SpaceX launches Falcon 9 with 49 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg
SpaceX is targeting 11:15 a.m. Tuesday for a Falcon 9 launch of 49 Starlink satellites and D-Orbitโs ION SCV009 Eclectic Elena to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
Ukrainian official: Musk to keep funding key satellite links
A senior Ukrainian government official says Elon Musk has given assurances to Ukraine that he will keep funding its access to a crucial satellite network providing Kyiv with battlefield and humanitarian communications in its war with Russia.
SpaceX successfully launches ridesharing mission off Florida coast
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. โ After scrubbing its launch attempt Saturday, SpaceX successfully launched its Falcon 9 rocket off the Florida coast on Sunday. The payload consists of satellites from several customers, including DARPA, NASA and more of its own Starlink satellites. The mission, known as Transporter-1, also includes a somewhat last-minute addition of 10 Starlink satellites, after receiving Federal Communications Commission approval earlier this month to include those. Earlier in the week, another Falcon 9 launched 60 Starlink internet-beaming satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. There were nearly 1,000 Starlink satellites already in orbit.
Astronomers are working to make sure large satellite constellations donโt forever change the night sky
A composite image of Starlink satellite trails across an image of Comet NEOWise taken in Central Florida by astronomer Derek Demeter in July 2020. (Derek Demeter)Our view of the night sky has been changing ever since the light bulb was invented. โWhen I look up at the night sky, Iโm reminded of the thousands of years of history that people have been inspired -- a lot of our traditions today stem from ancient people looking up at the night sky and feeling awe and wonder,โ he said. AdIn August, the members of an American Astronomical Society committee -- who have been working with SpaceX engineers-- released their findings about how to mitigate trashing the night sky and what the long-standing impact of these large constellations will be. Lori Allen, also an astronomer with the NOIRLab, said the astronomy working group observed Starlink satellites to determine if changes to the satellite hardware will work, what observatories can do.
Pictures of a โglowing cloudโ following SpaceXโs Falcon 9 launch will leave you in awe
Weโve seen a couple of pretty cool things lately when it comes to rocket launches, but the view of Falcon 9 taking off just before daybreak Saturday has got to be at the top of the list. In case you missed it, the rocket launched 58 Starlink communication satellites, bringing SpaceX one step closer to reaching its goal of providing global internet coverage from space. Falcon 9 launches 58 Starlink satellites and 3 @planetlabs Skysats to orbit before returning to Earth and landing on a droneship pic.twitter.com/K6OjgJQZfv โ SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 13, 2020WOAH! A #SpaceX #Starlink launch into astronomical twilight is the absolute BEST WAY to start your day. pic.twitter.com/Mqr6NWNDhu โ Jamie Groh (@AlteredJamie) June 13, 2020Full Screen 1 / 4 Viewers capture spectacular images during the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch early Saturday morning.
Weather looks decent for tonights SpaceX launch
SpaceX is back flying high with another mission set to blast off Wednesday evening sending another batch of internet satellites into orbit. The high clouds may obscure the rocket view from Jacksonville much like Saturdays clouds blocked the spectacle of the Launch America mission to the International Space Station. Red colors show foretasted high cold clouds over the east coast at 9 pm Tuesday which could interfere with launch and reduce viewing. If there are any delays in tonights launch, the backup date is tomorrow but weather will deteriorate Thursday making a second attempt less likely. SpaceX will land Falcon 9s first stage on the Just Read the Instructions droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
Your neck is going to hurt from looking up: Meteor showers, supermoon & SpaceX launch
Wednesday nightIn the newest, coolest of things you can gaze at in the night sky is the Starlink satellites. The prior SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket deployed 60 of the Starlink satellites, below is a video of one of the satellites being deployed. Successful deployment of 60 Starlink satellites confirmed pic.twitter.com/h3e6QmKRue โ SpaceX (@SpaceX) April 22, 2020Assuming the launch is a go, that will make the total number of Starlink satellites orbiting over us 480. Lyrid meteor showerThe Eta Lyrid Meteor Shower peaks Thursday evening into Friday morning, fed by debris left by comet 1861 G1 Thatcher which last passed by in 1861. This meteor shower is neat because meteor activity appears to emanate from the general area of the constellation Lyra, which is how it was named.
SpaceX kicks off busy year with launch of 60 more Starlink satellites into space
About 60 small satellites launched into orbit atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at 9:19 p.m. Starlink is already the largest telecom satellite constellation in existence, and SpaceX has regulatory approval to launch a total of more than 10,000 satellites. SpaceX is building a so-called "megaconstellation" of smaller and cheaper satellites that work together to accomplish a task instead. Other companies are building satellite constellations for other purposes, such as imaging Earth to track ground shipments or monitor crop growth. Space debris and astronomyAs Starlink grows, SpaceX CEO and chief engineer Elon Musk has pledged his company will be a responsible steward of space.
SpaceX launch tonight should be visible locally
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ SpaceX plans to launch the third in a series on Starlink satellites Monday night at 9:19 p.m, according to its website. Prior to orbit raise, SpaceX engineers will conduct data reviews to ensure all Starlink satellites are operating as intended. Starlink satellite flight operations take place in three phases: orbit raise, onstation service, and deorbit. Throughout flight operations, SpaceX shares high-fidelity tracking data with other satellite operators through the U.S. Air Forceโs 18th Space Control Squadron. Additionally, SpaceX is providing leading astronomy groups with predictive two-line elements in advance of launch so astronomers can better coordinate their observations with the satellites.
SpaceX wants to beam internet across the American South by late 2020
(CNN) - SpaceX wants to become one of the world's largest internet providers by deploying a constellation of thousands of satellites to beam broadband from space. One key benefit of reaching those areas: satellite internet access wouldn't be wiped out by bad weather. And SpaceX has faced pushback from potential competitors in the satellite internet business, including Softbank-backed OneWeb. Creating a successful satellite internet business could be extremely lucrative. OneWeb, which is backed by Softbank, and Amazon have their own plans to build megaconstellations of internet satellites, though SpaceX is considered the frontrunner to become the first to market.
European satellite changed course to avoid SpaceX collision
CNN Video(CNN) - In the first incident of its kind, a European Space Agency (ESA) satellite was forced to perform an evasive maneuver Monday to avoid hitting a SpaceX spacecraft. The ESA Aeolus Earth observation satellite fired its thrusters as part of a "collision avoidance maneuver," according to a statement from ESA. ESA contacted Starlink, which said it did not plan to move its satellite, according to the statement, so the ESA team decided to increase the altitude of its Aeolus satellite to avoid a collision. "It is very rare to perform collision avoidance manoeuvres with active satellites," said ESA in a tweet. The trade-off for increased satellite traffic in space will be low-cost internet for a significant portion of the world's population that isn't yet online, according to SpaceX.
SpaceX says most of its internet satellites are fully functional
Next on SpaceX's checklist is to actually use the satellites to access the internet and test out how well the network operates. SpaceX hopes its satellite internet project, called Starlink, will one day grow to include thousands of satellites and offer coverage all over the globe. SpaceX said Friday that it will test the first batch of Starlink satellites using ground antennas in North America. Of the 60 satellites launched in May, only three malfunctioned and were unable to communicate with the ground, a SpaceX spokesperson said Friday. Purposely taking satellites out of orbit is part of SpaceX's plan to ensure its satellites don't contribute to the space junk issue.