HKP Media Space News

09/04/2025

ULA has released an update to modifications for Vulcan at SLC-3 VSFB. Work is nearing completion to modify the site from Atlas to Vulcan launches. Major upgrades and mods include the MST modified for the larger Vulcan, new propellant tanks and a modernized GSE and launch system. Construction is approx 80% completed and expected completion and certification before the end of 2025. It has been a while since our last Atlas launch from VSFB and ULA has up as many as 7 Vulcan launches manifested for VSFB before the end of 2026.

08/29/2025

Marcus House summarizes IFT-10 quite well. SpaceX successfully made it through several first tests on this flight and has one more block 2 to play with. Elon expects to attempt a starship catch in 3-5 more flights.

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08/26/2025

IFT-10 Scrubbed due to weather, anvil cloud rule

08/10/2025

We have suspended the launch schedule on this page as analytics shows it not being viewed and is a lot of work dailoy to keep updated.

06/02/2025

DAF (Department of the Air Force) has released a draft EIS (environmental impact statement) for the proposed modifications to SLC-6 and increase of Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches at VSFB. The DAF has evaluated a Proposed Action, an Alternative 1 and a No Action Alternative. The EID is available for comment until July 7, 2025.
The Proposed Action is to allow an increase of up to 100 launches per year, including up to 5 launches of Falcon Heavy combined among both launch facilities. SLC-6 HIF (horizontal integration facility) will be modified to suit SpaceX needs for SLC-6 operation.
Alternative 1 would include the Proposed Action but would allow SpaceX to build a new hangar and not modify the current HIF.
the No Action Alternative would not authorize any Falco launches from SLC-6 nor increase to the cadence currently licensed at SLC-4.
For more information regarding the EIS and public meetings visit the website https://www.vsfbfalconlauncheis.com/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

To read the entire draft EIS follow this link: https://www.vsfbfalconlauncheis.com/Portals/falconprogrameis/PublicDocuments/VSFB_Falcon_Launch_Draft_EIS_May_2025Rev.pdf?ver=PRtARSGJdbvSh8WU0Zim4A%3d%3d

05/05/2025

Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Fl ~
SpaceX completed their 51st launch of the year under skies with clouds that everyone hope bring rain. The Falcon 9 carried 28 Starlink v2-mini satellites.
The booster (B1080) completed its 18th flight without any apparent issue and is enroute back to Port Canaveral where it will be sent to the local SpaceX facilities onsite for refurbishment.

04/29/2025

SpaceX launches two missions, from two separate launch pads and landing both first stage boosters at two different Landing Zone pad sites

04/20/2025

We Report Space Rewind
04/13/2025 ~ 04/19/2025
NASA~ In an indication that NASA has extended its contract with Rocosmos with “integrated” crews on upcoming commercial & Soyuz launches bound for thew ISS, NASA has extended the “seat barter” agreement into 2027. This simply means longer space missions for Soyuz & at least 1 American & 1 Russian be on board the ISS, if an extended grounding of a commercial or Soyuz launch vehicle were to occur.
NOAA~ With proposed budget cuts from the White House, NOAA is faced with the task of making changes to its weather satellite program (GeoXO) as well as a new generation of geostationary satellites being readied for orbit in the 2030s.
These cuts total around $20 billion over a span of 30 years & encompasses removal of instruments for focusing on climate, cost for 6 satellites & operations. Lastly, the change would move the Space Weather Prediction Center from the auspices of NOAA to under the Department of Homeland Security.
Northrup Grumman ~ Promontory, Utah
Wednesday morning, Northrup Grummans “Rocket Ranch” was rocking when an undetermined blast leveled one of their buildings where solid rocket motors are made The Rocket Ranch as it is commonly referred to by locals is the testing ground where these motors are developed and tested. Causes are not known at this time nor which specific building was blown up. Early reports indicated no injuries or fatalities.

