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Goddard Engineering and Technology Directorate

Flight Dynamics Facility News

  • The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Dragon spacecraft lifts off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Monday, April 21, on the company’s 32nd commercial resupply services mission for the agency to the International Space Station.

    Flight Dynamics Facility Provides Critical Support for SpaceX CRS-32 Mission Success

    The FDF Flight Operations team supported the Cargo Dragon’s launch on April 21st, monitoring the spacecraft as it executed a 24-hour rendezvous trajectory to the International Space Station (ISS)…

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  • artist concept of third-generation TDRS satellite

    NASA’s Flight Dynamics Facility Completes Critical End-of-Mission Operations for TDRS-10

    On August 13, 2024, NASA’s Flight Dynamics Facility (FDF) successfully completed a challenging end-of-mission campaign for the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite (TDRS-10), marking the…

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  • Northrop Grumman's Cygnus XL cargo craft, carrying over 11,000 pounds of new science and supplies for the Expedition 73 crew, is pictured in the grips of the International Space Station's Canadarm2 robotic arm following its capture. Both spacecraft were orbiting 257 miles above Tanzania. Cygnus XL is Northrop Grumman's expanded version of its previous Cygnus cargo craft increasing its payload capacity and pressurized cargo volume.

    NASA’s Flight Dynamics Facility Guides Critical Cargo Mission Through Complex Challenges

    NASA’s Flight Dynamics Facility (FDF) demonstrated exceptional operational excellence during the Cygnus NG-23 mission, successfully navigating multiple unexpected challenges to deliver critical…

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  • Artist depiction of the SWFO satellite in space with the Sun and Earth in view.

    NASA’s Flight Dynamics Facility Delivers Critical Support for Back-to-Back Mission Launches

    In late September 2025, NASA’s Flight Dynamics Facility (FDF) at Goddard Space Flight Center showcased its essential role in mission success by providing critical launch support for two major operations…

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  • View from the International Space Station showing a docked spacecraft with extended solar panels and the station's robotic arm against Earth's blue atmosphere and cloud-covered surface below

    NASA’s Flight Dynamics Facility Demonstrates Critical Mission Support During JAXA’s H3/HTV-X1 Launch

    NASA’s Flight Dynamics Facility (FDF) showcased its essential mission support capabilities during JAXA’s inaugural H3/HTV-X1 mission launch on October 25, 2025, successfully navigating multiple…

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  • Near Cape Canaveral Lighthouse, Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket carrying NASA’s twin ESCAPADE (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers) spacecraft launches at 3:55 p.m. EST, Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The ESCAPADE mission, built by Rocket Lab, will study how solar wind and plasma interact with Mars’ magnetosphere and how this interaction drives the planet’s atmospheric escape to prepare for future human missions on Mars.

    Flight Dynamics Facility Delivers Flawless Support for Dual Launches in Six-Hour Window

    NASA’s Flight Dynamics Facility (FDF) again demonstrated exceptional operational capability on November 13, 2025, providing flawless support for two critical missions launching within…

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  • A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket carrying the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) GOES-U (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite U) lifts off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Tuesday, June 25, 2024. The GOES-U satellite is the final satellite in the GOES-R series, which serves a critical role in providing continuous coverage of the Western Hemisphere, including monitoring tropical systems in the eastern Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

    FDF Supports GOES-U

    On June 26, 2024, the Flight Dynamics Facility (FDF) supported the successful launch of the GOES-U satellite. The FDF was on-console 24×7 for a month to provide primary Flight Dynamics and Navigation support for the spacecraft during orbit raise and on-orbit…

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  • This artist's concept depicts NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft silhouetted against Jupiter as it passes over the gas giant's icy moon Europa (bottom center). Scheduled to orbit Jupiter beginning in April 2030, the mission will be the first to specifically target Europa for detailed science investigation. Image Source: NASA/JPL-Caltech

    FDF Supports Europa Clipper Launch

    On October 14th 2024, FDF’s Flight Ops Analyst team provided on-console support for the Falcon Heavy / Europa Clipper launch. In support of this mission, the Network provided TDRS services for ~15 minutes over the…

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  • The four-person crew of the Polaris Dawn mission pictured wearing their SpaceX extravehicular activity suits. The crew consists of Pilot Scott Poteet, Mission Specialists Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon, and Commander Jared Isaacman.

    FDF Supports Polaris Dawn

    The Flight Dynamics Facility’s (FDF) Flight Ops Team supported the Polaris Dawn mission from its launch on September 10th, 2024 through its successful re-entry and splashdown five days later. Prior to launch, the Flight Ops Team not only prepared for routine…

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  • In this illustration, a Boeing CST-100 Starliner spacecraft is shown in low-Earth orbit.

    FDF Supports Boeing Starliner Launch

    On June 5th, 2024, the FDF supported the successful launch and orbit insertion of the Boeing CST-100 Starliner spacecraft carrying two NASA Astronauts, Barry Wilmore and Sunita Williams…

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  • SpaceX launched the third integrated flight test of its Super Heavy booster and Starship upper stage from the company’s Starbase orbital launch pad at 8:25 a.m. CT on March 14. This flight test is an important milestone toward providing NASA with a Starship HLS for its Artemis missions.

    FDF Supports Starship IFT-3

    On March 14th, 2024 the FDF, along with the Near Space Network (NSN), supported the SpaceX Starship Integrated Flight Test-3 (IFT-3). FDF provided TDRS pointing data to the Space Relay to ensure communications with the vehicle during the flight test…

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  • The Falcon 9 Launch of PACE on 2/8/2024.

    FDF Supports the Launch and Commissioning of PACE

    Early morning on February 8th, 2024, the PACE spacecraft launched aboard a Space-X Falcon-9 Rocket, and the Flight Dynamics Facility (FDF) was fully staffed to provide critical support. FDF was tasked with provided…

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  • In 2021, astronaut candidates visit the Flight Dynamics Facility.

    FDF Welcomes 2021 Astronaut Class

    On October 3, 2023, the 2021 Astronaut Candidate (ASCAN) Class (‘The Flies’) visited Goddard Space Flight Center and toured the many unique aspects that GSFC provides to NASA as a whole…

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