Free Republic

On Wednesday, SpaceX’s test satellites won’t be the only thing aboard the rocket. The primary mission is to deliver a satellite, called PAZ, for the Spanish government. According to European firm Airbus, which was the primary contractor for PAZ, the satellite will serve “many different applications,” including defense and security.

SpaceX has delayed the launch of its next Falcon 9 rocket to no earlier than Wednesday (Feb. 21) to allow final checks of the rocket's upgraded nose cone. The Falcon 9 rocket was scheduled to launch early Sunday (Feb. 18) from a pad at California's Vandenberg Air Force Base to send SpaceX's first Starlink broadband satellites and the Paz radar-imaging satellite for Spain into orbit. The mission had already been delayed 24 hours to allow extra checks. On Saturday, SpaceX representatives announced that more time was needed for final checks of the Falcon 9 rocket's upgraded payload fairing, the clamshell-like...

Frontier Airlines Airbus 318 carrying 114 passengers and crew landed safely after being diverted shortly after takeoff from John Wayne Airport because a light indicated a cargo door was unlatched, officials said. Flight 263, bound for Denver, took off from John Wayne Airport at 11:11 a.m. and the pilot reported that the cargo door indicator light had come on, said FAA spokesman Mike Fergus. The plane was directed to burn off its excess fuel and return to John Wayne Airport. Emergency equipment and personnel from the Orange County Fire Authority were positioned at the John Wayne runway in case of...