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Derek Newsome @derekdotspace.bsky.social · 1d

As of writing ViaSat-3 FM2 is still slated for an October launch.

Derek Newsome @derekdotspace.bsky.social · 1d

The sense of scale for the rocket’s flying today is pretty hard to convey…

This is the second New Glenn first stage and is currently expected to fly in Early November following pad testing in a week or so.

📸 Blue Origin via Dave Limp

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Derek Newsome @derekdotspace.bsky.social · 3d

Seriously I don’t get to do racecar photography enough, I can’t wait for Saturday!

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Derek Newsome @derekdotspace.bsky.social · 3d

Hope yall are ready for a break from space posting this weekend

It’s Petit Le Mans time 😎

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Derek Newsome @derekdotspace.bsky.social · 4d

The 24/yr figure was actually designed around single lane operations with two lanes being brought online to reduce load and have more flexibility around launch delays (weather, technical, etc.)

Hitting that 11 day figure immediately would be tough but a 14-20 day one is achievable.

Vulcan Payload Users guide page showing the Launch to Launch processing plan for a standard Vulcan launch campaign.

Derek Newsome @derekdotspace.bsky.social · 4d

Atlas can and has done quicker turnarounds at 41 before, Vulcan is still a new system so there is a lot of room for improvement but even USSF-106 had the vehicle stacked in 8 days.

Pulling off 5 more launches this year may be tight using a single lane for 4 of them, but it isn’t impossible.

Derek Newsome @derekdotspace.bsky.social · 4d

Some important notes:

USSF-106 had a post stack inspection period as the first NSSL Vulcan that wont be present on SV09 or 87 and will run closer to the standard Vulcan integration timeline of 11 days LVOS to Launch.

KA-03 only took 8 days to stack Atlas before waiting 11 days for the payload.

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Derek Newsome @derekdotspace.bsky.social · 4d

KA-04 has already started payload stacking at the Kuiper facility and is expected in November following GPS-III SV09 on Vulcan early-mid Nov.

KV-01 is looking like December as the first vehicle out of VIF-A, with USSF-87 being in a similar timeline out of VIF-G depending on payload readiness.

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Derek Newsome @derekdotspace.bsky.social · 4d

This ultimately changed the course of ULA’s 2025 launch schedule, originally intending to fly 18 missions this year alternating between Vulcan and Atlas V.

So far ULA has flown 3 Atlas Vs and 1 Vulcan this year, with 2 more Atlas Vs scheduled and 3 more Vulcan launches currently slated.

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Derek Newsome @derekdotspace.bsky.social · 4d

A year ago today, United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan Rocket narrowly avoided disaster when one of the two GEM-63XL boosters lost its nozzle and aft dome.

While the rocket did complete the flight as planned, the investigation into the booster anomaly delayed certification for USSF missions for 6 months

Vulcan V-002 in flight during the Cert-2 mission, below the rocket is a shower of sparks and debris from when one of the two GEM-63XL boosters blew out its nozzle and aft dome.

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Derek Newsome @derekdotspace.bsky.social · 9d

Some more photos from last weeks launch of KA-3.

Was an absolutely gorgeous day at Cape Canaveral for an Atlas launch, gonna miss this rocket when it’s gone.

A side on shot of Atlas V partially pitched during the KA-3 mission.

Atlas V climbs away from the camera during the KA-3 mission.

The plume behind the Atlas V on the KA-3 mission

A “No Vehicles Beyond This Point” sign in front of the Atlas V rocket at SLC-41

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Derek Newsome @derekdotspace.bsky.social · 10d

I cannot recommend going to your local film festivals more in my life right now. Many of them have AI bans in place and it leads to many artists shining bright.

Steven Santos @stevensantos.bsky.social · 10d

“I have seen movies, short films, completely created by artificial intelligence,” Herzog said. “Story and acting and everything, they look completely dead. There are stories, but they have no soul. They are empty and soulless.”

Get their ass, Werner.

Werner Herzog gazed upon the "empty and soulless" abyss of AI-generated movies

www.avclub.com

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Derek Newsome @derekdotspace.bsky.social · 11d

Thank you! They are always a treat to photograph when the Astronauts fly them in!

