R.I.P. Scout26
SpaceX's Falcon Heavy is launching the EchoStar 24 (Jupiter 3) mission. The 99-minute launch window opens at 11:04 p.m. ET from LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The center core is B1074-1, and the side cores are B1064-3 and B1065-3. The side boosters will land on LZ-1 and LZ-2. The center core will be expended.
Ahead of what will be its third flight this year, Falcon Heavy is being prepared for the record-breaking launch of EchoStar 24. Also known as Jupiter 3, this payload will be the heaviest satellite launched to a geostationary transfer orbit, massing 9.2 tonnes. As such, Falcon Heavy will need to expend its center core to gain additional performance, like what has been done on several recent missions.
SpaceX is aiming for a potential record-breaking launch doubleheader tonight, July 27. A Falcon 9 rocket is set to lift the next batch of Starlink v2 Mini satellites into orbit from SLC-40. The primary launch opportunity is set for 10:20PM EDT (02:20 UTC) with two backup launch opportunities available at 11:10PM EDT (03:10 UTC) and at 12:01AM EDT (04:01 UTC). The first stage for this mission, B1062, is flying for a 15th time and will land on A Shortfall Of Gravitas. Meanwhile, from Launch Complex 39A, a Falcon Heavy rocket is set to lift the Hughes Echostar-24/Jupiter 3 satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit. The 99 minute launch window opens at 11:04PM EDT (03:04 UTC). Falcon Heavy's side boosters, B1064 and B1065, are flying for a third time and will return to a near-simultaneous landing at SpaceX's Landing Zone 1 and Landing Zone 2 landing pads at the Cape. Falcon Heavy's center core, B1074, is new and will be expended on this flight. The Echostar-24/Jupiter 3 satellite will be the heaviest communications satellite ever to be launched into orbit. Given the several launch opportunities of this doubleheader, the order of the missions and when they'll launch is very fluid, but this could break the record for shortest time between two launches from the United States. Current record stands at 1 hour and 37 minutes between the launches of Gemini 11 and its Agena Target Vehicle set back in September 12, 1966.
SpaceX@SpaceXAfter initial activation, a full-pressure test of the new Starship flame deflector is planned for Friday
QuoteSpaceX@SpaceXAfter initial activation, a full-pressure test of the new Starship flame deflector is planned for Fridayhttps://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1684685769406046210
SpaceX has told investors that it expects to roughly double its revenues in 2023 to upwards of $8 billion (from $4 billion in 2022) as reported earlier in July by The Information.If SpaceX succeeds in achieving this revenue forecast, Euroconsult estimates that upwards of 40% of these revenues, or $3.2 billion, could be attributable to the broadband connectivity services of Starlink, which are now available across nearly 60 countries and key maritime/ocean areas globally.
Chris Bergin - NSF@NASASpaceflightABORT! Rocket Lab Electron aborts at T-0.And that's a scrub.RL Livestream:https://youtube.com/watch?v=IAwEeN
Rocket Lab@RocketLabToday's launch was aborted on ignition, so we're standing down 🚀In the final seconds before lift-off, Electron's flight computer actively monitors a wide range of vehicle performance parameters, and when any of these parameters are violated, the vehicle determines is it not ready for flight and triggers a safe abort. Electron did exactly what it was designed to today, allowing us to try again soon!
Dr Jitendra Singh@DrJitendraSinghIn the midst of #Chandrayaan3 mission, #ISRO scales another landmark with the successful launch of PSLV-C56/DS-SAR 🛰. PM Sh @NarendraModi’s consistent support enables Team @ISRO to register one success after the other in a serial form.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 is launching the Galaxy-37 satellite to geosynchronous transfer orbit. Liftoff is scheduled to occur from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) in Florida on August 3rd, the two-hour launch window opens at 12:15 AM EDT (04:15 UTC). The first stage, B1077, is flying for a sixth time and will land on SpaceX's droneship Just Read The Instructions.
Astra Space announced Aug. 4 it has laid off a quarter of its workforce and reassigned others from launch vehicle to satellite propulsion development as its cash reserves dwindle.In a series of statements, the company said it was making a “strategic reallocation of its workforce,” moving 50 engineers from development of its new Rocket 4 vehicle to production of its Astra Spacecraft Engine, while also laying off about 70 employees to reduce costs.
Well poopAstra lays off, reassigns employees as it refocuses on satellite propulsion https://spacenews.com/astra-lays-off-reassigns-employees-as-it-refocuses-on-satellite-propulsion/
