Stephen Clark – Page 159 – Spaceflight Now

Delta 4-Heavy launch delayed by ground system issue

September 24, 2020 Stephen Clark

United Launch Alliance’s next launch attempt for its Delta 4-Heavy rocket from Cape Canaveral with a top secret U.S. government spy satellite will be delayed to no earlier than early Tuesday.

Axiom finalizing agreements for private astronaut mission to space station

September 23, 2020 Stephen Clark

The chief executive of Axiom Space says agreements with NASA, SpaceX, and fare-paying passengers should be finalized in the coming weeks for the launch of the first all-private crew to the International Space Station in October 2021, and former NASA astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria is set to command the mission.

China launches Haiyang oceanography satellite

September 22, 2020 Stephen Clark

A Chinese oceanography satellite designed to measure wave height and winds launched Monday aboard a Long March 4B rocket equipped with grid fins to help control the first stage’s descent back to Earth, an improvement aimed at keeping falling boosters away from Chinese villages.

OneWeb to resume launches in December after bankruptcy

September 22, 2020 Stephen Clark

Seeking to clear bankruptcy under new ownership before the end of the year, OneWeb announced Monday it is set to resume launching satellites for its global broadband network in December under a modified 16-launch contract with Arianespace.

NASA lays out $28 billion plan to return astronauts to the moon in 2024

September 21, 2020 Stephen Clark

NASA officials released a nearly five-year, $28 billion plan Monday to return astronauts to the surface of the moon before the end of 2024, but the agency’s administrator said the “aggressive” timeline set by the Trump administration last year hinges on Congress approving $3.2 billion in the next few months to kick-start development of new human-rated lunar landers.

Jupiter looms large in spectacular Hubble image

September 18, 2020 Stephen Clark

The Hubble Space Telescope turned toward Jupiter last month, capturing colorful views of the giant planet and its icy moon Europa more than 400 million miles from Earth.

Next SpaceX launch will wait for improved ocean conditions

September 18, 2020 Stephen Clark

The launch of SpaceX’s next 60 Starlink satellites will wait for better weather and sea conditions after currents were too strong for the company’s rocket landing platform to hold position in the Atlantic Ocean for a launch attempt Thursday.

China successfully launches satellites from ocean-going platform

September 17, 2020 Stephen Clark

A solid-fueled Long March 11 launcher delivered nine small Chinese Earth observation satellites to orbit Tuesday after firing off a ship positioned in the Yellow Sea.

ULA targeting Sept. 26 for next Delta 4-Heavy launch attempt

September 17, 2020 Stephen Clark

United Launch Alliance said Thursday it is targeting Sept. 26 for the next attempt to send a classified U.S. government spy satellite into orbit aboard a Delta 4-Heavy rocket, following an abort Aug. 29 just three seconds before liftoff from Cape Canaveral.

Live coverage: SpaceX grounds launch to wait for better recovery weather

September 17, 2020 Stephen Clark

SpaceX scrubbed a Falcon 9 launch attempt Thursday, citing an issue associated with the planned recovery of the rocket’s first stage or payload fairing in the Atlantic Ocean. Officials later said the mission would be grounded to await improved weather in downrange recovery area in the Atlantic Ocean.