Space, NASA and Science News

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SpaceX Dragon on way to space station with cargo, new reboost capability

A SpaceX Dragon spacecraft is headed for its 50th rendezvous with the International Space Station bringing cargo and a new reboost capability after having launched from the Space Coast early Sunday.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/24/spacex-dragon-on-way-to-space-station-with-cargo-new-reboost-capability/?

[phkrause]

Starship Delayed

The 10th test flight of SpaceX’s massive Starship space vehicle was called off last night just minutes before the launch window was set to open, with company officials citing an issue with ground systems (typically referring to the launch infrastructure, not the rocket itself). The next launch window is yet to be announced, but is expected within the week.    The flight will be the fourth of 2025 as the company seeks to accelerate its flagship space vehicle program. Each of the previous three ended in failure, and a fourth rocket exploded in June during a fueling test. Progression of the Starship, designed to carry up to 100 people on long-duration trips, is central to CEO Elon Musk’s vision to colonize Mars.     The test flight comes a few days after SpaceX successfully launched the eighth experimental mission of the US Space Force’s secretive X-37B vehicle. The uncrewed spaceplane is designed to spend multiple years in orbit and has logged 1.3 billion miles traveled to date.

[phkrause]

SpaceX looks to launch Starship on Tuesday night after 2 days of scrubs

SpaceX has lined up its massive Starship and Super Heavy rocket for what would be its 10th suborbital test flight aiming to complete goals that have fallen short so far in 2025.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/26/powerful-spacex-starship-set-for-10th-test-launch-aiming-to-avoid-recent-failures/

[phkrause]

SpaceX launch caps busy month, still on track to pass 100 Space Coast missions this year

SpaceX remains on track to surpass 100 launches on the Space Coast for 2025 after knocking out No. 70 on Sunday morning with four months to go.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/08/31/spacex-launch-caps-busy-month-still-on-track-to-pass-100-space-coast-missions-this-year/?

[phkrause]

Marsquakes indicate a solid core for the red planet, just like Earth

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Scientists revealed Wednesday that Mars’ innermost core appears to be a solid hunk of metal just like Earth’s.

https://apnews.com/article/mars-core-nasa-insight-ac38ae787b41d3d2727a693f3c2b7d28?

SpaceX gets FAA OK to jack up Canaveral’s Falcon 9 launches from 50 to 120

The Federal Aviation Administration declared Wednesday that a plan for SpaceX to expand its Falcon 9 launch and landing capacity at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station does not require an Environmental Impact Statement.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/09/03/spacex-gets-faa-ok-to-jack-up-canaverals-falcon-9-launches-from-50-to-120/?

[phkrause]

This image provided by NASA on Friday, shows a scene of star birth in Pismis 24, a young star cluster about 5,500 light-years from Earth in the constellation Scorpius taken by NASA's Webb Space Telescope. (NASA via AP)

Thousands of newborn stars dazzle in the latest snapshot by NASA’s Webb Space Telescope

Thousands of newborn stars sparkle and dazzle in the latest snapshot by NASA’s Webb Space Telescope. Released this week, the picture provides a breathtaking view of a nearby star-birthing center, 5,500 light-years away.

[phkrause]

Weather takes out SpaceX launch attempt; could threaten Tuesday retry

A SpaceX launch on the Space Coast was rained out Monday, and weather could threaten a retry on Tuesday.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/09/08/sunset-spacex-launch-tonight-could-make-for-unique-show-if-weather-allows/?

[phkrause]

With Trump eyeing space station demise, NASA pushes for commercial replacements

President Trump and his new interim head of NASA Sean Duffy are pushing for a renewed effort to shuffle off the responsibility of running the International Space Station in favor of becoming a customer of a commercial space station provider instead.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/09/13/with-trump-eyeing-space-station-demise-nasa-pushes-for-commercial-replacements/?

[phkrause]

SpaceX launches Northrop Grumman cargo mission to space station

SpaceX lent a hand to fellow commercial cargo company Northrop Grumman once again with a launch Sunday evening on the Space Coast to send supplies to the International Space Station.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/09/14/spacex-set-for-sunday-launch-to-space-station-with-sonic-boom-in-store/?

[phkrause]

How will SpaceX’s massive Starship affect you when it comes to Florida?

Central Florida residents face flight delays, beach closures, and sonic booms in the middle of the night if SpaceX has its way, with plans to launch its powerful Starship and Super Heavy rocket from the Space Coast as many as 120 times a year.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/09/17/how-will-spacexs-massive-starship-affect-you-when-it-comes-to-florida/?

[phkrause]

NASA selects Blue Origin to take the once-canceled VIPER rover to moon

An expensive lunar rover that once had its moon trip canceled has a ride once again.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/09/19/nasa-selects-blue-origin-to-take-the-once-canceled-viper-rover-to-the-moon/?

SpaceX sunrise launch the 80th on Space Coast this year

SpaceX’s sunrise launch from Cape Canaveral on Sunday was the 80th launch of the year on the Space Coast, which is on track to break the annual record and surpass 100 for the year.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/09/21/spacex-sunrise-launch-the-80th-on-space-coast-this-year/?

[phkrause]

Spaceflight veteran from Polaris Dawn mission named to new NASA astronaut class

NASA named 10 new astronaut candidates for its 24th class of astronauts Monday, including one person who has already been to space.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/09/22/spaceflight-veteran-from-polaris-dawn-mission-named-to-new-nasa-astronaut-class/?

