News – Page 638 – Spaceflight Now

October 11, 2026

Breaking News

[ October 9, 2026 ] SpaceX launches 21 data satellites for the Space Development Agency Falcon 9
[ October 4, 2026 ] SpaceX scrubs launch attempt for 21 data transport satellites for the Space Development Agency Falcon 9
[ October 1, 2026 ] Falcon Heavy flies its first mission for U.S. spy satellite agency Falcon Heavy
[ October 1, 2026 ] Fresh crew takes off for six-month stay aboard space station Falcon 9
[ October 1, 2026 ] Launch preview: NASA, SpaceX launch next crewed mission to the International Space Station Falcon 9

Video: Liftoff of Atlas 5 on NROL-55

October 8, 2015 Justin Ray

A replay of the United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket launching the classified NROL-55 payload for the National Reconnaissance Office from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.

Photos: Gantry retracted from Atlas 5 rocket

October 8, 2015 Justin Ray

The 8-million-pound mobile service tower is retracted from around the Atlas 5 rocket, revealing the 19-story-tall vehicle for liftoff from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, on NROL-55.

Cygnus supply ship takes weather satellite’s slot in Atlas manifest

October 7, 2015 Stephen Clark

Orbital ATK plans to launch its next two commercial resupply missions to the International Space Station on Atlas 5 rockets, grabbing a launch slot in March after a next-generation U.S. weather satellite was delayed, industry officials said.

Live coverage: Atlas 5 countdown and launch journal

October 7, 2015 Justin Ray

A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket blasted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 5:49 a.m. local time (8:49 a.m. EDT; 1249 GMT) Thursday on the classified National Reconnaissance Office NROL-55 mission.

Quartet of Earth imaging satellites launched from China

October 7, 2015 Stephen Clark

Four commercial satellites launched from China’s northwestern spaceport Wednesday, riding into a 400-mile-high orbit on top of a two-stage Long March 2D booster rocket.

Workers complete $15 million in repairs to Antares launch pad

October 6, 2015 Stephen Clark

Repair crews in Virginia have restored the Antares booster’s launch pad — damaged in an explosive rocket crash nearly one year ago — to flight-ready status as the Orbital ATK launcher moves toward a return-to-flight in 2016.

Intel-gathering spacecraft launch on Atlas 5 scheduled for Thursday

October 6, 2015 Justin Ray

Poised for its one and only satellite launch of the year, the National Reconnaissance Office will conduct a hush-hush flight Thursday using a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket from California.

NASA might pick two Discovery missions, but at a price

October 5, 2015 Stephen Clark

A senior NASA official said Monday the agency could select two new robotic planetary science missions next year for launch in the early 2020s, and the five finalists favor Venus and asteroid research.

Target of Japanese space mission named for dragon’s palace

October 5, 2015 Stephen Clark

The Japanese space agency has selected Ryugu as the name of an asteroid pursued by the country’s Hayabusa 2 space probe, naming the object after a dragon’s palace in an ancient Japanese fairy tale, officials said Monday.

Photos: NROL-55 payload joins Atlas booster rocket for launch

October 4, 2015 Justin Ray

This photo gallery shows the classified National Reconnaissance Office payload, already encapsulated in the 14-foot-diameter nose cone, being lifted atop the United Launch Alliance Atlas-Centaur rocket at Vandenberg Air Force Base for liftoff Oct. 8.