NCSpaceOps

Reporting on space and related support ops in NC. Team: Nancy, Chris & Kathy #teamspace

[NCSpaceOps @ncspaceops]

Happy birthday to NASA astronaut Zena Cardman! A two-time @UNC graduate, @zenanaut earned degrees in biology and marine sciences before joining NASA's astronaut corps in 2017. In 2025, she commanded @SpaceX Crew-11 to the @Space_Station, spending 167 days in orbit.

[NCSpaceOps @ncspaceops]

Happy 91st birthday to Charlotte #NC native, retired USAF Brig. Gen. and #Apollo16 astronaut Charles Duke! Duke became the 10th person to walk on the Moon.
HE WAS ON THE MOON! @NavalAcademy grad. @MIT alum. Apollo 11 CAPCOM. Happy birthday, BG Duke!

[NCSpaceOps @ncspaceops]

Happy birthday to Statesville-born astronaut @AstroMarshburn! Dr. Marshburn flew to space three times: STS-127, Soyuz TMA-07M with @Cmdr_Hadfield, and @SpaceX Crew-3/Expedition 66/67 — logging 337 days in orbit. A @DavidsonCollege grad + MD from @WakeForest. #NC #Space #NASA

[NCSpaceOps @ncspaceops]

Starlink launches were a mainstay of our rocket watching. Thanks to the @SpaceX team for the great sights over the Southern Outer Banks! #sobx #nc

[Kiko Dontchev @TurkeyBeaver]

This morning’s @SpaceX mission from pad 40 was the last planned Falcon 9 Starlink launch from Florida (and it launched on the fleet leading booster!!), marking the end of an era for these launches on the East Coast. From here on, Starlink missions out of Florida will fly on Starship. The West Coast team will continue regularly launching Starlink from Vandenberg.

Super proud of this incredible team. You’ve made Falcon 9 the most reliable launch vehicle in history. You also helped build the largest low-Earth orbit satellite constellation providing connectivity to millions around the world, and you’ve set the foundation for what’s next.

In the last seven years, Falcon has flown ~260 Starlink missions from the Cape… can’t wait until we launch that and many more with Starship!

[NCSpaceOps @ncspaceops]

Starlink Group 10-49 being lofted to orbit by a Falcon9 second stage over the Southern Outer Banks @SpaceX #sobx #nc #northcarolina 📸: Kathy

[NCSpaceOps @ncspaceops]

Happy birthday to #NorthCarolina-born @NASA astronaut and @USNavy CAPT Charles E. Brady Jr., born in Pinehurst, Aug 12, 1951. Brady flew aboard STS-78 in 1996; before joining NASA, served as a @BlueAngels flight surgeon. He studied pre-med at @UNC and earned his MD from @DukeU.

[NCSpaceOps @ncspaceops]

HOS ROSEBUD is making a port call in Morehead. She’s known for having assisted in the Chinese Spy Balloon recovery as well as special tasks for the USN’s Atlantic submarine fleet. 🚢⚓

[NCSpaceOps @ncspaceops]

Today we remember @NASA_Astronauts & @NavalAcademy grad Capt Michael J. Smith. Born this day, 1945, Beaufort, #NC, Smith was the pilot of the Space Shuttle Challenger when it broke up on its way to #space. #NorthCarolina #astronaut #nasa #STS51L @NASAhistory

[NCSpaceOps @ncspaceops]

In addition to Bob, @SpaceX drone ships JRTI, is about 10km offshore with tug Signet Warhorse. We’ve never seen any of the drone ships this close you Atlantic Beach/Morehead! @spaceOFFSHORE

[NCSpaceOps @ncspaceops]

Bob, @SpaceX support boat, is in the Port of Morehead — we think this is a first!
@spaceOFFSHORE

[NCSpaceOps @ncspaceops]

Bob, @SpaceX support boat, is in the Port of Morehead — we think this is a first!
@spaceOFFSHORE

[NCSpaceOps @ncspaceops]

Bob, the @spacex support vessel, is in the Port of Morehead City. This may be a first! We’ll try and get pics.

[NCSpaceOps @ncspaceops]

Bob, the @spacex support vessel, is in the Port of Morehead City. This may be a first! We’ll try and get pics.

[Firefly Aerospace @FireflySpace]

Mission success! Alpha Flight 7 achieved nominal performance and validated key systems ahead of our Block II configuration upgrade. This test flight also delivered a demonstrator payload for @LockheedMartin . Congratulations to the entire Stairway to Seven team! Read more: https://t.co/mz3wUbc8Hi

[NCSpaceOps @ncspaceops]

HBD @nasa_astronauts Col. Curt Brown! He flew six Space Shuttle missions between 1992 and 1999. Curt was born in Elizabethtown #NC and graduated from
@AF_Academy @NASAhistory @AstroScholarFdn #nasa #HappyBirthday #space #HBD

[NCSpaceOps @ncspaceops]

Happy birthday to #NC-born @NASA_Astronauts Lt Gen Susan Helms! A veteran of 5️⃣ spaceflights. Susan spent 211 days in space, 163 of them aboard @Space_Station
#USAF #NASA #astronaut #NorthCarolina #spaceexploration #womeninscience

[NCSpaceOps @ncspaceops]

A Faclon9 second stage lofts @spacex Crew-12 to orbit off the coast of North Carolina! Howdy from the #SOBX @nasa astronauts @Astro_Jessica @astro_hathaway and @esa astronaut @Soph_astro 👋

[NCSpaceOps @ncspaceops]

A @SpaceX Falcon9 second stage lofts the GPS III SV09 mission to orbit off the coast of North Carolina for @USSpaceForce #sobx #spacex #nc

[NCSpaceOps @ncspaceops]

While exploring #Copenhagen we made a side trip to see the @CopSub facilities. We love everything space! #Denmark #TeamSpace #humanspaceflight #CopenhagenSuborbitals

[NCSpaceOps @ncspaceops]

We feel seen @spaceOFFSHORE https://t.co/6l1JIGBeHd

[Julia Bergeron @julia_bergeron]

18 payloads ✅️
Boostback burn ✅️
1/3/1 landing at LZ-2 ✅️
@NASASpaceflight replay ✅️
https://t.co/A1ic6MN6hA

[NCSpaceOps @ncspaceops]

A @SpaceX Falcon 9 second stage lofts Starlink Group 10-59 to orbit off the coast of the Southern Outer Banks and through Orion’s Belt
#falcon9 #nc #northcarolina #sobx #teamspace