Category: Launches

  • SpaceX CRS-5 launch scrubbed

    Today’s launch of the Falcon 9 carrying the CRS-5 mission to the International Space Station.  Initial indications show an issue with actuator drift on the spacecraft, assuming it can be resolved by Friday the next attempt will be at 5:09 am EST.   Update: Elon Musk tweeted that they are investigating the upper stage Z…

  • SpaceX CRS-5 set for launch tomorrow morning

    The delayed launch of the SpaceX CRS-5 mission is scheduled for 6:20am EST tomorrow 1/6, the launch will be broadcast live via NASA TV and SpaceX’s livestream page.

  • NASA’s Orion has begun it’s EFT-1 mission

    Following a smooth countdown the United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavies three main engine’s came to life today to lift the Orion capsule to orbit.  18 minutes later the upper stage completed its first firing and left the Orion capsule in the desired orbit. Over the next two orbits Orion will follow the flight profile…

  • Ariane 5 launch scrubbed

    The second launch scheduled today was unable to lift off due to the weather conditions over the launch pad in Kourou, French Guiana. A new launch date and time will be decided once the weather conditions have been evaluated. The Ariane 5 ECA was due to launch the DirecTV 14 and GSAT 16 satellites

  • Orion’s maiden voyage delayed 24 hours

    Today’s launch of the Orion spacecraft had to be scrubbed due to a technical issue with the Delta IV Heavy. During the countdown today there were several attempts made to lift off but various factors stopped that from happening. Two of the attempts were aborted due to higher than expected wind gusts during the final…

  • Japanese H-2A rocket lifts off carrying Hayabusa 2

    This evening a Japanese H-2A rocket lifted off with the Hayabusa 2 Asteroid Sample Return mission.  Following the success of the previous Hayabusa mission this mission is designed to go one step further and return an actual sample back to Earth. Once in orbit the second spacecraft and upper stage will coast for 90 minutes…

  • SpaceX unveils Falcon 9 upgrades and landing pad

    Elon Musk has revealed via twitter a design change to the next Falcon 9 rocket launching a Dragon capsule towards the International Space Station on December 16th for the CRS-5 mission, this flight was delayed a week to allow NASA more time to re-evaluate the payload manifest following the Antares launch failure last month. Testing…

  • Expedition 42 crew launched successfully

    This afternoon Terry Virts, Anton Shkaplerov and Samantha Cristoforetti began there six hour, four orbit journey to the International Space Station.  Launched aboard the Soyuz TMA-15M liftoff occurred on time at 14:01 pm EST.  Docking and hatch opening will occur later today, we will post again following each event. Below are some screen captures from the…

  • AJ26 Turbo Pump most likely doomed Cygnus launch

    Orbital announced today that the preliminary findings of the Accident Investigation Board (AIB) point to a Turbo pump failure in one of the two AJ26 main engines on the Antares rocket. Because of this Orbital will no longer use the AJ26 engines and will instead accelerate the migration to a new engine on the Antares.  Due…

  • Orbital CRS-3 Update 11/03/2014

    Over the weekend, Orbital confirmed the participation of the following individuals who will serve on the Antares launch failure Accident Investigation Board (AIB), which is being led by Orbital under the oversight of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The composition of the AIB is as follows: Chairman David Steffy, Chief Engineer of Orbital’s Advanced Programs…