SpaceX awarded a $178M contract for NASA’s mission to Jupiter’s moon

Elon Musk’s aerospace firm SpaceX has been awarded a $178 million (£129 million) contract for NASA’s first mission to Europa, Jupiter’s fourth largest moon.  SpaceX will provide ‘launch services’ for the Europa Clipper mission, which is due to blast off in October 2024 to study Europa through a series of fly-bys, NASA said.  The spacecraft will … Read more

SpaceX could send its Starship into orbit as early as August

The next SpaceX 160ft Starship prototype, known as SN20, will be launched into orbit as early as next month strapped to the massive Super Heavy booster. Starship requires the booster stage to reach orbit and combined the two reach a whopping 394ft tall, much larger than the Statue of Liberty with its full plinth. SN20 … Read more

Elon Musk says SpaceX’s Starlink is on track to have more than 500,000 users within 12 months

Elon Musk says SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service is on track to have more than 500,000 users within 12 months – and the company could invest up to $30 BILLION into the project Elon Musk spoke via Zoom during Mobile World Congress 2021 in Barcelona Musk announced Starlink is likely to hit 500,000 users within … Read more

SpaceX plans to launch a Starship rocket to MARS from an ‘ocean spaceport’ in 2022 

SpaceX founder Elon Musk has confirmed ambitious plans to build an ‘ocean spaceport’ that will be used to launch a Starship rocket to Mars in 2022.  It was reported in July 2020 that the firm had acquired a pair of former oil drilling rigs for $3.5 million (£2.47 million) each that they planned to convert … Read more

SpaceX satellite plans ‘unsustainable’ warns competitor Arianespace

SpaceX is close to a ‘de-factor monopolisation’ of space due to its thousands of satellites, claims the head of European space launch firm Arianespace. The Elon Musk-owned firm has asked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for permission to launch up to 42,000 satellites into space. They are building the ‘Starlink’ constellation that will deliver ‘reliable … Read more

SpaceX aims for its 100th successful flight in a row TODAY

SpaceX aims for its 100th successful flight in a row TODAY with a Falcon 9 rocket launch that will deliver 60 new Starlink internet satellites to orbit SpaceX is launching 60 new Starlink satellites aboard a Falcon 9 rocket If all goes to plan, this will be SpaceX’s 100th successful flight in a row The … Read more

Retired astronaut Peggy Whitson, 61, will return space on a SpaceX private flight

Retired NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, 61, is dusting off her space suit for another trip to the final frontier. Whitson, who spent more time in space than any other American astronaut, is set to serve as mission commander for a private flight to the International Space Station (ISS). Along for the ride will be John … Read more

SpaceX: Satellite operator calls for a halt to Starlink launches pending an environmental review

SpaceX may face a legal challenge from a rival satellite operator who has called for a halt to Starlink launches pending an environmental review of the megaconstellation. Broadband firm Viasat called on the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Friday to stay a license modification allowing for Starlink’s expansion in low orbit. The megaconstellation, which … Read more

Elon Musk’s SpaceX reveals ambitious plans for Starship’s first orbital flight

Elon Musk’s SpaceX reveals ambitious plans for Starship’s first orbital flight that will see the 160ft-tall rocket launch from Texas before landing 90 minutes later off the coast of Hawaii An FCC filing has revealed that SpaceX is planning its first orbit launch Starship 15 will launch from Texas before making a ‘soft landing’ off … Read more

Elon Musk says SpaceX could re-fly Starship SN15 ‘soon’ following the rocket’s historic landing

Elon Musk says SpaceX could re-fly Starship SN15 ‘soon’ following the rocket’s historic landing last week that brought firm closer to goal of creating reusable ships that could take humans to Mars Elon Musk shared on Twitter that SpaceX could re-fly Starship SN15 soon This would make it the first reused prototype, which is part … Read more