Litecoin Falls 10% In Bearish Trade By Investing.com – Investing.com

Posted on by

Investing.com - Litecoin was trading at $80.546 by 14:06 (18:06 GMT) on the Investing.com Index on Saturday, down 10.22% on the day. It was the largest one-day percentage loss since April 12.

The move downwards pushed Litecoin's market cap down to $6.085B, or 0.25% of the total cryptocurrency market cap. At its highest, Litecoin's market cap was $25.609B.

Litecoin had traded in a range of $80.523 to $86.522 in the previous twenty-four hours.

Over the past seven days, Litecoin has seen a drop in value, as it lost 18.24%. The volume of Litecoin traded in the twenty-four hours to time of writing was $1.040B or 0.81% of the total volume of all cryptocurrencies. It has traded in a range of $80.4295 to $105.8900 in the past 7 days.

At its current price, Litecoin is still down 80.82% from its all-time high of $420.00 set on December 12, 2017.

Bitcoin was last at $66,600.4 on the Investing.com Index, down 2.27% on the day.

Ethereum was trading at $3,186.23 on the Investing.com Index, a loss of 4.24%.

Bitcoin's market cap was last at $1,314.242B or 54.83% of the total cryptocurrency market cap, while Ethereum's market cap totaled $384.332B or 16.04% of the total cryptocurrency market value.

Read more:

Litecoin Falls 10% In Bearish Trade By Investing.com - Investing.com

Why Litecoin (LTC) Is on the Verge of a Major Pullback – BeInCrypto

Posted on by

Litecoins (LTC) price is stuck in a bearish pattern that could halt its ongoing rally and push the altcoin downward.

To make this worse, LTC is currently witnessing no support from its investors, which could extend the losses.

Litecoins price has been in an uptrend for the past two weeks. However, this Silver to Bitcoins Gold path could change soon. Even LTC holders do not seem very bullish at the moment.

The reason behind this is the lack of incentive among investors. As noted on the Network Realized Profit/Loss metric, LTC holders have observed the largest single-day losses since June 2023.

These losses in the last 24 hours are considered a preliminary signal of potential selling. Since investors want to offset their losses, they will likely opt to sell their assets, resulting in a decline in the price.

This sentiment is further substantiated by the downtick in the Mean Coin Age of Litecoin tokens. This metric measures the average age of all circulating coins within a network. It helps gauge the level of hodling or circulating activity among investors.

Instances of uptick align with holding on to supply, while downtick suggests an increase in circulation of supply among investors. Thus, without the support of investors, Litecoins price could witness a correction.

Read More: 7 Best Litecoin (LTC) Wallets for 2024

Litecoins price is currently moving within a rising wedge. This pattern is a bearish formation characterized by converging trendlines slanting upwards, indicating a weakening bullish trend. It typically suggests an impending price reversal with potential downward movement.

Based on the target predicted by the pattern, Litcoin could observe a 30.77% correction over the coming days, bringing its price down to $69. The consistent volume decline further supports the bearish thesis, as Litecoins price is already falling through the pattern.

However, LTC is bound to witness support at $93, which marks the 61.8% Fibonacci Retracement. Bouncing off this support floor, marked at $93, would allow the altcoin to reclaim $100 and potentially invalidate the bearish outlook.

Disclaimer

In line with the Trust Project guidelines, this price analysis article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. BeInCrypto is committed to accurate, unbiased reporting, but market conditions are subject to change without notice. Always conduct your own research and consult with a professional before making any financial decisions. Please note that ourTerms and Conditions,Privacy Policy, andDisclaimershave been updated.

View post:

Why Litecoin (LTC) Is on the Verge of a Major Pullback - BeInCrypto

LITECOIN PRICE ANALYSIS & PREDICTION (April 12) LTC Finds Support But Yet To Regain Strength Due To Low … – NullTX

Posted on by

Litecoin showed sign of strength yesterday but the price seems to be down today following 2% drops overnight. However, it has found support daily but the volume is not strong enough activate a buy.

Starting this month on a weak note due to the recent bearish sentiment in the market, Litecoin witnessed a notable reduction and later found support above $93. Following a slight increase, it encountered resistance again and rolled back to the mentioned price level.

On Wednesday, the price bounced again and closed with a bullish pin bar, leading to yesterdays notable increase. Unfortunately, the bulls are yet to reiterate actions today as the price remains calm on the daily chart.

Technically, the asset has undergone re-accumulation phase and its now looking set to continue its swing high with the recent bullish candle formation. But as it stands now, trading volume level is low from the bulls sides to activate a buy.

While that support level continued to hold as monthly lows, we can expect LTC to resume its bullish pattern: higher highs and higher lows movement, as seen in the daily price chart. If that happens, it may create a new resistance at around $130.

Losing this monthly low on the other hand could result into a more drag downs before increasing. Regardless of the above, the trend remains bullish on a mid-term perspective.

Having found a solid support level, we can expect a buy to $105.7 and $109.8. Increasing above the $113 and $115 resistance levels could trigger a breakout of structure from a mid-term perspective.

In the opposite direction, the $88 level is the next support to watch if the price dips below the holding $93.1 support. Far below this level lies $81.

Key Resistance Levels: $105.7, $109.8, $115

Key Support Levels: $93.1, $88, $81

Disclosure: This is not trading or investment advice. Always do your research before buying any cryptocurrency or investing in any services.

Follow us on Twitter@nulltxnewsto stay updated with the latest Crypto, NFT, AI, Cybersecurity, Distributed Computing, andMetaverse news!

Image Source: pitinan/123RF// Image Effects byColorcinch

Read the original post:

LITECOIN PRICE ANALYSIS & PREDICTION (April 12) LTC Finds Support But Yet To Regain Strength Due To Low ... - NullTX

Top Altcoin To Buy: Analysts Forcast $10 For BlockDAG By 2025 Amid Litecoin Price Surge Leaving Injective Crypto … – Blockchain Magazine

Posted on by

April 12, 2024 by Carolyna Mavis

225

While Litecoin and Injective (INJ) continue to make waves with predictions of reaching new price heights, BlockDAG has swiftly moved into the spotlight, boasting a remarkable 350% increase from its initial presale price. With a $16.3 Million presale and an ambitious forecast of hitting $10 by 2025, BlockDAG isnt just keeping pace but setting the

While Litecoin and Injective (INJ) continue to make waves with predictions of reaching new price heights, BlockDAG has swiftly moved into the spotlight, boasting a remarkable 350% increase from its initial presale price. With a $16.3 Million presale and an ambitious forecast of hitting $10 by 2025, BlockDAG isnt just keeping pace but setting the bar high. BlockDAGs unique approach and impressive presale success make it the best altcoin to buy in 2024, promising substantial 30,000x ROI potential.

