Month: June 2020

SpaceX Falcon 9 Successfully Launches NextGen GPS Navigation Satellite for US Space Force/Lands Booster: Photos

For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION, FL – A brand new SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched the third in the advanced new series of Global Positioning Systems III (GPS III) navigation satellites for the U.S. military and the new U.S. Space Force and delivered it to its intended medium Earth orbit (MEO) this afternoon, Tuesday, June

SpaceX Falcon 9 Poised for June 30 Liftoff with Advanced GPS Navigation Satellite for US Space Force: Photos/Watch Live

For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION, FL – A new SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is poised for liftoff carrying the newest GPS III series navigations satellite for the U.S. military and the Space Force to orbit for a launch planned today Tuesday afternoon June 30 – weather permitting. The Global Positioning System (GPS) III satellite, Space Vehicle

NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover Launch Delayed to July 22

For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM CAPE CANAVERAL, FL – NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover launch has been delayed to July 22 due to contaminations concerns as the final encapsulation process was underway at the Kennedy Space Center on Florida’s Space Coast. “NASA and United Launch Alliance are now targeting Wednesday, July 22, for launch of the Mars 2020 mission due to

NASA Headquarters Named in Honor of ‘Hidden Figure’ Mary W. Jackson

SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM CAPE CANAVERAL, FL – NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine announced that the agency’s headquarters building in Washington, D.C., will be named in honor of Mary W. Jackson, the first African American female engineer at NASA. The ‘Hidden Figure’ story of Mary Jackson and other African-American women trailblazers that helped launch America’s first astronauts safely into space and back

SpaceX Scrubs Next Starlink Falcon 9 Launch 3 Hours Before Liftoff, New Date TBD: Photos

For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM KENNEDY SPACE CENTER/TITUSVILLE, FL – SpaceX engineers scrubbed the next launch of their Starlink broadband internet satellite constellation less than 3 hours before the planned liftoff this afternoon, Friday, June 26, of the 5x recycled Falcon 9 – in order to conduct further pre-checks at the pad. No new launch target date was announced – even

SpaceX Completes Falcon 9 Hot Fire for GPS Launch – 2nd in 16 Hours with 2 Falcons on 2 Launch Pads as Starlink Sats Awaits Liftoff: Photos

For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM TITUSVILLE, FL – In a remarkable sign of their swiftly increasing launch cadence SpaceX engineers carried out another hot fire engine test this morning, Thursday, Jun 25, for next week’s GPS III Space Vehicle 03 navigation satellite launch – and it comes as the second in just under 16 hours on the heels of after another

ULA Completes Wet Dress Rehearsal of Atlas V Rocket for NASA Mars Perseverance Rover Launch: Photos

For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM PLAYALINDA BEACH, FL – The joint United Launch Alliance and NASA launch team completed the critical launch countdown Wet Dress Rehearsal or WDR demonstration test Monday afternoon – thereby achieving a major milestone towards liftoff of NASA’s Mars Perseverance Rover a month from now on the firms venerable Atlas V rocket. It was a beautiful sunny

OCISLY Droneship Departs Port Canaveral under Beautiful Twilight Skies for Next SpaceX Starlink launch

For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM PORT CANAVERAL, FL – Prelaunch preparations have begun for the next SpaceX Starlink mission marked by the departure of the “Of Course I Still Love You” (OCISLY) droneship under spectacular twilight sunset skies Friday, June 19. OCISLY was towed away from her berthing spot at North Cargo Pier 6 by tug Finn Falgout at approximately 7:15