Sunset Static Fire Test Sets up SpaceX Cargo Launch to Space Station for NASA Post Thanksgiving: Photos

SpaceX conducts successful sunset static fire test of Falcon 9 first stage engines at 5:30 p.m. EST on Nov. 26, 2019 with exhaust wafting overhead at Space Launch Complex-40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station for CRS-19 resupply mission to the ISS targeted for launch Dec. 4.  The scene includes iconic VAB at left and a reflecting sailboat and sitting pelican at right as seen from the Max Brewer Bridge in Titusville, FL. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com 

26 November 2019

Ken Kremer – For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM 

Titusville, FL- A successful static fire test at sunset this evening Nov. 26 by SpaceX just before the Thanksgiving holiday sets up a post-Thanksgiving commercial cargo resupply launch of science and supplies to the International Space Station (ISS) for NASA next week on Dec. 4 from the Florida Space Coast. 

Right at the edge of darkness at sunset at 5:30 p.m. EST (2230 GMT) tonight Tuesday, Nov. 26, SpaceX engineers briefly ignited all 9 engines on their Falcon 9 first stage booster for a hold down static fire test at Space Launch Complex-40 to affirm its readiness for launch next week Wednesday, Dec 4.

Read the entire story at Space UpClose:

https://www.spaceupclose.com/2019/11/sunset-static-fire-test-sets-up-spacex-cargo-launch-to-space-station-for-nasa-post-thanksgiving/

Apollo 12 - 50th Anniversary Retrospective NASA’s 2nd Human Moon Landing: Gallery

This photo shows Apollo 12 Commander astronaut Pete Conrad grasping the Surveyor 3 camera with his right hand during the second extravehicular activity (EVA-2) on Nov. 20, 1969. This picture was taken by astronaut Alan L. Bean, Lunar Module pilot. The "Intrepid" landed on the Moon's Ocean of Storms only 530 feet from Surveyor III. The television camera and several other components were taken from Surveyor III and brought back to earth for scientific analysis. Surveyor III soft-landed on the Moon on April 20, 1967. Credit: NASA

24 November 2019

Ken Kremer –  For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM 

Titusville, FL- This month marks the 50^th anniversary of the launch of Apollo 12 on Nov. 14, 1969 – which goes down in history as NASA’s second Apollo mission to land humans on the Moon on Nov. 19, 1969 with namely Commander Charles “Pete” Conrad and Lunar Module Pilot (LMP) Alan L. Bean at the ‘Oceans of Storms’ (Oceanus Procellarum) thus becoming the third and fourth humans respectively to set foot on the lunar surface.

Read the entire story at Space UpClose:
https://www.spaceupclose.com/2019/11/apollo-12-50th-anniversary-retrospective-nasas-2nd-human-moon-landing-gallery/

Legless Quadruply Launched SpaceX Falcon 9 Lowered Horizontal, Landing Legs Detached after Retraction Unsuccessful: Photos

1^st Quadruply launched/recovered SpaceX Falcon 9 1st stage is tilted and lowered horizontally by two cranes and crews working together around 245 PM EST Nov. 19, 2019, four days after arriving vertical atop OCISLY droneship into Port Canaveral, FL on Nov. 15. From Nov. 11 SpaceX Starlink launch.  Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com

23 November 2019

Ken Kremer – For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM  

PORT CANAVERAL/CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, FL – The first ever quadruply launched & landed SpaceX Falcon 9 first stage booster from the Starlink liftoff was leglessly lowered horizontal on Tuesday, Nov. 19 and transported back to Cape Canaveral after all four landing legs were completely detached when technicians attempts to retract them were unsuccessful in Port Canaveral, Florida. 

