SpaceX News

SpaceX teams are conducting a stacking operation for the Starship orbital launch tower in Starbase, Texas. The launch tower will be used to stack Starship on top of Super Heavy and catch the vehicles as they return from space. Updates: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=52398.0 Articles: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/tag/starship/ Shop: https://shop.nasaspaceflight.com

SpaceX teams are conducting a cryogenic proof test of the BN2.1 test tank in Starbase, Texas. BN2.1 is a prototype of the aft section of a Super Heavy booster. Thrust rams will be used to simulate the forces of the Raptor engines during the test. Updates: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=52398.0 Articles: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/tag/starship/ Shop: https://shop.nasaspaceflight.com

With SN15 now on display, SpaceX appears to be making a full push toward the first orbital test flight using both Starship & Super Heavy from Boca Chica. Ian Atkinson lays out what SpaceX is doing to prepare for this momentous mission. Scripted and Hosted by Ian Atkinson (@IanPineapple). Video & Photos from Mary (@BocaChicaGal), Jack Beyer (@TheJackBeyer), and the NSF Robotic Camera Team. Edited by Brady Kenniston (@TheFavoritist) All content copyright to NSF. Not to be used elsewhere without explicit permission from NSF. Click "Join" for access to early fast turnaround clips, exclusive discord access with the NSF team, etc - to support the channel. Rolling Updates and Discussion: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=72.0 Articles: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/?s=Starship NSF Store: https://shop.nasaspaceflight.com/ L2 Boca Chica (more clips and photos) from BC's very early days to today. https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=47107.0 (Join L2 and support NSF here: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/l2/)

SpaceX is targeting Sunday, June 6 for Falcon 9’s launch of the SXM-8 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The one-hour and 59-minute launch window opens at 12:26 a.m. EDT, 4:26 UTC, and a backup launch opportunity is available on Monday, June 7 with the same one-hour and 59-minute launch window. Falcon 9’s first stage booster previously supported SpaceX’s Crew-1 and Crew-2 missions, which launched astronauts to the International Space Station. Following stage separation, SpaceX will land Falcon 9’s first stage on the “Just Read the Instructions” droneship, which will be located in the Atlantic Ocean.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the Sirius XM satellite SXM-8 on June 6, 2021 from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The rocket's first stage is expected to landed on "Just Read the Instructions" drone ship several minutes later. Credit: SpaceX

The Air Force Research Laboratory is being tasked with investigating rocket based cargo delivery for applications requiring rapid response, and the only game in town is currently SpaceX's Starship. This project is primarily a study, and in my opinion it's unlikely to turn Starship into a point to point transportation system not because of any technological shortcomings, but because of the needs being rather niche and Starship's design not being particularly compatible with the requirements. Having said that, it's entirely possible that follow on projects may want to design something specifically for the purpose if the DoD wants the capability.

Crews work to extend Frankencrane's boom in preparation for more Launch Tower sections to be rolled to the Launch Site. Meanwhile, more Super Heavy sections are spotted outside. Video & Photos from Mary (@BocaChicaGal). Edited by Brady Kenniston (@TheFavoritist) All content copyright to NSF. Not to be used elsewhere without explicit permission from NSF. Click "Join" for access to early fast turnaround clips, exclusive discord access with the NSF team, etc - to support the channel. Rolling Updates and Discussion: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=72.0 Articles: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/?s=Starship NSF Store: https://shop.nasaspaceflight.com/ L2 Boca Chica (more clips and photos) from BC's very early days to today. https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=47107.0 (Join L2 and support NSF here: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/l2/) 0:00 Launch Site 1:33 Super Heavy BN2.1 Test Tank 2:30 New Extension Cap Lifted onto the Launch Mount 4:03 Starship Nosecone & Barrel Section 4:33 Thermal Protection Tiles on the Barrel Section 5:00 Two More Launch Tower Sections 5:32 Cryo Tank Shell Work Continues 6:31 GSE 7 Tank Forward Dome Section 7:07 Starship SN16 & Super Heavy BN3 in the High Bay 8:37 Orbital Launch Table Work Continues 9:05 Crews Work on a New Stand 10:35 The Liebherr LR 11000 Crane at the Orbital Site 12:08 Insulated Piping Installed at the Orbital Tank Farm 13:38 Frankencrane’s Extension Work Continues 14:06 Boom Tip Sheave Removed 15:34 Venting at the Suborbital Tank Farm 16:05 A Cryo Tank Section is Moved 17:07 New BN3 Forward Section Near Tent 3 17:54 Vacuum Raptor Practice Dome Has Weld Areas Cut Out 18:55 New Frankencrane Boom Section Ready for Attachment

