Watch SpaceX's 29th Cargo Launch to the International Space Station (Official NASA Broadcast) - 9 November 2023

The space laser communications to be tested on the ISS are critical for deep space missions,being 100 times faster than current technology.It's especially critical for journeys to Mars.

Artemis 1's next launch attempt may be last week of September, NASA submitted waiver request

When Will Artemis I Be Launched?

The answer isn't known yet.The hydrogen leak that caused the second scrub may be repairable on the pad,which could open up the date of 19 September,when the next two-week launch window begins.The problem with that is,the U.S. Space Force requires that the flight termination system be re-certified every 25 days,and to do that,you have to transport the rocket back into the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) for the necessary procedures.The flight termination system is required by the Space Force to ensure public safety,since it is what would destroy a rocket gone astray.The Space Force is in charge of the Eastern Range,including public safety within it,so it is the authority in this case.NASA may ask the Space Force for a waiver of the re-certification requirement,but the Space Force would have the final say. If the rocket must be transported back to the VAB,the launch will have to be delayed till sometime in October.Bear in mind that SpaceX is to launch the SpaceX Crew-5 mission to the ISS on a Falcon 9 rocket in early October with two NASA Astronauts,a JAXA Astronaut and a ROSCOMOS Cosmonaut on board.That means the Artemis I launch has to be reconciled with the SpaceX Crew-5 launch. The Eastern Range is a rocket range managed from Patrick Space Force Base,Florida by Space Launch Delta 45 and controls all launches from Cape Canaveral Space Force Base and NASA Kennedy Space Center.

Virgin Orbit Launches Payloads From Boeing 747

On 13 January 2022,Virgin Orbit launched and deployed seven satellites via the Cosmic Girl aircraft,which is a modified Boeing 747-400,and a LauncherOne rocket carried under the aircraft's left wing at the Mojave Air and Spaceport,California.The satellites included a national security mission for the U.S. DoD Space Test Program (STP) of the Defense Innovation Unit.The aim of the STP is to develop space capabilities for the joint warfighter.This national security launch was part of the STP Rapid Agile Launch Initiative (RALI).* The Virgin Orbit launch procedure allows direct injection into orbit that no ground-launched vehicle can provide,thus saving customers time and money (less fuel is required).As well,the Virgin Orbit launch system enables launch through weather and cloud layers that would cancel a ground launch.Thus it facilitates launching anytime anywhere and without warning-aspects critical to military mission success.* Besides the Defense Department,other customers on the launch included Spire Global and Poland's SatRevolution firm.The CubeSats deployed will conduct experiments in advanced space communications;space navigation and propulsion;and global agricultural applications.To date,Virgin Orbit and its wholly-owned subsidiary VOX Space LLC have successfully launched and deployed 26 satellites.* The flight team was lead by pilot Eric Bippert and Flight Lieutenant Mathew "Stanny" Stannard,Royal Air Force Test Pilot.* Virgin Orbit Holdings Inc (VORB),Spire Global Inc (SPIR),Boeing (BA)

Launch of NASA's Laser Communications Relay Demonstration — LCRD Officia...Cape Canaveral Space Force Station