NASA's New Class

NASA unveiled the 10 newest members of its astronaut corps yesterday, a group winnowed down from more than 8,000 applicants from across the US. The group, the first to include more female candidates than male, will now undergo two years of training before becoming flight-eligible.  While missions are not predetermined, the timeline of the agency’s ambitious Artemis program may see the new class become the first to dock with the Lunar Gateway, a planned space station orbiting the moon. The outpost is a key step in NASA’s plan to establish an ongoing presence on the lunar surface and a milestone toward a potential trip to Mars. Read a Reddit “Ask Me Anything” with the group posted yesterday. The class is the 24th since the program’s creation, bringing the total number of astronauts in NASA history to 370. Read about the first-ever class in 1959, known as the “Mercury Seven.” ... also, learn more about NASA and its history on 1440 Topics.

[phkrause]

NASA officials say Artemis II moon flight could come in early February

After multiple delays, the first crewed Artemis flight around the moon could be less than 20 weeks away, NASA officials said Tuesday, putting the space program closer to returning to the moon itself in its “second space race” with China.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/09/23/nasa-officials-say-artemis-ii-moon-flight-could-come-in-early-february/?

[phkrause]

In battle against space weather, SpaceX launches 3 satellites headed 1 million miles away

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER — SpaceX launched three satellites early Wednesday on a million-mile trip to tackle the mysteries of space weather, including how to protect from the sun’s disruptive and dangerous solar flares.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/09/24/in-battle-against-space-weather-spacex-set-to-send-3-satellites-1-million-miles-away/?

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A trio of space weather satellites blast off together to study the sun’s violent side

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A cluster of space weather satellites blasted off Wednesday morning to cast fresh eyes on solar storms that can produce stunning auroras but also scramble communications and threaten astronauts in flight.

https://apnews.com/article/solar-storms-launch-nasa-noaa-e1e76b973123262c15e717bc515ae6f0?

[phkrause]

Double launch day complete with SpaceX, ULA successes

A busy week on the Space Coast saw two rockets launch within hours of one another as both SpaceX and United Launch Alliance had missions to add to a pair of competing satellite constellations.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/09/25/1-down-1-to-go-as-spacex-ula-share-space-coast-launch-day/?

[phkrause]

Port Canaveral preps for more rocket recoveries with 3rd crane

Port Canaveral has had such a busy year supporting SpaceX’s rocket recovery efforts, it brought in a new crane to assist in the launch parade on the Space Coast.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/10/01/port-canaveral-preps-for-more-rocket-recoveries-with-3rd-crane/?

[phkrause]

Burst of growth

A rogue planet was caught behaving like a star in an unprecedented observation. Astronomers recorded a massive growth spurt — gobbling up gas and dust at 6.6 billion tons per second — unlike anything witnessed before.

[phkrause]

Full Harvest Moon a supermoon rose along with overnight SpaceX launch

The first of the year’s only three supermoons rose Monday night with the full moon coming just before midnight and lit up an overnight launch of a SpaceX rocket.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/10/06/tonights-full-harvest-moon-to-be-supermoon-rising-ahead-of-spacex-launch/?

[phkrause]

Blue Origin to build new Florida satellite processing site for Space Force

While Blue Origin was kept out of the Space Force’s latest round of national security missions, the government has opted to rely on Jeff Bezos’ company to build a new place to prep satellites for launch.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/10/09/blue-origin-to-build-new-florida-satellite-processing-site-for-space-force/?

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SpaceX knocks out final launch for competitor Amazon

After both onshore and offshore weather headaches in the past week, SpaceX was back Monday night to finish up its third of three contracted launches of competitor Amazon’s Project Kuiper satellites.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/10/13/spacex-targets-nighttime-launch-of-competitor-amazons-satellites/?

[phkrause]

2 green comets shine bright. How to spot them in the night sky

NEW YORK (AP) — Two bright green comets are streaming through the skies and are visible to skygazers in the Northern Hemisphere.

https://apnews.com/article/october-comet-lemmon-swan-13204c58052963d130e3862f3068e9dd?

[phkrause]

Remember the moon rover? Here’s a look at a possible Artemis version

It’s been more than 18 months since NASA narrowed to three the field of competitors vying to build the nation’s next moon rover.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/10/18/remember-the-moon-rover-heres-a-look-at-a-possible-artemis-version/?

SpaceX’s fleet-leading booster makes 31st launch from Space Coast

SpaceX plowed ahead with a record 31st launch of one of its Falcon 9 boosters with another Starlink mission from the Space Coast on Sunday.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/10/19/spacexs-fleet-leading-booster-set-for-31st-launch-from-space-coast-today/?

[phkrause]

NASA’s SLS rocket for moonbound Artemis II mission fully stacked at KSC

Despite the ongoing government shutdown, NASA managed to complete a major milestone in its effort to send astronauts back to the moon.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/10/25/nasas-sls-rocket-for-moonbound-artemis-ii-mission-fully-stacked-at-ksc/?

[phkrause]

SpaceX launches Space Coast’s 89th mission of the year

The Space Coast hosted its 89th orbital launch of the year with another SpaceX Starlink mission on Sunday morning.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/10/26/spacex-launches-89th-mission-space-coast/