In 2021, the National Space Society nominated SpaceX for the 2020 Collier Trophy based on the achievements of the Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon spacecraft.

Beautiful rocket, just went into the clouds too soon. SpaceX has been launching on time without delay. Unfortunately this was our first CRS mission that we could "not" be at the press site. Why? No one Knows? We are a US disabled veteran run, non-profit video production company whose mission is to bring other disabled US Veterans to witness a launch, experience US Space History and become part of our report. Our nonprofit 501(c)(3) is 100% tax deductible, just go to our webpage www.USLaunchReport.com which is merged with www.VeteransSpaceReport.com and find our Donate button. You can help change the life of a US Veteran. Thank You

The first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket used on SpaceX’s 22nd Commercial Resupply Services mission lands successfully on the company's 'Of Course I Still Love You' droneship in the Atlantic Ocean. The company's Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft lifted off at 1:29 p.m. EST on Thursday, June 3, 2021, from Launch Complex 39A from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft separates from the Falcon 9 rocket as the company's 22nd Commercial Resupply Services mission to the International Space Station begins. The company's Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft lifted off at 1:29 p.m. EST on Thursday, June 3, 2021, from Launch Complex 39A from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

SpaceX is targeting Thursday, June 3 for Falcon 9’s launch of the twenty-second Commercial Resupply Services mission (CRS-22).Liftoff is targeted for 1:29 p.m. EDT, or 17:29 UTC, from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. A backup launch opportunity is available on Friday, June 4 at 1:03 p.m. EDT, or 17:03 UTC. Following stage separation, SpaceX will land Falcon 9’s first stage on the “Of Course I Still Love You” droneship, which will be located in the Atlantic Ocean. Dragon will separate from Falcon 9’s second stage about twelve minutes after liftoff and autonomously dock to the space station on Saturday, June 5.

Scientists and students shared their work that is launching on SpaceX’s 22nd commercial resupply mission to the International Space Station during a What’s on Board briefing at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Studies include an investigation of how microscopic water bears react to life in microgravity, and an experiment aimed at giving scientists fundamental knowledge of how good microbes interact with animal tissue. Students from the Robertsville Middle School in Oak Ridge, Tennessee discussed RamSat, a student-built CubeSat designed to track vegetation regrowth after wildfires. The SpaceX CRS-22 mission is scheduled to launch to the orbiting laboratory on June 3. Learn more about the science on this mission: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/research/news/spacex-22-research-highlights/

A Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to launch cargo to the International Space Station this week. Watch live preflight preparations at launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. Liftoff is scheduled for Thursday at 1:29 p.m. EDT (1729 GMT).

SpaceX is targeting Wednesday, May 26 for the next Falcon 9 launch of 60 Starlink satellites from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The instantaneous window is at 2:59 p.m. EDT, or 18:59 UTC, and a backup opportunity is available on Thursday, May 27 at 2:37 p.m. EDT, or 18:37 UTC. Falcon 9’s first stage booster previously supported the Sentinel-6A mission. Following stage separation, SpaceX will land Falcon 9’s first stage on the “Just Read the Instructions” droneship, which will be located in the Atlantic Ocean. One half of Falcon 9’s fairing previously supported four Starlink missions, and the other previously supported a Starlink mission and the Transporter-1 mission.

