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SpaceX's 18th resupply mission launches to the ISS
Photo: Richard AngleLast night at 6:01 PM EST SpaceX successfully launched the 18th resupply mission for NASA to the International Space Station. After two reschedules, a Dragon capsule on board a Falcon 9 rocket was finally able to launch. In two days the capsule will dock, and along with the usual supplies for the astronauts there are several experiments to be conducted using space’s harsh conditions, as well as microgravity. The weather leading up to today’s launch has been less than ideal.
SpaceX to launch twice-flown Dragon spacecraft to the ISS
On July 24th, SpaceX is sending up the Cargo Dragon on board a Falcon 9 rocket for the 18th resupply mission to the International Space Station for NASA. On board this mission are not only necessary supplies for the astronauts, but supplies for them to continue living in space. One of the experiments launching on this mission is going to hopefully help the medicine world. With the age of technology we are at today, there has long been plans to try and figure out a way to 3D print human organs.
SpaceX to launch twice-flown Dragon spacecraft to the ISS
On July 24th, SpaceX is sending up the Cargo Dragon on board a Falcon 9 rocket for the 18th resupply mission to the International Space Station for NASA. On board this mission are not only necessary supplies for the astronauts, but supplies for them to continue living in space. One of the experiments launching on this mission is going to hopefully help the medicine world. With the age of technology we are at today, there has long been plans to try and figure out a way to 3D print human organs.
SpaceX updates us on Crew Dragon anomoly
As most may remember - On April 20th, SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft exploded at their landing zones during the abort motor testing of the recently-recovered spacecraft from the DM-1 mission. This was meant to do tests of the abort system after recovery ahead of using that capsule for the In-Flight Abort test they had planned to do a month later. The explosion of Crew Dragon turned many heads and many people questioned the safety of Dragon. SpaceX and NASA have been working very closely over
SpaceX updates us on Crew Dragon anomoly
As most may remember - On April 20th, SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft exploded at their landing zones during the abort motor testing of the recently-recovered spacecraft from the DM-1 mission. This was meant to do tests of the abort system after recovery ahead of using that capsule for the In-Flight Abort test they had planned to do a month later. The explosion of Crew Dragon turned many heads and many people questioned the safety of Dragon. SpaceX and NASA have been working very closely over
India’s Chandrayaan-2 Prepares For Launch
Image credit: ISROIndia is on the precipice of it’s most ambitious lunar mission yet. On July 14th, the Chandrayaan-2 Lunar exploration mission will commence, lifting off from Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, India. The India Space Research Organisation (ISRO), in collaboration with Russia’s Roscosms, has designed and built a triple threat; A Lunar orbiter, lander, and rover all in one. The Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk.3, arrived at the launch pad earlier this morning. The launch is s
India’s Chandrayaan-2 Prepares For Launch
Image credit: ISROIndia is on the precipice of it’s most ambitious lunar mission yet. On July 14th, the Chandrayaan-2 Lunar exploration mission will commence, lifting off from Satish Dhawan Space Center in Sriharikota, India. The India Space Research Organisation (ISRO), in collaboration with Russia’s Roscosms, has designed and built a triple threat; A Lunar orbiter, lander, and rover all in one. The Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk.3, arrived at the launch pad earlier this morning. The launch is s
Arianespace's Vega rocket suffers first failure
At 9:53pm ET, Arianespace launched their Vega rocket carrying an Earth observation satellite for the United Arab Emirates, named FalconEye1. It launched successfully from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana, and had performed nominally up until first stage cutoff. From the ground, it had seemed the second stage did not ignite after cutoff and the webcast switched to a graphic showing the animation of the rocket continuing, but the telemetry data shown on the side of the webcast sh
Arianespace's Vega rocket suffers first failure
At 9:53pm ET, Arianespace launched their Vega rocket carrying an Earth observation satellite for the United Arab Emirates, named FalconEye1. It launched successfully from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana, and had performed nominally up until first stage cutoff. From the ground, it had seemed the second stage did not ignite after cutoff and the webcast switched to a graphic showing the animation of the rocket continuing, but the telemetry data shown on the side of the webcast sh
How these six new satellties will improve weather forecasting
Credit: Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd Six of the 24 payloads that launched on Falcon Heavy last week were the constellation of COSMIC-2 microsatellites by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and the National Space Organization (NSPO). Built on the success of COSMIC-1, these six satellites will work in unison to observe the Climate, Ionosphere, and Atmosphere of our planet. They have multiple sensors on board to record temperature, air pressure, density, and humidity to impr
