ULA Atlas V rocket lifts-off carrying USAF comms satellite and piggy-back CubeSat
At 1013 GMT, on 8 August 2019, a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket lifted-off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, marking the second launch in 36 hours for the launch site. The mission was in aid of the United States Air Force (USAF) and carried as the primary...
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Arianespace carries out dual Ariane 5 mission carrying two communications satellites
At 1930 GMT, on 6 August 2019, an Arianespace Ariane 5 heavy-lift rocket lifted-off from Kourou, French Guiana, carrying two communications satellites to a Geostationary Transfer Orbit drop-off point. This marks the third Ariane 5 launch of the year and it follows a...
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SpaceX redeems itself by launching AMOS-17 satellite for Amos Spacecom
Lifting-off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 2323 GMT, on 6 August 2019, a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle carried the AMOS-17 communications satellite into a Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO). AMOS-17 is an multi-band satellite for Israeli FSS operator Space...
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BLAGOVEST 4 comms satellite launched for Russia by Proton-M
At 2156 GMT, 5 August 2019, a Russian Proton-M rocket, with Briz-M upper-stage, lifted-off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, carrying the fourth BLAGOVEST communications satellite into an eventual Geostationary orbit. The satellite also known as BLAGOVEST 14L,...
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Russia launches Progress cargo craft to resupply the ISS
At 1211 GMT on 31 July 2019, a Russian Soyuz 2-1A rocket lifted-off carrying the PROGRESS MS-12 cargo freighter to a precise intercept with the International Space Station (ISS). The mission was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, and was timed down to...
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Italy orders communications satellite from Thales Alenia Space for European GovSatCom project
On 23 July 2019, the Italian Space Agency (ASI) ordered the 2,300 kg ITAL-GOVSATCOM satellite from Thales Alenia Space as part of a national contribution to the wider European GovSatCom project. Thales Alenia will be acting as the lead company in a "temporary...
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Russia launches Meridian 8 communications satellite to Molniya orbit
At 0556 GMT, on 30 July 2019, the MERIDIAN 8 military communications satellite was launched by a Russian Soyuz 2-1A rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. The Soyuz rocket utilised a Fregat-M upper stage. The Meridian programme utilises the highly elliptical, Molniya...
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Long March 2C launches Yaogan 30-05 triplet whilst sporting grid-fins on its first stage
An unexpected Chinese satellite launch took place from Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 0357 GMT, 26 July 2019. This mission saw a CALT (Chinese Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology) Long March 2C (CZ-2C) rocket orbit a triplet of YAOGAN 30-05 Earth Observation...
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SpaceX Dragon CRS-18 resupply mission launched from Cape Canaveral
Following a week of delays, the SpaceX Dragon CRS-18 ISS resupply mission lifted-off from Cape Canaveral, United States of America, at 25 July, at 2202 GMT, utilising the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle. The mission is carrying 1,691 kg of supplies and equipment to the...
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Chinese commercial launch firm iSpace launches cubesats on its Hyperbola-1 rocket
At circa 0500 GMT on 25 July, the Chinese commercial launch start-up firm iSpace successfully launched two cubesat-class spacecraft into a 300 km low Earth orbit from the Jiuquan launch site on its Hyperbola 1 (Shian Quxian) rocket - plus some payloads attached to the...
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