Tag: Atlas V
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ULA Atlas V finally launches with NROL-36
The Atlas V launch – believed to be carrying a pair of ocean surveillance satellites to locate ships at sea, in a mission designated NROL-36 – launched on Thursday night at 21:39 GMT (2:39pm Local), from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The launch suffered from several delays since its initial August 14 launch date, prior to Thursday’s…
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OPF-3’s conversion into Boeing’s C3PF to begin on September 10
The removal of work stands in Orbiter Processing Facility -3 (OPF-3) will begin next week, as the former home to Shuttle orbiters is converted into the new processing facility for Boeing’s future crewed spacecraft, CST-100. The conversion is expected to take a year, as the OPF changes call signs to the Commercial Crew and Cargo…
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Atlas V launches at the third attempt with RBSP spacecraft
The United Launch Alliance (ULA) finally launched their Atlas V, carrying a pair of NASA spacecraft – called the Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) – to study the Van Allen radiation belts. Liftoff from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral was on schedule at 4:05am Eastern (08:05 UTC), followed by the successful deployment of the two…
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NASA and ULA confirm Atlas V baseline for human rated launches
The United Launch Alliance (ULA) have completed a major review into the ability to Human Rate the Atlas V launch vehicle. In cooperation with NASA, ULA engineers conducted a System Requirements Review (SRR) and Systems Design Review (SDR), creating the certification baseline to launch NASA astronauts into Low Earth Orbit via Atlas V’s various crewed…
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Sierra Nevada’s 5-year partnership with NASA – Progress on Dream Chaser
Five years after joining forces with NASA’s Langley Research Center, the Sierra Nevada Corporation continues to narrow its focus on their Dream Chaser spaceplane – a NASA Commercial Crew Development-funded vehicle that will one day transport astronauts to Low Earth Orbit destinations including but not limited to the International Space Station. NASA Langley and Sierra…
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ULA Atlas V marks 50th EELV launch by lofting NROL-38 uphill
United Launch Alliance (ULA) have launched their Atlas V on Wednesday morning – marking the 50th EELV mission – carrying the NROL-38 payload for the US National Reconnaissance Office. Liftoff from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral was on schedule at 12:28 UTC (08:28 local time).Atlas V with NROL-38: Details of the NROL-38 spacecraft…
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ULA Atlas V successfully launches at the second attempt with AEHF-2
The United Launch Alliance Atlas V has successfully launched the second Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEFH-2) communications satellite into orbit for the United States Air Force. Lift-off from Space Launch Complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, occurred at 2:42pm EDT on Friday. The second attempt came after Thursday’s attempt was scrubbed…
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ULA continue their transition back into the human space flight arena
The United Launch Alliance (ULA) – best known in recent years for their high end payload launch services – are continuing their transition back into Human Space Flight operations. With an early history in human launches stretching back to safely sending astronaut John Glenn into space, ULA’s Atlas V is the preferred launch vehicle for…
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No impact to two ULA missions following Delta Mariner accident
The Delta Mariner – carrying hardware elements targeting two future launches – collided with the Eggner’s Ferry Bridge over Kentucky Lake on Thursday night. However, despite extensive damage to the bridge, no serious injuries were reported. ULA have noted that there will be no mission impact to the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF-2) and Radiation…
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Dream Chaser making impressive progress ahead of CCDev-3
Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) have provided a positive overview on their progress in readying their Dream Chaser spacecraft for commercial crew operations in 2016. A fan favorite – due to its baby shuttle orbiter appearance – Dream Chaser has been paired with the highly reliable Atlas V launch vehicle as part of their Commercial Crew…