Litecoin has made significant gains recently, reaching an eight-month peak of $112.70 on April 1. This surge is attributed to investors positioning themselves ahead of the forthcoming Bitcoin halving. On-chain data indicates that Litecoin miners are accumulating their block rewards rather than selling them, which is a bullish signal.

So far in April, miners have accumulated 20,000 LTC, bringing their total reserves to 1.78 Million LTC. This accumulation suggests confidence in future price appreciation and reduces short-term market supply, potentially leading to upward price pressure. The current uptrend signals a $120 target for Litecoin, based on miners continued accumulation. Initial resistance is at $114, with $95 as potential support in a market downturn.

Injective (INJ) tokens are in a consolidation phase, with traders watching closely for a potential move towards $40. Recent data shows steady growth in daily active addresses and network expansion, suggesting increased user engagement and a possible accumulation phase. On-chain metrics reveal that many addresses acquired INJ between $23 and $31.50, with a significant portion currently in profit.

INJs price faces resistance at key moving averages, with the Relative Strength Index (RSI) signalling potentially oversold conditions, while the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicates the bearish sentiment. The possibility of reaching $40 depends on a shift in market momentum, with technical indicators suggesting a potential reversal. However, if bearish pressure persists, INJ may revisit support around $30.

BlockDAG stands apart in the cryptocurrency presale market, promising an impressive 30,000X ROI potential after its technical whitepaper release. Unlike traditional blockchains, BlockDAG adopts a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG) structure, enhancing security, scalability, and decentralisation.

Its high transaction throughput, near real-time processing, and low fees position it as a superior platform for decentralised application development. Additionally, its compatibility with Ethereums virtual machine aids developers in smoothly utilising BlockDAGs advanced features.

The presale of BDAG tokens has already garnered significant attention, with early investors enjoying a 50% increase with each batch progression. Having surpassed $16.3 Million in presale and $2.1 million in miner sales, BlockDAG is quickly becoming the go-to investment for those seeking exponential returns. The platforms commitment to solving blockchain limitations while fostering a decentralised ecosystem of applications underscores its potential to redefine the crypto landscape.

BlockDAG has set a new benchmark in crypto, outshining trends set by Litecoin and INJ crypto with its $16.3 Million presale success and the anticipation of a 30,000x ROI. As Litecoin and INJ await movements, BlockDAGs 350% surge in presale price highlights its potential as a groundbreaking investment. Positioned as the top altcoin for 2024, BlockDAG offers significant returns and introduces innovative blockchain technology, making it an attractive opportunity for investors seeking the next big thing in crypto.

Join BlockDAG Presale Now:

More here:

Top Altcoin To Buy: Analysts Forcast $10 For BlockDAG By 2025 Amid Litecoin Price Surge Leaving Injective Crypto ... - Blockchain Magazine

Litecoin Falls 10.26% In Rout By Investing.com – Investing.com UK

Posted on by

Investing.com - Litecoin was trading at $87.484 by 18:30 (17:30 GMT) on the Investing.com Index on Friday, down 10.26% on the day. It was the largest one-day percentage loss since April 12.

The move downwards pushed Litecoin's market cap down to $7.013B, or 0.28% of the total cryptocurrency market cap. At its highest, Litecoin's market cap was $25.609B.

Litecoin had traded in a range of $86.478 to $99.523 in the previous twenty-four hours.

Over the past seven days, Litecoin has seen a drop in value, as it lost 3%. The volume of Litecoin traded in the twenty-four hours to time of writing was $625.074M or 0.79% of the total volume of all cryptocurrencies. It has traded in a range of $86.4779 to $105.8900 in the past 7 days.

At its current price, Litecoin is still down 79.17% from its all-time high of $420.00 set on December 12, 2017.

Bitcoin was last at $67,584.2 on the Investing.com Index, down 3.47% on the day.

Ethereum was trading at $3,312.13 on the Investing.com Index, a loss of 5.51%.

Bitcoin's market cap was last at $1,350.500B or 53.13% of the total cryptocurrency market cap, while Ethereum's market cap totaled $409.700B or 16.12% of the total cryptocurrency market value.

The rest is here:

Litecoin Falls 10.26% In Rout By Investing.com - Investing.com UK

Streams Of Litecoin & Cardano Crypto Investors Chase Top Presale Scorpion Casino Before April 15th Launch – Analytics Insight

Posted on by

Use Bonus Code: Launch20 to get an additional 20% $SCORP

The cryptocurrency market is experiencing a shift in investor focus. Litecoin (LTC) and Cardano (ADA) continue to hold value, but their dominance is waning. A new generation of projects is captivating Crypto Investors seeking the next frontier in Play-to-Earn opportunities.

Historically, pre-launch momentum has proven to be a strong indicator of a projects post-launch success. Capitalizing on this investor sentiment just before launch can be a crucial strategy for maximizing returns.

Scorpion Casino (SCORP) has proven to be a pivotal character in this movement, a project set for a significant launch on April 15. This surge in interest is underscored by Scorpion Casinos record-breaking top presale, which has garnered considerable traction and is nearing its conclusion on April 14.

Undoubtedly, the Scorpion Casino presale has already been a resounding success, surpassing a staggering $10 million and attracting over 22,000 participants. Massive participation in the presale reflects the projects value proposition and investors confidence in its potential.

Dont miss out on this exciting opportunity secure your spot before the presale closes on April 14th at midnight UTC. Participating is easy! Simply head over to the presale website.

Use Bonus Code: Launch20 to get an additional 20% $SCORP

Launched in 2011, Litecoin (LTC) is among the oldest and most reputable cryptocurrencies. Often referred to as the silver to Bitcoins gold, Litecoin was created by Charlie Lee, a former Google engineer, to address some of Bitcoins shortcomings. Litecoin boasts faster transaction speeds and lower fees than Bitcoin, making it a more suitable option for everyday payments.

However, Litecoin faces challenges in the evolving crypto landscape. While it offers security and stability, it lacks the innovative features and utility that attract investors to newer projects. Litecoin doesnt currently offer any Play-to-Earn functionalities or integrate with decentralized applications (dApps) a rapidly growing sector within the crypto space.

Established in 2017 by Charles Hoskinson, an Ethereum (ETH) co-founder, Cardano (ADA) is a smart contract platform aiming to be more secure and scalable than previous blockchain iterations. Cardano utilizes a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, which is considered more energy-efficient than the proof-of-work model used by Bitcoin and Litecoin.

Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson recently addressed criticisms regarding the networks slow development compared to competitors. He emphasized the projects focus on long-term sustainability and highlighted upcoming upgrades designed to bolster the blockchain system, such as smart contract functionality.

All projects mentioned here have strong investment propositions, yet Scorpion Casino offers a unique combination a fully functional online casino platform, a revolutionary passive income and strong community backing. Its record-breaking presale and strategic launch plan position it as a strong contender in the Play-to-Earn arena. With its imminent launch and the potential for a significant price surge, Scorpion Casino is worth considering for Crypto Investors seeking a project with long-term potential and a focus on user experience.

Presale: https://presale.scorpion.casino/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ScorpionCasino

Telegram: https://t.me/scorpioncasino_official

Join our WhatsApp and Telegram Community to Get Regular Top Tech Updates

Read more from the original source:

Streams Of Litecoin & Cardano Crypto Investors Chase Top Presale Scorpion Casino Before April 15th Launch - Analytics Insight

Scorpion Casino Takes the Best Crypto to Buy Title Amidst Positive Litecoin and Toncoin Forecasts – Analytics Insight

Posted on by

Use Bonus Code: Launch20 to get an additional 20% $SCORP

As the market recovers, Toncoin (TON) and Litecoin (LTC) show potential, yet their gradual upturn has investors exploring new options. In this landscape, experts pinpoint Scorpion Casino (SCORP) as a top choice for the bullish market.

This GameFi project, captivating the presale market with its impressive growth prospects and return potential, has quickly become a favoured investment. With Scorpion Casinos presale concluding on April 14th and its launch on exchanges imminent, the urgency to invest is palpable, making Scorpion Casino one of the best cryptos to buy.

Scorpion Casino (SCORP) has emerged as a standout in the presale market, quickly becoming recognized as the best crypto to buy among discerning investors. With a remarkable fundraising achievement of over $10 million from 20,000+ participants joining, the enthusiasm is peaking. This momentum is set to culminate as the presale draws to a close on April 14th.

The projects appeal is bolstered by its expansive GameFi ecosystem, offering over 210 casino games, 160 live games, and a secure, transparent platform. This vast array of gaming options has contributed significantly to its appeal, setting it apart in the crowded crypto space.

Scorpion Casinos innovative approach to rewarding token holders with daily earnings based on casino performance introduces a novel investment angle. This feature solidifies its status as a prime investment opportunity, attracting a surge of investor interest as the presale concludes.

Toncoin (TON) has recently seen significant market activity, marked by a notable surge that captured investor attention. This uptick aligns with Telegrams introduction of a revenue-sharing program, leveraging Toncoin for channel owner earnings. The excitement around Telegrams IPO speculation further propelled a sharp increase, showcasing Toncoins volatility and appeal.

Despite these highs, Toncoin also experienced dips, testing investor resilience. However, the launch of The Open League, a community rewards program valued at $115 million, rejuvenated interest. This series of surges and dips underscores the dynamic nature of Toncoins market presence, highlighting its potential for future growth.

Use Bonus Code: Launch20 to get an additional 20% $SCORP

According to influential analysts, Litecoin (LTC), a longstanding player in the crypto arena, is on the brink of a significant rally. Litecoins recent price movement is just the tip of the iceberg highlighting the anticipation of a major price leap. Similarly, MOKI Tradings identification of a bullish pennant breakout suggests a 20-25% price increase if Litecoin maintains its momentum above the $98 retest price. This optimism reflects Litecoins potential for substantial growth, making it a contender for investors seeking lucrative opportunities.

Despite optimistic Toncoin forecasts (TON) and a promising Litecoin price (LTC) outlook, investors are gravitating towards Scorpion Casino (SCORP) as the best crypto to buy. With a unique model offering daily returns from a vast GameFi ecosystem, Scorpion Casinos appeal is clear. The imminent listing on prestigious exchanges further solidifies its status, making it a favored choice among cryptocurrencies for both seasoned and new investors.

To learn more and invest in the Scorpion Casino presale, visit:

Presale: https://presale.scorpion.casino/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ScorpionCasino

Telegram: https://t.me/scorpioncasino_official

Join our WhatsApp and Telegram Community to Get Regular Top Tech Updates

Read the original:

Scorpion Casino Takes the Best Crypto to Buy Title Amidst Positive Litecoin and Toncoin Forecasts - Analytics Insight

Trending Cryptos to Buy This Month: Litecoin, Scorpion Casino, and Cardano Can Help You Make Money with Crypto – Analytics Insight

Posted on by

The cryptocurrency market offers a vast array of options for investors. Every month, certain coins trend and experience increased interest.

This article highlights three trending cryptos Litecoin, Scorpion Casino ($SCORP), and Cardano that are currently generating a buzz. It delves into the reasons behind their popularity and explores whether they present genuine buying opportunities or are simply passing trends.

Litecoin boasts several key features. Firstly, it utilizes a different hashing algorithm compared to Bitcoin. This translates to faster block generation times (2.5 minutes compared to Bitcoins 10 minutes), enabling quicker and more efficient transaction processing.

Litecoins price performance in 2023 has mirrored the broader cryptocurrency market trends. After reaching an all-time high of around $400 in May 2021, the price dipped throughout 2022 and early 2023. However, a recent upswing has seen Litecoin climb back above $100 as of April 2024.

Scorpion Casino transcends the boundaries of a typical online platform, poised to revolutionize the future of digital entertainment. Through a strategic partnership with Tenset, the visionary incubator of the metaverse giant Metahero, Scorpion Casino hints at a groundbreaking integration within the metaverse. This collaboration unlocks unprecedented potential, promising an online gaming experience far exceeding the present.

The foundation of Scorpion Casinos strategy rests upon its coveted listings on major cryptocurrency exchanges (CEXs).

This substantial pool assures investors of ample resources to facilitate seamless trading on popular platforms like PancakeSwap, XT.com, Bitmart, and Lbank.

Additionally, a well-funded liquidity pool plays a critical role in maintaining price stability for $SCORP, the native token of Scorpion Casino. By minimizing the risk of manipulation, the liquidity pool fosters a healthy marketplace for buying and selling $SCORP.

Scorpion Casino prioritizes not only entertainment but also long-term sustainability. The project implements a meticulously designed buy-back, burn, and reward distribution system. This system directly benefits token holders by strategically reducing the overall supply of $SCORP, thereby increasing its intrinsic value.

