SpaceX Press Release: SPACEX AWARDED LAUNCH RESERVATION CONTRACT FOR LARGEST CANADIAN SPACE PROGRAM Falcon 9 rocket will deliver RADARSAT Constellation to orbit Hawthorne, CA – Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) was awarded a launch reservation contract with MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (MDA) to support the largest space program to date in Canada, carrying the three […]
NASA Press Release: NASA Sees Enthusiastic Response on Grand Asteroid Challenge ASA Sees Enthusiastic Response to Asteroid Call for Ideas WASHINGTON — NASA has received more than 400 responses to its request for information (RFI) on the agency’s asteroid initiative, Deputy Administrator Lori Garver announced Friday. “Under our plan, we’re increasing the identification, tracking and […]
“Once again, Ariane 5’s unmatched reliability and availability has set the highest standards in the satellite launch business.” – comments by Arianespace CEO Stephane Israel upon Arianespace’s 70th launch for the Ariane V, and its 56th successful launch in a row. Yesterday’s launch of the Ariane V ECA took place at 4:54 pm local time […]
The battle over who will lease NASA Pad 39A took a turn last week which was both surprising and with the injection of yet another Alabama congressman, disturbing. After SpaceNews originally reported that SpaceX was apparently the only bidder for the historic pad, it was subsequently revealed that Blue Origin is interested as well. If […]
On Friday, July 19th, NASA released a draft Request for Proposal for the next phase of the Commercial Crew competition, and with it came some new acronyms. Following Commercial Crew Integrated Capacity (CCiCap), the fourth and final phase will be called Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCap) and is intended to ” develop a U.S. commercial crew space transportation capability […]
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket in its 551 configuration, boosted the U.S. Navy MUOS comsat to orbit this morning. Liftoff of the most powerful version of Atlas rocket, with a 5 meter fairing and five strap on solid rocket boosters was briefly delayed due to high winds, but ultimately lifted off at 9:00 am EST […]
A very interesting solicitation from NASA suggests the agency is sticking its toe in the water a little further in incorporating commercial capabilities into its long-term plans. Titled Collaborations for Commercial Space Capabilities, the NASA synopsis, which is calling for unfunded Space Act Agreements, begins with: ” NASA encourages innovative and entrepreneurial efforts within the private sector to develop new space-related […]
For those who haven’t been following it, NASA is currently caught in a rather bizarre funding bind. With only two and half months to go in the FY2013 year which ends September 30th, the agency still does not know what it is allowed to spend in this year because differing House and Senate Committees have not […]
According to a corrected story in Space News, both SpaceX and Blue Origin have put in a bid for the Kennedy Space Center’s Launchpad 39A. While SpaceX’s possible interest in the pad has been widely reported, the apparent last-minute participation by perpetually mysterious Blue Origin adds a bit of speculative intrigue to what looked like a one […]
SpaceX has completed a full length mission test burn of the Falcon 9 V1.1 first stage at its rocket development facility in McGregor, Tx. This most recent test, which according to the Waco Trib took place at approximately 7:41 p.m. Sunday evening, was confirmed by twitter post from Elon Musk, who congratulated his team for overcoming a number of difficulties. […]
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