Space, NASA and Science News

[phkrause]

Moon landing attempt by US company appears doomed after ‘critical’ fuel leak

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The first U.S. moon landing attempt in more than 50 years appeared to be doomed after a private company’s spacecraft developed a “critical” fuel leak just hours after Monday’s launch.

https://apnews.com/article/moon-landing-launch-private-nasa-0987b31b201b78c3935f1bfbf9a7cade?

Moon landing threatened despite successful Space Coast launch on ULA Vulcan

While United Launch Alliance celebrated a successful launch from Cape Canaveral early Monday, its main customer was troubleshooting issues with its lunar lander that threatened its chance to get to the moon.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/01/08/astrobotic-moon-landing-threatened-despite-successful-space-coast-launch-on-ula-vulcan/?

[phkrause]

NASA delays Artemis II and III moon missions to 2025 and 2026

NASA announced Tuesday it has delayed both the crewed Artemis II mission to fly around the moon and the Artemis III launch that aims to send the next humans, including the first woman, to the lunar surface for the first time since 1972.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/01/09/nasa-delays-both-artemis-ii-and-iii-moon-missions/?

[phkrause]

SpaceX now targeting Sunday to launch more Starlink satellites from Florida space coast

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - SpaceX is once again launching more Starlink satellites into orbit Sunday night.

https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/spacex-gearing-up-to-launch-more-starlink-satellites-from-florida-space-coast-saturday-night.amp

[phkrause]

This week’s Axiom Space flight to ISS marks 1st crewed launch of the year

Commercial astronaut trips from the Space Coast are becoming commonplace with Axiom Space about to send up another crew from Kennedy Space Center this week.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/01/14/this-weeks-axiom-space-flight-to-iss-marks-1st-crewed-launch-of-the-year/?

[phkrause]

SpaceX set to launch Falcon 9 rocket tonight

SpaceX crews are preparing to launch a Falcon 9 rocket Sunday from Florida’s Space Coast.

https://local.newsbreak.com/florida-state/3298186168367-spacex-set-to-launch-falcon-9-rocket-tonight?

[phkrause]

NASA, Lockheed Martin reveal X-59 quiet supersonic aircraft

NASA and Lockheed Martin formally debuted the agency's X-59 quiet supersonic aircraft Friday. Using this one-of-a-kind experimental airplane, NASA aims to gather data that could revolutionize air travel, paving the way for a new generation of commercial aircraft that can travel faster than the speed of sound.

https://techxplore.com/news/2024-01-nasa-lockheed-martin-reveal-quiet.html?

US company’s lunar lander will burn up in Earth’s atmosphere after failed moonshot

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A U.S. company’s lunar lander will soon burn up in Earth’s atmosphere after a failed moonshot.

https://apnews.com/article/private-moon-lander-earth-reentry-e59645ffd5dc43f80f25a8ec34c0f449?

[phkrause]

SpaceX delays launch of Axiom Space crew until at least Thursday

Axiom Space and SpaceX are set to kick off a busy year for human spaceflight, but SpaceX announced it was delaying its Space Coast launch attempt until at least Thursday.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/01/17/axiom-space-spacex-aim-to-launch-crew-of-4-to-space-station-today/?

[phkrause]

Japan becomes the fifth country to land a spacecraft on the moon

TOKYO (AP) — Japan became the fifth country in history to reach the moon when one of its spacecrafts without astronauts successfully made a soft landing on the lunar surface early Saturday.

https://apnews.com/article/japan-moon-landing-jaxa-probe-slim-845d4868636df5ced2e1818c588f29a4?

[phkrause]

Japan’s precision moon lander has hit its target, but it appears to be upside-down

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s space agency said Thursday that its first lunar mission hit the tiny patch of the moon’s surface it was aiming for, in a successful demonstration of its pinpoint landing system — although the probe appears to be lying upside-down.

https://apnews.com/article/japan-moon-lander-slim-probe-pinpoint-2908c74d9e3c4c8a5eabfb6b1625c617?

[phkrause]

NASA’s little helicopter on Mars has logged its last flight

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA’s little Mars helicopter has flown its last flight.

https://apnews.com/article/mars-helicopter-damage-grounded-nasa-c39e22c85cb84eb88b6efcfb78bde0cd?

[phkrause]

SpaceX knocks out Sunday night KSC launch, pushes Canaveral cargo launch to Tuesday

SpaceX sent up another Starlink launch from Kennedy Space Center on Sunday night while prepping for a unique cargo launch from Cape Canaveral targeting Tuesday.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/01/28/spacex-lines-up-ksc-launch-sunday-pushes-canaveral-cargo-launch-to-tuesday/?

[phkrause]

SpaceX launches its 1st Northrop Grumman capsule on space station cargo run

SpaceX has once again lent a hand by providing launch services for one of its competitors as a Falcon 9 rocket took up a Northrop Grumman spacecraft Tuesday on a resupply mission to the International Space Station.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/01/30/spacex-steps-in-to-help-another-competitor-with-cargo-run-to-the-iss/?

