ULA Atlas V launches AEHF-6 comsat in first launch for new US Space Force
The newly inaugurated US Space Force had its first new satellite launched on 26 March. The AEHF 6 was launched at 2018 GMT from Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA, on a United Launch Alliance (ULA)-operated Atlas V in its 551 configuration. The AEHF 6 satellite will be used...
China’s launches continue with Long March 2C launch of three Yaogan intelligence sats
China successfully launched three Yaogan satellites, Yaogan 30-6-1, -2, and -3, at 0343 GMT on 24 March using a Long March 2C flying from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in China. These Yaogan satellites are officially civilian in nature but are actually expected...
Venesat is retired to graveyard after suspected power issue
While it was the mortality of humans was exercising the minds of most on Earth, it became apparent that something was badly wrong with the 11-year-old Venesat-1 (Simon Bolivar) Venezuelan communications satellite. It was summarily moved to a graveyard orbit in...
Despite Coronavirus crisis Russians launch Soyuz carrying 34 OneWeb satellites
While COVID-19 has hobbled the launch plans of many satellite operators at other sites, Russia and China are continuing with their programmes. Thus, while Arianespace’s Soyuz launches from Sinnamary, near Kourou in French Guiana, have been suspended, its Russian...
On a lighter note: Coronavirus can go hang…let us laugh…if only nervously
Among all the doom and gloom of the Coronavirus pandemic there has been some amusing moments...even if some have been of the darker gallows humour kind. But at least these made us laugh...albeit nervously. Tips for home workers (and shirkers) As we found ourselves...
SpaceX Falcon 9 wins Intelsat 40e launch order
SpaceX is looking ahead of the Coronavirus outbreak as it lands yet another launch contract. The global communications satellite operator Intelsat has chosen to launch its Maxar (SSL)-built Intelsat-40e communications satellite via a Falcon 9 launch vehicle. The...
Coronavirus Analysis: How is the outbreak affecting space industry? (Updated)
Whether you call it coronavirus or COVID-19 you cannot avoid this “Elephant in the Room”, which is affecting much of industry and commerce, the world’s health systems and even basic human relationships. And space has not been insulated from the virus. Despite a tardy...
Russia launches Glonass navsat using Soyuz 2-1B/Fregat M
Russia successfully launched a navigation satellite codenamed Cosmos 2545 as part of its Glonass navigation system at 1828 GMT on 16 March into Medium Earth Orbit on a Soyuz 2-1B/Fregat M launch vehicle. The launch took place from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Northern...
China suffers launch failure of Long March 7A rocket on its maiden flight
The maiden flight of China’s Long March 7A at 1334 GMT lifted off on 16 March from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Centre on Hainan Island. But the launch failed when a serious problem arose with the second or third stage of the vehicle. The failure was not a complete...
Abort stymies Falcon 9 launch of Starlinks but it later flew successfully albeit with one engine shutdown and loss of reusable first stage
SpaceX suffered an unusual occurrence on 15 March. At 1322 GMT, with one second to go before the Falcon 9 launch of another 60 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral, Florida, the rocket shut down its nine first-stage engines. This happened after on-board detection...
