January 2015 – Page 3 – Spaceflight Now

Preview story: Launch of Delta 2 rocket with NASA probe Thursday

January 25, 2015 Justin Ray

From weather forecasting to agricultural benefits, a new NASA mission launching this week will provide unprecedented resolution, accuracy and coverage of soil moisture on a world-wide basis every three days for the next three years.

Former Atlas launch pad gets a new tenant

January 24, 2015 Stephen Clark

A decommissioned launch facility at Cape Canaveral where some of America’s first interplanetary missions left Earth will now be used as a test site for a commercial moon lander.

Europe, China issue call for joint science mission

January 24, 2015 Stephen Clark

Europe and China are planning a joint robotic space mission for launch in 2021, and officials are asking scientists to propose projects aimed at research in astronomy, exploring the solar system, or investigations in fundamental physics.

Video: CATS out of the bag

January 24, 2015 Justin Ray

The CATS payload launched to the International Space Station aboard the most recent SpaceX Dragon cargo craft was installed onto the exterior of the lab complex this week.

Photos: Atlas 5 streaks into the night

January 23, 2015 Justin Ray

A final batch of launch photos from the successful AV-052 mission of the United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket carrying the U.S. Navy’s MUOS 3 communications satellite.

Flight Readiness Review passed for next week’s Delta 2 launch

January 23, 2015 Justin Ray

The Delta 2 rocket and the SMAP spacecraft passed the Flight Readiness Review today that assessed the progress of work and granted approval to proceed with loading the storable hypergolics into the second stage.

Orbital Sciences signs contract for new Antares engines

January 22, 2015 Stephen Clark

Orbital Sciences Corp. and Energia have signed a contract worth approximately $1 billion for up to 60 Russian-made RD-181 rocket engines to power the redesigned first stage of the commercial Antares launcher.

Did two more Iridium satellites collide with space debris?

January 22, 2015 Stephen Clark

Two mystifying incidents last year involving separate Iridium communications satellites have experts wondering whether the spacecraft collided with tiny fragments of space junk.

Photos: Ride along with the Atlas during ascent

January 22, 2015 Justin Ray

Cameras mounted aboard the United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket provided remarkable views of the nighttime ascent Tuesday, from liftoff through deployment of the U.S. Navy’s MUOS No. 3 mobile communications satellite.

Photos: SMAP joins Delta 2 rocket

January 22, 2015 Justin Ray

This photo gallery shows NASA’s SMAP spacecraft arriving at the launch pad at Vandenberg Air Force Base’s Space Launch Complex 2 and being hoisted atop the United Launch Alliance Delta 2 rocket.