. 24/7 Space News .
ROCKET SCIENCE
SpaceX launches 88 satellites on rideshare mission
by Paul Brinkmann
Washington DC (UPI) Jun 30, 2021

SpaceX successfully launched 88 small satellites from Florida on Wednesday after postponing the mission Tuesday because of an airplane in the launch area.

The Falcon 9 rocket on the Transporter-2 rideshare mission lifted off at 3:31 p.m. EDT from Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. SpaceX confirmed all satellites were deployed properly almost 90 minutes after liftoff.

The first stage of the rocket flew for the eighth time, and returned safely back to a landing zone at the Space Force station about nine minutes after launch.

Payloads on board include a range of spacecraft that provide communication, navigation, data for science experiments or Earth observation. Three dozen satellites were booked for the mission by Seattle-based Spaceflight, a company that helps arrange rideshare missions.

Spaceflight itself also is testing a new type of spacecraft, which the company says is the first-ever electric propulsion vehicle, the Sherpa-LTE1. The company's Sherpa spacecraft help other small satellites get to their intended orbit, like a space tugboat -- also known as orbital transfer vehicles.

The company is working on new types of propulsion for the space tugs to address the many types of activities happening in the space industry, Spaceflight's Phillip Bracken said in an email.

"The most unique element of Spaceflight's mission is the launch of two different types of Sherpa vehicles, including our first electric propulsion vehicle," Bracken, vice president of engineering, said. "Any experiences and data from this mission can be used for the next vehicle, and to improve our performance models."

Some customers may need more power over a long period of time, so they'd use chemical propulsion. Others need less mass over a shorter period, so electric might be better, he said.

A customer riding with Spaceflight is British space company In-Space Missions Ltd., which hopes to launch its first satellite, the Faraday Phoenix, after losing its first Faraday spacecraft during the failure of a Rocket Lab launch in July.

The U.S. Department of Defense has three spacecraft on the launch: Mandrake II, LINCS and POET. They are the first such satellites built and designed by the department's Space Development Agency and are aimed at gathering information on new laser technology to send data to and from spacecraft in orbit.


Related Links
Rocket Science News at Space-Travel.Com


Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly


paypal only
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal


ROCKET SCIENCE
SpaceX postpones launch of 88 satellites in rideshare mission to Wednesday
Washington DC (UPI) Jun 29, 2021
SpaceX postponed a launch Tuesday to send 88 small satellites into orbit from Florida in what is known as a rideshare launch due to interference from a possible plane in the region, a SpaceX announcer said. "It looks like the [launch] range was a no go. There might have been an airplane in the area. We do have a backup opportunity tomorrow, but for today, that's going to do it for us," SpaceX's Andy Tran said after a hold was called with 11 seconds to liftoff. Liftoff of the Falcon 9 roc ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

ROCKET SCIENCE
Russia races Tom Cruise and Musk for first movie in space

Rogue Space and Orbital Assembly want to lease 2 Laura Orbot spacecraft

Billionaire blast off: Richard Branson plans space trip ahead of rival Bezos

Trailblazing woman pilot, 82, to fly into space with Bezos

ROCKET SCIENCE
SpaceX launches 88 satellites on rideshare mission

After 60 years, nuclear power for spaceflight is still tried and true

Gilmour Space rockets ahead with new funding round

Second iteration of successful Vanguard Incubation Process approaches Summit

ROCKET SCIENCE
Japan planning soil sampling mission to Mars' Moon Phobos

Perseverance Mars rover to use AutoNav in new self driving mode

Scientists closer to explaining Mars methane mystery

Insight Mars Lander may die this year due to dust

ROCKET SCIENCE
China is using mythology and sci-fi to sell its space program to the world

China building new space environment monitoring station

How does China's urine recycling system work in space

Xi lauds 'new horizon' for humanity in space chat with astronauts

ROCKET SCIENCE
Russian rocket launches UK telecom satellites

Retro meets retrofit

OneWeb and BT to explore rural connectivity solutions for UK

New funding from UK Space Agency will kickstart space technology projects

ROCKET SCIENCE
China begins construction of new survey telescope to detect space debris

A new chapter for space sustainability

Reprogrammable satellite shipped to launch site

Amazon stays atop fast-growing cloud computing market: survey

ROCKET SCIENCE
Are we missing other Earths

Unique exoplanet photobombs Cheops study of nearby star system

Collection of starshade research helps advance exoplanet imaging by space telescopes

Scientists use stellar mass to link exoplanets to planet-forming disks

ROCKET SCIENCE
Giant comet found in outer solar system by Dark Energy Survey

Next stop Jupiter as country's interplanetary ambitions grow

First images of Ganymede as Juno sailed by

Leiden astronomers calculate genesis of Oort cloud in chronologically order









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.