2015 – Page 45 – Spaceflight Now

Photos: GPS 2F-10 readied for launch

July 11, 2015 Justin Ray

This collection of photographs shows the Air Force’s Global Positioning System 2F-10 navigation satellite being encapsulated in the Atlas 5 nose cone and hoisted atop the rocket for launch July 15.

New contact with intractable comet lander

July 10, 2015 Stephen Clark

Europe’s Rosetta comet probe re-established momentary contact with the Philae lander late Thursday, renewing hopes of starting up the craft’s research instruments after two weeks of radio silence dampened the moods of scientists.

Orbital sail, Earth-watching satellites launched by PSLV

July 10, 2015 Stephen Clark

Five satellites made in Britain to track the expansion of Chinese cities and demonstrate a new sail design to clean up space junk blasted off Friday on top of an Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle.

Pluto probe provides appetizer for next week’s flyby

July 9, 2015 Stephen Clark

Living up to promises that the view from New Horizons will only get better, the Pluto-bound spacecraft has again bested itself with a dazzling color view of Pluto and Charon released Thursday.

Rocket Lab plans for New Zealand launch base

July 9, 2015 Stephen Clark

The chief executive of Rocket Lab, a venture capital-backed space firm set up to provide dedicated launch services for microsatellites, says the company is on track to complete construction of a new orbital launch site on New Zealand’s South Island by the end of 2015.

British satellites set to ride Indian rocket into space

July 9, 2015 Stephen Clark

India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle is set for liftoff Friday with five satellites built in Britain to look down on Earth and test a solar sail’s ability to clean up space junk.

Minotaur rocket selected to launch military satellite in 2017

July 9, 2015 Stephen Clark

Cape Canaveral will get its first Minotaur rocket launch in 2017, when the solid-fueled booster will send up a U.S. Air Force space surveillance satellite under a contract with Orbital ATK.

NASA names cadre of commercial crew astronauts

July 9, 2015 William Harwood

Four veteran astronauts have been selected to train for launch aboard new commercial crew capsules being built by Boeing and SpaceX that are intended to ferry astronauts to and from the International Space Station starting in 2017, NASA announced Thursday.

Air Force communications satellite joined to Delta 4 for July 22 launch

July 9, 2015 Justin Ray

For the second time this week, United Launch Alliance has delivered an Air Force payload to one of its Cape Canaveral pads for liftoff in July.

Back in action, New Horizons returns fresh view of Pluto

July 8, 2015 Stephen Clark

The New Horizons spacecraft speeding toward Pluto has returned a new image of the icy world lurking at the solar system’s outer frontier — the first photo beamed back to Earth since the probe suspended science operations Saturday.