SpaceX has won the launch contract to put the Egyptian communications satellite Nilesat 301 into orbit. The launch will use a Falcon 9 launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral in 2022. The 4,000 kg satellite is currently being built by Thales Alenia Space. The contract...
The idea of “rapid launch” – much mooted in the past – is finally becoming a reality. New Zealand-based rocket provider Rocket Lab has announced that the US National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) has ordered an Electron launch for its NRO-151 mission, unofficially...
A pair of communications satellites, Eutelsat-Konnect and GSAT-30, were successfully launched by an Ariane 5 ECA rocket into a 35764 x 245 km orbit six degree inclination geosynchronous Transfer orbit (GTO). The launch of the VA251 flight took place from the Kourou,...
While still high relative to recent years, the space launch total for 2019 at 102 orbital attempted launches was more than 10 per cent down on last year’s figure of 114. China continued to dominate, again taking the number one spot with 34 launches. These included the...
With more than a tad of embarrassment, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine had to admit that the first launch of the first commercial crew-carrying spacecraft, Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner, had not gone to plan. While the spacecraft was launched as planned to a near...
SpaceX successfully launched the JCSAT-18/Kacific-1 satellite at 0012 GMT on 17 December using a Falcon 9v1.2FT Block 5 rocket. The launch took place in the eastward direction from a launch pad at the Cape Canaveral air station in Florida. The reusable first stage...
