X Sidebar

Spacewalking cosmonauts activate space station’s newest Russian module

Mission Reports, News, Space Station, X Sidebar / By

Cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Pyotr Dubrov work outside the Prichal module Wednesday. Credit: NASA/Mark Vande Hei Russian cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Pyotr Dubrov completed a 7-hour, 11-minute spacewalk Wednesday outside the International Space Station, preparing Russia’s new Prichal module for the arrival of the next Soyuz crew spacecraft in March. Wearing Orlan spacesuits, Shkaplerov and …

Spacewalking cosmonauts activate space station’s newest Russian module Read More »

First Chinese space mission of 2022 rockets into orbit

Mission Reports, News, X Sidebar / By

A Chinese Long March 2D rocket lifts off with the Shiyan 13 satellite. Credit: CASC China launched a Long March 2D rocket Monday with another classified satellite, deploying the spacecraft into a polar orbit on the first of more than 40 Chinese Long March rocket missions planned in 2022. The Long March 2D rocket took …

First Chinese space mission of 2022 rockets into orbit Read More »

Virgin Orbit celebrates third successful launch in a row

Mission Reports, News, X Sidebar / By

Virgin Orbit’s 70-foot-long (21-meter) LauncherOne rocket ignites its liquid-fueled engine after release from the company’s Boeing 747 carrier aircraft. Credit: Virgin Orbit Virgin Orbit delivered seven small CubeSats for NASA, the U.S. military, Spire, and the Polish company SatRevolution into orbit Thursday with its air-launched rocket after release from a jumbo jet off the coast …

Virgin Orbit celebrates third successful launch in a row Read More »

SpaceX’s first launch of 2022 will deploy more Starlink internet satellites

Falcon 9, Mission Reports, News, X Sidebar / By

File photo of a stack of Starlink satellites before a previous mission.. Credit: SpaceX SpaceX plans to kick off its 2022 launch schedule with a Falcon 9 rocket flight Thursday from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center with the company’s next group of Starlink internet satellites. In a change from previous Starlink missions, the Falcon 9 rocket …

SpaceX’s first launch of 2022 will deploy more Starlink internet satellites Read More »

Test launch of Russia’s heavy-lift Angara rocket marred by upper stage failure

Mission Reports, News, X Sidebar / By

An Angara A5 rocket lifts off Dec. 27 from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. Credit: Russian Ministry of Defense The third test launch of Russia’s heavy-lift Angara A5 rocket Dec. 27 was marred by an upper stage failure that stranded a dummy payload in a low orbit. The Angara A5 rocket launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, located …

Test launch of Russia’s heavy-lift Angara rocket marred by upper stage failure Read More »

Long March 7A rocket deploys two Chinese tech demo satellites

Mission Reports, News, X Sidebar / By

A Long March 7A rocket lifts off Dec. 23 from the Wenchang space center. Credit: CASC China launched two classified Shiyan satellites Dec. 23 into a geostationary transfer orbit aboard a Long March 7A rocket, one of the country’s newest launch vehicles. The mission took off from China’s Wenchang launch base on Hainan Island. The …

Long March 7A rocket deploys two Chinese tech demo satellites Read More »

Experiments, holiday gifts delivered by SpaceX to International Space Station

Mission Reports, News, Space Station, X Sidebar / By

SpaceX’s Cargo Dragon spacecraft, set against the blackness of space, arrived at the International Space Station early Wednesday. SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Endurance capsule is pictured in the foreground docked at the station. Credit: NASA/Raja Chari A SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule pulled into port at the International Space Station Wednesday, a day after launch from Florida’s …

Experiments, holiday gifts delivered by SpaceX to International Space Station Read More »

SpaceX flight sets record for most orbital launches from Space Coast in a year

Falcon 9, Mission Reports, News, X Sidebar / By

A Falcon 9 rocket climbs off pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center early Tuesday to begin SpaceX’s CRS-24 resupply mission to the International Space Station. Credit: SpaceX The liftoff of a SpaceX cargo ship on the way to the International Space Station early Tuesday was the 31st and final orbital launch from Florida’s Space …

SpaceX flight sets record for most orbital launches from Space Coast in a year Read More »

Webb telescope encapsulated inside Ariane 5 rocket’s nose cone

Ariane 5, Mission Reports, News, X Sidebar / By

The Ariane 5 rocket’s payload fairing, emblazoned with the Webb mission logo, was lowered over the James Webb Space Telescope on Friday. Credit: ESA-Manuel Pedoussaut The James Webb Space Telescope has been closed up inside the nose cone of its Ariane 5 launcher in French Guiana, and officials confirmed Saturday the huge astronomical observatory is …

Webb telescope encapsulated inside Ariane 5 rocket’s nose cone Read More »

Data relay satellite deployed on China’s 50th orbital launch attempt of the year

Mission Reports, News, X Sidebar / By

A Chinese Long March 3B rocket lifts off Dec. 13 with Tianlian 2-02 data relay satellite. Credit: CASC China succeeded in its 50th orbital launch attempt of the year Dec. 13, when a Long March 3B rocket delivered a Tianlian data relay satellite to orbit on a mission to link ground control with the Chinese …

Data relay satellite deployed on China’s 50th orbital launch attempt of the year Read More »