Category: Launches
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SpaceX launches Dragon on 14th CRS mission
This afternoon SpaceX launched their 14th Dragon mission to the International Space Station from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 40. Following a smooth countdown, the nine Merlin 1D engines powered the rocket and its payload to orbit. This was the 7th launch for SpaceX in 2018, the 52nd Falcon 9 launch and 11th…
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SpaceX launches another 10 Iridium Next satellites
SpaceX successfully launched another 10 Iridium Next satellites from their Vandenburg launch pad today. The launch was originally scheduled for March 30th but was delayed a day due to a testing issue with one of the 10 satellites that turned out to be a cable issue with the test system. Following a smooth countdown, the…
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SpaceX launches Hispasat 30W-6 and sets another record
Early this morning SpaceX successfully launched the Hispasat 30W-6 satellite aboard its Falcon 9 rocket. This was the 50th launch of the Falcon 9, coming seven years and nine months since the first in 2010, the previous record was held by United Launch Alliance who’s Atlas V achieved the same record in nine years and…
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ULA launches GOES-S satellite
United Launch Alliance successfully launched the NOAA’s Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-S (GOES-S) satellite this evening from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 41. Following a smooth countdown, the rocket lifted off at 5:02 pm EST and successfully deployed the satellite into a Geostationary Transfer Orbit 3h 32m later. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bQ_k8pavDM
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SpaceX successfully launches Paz satellite and own Starlink Demo satellites
This morning SpaceX successfully launched the Paz satellite for Spanish company hisdeSAT as well as two of their own Starlink demo satellites. The launch was delayed several times to allow SpaceX engineers more time to ensure the rocket was ready for flight and due to upper-level winds. This was the 4th launch of 2018 for…
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SpaceX launches first Falcon Heavy
In a major milestone for the company, SpaceX successfully launched their Falcon Heavy rocket today. A post shared by Elon Musk (@elonmusk) on Jan 4, 2018 at 5:13pm PST The Falcon Heavy was first proposed in 2011 just after the first flights of Falcon 9 had been completed, however, it has taken seven years for…
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SpaceX launches GovSat 1
SpaceX successfully launched GovSat 1 today for their second launch of 2018, the Falcon 9 first stage used for this launch was previously flown in May 2017 and was disposed of in the Atlantic Ocean after successfully separating from the second stage. The second stage continued to orbit where is successfully delivered the GovSat 1…
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Arianespace SES 14/Al Yah 3 launch update
It now appears that the launch this evening was at least partially successful as announced by Arianespace, however, at present, we don’t know for certain if the satellites were deployed to the correct orbits or not. Arianespace confirms the SES 14 and Al Yah 3 communications satellites are in contact with their ground teams after…
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Arianespace SES 14/Al Yah 3 launch appears to have failed
Today’s Ariane 5 launch of the SES 14 and Al Yah 3 satellites appears to have failed sometime after the first stage separation. The launch lifted off at 5:20 pm EST and appeared to be going smoothly with the successful booster separation, payload fairing separation, and first stage engine burnout. However, telemetry from the spacecraft…
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ULA launches SBIRS-4 satellite
United Launch Alliance launched their 2nd mission of 2018 with the successful liftoff of the Atlas V carrying the Air Forces Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) 4 satellite which will be placed in Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO). Following a one day delayed due to a valve issue on the pad, the rocket lifted off at 7:48…