January 2017 – Page 7 – Spaceflight Now

Kuaizhou rocket lifts off on first commercial mission

January 9, 2017 Stephen Clark

A solid-fueled Chinese Kuaizhou launcher positioned to compete for worldwide business took off Monday on its first commercial mission with three small satellites to collect high-definition video and test communications technologies.

Arianespace nets two commercial launch contracts

January 8, 2017 Stephen Clark

Arianespace has opened the year with two contracts to deliver commercial television and broadband satellites to orbit aboard Ariane 5 rockets launched from French Guiana in 2018 and 2019.

Next SpaceX launch slipped to avoid stormy weather, range conflict

January 8, 2017 Stephen Clark

Forecasters predict a rainy, breezy week along California’s Central Coast, and the poor weather will keep SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket grounded until at least Jan. 14, officials said Sunday.

Spacewalkers continue station battery refresh with EVA

January 6, 2017 William Harwood

Two spacewalking astronauts working outside the International Space Station Friday completed work to replace aging batteries in one of the lab’s eight main solar power circuits. A second spacewalk next week, along with additional work with the station’s robot arm, will upgrade a second power channel.

Video: Expedition 50 spacewalk highlights

January 6, 2017 Justin Ray

Video highlight reel of Expedition 50 commander Shane Kimbrough and flight engineer Peggy Whitson conducting six-hour 32-minute spacewalk on Jan. 6.

FAA signs off on SpaceX mishap investigation

January 6, 2017 Stephen Clark

The Federal Aviation Administration has granted a launch license for SpaceX’s deployment of 10 Iridium communications satellites next week after reviewing the company’s inquiry into a Falcon 9 rocket explosion in September, an agency spokesperson said Friday.

Long March rocket blasts off on first launch of the year

January 6, 2017 Stephen Clark

A new satellite bound for geostationary orbit more than 22,000 miles over the equator launched aboard a Chinese Long March 3B rocket Thursday, but government officials have released little information about its mission.

Engine hotfire test completed for SpaceX’s first launch since explosion

January 6, 2017 Stephen Clark

SpaceX’s launch team fueled up a Falcon 9 rocket on a California launch pad Thursday, fired the booster’s nine Merlin engines, and passed a key preflight test for the first time since a Falcon 9 exploded during a similar practice countdown in September.

Video: Narrated preview of Jan. 6 spacewalk

January 6, 2017 Justin Ray

This is a narrated animation previewing the steps and activities to be performed by the International Space Station astronauts during the battery replacement spacewalk on Jan. 6.

Video: NASA officials preview space station battery replacement spacewalks

January 6, 2017 Justin Ray

From the Johnson Space Center in Houston, officials from NASA brief reporters on two upcoming spacewalks outside the International Space Station to replace aging batteries in the outpost’s power grid.