Simultaneously, the system incentivizes users to hold onto their tokens by rewarding them for their continued participation within the Scorpion Casino ecosystem. In essence, the more you hold, the greater the rewards you reap.

Launched in 2017, Cardano prides itself on being the first blockchain platform built on peer-reviewed research and developed through evidence-based methods. This focus on a scientific approach aims to deliver a highly secure, scalable, and sustainable foundation for decentralized applications (dApps).

Another interesting feature of Cardano is its Ouroboros proof-of-stake consensus mechanism. Unlike Bitcoins energy-intensive proof-of-work mechanism, Ouroboros is designed to be significantly more energy-efficient. This focus on sustainability is a major selling point for Cardano, particularly as environmental concerns surrounding cryptocurrency mining continue to grow.

Looking at price performance, ADA has experienced significant volatility since its launch. After reaching an all-time high of over $3 in September 2021, the tokens price has fallen considerably. However, the successful implementation of smart contracts and the ongoing development of the Cardano ecosystem could lead to increased adoption and a subsequent rise in the price of ADA.

Forget the fear of missing out, embrace the power of slaying it! The red-hot Scorpion Casino presale (April 10th-14th) lets you dominate the game with $SCORP tokens at a steal just $0.049 each before the launch price skyrockets to $0.05! This is your exclusive chance to join an elite club. Only 50 million $SCORP are available, with the rest getting burned after launch, guaranteeing exclusivity.

But wait, the dominance doesnt stop there! To ensure smooth post-launch trading, a whopping 51% of raised funds will be locked in liquidity for a solid 5 years! Dont forget to use code Launch20 for an extra 20% bonus on your investment. This presale is your golden ticket to the Play-to-Earn revolution join the movement before the doors slam shut on April 14th!

This substantial liquidity pool not only facilitates smooth trading but also helps maintain price stability, minimizing manipulation and creating a healthy market for $SCORP.

With these strong foundations in place, Scorpion Casino presents an attractive opportunity for investors seeking a high-potential crypto project with a focus on transparency, longevity, and a robust gaming experience.

Presale: https://presale.scorpion.casino/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ScorpionCasino

Telegram: https://t.me/scorpioncasino_official

Join our WhatsApp and Telegram Community to Get Regular Top Tech Updates

Read more:

Trending Cryptos to Buy This Month: Litecoin, Scorpion Casino, and Cardano Can Help You Make Money with Crypto - Analytics Insight

SpaceX’s giant Starship will be 500 feet tall for Mars missions, Elon Musk says (video) – Space.com

Posted on by

SpaceX's Starship, the largest rocket in the world, will get even bigger as the company continues to target Mars missions in the future.

Elon Musk, the billionaire founder of SpaceX, told employees on April 4 that Starship will eventually be as tall as 500 feet (150 meters), roughly 20% higher than the massive system aboard the Super Heavy rocket right now.

What's more, advances in reusability will have each launch cost roughly $3 million each, Musk predicted; that's less than a third of what a (much smaller) Falcon 1 rocket launch cost in 2004 when inflation is taken into account. (The figure two decades ago was $5.9 million, according to NBC, which is roughly $9.5 million in 2024 dollars.)

"These are sort of unthinkable numbers," Musk said in the Starship update, released publicly April 6, roughly one month after the third and last test flight to date. "Nobody ever thought that this was possible, but we're not breaking any physics to achieve this. So this is within the bounds, without breaking physics. We can do this."

Related: SpaceX fires up huge Super Heavy booster ahead of 4th Starship test flight (photos, video)

Musk tends to deliver Starship updates at least once a year to highlight progress the company is making toward its long-term plans of settling Mars. Indeed, the last year has seen three Starship launches, so there has been progress made recently. Musk didn't, however, address delays in launching Starship that have contributed to pushing back the launch date for the first moon landing under the NASA-led Artemis program.

SpaceX was named the vendor for the Artemis 3 landing mission that, until recently, was set for 2025. In January, NASA elected to hold the launch date another year, to 2026, due to a range of technical issues. Aside from Starship not being ready the agency wants many successful launches before approving it for astronaut flights Artemis 3 was also delayed due to slow progress on spacesuits and problems with the mission's Orion spacecraft, among other factors.

Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more!

However, Musk's words about Artemis, to employees, focused on Starship's future capabilities: orbiting the Earth and refilling its tanks, both of which have yet to be proven on its three test flights.

"This will ... be very important for the Artemis program for the NASA to get back to the moon," Musk said of those capabilities. He also envisions a "Moon Base Alpha" that would include ships "specialized for going to and from the moon", meaning there would be no heat shield or flaps due to the lack of atmosphere.

Related: NASA celebrates SpaceX Starship's 3rd test flight, but more work needed ahead of Artemis moon missions

Musk's 45-minute speech touched on the usual themes for his Red Planet updates, focusing on how to send a lot of cargo out there for eventual settlers. He noted that would take thousands of launches to do; for perspective, Musk said the company has completed 327 successful Falcon series launches and about 80 percent of those had reused boosters (a key factor in reducing cost.)

SpaceX is by far the most active launching entity on Earth, and Musk forecasts the company will send roughly 90 percent of orbital mass aloft this year compared to China's 6 percent (the second-largest entity.)

Starship's next and fourth spaceflight attempt, expected to take place in May, aims to have the first stage of Super Heavy land "on essentially a virtual tower" in the Gulf of Mexico, Musk said. Once the company safely gets that done, they will consider using the launching area at Starbase, in south Texas, for future landings as soon as Flight 5. (Musk pegged the chances of success on Flight 4 at 80% or 90%.)

Musk also wants to perform two splashdowns of the upper stage of Starship in a row, in a controlled fashion, before sending it to Starbase on a future flight. "We do not want to rain debris over Mexico or the U.S.," he said. "My guess is probably next year when we will be able to reuse Starship."

Overall, Musk plans for multiple Starship launches to take place this year, and suggests SpaceX will build an additional six spacecraft by the end of 2024. A new rocket factory for the company should be available in 2025, which would make production even faster.

Future versions of Starship will include a "Starship 2" to send 100 tons of payload to low-Earth orbit and the 500-foot "Starship 3" for 200 or more tons. Bigger vehicles, Musk stressed, will mean fewer (four or five) refueling missions in low Earth orbit to get a Starship ready for the journey to Mars someday.

Of these milestones, Musk said it would be "very much a success-oriented schedule." His speech did not mention the Federal Aviation Administration, which must approve each one of the launches, nor ongoing criticism of the environmental impact of Starship on the ecologically sensitive area near Starbase.