Read the entire story at Space UpClose:
https://www.spaceupclose.com/2019/11/legless-quadruply-launched-spacex-falcon-9-lowered-horizontal-landing-legs-detached-after-retraction-unsuccessful-photos/

Atlas V Arrives at Port Canaveral on ULA RocketShip Vessel for ESA/NASA Solar Orbiter Launch: Photos

The R/S RocketShip transport vessel arrives at Port Canaveral, Florida on Nov 20, 2019 and sails past Jetty Park Pier to deliver a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V first stage and Centaur upper stage from ULA's factory in Decatur, Alabama. The rocket will launch Solar Orbiter on its journey to study the Sun for ESA and NASA in Feb. 2020.  Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com

23 November 2019

Ken Kremer – For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM

PORT CANAVERAL, FL – The United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket destined to launch the ESA/NASA Solar Orbiter probe on an unprecedented mission to study the Sun up-close arrived into Port Canaveral, Florida this week aboard the R/S RocketShip transport vessel on Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 20. 

Read the entire story at Space UpClose:

https://www.spaceupclose.com/2019/11/atlas-v-arrives-at-port-canaveral-on-ula-rocketship-vessel-for-esa-nasa-solar-orbiter-launch-photos/

1st Flightworthy Boeing Starliner Astronaut Capsule Joined Atop ULA Atlas V Launcher for 1st Flight

The Boeing CST-100 Starliner spacecraft is guided into position above a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket at the Vertical Integration Facility at Space Launch Complex 41 at Florida’s Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Nov. 21, 2019. Starliner will be secured atop the rocket for Boeing’s Orbital Flight Test to the International Space Station for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. The spacecraft rolled out from Boeing’s Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center earlier in the day. Credits: NASA/Cory Huston

23 November 2019

Ken Kremer - - For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL– Boeings first flightworthy Starliner astronaut capsule was hoisted atop and joined to the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket that will propel it to space on its maiden mission from Cape Canaveral to the International Space Station on the company’s uncrewed Orbital Flight Test (OFT) for NASA in just over 3 week in mid-December – just hours after a momentous and celebratory rollout from the firms  spacecraft manufacturing facility before sunrise Friday, Nov 21 at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida.  

Read the entire story at Space UpClose:
https://www.spaceupclose.com/2019/11/1st-flightworthy-boeing-starliner-astronaut-capsule-joined-atop-ula-atlas-v-launcher-for-1st-flight/

1st Flightworthy Boeing Starliner Crew Capsule Rolls Out to Launch Pad for 1st Uncrewed Test Flight: Photos

The Boeing CST-100 Starliner spacecraft rolls out from the company’s Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Nov. 21, 2019 led by the Boeing team holding banner - on its way to Cape Canaveral Launch Complex-41 and mating with ULA Atlas V rocket for the OFT mission targeting launch on Dec. 17, 2019. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com

21 November 2019

Ken Kremer - -For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL– In a celebration worthy of the momentous spaceflight occasion just before dawn Friday that marks the dawn of a new era in commercial human American spaceflight, Boeing unveiled its first flightworthy CST-100 Starliner spacecraft  that will launch on its maiden mission to the International Space Station on the company’s uncrewed Orbital Flight Test (OFT) in just about 24 days in mid-December.

Read the entire story at Space UpClose:

https://www.spaceupclose.com/2019/11/1st-flightworthy-boeing-starliner-crew-capsule-rolls-out-to-launch-pad-for-1st-uncrewed-test-flight-photos/

1st Quadruply Launched/Landed SpaceX 1st Stage Booster Craned off Droneship onto Land using new Mobile Harbor Crane: Photos

Recovered Starlink Falcon 9 1st stage craned off SpaceX recovery ship OCISLY  around 3 PM EST Nov. 15, 2019 using Liebherr Mobile Harbor Crane 1^st time - around six hours after sunrise arrival atop OCISLY into Port Canaveral. Note: 9 Merlin 1D engines fully exposed.   From Nov. 11 SpaceX Starlink launch.  Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com

17 November 2019

Ken Kremer - -For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM 

PORT CANAVERAL, FL –  The first ever quadruply launched & landed SpaceX Falcon 9 first stage booster was craned off the “Of Course I Still Love You” (OCISLY) droneship Friday afternoon, Nov. 15 in a craning operation that utilized the new German-built Liebherr Mobile Harbor Crane for the first time by crane crews at Port Canaveral.

Read the entire story at Space UpClose:

https://www.spaceupclose.com/2019/11/1st-quadruply-launched-landed-spacex-1st-stage-booster-craned-off-droneship-onto-land-using-new-mobile-harbor-crane-photos/