SPACEX LAUNCHES 23 STARLINK SATELLITES, LANDS FALCON 9 ROCKET ON RECORD 22ND FLIGHT - SpaceX launched 23 of its Starlink internet satellites to orbit today, marking a new milestone in the company's reusability mission. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 7:14 a.m. EDT (1114 GMT) from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Aboard the rocket was a batch of 23 Starlink spacecraft, adding to the company's ever-growing megaconstellation of broadband internet satellites.   More
(Source: Space.com - Jun 29)

STARLINER LANDING NOW ON INDEFINITE HOLD FOR MORE TESTS, BUT NASA INSISTS CREW NOT ‘STRANDED’ IN SPACE - The return to Earth of Boeing’s Starliner capsule is on indefinite hold pending results of new thruster tests and ongoing analysis of helium leaks that cropped up during the ship’s rendezvous with the International Space Station, NASA announced Friday. But agency officials insisted Starliner commander Barry “Butch” Wilmore and co-pilot Sunita Williams are not “stranded” in space.   More
(Source: SpaceFlight Now - Jun 29)

RUSSIAN SATELLITE BREAKS UP, CREATING DEBRIS IN LOW EARTH ORBIT - A Russian satellite in low Earth orbit broke up June 26, creating more than 100 pieces of trackable debris and briefly causing the International Space Station crew to take shelter. The satellite, Resurs P1, suffered some kind of event at around 12 p.m. Eastern June 26, U.S Space Command (USSPACECOM) said in a June 27 statement, creating more than 100 pieces of debris. The statement did not indicate any potential cause for the breakup. “USSPACECOM has observed no immediate threats and is continuing to conduct routine conjunction assessments to support the safety and sustainability of the space domain,” it stated.    More
(Source: SpaceNews - Jun 28)

NASA SELECTS INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION US DEORBIT VEHICLE - NASA is fostering continued scientific, educational, and technological developments in low Earth orbit to benefit humanity, while also supporting deep space exploration at the Moon and Mars. As the agency transitions to commercially owned space destinations closer to home, it is crucial to prepare for the safe and responsible deorbit of the International Space Station in a controlled manner after the end of its operational life in 2030. NASA announced SpaceX has been selected to develop and deliver the U.S. Deorbit Vehicle that will provide the capability to deorbit the space station and ensure avoidance of risk to populated areas.   More
(Source: NASA - Jun 28)

SATELLITE MEGACONSTELLATIONS THREATEN OZONE LAYER RECOVERY, STUDY CONFIRMS - Concentrations of ozone-damaging aluminum oxides in Earth's atmosphere could increase by 650% in the coming decades due to a rise in the number of defunct satellites burning up during reentry, a first-of-a-kind study has found. And, as satellite megaconstellations continue to pique the interests of private companies, this could be pretty bad news for our planet's protective shield known as the ozone layer. The authors of the study say rising concentrations of satellite-induced pollutants could cause "potentially significant" ozone depletion and thus thwart the ozone layer's slow and steady recovery.   More
(Source: Space.com - Jun 27)

NASA ASTRONAUTS STUCK WAITING ABOARD ISS TO RETURN TO EARTH AMID ISSUES WITH BOEING'S STARLINER - Two NASA astronauts have no set date to return to Earth and are stuck waiting aboard the International Space Station (ISS) due to several mechanical issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. Starliner launched on June 5 from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida, with flight commander Barry "Butch" Wilmore and flight pilot Sunita "Suni" Williams onboard, arriving at the ISS one day later.   More
(Source: ABC News - Jun 27)

SPACEX LAUNCHES FINAL NOAA GOES WEATHER SATELLITE ON FALCON HEAVY ROCKET - The finale in a series of critical weather satellites for the United States surmounted some weather challenges as it began its journey to join its three fellow satellites on orbit. The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites-U (GOES-U) satellite is designed to provide critical weather, climate and solar data to meteorologists and other parties to enhance the safety of people and property. The spacecraft, managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), was launched to a geosynchronous transfer orbit onboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.   More
(Source: SpaceFlight Now - Jun 26)

NASA CANCELS ISS SPACEWALK DUE TO SPACESUIT COOLANT LEAK - NASA cancelled a spacewalk at the International Space Station today (June 24) following a spacesuit coolant leak in the hatch. NASA astronauts Tracy Caldwell Dyson and Mike Barratt were told by Mission Control at 8:52 a.m. EDT (1252 GMT) to stop the planned 6.5-hour spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS). The pair had already switched over to the internal power in their suits at 8:46 a.m. (1246 GMT), meaning the spacewalk had technically started. Following the cancellation, astronauts opened the hatch into the ISS at 9:51 a.m. EDT (1351 GMT), officially ending the spacewalk.   More
(Source: Space.com - Jun 26)

FIREFLY TO LAUNCH ALPHA FROM WALLOPS - Firefly Aerospace announced June 24 it plans to launch its Alpha rocket from the same pad at Wallops Island, Virginia, used by the Antares rocket, rather than from Cape Canaveral as previously planned. The company said that it would use Pad 0A at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) on Wallops Island for Alpha launches, starting as soon as 2025. The launch pad, built for the Antares rocket, will continue to be used for the revised Antares 330 Northrop Grumman is developing in collaboration with Firefly as well as the larger Medium Launch Vehicle (MLV) the companies are building.    More
(Source: SpaceNews - Jun 25)

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