August 2015 – Page 3 – Spaceflight Now

Photos: Navy satellite joins Atlas booster rocket for launch

August 24, 2015 Justin Ray

This photo gallery shows the U.S. Navy’s fourth Mobile User Objective System communications satellite, already encapsulated in the 18-foot-diameter nose cone, being lifted atop the United Launch Alliance Atlas-Centaur rocket last week at the Vertical Integration Facility.

Japanese HTV supply carrier reaches space station

August 24, 2015 Stephen Clark

Japan’s fifth HTV cargo freighter completed a five-day flight to the International Space Station on Monday, making a glacial laser-guided approach to the complex with a 9,500-pound package of food, spare parts and experiments.

Ariane rocket’s 225th flight in pictures

August 23, 2015 Stephen Clark

The 81st flight of Europe’s Ariane 5 rocket delivered two satellites to geostationary orbit Thursday for Eutelsat and Intelsat, and these photos show the launcher taking off with nearly 3 million pounds of thrust.

Mountain-climbing Mars rover sends back low-angle selfie

August 21, 2015 Stephen Clark

NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover has recorded itself in another of its famous self-portraits as the mobile robot analyzes bore samples recently collected from a rock slab, the first use of the drill since a short circuit halted use of the device in February.

Eutelsat, Intelsat spacecraft deployed by Ariane 5

August 21, 2015 Stephen Clark

A hefty European-built satellite destined to broadcast high-definition television to the Middle East and a U.S.-made relay station programmed to serve Latin America and North Atlantic air routes soared into space Thursday aboard an Ariane 5 rocket.

Live coverage: Ariane 5 rocket launches TV broadcast satellites

August 20, 2015 Stephen Clark

Two new satellites for Eutelsat and Intelsat, two of the world’s largest telecom satellite operators, blasted off aboard an Ariane 5 rocket from South America’s Amazon jungle Thursday at 2034 GMT (4:34 p.m. EDT).

Photos: Ariane 5 ready to fly

August 20, 2015 Stephen Clark

Check out photos of Europe’s Ariane 5 launcher in the starting blocks at its tropical spaceport awaiting liftoff with two commercial television relay stations.

NASA probe makes last visit to Saturn’s moon Dione

August 20, 2015 Stephen Clark

Scientists are getting a final look at Saturn’s icy moon Dione for decades to come with fresh imagery streaming down this week from NASA’s Cassini spacecraft, which made its last close flyby of the Texas-sized satellite Monday.

Ariane 5 rolled out for fourth launch of the year

August 19, 2015 Stephen Clark

Ground crews towed a towering Ariane 5 rocket to its launch pad in French Guiana on Wednesday for final flight preparations before Thursday’s launch with spacecraft for two of the world’s top commercial satellite operators.

Heavy cargo mounted atop Atlas 5 rocket for upcoming launch

August 19, 2015 Justin Ray

Hoisting a 15,000-pound satellite atop an Atlas 5 rocket Wednesday, United Launch Alliance finished assembling its next space-bound booster for liftoff Aug. 31 in support of the U.S. Navy.