Derek Newsome
@derekdotspace.bsky.social
Independent spaceflight reporter and photographer.
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NASA has released the available launch dates for Artemis II in February, March, and April.
There are more windows past April available (monthly effectively) but these are the primary windows.
There are more windows past April available (monthly effectively) but these are the primary windows.
January 10, 2026 at 12:21 AM
NASA has released the available launch dates for Artemis II in February, March, and April.
There are more windows past April available (monthly effectively) but these are the primary windows.
There are more windows past April available (monthly effectively) but these are the primary windows.
It was mildly concerning to drive up to Titusville and see thick black smoke coming from Kennedy Space Center.
Good news though is it is just a control burn for normal land management!
Good news though is it is just a control burn for normal land management!
January 9, 2026 at 8:50 PM
It was mildly concerning to drive up to Titusville and see thick black smoke coming from Kennedy Space Center.
Good news though is it is just a control burn for normal land management!
Good news though is it is just a control burn for normal land management!
This record is expected to only be held briefly as the first Vulcan Amazon LEO flight is expected to follow it shortly after with a whopping 25,200kg payload mass.
ULA is expecting to launch the USSF-87 mission prior to this though on February 2nd.
ULA is expecting to launch the USSF-87 mission prior to this though on February 2nd.
January 9, 2026 at 12:25 AM
This record is expected to only be held briefly as the first Vulcan Amazon LEO flight is expected to follow it shortly after with a whopping 25,200kg payload mass.
ULA is expecting to launch the USSF-87 mission prior to this though on February 2nd.
ULA is expecting to launch the USSF-87 mission prior to this though on February 2nd.
Amazon is preparing for their first flight with Arianespace in early February.
This will be the first flight of Ariane 6 with all four SRBs and will also be the heaviest commercial payload ever launched at over 18,250 kg.
This will be the first flight of Ariane 6 with all four SRBs and will also be the heaviest commercial payload ever launched at over 18,250 kg.
January 9, 2026 at 12:25 AM
Amazon is preparing for their first flight with Arianespace in early February.
This will be the first flight of Ariane 6 with all four SRBs and will also be the heaviest commercial payload ever launched at over 18,250 kg.
This will be the first flight of Ariane 6 with all four SRBs and will also be the heaviest commercial payload ever launched at over 18,250 kg.
A good look from Boeing today of the new strakes adorning the SLS Core Stage. These fins were added after Artemis I experienced unexpected airflow induced vibrations at the forward attachment point for the SRBs.
These smooth out the airflow around the point and reduce vibrations during launch.
These smooth out the airflow around the point and reduce vibrations during launch.
January 7, 2026 at 9:43 PM
A good look from Boeing today of the new strakes adorning the SLS Core Stage. These fins were added after Artemis I experienced unexpected airflow induced vibrations at the forward attachment point for the SRBs.
These smooth out the airflow around the point and reduce vibrations during launch.
These smooth out the airflow around the point and reduce vibrations during launch.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has had his private jets put into a NASA livery and is now using them to give joyrides to members of the Trump family from Kennedy Space Center.
January 6, 2026 at 3:02 AM
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has had his private jets put into a NASA livery and is now using them to give joyrides to members of the Trump family from Kennedy Space Center.
Yup! Although the schedule is pretty tight to hit the current February launch window, NASA is still well on track to fly the Artemis II mission this year. This is the first crewed flight test of SLS and Orion and will be used to evaluate both vehicles prior to operational Artemis missions.
January 1, 2026 at 6:57 PM
Yup! Although the schedule is pretty tight to hit the current February launch window, NASA is still well on track to fly the Artemis II mission this year. This is the first crewed flight test of SLS and Orion and will be used to evaluate both vehicles prior to operational Artemis missions.
My collection of obscure NASA LEGO grows...
December 31, 2025 at 6:31 PM
My collection of obscure NASA LEGO grows...
Just stumbled upon an INCREDIBLE shot of Apollo 10 blasting a hole in the clouds during its launch
December 31, 2025 at 4:51 AM
Just stumbled upon an INCREDIBLE shot of Apollo 10 blasting a hole in the clouds during its launch
BOOM 💥
FIRST EVER 10 MINUTE MILETIME LFG
1/4 mile warmup at 4mph
1 mile run at 6 mph
FIRST EVER 10 MINUTE MILETIME LFG
1/4 mile warmup at 4mph
1 mile run at 6 mph
December 23, 2025 at 5:04 AM
BOOM 💥
FIRST EVER 10 MINUTE MILETIME LFG
1/4 mile warmup at 4mph
1 mile run at 6 mph
FIRST EVER 10 MINUTE MILETIME LFG
1/4 mile warmup at 4mph
1 mile run at 6 mph
Not exactly what I would call a flawless flight…
December 23, 2025 at 1:19 AM
Not exactly what I would call a flawless flight…
The Exploration Upper Stage Structural Test Article is now well into production at the Michoud Assembly Facility ahead of a planned completion early next year.
This is the first EUS to be manufactured, and will be used for testing at the Marshall Spaceflight Center in Alabama.
This is the first EUS to be manufactured, and will be used for testing at the Marshall Spaceflight Center in Alabama.
December 18, 2025 at 8:39 PM
The Exploration Upper Stage Structural Test Article is now well into production at the Michoud Assembly Facility ahead of a planned completion early next year.
This is the first EUS to be manufactured, and will be used for testing at the Marshall Spaceflight Center in Alabama.
