October 2022 – Page 3 – Spaceflight Now

SpaceX launch to deploy first in new generation of Airbus-built satellites

October 14, 2022 Stephen Clark

The first in a new line of Airbus-built communications satellites is stowed for launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket Friday night from Cape Canaveral, ready for a mission to beam hundreds of TV channels to Eutelsat customers across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.

Live coverage: Crew-4 astronauts depart space station, return to Earth

October 14, 2022 Stephen Clark

Three NASA astronauts and the outgoing European commander of the International Space Station departed the orbiting complex and headed for Earth on Friday aboard SpaceX’s Dragon Freedom spacecraft. Undocking from the space station occurred at 12:05 p.m. EDT (1605 GMT). A parachute-assisted splashdown off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida, followed nearly five hours later 4:55 p.m. EDT (2055 GMT).

NASA targets Nov. 14 for next Artemis launch attempt

October 13, 2022 Stephen Clark

The next launch attempt for the NASA’s Artemis 1 moon rocket is scheduled just after midnight Nov. 14 after a hydrogen leak and Hurricane Ian thwarted tries to launch the unpiloted test flight to the moon in August and September, space agency officials announced this week.

NASA, SpaceX delay crew capsule return to wait for better weather

October 12, 2022 Stephen Clark

Four astronauts are preparing to ride a SpaceX Dragon crew capsule from the International Space Station back to Earth this week to close out a nearly six-month expedition, targeting splashdown off the coast of Florida. NASA and SpaceX officials waved off return opportunities Wednesday and Thursday due to unfavorable weather in the splashdown zones.

Dennis Tito, first space tourist, books trip around the moon on SpaceX’s Starship

October 12, 2022 William Harwood

Dennis Tito, an 82-year-old aerospace engineer-turned-financial analyst who paid Russia $20 million for a trip to the International Space Station in 2001, is working with SpaceX on plans to take his wife on what amounts to a belated honeymoon voyage to the moon.

NASA confirms DART probe impact changed asteroid’s orbit

October 11, 2022 William Harwood

The deliberate 14,000-mph crash of a small NASA probe into the asteroid Dimorphos two weeks ago nudged the 525-foot-wide body onto a slightly different course, NASA confirmed Tuesday, shaving 32 minutes off the time needed to complete one orbit around a parent asteroid known as Didymos.

Two Intelsat video relay satellites ride to orbit on SpaceX rocket

October 8, 2022 Stephen Clark

SpaceX launched a pair of four-ton Intelsat communications spacecraft from Cape Canaveral at twilight Saturday evening, two days later than planned after back-to-back scrubs, on the third flight of a Falcon 9 rocket this week.

Live coverage: SpaceX launches two Intelsat communications satellites

October 8, 2022 Stephen Clark

A pair of TV broadcasting satellites for Intelsat launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Saturday at 7:05 p.m. EDT (2305 GMT). SpaceX aborted a countdown Thursday due to a small helium leak, then called off another launch attempt Friday evening for allow time for additional vehicle checkouts.

Rocket Lab launches NOAA-funded satellite for wildlife tracking

October 7, 2022 Stephen Clark

Rocket Lab launched an Electron rocket Friday from its privately-run spaceport in New Zealand, boosting a 260-pound satellite into orbit on a $64 million NOAA-funded mission to relay environmental data from remote weather stations and help track global wildlife movements.

Live coverage: Rocket Lab launches environmental data relay satellite

October 7, 2022 Stephen Clark

Rocket Lab launched a small satellite from New Zealand Friday for General Atomics, NOAA, and the French space agency, beginning a mission to relay global environmental and wildlife tracking data to research centers. Liftoff occurred at 1:09 p.m. EDT (1709 GMT).