Webb fuelled for launch
The James Webb Space Telescope was fuelled inside the payload preparation facility at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana ahead of its launch on Ariane 5. Webb’s thrusters will use this propellant to make critical course-corrections after separation from Ariane 5, to maintain its prescribed orbit about one and a half million kilometres from Earth, and to Read More
United Launch Alliance STP-3 Mission Scrubbed
The launch of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 551 rocket carrying the Space Test Program-3 (STP-3) mission for the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC) has been scrubbed. The team repaired the ground storage system but will require additional time to verify the sample integrity of the fuel prior to tanking operations. Launch Read More
United Launch Alliance STP-3 Mission Scrubbed
The launch of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 551 rocket carrying the Space Test Program-3 (STP-3) mission for the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command (SSC) has been scrubbed. During initial operations, a leak was discovered in the Rocket Propellant-1 (RP-1) ground storage system. Launch is now scheduled for Mon., Dec. 6 at 4:04 Read More
First Look ULA Atlas V 551 STP-3 SLC-41 Pad Photos
ULA calls the Atlas V 551 "The Beast" producing more than two and a half million pounds of thrust at liftoff! This rocket is the most powerful in the Atlas V fleet. In its 15 years of service, the 551 has launched groundbreaking missions for our nation including historic science missions like New Horizons, the Read More
NASA’s Next Laser Communications Mission – with video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTWHDMTSrGs We’re taking a step toward the next era of space communications with the launch of the Laser Communications Relay Demonstration, or LCRD, on Sunday, Dec. 5. LCRD is set to launch as part of the United States Space Force Space Systems Command’s Space Test Program 3 (STP-3) mission. STP-3 will launch on a Read More
Earth from Space: White Nile, Sudan
A part of the White Nile state in Sudan is featured in this false-colour image captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission. Click on the image below to explore it in its full 10 m resolution. White Nile is one of the 18 states of Sudan. Covering an area of around 40 000 sq km, the Read More
SpaceX Starlink 4-3 is the 134th company launch to date!
A Perfect on time liftoff at 6:12 PM EDT 12-2-21 for SpaceX Starlink 4-3 with 48 Starlink satellites and two ride share BlackSky optical Earth observation satellites have all been successfully deployed. First stage booster B-1060.9 successfully landed on autonomous drone ship ASOG (A Shortfall Of Gravitas) down range completing it's ninth trip to outer Read More
United Launch Alliance to Launch STP-3 Mission in Support of National Security
Mission will be a direct injection to Geosynchronous Equatorial Orbit (GEO) and longest mission to date A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket is in final preparations to launch the Space Test Program (STP)-3 mission for the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command. The launch is on track for Dec. 5, 2021 from Space Read More
A one-way phone call at Mars
In brief This November, ESA’s Mars Express spacecraft carried out a series of experimental communication tests with the Chinese (CNSA) Zhurong Mars rover. Mars Express successfully caught data sent up ‘in the blind’ by the rover and relayed them to Earth where they were forwarded to the Zhurong team in China. In-depth 13:07 CET, 7 Read More
Test tanks fuelled for ESA’s Themis reusable first stage
Recently completed tests of two propellant tanks set a first technological milestone in the ESA reusability roadmap towards the demonstration of a reusable first stage vehicle called Themis. Through the Themis programme, ESA aims to assess the economic value of reusability for Europe while investing in new technologies for potential use in ESA’s future fleet Read More