Welcome to 321 Launch, our wrap-up of the biggest space news you might have missed over the last week. Here's what's happening:<\/p>\n
The Monday night SpaceX launch of the Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, as seen from along the Indian River in Rockledge.(Photo: TIM SHORTT \/ FLORIDA TODAY)<\/p>\n
SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket and commercial communications satellite from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Monday, a fiery kickoff to a week that will include yet another high-profile mission before the weekend.<\/p>\n
Up next: Boeing and United Launch Alliance, which will launch an uncrewed Starliner capsule on an Atlas V rocket from Launch Complex 41 at 6:36 a.m. Friday. The mission, labeled Orbital Flight Test, will demonstrate the capsule's capabilities to carry astronauts to the International Space Station as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program.<\/p>\n
Read about both here.<\/p>\n
Spacecraft are high-tech wonders of engineering. But one technology that aerospace experts have had a hard time mastering is one that has been around for centuries: Parachutes.<\/p>\n
Most spacecraft employ parachutes to slow the vehicle as it returns to the ground. But making sure that the chutes deploy properly is a task that still gives engineers fits.<\/p>\n
Learn more about the problems with parachutes here.<\/p>\n
A team of students from the University of Minnesota is heading back up north $25,000 richer after a visit to the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Center.<\/p>\n
The team earned the money by launching a rocket to more than 500 feet using some unusual rocket fuel: Alka-Seltzer tablets and water.<\/p>\n
Read about the Alka-Rocket challenge here.<\/p>\n
Contact McCarthy at jmccarthy@floridatoday.com<\/a> or 321-752-5018.<\/p>\n Read or Share this story: https:\/\/www.floridatoday.com\/story\/tech\/science\/space\/2019\/12\/16\/321-launch-space-news-you-may-have-missed-over-past-week\/2667084001\/<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n More: Welcome to 321 Launch, our wrap-up of the biggest space news you might have missed over the last week. Here's what's happening: The Monday night SpaceX launch of the Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, as seen from along the Indian River in Rockledge.(Photo: TIM SHORTT \/ FLORIDA TODAY) SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket and commercial communications satellite from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Monday, a fiery kickoff to a week that will include yet another high-profile mission before the weekend. Up next: Boeing and United Launch Alliance, which will launch an uncrewed Starliner capsule on an Atlas V rocket from Launch Complex 41 at 6:36 a.m. Continue reading
\n321 Launch: Space news you may have missed over the past week - Florida Today<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"