May 2015 – Page 2 – Spaceflight Now

Photos: Ariane 5 rolled out to jungle launch pad

May 26, 2015 Stephen Clark

Technicians transferred an Ariane 5 rocket loaded with two DirecTV broadcasting satellites to a launch pad in French Guiana on Tuesday, one day before the European launcher is set for liftoff.

NASA selects instruments for Europa mission

May 26, 2015 William Harwood

Taking a major step toward an eventual robotic mission to Europa, a moon of Jupiter believed to harbor ice-locked lakes and a vast sub-surface ocean, NASA has selected nine sophisticated instruments for a solar-powered spacecraft designed to find out whether the hidden realm could support life of some sort, agency officials said Tuesday.

Video: Fourth X-37B launch highlights

May 22, 2015 Justin Ray

This is the launch highlights reel from United Launch Alliance of the Atlas 5 rocket carrying the fourth mission of the Air Force’s X-37B spaceplane.

SpaceX cargo ship returns to Earth

May 21, 2015 William Harwood

A SpaceX cargo capsule loaded with 3,100 pounds of research samples, no-longer-needed equipment and trash returned to Earth Thursday after a month-long stay at the International Space Station, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean southwest of Long Beach, Calif., after a fiery descent from orbit.

Photos: Pad cameras capture Atlas 5 launch

May 21, 2015 Justin Ray

The United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket with the Air Force’s X-37B spaceplane lifts off at 11:05 a.m. EDT from Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

Photos: Atlas 5 sets sail to orbit

May 21, 2015 Justin Ray

A collection of pad photos from the ULA Atlas 5 rocket launch of the X-37B spaceplane on its fourth mission taken by photographer Walter Scriptunas II.

Launch story: X-37B embarks on fourth voyage in orbit

May 20, 2015 Justin Ray

A robotic space shuttle with stubby wings, tail fins, its belly covered with black thermal tiles, clam-shell doors that swing open to reveal a payload bay and a solar array for ultralong-duration missions rode into orbit Wednesday on the fourth mission of the Air Force’s reusable X-37B spaceplane project.

Video: Liftoff of Atlas 5 with X-37B on program’s fourth flight

May 20, 2015 Justin Ray

A replay of the United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket launching the Air Force’s X-37B reusable spaceplane from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Live coverage: Atlas 5 rocket lifts off with X-37B spaceplane

May 19, 2015 Justin Ray

A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket topped by the Air Force’s X-37B miniature space shuttle blasted off from Cape Canaveral’s Complex 41 today to deliver the spaceplane into orbit.

Citizen-funded CubeSat ready to go solar sailing

May 19, 2015 Stephen Clark

A shoebox-sized satellite conceived and funded by members of the Planetary Society, an advocacy organization co-founded by Carl Sagan, is fastened to an Atlas 5 rocket for launch Wednesday to test one of the late celebrity-astronomer’s futuristic concepts for exploring the cosmos.