October 2014 – Page 7 – Spaceflight Now

H-2A rocket launch in photos

October 8, 2014 Stephen Clark

A Japanese weather satellite launched Tuesday aboard an H-2A rocket, beginning a mission to monitor tropical cyclones and storm systems over East Asia and the Western Pacific.

Station crew completes maintenance spacewalk

October 7, 2014 William Harwood

Working outside the International Space Station, NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman and European Space Agency crewmate Alexander Gerst successfully moved a failed ammonia pump module to an external stowage platform, completing a task originally planned for a repair spacewalk last December.

H-2A rocket boosts Japanese weather satellite into orbit

October 7, 2014 Stephen Clark

Japan has launched a next-generation geostationary weather satellite on the 25th flight of the country’s H-2A rocket, deploying an upgraded meteorological observatory critical to the minute-by-minute tracking of tropical cyclones and other storm systems across the Asia-Pacific.

Upgraded Japanese weather satellite set for launch

October 6, 2014 Stephen Clark

A space-based weather monitor, equipped with upgraded instruments for more detailed and timely data on tropical cyclones and thunderstorms, is scheduled for launch Tuesday on top of Japan’s 25th H-2A rocket.

H-2A rolls out to launch pad

October 6, 2014 Stephen Clark

Photos of the H-2A rocket’s rollout to the launch pad at the Tanegashima Space Center with the Himawari 8 weather satellite.

H-2A rocket diagram

October 6, 2014 Stephen Clark

The H-2A rocket, manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, features twin solid rocket boosters and two stages burning a mix of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen propellants.

H-2A rocket ground track

October 6, 2014 Stephen Clark

Check out the ground track the H-2A rocket will follow on its launch of the Himawari 8 weather satellite.

Candidate landing sites selected for ESA Mars rover

October 5, 2014 Stephen Clark

The European Space Agency has announced four candidate landing sites for the ExoMars rover, as a deadline looms to secure full funding for the mission in time for a scheduled launch to the red planet in 2018.

UrtheCast says it will be largest commercial ISS user

October 4, 2014 Stephen Clark

Officials with Canadian Earth observation company UrtheCast, which owns two cameras on the International Space Station’s Russian service module, outlined plans to install a remote sensing camera and a radar imaging payload on the outpost’s U.S.-owned Tranquility module in 2017.

Orbital weeks away from Antares first stage decision

October 3, 2014 Stephen Clark

Orbital Sciences Corp. plans to select a long-term propulsion supplier for the Antares rocket used to launch cargo to the International Space Station in the next few weeks, in time to include a potentially redesigned launcher in a bid for a follow-on NASA resupply contract.