That impact may continue to grow, as Musk said it would take roughly 10 launches a day to send hundreds of vehicles to Mars every two years (when the planet is closest) to make a long-term settlement feasible. As for the number of Mars-bound people, that would be roughly a million folks, he said that matches predictions he made at least as far back as 2017. Musk also says he wants to get the settlement going "in 20 years." He said the same thing in 2011.

Original post:

SpaceX's giant Starship will be 500 feet tall for Mars missions, Elon Musk says (video) - Space.com

SpaceX launches Falcon 9 booster on record-breaking 20th flight Spaceflight Now – Spaceflight Now

Posted on by

SpaceX Falcon 9 first stage booster, B1062, lifts off from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on the Starlink 6-49 mission. This marked the first time a booster launch and landed for a 20th time. Image: Adam Bernstein

Update 10:13 p.m. EDT: SpaceX successfully launched and landed its booster, B1062, for a 20th time.

SpaceX shattered multiple records Friday night as it launched 23 satellites for the companys Starlink internet service from Cape Canaveral. A Falcon 9 rocket lifted offf from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 9:40 p.m. EDT (0140 UTC).

It was the first time a Falcon 9 first-stage booster flew for a 20th time and it came just two days, 20 hours since another Falcon 9 rocket took off from Cape Canaverals pad 40. That smashes the previous record for the shortest time between launches by 21 hours 24 minutes.

Meteorologists with the 45th Weather Squadron predicted near-prefect conditions for launch. They forecast a less than five-percent chance of a weather rule violation during the four-hour launch window, with liftoff winds being the only concern.

This particular Falcon 9 rocket has the tail number 1062 in the SpaceX flight and entered service in November 2020 carrying a GPS satellite for the U.S. Space Force. It has flown astronauts into space twice on the Inspiration 4 and Axiom 1 commercial missions. It has also flown 12 previous Starlink delivery missions.

The Falcon 9 soared to the south-east, targeting an orbit inclined at 43 degrees to the equator. After separating from the second stage about two and a half minutes into flight, the first stage booster headed downrange for a landing on the drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas, which was stationed in the Atlantic, east of the Bahamas.

Attaining a new milestone of 20 launches with a single booster in [less than] four years represents a formidable accomplishment. However, ensuring this feat was achieved safely and reliably has posed a monumental challenge, said Jon Edwards, SpaceXs vice president of Falcon launch vehicles, in a social media post. This achievement not only speaks to the remarkable capabilities of the Falcon 9 but also highlights the extraordinary competence and constant vigilance of the Falcon team. Bravo!

Two burns of the rockets second stage will put the 23 second-generation Starlink satellites into orbit, with deployment occurring about one hour, five minutes after launch.

SpaceX reported it has 2.3 million subscribers in more than 70 countries for its Starlink internet service. Since 2019 the company has launched 6,189 satellites according to statistics compiled by Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, who maintains a space flight database. Of those satellites 5,787 remain in orbit and 5,5721 appear to be working normally, according to McDowells latest update on April 10, 2024.

See the original post:

SpaceX launches Falcon 9 booster on record-breaking 20th flight Spaceflight Now - Spaceflight Now

SpaceX to launch Maxar WorldView Legion 1 & 2 mission for leading resolution and accuracy SatNews – SatNews

Posted on by

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the WorldView Legion 1 & 2 mission on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at 6:30PM (UTC). WorldView Legion is a constellation of Earth observation satellites built and operated by Maxar. Constellation is planned to consist of 6 satellites in both polar and mid-inclination orbits, providing 30 cm-class resolution.

These are the first two of six planned WorldView Legion satellites, which will enhance Maxar Intelligences constellation by delivering industry-leading resolution and accuracy. When all six WorldView Legion satellites are launched, it will triple Maxar Intelligences capacity to collect 30 cm-class and multispectral imagery. The full Maxar constellation of 10 electro-optical satellites will image the most rapidly changing areas on Earth as frequently as every 20 to 30 minutes, from sunup to sundown.

WorldView Legion will extend the quality and capability of our industry-leading constellation, redefining Earth observation constellation performance and providing customers with unprecedented access to timely, actionable insights that help drive mission success, said Dan Smoot, Maxar Intelligence CEO.

These Maxar Space Systems-built satellites are the first Maxar 500 series buses to complete production at the companys satellite manufacturing locations in Palo Alto and San Jose, California. The Maxar 500 series bus is a mid-size platform that can be tailored for multiple missions and orbits. As part of the WorldView Legion program, Maxar invested to create a bus with better stability, agility and pointing accuracy; future Maxar 500 customers can benefit from this technology for their missions.

WorldView Legion and the Maxar 500 series platform is the culmination of decades of experience in building satellites for customer missions, said Chris Johnson, Maxar Space Systems CEO. We are excited to reach this important program milestone and look forward to continued partnership on the program.

The launch of the first two WorldView Legion satellites will be broadcast on spacex.com and on x.com/spacex.

Space Launch Complex 4E has witnessed the launch of 141 rockets, including 141 orbital launch attempts, while Vandenberg SFB, California, has been the site for 752 rocket launches. The launch cost is $52 Million.

Continued here:

SpaceX to launch Maxar WorldView Legion 1 & 2 mission for leading resolution and accuracy SatNews - SatNews

SpaceX launches Starlink satellites on record 20th reflight of a Falcon 9 rocket first stage – Space.com

Posted on by

SpaceX has broken its rocket-reuse record yet again.

A Falcon 9 rocket launched 23 of SpaceX's Starlink internet satellites to orbit from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Friday (April 12) at 9:40 p.m. EDT (0140 GMT on April 13).

It was the 20th liftoff for this particular Falcon 9 first stage, according to a SpaceX mission description, setting a new reusability mark for the company.The mission lifted off on the 43rd anniversary of NASA's first launch of its reusable spacecraft, the space shuttle, which first flew this day in 1981.

Related: Starlink satellite train: How to see and track it in the night sky

To plan, the Falcon 9's first stage came back to Earth for the 20th time, landing about 8.5 minutes after it launched on the drone ship A Shortfall of Gravitas, which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean off the Florida coast.

The Falcon 9's upper stage, meanwhile, continued hauling the 23 Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit (LEO). The spacecraft were set to be deployed there about 65.5 minutes after liftoff.

SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk wants to help humanity colonize Mars and achieve a variety of other ambitious exploration feats. Rocket reusability is a key part of this vision, helping to cut the cost of spaceflight and increase its cadence.

Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more!

So SpaceX's reuse records don't tend to last long. The previous mark 19 flights for a Falcon 9 booster was first set in December 2023 and then repeated in February and March 2024.

