Clive Simpson – Spaceflight Now

Ariane 5 retirement leaves Europe facing an ‘acute launch crisis’

July 11, 2023 Clive Simpson

Europe is facing months without its own independent access to space for large satellites following the retirement of its heavy-lift Ariane 5 rocket this week after notching up its 117th and final mission over 27 years of operations.

Mars helicopter calls home after long communications blackout

July 5, 2023 Clive Simpson

NASA engineers are prepping the miniature Mars helicopter Ingenuity for its 53rd flight across the surface of the Red Planet after re-establishing contact following a two-month radio blackout due to a Martian hill blocking line-of-sight communications with the Perseverance rover.

Europe’s workhorse Ariane 5 rocket to retire after 27 years service

July 4, 2023 Clive Simpson

Europe’s iconic Ariane 5 rocket, with its liquid hydrogen-fueled core stage and solid rocket boosters, has been symbolic of Europe’s guaranteed access to space providing a unique capacity for launching satellites and spacecraft into precise orbits over almost three decades. Its long run comes to an end when the final Ariane 5 rocket lifts off on Wednesday.

First hot-fire test of Europe’s reusable methane-fueled Prometheus rocket engine

June 28, 2023 Clive Simpson

Europe successfully completed the first hot-fire test of its reusable Prometheus rocket on June 22, a 12-second burn while integrated to the Themis first-stage demonstrator at the ArianeGroup site in Vernon, France. Prometheus and Themis are components of the new ‘Ariane Next’ European launch program, which is focused on developing a fleet of reusable rockets to enter service in the 2030s.

Virgin Orbit ceases operations

June 8, 2023 Clive Simpson

Virgin Orbit, the satellite launch company founded by British billionaire Richard Branson, permanently ceased operations last month, following a major mission failure in January at a time when it was already facing financial headwinds.

Swiss company selects Arianespace to launch first space debris removal mission

May 27, 2023 Clive Simpson

Swiss-based in-orbit servicing startup ClearSpace has contracted Arianespace to launch its first debris removal mission to capture and deorbit a piece of space debris.

Electron rocket launches pair of cyclone-tracking CubeSats for NASA

May 8, 2023 Clive Simpson

The first pair of four NASA CubeSats designed to provide frequent updates of typhoon and hurricane development for new insights into how tropical storms evolve and intensify were launched by Rocket Lab from its New Zealand spaceport on Sunday.

Start of construction paves way for first UK mainland vertical launch

May 8, 2023 Clive Simpson

Rocket and launch services company Orbex has begun construction at Sutherland Spaceport in Scotland with a ground-breaking ceremony on May 5 that marked the start of the first vertical launch spaceport to be built on mainland UK.

Twin TROPICS satellites set to be lofted into orbit

May 5, 2023 Clive Simpson

Rocket Lab’s launch of NASA’s second pair of TROPICS hurricane research satellites, reassigned from Astra following a launch failure last year, has been rescheduled for Sunday after a delay due to unfavorable weather at the the company’s New Zealand spaceport.

NASA’s Ingenuity Mars helicopter has now flown more than 50 times

April 27, 2023 Clive Simpson

NASA’s pioneering Mars helicopter Ingenuity continues to outperform its design specifications, having now notched up more than 50 record-breaking forays across the Red Planet’s surface, 10 times as many flights as originally planned for.