KSCVC rendering of the newly updated Gantry at LC-39A
The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex has expanded its popular bus tour to include The Gantry at Launch Complex 39—a multi-level attraction nestled inside KSC that was updated and upgraded over the past several months.
Perched just 1.5 miles from LC-39A and 2.25 miles from LC-39B—the primary pads for NASA’s Artemis lunar missions—The Gantry offers a front-row seat to the agency’s current and future launch operations. Guests will find four stories of interactive exhibits, an Earth Information Center that explores how space science benefits life on our planet, and carefully preserved artifacts from NASA’s storied past.
No word has been given about launch viewing at the site. LC-39A and LC-39B are too close, of course, as there is at least a 3.5 mile exclusion area surrounding each pad and The Gantry will be too close for viewers. In the past, The Gantry has hosted spectators for launches from ULA’s pad at LC-41 and SpaceX’s pad at SLC-40 on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and given them a point blank (relatively speaking) view of the launch equal to what the working press sees.
An Atlas V launch as seen from The Gantry Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
Static Fire Simulator
The RS-25 on display at The Gantry in 2010. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
For years, The Gantry had a real flight-worthy Aerojet-Rocketdyne RS-25 engine on display — one where users could get a close view of the engines that powered the launches of space shuttle orbiters and SLS rockets. When the Artemis program got started in earnest, that display was removed, leaving a huge hole in each level of The Gantry. That has been replaced by a new Static Fire simulator.
The new simulator, unique to The Gantry, recreates the moment a rocket engine fires for a ground test. Under the guidance of a NASA engineer and an on-site AI assistant named Sōl, visitors will witness an amplified demonstration: a 30-minute countdown culminates in a dramatic eruption of noise, light and cooling fog.
Education Is A Prominent Display At The Gantry
The Gantry’s designers also emphasize education. From its vantage point, guests can gaze across the wildlife refuge’s swamps and scrublands to active launch pads at both Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Interactive displays illustrate how each mission contributes to our understanding of Earth’s climate, ecosystems and natural resources.
In the overnight hours this morning, SpaceX achieved a landmark in its launch manifest: the company’s 500th Falcon 9 flight. Launching on its 500th mission overall, the Falcon 9 rocket roared off from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 2:28 a.m. EDT (0628 UTC).
The flight also set a new high-water mark for booster reuse, as first stage B1067 chalked up its 29th trip to space and back when it touched down safely aboard ASDS ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas.’ That’s more flights than any other Falcon booster on record. To put it into perspective, this morning’s flight of B1067 is one more than Columbia, the Shuttle orbiter that flew 28 missions before tragedy struck it and its crew during re-entry in February 2003. It is also ten less than the all-time reuse leader, STS Orbiter Discovery, which flew 39 missions with the last being STS‑133 in March 2011. SpaceX has stated that their goal for Falcon 9 booster reuse is forty mission, and at this point in time, B1067 is nearly three-quarters of the way there.
Booster B1067 and ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’ will now return to Port Canaveral, where the booster will be offloaded, returned to SpaceX’s Hangar X at Kennedy Space Center for inspection, refurbishment and preparation for its next mission at some date in the future.
Starlink Notes
Starlink 10-25 was the first Starlink launch of July and deployed 27 Starlink V2 Mini-Optimized satellites into a 279-kilometer orbit inclined 53.2 degrees to the equator. After a textbook ascent on a northeast trajectory, the second stage released its payload approximately 55 minutes after liftoff, marking another routine deployment for SpaceX’s rapidly growing broadband constellation.
Timelapse of Starlink 10-25 Photo: SpaceX
Starlink 10-25 added to the more than 7,900 operational satellites that make up the world’s largest low-Earth-orbit constellation, designed to deliver high-speed internet to underserved and remote regions around the globe. This latest batch of V2 Mini satellites is optimized for quicker deployment and greater data throughput, continuing SpaceX’s strategy of incremental upgrades to the network’s overall performance.
Beating The Weather
Meteorologists from the U.S. Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron had forecast a 90 percent chance of favorable conditions for the pre-dawn launch, with only scattered cumulus clouds expected to drift through the Cape Canaveral area. Skies remained clear at ignition, ensuring uninterrupted visibility for the mission’s live webcast and ground observers alike.
Launch Replay
Next Launch
Setting
Value
Mission
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 10-28 Awaiting Confirmation
Organization
SpaceX
Location
Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA
Rocket
Falcon 9
Pad
Space Launch Complex 40
Status
To Be Confirmed
Status Info
Awaiting official confirmation – current date is known with some certainty.
Window Opens
Tuesday, 07/08/2025 1:48:00 AM
Window Closes
Tuesday, 07/08/2025 5:48:00 AM
Destination
Low Earth Orbit
Mission Description
A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation – SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.
