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

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

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

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