February 2015 – Page 8 – Spaceflight Now

New challenges await SpaceX’s next rocket landing attempt

February 7, 2015 Stephen Clark

A rocket recovery team positioned off Florida’s East Coast is standing by for liftoff Sunday of a Falcon 9 launcher with a space weather satellite, but the demanding trajectory of the flight adds more unknowns to the company’s dicey endeavor to land the booster on a ship at sea.

Storied space weather observatory finally ready for launch

February 7, 2015 Stephen Clark

The world’s most distant weather outpost is set for liftoff from Cape Canaveral on Sunday aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, launching to a point a million miles from Earth to warn forecasters of solar storms that could disrupt global air traffic, satellite navigation and power grids.

Live coverage: Falcon 9 soars into space with DSCOVR

February 7, 2015 Stephen Clark

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket blasted off Wednesday carrying NOAA’s Deep Space Climate Observatory, the world’s most distant weather satellite heading for a point a million miles from Earth. Launch from Cape Canaveral occurred at 6:03 p.m. EST (2303 GMT).

Video: Falcon/DSCOVR prelaunch news conference

February 7, 2015 Justin Ray

Officials from SpaceX, NOAA, NASA and the U.S. Air Force hold the prelaunch news conference for Falcon 9 rocket launch of the Deep Space Climate Observatory.

Photos: DSCOVR buttoned up for Falcon 9 launch

February 7, 2015 Stephen Clark

Engineers worked inside a climate-controlled clean room for two months to ready NOAA’s new space weather observatory for launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

Falcon 9 launch timeline with DSCOVR

February 7, 2015 Stephen Clark

Follow the key events of the Falcon 9 rocket’s ascent into space from Cape Canaveral with NOAA’s Deep Space Climate Observatory.

Japanese craft to get second chance after missing Venus in 2010

February 7, 2015 Stephen Clark

Five years after a balky valve kept it from entering orbit around Venus, Japan’s Akatsuki space probe is again approaching the sweltering planet for another shot at completing its science mission in December, officials said Friday.

Delta 4 on pad for next GPS launch

February 7, 2015 Justin Ray

The Delta 4 rocket to launch the next Global Positioning System satellite to sustain the orbiting navigation network has been rolled out to the launch pad.

Galileo satellite deployment campaign to resume

February 6, 2015 Stephen Clark

Two Galileo navigation satellites arrived at the Guiana Space Center in South America on Thursday after a trans-Atlantic flight from Paris, as European officials plan the resumption of Galileo launches after a rocket mishap deposited two spacecraft in the wrong orbit last year.

Near-ideal weather expected for Sunday’s Falcon 9 launch

February 6, 2015 Stephen Clark

Forecasters predict mostly clear skies, light winds and comfortable temperatures for Sunday’s launch of a Falcon 9 rocket with a NOAA satellite designed to warn of solar storms that could disrupt navigation and communication technology on Earth.