If the SpaceX launch 2024 wowed you, these products will too

The SpaceX launch of a Falcon 9 rocket happened today, January 30, 2024, carrying a Cygnus freighter spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS).

The Cygnus is the latest robotic freighter from Northrop Grumman. It is designed to resupply the ISS and retrieve trash and refuse. It’s powered with two solar panels and can carry 8,200 pounds of cargo.

The Cygnus spacecraft is slated to be captured by the ISS’ robotic arm on Thursday, February 1st, allowing for its resources to be brought on board.

When is the SpaceX launch?

The SpaceX launch took place on Tuesday, January 30 around 12:07 pm ET.

What is the significance of the space launch today?

The ISS provides an important theater for science and astronomy. Research conducted on the station explores human health in space, the effects of microgravity, materials science in space, and more.

Bound for the ISS, the freighter’s load includes nearly 2,500 pounds of crew supplies, as well as over 3,000 pounds of scientific experiments, spacewalk equipment, vehicle resources, and other technology. This scientific tech includes 3-D printing and robotic surgery experiments.

The Falcon 9 rocket from SpaceX is a reusable two-stage rocket. The rocket type has had a total of 293 launches.

Celebrate the SpaceX launch with gifts for space lovers

Whether you’re looking for something to focus the interest of a space-obsessed kid, or you’re after a gadget to follow along with the launch, here are our favorite space gadgets and astronomy gifts. Shop space gifts for adults and kids alike.

Celestron AstroMaster 114EQ Newtonian Telescope

One of the best telescopes for beginner astronomers, the Celestron AstroMaster 114EQ Newtonian Telescope provides a 114-millimeter objective lens that offers a clear view of close celestial objects. With a tripod included, this Newtonian telescope is an excellent way to get started.

Estes Tandem-X Launch Set

Teach your kids about rocketry with this classic, well-rated rocket launch set. The model kit features a simple-to-construct Amazon rocket, as well as a more complex Crossfire ISX rocket. These can reach heights of 600 feet and 1,150 feet, respectively, then come parachuting back to Earth for more launches. Before you launch, you’ll need to purchase an Estes engine such as the B4-2 separately.

Celestron SkyMaster Pro 15x70 Binocular

This powerful set of binoculars for astronomy is more mobile than a telescope. With huge 70-millimeter objective lenses and BaK-4 prisms, they magnify at up to 15X for an excellent view of the sky in low light. They’re also waterproof and tripod compatible, meaning they’re mobile enough to travel with you.

LEGO Ideas International Space Station

What better way for a space enthusiast to celebrate the ISS than to build a LEGO copy of it? The LEGO Ideas International Space Station is a complex LEGO model of the space station that comes with its own stand for display. From the LEGO Ideas series, this set is more complicated than some models, making it a great set for adults or for children under adult supervision.

Rossetta Star Projector

We love this star projector from Rossetta. It has 16 colors, multiple modes, a diverse set of brightness levels, and even includes white noise settings. It’s a great pick for a space-themed bedroom for a youngster; give them a view of the night sky.

Astronaut Foods Freeze-dried Ice Cream Sandwich

Snack like an astronaut with these freeze-dried ice cream sandwiches from Astronaut Foods! A stellar pick for an interstellar themed birthday party, and a way to show a kid what it’s like to eat like you’re living on the ISS, these real ice cream sandwiches are freeze-dried to be shelf stable in zero-gravity, or the comfort of your kitchen.

Solar System Poster for Kids

No space-themed bedroom is complete without a map of the solar system. This poster shows the location and size of all the planets in the solar system, as well as providing facts about each planet.

A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays

This primer into astrophysics is known for breaking down complex ideas from astronomy and physics into digestible concepts. Read about red shifts, the origin of the universe, and the interactions between space and time from the late Stephen Hawking. No less of an excellent read now than when it was published in the 1980s, this is a book that will open your eyes to the night sky in novel ways.

Red Mars (Mars Trilogy)

Red Mars is a sci-fi classic and Nebula Award winner that takes readers on a wild ride through the colonization of Mars. Chock full of ideas on terraforming, colonization, and late stage capitalism, this book is a hard sci-fi tour de force. While this book is certainly fiction, Kim Stanley Robinson’s love for science is unmissable.

No Man's Sky

Want to dive into space exploration fantasies through a video game? Starfield might have been the talk of the internet this fall, but don’t forget about No Man’s Sky.

No Man’s Sky is a space exploration game that feels as vast as the piping hot surface of Venus. While it’s not entirely scientific, this Teen-rated video game provides a great adventure that will fill your imagination with aliens and unknown planets.

No Man’s Sky is also available for Playstation 5, as well as via Xbox Game Pass for Xbox or PC.