Q&A with Keith Gendreau, principal investigator of the first X-ray space communications experiment (members only)

This will be the 12th launch of the year from Vandenberg Space Force Base. Liftoff from Space Launch Complex 4 East happened on Thursday, April 3, at 6:02 p.m. PDT (9:02 p.m. EDT, 0102 UTC).

Our comprehensive fact sheet previewing the United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket deployment of NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-M.

The launch of the first batch of new-generation Iridium communications satellites Saturday marked the beginning of the end for the predictable, spectacular flares of reflected sunlight produced by the old-design craft, a favorite of amateur skywatchers for nearly two decades.