2015 – Page 25 – Spaceflight Now

OTD…Sept. 30 and STS-68

September 30, 2015 Justin Ray

#OTD in 1994…Endeavour launched on the second Space Radar Laboratory mission

Live coverage: Ariane 5 rocket soars with Sky Muster, Arsat 2

September 30, 2015 Stephen Clark

The Ariane 5 rocket’s fifth flight of the year launched at 2030 GMT (4:30 p.m. EDT) with the Sky Muster and Arsat 2 communications satellites, designed to deliver broadband Internet to far-flung Australian citizens and broadcast television and networking services to Argentina and nearby countries.

Looking for ET in the waters of Mars and Europa

September 30, 2015 William Harwood

The discovery of intermittent flows of liquid water on Mars, announced with great fanfare Monday, makes the red planet the leading candidate for the near-term discovery of extraterrestrial life in the form of fossilized microbes or even existing microorganisms, NASA’s chief scientist told lawmakers Tuesday.

Satellites for Australia and Argentina ready for Ariane 5 launch

September 29, 2015 Stephen Clark

Government enterprises in Australia and Argentina will get a boost Wednesday with the launch of an Ariane 5 rocket from French Guiana with two communications satellites.

ESA hopes to commit to 2018 Mars rover launch by December

September 29, 2015 Stephen Clark

With the flagship-class ExoMars program nearing the finish line after a decade in development, European Space Agency officials want to complete negotiations with the mission’s industrial teams before committing to a 2018 launch date for a European-built Mars rover.

Preview: Mexican communications reform counting on Atlas 5 rocket

September 29, 2015 Justin Ray

Desperately needing a successful deployment to modernize the communications infrastructure for its citizens, Mexico is counting on the Atlas 5 rocket to safely launch a new satellite Friday.

OTD…Sept. 29 and STS-26

September 29, 2015 Justin Ray

#OTD in 1988…Discovery returned Americans to space after the Challenger accident

NASA confirms intermittent water flows on Mars

September 28, 2015 William Harwood

Researchers using data from a NASA satellite orbiting Mars said Monday they have found clear evidence of intermittent flows of salty water on the red planet, the first “unambiguous” signs of liquid water on the frigid world and a possible indicator of microbe-friendly environments below the surface.

HTV supply ship sets course for re-entry

September 28, 2015 Stephen Clark

Heading for a destructive re-entry over the South Pacific with several tons of trash, Japan’s fifth HTV cargo craft departed the International Space Station on Monday after overcoming a last-minute snag in the lab’s robotics system.

India’s first astronomy satellite launched into space

September 28, 2015 Stephen Clark

An Indian astronomical observatory rocketed into orbit Monday to study black holes and neutron stars — the compact, powerful remnants of exploded stars — in a five-year mission lauded as a milestone in India’s space program.