Stephen Smith 🇺🇦
I am a long-time advocate of space exploration, settlement and commerce. Migrated from @WordsmithFL on Twitter.
Joined Nov 2022
A reminder that we have a #SpaceX #Falcon9 launch tonight at 12:57 AM EST. The payload is the #IM1 commercial lunar lander for Intuitive Machines, the first #NASA mission to land on the Moon since Apollo 17 in 1972.
The Falcon 9 will land at #CCSFS about eight minutes later.
Watch live starting at 12:15 AM EST on the #NASA YouTube channel at the link.
#SpaceX is scheduled to launch tonight at 12:57 AM EST the Intuitive Machines lunar lander (#IM1) mission from #KSC Pad 39A.
#IM1 is the first commercial lunar lander mission contracted by #NASA to demonstrate that private companies will be able to deliver payload to the lunar surface as part of Project #Artemis.
https://www.nasa.gov/commercial-lunar-payload-services/clps-providers/#intuitive-machines
#Space #SpaceCoast #SpaceX #Falcon9
Here's the #NASA video of last night's PACE launch from LC-40. PACE will study Earth's oceans and atmosphere to measure the impacts of climate change.
The launch headed south into a polar orbit, so it really rattled the house. So did the twin sonic booms upon landing eight minutes later.
Six years ago today was the first #SpaceX #FalconHeavy launch. The launch site was #NASA #KSC Pad 39A. The payload was an early #Tesla Roadster that to this day loops between Earth and Mars.
I can't stress enough how much this test flight made us all giddy. Like most of Elon's engineering ideas, it was crazy but it worked. The U.S. once again had the most powerful rocket on the planet.
We have a #SpaceX #Falcon9 launch and landing tonight. The payload is the #NASA PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem) satellite to study the ocean. Launch time is targeting 1:33 AM EST, with a Cape landing about eight minutes later.
Fun fact ... #Trump tried to kill this mission four times, but all four times Congress said no. So much winning!
Today's Cygnus launch on a #SpaceX #Falcon9 is a bit of a historic first. Cygnus normally launches on the NG Antares, but it's also launched on the ULA Atlas V in the past. Today will be its third launch vehicle.
The military's #X37B recently pulled off its own trifecta. It had launched on the Atlas V and Falcon 9 before its last launch atop a #FalconHeavy.
With the right adapter, a payload can launch atop pretty much any booster.
We have a commercial cargo launch and landing today. #SpaceX will launch the #Falcon9 from LC-40. The payload is the Northrop Grumman Cygnus cargo craft going to #ISS.
NG has its own rocket, the Antares, but that uses engines built in Ukraine and, well ...
The launch time is 12:07 PM EST. The booster will come back to land at the Cape.
The launch will be on #NASA TV at the link.
Amateur smartphone video of tonight's #SpaceX #Falcon9 #Starlink launch ... It was cold and windy, which may have fogged up the smartphone lens and caused the video to go out of focus, methinks.
https://www.facebook.com/wordsmithfl/videos/902724314847248/
#AxiomSpace and #SpaceX are still targeting 4:49 PM EST for the launch of the Ax-3 private crew flight, from #NASA #KSC Pad 39A. Axiom is streaming live on YouTube:
On January 18 #AxiomSpace plans to launch four crew members on a private mission to #ISS. The #SpaceX #Falcon9 launch is targeting 4:49 PM EST. The astronauts are from Italy, Turkiye, and Sweden. Former NASA astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria commands the mission for Axiom.
A quick summary of the mission is at this video.
For those interested in learning more about the emerging commercial space industry, Space Capital publishes a free quarterly report at the link.
Stephen Smith 🇺🇦
I am a long-time advocate of space exploration, settlement and commerce. Migrated from @WordsmithFL on Twitter.
Joined Nov 2022