More than two and a half years after SpaceX began the process of securing regulatory approval for its next-generation Starlink constellation, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has finally granted the company a license – but only after drastically decreasing its scope. In May 2020, SpaceX filed its first FCC license application for Starlink Gen2, […]
The post SpaceX Starlink Gen2 constellation weakened by “partial” FCC grant appeared first on TESLARATI.
SpaceX says it’s on track to launch Japanese startup ispace’s first Moon lander, HAKUTO-R M1, no earlier than (NET) 3:39 am EST (08:39 UTC) on Wednesday, November 30th. The mission will be the third Moon launch from US soil in less than four months after SpaceX’s successful launch of the South Korean Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter […]
The post SpaceX set to launch Japanese Moon lander, NASA ice surveyor cubesat appeared first on TESLARATI.
SpaceX has expended a Falcon booster for the third time this month, breaking an odd internal record for a company famous for reusable rockets. Demonstrating why SpaceX often attempts to launch even when weather forecasts predict a 10% chance of favorable conditions, Falcon 9’s second launch attempt of the day went off without a hitch […]
The post SpaceX expends third Falcon booster in one month appeared first on TESLARATI.
For the first time since January 2020, SpaceX has intentionally expended a Falcon 9 booster instead of attempting to recover the rocket at sea or on land. Weighing around 6.6 tons (~14,600 lb) at liftoff, the rare mission sent Intelsat’s twin Maxar-built Galaxy 31 and 32 communications satellites to a high geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) […]
The post SpaceX expends Falcon 9 booster for the first time in almost three years appeared first on TESLARATI.
SpaceX has built and shipped its 200th Falcon second stage, highlighting the often underappreciated rocket’s record of achievement on the ground and in flight. Approximately 13 years ago, in late 2009 or early 2010, SpaceX shipped the first flightworthy prototype of the first iteration of its Falcon 9 second stage. In June 2010, Falcon 9 […]
The post SpaceX ships 200th Falcon second stage, highlighting the flip-side of booster reuse appeared first on TESLARATI.
An Amazon executive says that the company could still call on SpaceX to launch some of its Project Kuiper internet satellites after two of the three unproven rockets it purchased announced launch delays days apart. Amazon began work on Project Kuiper in 2018. When SpaceX CEO Elon Musk fired several senior employees overseeing the company’s […]
The post SpaceX still an option for future Amazon internet satellite launches, says Senior VP appeared first on TESLARATI.
After knocking out some figurative cobwebs, SpaceX has test-fired a Falcon Heavy rocket for the first time since June 2019. Shortly before the static fire, NASASpaceflight’s Thomas Burghardt reported that Falcon Heavy’s first launch in 40 months – a mission for the US Space Force known as USSF-44 – had slipped from October 28th and […]
The post SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket passes static fire test three years in the making appeared first on TESLARATI.
Fourteen years after winning its first major NASA contract, data shared by Aviation Week reporter Irene Klotz shows that SpaceX has usurped every other major aerospace company in the US to become the space agency’s largest for-profit vendor. SpaceX’s ascension up those ranks has been arduous and far from guaranteed, but the company now provides […]
The post SpaceX bests Boeing to become NASA’s largest for-profit vendor appeared first on TESLARATI.
In 15 hours, SpaceX has rolled a new Starship to its South Texas launch and test facilities, reassembled the world’s largest rocket, launched Starlink satellites to orbit, and recovered a reused Falcon 9 booster in port. The burst of activity began around sunset at SpaceX’s Starbase rocket factory in Boca Chica, Texas when a new […]
The post SpaceX rolls out Starship, stacks world’s largest rocket, and aces Starlink launch hours apart appeared first on TESLARATI.
SpaceX is on track to launch its 30th Starlink mission of 2022 later this morning. No earlier than (NET) 10:50 am EDT (14:50 UTC) on Thursday, October 20th, a Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to lift off from SpaceX’s Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) LC-40 launch pad with 54 internet satellites in tow. Weighing […]
The post SpaceX ready for 30th Starlink launch of 2022 appeared first on TESLARATI.
