Author: Ken Kremer

Watch for Ken’s continuing onsite coverage of NASA, SpaceX, ULA, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and more space and mission reports direct from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida and Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Stay tuned here for Ken's continuing Earth and Planetary science and human spaceflight news. Dr. Kremer is a research scientist and journalist based in the KSC area, active in outreach and interviewed regularly on TV and radio about space topics. Ken’s photos are for sale and he is available for lectures and outreach events.

SpaceX Falcon 9 Goes Vertical For Static Fire Test ahead of Crew-1 Launch Nov. 14: Photos

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket integrated with Crew Dragon Resilience and were rolled out and stand vertical atop Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida on Nov. 10, 2020 for launch targeted for Nov. 14 to the ISS on Crew-1 mission with 4 astronauts. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL –   The SpaceX Falcon

Hurricane Eta Threatens Central Florida and Atlas V Launch Nov. 12 after LOX Valve Scrub: Photos

  For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, FL –  Erratic Hurricane Eta is once again threatening central Florida and the rescheduled Atlas V launch of the top secret NROL-101 spysat currently targeting Nov. 12 following Thursday’s scrub due to a ground system LOX valve issue. Further weather delays are entirely possible – and another factor is the

NASA’s Crew 1 Astronauts Arrive Florida Spaceport as SpaceX Crew Dragon Resilience Joins Falcon 9 Rocket

For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL –   NASA‘s Crew 1 astronauts arrived at Florida’s Spaceport Sunday afternoon, Nov. 8, for their six month mission launching to the International Space Station (ISS) from American soil late this week on Nov. 14 as the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft was successfully integrated with the Falcon 9 rocket that will carry the

NASA Targets Crew 1 Launch for Nov. 14 and SpaceX Crew Dragon Arrives KSC Pad 39A

For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL –   NASA is targeting Nov. 14 for launch of the next crew of astronauts from American soil to the International Space Station (ISS) as the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft arrived at Kennedy Space Center’s historic Launch Complex-39A from its processing facility at nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station for integration with the

SpaceX Launches 4th Next Gen GPS III Navigation Satellite: Photos

For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, FL – SpaceX successfully launched the newest next generation  GPS III series navigation satellite on a newly manufactured Falcon 9 rocket for the U.S. military and the Space Force to orbit Thursday evening from Florida’s Space Coast – with enhanced speed and antijamming capabilities . The successful launch furthermore fortifies the

ULA Delays Atlas V Launch of NRO Spysat To Resolve Technical Issues After Rollout: Photos

For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, FL –  United Launch Alliance (ULA) called off their planned Election Day launch of a clandestine surveillance satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) to resolve technical issues impacting and potentially damaging the payload’s environmental control system umbilicals that likely arose from powerfully high winds buffeting the rocket and launch pad

OSIRIS-REx Stows and Seals Asteroid Bennu Sample Inside Earth Return Capsule

For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM CAPE CANAVERAL, FL – NASA’s daring OSIRIS-REx spacecraft has successfully stowed and sealed the overflowing huge sample estimated at perhaps a kilogram (1 pound) or more of asteroid Bennu inside the probes Sample Return Capsule (SRC) for the return trip to Earth. “On Wednesday, Oct. 28, the mission team sent commands to the spacecraft, instructing it

NASA’s SOFIA Observatory Discovers Water Molecules on Sunlit Surface of Moon Aiding Artemis

For SpaceUpClose.com & RocketSTEM CAPE CANAVERAL, FL – Scientists utilizing NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) airborne telescope observatory have made the first ever unambiguous discovery of water molecules on the sunlit surface of Earth’s Moon – centered at Clavius crater  in the Moon’s southern hemisphere.  These results could potentially aid  NASA’s Project Artemis plans for human lunar landings. This