SpaceX Innovates with Falcon 9

SpaceX’s Falcon 9, having launched nearly 500 times, isn’t exactly known for change. Yet, after a launch on June 7, which carried a radio broadcasting satellite for SiriusXM, the company did try something different. The Falcon 9’s upper stage successfully placed the SXM-10 satellite into a high-altitude transfer orbit, a typical step for satellites needing to operate in geosynchronous orbit, more than 22,000 miles (nearly 36,000 kilometers) above the equator. Generally, when a rocket releases a satellite in this high-energy orbit, the upper stage has burned most of its fuel, leaving little to guide itself back into Earth’s atmosphere for a controlled reentry. Consequently, these upper stages often drift in space for many years, contributing to the growing issue of space debris.

So, what’s the new approach? SpaceX usually brings rockets back down after deploying payloads like Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit, but the process differs for those launched from a higher geosynchronous transfer orbit. Jon Edwards, SpaceX’s vice president of Falcon and Dragon programs, noted, “Last week, SpaceX successfully completed a controlled deorbit of the SiriusXM-10 upper stage after GTO payload deployment. While we often do controlled deorbits for LEO stages, deorbiting from GTO is incredibly challenging due to the energy required to change the orbit. This achievement is notable for us.” He credited the Falcon GNC (guidance, navigation, and control) team for their expertise and highlighted SpaceX’s ongoing commitment to innovation in space exploration and safety.

New Glenn Sets a Preliminary Launch Date

It’s been five months since Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket had its mostly successful inaugural flight back in January. Initially, the company had targeted “late spring” for the rocket’s next launch. However, on Monday, CEO Dave Limp shared on social media that the next flight is now pushed back until at least August 15. Although he didn’t specify, this might be the only other New Glenn launch for the year. This mission, which will carry an undisclosed payload, has been dubbed “Never Tell Me the Odds,” in honor of the attempt to land the booster. Limp mentioned, “One of our key mission objectives will be to land and recover the booster. This will require a mix of luck and fantastic execution. We’re aiming to produce eight GS2s [second stages] this year, and the one we’re planning to use for this mission was hot-fired in April.”