Category: Space
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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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SpaceX completes Falcon Heavy Static Fire Test
Despite the uncertainty regarding the fate of the Zuma launch, see the previous post, SpaceX continued their busy year with the first static fire test of their Falcon Heavy Rocket. The rocket which consists of three Falcon 9 cores mated together giving a total of 27 engines and 5.1 million pounds of thrust was successfully…
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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…
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SES and Iridium both show support for SpaceX
After the rumors of the failed Zuma mission, two of SpaceX’s biggest customers announced there continued support for the company, SES having reviewed the data from the Zuma flight said there January 30th launch was still on schedule. As we have previously posted, news on Zuma is limited, but it seems clear from these customers…
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SpaceX’s Dragon successfully completes CRS-13 mission
The Dragon capsule that was launched late last year completed it’s mission to the International Space Station with a successful splashdown in the Pacific Ocean today. In another first, this time for NASA and the Canadian Space Agency the Dragon capsule was released by the robotics engineers on the ground instead of using the Astronauts aboard…