January 2018 – Page 2 – Spaceflight Now

Rocket Lab’s test launch carried two previously-unannounced passengers

January 29, 2018 Stephen Clark

A propulsive kick stage designed to expand the performance envelope of Rocket Lab’s light-class Electron satellite launcher and a spacecraft that will grace nighttime skies for the next nine months flew into orbit on the company’s test flight earlier this month.

Live from launch pad 39A (members only)

January 29, 2018 Spaceflight Now

As SpaceX gets ready for the maiden flight of its Falcon Heavy booster, watch a live feed of launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center.

Software patch fixes station robot arm; Monday spacewalk repair called off

January 28, 2018 William Harwood

A corrective software patch has fixed a problem with a newly installed grapple fixture on one end of the International Space Station robot arm, NASA officials said Sunday. With the mechanism now fully operational, a re-planned spacewalk Monday to re-install a degraded unit has been called off.

SpaceX schedules Feb. 6 target date for Falcon Heavy test launch

January 28, 2018 Stephen Clark

SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket could blast off for the first time as soon as Feb. 6, company founder Elon Musk said Saturday, announcing the first official target launch date for the heavy-lifter’s maiden mission from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

China launches fourth trio of Yaogan military satellites since September

January 28, 2018 Stephen Clark

A fourth trio of Chinese Yaogan military satellites with secret missions launched Thursday aboard a Long March 2C rocket from the Xichang space base in China’s Sichuan province.

Falcon Heavy lowered at launch pad

January 27, 2018 Spaceflight Now

The Falcon Heavy rocket was lowered to the horizontal position at launch pad 39A on 27 January 2018 after a successful engine test firing.

Newly installed space station robot arm grapple fixture not operating properly

January 26, 2018 William Harwood

The grapple mechanism installed on one end of the space station’s robot arm during a spacewalk Tuesday is experiencing problems. It will be removed during a re-planned spacewalk Monday and the original fitting will be re-installed, NASA said Friday.

Probe into off-target Ariane 5 launch begins, SES and Yahsat payloads healthy

January 26, 2018 Stephen Clark

Arianespace will convene an independent inquiry board chaired by a top European Space Agency official to investigate why an Ariane 5 rocket flew off course Thursday night after liftoff from French Guiana with the SES 14 and Al Yah 3 telecom satellites, but both payloads will be salvaged to accomplish their planned missions, officials said Friday.

Ariane 5 deploys two telecom satellites in orbit despite telemetry loss

January 26, 2018 Stephen Clark

A European Ariane 5 rocket took off from French Guiana and delivered two commercial communications satellites and a NASA scientific package to orbit Thursday after an unexpected radio blackout raised worries that the mission failed. But questions lingered early Friday about the accuracy of the payload deployments.

Video: Ariane 5 makes a smooth blastoff before mission runs into trouble

January 26, 2018 Stephen Clark

A 180-foot-tall Ariane 5 rocket climbed into space from French Guiana on Thursday evening, but the mission ran into problems a few minutes later.