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Live coverage: Arianespace to launch an Ariane 6 rocket on its 1st commercial mission

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An artists rendering of the CSO-3 spacecraft. Graphic: MIRA PRODUCTION/Rémy Parot – Sébastien Gentet Airanespace and the European Space Agency (ESA) are preparing to launch the first Ariane 6 rocket of the year and the second in program history on Monday, March 3. The mission is the first customer flight of the 56 m (184 …

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Nelson: Decision on Mars Sample Return expected before new administration takes office

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This illustration shows a concept for multiple robots that would team up to ferry to Earth samples of rocks and soil being collected from the Martian surface by NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover.Credit: NASA/ESA/JPL-Caltech One of the biggest decision points for the space community, how to redesign the Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission, may be weeks …

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India to launch Eurpope’s Proba-3 spacecraft pair to study the Sun, demonstrate tandem maneuvering in orbit

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Artist’s view of Proba-3 on an ISRO PSLV-XL launch vehicle. Graphic: P. Carril/ESA The European Space Agency is preparing to launch two missions on Wednesday, half a world and half a day apart: Proba-3 from India and Sentinel-1C from French Guiana. Because ESA and the European aerospace industry are still working towards restoring home-grown launch …

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Vega-C return to flight launch slips a day to allow for ‘further precautionary checks’

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Copernicus Sentinel-1C standing proud on its payload adapter between the two fairing halves that will protect the spacecraft on the launch pad and on its ascent towards space. Sentinel-1C, the third satellite in the Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission, is set to launch in December 2024 on a Vega-C rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. Image: …

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Live coverage: ESA’s Hera spacecraft aims to launch on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket as Hurricane Milton takes aim at Florida

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An artist’s rendering of the Hera spacecraft along with CubeSats Milani and Juventas around the asteroid, Dimorphous. Graphic: ESA The European Space Agency and SpaceX are hoping for good enough weather as they prepare to launch a mission to a binary asteroid Monday morning. The Hera mission is a follow-on operation, which will examine Didymos …

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ESA’s Hera mission progresses towards launch pending Falcon 9 readiness

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An artist’s rendering of the Hera spacecraft alongside the CubeSats, Juventas and Milani. Graphic: ESA The European Space Agency is on the cusp of launching its first planetary defense mission, a complement to NASA’s 2022 Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission. The goal of these missions is to understand how Earth can be protected from …

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ESA prepares to launch swan song mission for its Vega rocket

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Sentinel-2 in the Vega launch tower. Image: ESA-CNES-ARIANESPACE/Optique vidéo du CSG–T. Leduc The European Space Agency (ESA) is preparing to complete its transition to its Vega-C rocket with the final launch of its first-generation Vega rocket. The mission, dubbed VV24, will carry an Earth-imaging satellite to a sun-synchronous orbit. Liftoff of the 22nd and final …

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European Space Agency makes final preparations for inaugural Ariane 6 launch

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The Ariane 6 rocket stands at the launch pad at the Europe Spaceport in French Guiana following the removal of the mobile launch gantry. Image: M. Pédoussaut/ESA To quote the title track of Swedish rock band Europe’s third album, “It’s the final countdown” for the long awaited Ariane 6 to finally take flight. After running …

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Live coverage: SpaceX to launch ESA’s EarthCARE on a Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base

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A rendering of the Earth Cloud Aerosol and Radiation Explorer (EarthCARE) spacecraft onboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 second stage as the payload fairings deploy. Graphic: ESA The European Space Agency is preparing to launch its latest Earth observing satellite, designed to better understand the climate. The Earth Cloud Aerosol and Radiation Explorer (EarthCARE) has four …

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Crew-7 begins journey home following six-month stay at the International Space Station

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A view of the Crew Dragon Endurance as it prepared to undock from the International Space Station following 197 days at the orbiting outpost. Image: NASA A journey of more than half a year orbiting around the world is coming to an end for the four-member team of the SpaceX Crew-7 mission. The Crew Dragon …

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