On the evening of May 16, thunderstorms were rolling through Central Florida. Space enthusiasts in the area, including ourselves, nervously awaited for the skies to clear as a particularly special celestial event loomed overhead. The event in question was a total lunar eclipse! The last one that was visible from the Lake Nona area was all the way back in 2019. This was before … [Read more...]
To Nona & Beyond: The Orion Nebula
Some might assume that in order to see a nebula, you need a telescope. For the most part, these dim, deep sky objects are a challenge to see even through a telescope in the darkest of skies. However, one nebula is an outlier to this notion. The Orion Nebula is the crown jewel of all nebulae in the Northern Hemisphere when it comes to luminosity. It is one of the very few … [Read more...]
To Nona & Beyond: Transporter-3 Mission
Up until recently, there had been very few RTLS (Return To Launch Site) SpaceX missions. This is where a Falcon 9 first stage boosts back toward the coast after separating from the second stage and then lands at Cape Canaveral. The first month of 2022 brought an end to this RTLS drought! In January, there were two such missions: Transporter-3 on Jan. 13 and CSG-2 on Jan. 31. In … [Read more...]
To Nona & Beyond: Türksat 5B Launch From Lake Nona
On Dec. 18 at 10:58 p.m., SpaceX’s Türksat 5B mission took to the skies. On board the Falcon 9 rocket was a 4,500-kg. (~9,900-lb.) communication satellite manufactured by Airbus Defense & Space. The satellite’s purpose is to provide telecommunication and broadcasting services to various countries in Afro-Eurasia. The mission was ultimately a success. The first stage, … [Read more...]
To Nona & Beyond: The National Air and Space Museum
This month, we ventured beyond Central Florida and traveled to Washington, D.C., for the National Air and Space Museum. We had the opportunity to explore the galleries while learning more about early human aviation flight and its progression to spaceflight. Perfect for all ages, the museum’s mission is to “Commemorate, Educate, Inspire,” and it delivers! We recommend a visit … [Read more...]