February 2018 – Page 2 – Spaceflight Now

Japanese spy satellite launch delayed by poor weather forecast

February 24, 2018 Stephen Clark

A bad weather forecast has prompted Japanese space officials to delay the launch of an H-2A rocket with a high-resolution government-owned reconnaissance satellite by at least 48 hours until Monday night, U.S. time.

Investigators say erroneous navigation input led Ariane 5 rocket off course

February 23, 2018 Stephen Clark

A bad input to the Ariane 5 rocket’s guidance system that was missed during pre-launch quality control checks caused the launcher to deviate from its expected flight path and place two commercial communications satellites in the wrong orbit Jan. 25, Arianespace announced Friday.

Recycled SpaceX rocket boosts Paz radar satellite, first Starlink testbeds into orbit

February 22, 2018 Stephen Clark

Launching with a Spanish radar observation craft and the first two experimental satellites for SpaceX’s planned global broadband network, a Falcon 9 rocket fired away from California’s Central Coast shortly before sunrise Thursday after several days of delays.

National Space Council acts to streamline regulatory hurdles

February 22, 2018 William Harwood

The newly re-activated National Space Council is acting quickly to streamline convoluted regulatory requirements that frequently slow development of new commercial space initiatives, a shift in focus in keeping with the Trump Administration’s directive to encourage more private sector development on the high frontier.

SpaceX fires up Falcon 9 rocket for weekend launch from Florida

February 21, 2018 Stephen Clark

A Falcon 9 rocket booked to launch a commercial communications satellite for Hispasat, a Madrid-based telecom company, fired its nine main engines late Tuesday night at Cape Canaveral for a pre-flight hold-down test.

White House emphasizes industry over science in Space Council appointments

February 21, 2018 Stephen Clark

A roster of representatives from the commercial space industry, astronauts, retired military officers and politicians will advise the National Space Council as the top-level government panel seeks to reshape U.S. space policy, regulations and exploration strategies.

Photos: Falcon 9 on the eve of launch from Vandenberg

February 21, 2018 Stephen Clark

SpaceX crews at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California rolled out a Falcon 9 rocket and lifted it vertical atop its launch pad ahead of a planned blastoff Wednesday with a Spanish radar observation satellite and two test probes for a planned global broadband Internet network.

Month: February 2018

Japanese spy satellite launch delayed by poor weather forecast

Investigators say erroneous navigation input led Ariane 5 rocket off course

Recycled SpaceX rocket boosts Paz radar satellite, first Starlink testbeds into orbit

National Space Council acts to streamline regulatory hurdles

SpaceX fires up Falcon 9 rocket for weekend launch from Florida

White House emphasizes industry over science in Space Council appointments

Photos: Falcon 9 on the eve of launch from Vandenberg

Test satellites for SpaceX’s broadband ‘megaconstellation’ set for launch

Falcon 9 launch timeline with Paz

Saturn’s night side caught in “ringshine”