Launches

The HTV-X1 cargo spacecraft blasting off atop a H3-24W rocket (Photo courtesy JAXA)

A few hours ago, the HTV-X1 spacecraft blasted off atop a H3-24W rocket from the Tanegashima space center in Japan for a resupply mission to the International Space Station. A little more than 14 minutes after the launch, the cargo spacecraft separated regularly from the rocket’s last stage, entered its preliminary orbit, and deployed its solar panels and navigation antennas. It’s the new Japanese cargo spacecraft HTV-X’s maiden launch.

Super Heavy 15 and Starship 38 at liftoff (Image courtesy SpaceX)

It was the afternoon in the USA when 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 11th 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. They are advanced prototypes with the Super Heavy identified as Booster 15, at its second flight, and the Starship Block 2 identified as Starship 38 or Ship38 or simply S38.

The Carruthers Geocorona Observatory, IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe), and Space Weather Follow On-Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) space probe blasting off atop a Falcon 9 rocket (Image NASA+)

A little while ago, three space probes were launched atop a Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center. After approximately one hour and 23 minutes, they successfully separated from the rocket’s final stage within about 13 minutes and set off on a course that will take them to the area known as L1 (Lagrange 1), about 1.5 million kilometers from Earth, where they will begin their scientific work studying various aspects of space weather.

Northrop Grumman's Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft blasting off atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket (Image NASA+)

A few hours ago, Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL spacecraft blasted off atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral on its NG-23 or CRS NG-23 mission. After about 15 minutes, it successfully separated from the rocket’s last stage and set on its course. This is the third resupply mission 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. It’s also the first to see the use of the new version of the Cygnus cargo spacecraft.

Super Heavy Booster 16 and Starship 37 at liftoff (Image: SpaceX)

It was the afternoon in the USA when 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 10th 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. They are advanced prototypes with the Super Heavy identified as Booster 16 and the Starship Block 2 identified as Starship 37 or Ship37 or simply S37.