This is the first EUS to be manufactured, and will be used for testing at the Marshall Spaceflight Center in Alabama.
Atlas V punches through the clouds on its way to space
December 16, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Atlas V punches through the clouds on its way to space
As the holidays approach, the space coast has yet to slow down as ULA launches the LA-4 mission to orbit.
December 16, 2025 at 11:42 PM
As the holidays approach, the space coast has yet to slow down as ULA launches the LA-4 mission to orbit.
LETS FUCKING GO!!!!
Best run of my damn life today, 2:30 for 10 miles!!!!
Best run of my damn life today, 2:30 for 10 miles!!!!
December 13, 2025 at 3:13 PM
LETS FUCKING GO!!!!
Best run of my damn life today, 2:30 for 10 miles!!!!
Best run of my damn life today, 2:30 for 10 miles!!!!
I am refusing to put any serious work into this until January... but I'm starting to have ideas again and it's dangerous to leave them in my head for too long
Hopefully this one doesn't take two years lmao
Hopefully this one doesn't take two years lmao
December 11, 2025 at 7:14 AM
I am refusing to put any serious work into this until January... but I'm starting to have ideas again and it's dangerous to leave them in my head for too long
Hopefully this one doesn't take two years lmao
Hopefully this one doesn't take two years lmao
NROL-77 climbs into a cloudy December day
December 9, 2025 at 7:37 PM
NROL-77 climbs into a cloudy December day
Yeah this tracks lmao
December 3, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Yeah this tracks lmao
LEGO Announced another NASA set yesterday, with a Technic version of the SLS rocket.
The main feature of the set is a crank wheel which has the rocket fly up and seperate the SRBs and Core Stage from the Orion spacecraft.
Genuinely one of the most creative Technic sets I've seen in ages.
The main feature of the set is a crank wheel which has the rocket fly up and seperate the SRBs and Core Stage from the Orion spacecraft.
Genuinely one of the most creative Technic sets I've seen in ages.
December 2, 2025 at 5:35 PM
LEGO Announced another NASA set yesterday, with a Technic version of the SLS rocket.
The main feature of the set is a crank wheel which has the rocket fly up and seperate the SRBs and Core Stage from the Orion spacecraft.
Genuinely one of the most creative Technic sets I've seen in ages.
The main feature of the set is a crank wheel which has the rocket fly up and seperate the SRBs and Core Stage from the Orion spacecraft.
Genuinely one of the most creative Technic sets I've seen in ages.
For context, the berthing port Cygnus is currently at and the Rassvet docking port are right next to each other on station, so by temporarily holding Cygnus with Candarm-2, adequate clearance for docking was made available.
Cygnus has since been re-berthed to station
Cygnus has since been re-berthed to station
December 1, 2025 at 11:11 PM
For context, the berthing port Cygnus is currently at and the Rassvet docking port are right next to each other on station, so by temporarily holding Cygnus with Candarm-2, adequate clearance for docking was made available.
Cygnus has since been re-berthed to station
Cygnus has since been re-berthed to station
Absolutely insane photo from the ISS this week. Cygnus was temporarily released from the station and held in place by Canadarm2 to provide more clearance for the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft to dock to the ISS.
December 1, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Absolutely insane photo from the ISS this week. Cygnus was temporarily released from the station and held in place by Canadarm2 to provide more clearance for the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft to dock to the ISS.
The fourth SLS rocket and first Block 1B is coming together at Michoud!
Core Stage 4 has begun its welding and outfitting process, with the massive LH2 tank moving out of the VAC and into a production cell for inspection and bracket installation.
Core Stage 4 has begun its welding and outfitting process, with the massive LH2 tank moving out of the VAC and into a production cell for inspection and bracket installation.
December 1, 2025 at 6:57 PM
The fourth SLS rocket and first Block 1B is coming together at Michoud!
Core Stage 4 has begun its welding and outfitting process, with the massive LH2 tank moving out of the VAC and into a production cell for inspection and bracket installation.
Core Stage 4 has begun its welding and outfitting process, with the massive LH2 tank moving out of the VAC and into a production cell for inspection and bracket installation.
Yikes. Lmax of 100+db across the entirety of CCSFS and KSC and a 10PSF sonic boom over the entire CCSFS industrial area for Starship.
The overpressure risk is directly over vehicle/satellite storage and operation areas for multiple LSPs.
The overpressure risk is directly over vehicle/satellite storage and operation areas for multiple LSPs.
November 29, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Yikes. Lmax of 100+db across the entirety of CCSFS and KSC and a 10PSF sonic boom over the entire CCSFS industrial area for Starship.
The overpressure risk is directly over vehicle/satellite storage and operation areas for multiple LSPs.
The overpressure risk is directly over vehicle/satellite storage and operation areas for multiple LSPs.
Making bad decisions on a Friday
November 28, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Making bad decisions on a Friday
An absolute treat to spend this morning with my family at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City!
While it was busy at times, the crowd lit up when every balloon floated by for a wonderful holiday atmosphere!
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
While it was busy at times, the crowd lit up when every balloon floated by for a wonderful holiday atmosphere!
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
November 28, 2025 at 3:04 AM
An absolute treat to spend this morning with my family at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City!
While it was busy at times, the crowd lit up when every balloon floated by for a wonderful holiday atmosphere!
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
While it was busy at times, the crowd lit up when every balloon floated by for a wonderful holiday atmosphere!
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!