Stephen Clark – Page 513 – Spaceflight Now

Small satellites have another way to get into space

December 2, 2014 Stephen Clark

A spherical U.S. Navy spacecraft the size of a beach ball spring-ejected from a new satellite deployer outside the International Space Station last week, debuting a fresh way for low-budget space missions to reach orbit.

Live coverage: Japanese asteroid mission blasts off

December 2, 2014 Stephen Clark

An ambitious mission of exploration launched from Japan at 0422 GMT Wednesday (11:22 p.m. EST Tuesday). An H-2A rocket lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center with Hayabusa 2, starting a six-year journey to collect rocks from an asteroid and return them to Earth.

Isolated showers, gusty winds expected for Thursday’s Delta 4 launch

December 1, 2014 Stephen Clark

Weather forecasters will watch for isolated rain showers and gusty winds that could delay Thursday’s launch of a Delta 4-Heavy rocket carrying NASA’s Orion space capsule on its first flight into orbit.

Soyuz rocket deploys upgraded Russian navigation craft

December 1, 2014 Stephen Clark

A new navigation satellite lifted off aboard a Soyuz rocket Sunday and reached an orbital perch 12,000 miles above Earth to test upgraded capabilities aimed at improving positioning services for Russian military and civilian users.

Ground team ready to rouse Pluto probe for historic flyby

November 30, 2014 Stephen Clark

On the final stretch of a speedy nine-year trek through the solar system, NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft will be awakened from hibernation Dec. 6 for an encounter with Pluto, a mysterious world that has captured imaginations and will soon be revealed in reality.

Launch of Japanese asteroid probe delayed

November 30, 2014 Stephen Clark

Poor weather at the Tanegashima Space Center in Japan has grounded until at least Wednesday the launch of a $300 million robotic mission to fly to an asteroid, pick up samples and return them to Earth.

Thanksgiving in space

November 27, 2014 Stephen Clark

Six people living on the International Space Station shared an out-of-this-world Thanksgiving dinner in orbit.

Proton liftoff delayed by upper stage problem

November 27, 2014 Stephen Clark

A Proton rocket launch set will be delayed until December after Russian technicians discovered a faulty gyroscope on the launcher’s Breeze M upper stage.

SpaceX hopes to recover rocket intact after next launch

November 26, 2014 Stephen Clark

SpaceX will test out new stabilizing fins that could help land the first stage of its Falcon 9 rocket on a floating barge in the Atlantic Ocean after liftoff on a space station resupply mission in mid-December, according to Elon Musk, the company’s billionaire leader.

Live coverage: Space station crew sheltering from possible ammonia leak

November 23, 2014 Stephen Clark

Two NASA astronauts and an Italian flight engineer are sheltering in the space station’s Russian segment as mission control analyzes a possible leak of toxic ammonia coolant aboard the complex.