by David Todd | Oct 31, 2013 | commercial launch services, Russia, Satellites, Science
The launch three Swarm spacecraft on the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Earth magnetic field research mission from Plesetsk, Russia, has been postponed by a decision to replace a unit in the Breeze upper stage of the Rockot launcher. The launch which had been...
by David Todd | Oct 9, 2013 | Apollo, China, exploration, History, JAXA, NASA, Russia, Science, Seradata News, Technology
It is at this time of year (well actually a little later than usual) when the Flightglobal/Ascend space team considers who is in the lead in the race to return astronauts to the Moon. Last year, we did an analysis of what a nation needed to put its astronauts on the...
by David Todd | Oct 8, 2013 | China, ESA, exploration, History, International Space Station, JAXA, NASA, Russia, Science, SLS, Technology
The International Astronautical Congress (IAC) is held every year in a different world city. As China has become the “third force” in manned spaceflight, it was logical and correct that Beijing, China’s capital city, should be selected as the venue...
by David Todd | Oct 7, 2013 | exploration, NASA, Science, Seradata News
Having had its elliptical orbit around Earth raised to reach the moon, NASA’s Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) spacecraft finally entered lunar orbit on the morning of 6 October. The orbital insertion occurred after LADEE fired its main engine...
by David Todd | Oct 4, 2013 | China, commercial launch services, exploration, History, Satellites, Science, space station
While there remain elements of Communist China’s history that cause more sadness and regret than outright celebration, the Chinese nation does have one thing can it can unequivocally celebrate: China’s much admired space programme. At the 64th International...
by David Todd | Oct 4, 2013 | exploration, NASA, Satellites, Science
While most NASA employees have been temporarily laid off following US Congress failure to pass the US budget for this year, some exemptions have been allowed. Just as police, military and other essential workers have been allowed to remain at work (and get paid) so...