Florida has a unique climate: about 80% of the rain the Space Coast receives comes in summer, and this year is no different: the area has been in a slight drought for months, but now that it’s summer, the rains are back. Those rains might just put a kink in SpaceX’s plans tonight as it plans to launch the MTG-S1 satellite from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center.
According to SpaceX, “The 150-minute window opens at 5:04 p.m. ET. If needed, a backup launch opportunity is available on Wednesday, July 2 at the same time.” Today’s window ends at 7:32PM local time.
The 45th Weather Squadron, part of Space Launch Delta 45 of the US Space Force tells the tale pretty quickly: a weather system south of us has been pumping storms along its boundary. As a result, there is only a 20% chance for weather conditions to be acceptable during the launch window today, and it gets a bit worse tomorrow, July 2: only a 10% chance.
On the other hand, SpaceX can and does find gaps in the weather to get launches off of the pad, as they have proven time and time again that unfavorable weather forecasts can change minute by minute and that it only takes a gap where there are no thunderstorms nearby the launch pad for them to get the mission in safely.
Stay tuned.
SpaceX launched Falcon 9 carrying the ESA – Galileo L13 mission last September only minutes after this photograph was taken. Minutes after the launch, it was pouring rain on the Cape. Photo: Charles Boyer / ToT
At A Glance
Setting
Value
Mission
Falcon 9 Block 5 | MTG-S1
Organization
SpaceX
Location
Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
Rocket
Falcon 9
Pad
Launch Complex 39A
Status
Go for Launch
Status Info
Current T-0 confirmed by official or reliable sources.
Window Opens
Tuesday, 07/01/2025 5:04:00 PM
Window Closes
Tuesday, 07/01/2025 7:34:00 PM
Destination
Geostationary Transfer Orbit
Mission Description
Second of EUMETSAT’s third generation of weather satellite.
Trajectory
East, but slightly south towards the Equator. This is a typical path for weather satellites like MTG-S1.
Payload
According to ESA, “The Meteosat Third Generation Sounder satellite (MTG-S) will generate a completely new type of data product, especially suited to nowcasting severe weather events.”
They continue, “From an orbit 36 000 km from Earth, the MTG-S1 satellite is set to revolutionise the way we forecast severe weather. Unlike the imaging satellites, which complete the constellation of the MTG mission, MTG-S1 uses its Infrared Sounder to capture data on temperature, humidity and trace gases. Its data is used to generate three-dimensional maps of the atmosphere.
“This data will help to detect and predict rapidly evolving and potentially dangerous weather systems. It will support applications to provide more accurate weather warnings, helping communities prepare for storms, alert pilots to areas of invisible turbulence and support plans to mitigate climate risks – ultimately saving lives and reducing damage to property and infrastructure.
“This mission will change forecasting, using innovative space technology to bring us three-dimensional data on the atmosphere and enabling faster responses to extreme weather,” said Simonetta Cheli, ESA’s Director of Earth Observation Programmes, adding, “Throughout the development of this mission, I’ve been impressed by the dedication and expertise shown by the teams across ESA and our European partners, and I would like to thank everyone involved for their spirit of cooperation. Their hard work means that this mission will contribute to better forecasting to benefit citizens.”
SpaceX will have a livestream of the launch on their website: SpaceX MTG-S1. This stream will also be available on the X platform. Coverage starts about fifteen minutes before liftoff.
Spaceflight Now will have coverage of the launch starting about one hour before liftoff on Youtube: link
For official updates regarding launch times, SpaceX.com is the best source of information. Starlink launch times change from time to time, and the company generally updates their website within minutes of the decision to change the launch time. This is very handy if none of the streaming options on YouTube have started their broadcasts.
Remember that there is a delay between a launch stream and the actual countdown clock. That is simply because of physics: it takes time for the signal to travel from the launch site, through the Internet, and back down to your phone, resulting in a five to fifteen-second delay.
Next Space Flight an app for iOS and Android phones, has a real-time countdown clock that is accurate to a second, give or take. The app is free. Search the App Store or Google Play. They are also on the web: nextspaceflight.com.
Launch Viewing: In Person
The best free options are available for spectators: Northern Titusville parks on Washington Avenu / US-1 are your best bets: Space View Park, Sands Park, Rotary Riverfront Park.
The Space Bar will be open through the launch window. New York New York in Titusville will be open to roughly 7 PM, and is a great place to watch as well. Restaurants in Port Canaveral, specifically Gators Dockside, Fishlips and Grills Seafood should have good views after the rocket clears obstructions.
If you are planning to go and watch, be sure to be lightning aware and you might just need an umbrella.
