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27 Merlin engines on Falcon Heavy's three boosters propel the rocket and USSF-52 from LC-39A
Source: @johnkrausphotos
[Translated] A SpaceX Falcon 9 passes in front of the Moon on its way up to orbit carrying 23 Starlink satellites.
I don't think I could ask for a better photo to end the year! 🚀🎉
Source: RT @manumazzanti
Falcon Heavy launches USSF-52 to orbit from Florida
Source: @SpaceX
Falcon Heavy's Nebula as the side core boosters return to Landing Zone 1 and 2.
Source: @planetdeimos
FALCON HEAVY TRANSITS THE MOON: Tonight’s launch of the USSF-52 mission with seventh mission of the Space Force’s X-37B spaceplane.
Source: @johnkrausphotos
The #Ax3 crew has spent months in training. One of those trainings focuses on emergency scenarios. Watch as the crew learns how to work together and stay calm in potentially stressful situations.
Source: @Axiom_Space
Axiom Mission 3 is a planned private spaceflight to the International Space Station. The flight, scheduled to launch on 17 January 2024, and expected to last about 14 days, will be operated by Axiom Space and be using a Crew Dragon spacecraft.
One toasty marshmallow in tow, back from a 39 day trip to the ISS.
For those NASA livery fans, at least one beautiful WORM logo did make it back to Port Canaveral.
Source: @JerryPikePhoto
JRTI and the remnants of Falcon 9 B1058 have returned to Port Canaveral.
Source: @johnkrausphotos
Falcon 9 B1058 🫡
A portion of the record-setting Falcon 9 booster remains on board the Just Read the Instructions droneship. After its 19th launch and landing, the vehicle tipped over in rough seas during the transit back to Port Canaveral, and its top portion broke off.
Source: @johnkrausphotos
Super disappointing and sad to lose booster 1058.
Tippy boosters occur when you get a certain set of landing conditions that lead to the legs having uneven loading. Heavy wind or sea state then cause the booster to teeter and slide which can lead to even worse leg loading. In this state, securing with the OG (Octograbber) is super challenging and often only partial successful
We came up with self leveling legs that immediately equalize leg loads on landing after experiencing a severe tippy booster two years ago on Christmas (first flight of 1069). The fleet is mostly outfitted, but 1058, given its age, was not. It met its fate when it hit intense wind and waves resulting in failure of a partially secured OG less than 100 miles from home.
One thing is for sure… we will make lemonade out of lemons and learn as much as possible from historic 1058 on our path to aircraft like operations.
Source: RT @TurkeyBeaver, @SpaceX
VP of Launch at SpaceX
The Falcon fleet’s life leading rocket completed its 19th and final launch and landing on December 23. This one reusable rocket booster alone launched to orbit 2 astronauts and more than 860 satellites — totaling 260+ metric tons — in ~3.5 years
During transport back to Port early this morning, the booster tipped over on the droneship due to high winds and waves. Newer Falcon boosters have upgraded landing legs with the capability to self-level and mitigate this type of issue
Source: @SpaceX
Falcon 9 launches the OHB SE SARah-2 mission from California
Source: @SpaceX
Falcon 9 launches 23 Starlink satellites to orbit from Florida on our 96th, and final, Falcon launch of 2023
Source: @SpaceX
Falcon 9’s first stage has landed on the A Shortfall of Gravitas droneship
Source: @SpaceX
Falcon Heavy’s center core rapidly accelerates following BECO and side core separation.
Source: @_mgde_
🚀 Next launch Starlink
Group
6-36
Rocket Falcon
9
Block
5
From SLC-40
,
Cape
Canaveral
🇺🇸
🕙 Launch timeDecember
29th,
04:01
UTC
🌍 Mission information
Type Communications
Orbit Low
Earth
Orbit
🚀 Vehicle information
Core B1069.
12 (12th
flight
♻️)
Landing ASOG
(ASDS
🌊)
ℹ️ A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation.
#Launch
Falcon Heavy’s side boosters have landed
Source: @SpaceX
Side boosters’ separation confirmed. Center core continuing as planned
Source: @SpaceX
Falcon Heavy vertical at the pad in Florida ahead of tonight's launch of USSF-52 → spacex.com/launches
Source: @SpaceX
🚀 Next launch OTV-7
(X-37B)
(USSF-52)
Rocket Falcon
Heavy
From LC-39A
,
Kennedy
Space
Center
🇺🇸
🕙 Launch timeDecember
29th,
01:07
UTC
🌍 Mission information
Type Government/Top
Secret
Orbit Unknown
🚀 Vehicle information
Core B1084.1
(1st
flight
🌟)
Expendable Last
flight
🌠
Boosters B1064.5
(♻️x4)
(RTLS
: LZ-1
)B1065.5
(♻️x4)
(RTLS
: LZ-2
)
ℹ️ It is the seventh flight of the 📷X-37B program. United States Air Force Orbital Test Vehicle is built by Boeing.
#Launch
We are planning to salvage the engines and do life leader inspections on the remaining hardware. There is still quite a bit of value in this booster. We will not let it go to waste.
Source: @edwards345
VP of Falcon Launch Vehicles at SpaceX, Falcon 9 Product Director, Falcon 1 Lead Engineer
Fleet leader 1058 on its first of 19 missions carrying NASA's Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken into orbit on May 30, 2020
Source: @LaunchPhoto
More photos of today's Falcon 9 launch and landing
Source: @SpaceX
Deployment of OHB SE SRH2 and SRH3 confirmed
Source: @SpaceX