by David Todd | Dec 15, 2015 | exploration, JAXA
The Japanese Akatsuki (Planet-C) spacecraft finally entered orbit around the planet Venus after a five-year odyssey. The spacecraft made an engine firing of an attitude control engine at 2351 GMT on 6 December 2015. Originally launched in May 2010, the...
by David Todd | Nov 26, 2015 | commercial launch services, JAXA, Launches, Satellites
As it eyes making H-3 (H-III), the next rocket in its family, even more commercially attractive, Mitsubushi Heavy Industries (MHI) has conducted its first commercial launch of a slightly improved “Upgrade” version of its H-2A204 launch vehicle, carrying its first...
by David Todd | Oct 21, 2015 | ESA, India, JAXA, NASA
The city of Jerusalem played host city to the International Astronautical Congress 2015 (IAC 2015). Due to concerns about security, attendance was about 30% down on usual years, although with over 2,000 participants attending from 58 different countries the...
by David Todd | Sep 29, 2015 | International Space Station, JAXA
The empty Japanese cargo spacecraft HTV-5 (Kounotori-5) cargo craft was filled with rubbish that the crew of the International Space Station (ISS) no longer wanted. After being unberthed from its docking station at 1120 GMT the spacecraft was released by the Canadarm...
by David Todd | Aug 27, 2015 | International Space Station, JAXA, NASA
While August is traditionally a slow month for major news stories, the same cannot be said for the International Space Station with several comings and goings and even a spacewalk during the latter part of the month. On 14 August, Cosmonauts Gennady Padalka and...
by David Todd | Aug 24, 2015 | International Space Station, JAXA, Launches, NASA
After two days of weather delays, an H-2B (H-IIB) rocket successfully launched the Japanese HTV-5 cargo craft heading for the International Space Station at 1150 GMT on 19 August 2015 from the Tanegashima launch site in Japan. The 16.5 metric ton spacecraft, also...
