Preview – Spaceflight Now

Preview: Atlas 5 to execute another space-lift mission for U.S. spy satellite agency

October 12, 2017 Justin Ray

An early bird rocket launch from the Florida spaceport will take to the skies before dawn Saturday when an Atlas 5 lofts a classified U.S. government satellite.

Preview: Atlas 5 to execute another space-lift mission for U.S. spy satellite agency

October 2, 2017 Justin Ray

An early bird rocket launch from the Florida spaceport will take to the skies before dawn Thursday when an Atlas 5 lofts a classified U.S. government satellite.

Preview: ULA milestone launch for National Reconnaissance Office set

September 19, 2017 Justin Ray

United Launch Alliance, a union of Atlas and Delta rockets formed a decade ago for U.S. government spacelift needs, will conduct its 25th deployment mission for the country’s spy satellite agency Thursday night.

Preview: NASA science-enabling relay satellite poised for launch

August 15, 2017 Justin Ray

Resembling a cocooned insect with antennas and appendages tucked snuggly to its body for launch, NASA’s latest communications relay hub will be shot into space Friday to blossom in geosynchronous orbit for routing signals to and from the International Space Station, the Hubble Space Telescope and three dozen science observatories.

Preview: Cygnus ship sending abundance of science to ISS

April 15, 2017 Justin Ray

Carrying more science research gear to the International Space Station than ever launched before by U.S. commercial logistics vehicles, the next Orbital ATK Cygnus freighter takes flight Tuesday.

Science: Cygnus to make science-enabling delivery to the space station

April 12, 2017 Justin Ray

Loaded with investigations into chemotherapy drugs with reduced side effects and radiation detectors for homeland security, a plant-growing chamber to promote future food harvesting in space and a technology demonstration for sample-return capsules, a commercial Cygnus cargo vessel will be sent to the International Space Station next week.

Preview: U.S. military satellite purchased by coalition forces to be launched Saturday

March 16, 2017 Justin Ray

Signaling strength in the international cooperation between the U.S. military and allied nations, a satellite funded by five countries will be launched by the Air Force on Saturday to codify a global communications deal.

Preview: Atlas 5 to provide spacelift for U.S. National Reconnaissance Office

February 26, 2017 Justin Ray

Taking a U.S. national security satellite payload into space is the primary objective of the 70th Atlas 5 booster that will be launched Wednesday.

Preview: Advanced missile detection satellite for early-warning alerts awaits liftoff

January 16, 2017 Justin Ray

Culminating years of construction and testing, a $1.2 billion satellite designed to spot and track enemy missiles threatening the United States homeland, its deployed military forces abroad or allied nations will ascend to a surveillance post in space Thursday.

Preview: Satellite will beam high-speed Internet across America

December 15, 2016 Justin Ray

A sophisticated communications satellite launches into orbit atop an Atlas 5 rocket Sunday to bring residential high-speed Internet to parts of the U.S. that must look to space for connectivity.