Stephen Clark – Page 331 – Spaceflight Now

Photos: Mobile gantry rolled back to reveal Delta 4 rocket at Vandenberg

January 11, 2018 Stephen Clark

The 32-story-tall mobile service tower at the Delta 4’s launch pad at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California was retracted away from the rocket Thursday in advance of a planned liftoff with a top secret National Reconnaissance Office payload.

After Zuma, SpaceX keeps pace in preps for next Falcon 9 launch

January 11, 2018 Stephen Clark

Ground crews took steps this week to prepare for the next Falcon 9 launch, set for no earlier than Jan. 30 with a telecom satellite for SES and the Luxembourg government, as SpaceX officials stressed their rocket was not to blame for the rumored loss of a mysterious U.S. government payload after liftoff Sunday.

Live coverage: Delta 4 launches from California with spy satellite

January 10, 2018 Stephen Clark

United Launch Alliance kicked off its 2018 launch campaign with a Delta 4 rocket flight at 2:11 p.m. PST (5:11 p.m. EST; 2211 GMT) Friday from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Gusty winds forced officials to call off a launch attempt Wednesday, and technical problems halted a countdown Thursday multiple times. The Delta 4 launched with a top secret spy satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office.

Delta 4 rocket, clandestine spy satellite ready for liftoff from California

January 9, 2018 Stephen Clark

Technicians are putting the final touches on a United Launch Alliance Delta 4 rocket set for liftoff Thursday from Vandenberg Air Force Base, a military base on California’s Central Coast, with a top secret spy satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office.

Second SuperView satellite pair launched from China

January 9, 2018 Stephen Clark

A second satellite duo for Beijing Space View Technology successfully launched Tuesday atop a Long March 2D rocket, doubling the commercial company’s high-resolution imaging capacity for sale on the global market.

Live coverage: Falcon Heavy completes dramatic pre-launch engine test

January 9, 2018 Stephen Clark

SpaceX’s fired the engines of its Falcon Heavy rocket at launch pad 39A at 12:30 p.m. EST (1730 GMT) on Wednesday. The crucial pre-launch engine test has been repeatedly delayed since the rocket returned to the launch pad earlier this month.

SpaceX kicks off ambitious 2018 schedule with launch for U.S. government

January 8, 2018 Stephen Clark

Running nearly two months late after technical concerns prevented liftoff last year, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket fired into the sky Sunday night from Cape Canaveral with a top secret payload for the U.S. government, the first of some 30 launches on the company’s docket in 2018.

Articles by Stephen Clark

Photos: Mobile gantry rolled back to reveal Delta 4 rocket at Vandenberg

After Zuma, SpaceX keeps pace in preps for next Falcon 9 launch

Live coverage: Delta 4 launches from California with spy satellite

Delta 4 rocket, clandestine spy satellite ready for liftoff from California

Second SuperView satellite pair launched from China

Live coverage: Falcon Heavy completes dramatic pre-launch engine test

SpaceX kicks off ambitious 2018 schedule with launch for U.S. government

Video: Falcon 9’s first stage paints a dazzling spectacle in the sky

Video: Replay of SpaceX’s first launch and landing of 2018

Video: Falcon 9 launch with natural sound (members only)