SSI News
On a Sadder Note: Apollo 8 pioneer astronaut Frank Borman dies
Leading Apollo astronaut, test pilot, engineer and airline executive, Colonel Frank Borman, has died at the age of 95. Frank Borman was a pioneer astronaut who commanded the Apollo 8 flight – the first human mission around the Moon. This key flight enabled the later...
Chinese Long March 3B rocket puts Chinasat-6E in orbit
Via a launch of its Long March 3B/G2 (2) Improved (CZ-3B/G2 (2) Improved) rocket, China put its new Chinasat-6E (Zhongxing-6E) communications satellite into orbit from Xichang launch site in China. The launch occurred at 1123 GMT on 9 November. The spacecraft was...
RS-1 launch failure investigation: launch mount-induced aft fire damage to electrics caused engines’ shutdown
The cause of the launch failure of the RS-1 launch of a pair of Varisat-1 communications technology test satellites in January has been revealed. The launch took place at 2327 GMT on 10 January 2023 from Kodiak Island, Alaska, USA. At 10.87s after lift-off the first...
Electron launch failure in September: electrical arcing event was the cause
Rocket Lab has released the results of its investigation into the launch failure of its Electron KS rocket on 17 September 2023. Rocket Lab launched Electron KS from Māhia Peninsula, New Zealand, at 0655 GMT on 19 September 2023. The Electron was carrying Acadia 2,...
Starlink Group 6-27 is launched by a Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral
SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9v1.2FT Block 5 rocket from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA at 0505 GMT on 8 November 2023. The launch vehicle was carrying Starlink Group 6-27, a total of 23 (V2-mini) satellites for the second-generation Starlink...
On a Sadder Note: Apollo and Shuttle astronaut Ken Mattingly dies at the age of 87
Apollo astronaut Ken Mattingly who became famous for mission the failed Apollo 13 mission in 1970 over a German measles health scare, but later became a hero to its rescue on the ground, has died at the age of 87. Mattingly had been a US Navy pilot, test pilot, and...
Israeli Arrow missile makes exo-atmospheric ‘space interception’ of hostile ballistic missile
An Israeli Arrow anti-ballistic missile interceptor made the first ever direct interception of a live ballistic missile in space (above the Karman line 100 km altitude limit). The tracked ballistic missile, apparently aimed at Israel, was allegedly fired by Houthi...
SpaceX launches Starlink Group 6-26 via its Falcon 9 rocket
SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9v1.2FT Block 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral, California, USA at 0037 GMT on 04 November 2023. The launch vehicle was carrying Starlink Group 6-26, a total of 23 v2 Mini satellites for the second-generation Starlink communications...
Long March 7A rocket launches experimental communications satellite TJS-10 for China
At 1454 GMT on 3 November a Long March 7A (CZ-7A) rocket successfully carried the TJS-10 satellite into GTO from where it will propel itself in to GEO. The mission lifted-off from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center, Hainan Island, southern China. The TJS or TJSW...
Virgin Galactic completes sixth sub-orbital flight in six months to round out its year
Virgin Galactic has completed its sixth sub-orbital, space tourism, flight of the year on 2 November. This mission started at 1502 GMT when the VMS Eve carrier aircraft lifted-off from the Spaceport America, New Mexico. At 1545 GMT VSS Unity was released from Eve to...
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