2020 – Page 14 – Spaceflight Now

Scientists release new view from OSIRIS-REx’s asteroid smash and grab

November 2, 2020 Stephen Clark

Scientists say the touch and go landing by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft on an asteroid last month revealed fresh insights into the structure of loose rocks that may cover the surfaces of many small planetary bodies — material that is more akin to a playground ball pit than solid bedrock.

Watch a live view of the Atlas 5 launch pad

November 2, 2020 Spaceflight Now

Watch a live view of launch complex 41 at Cape Canaveral as United Launch Alliance perpares an Atlas 5 rocket for launch with a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office. The mission is designated NROL-101.

Live coverage: Atlas 5 launch delayed to Nov. 13

November 2, 2020 Stephen Clark

The Atlas 5 was rolled off launch pad 41 to take shelter in the Vertical Integration Facility because of the threat from Tropical Depression Eta. United Launch Alliance has said it is delaying the launch until Nov. 13 at 5:13 p.m. EST (2213 GMT).

Good weather expected for twilight Atlas 5 launch Tuesday

November 1, 2020 Stephen Clark

Forecasters predict a 90% chance of good weather for liftoff of a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral just after sunset Tuesday with a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office, the U.S. government’s spy satellite agency.

International Space Station offers ‘blueprint’ for exploration, first crew says

November 1, 2020 Stephen Clark

Bill Shepherd, a former Navy SEAL-turned astronaut who arrived at the International Space Station 20 years ago Monday to begin the continuous occupancy of the orbiting research outpost, says the experience gained by NASA and its global partners over the last two decades provides a blueprint for missions to the moon, Mars, and beyond.

Video: Falcon 9 rocket ignites engines on Cape Canaveral launch pad (members only)

October 31, 2020 Stephen Clark

Watch live views of the Falcon 9 launch pad (members only)

October 31, 2020 Spaceflight Now

SpaceX plans to test-fire a Falcon 9 rocket at Cape Canaveral on Saturday, verifying the launcher’s engines are ready to loft a U.S. military GPS navigation satellite into orbit as early as Nov. 4. An engine problem forced SpaceX to abort a launch attempt in early October.

SpaceX test-fires Falcon 9 rocket before GPS launch

October 31, 2020 Stephen Clark

SpaceX test-fired a Falcon 9 rocket at Cape Canaveral on Saturday in a pre-flight checkout designed to verify the launcher’s engines are ready to loft a U.S. military GPS navigation satellite into orbit Nov. 5. An engine problem forced SpaceX to abort a launch attempt in early October.

SLS Mobile Launcher returns to Vehicle Assembly Building

October 30, 2020 Spaceflight Now

Watch live as the towering Mobile Launcher for NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket returns to the Vehicle Assembly Building after fit checks at launch complex 39B.

Asteroid samples sealed in OSIRIS-REx return capsule

October 29, 2020 Stephen Clark

A collection chamber that could contain more than 2 pounds of samples gathered from an asteroid in deep space last week has been sealed inside of a return capsule on NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft to bring the extraterrestrial specimens back to Earth in 2023, officials announced Thursday.