Washington D.C.
In the children’s game “Tug of War”, typically the side with more muscle, weight & people have the advantage & usually win. With this in mind, there has been a political “tug of war” going on as to where the permanent home of the U.S. Space Command Headquarters will be located. Will it stay in Colorado Springs where former President Biden gave the approval, or will it be relocated to or near the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama as it seems President Trump will reverse former President Bidens decision.
The U.S. Air Force has completed an analysis and Redstone Arsenal has been tapped as the preferred location. This analysis the move to Huntsville would save taxpayers in the neighborhood of $420 million.
Looking back at the history in the decision of Colorado Springs vs Huntsville the Air Force publicly stated Huntsville as their #1 choice while President Trump was in his first term.
Later in 2023 the Biden Administration switched gears and reversed the Air Forces & President Trumps choice.
With the cost cutting a strong political statement from the Trump administration it seems as if another reversal will be forthcoming. Backing this is a statement from House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) that the Secretary of the Air Force never issued a formal directive to relocate Space Command to Alabama.
Washington D.C. ~
In a report filed this week by Reuters News Agency, SpaceX owned by Elon Mush and 2 business partners have emerged as the front runners in the proposed “Golden Dome” defense shield.
Palantir (Denver, Co) is a firm which writes software & Anduril (Costa Mesa, Ca) is a firm with a focus on building drones are partnering with SpaceX in an attempt to be selected to win the decision. It should be noted, that the Pentagon is in the elementary stages of decision making with the final structure and sources designing & working on it could ultimately change in the coming year.
U.S. Space Force/SpaceX ~
Dealing with a number of national security space missions all with the stamp of High Priority the U.S. Space Force migrated from ULA as its legacy provider to SpaceX.
CEO Tory Bruno stated “We certainly offered a proposal that could support the 60% share like we had the first time around, but I actually anticipated a greater likelihood of receiving the 40%, and that is what we received. It’s plenty of missions. We’re happy to get it.”
“We expect we’ll fly a predominance of high-energy-orbit missions, which is our specialty,”
Launches this past week:
4/18/2025 CASC* Long March 6A~Taiyuan Launch Center, China
4/16/2025 Northrop Minotaur IV NROL-174 Vandenberg Space Force Base
4/14/2025 SpaceX Starlink 6-73 Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
4/14/2025 Blue Origin New Shepard NS-31*** West Texas
CASC* China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
*** New Shepard NS-31 Sub Orbital launch 6 people

Article: Graham Smith Image: Courtesy: Associated Press

04/04/2025

SpaceX has returned capsule reentry to California coast with Fram 2.

04/01/2025

SpaceX has successfully launched Fram2 to a polar orbit. This is the first manned polar orbit and an all civilian crew. The capsule "Resilience" is on its 4th flight and previously flew Crew-1, Inspiration 4, and Polaris Dawn. The mission is schedule to last from 3-5 days and will splashdown off the coast of California, another first for a SpaceX crew. During re-entry the cargo module attached to Dragon is jettisoned and concerns are of its uncontrolled re-entry over populations so future crewed splashdowns are targeting the California coast as a primary landing area to avoid any re entry of parts over populations.

03/27/2025

Kennedy Space Center, Fl
Things that go should not go BUMP! Earlier this week, NASA released a statement saying the Pressurized Cargo Module of Cygnus was too damaged to fly after a report issued by Grumman Northrup stated a “commercial shipping accident” had occurred while in transit to the launch site.
The Cygnus cargo modules, built by Northrup Grumman are typically filled with supplies, scientific experiments & food for astronauts aboard the ISS
Scheduled for liftoff from Kennedy Space Center in June to the ISS with supplies, the space agency advised that due to damages, Cygnus-22 is “too damaged to fly” until further notice.
NASA is left juggling to figure out the logistics of sending supplies to the ISS. It has started by announcing it would adjust the cargo manifest for the next Dragon mission to the station, SpX-32, replacing some science investigations with crew supplies and station hardware in the event NG-22 was delayed The Dragon SpX-32 is scheduled for liftoff from KSC next month on April 21st.
“The big challenge for us is when our flights start to shift around,” Dana Weigel, NASA ISS program manager, said at a March 7 briefing. She noted NG-22 was previously scheduled to launch in February but delayed by an avionics issue that neither NASA nor Northrop Grumman had widely publicized.
“If we’re going to have another shift of our cargo missions, I’ve got to adjust and accommodate more food,” she said of the decision to replace research payloads with consumables on SpX-32. That cargo Dragon mission is scheduled to launch no earlier than April 21.
With limited options available, Dream Chaser is a possibility, but it has yet to make its maiden flight, & the Vulcan just certified this week, is not on SLC-41. In addition, Erik Daehler VP of defense, satellites and spacecraft systems at Sierra Space said “We’re looking towards the end of summer right now” for the inaugural launch.
Boeing’s Starliner also comes to mind, however NASA has yet to determine if Starliner can be certified for humans or should it be used to test in an unmanned capacity.
Meanwhile Cygnus-21 currently berthed at the ISS is set for departure March 28 and will burnup in the atmosphere on reentry.

Article: Graham Smith Image: WRS Stock -Michael Howard

03/21/2025

SpaceX successfully launched NROL 57 from VSFB and landed the booster on LZ-4. This image is a 3 image stack of launch, separation, part of boostback burn, re-entry burn and landing burn. The landing is had to see because it pretty much lands where it launched, only about 1400' west. As seen from Avila Beach, Ca. Flight 4 for B1088 and only a 9 day turnaround from last launch taking SPHEREx & PUNCH to orbit.