Falcon 9 Transporter-5 Launch, Photo Courtesy SpaceX
Falcon 9 Launches Transporter-5 Payload
May 25, 2022 | Reported by Cliff Lethbridge
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched the Transporter-5 payload at 2:35 p.m. EDT today from Launch Pad 40 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The first stage booster employed today was being flown for the eighth time, having previously supported the Crew-1, Crew-2, SXM-8, CRS-23, IXPE, one Starlink and the Transporter-4 missions. The booster was successfully recovered today with a landing at Landing Zone 1 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Transporter-5 is the fifth SpaceX dedicated smallsat rideshare mission and carried 59 spacecraft, including cubesats, microsats, non-deploying hosted payloads and orbital transfer vehicles. The spacecraft were deployed between about 60 and 75 minutes after launch.
Falcon 9 Transporter-5 Booster Landing, Photo Courtesy SpaceX
Atlas V Starliner Launch, Photo Courtesy Carleton Bailie/Spaceline
Atlas V Launches Starliner Toward International Space Station
May 19, 2022 | Reported by Cliff Lethbridge
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket successfully launched Boeing's unmanned CST-100 Starliner spacecraft toward the International Space Station (ISS) at 6:54 p.m. EDT today from Launch Pad 41 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The mission, designated Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2), was much delayed due to a number of technical difficulties. The initial unmanned Starliner test flight, designated Orbital Flight Test-1 (OFT-1), was conducted on December 20, 2019. During this test, the Starliner launch was successful but the spacecraft did not reach ISS due to a malfunction of the Mission Elapsed Timer coupled with a communications glitch. This resulted in a lengthy delay due to software troubleshooting and redesign.
Atlas V Starliner Launch, Photo Courtesy Carleton Bailie/Spaceline
An originally unplanned second unmanned test flight, designated OFT-2, was scheduled for launch on August 3, 2021. The launch attempt was scrubbed due to problems detected in Starliner's valve system, which required the entire system be troubleshooted and repaired as necessary. The Atlas V rocket launched today featured two solid rocket boosters and a two-engine Centaur second stage. Launch occurred on time with no delays and the rocket and spacecraft performed flawlessly, with Starliner reaching its intended orbit about 30 minutes after liftoff. Starliner is expected to autonomously dock to ISS at about 7:10 p.m. EDT tomorrow. If all goes well with OFT-2, a manned orbital test flight could occur as soon as late this year or early next year.
Atlas V Starliner In Flight, Photo Courtesy Carleton Bailie/Spaceline
Falcon 9 Starlink 4-18 Launch, Photo Courtesy SpaceX
Falcon 9 Launches 53 Starlink Satellites
May 18, 2022 | Reported by Cliff Lethbridge
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched 53 Starlink satellites at 6:59 a.m. EDT today from Launch Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. The first stage booster employed today was being flown for the fifth time, having previously supported the Arabsat-6A, STP-2, COSMO SkyMed Second Generation-FM2 and one Starlink mission. The booster was successfully recovered today with a landing on the "A Shortfall of Gravitas" drone ship positioned on the Atlantic Ocean about 400 miles northeast of Cape Canaveral. The mission, designated Starlink 4-18, brings to a total of 2,653 Starlink satellites launched to date, although not all of these are operational or still in orbit. Starlink is a SpaceX-owned and operated constellation of broadband Internet satellites intended to provide space-based Internet service to unserved or underserved areas. The service is currently available in 32 countries worldwide.
Falcon 9 Starlink 4-18 Launch, Photo Courtesy SpaceX
Falcon 9 Starlink 4-15 Launch, Photo Courtesy Carleton Bailie/Spaceline
Falcon 9 Launches 53 Starlink Satellites
May 14, 2022 | Reported by Cliff Lethbridge
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched 53 Starlink satellites at 4:40 p.m. EDT today from Launch Pad 40 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The first stage booster employed today was being flown for the first time and was successfully recovered with a landing on the "Just Read the Instructions" drone ship positioned on the Atlantic Ocean about 400 miles northeast of Cape Canaveral. The mission, designated Starlink 4-15, brings to a total of 2,600 Starlink satellites launched to date, although not all of these are operational or still in orbit. Starlink is a SpaceX-owned and operated constellation of broadband Internet satellites intended to provide space-based Internet service to unserved or underserved areas throughout the world, with the service now available in 32 countries.
Falcon 9 Starlink 4-15 Downrange, Photo Courtesy Carleton Bailie/Spaceline
Falcon 9 Starlink 4-17 Launch, Photo Courtesy Carleton Bailie/Spaceline
Falcon 9 Launches 53 Starlink Satellites
May 6, 2022 | Reported by Cliff Lethbridge
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched 53 Starlink satellites at 5:42 a.m. EDT today from Launch Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. The first stage booster employed today was being flown for the 12th time, having previously supported the DM-2, ANASIS-II, CRS-21, Transporter-1, Transporter-2 and six Starlink missions. The booster was successfully recovered today with a landing on the "A Shortfall of Gravitas" drone ship positioned on the Atlantic Ocean about 400 miles northeast of Cape Canaveral. Today's mission, designated Starlink 4-17, brings to a total of 2,494 Starlink satellites launched to date, although not all of these are operational or still in orbit. Starlink is a SpaceX-owned and operated constellation of broadband Internet satellites intended to provide space-based Internet service to unserved or underserved areas throughout the world.
Falcon 9 Starlink 4-17 Streak Shot, Photo Courtesy Carleton Bailie/Spaceline
