September 2015 – Page 6 – Spaceflight Now

OTD…Sept. 12 and STS-48, 47 and 51

September 12, 2015 Justin Ray

#OTD in 1991, 1992 and 1993…flights by Discovery and Endeavour

Launch brings Galileo navigation system into double digits

September 11, 2015 Stephen Clark

A Russian rocket released two Galileo navigation satellites nearly 15,000 miles above Earth early Friday, adding to a growing fleet giving Europe an independent space-based positioning system tracking automobiles, airplanes and cell phone-carrying people around the world.

Scientists revel in latest Pluto close-ups

September 10, 2015 Stephen Clark

Fresh views from NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft released Thursday reveal diverse landscapes on Pluto, possible dune fields, mysterious channels, and nitrogen ice flows in greater detail than ever before, but it is just the tip of the iceberg as data from the far-flung probe resumes streaming back to Earth.

Live coverage: Soyuz launches to expand Europe’s navigation system

September 10, 2015 Stephen Clark

A Soyuz rocket lifted off from South America late Thursday to haul up the next two satellites for Europe’s Galileo navigation system, giving the network its ninth and 10th operational members. Launch occurred at 0208:10 GMT Friday (10:08:10 p.m. EDT Thursday).

Air Force assigns new Delta 4 rocket launch

September 10, 2015 Justin Ray

There’s a new launch being added to Vandenberg Air Force Base’s schedules — another Delta 4 rocket flight for the National Reconnaissance Office.

Soyuz/Galileo launch timeline

September 10, 2015 Stephen Clark

Follow the key events of the Soyuz rocket’s ascent into orbit from the Guiana Space Center with two satellites for Europe’s Galileo navigation system.

Dawn gets better look at bright spots on Ceres

September 9, 2015 Stephen Clark

NASA’s Dawn spacecraft, nearly halfway through its exploration of the dwarf planet Ceres, has returned its best images yet of a mysterious grouping of bright spots inside a crater on the Texas-sized world, bolstering evidence that Ceres is geologically alive.

Photos: Two more Galileo navigation satellites primed for flight

September 9, 2015 Stephen Clark

The next pair of spacecraft to join Europe’s Galileo navigation system are positioned for liftoff late Thursday aboard a Soyuz rocket. These photos chronicle the preparation of the satellites for launch at the Guiana Space Center.

OTD…Sept. 9 and STS-64 and STS-115

September 9, 2015 Justin Ray

#OTD in 1994…Discovery launched to develop new techniques for monitoring Earth’s environment from space…and in 2006…Construction of the space station resumed as Atlantis delivered a power-generating truss

Decision looms on when to introduce new SLS upper stage

September 8, 2015 Stephen Clark

NASA officials are waiting to see if Congress adds funding to the agency’s budget next year to kick-start development of a new four-engine upper stage for the Space Launch System, an upgrade that would allow the mega-rocket to loft heavier cargoes into deep space.