Watching a rocket tear skyward from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center is a visceral thrill—one that most people will remember for the rest of their lives. If you are a photographer, the memories are amplified when you freeze the moment in sharp, vibrant photographs. Even though a still photograph won’t come with the incredible sounds of the engines of a Falcon 9 or Falcon Heavy as it breaks free of the bonds of gravity, a good photo will last a lifetime and keep the memories of your time here in Florida.
Kennedy Space Center offers several iconic viewing spots, each with its own character and challenges. Let’s take a look:
Location, Location, Location
A lot of the professional rocket photos you see in news articles or sites like this are taken from “privileged” positions — the Press Site, for example, or by cameras placed near the launch pad in advance that are triggered by devices like a MIOPS+, which activated the camera’s shutter when it “hears” the roar of the sounds from liftoff. Unless you are working press, you won’t be able to access those spots.
There are only a few places that are accessible to the general public that offer similar proximity, but indeed, there are three:
Apollo-Saturn Center / Banana Creek Viewing Site
One of the most convenient locations is the Apollo/Saturn V Center, which lies just over a mile south of LC-39A. From the raised terraces and the old observation gantry, you enjoy clean sightlines to the pad without a cluttered foreground. You will usually need to purchase a ticket to the ASC in addition to parking and entrance to the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Center, and that can add up.
KSCVC Admission Prices (General Admission)
Adults (12+): Typically around $75 online
Children (3–11): Generally about $65
Note: Prices can vary slightly depending on date and promotions
KSCVC Parking Fees
According to official Kennedy Space Center parking info:
Automobiles (cars, SUVs, light trucks, minivans): $15 per day
Motorcycles: $5 per day
Oversized vehicles (RVs, motorhomes): $20 per day
Those are 2025 prices, and may change at any time, but this will give you an idea of how much it costs to gain entry. That’s just half of it: you usually need to purchase a Launch Viewing Ticket, and they can range from free (often with a Starlink launch), or as high as $250, which was the cost for Artemis I, Crew 7 and other high-profile flights.
Read the fine print of the ticket carefully too. A launch viewing ducat is good for that launch attempt, and if the mission scrubs, your ticket may be considered “used.” During Artemis I’s lengthy launch campaign with a number of scrubs, a lot of people found this out the hard way. Know before you go and decide if that’s for you, or not.
You will be about 3.5 miles from LC-39A and you will be as close as anyone. It’s a great experience and one I highly recommend, but it can be pricey for a family to undertake. I advise folks to get a 2-Day ticket and to fully explore KSCVC, it has a lot of displays that are well worth your time.
What You Get:
A point-blank view.
Here’s a photo taken from the Banana Creek Viewing Site:
The EXIF information for the photograph above is shown to the left. I actually use different settings now, but this will get you started. Read on for a fuller explanation of camera settings.
Playalinda Beach, Cape Canaveral National Seashore
Playalinda is located adjacent to the launch pads at Kennedy Space Center, and it is an extremely popular place to go watch a launch. You’ll need to go there hours in advance to ensure you can gain entry — the National Park Service will stop people from entering if the parking lots are full or if it is 45 minutes or less until scheduled liftoff. Get there at least two hours early, and frankly, 3-4 hours is even better.
What You Get:
The closest you’re going to get outside of Banana Creek Viewing Site. The foreground of the beach and the crowd make for an excellent photograph, especially if you employ telephoto compression to your advantage. Consider the photo below. It looks like the crowd is almost next to the launch pad but in reality they are some 3.5 miles away. A Falcon 9 is some 22 stories tall, so it’s bigger than you might think.
Settings are similar to Banana Creek: shoot for an EV13 shot and bracket, or meter using -1 or -2 stops. Use a fast shutter speed, as mentioned below.
Biolab Road
Biolab Road is a dirt road that runs along the very aptly named Mosquito Lagoon in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. For day launches, this can be a great place for your photographs, especially when Playalinda is full. You won’t be all that much further away from the launch pad than you will be at Playalinda, and the water in the lagoon can make a great foreground for your photos.
What You Get:
Here is the view of LC-39A from Biolab Road, taken with a wide angle lens. You can go further down the road for closer views.
One thing to note is that Biolab Road is open from dawn to dusk, and KSC Police and/or the National Park Service will request that you leave if you’re present after hours. Those agencies can and will give you a pretty expensive ticket if you fail to comply, so the best idea is don’t do it. It’s also a bad idea for a visitor to the area to be on Biolab at night, because there are all kinds of critters there that will take a bite out of you: mosquitoes, no-see-ums, alligators and so forth, with the latter being a clear and present danger there.
Daylight hours are generally safe, but when the sun gets low and the temperatures are warm, gators will be hunting for their next meal. Don’t be that meal, so be wildlife aware.
