Mission Reports – Page 256

Video: Drone footage of Starliner’s rollout to launch pad

December 1, 2019 Stephen Clark

The first Boeing Starliner spacecraft designed to fly to the International Space Station rolled out of the Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Thursday, Nov. 21.

Live coverage: Rocket Lab launches upgraded Electron booster with seven satellites

November 29, 2019 Stephen Clark

After scrubbing a launch attempt Nov. 29 due to a problem with a second stage umbilical, Rocket Lab launched seven small satellites on an Electron booster from New Zealand at 3:18 a.m. EST (0818 GMT) Friday. The Electron rocket lifted off with an upgraded first stage carrying new hardware to control the rocket’s re-entry before teams attempt to catch the booster on future missions for refurbishment and reuse.

Japanese company to launch artificial meteor shower satellite

November 28, 2019 Stephen Clark

A small Japanese satellite scheduled for launch Friday on a Rocket Lab Electron booster will release hundreds of colorful sky pellets to fall into the atmosphere next year, creating an artificial meteor shower that could be visible to millions.

China launches radar observation satellite

November 28, 2019 Stephen Clark

A new all-weather radar imaging satellite for China’s civilian-oriented fleet of Gaofen Earth observatories launched Wednesday aboard a Long March 4C rocket, according to Chinese state media.

PSLV delivers India’s highest-resolution Earth observation satellite to orbit

November 27, 2019 Stephen Clark

Thirteen U.S.-built nanosatellites hitched a ride to space Tuesday with a sharp-eyed Indian Earth-imaging observatory at the top of a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle.

Live coverage: PSLV launches with 14 satellites

November 27, 2019 Stephen Clark

An Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle launched with 14 satellites, including a dozen “SuperDove” Earth-imaging CubeSats for Planet, at 10:58 p.m. EST Tuesday (0358 GMT Wednesday).

SpaceX test-fires Falcon 9 rocket for next space station cargo launch

November 26, 2019 Stephen Clark

A Falcon 9 booster fresh from SpaceX’s factory briefly fired its nine Merlin main engines Tuesday on a Cape Canaveral launch pad, passing a key test before liftoff Dec. 4 with a Dragon supply ship heading for the International Space Station.

Next batch of Planet’s upgraded Earth-imaging satellites ready for launch

November 26, 2019 Stephen Clark

A dozen SuperDove nanosatellites with improved vision are set to join Planet’s Earth-observing fleet Tuesday night (U.S. time) after riding into orbit aboard an Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle alongside an Indian mapping payload.

Launch of 250th Ariane rocket marks new era for Inmarsat broadband fleet

November 26, 2019 Stephen Clark

Egypt’s first military communications satellite and a powerhouse spacecraft to beam Internet signals to airline passengers and maritime vessels across Europe and the Middle East rocketed into orbit Tuesday on the 250th flight of an Ariane launcher.

Live coverage: SpaceX to launch space station resupply craft Wednesday

November 26, 2019 Stephen Clark

Weather conditions at the surface will likely be favorable for the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket Wednesday from Cape Canaveral, but upper level winds may pose a roadblock for the start of the company’s next space station resupply mission. SpaceX is targeting liftoff of the Falcon 9 from pad 40 at 12:51 p.m. EST (1751 GMT) Wednesday.