certification flight. Despite the setback, Blue Origin remains focused on future launch attempts.
Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket launch, initially scheduled for January 5th, has been postponed to no earlier than January 12th due to high seas in the Atlantic Ocean, impacting the planned booster landing. This delay emphasizes the complexity of space travel and the company’s commitment to a safe and successful mission. The New Glenn, a reusable heavy-lift rocket, is a significant step forward for the company and the commercial space industry, carrying a payload for the National Security Space Launch program.
SpaceX is preparing for the seventh flight test of its Starship launch vehicle, scheduled for January 13th. This test will carry 10 Starlink simulators and attempt a dual-stage recovery. The ambitious Starship program aims to facilitate lunar and Martian missions, and this test is a critical step towards realizing those goals. The launch date is subject to change.
SpaceX’s Starship launch, initially planned for January 10th, has been postponed to sometime next week. The seventh flight test will carry 10 Starlink simulators. SpaceX aims to recover the booster at the launch pad, with the Gulf of Mexico as a backup landing site. The spacecraft will splash down in the Indian Ocean. Starship is crucial for NASA’s lunar ambitions and SpaceX’s Mars plans.
