Live coverage of the countdown and launch of an Orbital ATK Minotaur 4 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station with the ORS-5 space surveillance satellite. Orbital ATK’s live video coverage begins at approximately 10:55 p.m. EDT (0255 GMT). Text updates will appear automatically below; there is no need to reload the page. Follow us on Twitter. Watch on a mobile device.
Falcon 9
SpaceX rocket flies on 60th anniversary of first U.S. satellite launch
A SpaceX Falcon 9 launcher boosted a 4.7-ton military-grade communications satellite for SES and the Luxembourg government toward a perch 22,300 miles over the equator following a spectacular late afternoon liftoff Tuesday from Florida’s Space Coast, clearing the last mission off the launch company’s manifest before the long-awaited debut of the massive Falcon Heavy rocket.
Delta 4
ULA’s Delta 4-Heavy rocket still grounded by launch pad problem
United Launch Alliance engineers have resolved the problem that triggered an abort of a planned Delta 4-Heavy rocket launch Sept. 30, but the company said Friday it is continuing to evaluate a concern with the launch pad swing arm retraction system at Cape Canaveral. ULA said the Delta 4-Heavy’s mission to launch a classified National Reconnaissance Office spy satellite will be postponed beyond next week.