Falcon 9

After “terrific” launch, TESS nears first major orbit-raising burn

April 23, 2018 Stephen Clark

NASA’s new planet-hunting TESS observatory completed its first post-launch thruster firing Saturday, setting up for a big boost Wednesday that will send the spacecraft toward the moon for a flyby next month, the next maneuvers in a two-month process to reach the mission’s final science orbit in mid-June.

Photos: Falcon 9 rocket lifts off with TESS

April 23, 2018 Stephen Clark

Look back on last week’s blastoff of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral with NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite.

Falcon 9 / TESS launch replays

April 19, 2018 Spaceflight Now

Cameras in various locations at Cape Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center capture the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying NASA’s TESS planet-hunting telescope.

All-sky surveyor launched from Cape Canaveral on the hunt for exoplanets

April 19, 2018 Stephen Clark

NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, built to find planets around other stars that are close enough for detailed follow-ups by future telescopes, launched Wednesday into a unique high-altitude orbit on top of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral.

TESS launch replay from launch pad camera

April 18, 2018 Spaceflight Now

A launch pad camera captures the launch of the Falcon 9 and NASA’s exoplanet hunting space telescope TESS. The rocket lifted off from Launch Complex 40 on April 18.

Falcon 9 launches TESS as seen from KSC Press Site (members only)

April 18, 2018 Spaceflight Now

A Falcon 9 rocket soars skyward from Cape Canaveral carrying NASA’s TESS observatory on a mission to discover planets around other stars. This was the view from the Kennedy Space Center Press Site.

Potential contamination not a concern for space station’s new lightning instrument

April 17, 2018 Stephen Clark

Scientists working on a new lightning detection instrument mounted outside the International Space Station said Tuesday they expect little effect on the sensor’s performance from possible contamination from the upper stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that launched it into orbit April 2.