Firefly Aerospace is gearing up for its fifth launch tonight, carrying NASA payloads into orbit. The mission, named ‘Noise of Summer,’ will deploy eight CubeSats, including a test of an inflatable antenna, a cosmic ray detector, and missions designed by high school students to study Earth’s climate. The launch was originally scheduled for Monday but was scrubbed due to a ground systems issue. The company is confident that the rocket and payloads are ready for launch.
Japan’s H3 rocket successfully launched its third mission, deploying the Advanced Land Observing Satellite-4 (ALOS-4) into a sun-synchronous orbit. The successful launch marks a significant milestone for JAXA as it aims to make the H3 a competitive commercial launch vehicle. The rocket is designed to launch six times annually for the next 20 years, carrying satellites for both government and commercial entities.
Rocket Lab is gearing up to launch its Electron rocket for the 50th time, marking a significant milestone in the company’s journey. This mission, dubbed ‘No Time Toulouse,’ will deploy a 25-satellite constellation for French IoT company Kinéis, a key step in Rocket Lab’s expansion into the satellite deployment sector. The launch is scheduled for June 21st from New Zealand, weather permitting.
NASA’s Starliner spacecraft, piloted by Sunita Williams, was scheduled to launch to the International Space Station (ISS) on Saturday, but the mission was called off at the last minute due to a technical issue. The launch has now been rescheduled for Sunday.
The much-anticipated crewed flight of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft has been postponed once more, this time due to a problem with the ground system. The launch was aborted just 3 minutes and 50 seconds before liftoff, marking the second time that the mission has been called off shortly before launch. The first attempt on May 6 was scrubbed due to a separate issue with the rocket.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced that the maiden flight of its new heavy-lift Ariane 6 rocket is scheduled for the first two weeks of July. The rocket, which has been in development since 2014, will replace the Ariane 5, which took its final flight in July 2023. The Ariane 6 is designed to be more versatile and cost-effective than its predecessor, and it will be used to launch a variety of satellites and payloads into orbit.
NASA has rescheduled the launch of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, originally set for May 5th, to Friday, May 10th, after a last-minute scrub due to a problem with the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. The launch was halted just two hours before liftoff due to an issue with a pressure regulation valve on the rocket’s upper stage. NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were inside the capsule when the launch was scrubbed and exited to return to the astronaut crew quarters for the night. Teams will be checking data from the launch attempt and examining the valve to determine if it needs to be replaced.
SaxaVord Spaceport in Scotland has obtained its range control license from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), paving the way for its maiden launch later this year. The license authorizes SaxaVord to ensure the safety of maritime and aviation traffic during rocket launches from its site on the Shetland Islands. This milestone follows the spaceport’s acquisition of a spaceport license in December, attesting to its adherence to safety and environmental standards. The CAA’s confidence in SaxaVord’s safety protocols is crucial for the UK’s burgeoning space industry.
