The FAA has grounded SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket following a fiery landing mishap that occurred after a successful launch of 21 Starlink satellites. The incident, which involved the rocket tipping over and bursting into flames, is under investigation. This grounding has impacted the planned launch of the Polaris Dawn mission and marks the second time this year that the Falcon 9 has been temporarily halted.
Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin is set to launch its new heavy-lift rocket, New Glenn, for the first time on October 13th. The inaugural launch will carry NASA’s ESCAPADE mission to Mars, which aims to study the interaction between the solar wind and the planet’s magnetic environment. This event marks a significant milestone for Blue Origin, positioning them as a competitor to SpaceX in the space launch market.
NASA has chosen three additional companies to provide launch services for future missions under its Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) contract. This expansion broadens access to space by offering more flexible and affordable launch options for NASA’s scientific research and technology development.
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully launched the third and final developmental flight of its Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The mission, SSLV-D3/EOS-08, successfully placed the Earth Observation Satellite (EOS-08) into its intended orbit.
SpaceX has bounced back from a July slowdown, launching three missions in as many days, boosting its Starlink constellation and demonstrating its ambition to reach 144 launches in 2024.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 first-stage booster, designated B1061, has achieved a record-tying 22nd launch and landing, carrying the Space Norway Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM). This booster has now launched from all of SpaceX’s launch sites and returned to all of its operational drone ships and landing zones, showcasing the company’s reusable launch system.
The European Space Agency (ESA) is poised to launch its new Ariane 6 rocket, marking a pivotal moment in European space exploration. This powerful rocket promises enhanced efficiency and flexibility for a wide range of missions, from launching satellites around Earth to venturing to the moon and beyond. The launch is scheduled for July 9th, and viewers can witness this momentous event live via ESAWebTV and YouTube.
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.
