Year: 2019

NASA Selects 3 Companies to Build Commercial Lunar Landers Advancing Artemis Moon Landing Program

Commercial landers will carry NASA-provided science and technology payloads to the lunar surface, paving the way for NASA astronauts to land on the Moon by 2024.  Credits: NASA Ken Kremer — SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM – 31 May 2019 CAPE CANAVERAL, FL –  NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine announced today the selection of the first 3 American companies contracted to build commercial robotic

SpaceX Thrice Flown and Landed 1st Stage from Starlink Sails into Port Canaveral: Photos

UpClose with Octagrabber arms grasping upright thrice flown/landed  Falcon 9 booster 1049.3 standing upright on the OCISLY droneship from SpaceX Starlink 1 launch May 23, 2019 arrived in Port Canaveral, FL around noontime May 28. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com Ken Kremer — SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM – 29 May 2019 PORT CANAVERAL/CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, FL –  SpaceX’s thrice flown and thrice landed

Starlink Broadband Constellation Begins with 1st Blast Off on SpaceX Falcon 9: Photo/Video Gallery

9 Merlin 1D engines and 1 Gripper arm + Fire & Ice – Up Close look at SpaceX Falcon 9 Starlink 1 launch on 23 May 2019 at 1030 p.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex-40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL that successfully delivered 1st 60 Starlink broadband satellites to LEO. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com Ken Kremer — SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM – 26

NASA Chooses Maxar to Build 1st Element for Artemis Lunar Gateway

The power and propulsion element provides a communications relay capability for NASA’s Gateway, enabling it to serve as a mobile command and service module for human and robotic expeditions to the lunar surface.  Credits: NASA Ken Kremer — SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM – 24 May 2019 KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL –  NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine announced that Maxar Technologies has been chosen

1st Starlink Broadband Satellites Streak to Orbit on Twice Flown SpaceX Falcon 9: Photos

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket streaks to orbit with 1st batch of 60 SpaceX manufactured Starlink broadband satellites in this long exposure  image after liftoff at 10:30 p.m. ET on May 23, 2019 from Space Launch Complex-40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL on Starlink-1 mission.  Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com Ken Kremer — SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM – 23 May 2019 CAPE CANAVERAL

Elon Musk Details SpaceX Revolutionary and Experimental Starlink Broadband Constellation, Launch Reset to May 23

UpClose look at payload fairing housing 60 Starlink-1 satellites for launch on SpaceX Falcon 9 reset to May 23, 2019 at Space Launch Complex-40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL.  Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com Ken Kremer — SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM – 21 May 2019 CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, FL –  SpaceX’s Starlink constellation of next generation broadband satellites could revolutionize

NASA Awards Artemis Human Lunar Lander JumpStart Study Contracts to 11 Firms

Illustration of a human landing system for NASA’s Artemis lunar exploration program.. Credits: NASA Ken Kremer — SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM – 18 May 2019 CAPE CANAVERAL, FL –  NASA has awarded new contracts to jumpstart studies and develop prototypes for its newly named Project Artemis human lunar exploration program to 11 firms across eight states aimed at landing American astronauts on

SpaceX Starlink 1 Launch Reset to May 16 After Hi Altitude Winds Force Scrub: Watch Live/Pad Photos

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket raised vertical and poised for liftoff at Space Launch Complex-40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL on Starlink-1 mission targeted for launch May 16, 2019 at 10:30 p.m. EDT.  Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com Ken Kremer — SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM – 16 May 2019 CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, FL –  SpaceX’s maiden launch of the first batch