April 2018 – Page 3 – Spaceflight Now

Photos: A look back at last weekend’s Atlas 5 launch

April 20, 2018 Stephen Clark

The most powerful configuration of United Launch Alliance’s Atlas 5 rocket blasted off April 14 from Cape Canaveral, hauling multiple U.S. Air Force satellites to a perch high above the equator after piercing a clear evening sky over Florida’s Space Coast with 2.6 million pounds of thrust.

Orbital ATK names new launcher, selects upper stage engine

April 20, 2018 Stephen Clark

Orbital ATK’s proposed rocket to answer the U.S. Air Force’s desire for two families of satellite launchers with U.S.-made propulsion systems will be named OmegA, and the company has selected the cryogenic Aerojet Rocketdyne RL10 engine to power the vehicle’s upper stage, officials announced this week.

Bridenstine narrowly confirmed in Senate to become next NASA chief

April 19, 2018 William Harwood

Rep. Jim Bridenstine, an Oklahoma Republican, was confirmed Thursday as NASA’s 13th administrator after months of partisan wrangling over his lack of experience in the space arena and prior statements questioning human contributions to climate change.

Russian communications satellite launched aboard Proton rocket

April 19, 2018 Stephen Clark

Russia launched a military communications satellite Wednesday, sending a data relay and broadcasting station to an orbit more than 22,000 miles above the equator aboard a Proton rocket and a Breeze M upper stage.

Falcon 9 / TESS launch replays

April 19, 2018 Spaceflight Now

Cameras in various locations at Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center capture the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying NASA’s TESS planet-hunting telescope.

All-sky surveyor launched from Cape Canaveral on the hunt for exoplanets

April 19, 2018 Stephen Clark

NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, built to find planets around other stars that are close enough for detailed follow-ups by future telescopes, launched Wednesday into a unique high-altitude orbit on top of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral.

TESS launch replay from launch pad camera

April 18, 2018 Spaceflight Now

A launch pad camera captures the launch of the Falcon 9 and NASA’s exoplanet hunting space telescope TESS. The rocket lifted off from Launch Complex 40 on April 18.

Falcon 9 launches TESS as seen from KSC Press Site (members only)

April 18, 2018 Spaceflight Now

A Falcon 9 rocket soars skyward from Cape Canaveral carrying NASA’s TESS observatory on a mission to discover planets around other stars. This was the view from the Kennedy Space Center Press Site.

Spaceflight reserves two rideshare missions on Vega rocket

April 18, 2018 Stephen Clark

Spaceflight Industries has booked reservations for two commercial rideshare missions on Arianespace’s Vega rocket, officials announced Tuesday, beginning with a proof-of-concept flight in early 2019 of a new Italian-built multi-payload dispenser tailored to accommodate small satellites and CubeSats seeking a ride into orbit.

Potential contamination not a concern for space station’s new lightning instrument

April 17, 2018 Stephen Clark

Scientists working on a new lightning detection instrument mounted outside the International Space Station said Tuesday they expect little effect on the sensor’s performance from possible contamination from the upper stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that launched it into orbit April 2.