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THE LATEST UPDATES IN THE SPACE COMMUNITY
There have been a staggering 221 space launches in 2023! This marks a new record for the number of orbital launches in a single year, surpassing the previous record of 181 set in 2022.
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The year 2023 has been a truly remarkable year for space exploration, with a significant emphasis on satellite launches for internet constellations, scientific research, and Earth observation. There have also been several notable human spaceflight missions, including the return of crewed flights to the Moon with Artemis I.
It's exciting to see the space industry thriving and pushing the boundaries of what's possible!
ARTEMIS 2 MISSION
Mission Facts:
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Launch date: Sept 2025
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Mission duration: 10 days
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Total distance traveled: 1.3M miles
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Re-entry speed: 24,500 mph
Four astronauts will venture around the Moon on Artemis II, the first crewed mission on NASA's path to establishing a long-term presence at the Moon for science and exploration through Artemis.
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​While Artemis II won’t land on the moon, it will make a near pass above the surface and demonstrate the Orion spacecraft’s ability to transport people safely.
SpaceX's Starship test flight is coming soon
SpaceX’s next Starship test flight is coming soon, CEO Elon Musk confirmed recently.
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The previous four test flights have shown repeated progress, with each Starship launch showing more positives than the previous. The 400-foot-tall rocket will eventually make life interplanetary; at least, that is the goal of SpaceX. Based on the success of IFT-4, it seems the quick turnaround to launch ITF-5 means SpaceX is ready to realize further progress on its Starship launches, Space.com says.
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After IFT-4, SpaceX had fewer things to analyze and resolve, and the Federal Aviation Adminsitration (FAA) did not need any further investigations as it did with other post-flight reports. SpaceX aims to bring the giant booster back for a pinpoint landing on the Starbase launch mount with IFT-5, another amazing piece of progress if it can manage to pull it off.
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