SpaceX was finally able to launch the first 60 Starlink satellites that will eventually provide global internet coverage. The launch had been scrubbed in the past because the satellites needed a software update. Eventually, there will be 12,000 of the satellites in orbit to blanket the Earth with internet connectivity. That is assuming that all goes to plan for SpaceX.
We, and especially SpaceX, probably imagine rocket launches that take off any time just like planes. Reality, however, is that such launches are at the mercy of the weather even more than planes are. That's pretty much the reason why SpaceX postponed the launch of its ambitious satellites twice. They say third time's a charm and, finally, 60 satellites from Elon Musk's Starlink vision are now on their way to float around the earth and bring the Internet connection of the future.
SpaceX has its Falcon 9 sitting on the launch pad waiting for the go to launch. Earlier this week we saw an image of the Falcon 9 packed with the first 60 of SpaceX's Starlink satellites. That launch was delayed due to wind shear from May 15th to May 16th.
The Planetary Society has announced that its next-generation of light-propelled satellites will launch next month. LightSail 2 will head into orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket scheduled for liftoff on June 22 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Once the LightSail 2 spacecraft is in orbit, it will deploy a solar sail that is the size of a boxing ring meant to give the satellite propulsion using solar photons.
Economic space travel and Mars colonization aren't the only ambitions Elon Musk has for SpaceX. Launching a constellation of Internet-bearing satellites is another and it seems that the company is ready to get that journey started. Not that it has much time left if it wants to stay in the FCC's good graces. The CEO shared on Twitter a view of 60 such Starlink satellites loaded snugly inside a Falcon 9 nosecone, ready for its test launch on Wednesday.
SpaceX has had a bit of up and down when it comes to testing of its Crew Dragon capsule that may one-day ferry Americans into space again. Not long ago the Crew Dragon test capsule was lost in an explosion during testing. NASA and SpaceX confirmed this week that last month another test of the capsule didn't go as planned.
Over the weekend, SpaceX launched its Dragon cargo spacecraft packed with supplies for the International Space Station. Now, two days later, NASA has confirmed that the spacecraft successfully docked with the ISS, bringing with it more than 5,500lbs of cargo that includes hardware, research materials, and supplies for crew members. This marks SpaceX's 17th contracted commercial resupply mission.
SpaceX has confirmed that its Crew Dragon capsule "anomaly" resulted in the destruction of the spacecraft, as new details about the schedule-derailing incident continue to drip out. The test of the Crew Dragon capsule - which was unmanned at the time - in April resulted in failure, though SpaceX has been tight-lipped on what, exactly, went wrong.
SpaceX's plans to bring its internet-beaming satellites closer to Earth have been given the go-ahead, paving the way for speedier, less technically complex wireless broadband. The SpaceX Starlink satellite network is due to begin deployment from May, with the first hardware being launched into orbit.
Yesterday we talked a bit about a serious failure of the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule during testing. The capsule suffered an explosion and spewed orange-colored smoke at Cape Canaveral where the capsule was being tested. NASA said of the explosion "This is why we Test."
On Saturday, the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft experienced an 'anomaly' during an engine test fire, according to the company, which resulted in a large plume of smoke appearing in Cape Canaveral, Florida. NASA has issued a statement on the matter, saying, "This is why we test." The Crew Dragon successfully traveled to the International Space Station in March and was scheduled to carry astronauts in July.
SpaceX has been very successful of late with pretty much everything it does. The company had a successful test of its Crew Dragon capsule not long ago that saw the capsule safely splashdown in the ocean. SpaceX has had great success with landing the reusable core sections of its Falcon rockets on a floating barge out in the ocean. Unfortunately, things didn't go well for the recent recovery of the Falcon Heavy center core.