Latest news with #Falcon9
India Gazette
10 hours ago
- Science
- India Gazette
Historic ISS mission launches with crew from 4 different nations
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida: In a landmark flight for three nations and a veteran U.S. spacefarer, a four-member astronaut crew launched into orbit early this week aboard a SpaceX rocket, bound for the International Space Station (ISS) on a two-week mission organized by private space company Axiom Space. Lifting off at 2:30 a.m. EDT from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, the crew includes astronauts from India, Poland, and Hungary, all making their first trip to the ISS. Leading the mission is Peggy Whitson, a retired NASA astronaut and the first woman to command the space station, now flying her fifth space mission. "This is an incredible ride uphill," Whitson said over the radio to SpaceX's mission control in California, as the Crew Dragon capsule separated from the Falcon 9 rocket's upper stage roughly nine minutes after launch. The mission, known as Axiom 4, was arranged by Texas-based Axiom Space in partnership with SpaceX. The capsule—nicknamed "Grace" by the crew—marks the fifth addition to SpaceX's fleet of Crew Dragons and was making its debut flight. The launch also comes just weeks after a brief political dust-up, when Elon Musk threatened to pull Crew Dragon out of service following tensions with President Donald Trump over federal contracts. That dispute appears to have had no bearing on the mission itself. Whitson, 65, is joined by Shubhanshu Shukla of India, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski of Poland, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary. All three are flying under agreements between Axiom and their respective governments, with national space agencies viewing the mission as a stepping stone toward future independent crewed spaceflight efforts. For India, the flight is seen as a precursor to its first planned human spaceflight under the Gaganyaan program, expected in 2027. The Crew Dragon spacecraft is expected to dock with the ISS about 28 hours after launch, orbiting approximately 250 miles (400 km) above Earth. Once aboard, the Axiom 4 crew will join seven current station residents and conduct microgravity research during their 14-day stay. Axiom Space has now flown four such missions since 2022 as part of its commercial strategy to support international astronauts and private clients. The Houston-based company, co-founded by a former NASA ISS program manager, is also developing its commercial space station to succeed the ISS, which NASA plans to retire by 2030. This launch marked SpaceX's 18th human spaceflight, continuing a five-year run since it became the first private company to carry American astronauts to space after the retirement of NASA's shuttle program in 2011. In addition to operating the launch site, NASA assumes responsibility for the astronauts once they reach and dock with the ISS. For Whitson—who has already logged a record-setting 675 days in space—this mission adds yet another chapter to a trailblazing career that helped redefine human spaceflight for future generations.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
SpaceX launches rocket on Starlink mission after storms, lightning depart East-Central Florida
Hours after meteorologists issued severe thunderstorm warnings and special weather statements across Central Florida, SpaceX crews launched a Falcon 9 rocket under fair skies with 10-mile visibility Saturday, June 28, at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The Falcon 9 lifted off at 12:26 a.m. from Launch Complex 40, carrying 27 Starlink broadband satellites into low-Earth orbit. The post-midnight mission marked the Falcon 9 first-stage booster's fifth flight, SpaceX reported. The booster previously launched CRS-32, NROL-69, GPS III-7 and a Starlink mission. Following stage separation, the booster landed atop the SpaceX drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean. Cape Canaveral: Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, Axiom, ULA rocket launch schedule at Cape Canaveral NASA's Kennedy Space Center had issued its last Phase I lightning watch — giving personnel a 30-minute lead-time warning — at 7:01 p.m. Friday, nearly 5½ hours before liftoff. That lightning watch was terminated at 8:22 p.m. The launch occurred on the 10-year anniversary of a SpaceX rocket explosion following liftoff from Florida's Space Coast. On June 28, 2015, a Falcon 9 that launched from then-Cape Canaveral Air Force Station broke apart during a NASA resupply mission to the International Space Station. That rocket mishap occurred 2 minutes, 19 seconds after liftoff. The Falcon 9 was carrying a SpaceX Dragon capsule packed with more than 5,000 pounds of supplies. On Thursday, Space Launch Delta 45 announced Col. Brian Chatman is now installation commander and director of the Eastern Range at Patrick Space Force Base and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Chatman most recently served as deputy director of the Space Systems Engineering Directorate for the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration. "As the SLD 45 commander, he runs the world's busiest spaceport and is responsible for delivering infrastructure, operations, and support for all Eastern Range launch and test missions," a Space Force press release said. "As Director of the Eastern Range, he is responsible for the safety of launch and test operations across a 15-million-square-mile area," the press release said. For the latest news and launch schedule from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit Another easy way: Click here to sign up for our weekly Space newsletter. Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Neale at Rneale@ Twitter/X: @RickNeale1 Space is important to us and that's why we're working to bring you top coverage of the industry and Florida launches. Journalism like this takes time and resources. Please support it with a subscription here. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: SpaceX launches rocket with Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
