2020 – Page 77 – Spaceflight Now

First SLS core stage departs factory

January 8, 2020 Stephen Clark

The heart of NASA’s first flight-ready Space Launch System heavy-lift rocket emerged from its factory in New Orleans Wednesday morning for a barge trip to the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi for an eight-minute test-firing of its space shuttle-era hydrogen-fueled engines.

Live view of pad 39A as SpaceX readies for Crew Dragon test (members only)

January 8, 2020 Spaceflight Now

Watch live views of launch complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center as SpaceX prepares for a static fire the first stage engines of a Falcon 9 rocket that will be used in a crucial test of the Crew Dragon abort system later this month.

Dragon cargo capsule brings home space station science experiments

January 7, 2020 Stephen Clark

SpaceX’s 19th Dragon resupply mission to the International Space Station ended Tuesday with the capsule’s splashdown in the Pacific Ocean southwest of Los Angeles with nearly 3,600 pounds of cargo and experiments.

China’s first launch of 2020 lofts mystery payload

January 7, 2020 Stephen Clark

A Chinese Long March 3B rocket launched a satellite Tuesday toward a position in geostationary orbit more than 22,000 miles above Earth. Chinese state media claimed the mysterious spacecraft has a communication and television broadcast mission, but analysts believe it could enter service for the Chinese military.

SpaceX reschedules crew capsule in-flight abort test for Jan. 18

January 7, 2020 Stephen Clark

The final major test of the high-power launch abort engines on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft before astronauts climb aboard for a flight to the International Space Station is scheduled for Jan. 18 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA announced Monday.

Live coverage: Dragon cargo craft departs space station, returns to Earth

January 7, 2020 Stephen Clark

A SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule concluded a 30-day stay at the International Space Station Tuesday with an automated departure from the orbiting research outpost at 5:05 a.m. EST (1005 GMT) Tuesday. The Dragon’s release from the robotic arm set the stage for a scorching re-entry and splashdown in the Pacific Ocean southwest of Los Angeles at around 10:41 a.m. EST (1541 GMT).

SpaceX launches more Starlink satellites, tests design change for astronomers

January 7, 2020 Stephen Clark

Sixty more satellites for SpaceX’s Starlink global Internet network streaked into orbit Monday night from Cape Canaveral, including one spacecraft to test an experimental dark coating to address scientists’ concerns that the thousands of the quarter-ton, flat-panel satellites will impede astronomical observations.

Video: SpaceX launches first mission of 2020 (members only)

January 7, 2020 Stephen Clark

SpaceX launched its first mission of 2020 on Monday night from Cape Canaveral. A Falcon 9 rocket carried 60 satellites into orbit for SpaceX’s Starlink Internet network.

Stacking of ULA’s next Atlas 5 rocket begins at Cape Canaveral

January 6, 2020 Stephen Clark

United Launch Alliance teams began stacking an Atlas 5 rocket inside a vertical hangar at Cape Canaveral Monday in preparation for an early February launch with the Solar Orbiter spacecraft, a joint U.S.-European probe that will take the first pictures of the sun’s poles.

Timeline for Falcon 9 launch of Starlink satellites

January 6, 2020 Stephen Clark

Follow the key events of the Falcon 9 rocket’s ascent to orbit 60 satellites for SpaceX’s Starlink broadband network.