2015 – Page 23 – Spaceflight Now

Target of Japanese space mission named for dragon’s palace

October 5, 2015 Stephen Clark

The Japanese space agency has selected Ryugu as the name of an asteroid pursued by the country’s Hayabusa 2 space probe, naming the object after a dragon’s palace in an ancient Japanese fairy tale, officials said Monday.

OTD…Oct. 5 and STS-41G

October 5, 2015 Justin Ray

#OTD in 1984…Challenger launched the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite

Photos: NROL-55 payload joins Atlas booster rocket for launch

October 4, 2015 Justin Ray

This photo gallery shows the classified National Reconnaissance Office payload, already encapsulated in the 14-foot-diameter nose cone, being lifted atop the United Launch Alliance Atlas-Centaur rocket at Vandenberg Air Force Base for liftoff Oct. 8.

Hurricane Joaquin eyed from space station

October 3, 2015 Stephen Clark

Astronauts on the International Space Station spied powerful Hurricane Joaquin spinning in the Bahamas in a spectacular photo showing the eye of the storm Friday.

OTD…Oct. 3 and STS-51J

October 3, 2015 Justin Ray

#OTD in 1985…Atlantis launched on her maiden voyage as a new orbiter joined the shuttle fleet

Photos: Predawn launch of Atlas 5

October 2, 2015 Justin Ray

A collection of liftoff photos from the United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket flight to deploy the Morelos 3 communications satellite for Mexico.

Recap story: 100 successes and counting for United Launch Alliance

October 2, 2015 Justin Ray

The 100th flight by United Launch Alliance took off Friday for deployment of a sophisticated geomobile communications satellite to bridge the digital divide in Mexico while extending the rocket company’s unparalleled record of success in launching $80 billion in space assets.

Video: Liftoff of Atlas 5 rocket with Mexico’s Morelos 3

October 2, 2015 Justin Ray

A replay of the United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket launching Mexico’s Morelos 3 communications satellite from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Charon takes center stage in new batch of New Horizons images

October 2, 2015 Stephen Clark

With meandering canyons four times as long, and twice as deep, as the Grand Canyon in the American Southwest, the crust of Pluto’s moon Charon may have been shaped by violent eruptions and geology once thought improbable for a small body in the far depths of the solar system, scientists said Thursday.

Photos: Atlas 5 rolls out for launch

October 2, 2015 Justin Ray

The Atlas 5 rocket emerges from the Vertical Integration Facility for rollout to Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral in preparation to launch Morelos 3 on Friday at 6:08 a.m. EDT.