Launches

Super Heavy 10 and Starship 28 blasting off (Image courtesy SpaceX)

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SpaceX conducted a new flight test of its Super Heavy rocket and Starship prototypes, launched from its base in Boca Chica, Texas. This is the third test involving the entire system of Elon Musk’s company which is supposed to revolutionize space travel with an unprecedented transport capacity and being totally reusable. In this case, however, they are prototypes with the Super Heavy identified as Booster 10 and the Starship identified as Starship 28 or Ship28 or simply S28. After the second test conducted on November 18, 2023, many changes were made to the Super Heavy and Starship systems. Despite the upgrades, they don’t have the safety requirements required to conduct controlled landings, so the plans continue to have the test ending with both vehicles splashing down.

The Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft blasting off atop a Falcon 9 rocket (Image NASA)

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A few hours ago, SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft blasted off atop a Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in its Crew-8 or SpaceX Crew-8 mission. After almost exactly twelve minutes, it successfully separated from the rocket’s last stage and went en route to carry out its mission. This is the 8th crewed mission of the Crew Dragon spacecraft within the normal rotation of the International Space Station crew. This is also the 5th mission for the Endeavour, a new record. The fact that the Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage is new is almost more newsworthy.

The Progress MS-26 cargo spacecraft blasting off atop a Soyuz-2.1a rocket (Image NASA TV)

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A few hours ago, the Progress MS-26 spacecraft blasted off atop a Soyuz-2.1a rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. After about nine minutes it successfully separated from the rocket’s last stage and was placed on its route. The cargo spacecraft began its resupply mission to the International Space Station also called Progress 87 or 87P. In this mission, the route used is the one that requires about two days.

Northrop Grumman's Cygnus S.S. Patricia “Patty” Hilliard Robertson cargo spacecraft blasted off atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket (Photo courtesy SpaceX)

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A few hours ago, Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus spacecraft blasted off atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center on its NG-20 or CRS NG-20 mission. After about 15 minutes, it successfully separated from the rocket’s last stage and set on its course. This is the first of at least three resupply missions to the International Space Station with various payloads launched using the Falcon 9 rocket while waiting for the new version of Northrop Grumman’s Antares rocket to be ready.