December 2017 – Spaceflight Now

Russian official blames Nov. 28 launch failure on botched software programming

December 30, 2017 Stephen Clark

A senior Russian politician whose portfolio includes the country’s space program has blamed human error for a Nov. 28 launch failure that led to the destruction of a $45 million weather satellite and 18 secondary payloads, according to multiple news reports.

Classified payload hoisted atop Delta 4 rocket at Vandenberg

December 29, 2017 Stephen Clark

A clandestine satellite owned by the National Reconnaissance Office has been raised atop its United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, for liftoff Jan. 10.

Rocket and satellite preps on track for next Atlas 5 launch

December 29, 2017 Stephen Clark

Final assembly of the United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket slated to blast off Jan. 18 with a U.S. Air Force surveillance satellite designed to detect missile attacks has begun at the booster’s Cape Canaveral launch pad.

Communications restored with newly-launched Angolan satellite

December 29, 2017 Stephen Clark

The Russian manufacturer of Angola’s first communications satellite announced Friday that it has reestablished contact with the spacecraft after engineers stopped receiving signals shortly after its launch earlier this week.

Time-lapse video: Falcon Heavy lowered after launch pad debut

December 29, 2017 Spaceflight Now

The Falcon Heavy rocket was lowered to the horizontal position before sunrise Friday morning after less than a day standing at the launch pad.

Falcon 9 launch lights up Southern California sky

December 28, 2017 Stephen Clark

Take a look back at the Dec. 22 liftoff of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, a launch that was visible across Southern California and as far away as Arizona as the booster climbed into sunlight at dusk to deliver 10 commercial communications satellites to orbit.

Photos: Elon Musk’s Tesla Roadster prepped for one-way trip to deep space

December 28, 2017 Stephen Clark

SpaceX has released photos of Elon Musk’s midnight cherry red Tesla Roadster, the dummy payload selected for the Falcon Heavy rocket’s maiden test flight, being readied for launch at Cape Canaveral.

Another trio of Yaogan military satellites launched by China

December 28, 2017 Stephen Clark

Three more Yaogan satellites successfully lifted off Monday from the Xichang space center in southwestern China, joining two similar triplets launched earlier this year for the Chinese military.

Falcon Heavy raised on pad 39A for first time

December 28, 2017 Stephen Clark

SpaceX’s first Falcon Heavy rocket, made up of two previously-flown Falcon 9 boosters and a beefed up central core stage, made the trip to launch pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida and was raised vertical Thursday for testing ahead of its first liftoff next month.

Time-lapse video: Falcon Heavy goes vertical at launch pad 39A

December 28, 2017 Spaceflight Now

Watch a time-lapse video as the Falcon Heavy goes vertical at launch pad 39A on December 28, 2017. This video runs at 34 times normal speed.