There is also an entry fee for Biolab Road, but it there is no gate. As soon as you turn onto it, you may notice a payment box. If you have a National Parks Pass, you’re good to go. If not, pay the fee. I think it’s $15.
Bring insect repellent, drinks and everything you need. This is part of the “wildlife” areas in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, so don’t expect a cantina with cool beers while you wait for liftoff.
Cameras and Settings
Photographing a launch is part science, part art. By picking the right vantage points—from the Apollo/Saturn V Center’s terraces to Playalinda Beach or Biolab Road — you set the stage for your composition. Then, by mastering exposure through underexposure and thoughtful bracketing, you ensure every photograph captures not only the power of the engines but the intricate beauty of the flame plume itself. Plan diligently, practice your workflow, and you’ll be ready to chase that plume into the heavens.
Your camera choice should be a DSLR or mirrorless body with a fast autofocus system. A telephoto zoom in the 70–200 mm or 100–400 mm range lets you isolate the rocket, while a wider 24–70 mm lens captures more of the landscape and sky. If you have a super-telephoto (500+ mm) consider using that. Wind and crowds make a firm tripod—or at least a monopod—essential for slower shutter speeds and a remote shutter release will guard against any camera shake. Make sure your memory cards can handle burst shooting, and bring an extra battery, since Florida’s heat and breeze can sap power faster than you expect.
Underexpose
Perhaps the single most critical exposure tactic is to underexpose by one or two stops. A rocket’s flame plume can exceed 2,000 °C, and that means it’s going to be BRIGHT. If you meter for midtones—like the launch pad structure or the sky—the highlights in the flame will blow out into featureless white. By dialing in –1 EV or even –2 EV of exposure compensation, you preserve texture in the brightest areas, revealing the billows and shock diamonds that make these plumes so visually striking. Always glance at your histogram: you want the right shoulder to approach, but not touch, the edge. For underexposed areas, you can fix that in post-processing, save for night launches. They are an entirely different animal.
And Bracket
Because plume brightness and lighting conditions vary by rocket type—whether it’s a Falcon 9, an Atlas V, New Glenn or the massive Space Launch System—you’ll also want to bracket your shots. Many cameras offer Auto Exposure Bracketing, which can capture three frames at different exposure offsets (for example, –2 EV, 0 EV, +2 EV). Later, in Lightroom or your preferred editor, you can quickly choose the frame that best balances the rocket, the plume, and the background.
This launch will only happen once, and if you’ve traveled far to get here, it may be your only chance. So, increase your odds of success by bracketing. Consult your camera’s manual if you aren’t sure how to do that. (You can also ask ChatGPT, it will give you a step-by-step list.)
Hurry Up And Wait
In the field, arrive early to claim your spot and let your gear settle. Switch your camera to manual mode: set a mid-range aperture around f/8 or f/11, a shutter speed no slower than 1/500 s to freeze motion, and an ISO in the 100–400 range. Pre-focus on the pad, then flip to manual focus to lock it in. I use gaffer’s tape (NOT duct tape) to “lock” my focus ring down in case I accidentally bump it.
Compose with the pad offset—following the rule of thirds—leaving space above for the rocket’s ascent. Include nearby structures, railings, or even beachgoers at dawn to give scale and context. At ignition, let the rocket rise slightly, then snap as fast as your camera’s image buffer will allow. You will have 3-5 seconds before the rocket clears the pad, and another 3 seconds or so while the pad itself is visible in the photo. Those latter shots are great because of the billowing steam from the sound suppression systems, and they can really add to a shot.
Why Do I Use A Higher Shutter Speed, Even If I Have To Increase ISO?
I’ve mentioned a couple of times that I now prefer a higher shutter speed when I photograph a launch. Here’s why: most of my “bad” shots I took years ago were due to camera shake or movement during the launch. I used tripods to compensate for a while, but then I had an epiphany: just use a shutter speed of at least twice my focal length and that problem will disappear. It’s not important that I may need to raise my ISO from 100 to, say, 800, because noise reduction will automagically cure that problem.
Why Do I Prefocus And Tape?
You’re going to shoot at Infinity or very close to it, no matter what lens you are using. That end of the focusing scale can be very sensitive, even with a higher aperture, and it is very easy to bump the focus ring while you are shooting and thus have less than optimal photos.
To prevent that, I’ll focus on the rocket, take an inch or two of gaffer’s tape — the non-residue kind — and lock down the focus. Easy enough.
I don’t use autofocus because the dynamic range can “confuse” an autofocus system, especially when the rocket is high in the sky and thus is smaller in the viewfinder. That’s not when I want the camera to be hunting for focus, so I’ll use manual focus instead.
