NASA Administrator Bridenstine Announces Completion of 1st SLS Core Stage Moon Rocket at Artemis Day: Photos

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine gives remarks on the agency’s Artemis program, Monday, Dec. 9, 2019, announcing assembly completion in front of the 1^st core stage for NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) moon rocket at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com

10 Dec 2019

Ken Kremer -- For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM

MICHOUD ASSEMBLY FACILITY, LA – NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine declared assembly completion of the 1st core stage of the agency’s mammoth Space Launch System (SLS) moon rocket during the ‘Artemis Day’ special event on Monday, Dec. 9, at the agencies huge Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, Louisiana. 

Bridenstine proudly showed off the first fully assembled, 212-foot-tall core stage that was manufactured at America’s ‘rocket factory’ at Michoud - to an exuberant gathering of contractors and space workers, NASA personal and officials, and the media.

Read the entire story at Space UpClose

https://www.spaceupclose.com/2019/12/nasa-administrator-bridenstine-announces-completion-of-1st-sls-core-stage-moon-rocket-at-artemis-day-photos/

ULA Completes Atlas V Countdown and Fueling Test for Boeing Starliner OFT Test Flight Reset to Dec 20: Photos

United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket topped by Boeing CST-100 Starliner spacecraft, stands on the launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 at Florida’s Cape Canaveral Air Force Station during a wet dress rehearsal for Boeing’s Orbital Flight Test on Dec. 6, 2019 while venting liquid oxygen and with helicopter flying in background – as seen from Playalinda Beach, Florida. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com

6 December 2019

Ken Kremer – For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER/CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, FL – The first fully integrated United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket and Boeing Starliner astronaut space taxi have “successfully accomplished” the critical countdown demonstration and fueling test at Launch Pad 40 on Friday, Dec 6, on the Florida Space Coast – paving the path towards launch on the uncrewed Orbital Flight Test (OFT) mission now retarget to Dec. 20.

Read the entire story at Space UpClose:
https://www.spaceupclose.com/2019/12/ula-completes-atlas-v-countdown-and-fueling-test-for-boeing-starliner-oft-test-flight-reset-to-dec-20-photos/

Lovely Lunchtime Liftoff for SpaceX Dragon with NASA Science, Cargo Bound for International Space Station: Photos

As airplane flies by in background SpaceX launches Dragon CRS-19 cargo resupply mission for NASA to the International Space Station at 12:29 p.m. EST Dec. 5, 2019, from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.  Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com

5 December 2019

Ken Kremer – For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM 

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER/CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, FL – Space fans and officials were treated to a lovely lunchtime liftoff of the SpaceX Dragon carrying a load of nearly 3 tons of NASA science and cargo bound for the international Space Station (NASA) including 40 genetically engineered micetronauts, a new AI powered CIMON astronaut helper, new gear for the Cold Atom lab and much more into a clear blue sky from the Florida Space Coast today, Thursday, Dec. 5, a day after high winds forced a launch scrub on Dec. 4.

Read the entire story at Space UpClose:

https://www.spaceupclose.com/2019/12/lovely-lunchtime-liftoff-for-spacex-dragon-with-nasa-science-cargo-bound-for-international-space-station-photos/

SpaceX Dragon Poised for Lunchtime Liftoff on Resupply Mission for NASA to Space Station: Photos

UpClose prelaunch view of SpaceX Dragon CRS-19 cargo freighter atop Falcon 9 rocket at Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida prior to launch slated for Dec. 4, 2019. Retargeted to Dec 5.  Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com

4 December 2019

Ken Kremer – For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM 

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL – The SpaceX Dragon is poised for liftoff this morning Wednesday, Dec 4 under beautiful sunny Florida Space Coast skies.

Note: Launch scrubbed to Dec 5 12:29 PM ET due to excessive upper altitude winds

SpaceX and NASA are now targeting liftoff of the Falcon 9 rocket launch with the unpiloted and recycled Dragon CRS-19 cargo ship from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at 12:51 p.m. EST (1751 GMT) - that coincides with approximately the moment that Earth’s rotation brings Cape Canaveral under the orbital plane of International Space Station. 

Read the entire story at Space UpClose:
https://www.spaceupclose.com/2019/12/spacex-dragon-poised-for-lunchtime-liftoff-on-resupply-mission-for-nasa-to-space-station/

Busy December Cape Launch Schedule Starts with SpaceX Closing Out 2019 with Key Station Missions

Blastoff of SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on the Dragon CRS-18 cargo mission for NASA to the International Space Station on July 25, 2019, at 6:01 p.m. ET from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida with 2.5 tons of science and supplies – in this remote camera view from pad 40. SpaceX CRS-19 is targeting liftoff on Dec. 4, 2019.  Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com

3 December 2019

Ken Kremer – For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM 

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL – After a thin autumn of launches with just a lone launch last month following an action packed first half to the year, a very busy December will close out 2019 with a hefty slate of liftoffs including a duo of key missions to the International Space Station (ISS) firing up this Christmas holiday season.

Read the entire story at Space UpClose:
https://www.spaceupclose.com/2019/12/busy-december-cape-launch-schedule-starts-with-spacex-closing-out-2019-with-key-station-missions/

Starliner Astronaut Ferry Ship Rollout Videos from KSC to Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 41

Video Caption: Rollout of 1^st Boeing Starliner astronaut ferry ship on Nov. 21, 2019 from the Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility (C3PF) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to its launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41. Credit: NASA

1 December 2019

Ken Kremer For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL – Watch the extremely cool NASA rollout videos of the first flightworthy Boeing Starliner commercial crew astronaut ferry spacecraft last week on Thursday, Nov. 21 from the Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility (C3PF) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to its launch pad at Space Launch Complex 41 for stacking atop the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket - that will launch the ship on its first unpiloted voyage to space the Orbital Flight Test (OFT) for NASA to the International Space Station (ISS). 

Read the entire story at Space UpClose:
https://www.spaceupclose.com/2019/12/starliner-astronaut-ferry-ship-rollout-videos-from-ksc-to-cape-canaveral-launch-complex-41/

Crew Quarters – NASA Astronauts “Home Away from Home” Undergoes Modern Upgrades at Kennedy: Photos

Crew of STS-1 in Suit Preparation Room with tables for spacesuit hardware and medical monitoring gauges and panels with new recliner following refurbishment of the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout (O&C) Building at Kennedy Space Center. Credit: Jean Wright

30 Nov 2019

Jean Wright for Space UpClose

Kennedy Space Center, Fl – Today the Crew Quarters are being readied for astronauts to once again launch from American soil to the vastness of space!

These iconic hallways on the 3rd floor of the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout (O&C) Building at KSC, are where past Gemini, Apollo and space shuttle astronauts took some of their last steps on Earth before heading to orbit, the moon, or to the International Space Station (ISS).

Read the entire story at Space UpClose:

https://www.spaceupclose.com/2019/11/crew-quarters-nasa-astronauts-home-away-from-home-undergoes-modern-upgrades-at-kennedy-photos/