[phkrause]

🔭 1 for the road

The spiral galaxy NGC 1512 is 30 million light-years away in the constellation Horologium, per NASA. Photo: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Janice Lee (STScI), Thomas Williams (Oxford) and the PHANGS team NASA and partner space agencies have released a "treasure trove" of images captured by the James Webb Space Telescope, featuring 19 nearby spiral galaxies. Why it matters: Scientists are studying the images, and their analysis will "advance our understanding of star formation and the evolution of spiral galaxies," per a statement from the European Space Agency. See the rest. Webb Telescope's view face-on of spiral galaxy NGC 4254. Photo: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Janice Lee (STScI), Thomas Williams (Oxford) and the PHANGS team

[phkrause]

Florida Lt. Gov. Núñez predicts 111 possible Space Coast launches for 2024

If 2023 felt like a lot of launches, by the time 2024 is over, Floridians may hurt their necks looking over their shoulders for the tell-tale streaks of light carving their way up from the Space Coast.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/02/01/florida-lt-gov-nunez-cites-111-possible-space-coast-launches-for-2024/?

[phkrause]

Now aiming for early Wednesday, SpaceX launch set for NASA Earth science probe once targeted by Trump

Delayed at least a day because of weather, a NASA satellite that will look at the tiniest parts of the air and ocean is now set for an early Wednesday morning launch from the Space Coast after a years-long path to the launch pad that staved off repeated attempts by the Trump administration to cancel the mission.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/02/05/overnight-spacex-launch-set-for-nasa-earth-science-probe-once-targeted-by-trump/?

[phkrause]

Axiom Space astronauts depart space station for 2-day ride home to Florida

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER — The first human spaceflight of the year is headed home as the four crew of the Axiom Space Ax-3 mission climbed aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon Freedom and departed the International Space Station on Wednesday heading for a planned Friday morning splashdown off Florida’s coast.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/02/07/private-axiom-space-astronauts-depart-space-station-for-2-day-ride-home-to-florida/?

[phkrause]

Saturn’s Death Star-looking moon may have vast underground ocean

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Astronomers have found the best evidence yet of a vast, young ocean beneath the icy exterior of Saturn’s Death Star lookalike mini moon.

https://apnews.com/article/saturn-moon-ocean-mimas-death-star-c506e45170f047096aaa5d093d05594c?

[phkrause]

Overnight sonic boom could hit Central Florida with SpaceX launch of NASA Earth science probe

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER — Delayed two days because of weather, a NASA satellite that will look at the tiniest parts of the air and ocean is set for an early Thursday morning launch from the Space Coast that could shake households in Central Florida when the rocket’s booster creates a sonic boom during its recovery landing.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/02/07/overnight-spacex-launch-set-for-nasa-earth-science-probe-once-targeted-by-trump/?

[phkrause]

NASA climate satellite blasts off to survey oceans and atmosphere of a warming Earth

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA’s newest climate satellite rocketed into orbit Thursday to survey the world’s oceans and atmosphere in never-before-seen detail.

https://apnews.com/article/climate-satellite-launch-nasa-b9f5e8874e56f6166aa88ddc5689ff47?

[phkrause]

Axiom Space astronauts splash down safely off Daytona Beach

The four crew of the Axiom Space Ax-3 mission that launched from Kennedy Space Center last month made a safe return to Earth with a splashdown off the coast of Daytona Beach on Friday but not before sending a sonic boom across Central Florida.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/02/09/watch-live-axiom-space-astronauts-headed-for-splashdown-off-florida/?

[phkrause]

SpaceX, NASA moon lander late-night launch on Valentine's Day: Where to watch in Volusia

A Florida rocket launch is scheduled on the most romantic holiday — the NASA Intuitive Machines moon lander.

https://local.newsbreak.com/volusia-county-fl/3332127093770-spacex-nasa-moon-lander-late-night-launch-on-valentines-day-where-to-watch-in-volusia?

[phkrause]

Another overnight sonic boom possible from SpaceX launch of moonbound lander

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER — Another commercial company is trying to become the first to land on the moon with a planned overnight launch atop a SpaceX rocket that could bring another sonic boom to Central Florida.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/02/13/another-overnight-sonic-boom-possible-from-spacex-launch-of-moonbound-lander/?

[phkrause]

NASA vows to battle ‘organizational silence’ as problems arise amid Artemis delays

NASA was riding a high after the overall success of Artemis I when the uncrewed rocket made a test run to the moon and back in 2022, so the message remained full steam ahead to push for a crewed Artemis II flight in 2024 and the return of humans to the moon in 2025.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/02/17/nasa-vows-to-battle-organizational-silence-as-problems-arise-amid-artemis-delays/?

[phkrause]

New or retooled Cape Canaveral launch pads considered for SpaceX Starship

The Department of Defense is looking for a new home for SpaceX’s Starship launching the process to determine what the environmental impact would be to allow the world’s most powerful rocket to launch from the Space Coast.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2024/02/18/new-or-retooled-cape-canaveral-launch-pads-considered-for-spacex-starship/?

[phkrause]

WATCH LIVE at 3:11 p.m.: SpaceX launches Falcon 9 rocket from Florida’s coast

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – SpaceX is gearing up for another launch of its Falcon 9 rocket from Florida’s Space Coast on Tuesday afternoon.

https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2024/02/20/spacex-plans-to-launch-satellite-aboard-falcon-9-rocket-from-florida-coast/