Axiom 4 lifts off at 2:31 AM ET on Wednesday, January 25, 2025 Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
After several delays, Axiom 4 is on its way to the International Space Station. The corporate mission, commanded by NASA veteran Peggy Whitson, lifted off at 2:31 AM Eastern Time from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon.
In addition to Whitson, Shubhanshu Shukla, an officer in the Indian Air Force and astronaut with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), will serve as the pilot. Mission specialists include Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, a project astronaut with the European Space Agency (ESA) representing Poland, and Tibor Kapu from Hungary. Notably, this mission marks the first time astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary will visit the ISS, representing each nation’s first government-sponsored human spaceflight in over 40 years.
After a nominal ascent, Booster B1094 returned to land at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s LZ-1 about secen minutes and thirty nine seconds from liftoff. A few seconds later, Falcon 9’s second stage and Crew Dragon were reaching their initial orbit, which will be modified later as Axiom 4 begins chasing down ISS in earnest.
Docking is expected Thursday morning, around 7:00 AM ET.
After docking with Station, Axiom 4’s crew will begin a two-week stay aboard ISS, where they will conduct a number of experiments on behalf of their respective space agencies.
Axiom-4 Mission Objectives
Ax-4 will be a busy mission, as it is slated to conduct approximately 60 scientific experiments and activities involving participants from 31 nations, such as the United States, India, Poland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nigeria, the United Arab Emirates, and various European countries. This marks the highest number of research initiatives undertaken on an Axiom Space mission to the International Space Station (ISS) thus far, highlighting the mission’s global importance and collaborative spirit in advancing microgravity research in low-Earth orbit (LEO).
The mission places a particular emphasis on scientific endeavors led by the countries represented in the Ax-4 crew, including the United States, India, Poland (in collaboration with the European Space Agency), and Hungary. The research conducted will enhance global understanding in areas such as human health, Earth observation, and life, biological, and material sciences, reflecting the space research capabilities of the crew’s home countries.
Axiom Space is also collaborating with research organizations and academic institutions to further investigate the effects of spaceflight on the human body and to explore how space-based research can lead to improvements in health and medical treatments on Earth. The mission underscores the significance of commercial and academic partnerships, as Axiom Space spearheads the development of a global research community and a sustainable economic ecosystem in LEO. The mission also sets the stage for Axiom Station, the first commercial space station, which will provide a permanent platform for research, manufacturing, and human spaceflight.
File photo of a Falcon 9 / Crew Dragon launching from LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
The delayed launch of Axiom 4 to the International Space Station will have to wait a little bit longer. The company announced today that the “space agency needs additional time to continue evaluating International Space Station operations after recent repair work in the aft (back) most segment of the orbital laboratory’s Zvezda service module.”
The delay is labeled as “indefinite” and no new launch target date has been announced.
The crew remains in quarantine, and the Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon planned for the flight remain in healthy condition and ready for the flight.”
The root cause of the delay is a series of micro-leaks in the Zvezda module, first detected months ago but considered under control after previous repair efforts. However, on June 14, cosmonauts aboard the ISS noted a fresh pressure signature in the aft segment of Zvezda, indicating that some seals may have degraded or reopened under flight conditions. Although the module has held pressure more consistently since the latest inspections, NASA and its Russian partners determined that more data were needed to rule out any risk to incoming crew.
On a blog update published last week, NASA detailed the troubleshooting steps taken by cosmonauts: interior surfaces were inspected, suspect seals were re-torqued, and additional leak-rate measurements were conducted. “Following the most recent repair, pressure in the transfer tunnel has been stable,” NASA wrote, “but additional time is required for Roscosmos and NASA to evaluate whether further action is necessary.” This review window now overlaps with the Monday launch opportunity, effectively ruling it out until the investigation concludes.
There are also ISS logistics to consider: Ax-4’s launch window is tightly constrained by orbital mechanics and ISS traffic. The current opportunity closes on June 30 to accommodate other scheduled resupply and crewed flights. Pushing through before fully resolving the leak could risk mission safety and station integrity, particularly given the interconnected life-support systems aboard the ISS. Axiom Space President Michael Suffredini emphasized that while commercial missions must adhere to tight timelines, safety remains the non-negotiable priority.
Axiom 4, the privately operated crewed spaceflight, now has a confirmed launch date of June 22, 2025. The mission is slated to lift off at 3:42 AM ET, from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center.
Originally scheduled for June 19, the flight window was pushed back as engineers addressed technical issues and concerns about the ISS leaks. The new timeline promises a mission duration ranging from 14 to 21 days to complete its planned research program.
“No one remembers launch delays, but no one ever forgets a real problem.”
