February 2017 – Spaceflight Now

Timeline: Atlas 5/NROL-79 launch events

February 28, 2017 Justin Ray

Follow the unclassified portion of the Atlas 5 rocket’s ascent to space from California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base launch site with the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office’s NROL-79 satellite payload. Launch is scheduled for Wednesday at 9:50 a.m. local time (12:50 p.m. EST; 1750 GMT).

Photos: Atlas 5 rocket ready to fly with NROL-79 payload

February 28, 2017 Justin Ray

The United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket stands atop Space Launch Complex 3-East at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on the eve of Wednesday’s NROL-79 satellite-deployment mission for the National Reconnaissance Office.

Q&A with Elon Musk, SpaceX’s founder and CEO

February 27, 2017 Stephen Clark

SpaceX’s Elon Musk spoke with reporters Monday about his company’s plan to launch two space tourists on a loop around the moon in 2018.

Canada’s MDA buys DigitalGlobe, reveals next-generation WorldView satellite fleet

February 27, 2017 Stephen Clark

The acquisition of DigitalGlobe, the owner of several commercial Earth-viewing spacecraft in orbit, by Canada’s MDA Corp. will combine two of the world’s leading radar and optical observation imaging systems into one globe-spanning network and give Space Systems/Loral a firmer foothold in the market for manufacturing Earth observation satellites, officials said Friday.

Live coverage: Atlas 5 countdown and launch journal

February 27, 2017 Spaceflight Now

A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 9:49:51 a.m. local time (12:49:51 p.m. EST; 1749:51 today to deploy a covert U.S. national security payload. Follow the ascent in our live journal.

SpaceX to send two private citizens around the moon and back

February 27, 2017 Stephen Clark

SpaceX founder and chief executive Elon Musk announced Monday plans to send two paying “private individuals” on a week-long flight around the moon and back to Earth by the end of next year.

Preview: Atlas 5 to provide spacelift for U.S. National Reconnaissance Office

February 26, 2017 Justin Ray

Taking a U.S. national security satellite payload into space is the primary objective of the 70th Atlas 5 booster that will be launched Wednesday.

Auto-destruct system seen as a key to ramping up launch tempos

February 25, 2017 Stephen Clark

The U.S. Air Force says the demonstration of an automated safety system on last week’s Falcon 9 rocket launch will slash and costs and hasten turnarounds between missions from military-operated ranges in Florida and California.

Watch two new arrivals at the International Space Station

February 25, 2017 Spaceflight Now

The International Space Station received two cargo shipments this week from the U.S. and Russia. A SpaceX Dragon capsule berthed with the orbiting outpost on Thursday, February 23 and a Russian Progress cargo freighter docked a day later. Watch video highlights of the arrivals.

NASA studying whether to add astronauts to first launch of new super booster

February 24, 2017 William Harwood

NASA managers said Friday they hope to know within a month or so whether it might be feasible — or advisable — to put two astronauts on board the first test flight of a huge 322-foot-tall Space Launch System super booster scheduled for its maiden launch late next year.