2015 – Page 34 – Spaceflight Now

OTD…Aug. 27 and STS-51I

August 27, 2015 Justin Ray

#OTD in 1985…Discovery launched to deploy three satellites and rendezvous with another for daring repair

Scientists eager for restart of Pluto photo pipeline

August 26, 2015 Stephen Clark

The first images from the New Horizons spacecraft since late July will come back to Earth on Sept. 5, and scientists are salivating over what the new pictures will reveal about Pluto.

Photos: HTV supply ship glistens on approach to ISS

August 26, 2015 Stephen Clark

Photos captured by astronauts on the International Space Station show a Japanese cargo freighter, covered with reflective solar panels and golden insulation, on final approach to the 250-mile-high outpost.

Countdown begins for launch of Indian military satellite

August 26, 2015 Stephen Clark

A government-owned communications satellite heading for geostationary orbit 22,300 miles above Earth is set for launch Thursday to on a nine-year mission to to support the Indian military.

Uranus, Neptune in NASA’s sights for new robotic mission

August 25, 2015 Stephen Clark

NASA has asked scientists to assess how to design and fly robotic space probes to Uranus and Neptune, the last of the solar system’s classical planets yet to be orbited, likely ensuring the huge icy worlds are near the top of the space agency’s to-do list in the coming decades.

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.