PROPELLANT LEAK BLAMED FOR FALCON 9 UPPER STAGE UNCONTROLLED REENTRY - SpaceX said that a Falcon 9 upper stage that reentered over Europe earlier this week suffered a propellant leak that prevented it from doing a controlled reentry. The upper stage was placed in orbit on a Feb. 1 launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. After deploying its payload of 22 Starlink satellites on the Group 11-4 mission, the upper stage was expected to perform a burn to enable a controlled reentry over the ocean, a standard procedure on most Falcon 9 launches to low Earth orbit.   More
(Source: SpaceNews - Feb 25)

SPACEX TO LAUNCH 21 STARLINK SATELLITES ON FALCON 9 ROCKET FROM CAPE CANAVERAL - SpaceX is preparing to launch 21 Starlink V2 Mini satellites into low Earth orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Tuesday. The Falcon 9 rocket is targeting a liftoff from Space Launch Complex 40 at 2:11 a.m. EST (0711 UTC). Spaceflight Now will have live coverage beginning about an hour prior to liftoff.   More
(Source: SpaceFlight Now - Feb 25)

A CHINESE SATELLITE TESTS ORBITAL REFUELLING - Satellites often face a disappointing end: despite having fully working systems, they are often de-orbited after their propellant runs out. However, a breakthrough is on the cards with the launch of China’s Shijian-25 satellite which has been launched into orbit to test orbital refuelling operations. The plan; docking with satellite Beidou-3 G7 and transferring 142 kilograms of hydrazine to extend its life by 8 years! It’s success will mean China plans to develop a network of orbital refuelling stations!   More
(Source: Universe Today - Feb 24)

SPACEX CROSSES 8,000 TOTAL STARLINK SATELLITES LAUNCHED WITH LATEST FALCON 9 FLIGHT - SpaceX launched the first of two planned Starlink flights over the weekend. Up first was the launch of the Starlink 15-1 mission on Saturday, which carried with it 22 Starlink V2 Mini satellites. Liftoff from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base happened at 5:38 p.m. PST (8:38 p.m. EST, 0138 UTC).   More
(Source: SpaceFlight Now - Feb 24)

NASA RESPONDS TO MUSK STATEMENTS ABOUT DEORBITING ISS, BUTCH AND SUNI - The United States Space Force just offered a rare glimpse of its shadowy X-37B space plane in orbit. The photo, released on Thursday (Feb. 20), was taken by a camera onboard the X-37B while the secretive space plane orbited high above the African continent. One of the plane's solar panels is visible on the left side of the photo, while what appears to be its open payload bay is visible along the top edge. The vehicle has been in orbit for well over a year now, having launched on its seventh mission on Dec. 28, 2023 atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.   More
(Source: Space.com - Feb 23)

US SPACE FORCE REVEALS 1ST LOOK AT SECRETIVE X-37B SPACE PLANE IN ORBIT - The United States Space Force just offered a rare glimpse of its shadowy X-37B space plane in orbit. The photo, released on Thursday (Feb. 20), was taken by a camera onboard the X-37B while the secretive space plane orbited high above the African continent. One of the plane's solar panels is visible on the left side of the photo, while what appears to be its open payload bay is visible along the top edge. The vehicle has been in orbit for well over a year now, having launched on its seventh mission on Dec. 28, 2023 atop a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.   More
(Source: Space.com - Feb 23)

'IT'S EXTREMELY WORRISOME.' NASA'S JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE FACES POTENTIAL 20% BUDGET CUT JUST 4 YEARS AFTER LAUNCH - The scientists behind NASA's largest and most powerful space telescope ever built are bracing for potentially crippling budget cuts, and the observatory is only halfway through its primary mission. The team overseeing NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has been directed to prepare for up to 20% in budget cuts that would touch on every aspect of the flagship observatory's operations, which are managed by the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Maryland.   More
(Source: Space.com - Feb 23)

SPACEX LAUNCHES 22 STARLINK INTERNET SATELLITES FROM CALIFORNIA - SpaceX launched another set of its Starlink internet satellites from southern California on Saturday evening (Feb 22). A Falcon 9 rocket carrying 22 Starlink spacecraft lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Station at 8:38 p.m. EST (5:38 p.m. local time or 0138 GMT Feb. 23).   More
(Source: Space.com - Feb 23)

SPACEX TO LAUNCH 21 STARLINK SATELLITES ON FALCON 9 ROCKET FROM CAPE CANAVERAL - SpaceX is preparing to launch 21 Starlink V2 Mini satellites into low Earth orbit from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Sunday. The Falcon 9 rocket is targeting a liftoff from Space Launch Complex 40 is set for 11:42 p.m. EST (0442 UTC). Spaceflight Now will have live coverage beginning about an hour prior to liftoff.   More
(Source: SpaceFlight Now - Feb 23)

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