Derek Newsome @derekdotspace.bsky.social · 11d

There are a lot of photographers who will be covering this mission, however there are very few who have in depth knowledge about the day to day goings in the lead up to the flight.

If you or your outlet is interested, reach out to me here via DM or via the contact form on my website: derekspace.com

derekspace.com

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Derek Newsome @derekdotspace.bsky.social · 11d

With Artemis II approaching I know a lot of news outlets are starting to look for in depth photos and knowledge of this mission.

I have a significant backlog of photos already available from the Artemis Program and will be on site covering the mission in the lead up to the launch in February.

SLS Core Stage #2 in Front of NASA's Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Three T-38 Jets fly into Kennedy Space Center ahead of the Starliner CFT Mission

The Artemis I mission lifting off from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B

A panorama of Launch Complex 39B showing the Artemis I rocket on the pad along with the large ramp up to the the pad surface used by the Crawler Transporter.

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Derek Newsome @derekdotspace.bsky.social · 12d

Expect some cool news regarding Gateway in the coming days.

Lots of progress has been made on the first two modules, the Power and Propulsion Element and the Habitat And Logistics Outpost. Still a fair ways to go to launch but its coming together quite nicely now.

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Derek Newsome @derekdotspace.bsky.social · 13d

Yeah denying they're behind schedule at this point is sticking your fingers in your ear and saying its not true...

NASA's ASAP panel as well as other audits are putting delivery of Starship HLS in the 2030 to 2032 timeline at this point, 3-5 years behind the rest of the hardware for Artemis III.

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Derek Newsome @derekdotspace.bsky.social · 14d

This feels much more like a soft cancellation than just a descope.

Sierra had previously been tapped to fly up to 6 ISS resupply missions with its Dream Chaser spacecraft, that has been reduced to 1 free flight demo mission that wont visit the ISS.

www.nasa.gov/missions/sta...

NASA, Sierra Space Modify Commercial Resupply Services Contract - NASA

In 2016, NASA awarded a Commercial Resupply Services-2 contract to Sierra Space, formerly part of Sierra Nevada Corporation, to resupply the

www.nasa.gov

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Derek Newsome @derekdotspace.bsky.social · 14d

The reporting around Artemis as of late has been... depressingly bad to be honest. It's stuck in the world of breaking up the narrative that SpaceX can do no wrong, and a *lot* of space pundits are refusing to report that they are falling behind while everything else is finding its stride.

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Derek Newsome @derekdotspace.bsky.social · 14d

The SLS/Orion side of Artemis has been firing on all cylinders for the past year or so, so Artemis II (a lunar flyby) hitting Feb isn't impossible.

The parts that isn't working is the SpaceX built lunar lander for Artemis III that is wildly behind schedule for the 2027 landing attempt

The Artemis II SLS rocket stacked in the Vehicle Assembly Building. It is surrounded by work access platforms to allow for servicing and integration of the rocket.

Orion "Integrity" prior to fairing installation in the Operations and Checkout Building at Kennedy Space Center

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Derek Newsome @derekdotspace.bsky.social · 14d

Hmm. Alt text didn’t post.

Here it is:

An Atlas V rocket lifting off from Launch Complex 41. The rocket is on top of a flame and large smoke cloud.

On the right side of the frame are the two VIFs, left is VIF-G where this rocket was stacked, right is VIF-A which will be used for Vulcan rockets.

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Derek Newsome @derekdotspace.bsky.social · 14d

Right on schedule.

ULA’s Atlas V rocket lifts off this morning carrying the Kuiper 3 mission to Low Earth Orbit

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Derek Newsome @derekdotspace.bsky.social · 15d

Just placed an order for a sandwich while parked at a launch pad.

I have a very funny life

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Derek Newsome @derekdotspace.bsky.social · 15d

I appreciate the kind words!

Although funnily enough this was very much so an off the cuff decision to go for this shot this morning 😂

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Derek Newsome @derekdotspace.bsky.social · 15d

NASA's IMAP mission lifts off on its million mile journey to study our sun's heliosphere.

A Falcon 9 rocket crossing paths with the sun. The sound from the rocket engines is visible around the sun as the rocket passes by.

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