SpaceX has now launched 38 orbital missions so far in 2024. Most of them have been dedicated to building out its Starlink broadband megaconstellation, which currently consists of nearly 5,650 operational satellites.

More:

SpaceX launches Starlink satellites on record 20th reflight of a Falcon 9 rocket first stage - Space.com

SpaceX launches U.S. military weather monitoring satellite – SpaceNews

Posted on by

COLORADO SPRINGS A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on April 11 launched a U.S. Space Force weather monitoring satellite. The vehicle lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, at 7:25 a.m. Pacific.

The USSF-62 mission flew to orbit the U.S. militarys first Weather System Follow-on Microwave (WSF-M) satellite.

Made by Ball Aerospace a company recently acquired by BAE Systems WSF-M has a microwave imager instrument to collect weather data including the measurement of ocean surface wind speed and direction, ice thickness, snow depth, soil moisture and local space weather.

The spacecraft will operate in a low polar orbit. The Space Force has ordered a second WSF-M satellite, projected to be delivered by 2028. These satellites are part of a broader effort to modernize the militarys space-based environmental monitoring assets.

Data used for military planning

The data gathered by WSF-M will be provided to meteorologists in support of the generation of a wide variety of weather products necessary to conduct mission planning and operations globally every day, the U.S. Space Force said.

Just under eight minutes after liftoff and payload separation, the Falcon 9s first stage flew back to Earth and landed at Vandenbergs Landing Zone 4.

USSF-62 is the 37th launch performed by SpaceX so far in 2024 and its second national security space launch mission of the year. In February SpaceX launched the USSF-124 mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, deploying six U.S. missile defense satellites for the Space Development Agency and the Missile Defense Agency.

Sandra Erwin writes about military space programs, policy, technology and the industry that supports this sector. She has covered the military, the Pentagon, Congress and the defense industry for nearly two decades as editor of NDIAs National Defense... More by Sandra Erwin

Read the original here:

SpaceX launches U.S. military weather monitoring satellite - SpaceNews

SpaceX’s most-flown reusable rocket will go for its 20th launch tonight – Ars Technica

Posted on by

Enlarge / File photo of a Falcon 9 rocket rolling out of its hangar at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.

For the first time, SpaceX will launch one of its reusable Falcon 9 boosters for a 20th time Friday night on a flight to deliver 23 more Starlink Internet satellites to orbit.

This milestone mission is scheduled to lift off at 9:22 pm EDT Friday (01:22 UTC Saturday) from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. Forecasters from the US Space Force predict "excellent" weather for the primetime launch.

Falcon 9 will blaze a familiar trail into space, following the same profile as dozens of past Starlink missions.

The rocket's first-stage booster will shut off its nine kerosene-fueled Merlin engines about two-and-a-half minutes into the flight, reaching a top speed of more than 5,000 mph (8,000 km per hour). The first stage will detach from the Falcon 9's upper stage, which will continue firing into orbit. The 15-story-tall Falcon 9 booster, meanwhile, will follow an arcing trajectory before braking for a vertical landing on a drone ship floating in the Atlantic Ocean near the Bahamas.

The 23 flat-packed Starlink spacecraft will deploy from the upper stage a little more than an hour after liftoff, bringing the total number of Starlinks in low-Earth orbit to more than 5,800 spacecraft.

Pretty much every day, SpaceX is either launching a rocket or rolling one out of the hangar to the launch pad. At this pace, SpaceX isredefining what is routine in the space industry, but the rapid-fire launch rate also means the company is continually breaking records, mostly its own.

Friday night's launch will break another one of those records. This first-stage booster, designated by the tail number B1062, has flown 19 times since its first flight in November 2020. The booster will now be the first in SpaceX's inventory to go for a 20th flight, breaking a tie with three other rockets as the company's fleet leader.

When SpaceX debuted the latest version of its Falcon 9 rocket, the Falcon 9 Block 5, officials said the reusable first stage could fly 10 times with minimal refurbishment and perhaps additional flights with a more extensive overhaul. Now, SpaceX is certifying Falcon 9 boosters for 40 flights.

This particular rocket has not undergone any extended maintenance or long-term grounding. It has flown an average of once every two months since debuting three-and-a-half years ago. So the 20-flight milestone SpaceX will achieve Friday night means this rocket has doubled its original design life and, at the same time, has reached the halfway point of its extended service life.

In its career, this booster has launched eight people and 530 spacecraft, mostly Starlinks. The rocket's first two flights launched GPS navigation satellites for the US military, then it launched two commercial human spaceflight missions with Dragon crew capsules. These were the all-private Inspiration4 mission and Axiom Mission 1, the first fully commercial crew flight to the International Space Station.

Remarkably, this will be the sixth Falcon 9 launch in less than eight days, more flights than SpaceX's main US rival, United Launch Alliance, has launched in 17 months.

It will be the 38th Falcon 9 launch of the year and the 111th flight of a Falcon 9 or Falcon Heavy rocketthe 114th launch by SpaceX overallin the last 365 days. More than a third of SpaceX's Falcon 9 or Falcon Heavy missions, a number that will stand at 332 after Friday night's flight, have launched in the past year.

This month, for the first time, SpaceX demonstrated it could launch two Falcon 9 rockets in less than five days from the company's launch pad at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. SpaceX has also cut the turnaround time between Falcon 9 rockets at Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The company's most-used launch pad, SLC-40, can handle two Falcon 9 flights in less than four days.

It's not just launch pad turnaround. SpaceX uses its drone shipstwo based in Florida and one in Californiafor most Falcon 9 landings. In order to meet the appetite for Falcon 9 launches, SpaceX is getting rockets back to port and re-deploying drone ships back to sea at a faster rate.

Continue reading here:

SpaceX's most-flown reusable rocket will go for its 20th launch tonight - Ars Technica

SpaceX to have 2 launches on Wednesday of Starlink smallsats and Maxar WorldView Legion 1 & 2 SatNews – SatNews

Posted on by

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Starlink 6-51 mission on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at 9:24PM (UTC). LC-39AKennedy Space Center Florida, A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation SpaceXs project for space-based Internet communication system.

SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 is a two-stage rocket designed and manufactured by SpaceX for the reliable and safe transport of satellites and the Dragon spacecraft into orbit. The Block 5 variant is the fifth major interval aimed at improving upon the ability for rapid reusability.

