Dream Chaser is once again awaiting its first space flight. Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser spaceplane will not launch as planned this summer aboard United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) new Vulcan Centaur rocket. That means ULA plans to move forward with two critical national security preparedness launches, scheduled to be completed by late 2024, to meet the … Read more
WASHINGTON – United Launch Alliance will fly an inert payload and instrumentation on its second Vulcan Centaur mission after concluding that Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser would not be ready in time for a launch this fall. At a press conference on June 26, ULA CEO Tory Bruno said the upcoming Cert-2 mission, now scheduled for … Read more
Enlarge / The first stage of the Ariane 6 rocket at Europe’s spaceport in Kourou in the French overseas department of Guyana, on March 26, 2024. LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP via Getty Images Eleven years ago, a panel discussion took place at a space conference in Singapore that has since become legendary in certain corners of the … Read more
NASA successfully launched the fourth and final satellite in a series of advanced weather satellites for NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) on Tuesday at 5:26 PM EDT. The GOES-U (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite) will benefit the nation by providing continuous coverage of weather and hazardous environmental conditions across much of the Western Hemisphere. The … Read more
After the wet rehearsal on the launch pad in French Guiana, Europe’s new Ariane 6 rocket is on track for its inaugural launch. The European Space Agency (ESA) announced during a press conference on June 25 that the rehearsal was a “great success”. After years of delays, ESA is confident that their Ariane 6 rocketconsidered … Read more
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The green lights continue to shine ahead of the launch of a powerful U.S. weather satellite. GOES-Uthe fourth and final member of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) GOES-R series of next-generation weather systems satelliteshas been approved for its planned launch on Tuesday (June 25), following an in-depth readiness … Read more
29 After a week in which Tropical Storm Alberto delayed the Florida launch schedule in high seas, wind and rain, SpaceX hopes to get back on track this week with launches planned for all three active Falcon launch pads, including a Valk heavy. By the end of the week, the Japan Aerospace and Exploration Agency … Read more
The first flight of the new Ariane 6 heavy-lift launch vehicle is expected on July 9, four years later than the original schedule, finally putting an end to recurring development delays and industrial setbacks. Meanwhile, with no domestic launch vehicles available, Europe has had to rely on US rival SpaceX to launch its scientific and … Read more
In 1974, the late Princeton University professor and space visionary Gerard O’Neill proposed using electromagnetic rail guns to capture payloads from the moon. O’Neill proposed using “mass drivers”, based on a coil gun design, to accelerate a non-magnetic object. One application for mass drivers was launching lunar-derived materials into lunar orbit for production in space. … Read more
Falcon Heavy, consisting of three first Falcon 9 rocket stages, can be seen off the Space Coast, weather permitting. Playalinda Beach (Canaveral National Seashore) is the closest place to view the launch, as it runs almost parallel to Launch Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. Godspeed, Falcon Heavy! The giant SpaceX rocket – more … Read more