–V.L. Pinson Sr., former ABMA and NASA veteran
The mission will utilize a Falcon 9 to carry the newly built Crew Dragon spacecraft C213 into low Earth orbit, marking the final Crew Dragon capsule to enter service in SpaceX’s original slate of capsules. The four-person crew—veteran astronaut Peggy Whitson commanding, Indian pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, ESA’s Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, and Hungarian specialist Tibor Kapu—will conduct science and technology demonstrations aboard ISS during their flight.
Axiom Space first announced on April 3 that Ax-4 would launch no earlier than May, reflecting a cautious approach as technical reviews and ISS scheduling took shape.
By mid-April, the Ax-4 team was gearing up for a busy agenda aboard ISS with a target window of no earlier than late May. The packed schedule—includes biological experiments, materials science tests, and station maintenance tasks.
After some shifts to the right on the schedule, the mission stood ready to launch on June 10th, but weather in the ascent corridor forced mission managers to call of any launch attempt that day. The ascent corridor is the zone where Crew Dragon and its crew would land in the unlikely event of an abort. The zone extends offshore in the Atlantic Ocean from Kennedy Space all the way to Ireland, and weather inside it must be suitable — just in case.
The next day, the first launch attempt on June 11 was scrubbed after engineers detected a propellant leak in the rocket’s liquid oxygen system and called off the launch to remediate the issue.
Next, a pressure leak in the Zvezda service module on the ISS prompted NASA and Roscosmos to stabilize the module before approving further dockings, contributing to another postponement announced on June 12.
NASA, SpaceX and Axiom have now agreed on a launch attempt in the predawn hours of the first full day of summer: June 22nd. Falcon 9’s leaks have been resolved, the Space Station leak issue is now under control, and at this point, weather on the 22nd looks as though it will be acceptable for Axiom 4’s ascent into orbit.
The Indian Connection
For India’s space program, Ax-4 represents a milestone: it provides the first opportunity for an Indian astronaut to fly to ISS. Pilot and Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu “Shux” Shukla, part of ISRO’s cadre of astronauts, will carry out experiments developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation in fields ranging from microbial adaptation to muscle atrophy studies.
His flight will be the precursor to his upcoming flight aboard ISRO’s Gaganyaan-1, India’s first domestically built crewed orbital spacecraft. At 39, Shukla is a veteran test pilot, having flown everything from MiG-21s to Su-30s.
Gaganyaan capsule Photo: ISRO
One Of America’s Most Astronauts Commands
Tibor Kapu, courtesy Axiom Space
Axiom 4 will be commanded by Peggy Whitson—a former NASA chief astronaut and current Director of Human Spaceflight at Axiom Space—Ax-4 brings seasoned leadership to this venture. Whitson holds multiple Station records and is tasked with overseeing the flights to and from ISS. She has spent 665 days in space so far.
Poland and Hungary Returning To Spaceflight After 40 Years
Joining Whitson and Shukla is Sławosz Uznański, a Polish engineer and the first representative of his country in space since 1978. Back then, it was Mirosław Hermaszewski aboard a Soviet Soyuz. This time, it’s Uznański flying under the banner of the European Space Agency as a mission specialist. A former CERN engineer and ESA reserve astronaut, Uznański’s path to space was defined more by science than by spectacle. His role on Ax-4 emphasizes research, including a number of biomedical and Earth-monitoring experiments designed by Polish institutions.
Sławosz Uznański, courtesy Axiom Space
Hungary, too, is returning to space after a four-decade absence. Tibor Kapu, an engineer selected under the Hungarian government’s HUNOR program, became only the second Hungarian to ever fly in space. He beat out nearly 250 applicants for the role. The first, Bertalan Farkas, flew aboard a Soviet Soyuz spacecraft in 1980.
Kapu’s mission is both technical and symbolic. “This is not just a mission for Hungary,” he said before launch. “It’s for all the small nations looking toward the stars and asking if they can be part of the next chapter.”
Atlas V with the Kuiper 2 payload at LC-41. Photo: United Launch Alliance
Amazon’s satellite internet project, Kuiper, will continue its deployment today with the planned launch of the Kuiper K-02 mission at 1:25 PM ET aboard an United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V 551 rocket. This mission will deliver 27 operational satellites into low Earth orbit, adding to the 27 satellites deployed earlier this year in April.
The Kuiper project is Amazon’s initiative to provide broadband internet service through a constellation of satellites. Today’s launch is the second of a series that aims to meet the conditions set by the Federal Communications Commission, which require half of the planned 3,236 satellites to be in orbit by mid-2026. The full network is expected to be completed by mid-2029.
The Atlas V 551 rocket, used for this launch, is among ULA’s more powerful configurations. It includes five solid rocket boosters and a medium payload fairing.
Following deployment, the satellites will be elevated from their initial orbit of approximately 450 kilometers to an operational altitude of around 630 kilometers. From this position, they will begin supporting future broadband service coverage as part of Amazon’s long-term strategy to enter the satellite internet market.