SpaceX to launch Maxar WorldView Legion 1 & 2 mission for leading resolution and accuracy

Also scheduled for launch on Wednesday a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the WorldView Legion 1 & 2 mission on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at 6:30PM (UTC). WorldView Legion is a constellation of Earth observation satellites built and operated by Maxar. Constellation is planned to consist of 6 satellites in both polar and mid-inclination orbits, providing 30 cm-class resolution.

Space Launch Complex 4E has witnessed the launch of 141 rockets, including 141 orbital launch attempts, while Vandenberg SFB, California, has been the site for 752 rocket launches. The launch cost is $52 Million.

The rest is here:

SpaceX to have 2 launches on Wednesday of Starlink smallsats and Maxar WorldView Legion 1 & 2 SatNews - SatNews

This Week in Launch: A lonely SpaceX week – Space Explored

Posted on by

Image: Jared Locke / Space Explored

This week were only seeing three launches, all of which are from SpaceX and two of those are for Starlink missions out of Florida. About what we expect from a company doing the majority of Earths launch capability.

Join our Discord Server: Join the community with forums and chatrooms about space!

Continuing their three week streak of launching three or more Falcon 9s a week, SpaceX once again has three rockets scheduled to launch this week. For what Ive seen, they are the only company currently attempting any launches in the next seven days.

A rare quiet week from China it is I guess.

The first mission will be a commercial flight for DigitalGlobe with two of its next generation Worldview Legion spacecrafts. Because of the light weight of these two spacecraft, the booster will be return to LZ-4 after launching.

Following this mission well be back to the status quo of Starlink flights from Florida. The most annoying part of all of this is that SpaceX is seemingly skipping over Starlink Group 6-50. Every manifest Ive looked at shows them launching 6-51 and -52 this weekend continuing on with -53.

Its not uncommon for Starlink missions to fly out of order, but this is the first Ive noticed them skipping a number entirely. What does this mean? Nothing, maybe, probably nothing.

Anyways, these three missions will bring SpaceX up to 42 total launches for 2024 and will continue to push that launch rate in the right direction to meet its 148 launch goal.

While I was traveling a few weeks ago, Elon Musk gave an update on SpaceXs goal to make life multi-planetary with its Starship rocket down at Starbase. While there wasnt a whole lot new, there were some things worth mentioning.

In case you were wondering, the state of SpaceXs martian colony goal is strong with Musk restating how important it is that humanity has a backup. Hes hoping in the next 20 years SpaceX will be able to launch regular missions to the Red Planet, hoping eventually make it self sustaining and independent from Earth.

To do this, SpaceX will need to get Starship operational and upgrade it. A Starship 2 version is already well talked about and construction of those ships is underway. Starship 2 will see slight extensions in its propellent tanks and various other improvements SpaceX has learned launching its first generation Starship rockets.

Starship 3 is where things will get crazy, drastically expanding the length of its tanks to be more than 500 feet tall. However, Musk states that more increases could come to Starship 3 depending on how Starship 2 does.

So if youre looking at Starship and thinking how can this get any bigger? Well, it can, and it probably will.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Link:

This Week in Launch: A lonely SpaceX week - Space Explored

SpaceX launches advanced weather satellite for US Space Force (video) – Space.com

Posted on by

SpaceX launched its second national security mission of the year Thursday (April 11).

A Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base at 10:25 a.m. EDT (7:25 a.m. local California time; 1425 GMT), on a mission for the U.S. Space Force called USSF-62.

USSF-62 will send the Weather System Follow-on Microwave (WSF-M) satellite to low Earth orbit. WSF-M is a next-generation spacecraft that "will provide critical and actionable weather intelligence to military operations in all warfighting domains," according to BAE Systems, which developed and built the satellite.

Related:SpaceX: Facts about Elon Musk's private spaceflight company

WSF-M's primary instrument is a microwave imager, which will measure sea surface winds, the strength of tropical cyclones and gather other environmental data. Also flying on the satellite is a space weather sensor provided by the U.S. government, according to BAE Systems.

"Were absolutely thrilled be out here on the Central Coast, with a superb team primed and ready to launch the USSF-62 satellite," Col. Jim Horne, senior materiel leader for Space Systems Command's Launch Execution Delta, said in an emailed statement. "With each national security launch, we add to Americas capabilities and improve its deterrence in the face of growing threats."

The Falcon 9's first stage returned to Earth safely, touching down at Vandenberg's Landing Zone 4 just under eight minutes after liftoff. It was the third launch and landing for this particular booster, according to a SpaceX mission description.

Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more!

The rocket's payload fairing the "nose cone" that protects satellites during launch is also a spaceflight veteran, marking a first for a national security launch, Horne said in his statement.

USSF-62 is SpaceX's 37th launch of 2024 and its second of the year for the Space Force. A Falcon 9 launched the six-satellite USSF-124 mission from Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Feb. 14.

Read this article:

SpaceX launches advanced weather satellite for US Space Force (video) - Space.com

SpaceX launches Space Force weather satellite designed to take over for a program with roots to the 1960s … – Spaceflight Now

Posted on by

The Weather System Follow-on Microwave (WSF-M) space vehicle was successfully encapsulated April 8, 2024, ahead of its scheduled launch as the U.S. Space Force (USSF)-62 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., marking a major milestone on its upcoming launch into low Earth orbit. Image: SpaceX

SpaceX launched a military weather satellite designed to replace aging satellites from a program dating back to the 1960s. The United States Space Force-62 (USSF-62) mission featured the launch of the first Weather System Follow-on Microwave (WSF-M) spacecraft.

Liftoff of the Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base happened at 7:25 a.m. PDT (10:25 a.m. EDT (1425 UTC), which was the opening of a 10-minute launch window.

The booster supporting this National Security Space Launch (NSSL) mission, B1082 in the SpaceX fleet, made its third flight after previously launching the Starlink 7-9 and 7-14 missions this year.

Were absolutely thrilled be out here on the Central Coast, with a superb team primed and ready to launch the USSF-62 satellite. It has an important mission ahead of it and were excited for flight-proven Falcon 9 to deliver the satellite to orbit, said Col. Jim Horne, senior materiel leader for the Space System Commands Launch Execution Delta, in a statement. And on this mission, were using a first-stage booster whose history is purely commercial.

About eight minutes after liftoff, B1082 touched down at Landing Zone 4 (LZ-4). This was the 17th land landing in California and the 295th booster landing for SpaceX.

A significant milestone for the company on the USSF-62 mission was the use of flight-proven payload fairings, which will be a first for an NSSL mission. They previously flew on the USSF-52 mission, which featured the launch of the X-37B spaceplane from NASAs Kennedy Space Center in December 2023.

