Launches

The Dragon 2 cargo spacecraft blasting off atop a Falcon 9 rocket to start its CRS-34 mission (Image NASA+)

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A few hours ago, the SpaceX Dragon 2 spacecraft blasted off atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral in its CRS-34 (Cargo Resupply Service 34) mission, also referred to as SPX-34. After almost 12 minutes, it separated successfully from the rocket’s last stage and went en route. This is the 34th mission for the Dragon/Dragon 2 spacecraft to resupply the International Space Station with various cargoes and then return to Earth, again with various cargoes.

The Bluebird 7 satellite blasts off on a New Glenn rocket (Image courtesy Blue Origin)

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Confirmation has been received that AST SpaceMobile’s Bluebird 7 satellite will fall back to Earth after entering an orbit too low to reach the required level for direct cell phone communications. The problem emerged on Sunday, shortly after separation from Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket’s second stage. Initial investigations quickly identified the mishap as a consequence of a malfunction of the second stage.

The Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft blasting off atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to start its NG-24 mission (Image NASA+)

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A few hours ago, Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus XL spacecraft blasted off atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral on its NG-24 or CRS NG-24 mission. After about 15 minutes, it successfully separated from the rocket’s last stage and set on its course. This is the 4th 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 2nd to see the use of the new version of the Cygnus cargo spacecraft.

The Space Launch System lifts off with the Orion Integrity spacecraft (NASA Photo/Bill Ingalls)

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It was afternoon in the USA when NASA’s Orion spacecraft separated from the last stage, called the ICPS (Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage), of the Space Launch System (SLS), which blasted off almost two hours earlier from the Kennedy Space Center. The Orion entered the trajectory that will take it around the Moon to carry out its mission, which will last about 10 days. This is the second launch for the SLS and for the Orion in its full configuration. The Artemis II mission is important because it’s the first of this program to have a crew aboard.

The Crew-12 mission crew: Andrey Fedyaev, Jack Hathaway, Jessica Meir, and Sophie Adenot.

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A little while ago, SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Freedom spacecraft blasted off atop a Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in its Crew-12 or SpaceX Crew-12 mission. After almost exactly ten minutes, it successfully separated from the rocket’s last stage and went en route to carry out its mission. This is the 12th crewed mission of the Crew Dragon spacecraft within the normal rotation of the International Space Station crew.