Operational Strategy and Technology Capabilities
Each satellite in the Kuiper constellation is equipped with propulsion and communication technologies to maintain orbit and link with both ground stations and other satellites. The system includes inter-satellite laser links, which allow the satellites to pass data directly between one another. These optical links are designed to support high-throughput connections, improving the flexibility and resilience of the network.
The K-02 mission represents the continued transition from prototype to full-scale operations. The first launch in April tested Amazon’s satellite bus and operational model. With K-02, Amazon is moving forward with production models that are expected to serve as a foundational layer of the broader constellation. The mission is part of a deployment strategy that includes multiple launch providers and vehicle types, including upcoming launches on ULA’s Vulcan Centaur, SpaceX Falcon 9, and the European Ariane 6.
Amazon has publicly committed more than $10 billion to the development and deployment of the Kuiper constellation. The company is building out supporting infrastructure in tandem with the satellites, including user terminals and ground communication sites. The terminals, developed in-house, are designed to be compact and cost-effective. Amazon has said these terminals will support download speeds up to 400 Mbps and will be priced under $400, though full commercial service has not yet begun.
In the near term, newly launched satellites will undergo a series of health and status checks, after which their thrusters will be used to reach final orbit. Amazon’s Kuiper operations team, based in Redmond, Washington, is managing the process, which includes positioning, testing communication links, and preparing the satellites to eventually join the active broadband network.
The last Delta IV Heavy at LC-37A stands at the launch pad in April 2024. The rocket family is now retired and the infrastructure in this photo is now demolished. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
Much of the infrastructure at Launch Complex 37’s launch pad was demolished in a controlled explosion today, marking the end of one era and the beginning of another. For those who knew the site, who watched Delta IV rockets claw their way into orbit or remembered the echoes of the Apollo era, the moment was as much about letting go of the past as it was embracing the future.
Out With The Old, In With The New
The primary targets of Thursday’s demolition were the massive Mobile Service Tower and supporting infrastructure built for Delta IV operations. These towering steel and concrete structures were no longer needed and stood as reminders of a program that had fulfilled its mission. Shortly after 9:00 AM ET a series of explosive charges, precisely placed along key support points, triggered a cascading collapse. Within seconds, the launch tower folded in on itself, kicking up clouds of dust that drifted over the grounds where giants once stood.
Apollo 5 launches from LC-37 on January 22, 1968 Photo: NASA
Crews began rigging the complex for demolition earlier this spring, following the final Delta IV Heavy launch in April 2024. Afte that final flight, United Launch Alliance (ULA) has fully retired the Delta family, closing the door on a long-running chapter in the US launch industry. The demolition marks the next major step in a broader shift at Cape Canaveral, as SpaceX prepares to reshape LC-37 for its Starship launch system as well as at LC-39A.
In both cases, a final Environmental Impact Statement will be released in the coming months for both sites. A draft of the LC-37 EIS was recently released, with findings of No Significant Impact for all ecological, cultural and land use aspects of Starship launches at the site, albeit with one major exception: Starship launches will be the loudest rocket ever launched from the Space Coast, something the Draft EIS noted with its finding of a Significant Impact being the result of Starship launches from Cape Canaveral.
After the debris is cleaned up, new construction can begin in earnest.
Note: Talk of Titusville was unable to create any original photographs of the demolition or its aftermath, as this reporter is western Canada today.
Blue Origin’s CEO, Dave Limp, announced today that the second launch of the company’s New Glenn rocket from Cape Canaveral will be NET August 15, 2025.
Blue Origin’s New Glenn on its debut launch in January. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
The mission will have detailed objectives that go beyond mere repetition of its maiden voyage, NG-1. Flight 2 will blend hardware validation with customer service mandates and data acquisition goals — a step toward establishing New Glenn as a frequent-operational vehicle in Earth’s orbit and beyond. It has not been explicitly stated that NG-2 will carry NASA’s ESCAPADE Martian satellites or Blue’s own Blue Moon MK-1 lander but those payloads are possibility.
via X.com
At the center of the NG-2 mission plan is the booster’s recovery. During the January 16 first flight of New Glenn, the seven-engine BE-4-powered first stage demonstrated a nominal ascent, clearing the vehicle to orbital insertion, but it failed to land on its barge deck.
The booster’s descent performance fell short of expectations due to uneven engine tank pressures during a planned restart, and the vehicle was lost during reentry. Blue Origin and the Federal Aviation Administration completed an investigation into the event in March, identifying seven corrective actions tied to propellant management and engine bleed systems to ensure successful recovery in subsequent flights.
Blue Origin’s recovery ship, Jacklyn, while docked in Port Canaveral.
