August 2016 – Page 7 – Spaceflight Now

China’s first mobile telecom satellite successfully launched

August 8, 2016 Stephen Clark

China sent a mobile communications satellite into orbit Friday on top of a Long March 3B rocket, marking the country’s 10th launch of 2016 as technicians gear up for the next flight of Chinese astronauts and other major missions later this year.

Q&A with Dante Lauretta, OSIRIS-REx principal investigator

August 8, 2016 Stephen Clark

Dante Lauretta, a researcher based at the University of Arizona, leads the science team on NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission scheduled for launch Sept. 8 on a round-trip journey to asteroid Bennu.

Buildup of unusual launcher begins for NASA’s asteroid sample return mission

August 8, 2016 Justin Ray

It is a rocket like no other, a vehicle with a single solid-fuel booster mounted to its side, that will launch NASA’s OSIRIS-REx probe next month to bring back a sample of Asteroid Bennu.

Next missile warning sentinel set for October launch to geosynchronous orbit

August 5, 2016 Justin Ray

A highly sophisticated U.S. Air Force satellite to sound the alarm when an enemy missile launches has shipped to its Florida launch site for liftoff in October aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket.

China’s Yutu rover dies on the moon

August 4, 2016 Stephen Clark

A Chinese rover sent to the moon in 2013 has stopped operating, officials announced Wednesday, ending a groundbreaking 31-month mission that made discoveries in lunar geology and catapulted China’s space program to new heights.

First two Iridium Next satellites shipped to Vandenberg

August 3, 2016 Stephen Clark

The first two next-generation Iridium satellites, designed to connect global subscribers with data and voice traffic, arrived at Vandenberg Air Force Base on Tuesday, where they will join eight more message relay craft for launch in September on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

Navy looks for Plan B to salvage its newest communications satellite

August 2, 2016 Justin Ray

The U.S. Navy has declared the primary orbit-raising system aboard its new MUOS No. 5 communications satellite failed, leaving controllers scrambling to design a rescue plan.

Russia’s Angara rocket wins first commercial launch contract

August 2, 2016 Stephen Clark

South Korea’s space agency has signed a contract to launch an Earth observation satellite into orbit in 2020 aboard Russia’s Angara rocket, giving the new booster its first commercial customer, International Launch Services announced Monday.

Boeing nears fix for CST-100 Starliner design hitch

August 2, 2016 Stephen Clark

Boeing engineers are close to resolving concerns with the mass and aerodynamic shape of the company’s CST-100 Starliner commercial crew carrier, and officials are optimistic the spaceship will be ready to deliver astronauts to the International Space Station in early 2018.

Investigation into upper stage glitch delays next Proton launch

August 1, 2016 Stephen Clark

The launch of an EchoStar communications satellite to cover Europe has been delayed to October to allow Russian engineers to complete an inquiry into a glitch suffered during a Proton rocket flight in June, industry officials said.