Category: Launches
-
Blue Origin completes 9th New Shepard Test Flight
Blue Origin completed their 9th test flight of New Shepard from their launch site in West Texas. For this test, Blue Origin tested the Capsule Escape Motor approximately 20 seconds after separation to determine how the Solid Rocket Motor operates at that attitude. There was some concern that the test could cause issues for the booster…
-
Russia launches Progress 70 and completes fastest docking ever
Today Russia launched their latest Progress spacecraft to the International Space Station. The spacecraft lifted off at 17:51 EDT and then used an accelerated approach to dock just 3h 40m later making this the fastest launch to docking ever for Progress. This was the third time Russia had attempted this, however, the previous two times…
-
My first live launch – SpaceX CRS-15
Today my family and I were able to see our first live rocket launch with the successful liftoff of the Falcon 9 carrying the Dragon Spacecraft to orbit for SpaceX’s CRS-15 mission to the International Space Station. Originally the plan was to get up a 2 in the morning and drive from Davenport, FL to…
-
SpaceX successfully launches SES-12 satellite
Early this morning SpaceX successfully launched the SES-12 satellite, the launch was originally scheduled for May 31st but was delayed to allow SpaceX additional time to check the rocket’s second stage to ensure mission success. The nine Merlin 1D engines came to life at 12:45 am EDT following a smooth countdown and propelled the payload…
-
SpaceX launches Iridium and NASA Satellites
SpaceX continued their 2018 campaign with the successful launch of five more Iridium Next satellites as well as two for NASA. The NASA satellites consisted of two Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-on (GRACE-FO) satellites which will measure variations in gravity over Earth’s surface. The two Grace satellites were deployed shortly after the second stage reached…
-
Orbital ATK launches Cygnus J.R. Thompson
Orbital ATK successfully launched their Cygnus spacecraft towards the International Space Station this morning. The spacecraft named J.R. Thompon is carrying 7,385 lbs of cargo to the station and is scheduled to be captured on Thursday by the stations Canadarm 2. As with the previous Cygnus launches the spacecraft was given a name this time…
-
SpaceX successfully launches Bangabandhu Satellite-1
SpaceX continued its 2018 launch campaign with the successful launch of the Bangabandhu Satellite-1 aboard its first Block 5 Falcon 9. The Block 5 variant of the Falcon 9 has been designated as the final version and incorporates a number of changes designed to allow multiple flights to be performed by each booster with minimal…
-
Blue Origin launches 8th New Shepard
Last Sunday Blue Origin successfully launched their 8th New Shepard mission as they continue their march towards sub-orbital crewed missions. This was the first launch of 2018 for Blue Origin and was announced several days before by Jeff Bezo’s via Twitter. Once launched the booster successfully deployed the crew capsule before coming back for a…
-
SpaceX Launches TESS
This evening SpaceX successfully launched the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) telescope this evening. SpaceX’s eighth launch of the year and 53rd overall for Falcon 9 lifted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) Launch Complex (LC)-40 following a smooth countdown. The TESS telescope was delivered to orbit approximately 48 minutes later to begin on-orbit…
-
ULA launches AFSPC-11 satellite
This evening United Launch Alliance (ULA) successfully launched the Air Force Space Command (AFSPC)-11 satellite on its Atlas V rocket in the 551 vehicle configuration with a five-meter fairing, five solid rocket boosters, and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. Following a smooth countdown, the rocket launched at 7:13 pm EST, further details of the mission…