Alter-ego of Broadcast Journalist @RadioKate, reporting the latest spaceflight and exploration news. Advocate for diversity and women in STEM. ISU SSP12.
London
Joined August 2010
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SpaceKate retweeted
29/ Regarding the number of refueling flights that will be needed, Parsons says that the cryogenic propellant transfer demo at the beginning of 2027 will teach them a lot, but says the anticipated efficiencies should drive SpaceX closer to the high single digits when it comes to fueling the tanker for a lunar landing mission. This comes after yesterday's Aerospace Safety and Advisory Panel mentioned that there could be as many 22 refueling missions.
Isaacman adds that as SpaceX ramps up launch cadence towards bi-weekly down to weekly flights of Starship, that will also help the company transition to a higher mass to LEO capability, which will drive down the number of flights as well.
SpaceKate retweeted
2 days of tests and entering with Blue Moon.
2 hours of test with Starship. Mostly about characterizing docking and pushing Orion.
SpaceKate retweeted
Most of the SpaceX reel was things we're already seen... but this is new I think?
SpaceKate retweeted
Artemis III: 14 day mission that can extend to 17 days. Will test capabilities before lunar landing. Blue Moon test lander is the first launch aboard NG. SLS will be on pad w/dress rehearsal done. Lander can loiter for a month in orbit, but wants to launch crew ASAP. Blue Moon lander will allow crew to ingress.
SpaceKate retweeted
LIVE: @NASAAdmin and agency leaders are sharing the latest updates on next year's Artemis III mission and our plans to return astronauts to the surface of the Moon by 2028. xitter.cf/i/broadcasts/1RJZzBdZY…
SpaceKate retweeted
An analysis of Artemis II's heat shield shows it performed "in line with engineering predictions" with nine spots of char loss compared to 103 on Artemis I.
nasa.gov/missions/artemis/ar…
SpaceKate retweeted
BREAKING: @SpaceX & @FAAnews intend to conduct the assessments to allow 456 Starship launches & 912 landings per year at Starbase, Texas. Weekdays only.
This is 1.7 launches & 3.5 landings per day, but it's the second phase of this plan.
The first phase is only ("only") 100 launches & 200 landings per year. Weekdays & Weekends.
Again, this is very early days, assessments and evaluations have to take place - but it's the first time such a cadence has been written down officially.
📷 @colleenadastra/@NASASpaceflight
SpaceKate retweeted
Wow! That is just incredible!
Falcon Heavy boost back burn slowed to 50% during NROL-97.
@SpaceflightNow #spacex #spacecoast #rocket
SpaceKate retweeted
#CRS35 had an incredible Jellyfish this morning, probably one of the best one's I've ever seen.
SpaceKate retweeted
Starliner-1 is now NET January 14, 2027. This is an uncrewed cargo flight to the ISS. There had been some hope of launching it in December.
SpaceKate retweeted
Watch live as ESA astronaut @Soph_astro and Crew-12 return from their nearly eight-month mission aboard the International @Space_Station! Undocking is currently scheduled NET 7 October at 12:05 GMT/14:05 CEST.
📺 More information and broadcast start times ➡️ esa.int/Science_Exploration/… #εpsilon
📷 ESA/NASA – Anil Menon
SpaceKate retweeted
The Dragon commander normally “camps out” in Dragon for a few days before departure, as the new crew have taken over the @Space_Station crew quarters. It’s a sign you’re coming home soon … and it’s also the room with the best view!
Room with a view. Check out my new digs as I camp out in Dragon until our departure. With Crew-13’s arrival we have a very full house on the @Space_Station. Luke is living in my previous crew quarters, and I’ve pitched a tent in Dragon.
SpaceKate retweeted
LIVE: Four new crew members are about to lift off for the @Space_Station! NASA's @SpaceX Crew-13 mission is scheduled to launch from the Space Coast at 11:10am ET (1510 UTC). xitter.cf/i/broadcasts/1AGRnZWdN…
SpaceKate retweeted
Dragon really is going away, so NASA is making some contingency plans for human spaceflight. Is everyone ready for Starliner supremacy?
arstechnica.com/space/2026/0…
SpaceKate retweeted
Some decent news from Saxavord. Co pletion of all launch pads and i frastructure is vital if we're to be a multi launch nation and not just one-timers... whenever it happens
Major boost for the UK space sector!
SaxaVord Spaceport has welcomed plans for a £60 million public-private investment programme, including £30 million from the UK Government, to accelerate the UK's orbital launch capability.
For the full story - saxavord.com/60m-investment-…
SpaceKate retweeted
The Moon is, on average, 238,855 miles away. Our MK1-101 Endurance team just made it feel closer.
Across two weeks of simulations, our team rehearsed key mission phases, including launch and separation, lunar orbit insertion, lunar orbit operations, and landing. The training also included checkout and software-emulated use of @NASA’s Stereo Camera for Lunar Plume-Surface Studies (SCALPSS) payload system, providing the team with hands-on experience operating a key science instrument on Endurance.
Each sim builds the coordination, confidence, and readiness needed for our mission to the lunar surface.
SpaceKate retweeted
Ukraine strikes at the very heart of the Russian space program.
arstechnica.com/space/2026/0…
SpaceKate retweeted
As you've probably now seen, ESO VLT in Chile confirms detection and spectroscopy of the impact plume. It takes a while to analyse data!
