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SpaceX launches multiple satellites for the NRO from Vandenberg Space Force Base – Spaceflight Now

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SpaceX

SpaceX launches multiple satellites for the NRO from Vandenberg Space Force Base – Spaceflight Now

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from Vandenberg Space Force Base on the NROL-186 mission on June 28, 2024. Image: SpaceX SpaceX launched a national security mission on behalf of the United States’ National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) from Vandenberg Space Force Base Friday night. The spy agency described the classified mission as “the second launch of NRO’s proliferated architecture, delivering critical space-based ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) to the nation.” The Falcon 9 rocket supporting this mission lifted off from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at the opening of a two-hour window, 8:14 p.m. PDT (11:14 p.m. EDT, 0314 UTC). The Falcon 9 first stage booster supporting this mission, tail number B1081 in the SpaceX fleet, launched for an eighth time. Its pre...

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NASA

NASA — The Summer Solstice Is Here!

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but no images have left a greater impact on our understanding of the universe quite like the Hubble Space Telescope’s deep fields. Like time machines, these iconic images transport humanity billions of light-years back in time, offering a glimpse into the early universe and insight into galaxy evolution!You’ve probably seen these images before, but what exactly do we see within them? Deep field images are basically core samples of our universe. By peering into a small portion of the night sky, we embark on a journey through space and time as thousands of galaxies appear before our very eyes.So, how can a telescope the size of a school bus orbiting 340 miles above Earth uncover these mind-boggling galactic masterpieces? We’re here to break it do...

Why this is a golden age for life to thrive across the universe

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Science

Why this is a golden age for life to thrive across the universe

ESO/VVV Survey/D. Minniti. Ackno This story is part of our Cosmic Perspective special, in which we confront the staggering vastness of the cosmos and our place in it. Read the rest of the series here. Since the opening act of the universe 13.8 billion years ago, a diverse set of characters have trod the boards – stars, planets, moons, quasars. But if you tend to get fidgety at the theatre, there is bad news: this cosmic performance has at least 100 billion years to go. Which raises a question: are we living at a special moment – the cliffhanger before the interval – or is this just an inconsequential moment in the mid-plot? One hint that this is a special instant involves a swathe of observed properties of the universe known as fundamental constants. These include the ...

SpaceX to launch 350th Falcon 9 rocket on a Starlink flight from Cape Canaveral – Spaceflight Now

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SpaceX

SpaceX to launch 350th Falcon 9 rocket on a Starlink flight from Cape Canaveral – Spaceflight Now

A Falcon 9 stands ready for a Starlink mission at Cape Canaveral’s pad 40. File photo: Adam Bernstein/Spaceflight Now. SpaceX is marking two key records with the planned launch of its latest batch of Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The Starlink 10-3 mission will be SpaceX’s 350th Falcon 9 rocket launch. The first stage booster supporting this mission, tail number B1062 in the SpaceX fleet, will launch for a 22nd time, making it the flight leader among the Falcon fleet. Liftoff of the mission is set for 7:14 a.m. EDT (1114 UTC). Spaceflight Now will have live coverage beginning about an hour prior to liftoff. Among its previous 21 launches, B1062 launched two GPS satellites, two crews of astronauts (Inspiration4 and Ax-1) and 14 Starlink missions. A little more...

Jones underscores importance of US, Australian alliance at Australian Space Summit > United States Space Force > Article Display

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Space Force

Jones underscores importance of US, Australian alliance at Australian Space Summit > United States Space Force > Article Display

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) -- The Honorable Kristyn Jones, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller, highlighted the critical alliance between the United States and Australia during the Australian Space Summit in Sydney, Australia, May 29, 2024.The summit offered a chance for defense and civilian space sectors to further partnerships, collaboration and to continue building relationships.Jones noted the impressive history of the alliance between the U.S. and Australia, from fighting side-by-side during conflicts to formally establishing a security treaty between the two nations 73 years ago, and the ways the shared relationship has paved the way for collaboration in all domains.“Our partnership has never been stronger,” ...