AMAZON TURNS TO RIVAL SPACEX TO LAUNCH NEXT BATCH OF KUIPER INTERNET SATELLITES - As Amazon chases SpaceX in the internet satellite market, the e-commerce and computing giant is now counting on Elon Musk’s rival company to get its next batch of devices into space. On Wednesday, weather permitting, 24 Kuiper satellites will hitch a ride on one of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rockets from a launchpad on Florida’s Space Coast. A 27-minute launch window for the mission, dubbed “KF-01,” opens at 2:18 a.m. ET. The launch will be livestreamed on X, the social media platform also owned by Musk.   More
(Source: CNBC - Jul 16)

AX-4 CREW DEPARTS INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, BEGINS JOURNEY HOME - After approximately 433 hours, 18 days, and 288 orbits around Earth covering nearly 7.6 million miles since docking with the International Space Station, the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) crew is officially homeward bound. Commander Peggy Whitson, Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, and Mission Specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski and Tibor Kapu undocked from the orbiting laboratory today at 6:15 a.m. CT, marking the conclusion of their onboard mission.   More
(Source: Axiom Mission 4 - Jul 15)

CHINA LAUNCHES NEW SPACESUITS, OTHER SUPPLIES TO TIANGONG SPACE STATION - China just sent a new batch of supplies toward its Tiangong space station. A Long March 7 rocket lifted off from Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on Hainan island this evening (July 14) at 5:34 p.m. EDT (2134 GMT; 5:34 a.m. on July 15 China Standard Time), carrying the Tianzhou 9 freighter skyward. Tianzhou 9 is hauling about 7.2 tons (6.5 metric tons) of cargo to Tiangong, which is currently occupied by the three astronauts (or taikonauts, as China calls them) of the Shenzhou 20 mission.   More
(Source: Space.com - Jul 15)

CHINA’S TIANZHOU-9 CARGO CRAFT SET FOR TIANGONG SPACE STATION RESUPPLY MISSION - China’s Tianzhou-9 cargo spacecraft is ready for launch to resupply the Tiangong Space Station, according to state news agency Xinhua on Saturday. The cargo spacecraft and a Long March-7 Y10 carrier rocket had been transported to the launch pad at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on the southern island province of Hainan, Xinhua reported, citing the China Manned Space Agency.   More
(Source: South China Morning Post - Jul 14)

ROCKET LAUNCH TODAY: IS THERE A ROCKET LAUNCH AND WHAT TIME? - The pace of rocket launches has ballooned in recent years, making it a challenge to know what mission is launching and when. In this launch guide, the Space.com news team aims to keep you up to date on the latest rocket launches. If there is a rocket launch today, you'll find details below on what vehicle it is (odds are high it would be SpaceX, if we're being honest), as well as its mission and where to watch live if a webcast is available.   More
(Source: Space.com - Jul 14)

SPACEX LAUNCHES ISRAELI SATELLITE ON A FALCON 9 ROCKET FROM CAPE CANAVERAL - SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket early Sunday carrying the Israeli Dror 1 satellite. The mission was initially shrouded in secrecy as the satellite’s manufacturer, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), shunned any pre-launch publicity. The mission, referred to by SpaceX as ‘Commercial GTO-1,’ lifted off at 1:04 a.m. EDT (0504 UTC) on Sunday, July 13.   More
(Source: SpaceFlight Now - Jul 13)

NASA CONSIDERING FLYING ONLY CARGO ON NEXT STARLINER MISSION - NASA is leaning toward a mission profile for the next Boeing Starliner flight that carries only cargo rather than crew. This approach is intended to validate key systems and lower risks by focusing exclusively on logistics, potentially accelerating critical testing needed for future crewed missions. The decision follows an in-depth review of mission safety and operational efficiency, emphasizing the importance of both reducing costs and ensuring compatibility with ISS resupply and research needs. This shift reflects NASA’s broader efforts to optimize the balance between technological advancement and mission safety within its evolving commercial spaceflight program.   More
(Source: SpaceNews - Jul 12)

AX-4 GO FOR MONDAY UNDOCKING, FINALIZING RESEARCH - Mission managers have given the “go” for the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4) crew to board the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and undock from the International Space Station’s space-facing port on the Harmony module at 7:05 a.m. EDT on Monday, July 14. Ax-4 Commander Peggy Whitson will lead Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla, and Mission Specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, and Tibor Kapu back to Earth completing a two-and-a-half-week research mission aboard the orbiting lab.   More
(Source: NASA - Jul 12)

EXPERIMENTAL CHINESE SATELLITE TURNS UP IN UNEXPECTED ORBIT - Chinese space observers are closely examining an experimental Chinese satellite that has taken an unanticipated orbital path, sparking curiosity and concern about its mission objectives and performance. Engineers and analysts note that the satellite’s deviation from its planned trajectory could hint at underlying design changes or unforeseen technical issues. Monitoring efforts are now in full swing as experts assess potential impacts on space safety and orbital debris management, while Chinese officials have been notably reserved in providing details about the anomaly or any adjustments in its mission plan.   More
(Source: SpaceNews - Jul 12)

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