FAA

Live coverage: Debut flight of Astra’s satellite launcher scrubbed

February 29, 2020 Stephen Clark

Astra was gearing up for the first orbital test flight of its small satellite launcher, named Rocket 3.0, from Alaska on Monday, but officials scrubbed the launch after detecting a problem with a guidance, navigation and control system in the final minute of the countdown. Poor weather at the launch site also prevented liftoff over the weekend on the first of two missions under the auspices of DARPA’s Launch Challenge.

Fresh out of stealth mode, Astra gearing up for orbital launch from Alaska

February 24, 2020 Stephen Clark

Some time in the next few days, a California-based company that has quietly toiled to develop a new light-class satellite launcher since 2016 will attempt to send three CubeSats into orbit from Kodiak Island, Alaska, on the first of two missions scheduled before the end of March to win up to $12 million in prize money from the U.S. military.

Rocket Lab chief says maiden launch result maintains pace for commercial service

May 30, 2017 Stephen Clark

The result of last week’s inaugural test flight of Rocket Lab’s Electron satellite launcher from New Zealand, which reached space but was unable to enter orbit, positions the company for two more demonstration missions in the coming months before the privately-operated booster enters commercial service by the end of the year, Rocket Lab’s chief executive said.

Soyuz rocket orbits satellite for airborne navigation and connectivity

May 18, 2017 Stephen Clark

A commercial SES communications satellite on the way to an operating post over the Americas rode into orbit from French Guiana aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket Thursday, embarking on a mission to help airline travelers stay connected and improve air navigation over the United States.

Video: Soyuz blasts off from South America

May 18, 2017 Stephen Clark

A 151-foot-tall Soyuz launcher climbed into space from French Guiana on Thursday with the Boeing-built SES 15 communications satellite bound for an operating position over the Americas in geostationary orbit.

Live coverage: Russian rocket launches Boeing-made satellite

May 18, 2017 Stephen Clark

A Russian Soyuz rocket launched from French Guiana on Thursday at 1154:53 GMT (7:54:53 a.m. EDT) with the SES 15 communications satellite, a U.S.-built craft designed to support in-flight connectivity, video broadcasts and airborne navigation over North America.

Live coverage: Debut flight of Astra’s satellite launcher scrubbed

Fresh out of stealth mode, Astra gearing up for orbital launch from Alaska

Rocket Lab chief says maiden launch result maintains pace for commercial service

Soyuz rocket orbits satellite for airborne navigation and connectivity

Video: Soyuz blasts off from South America

Live coverage: Russian rocket launches Boeing-made satellite

Timeline of Soyuz launch with SES 15

Soyuz meets multipurpose SES-owned telecom satellite for Thursday launch

Operations resume at European-run launch base in French Guiana

Launches from Kourou temporarily suspended by social unrest