How these six new satellties will improve weather forecasting
Credit: Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd Six of the 24 payloads that launched on Falcon Heavy last week were the constellation of COSMIC-2 microsatellites by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and the National Space Organization (NSPO). Built on the success of COSMIC-1, these six satellites will work in unison to observe the Climate, Ionosphere, and Atmosphere of our planet. They have multiple sensors on board to record temperature, air pressure, density, and humidity to impr
LightSail-2 takes flight on Falcon Heavy
Photo: The Planetary Society “Well there’s just a tremendously exciting prospect called solar sailing. And this is a very crude model.” With this introduction by famed astrophysicist Carl Sagan, Johnny Carson begins to clear off his desk to make room. Sagan pulls a large pyramid shaped model out from behind his chair. It looks delicate, consisting of a thin sheet of a shiny material and held together by wooden skewers and string. “It’ll take you where you want to go.” In 1972 Carl Sagan introdu
LightSail-2 takes flight on Falcon Heavy
Photo: The Planetary Society “Well there’s just a tremendously exciting prospect called solar sailing. And this is a very crude model.” With this introduction by famed astrophysicist Carl Sagan, Johnny Carson begins to clear off his desk to make room. Sagan pulls a large pyramid shaped model out from behind his chair. It looks delicate, consisting of a thin sheet of a shiny material and held together by wooden skewers and string. “It’ll take you where you want to go.” In 1972 Carl Sagan introdu
NASA launches In-Flight Abort test of Orion Capsule
07/03/19 - At the time of publish, NASA & Lockheed Martin are on target for NET 07/02/19 07:15EST launch of the AAT-2 Mission, which will be a critical hardware test for the Artemis Moon Mission. The Orion Crew Capsule, produced by Lockheed Martin, is set to be launched on top of the upcoming SLS Rocket and will feature a Tractor Launch Abort System in order to keep human passengers safe during the most critical moments of the flight profile. The AAT-2 mission will see a test article version of
NASA's Mobile Launcher arrives at LC39B
Photo: Ryan Bale Big things are on the move at Kennedy Space Center...literally. Actually, only one “big thing” that weighs 10.5 million pounds and stands a total of 380 feet off the ground (according to NASA). NASA’s Mobile Launcher 1 (ML-1) was rolled out of the Vehicle Assembly Building on a ten hour (and yet only four mile long) journey to Launch Complex 39-B. Here it will prepare for the launch of the SLS rocket and Orion capsule during Artemis-1 mission, which will be the first test of t
NASA's Mobile Launcher arrives at LC39B
Photo: Ryan Bale Big things are on the move at Kennedy Space Center...literally. Actually, only one “big thing” that weighs 10.5 million pounds and stands a total of 380 feet off the ground (according to NASA). NASA’s Mobile Launcher 1 (ML-1) was rolled out of the Vehicle Assembly Building on a ten hour (and yet only four mile long) journey to Launch Complex 39-B. Here it will prepare for the launch of the SLS rocket and Orion capsule during Artemis-1 mission, which will be the first test of t
NASA's Orion spacecraft completes critical test
Image credit: Richard Angle This morning at 7am ET, NASA’s Orion spacecraft completed a critical test for the future of the SLS program and returning humans to the Moon. Orion launched on top of a refurbished Peacekeeper ICBM first stage that was supplied by Northrop Grumman (formerly Orbital ATK). The abort test only lasted about 3 minutes, with the test concluding after the data recorders were jettisoned (separated) from the Orion crew capsule. The Launch Abort System (LAS) initiated at 31,00
NASA's Orion spacecraft completes critical test
Image credit: Richard Angle This morning at 7am ET, NASA’s Orion spacecraft completed a critical test for the future of the SLS program and returning humans to the Moon. Orion launched on top of a refurbished Peacekeeper ICBM first stage that was supplied by Northrop Grumman (formerly Orbital ATK). The abort test only lasted about 3 minutes, with the test concluding after the data recorders were jettisoned (separated) from the Orion crew capsule. The Launch Abort System (LAS) initiated at 31,00
NASA's Replacement for Hydrazine?
Photo: NasaNASA is developing a new type of fuel that would act as an environmentally friendly replacement for Hydrazine. This new fuel is safer to handle, easier to use, and lasts longer, allowing the spacecraft to remain operational for longer periods of time. This new fuel goes by the name AF-M315E. Recently launched on SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket, the Green Propellant Infusion Mission, or GPIM, will prove the real life applications of using this fuel as an alternative to other monopropell
NASA's Replacement for Hydrazine?
Photo: NasaNASA is developing a new type of fuel that would act as an environmentally friendly replacement for Hydrazine. This new fuel is safer to handle, easier to use, and lasts longer, allowing the spacecraft to remain operational for longer periods of time. This new fuel goes by the name AF-M315E. Recently launched on SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket, the Green Propellant Infusion Mission, or GPIM, will prove the real life applications of using this fuel as an alternative to other monopropell