SpaceX teams are lifting Starship SN15 from Suborbital Pad B onto a Self Propelled Modular Transporter (SPMT). The transporter will be used to take SN15 back to the production site area ahead of an expected retirement for the Starship. Updates: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=52398.0 Articles: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/tag/starship/ Shop: https://shop.nasaspaceflight.com

A Falcon 9 roars to life at launch complex 40 for a routine pre-launch test firing of its nine Merlin first stage engines. The brief ignition occurred at 7:05pm EDT (2305 GMT) on May 24, 2021. If everything checks out OK, SpaceX will give the go-ahead to continue preparations for liftoff at 2:59 p.m. EDT (1859 GMT) on May 26, 2021 with up to 60 new satellites for the company’s Starlink internet network.

SpaceX teams are conducting the first stacking operation for the Starship orbital launch tower in Starbase, Texas. The launch tower will be used to stack Starship on top of Super Heavy and catch the vehicles as they return from space. Updates: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=52398.0 Articles: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/tag/starship/ Shop: https://shop.nasaspaceflight.com

A new section for the Orbital Site's Launch Tower was rolled out today as SpaceX gears up for the first test of Starship & the Super Heavy booster. Meanwhile, all three Raptor engines were removed from Starship SN15. Video & Photos from Mary (@BocaChicaGal) and the NSF Robotic Camera Team. Edited by Brady Kenniston (@TheFavoritist) All content copyright to NSF. Not to be used elsewhere without explicit permission from NSF. Click "Join" for access to early fast turnaround clips, exclusive discord access with the NSF team, etc - to support the channel. Rolling Updates and Discussion: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=72.0 Articles: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/?s=Starship NSF Store: https://shop.nasaspaceflight.com/ L2 Boca Chica (more clips and photos) from BC's very early days to today. https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=47107.0 (Join L2 and support NSF here: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/l2/) 0:00 Starship SN15 0:49 Orbital Launch Site Prepped for 2nd Tower Section 2:08 The Liebherr LR 11000 & Starship SN15 4:32 Crews Prep the Launch Tower Base for New Section 5:32 Launch Tower Section Rolled Out 6:21 Tower Section Arrives at the Launch Site 8:57 Crews Remove Raptor SN54 from SN15 13:01 Frankencrane Prepares to Raise its Boom 14:36 2nd Raptor Removed from SN15 15:36 Frankencrane Raises its Boom 17:23 All Three Raptor Engines Brought to the Production Site 18:05 Three Starship Nosecones 18:34 New Starship Common Dome Section 19:09 Attachment Points for Thermal Tiles 19:54 Starship SN17 Section Outside the Mid Bay 20:37 Super Heavy Forward Dome

An aft dome used for Raptor Vacuum mount testing was sleeved with a barrel section labeled "scrap". The LR 11000 crane lifted its boom as work at the orbital tank farm continued. Video and Pictures from Mary (@BocaChicaGal). Edited by All content copyright to NSF. Not to be used elsewhere without explicit permission from NSF. Click "Join" for access to early fast turnaround clips, exclusive discord access with the NSF team, etc - to support the channel. Rolling Updates and Discussion: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=72.0 Articles: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/?s=Starship NSF Store: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/shop/ L2 Boca Chica (more clips and photos) from BC's very early days to today. https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=47107.0 (Join L2 and support NSF here: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/l2/) 0:00 - Starbase Sign at Night 0:43 - SN15 on Pad B 0:59 - GSE Tank Aft Section 1:27 - Test Dome on Sleeving Stand 1:48 - Cryo Tank Shell Construction 2:33 - SN16 in High Bay 3:16 - SN15 on Pad B, Flanked by New Cranes 3:58 - GSE Tank Base Construction 4:42 - Panning Shot of Orbital Launch Site 5:11 - LR 11000 Crane Assembly 5:49 - LR 11350 Crane Assembly 6:37 - Cryo Tank Shell Dome Lowered Into Place 6:58 - Launch Tower Section Construction 7:18 - Mystery Delivery 9:00 - Scrap Barrel Hooked to Crane for Sleeving 9:37 - LR 11000 Crane Lifts its Boom 11:44 - SN15, LR 1600/2, and LR 11000 12:19 - Test Dome Sleeved with Scrap Barrel