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
For Flight 2, Blue Origin intends to validate these fixes and aim for a controlled return and landing on its seagoing platform. Achieving that objective would significantly reduce launch costs and move New Glenn closer to reusability goals — an explicit part of its operational profile.
A second area of focus for Flight 2 is the rocket’s capacity to carry and service client payloads. External contracts from customers such as Amazon’s Kuiper constellation and NASA’s ESCAPADE mission require demonstrated reliability. New Glenn rocket was given NASA Category 1 Certification after NG-1. This classification signifies that the New Glenn is qualified to launch high-risk tolerance missions (Class D). Class D missions typically involve lower priority payloads with medium to low complexity.
Originally manifested on Flight 1, ESCAPADE was reassigned due to integration delays. NASA’s fiscal 2026 budget text indicates it is targeting Flight 2 for launch readiness in quarter four of fiscal 2025 — that is, July through September 2025. That would align with NG-2.
Artist’s rendering of ESCAPADE in orbit over Mars Graphic: NASA
Equally vital is a robust performance of the second stage, known as GS2. That upper stage planned for NG-2 completed a successful hot-fire test in late April, executed at Blue Origin’s facility at their Cape Canaveral’s LC-36 launch complex. The burn, lasting several minutes, engaged the pair of BE-3U engines in conditions representative of vacuum ignition. Flight 2 will aim to repeat and refine this performance, establishing fidelity of orbital insertion timing, orbital stability, and upper-stage restart logic. Any inconsistencies during prolonged burns could compromise payload delivery, a risk Blue Origin must manage to satisfy future clients.
Additional objectives include flight characteristics during ascent. First-stage performance under full-load ascent needs to be validated post investigation, including thrust vector control, separation dynamics, and second‑stage ignition timing. These aspects conducted within uncrewed mission parameters serve to expand the company’s internal flight data metrics and enable iterative design refinement.
New Glenn’s BE-4 engines in flight. Blue Origin plans to test the engine’s restart capabilities on NG-2
Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville
A technical objective of note is Stage 2 restart capability. Flight 1 employed two burns to reach medium earth orbit, with the second occurring about one hour after liftoff. Precise execution of multiple back-to-back burns and control of stage stability across long coast periods will be revisited during Flight 2. Such activity must support more complex orbital insertions or deployments, including geostationary transfer and interplanetary trajectories.
Data gathering is another significant objective for Flight 2. The maiden flight returned telemetry not only from in-flight propulsion and stage performance, but also from the Blue Ring Pathfinder spacecraft, which tested payload-hosting capabilities. Extended duration performance, thermal conditions, avionics interactions, and stage-to-payload stability are all expected to see additional refinement during the second flight. All of these data sets feed directly into Blue Origin’s customer engagement strategy and future flight manifesting. Moreover, the data obtained from the second flight of New Glenn was further inform Blue Origin’s engineers as they refine New Glenn and its operation.
Flight 2 will follow the conclusion of necessary FAA review and re-certification processes. That review probed the booster failure and mandated system updates. Aviation regulators and technical backup teams have signaled that New Glenn is green-lighted to resume flights, provided all identified corrective steps have been applied.
From a strategic perspective, Flight 2 serves as an audition for national security missions in addition to NASA flights. New Glenn received certification for National Security Space Launch Phase 3 Lane 2, positioning the rocket for critical Department of Defense and NRO contracts. Demonstrating reliability in payload delivery booster recovery will determine whether New Glenn becomes a fixture in U.S. strategic payload delivery. Booster performance, booster recovery as well as second stage performance and on-orbit reliability will demonstrate the company’s capabilities.
Timing
One must remain mindful of real-world variables: the weather at Cape Canaveral, barge positioning in the Atlantic, integration timelines for customer payloads, and operational readiness all influence the date. While the August 15th date is the prime target for the flight, Blue Origin will hold as long as needed to preserve mission integrity. The old adage applies here: “Fly when ready. Don’t fly until you are ready.”
Blue Origin New Glenn on the launch mount at LC-36. Photo: Charles Boyer / Talk of Titusville.
What’s At Stake?
Flight 2, then, is a multifaceted test: a demonstration of recovery, payload delivery, propulsion resilience, and market viability. Beyond the hardware itself, the logistical and regulatory choreography behind the scene also comes under real-world assessment. Each objective supports a broader ambition to match cadence, reliability, and cost-competitiveness with established launch providers.
Should Flight 2 proceed as scripted, Blue Origin expects to build momentum toward the next six to eight missions planned through 2026. Those future missions include dual-launch capabilities, potential crewed flight compatibility, and more specialized interplanetary trajectories. But all of that depends on fixing what didn’t stick in Flight 1 and proving that New Glenn can operate reliably and repeatedly.
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