Port Canaveral, 2024-12-21
Falcon 9, Astranis Many From One, Prelaunch, 2024-12-20
Views from the launch pad of Falcon 9 at Space Launch Complex 40. Later that night, when the engines that power the first stage were ignited, a problem was detected by the rocket’s computers and an instant shutdown and launch aboard were automatically triggered. Both rocket and payload are safe.
Blue Origin Payload Ready, Company Says New Glenn Inaugural Flight Still This Year
Photo: Blue Origin
Blue Origin announced today that the payload for the first launch of their New Glenn orbital-class rocket is ready, and that the company still plans to launch the flight this year — which has only 22 days remaining.
The Payload
Photo: Blue Origin
Blue Origin plans to conduct a pathfinder test of its Blue Ring technologies. Blue Ring is described by the company as a “spacecraft platform,” one that can not only orbit Earth and provide services to satellites, but also travel around the Moon, with the goal of providing delivery and logistics support to cislunar space projects as well.
Blue Ring will also function as a maneuverable platform that can host, transport, and refuel other spacecraft. It will also be capable of acting as a data relay while also offering an “in-space” cloud computing capability, according to the original announcement of the project.
Dave Limp, CEO of Blue Origin, said on December 9, “There is a growing demand to quickly move and position equipment and infrastructure in multiple orbits. Blue Ring has advanced propulsion and communication capabilities for government and commercial customers to handle these maneuvers precisely and efficiently.”
“This Blue Ring Pathfinder is equipped with storage and compute virtualization to demonstrate anomaly detection using machine learning. Its mission kit provides high-performance, radiation-tolerant compute and storage akin to today’s cloud-based offerings,” Limp concluded.
“We’re excited to demonstrate Blue Ring’s advanced in-space operations on New Glenn’s inaugural mission,” said Paul Ebertz, Senior Vice President of Blue Origin’s In-Space Systems. “Blue Ring plays a critical role in building a road to space, and this mission is an important first step for Blue Ring and enabling dynamic and responsive operations that will greatly benefit our nation.”
New Glenn Launching This Year?
The headline for the Blue Ring announcement had an interesting statement: “Blue Ring Pathfinder Payload Ready for Launch; Blue Origin’s New Glenn on Track for This Year.”
Dave Limp also said on December 8 that Blue is awaiting “regulatory approvals for hotfire and launch” of New Glenn. Presumably, that is an FAA license to launch as well as approval from the Space Force that Blue Origin for the static fire and also that New Glenn ready for flight from a range safety and operations standpoint.
While Blue Origin waits for the paperwork to be finished, they have been conducting fueling operations on New Glenn at LC-36.
There are three weeks left in 2024.
SpaceX, Falcon 9, SXM-9, December 5, 2024
SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 carrying the SXM-9 satellite for Sirius-XM today. Liftoff was at 11:10 AM EST from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center and into hazy but blue skies over Florida.
Around 8.25 minutes later, Falcon 9 booster B1076 touched down offshore on ASDS ‘Just Read The Instructions’, successfully concluding its 19th mission. ‘Just Read The Instructions’ had been pre-positioned offshore downrange and will now return to Port Canaveral where B1076 will be returned to SpaceX’s Hangar X for inspection and, presumably, preparation for its 20th flight.
A Notable Week In Spaceflight Concludes With Winter Park Residents Flying On New Shepard
Some weeks, they say, are better than others. This week was one of those better ones, as there has been major activities and milestones set this week:
- SpaceX flies Starship Heavy on sixth test flight
- Blue Origin raises New Glenn to vertical for final tests prior to maiden launch
- Artemis II assembly begins in the VAB at Kennedy Space Center
- SpaceX flies four Falcon 9 missions in four days, and is nearing its 400th rocket launch
- Blue Origin launches New Shepard NS-28 with two Winter Park residents and Emily Calendrelli aboard.
That’s a lot of activity, and a lot of what happened this week sets up some exciting times in the future.
SpaceX, Falcon 9, Starlink 6-66, Nov. 21, 2024
SpaceX sent another batch of Starlink satellites to orbit this morning from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral. Liftoff was at 11:07 AM EST into seasonably cool (~65ºF) and crystal blue skies over Florida.
Beautiful SKies, But Launch Bad Photography Weather
The cooler air over warmer water meant different air densities were mixing, creating perfect conditions for something I call “shimmer” but is more properly called “heat distortion.” Given that 8-9 miles is as close as almost anyone can view some launches (Starlink, especially) these are a real PITA for photographers. The stars twinkle in the night sky because of the same principles.
So, that meant taking the picture the situation allows. This is about as good a launch photo as anyone got from this launch location.
SpaceX, Falcon 9, NSIL GSAT-20, Nov. 18, 2024
November 18, 2024, Cape Canaveral SpaceX kept up their torrid pace of launches this afternoon when it launched the GSAT-20 for New Space India Ltd. (NSIL) from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Liftoff was at 1:31 PM ET under a nearly completely overcast sky.
This is a very busy time SpaceX. It has launched three Falcon 9 missions over the past two days, and also plans to launch Starship Heavy on its sixth test flight from Texas tomorrow.
About 8.5 minutes after liftoff, Booster B1073 successfully touched down on the SpaceX droneship ASDS ‘Just Read The Instructions’, completing its part of the mission. At roughly the same time as the first stage touchdown, Falcon 9’s second stage achieved orbit.
At 2:06 PM ET, SpaceX confirmed the successful deployment of the payload, concluding another successful Falcon 9 mission for the company. Today marked the 114th successful Falcon 9 mission in 2024.
SpaceX, Falcon 9, Starlink 6-69, November 11, 2024
SpaceX launched the Starlink 6-69 mission to low-Earth orbit late this afternoon, and by so doing completed its second launch from the Eastern Range (Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Kennedy Space Center) in less than five hours. Starlink 6-69 launched aboard Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 40 at 4:28 PM EST, a mere four hours and six minutes after SpaceX launched Koreasat 6A from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center. Both launches were successes.
SpaceX, Falcon 9, NASA CRS-2 SpX-31 (CRS-31), November 4, 2024
SpaceX launched the latest resupply mission for the International Space Station this evening from Pad LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center. Liftoff was at 9:29 PM EDT into skies that cleared just in time for the launch.
Around eight minutes and a half minutes after launching roughly ten miles away, Falcon 9 Booster B1083 completed its fifth mission successfully when it touched down at Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This marked the 46th landing at LZ-1 and the 365th Falcon booster landing all-time.
Blue Origin Granted Water Deluge Permit For LC-36 By FDEP
Photo: Blue Origin
Water Deluge Permit Needed For New Glenn Sound Suppression System at LC-36
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has granted Blue Orgin’s application for a water deluge system at Space Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral. It now appears that Blue Origin now has no remaining regulatory hurdles prior to the planned static fire of New Glenn’s first stage and its eventual launch at some point in the near future.
Blue Origin implemented the water deluge system to suppress sound and manage the intense acoustic energy generated during New Glenn launches. When engine exhaust gases surpass the speed of sound, they collide with the surrounding air, creating shockwaves and noise levels reaching nearly 200 decibels. This powerful energy can reflect off the launch platform and pad surfaces, potentially damaging the rocket or its payload. A water deluge system works to absorb or deflect that energy, helping to protect critical components during liftoff. It is used by all major launch service providers and NASA itself for SLS.
At the Eastern Range (KSC and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station), the Florida Department of Environmental Protection handles environmental permitting for a water deluge system. Without the FDEP permit, Blue Origin could not legally use the new LC-36 water deluge system, and as such, they could not conduct a full New Glenn S1 test firing.
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