Falcon 9 launches NASA TRACERS space science mission
25 Jul
Science & Technology

Falcon 9 launches NASA TRACERS space science mission

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A SpaceX Falcon 9 lifts off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on July 23 carrying NASAs TRACERS mission and several other smallsats. Credit: SpaceX VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, California – 25th July 2025 – A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched NASA's Tandem Reconnection and Cusp Electrodynamics Reconnaissance Satellites (TRACERS) mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Wednesday, July 23rd, marking a significant step forward in understanding the complex interplay between the Sun and Earth's magnetic field. The twin TRACERS spacecraft, designed to study magnetic reconnection, lifted off at 11:13 a.m. PDT (7:13 p.m. BST) from Space Launch Complex 4 East. Following a swift ascent, the Falcon 9's first-stage booster executed a flawless landing back at Landing Zone 4 at Vandenberg, producing sonic booms audible across parts of Southern California, a routine feature...
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Science & Technology

The Download: Falcon 9’s future, and Big Tech’s climate goals

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Technology tamfitronics This is today's edition ofThe Download,our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what's going on in the world of technology. What’s next for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 SpaceX’s Falcon 9 is one of the world’s safest, most productive rockets. But a rare engine malfunction on July 11 prompted the US Federal Aviation Administration to initiate an investigation and ground all Falcon 9 flights until further notice. The incident has exposed the risks of the US aerospace industry’s heavy reliance on the rocket.The Falcon 9 has an unusually clean safety record. It’s been launched more than 300 times since its maiden voyage in 2010 and has rarely failed. But while its malfunction might seem surprising, anomalies are to be expected when it comes to rocket engines. What exactly went...
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