SpaceX launches rocket on Starlink mission after storms, lightning depart East-Central Florida
Hours after meteorologists issued severe thunderstorm warnings and special weather statements across Central Florida, SpaceX crews launched a Falcon 9 rocket under fair skies with 10-mile visibility Saturday, June 28, at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The Falcon 9 lifted off at 12:26 a.m. from Launch Complex 40, carrying 27 Starlink broadband satellites into low-Earth orbit. The post-midnight mission marked the Falcon 9 first-stage booster's fifth flight, SpaceX reported. The booster previously launched CRS-32, NROL-69, GPS III-7 and a Starlink mission. Following stage separation, the booster landed atop the SpaceX drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas in the Atlantic Ocean. Cape Canaveral: Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, Axiom, ULA rocket launch schedule at Cape Canaveral NASA's Kennedy Space Center had issued its last Phase I lightning watch — giving personnel a 30-minute lead-time warning — at 7:01 p.m. Friday, nearly 5½ hours before liftoff. That lightning watch was terminated at 8:22 p.m. The launch occurred on the 10-year anniversary of a SpaceX rocket explosion following liftoff from Florida's Space Coast. On June 28, 2015, a Falcon 9 that launched from then-Cape Canaveral Air Force Station broke apart during a NASA resupply mission to the International Space Station. That rocket mishap occurred 2 minutes, 19 seconds after liftoff. The Falcon 9 was carrying a SpaceX Dragon capsule packed with more than 5,000 pounds of supplies. On Thursday, Space Launch Delta 45 announced Col. Brian Chatman is now installation commander and director of the Eastern Range at Patrick Space Force Base and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Chatman most recently served as deputy director of the Space Systems Engineering Directorate for the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition and Integration. "As the SLD 45 commander, he runs the world's busiest spaceport and is responsible for delivering infrastructure, operations, and support for all Eastern Range launch and test missions," a Space Force press release said. "As Director of the Eastern Range, he is responsible for the safety of launch and test operations across a 15-million-square-mile area," the press release said. For the latest news and launch schedule from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit Another easy way: Click here to sign up for our weekly Space newsletter. Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Neale at Rneale@ Twitter/X: @RickNeale1 Space is important to us and that's why we're working to bring you top coverage of the industry and Florida launches. Journalism like this takes time and resources. Please support it with a subscription here. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: SpaceX launches rocket with Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
SpaceX set for overnight rocket launch from Florida's Space Coast
SpaceX crews are preparing to launch another Falcon 9 rocket from Florida's Space Coast. SpaceX plans to launch 27 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The launch is scheduled for 12:26 a.m. Saturday from Space Launch Complex 40, with backup opportunities extending until 4:26 a.m. If necessary, additional launch windows are available on Sunday, June 29, at 12:04 a.m. This mission marks the fifth flight for the Falcon 9 first-stage booster, which has previously supported missions including CRS-32, NROL-69, GPS III-7, and a prior Starlink mission. After the launch, SpaceX plans to launch the booster again on its droneship 'A Shortfall of Gravitas,' stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. Channel 9 will monitor the planned launch and provide updates on Eyewitness News. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Science
- Yahoo
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket creates nebula-like ring in night sky
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. During the early hours of June 25, 2025, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasted off into space, headed for the International Space Station. The launch was part of the private Axiom-4 space mission carrying four astronauts on SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft. The Falcon 9 is a two-stage rocket that often carries cargo, Starlink satellites, or crew members in its corresponding Dragon spacecraft. Its reusable system aligns with SpaceX's mission to make spaceflight less costly, and thus more accessible. When the rocket's first stage booster returns to Earth for launch site landings, the stage's boost back burn can sometimes create these plumes of exhaust high in the atmosphere. The Falcon 9 rocket launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida and is currently headed for the International Space Station. The Ax-4 launch is a mission of "firsts," as it carried the first ever-people from India, Hungary and Poland into space, including pilot Shubhanshu Shukla and mission specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski and Tibor Kapu. Leading the team is former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, currently Axiom's director of human spaceflight. Ax-4 was not easy to get off the ground, however. The mission faced two weeks of delays since its original launch date of June 11, 2025. These delays were caused by high winds as well as leaks on both the launch vehicle and the ISS. But finally, on the morning of June 25, 2025, the Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched, ferrying the crew toward the ISS. Once there, the astronauts will spend two weeks in orbit and conduct over 60 experiments before returning back to Earth. You can read more about the Ax-4 mission and SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket as the private spaceflight sector continues to expand into our night skies.