With each national security launch, we add to Americas capabilities and improve its deterrence in the face of growing threats, Horne stated.

USSF-62 was one of three missions granted to SpaceX in May 2022 as part of the NSSL Phase 2 Order Year 3 award, which collectively are valued at $309.7 million. SpaceX launched USSF-124 in February 2024 and will likely launch the SDA-Tranche 1 satellites later this year.

Ball Aerospace, the manufacturer of the WSF-M, said the spacecrafts primary payload is a passive microwave radiometer, which has been demonstrated on previous spacecraft. It also boasts a 1.8 meter antenna, which combined with the primary instrument allow the spacecraft to address so-called space-based environmental monitoring (SBEM) gaps.

Its capabilities will provide valuable information for protecting the assets of the United States and its allies, primarily in ocean settings.

The WSF-M satellite is a strategic solution tailored to address three high-priority Department of Defense SBEM gaps specifically, ocean surface vector winds, tropical cyclone intensity, and energetic charged particles in low Earth orbit, said David Betz, WSF-M program manager, SSC Space Sensing, in a statement. Beyond these primary capabilities, our instruments also provide vital data on sea ice characterization, soil moisture, and snow depth.

The spacecraft is based on the Ball Configurable Platform and includes a Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Microwave Imager (GMI) sensor and an Energetic Charged Particle sensor. Ball Aerospace has been involved with other, similar spacecraft, including the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi-NPP) and the Joint Polar Satellite System-1 (JPSS-1).

According to a public FY2024 Department of Defense budget document, the WSF-M system will consist of two spacecraft. Once the first is on orbit, it will assess the level of Ocean Surface Vector Wind (OSVW) measurement uncertainty and Tropical Cyclone Intensity (TCI) latency.

The first seeds of the program were planted back in October 2012 during whats called the Materiel Solution Analysis phase. That resulted in the Department of the Air Force issuing a request for proposals from companies in January 2017.

In November 2017, the Space and Missile Systems Center (now Space Systems Command) awarded a $93.7 million firm-fixed-price contract to Ball Aerospace for the WSF-M project with an expected completion date of Nov. 15, 2019.

This is an exciting win for us, and were looking forward to expanding our work with the Air Force and continuing to support warfighters and allies around the world, said Rob Strain, the then president, Ball Aerospace, in a 2017 statement. WSF-M extends Balls legacy of providing precise measurements from space to enable more accurate weather forecasting.

Roughly a year later, Ball received a $255.4 million contract modification, which provides for the exercise of an option for development and fabrication of the [WSF-M] Space Vehicle 1. This new contract also pushed out the expected completion date to Jan. 15, 2023.

In May 2020, the U.S. Space Forces SMSC noted the completion of the WSF-M systems critical design review that April, which opened the door to the beginning of fabrication.

Over the following year, the spacecraft went through a series of tests, running both the software and hardware through its paces. The primary bus structure was completed by August 2021 and by October 2022, the spacecraft entered its integration readiness review (IRR) and test readiness review (TRR).

Before that though, in May 2022, Ball was awarded a $16.6 million cost-plus-incentive-fee contract modification, which was for the exercise of an option for integration, test and operational work of the spacecraft. That brought the cumulative face value of the contract to about $417.4 million.

Shortly before the end of that year, in November 2022, Ball received a $78.3 firm-fixed-price contract modification to develop the second WSF-M spacecraft. That work is expected to be completed by Nov. 15, 2027, which would set up a launch opportunity no earlier than January 2028.

It was finally delivered from Balls facilities in Boulder, Colorado, to Vandenberg Space Force Base for pre-launch processing in February 2024.

This delivery represents a major milestone for the WSF-M program and is a critical step towards putting the first WSF-M satellite on-orbit for the warfighter, said Col. Daniel Visosky, senior materiel leader, SSCs Space Sensing Environmental and Tactical Surveillance program office, in a statement.It represents a long-term collaboration and unity-of-effort between the Space Force and our combined teams at Ball Aerospace, support contractors and government personnel.

This first WSF-M satellite, and eventually the second, will take the place of the legacy Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellites, which have roots going back in the 1960s. The program features two primary satellites, which operate in sun-synchronous LEO polar orbits at about 450 nautical miles in altitude.

Originally known as the Defense Satellite Applications Program (DASP), the first of these legacy satellites launched in 1962 and they were classified under the purview of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) as part of the Corona Program. The DMSP was declassified in 1972 to allow data to be used by non-governmental scientists and civilians.

According to a Space Force historical accounting, a tri-agency organizational agreement was forged between the DoD, the Department of Commerce and NASA following President Bill Clintons directive for the DOC and the DoD to converge their separate polar-orbiting weather satellite programs. Funding responsibility stayed with the DoD, but by June 1998, the operational responsibility of the DMSP transferred to the Department of Commerce.

Satellite operations for the DMSP then became the responsibility of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Satellite and Product Operations (OSPO).

The program was not without issue over the years. In 2004, the DMSP-F11 satellite, launched in 1991 and retired in 1995, disintegrated and created dozens of pieces of orbital debris. In 2015, a faulty battery was blamed for a similar disintegration of DMSP-F13, which resulted in 147 pieces of debris.

That year, Congress ordered an end to the DMSP program and the yet-to-launch F20 satellite was to be scrapped.

In February 2016, the DMSP-F19 had its planned five-year mission cut short less than two years after launch. The satellite suffered a power anomaly that caused engineers to lose control of it. The spacecraft was declared lost in March.

The DMSP-F17 satellite, launched in 2006, was then relocated to the primary position vacated by F19. According to the Observing Systems Capability Analysis and Review (OSCAR), a tool developed by the World Meteorological Organization, there are three DMSP satellites still in service: F16, F17 and F18. They launched in 2003, 2006 and 2009 respectively.

The latter two have expected end-of-life dates of 2025, with F16 intended to conclude its mission in December 2023, according to the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS). However, that expiration has been extended as the WSF-M replacements are still on the way.

Its unclear if F17 and F18 can hang on until the second WSF-M spacecraft is completed and launched in 2028.

Link:

SpaceX launches Space Force weather satellite designed to take over for a program with roots to the 1960s ... - Spaceflight Now

SpaceX rocket launch today? How to watch this weekend’s launch – Florida Today

Posted on by

floridatoday.com wants to ensure the best experience for all of our readers, so we built our site to take advantage of the latest technology, making it faster and easier to use.

Unfortunately, your browser is not supported. Please download one of these browsers for the best experience on floridatoday.com

Go here to read the rest:

SpaceX rocket launch today? How to watch this weekend's launch - Florida Today