Tag: commercial-space
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Taiwanese satellite rides SpaceX rocket into orbit
The Falcon 9 rocket lifts off Thursday with Formosat 5. Credit: SpaceX Flying with an exceptionally lightweight payload, a Falcon 9 rocket delivered a multipurpose research satellite into a nearly 450-mile-high orbit Thursday for Taiwan following a smooth countdown and liftoff from California’s Central Coast. Weighing in at about a half-ton, or 475 kilograms, the…
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Watch a replay of the Falcon 9 launch and landing
Watch a replay of the launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from California carrying Taiwan’s Formosat 5 Earth observation satellite. The Falcon 9’s first stage booster successfully landed on a drone ship in the Pacific Ocean and seconds later the satellite was released from the rocket’s second stage into orbit. Video: SpaceX
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Live coverage: Falcon 9 rocket soars into space from California
Live coverage of the countdown and launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California with the Formosat 5 Earth observation satellite for Taiwan’s National Space Organization. SpaceX’s live video coverage begins at approximately 2:35 p.m. EDT (1835 GMT; 11:35 a.m. PDT). Text updates will appear automatically below; there is no…
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Falcon 9 launch timeline with Formosat 5
Follow the key events of the Falcon 9 rocket’s ascent to orbit with the Formosat 5 Earth observation satellite for Taiwan’s National Space Organization. The 229-foot-tall (70-meter) rocket will lift off Saturday at 11:50 a.m. PDT (2:50 p.m. EDT; 1850 GMT) from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Data source: SpaceX T-0:00:00: Liftoff After the…
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Elon Musk reveals SpaceX’s spacesuit: ‘This actually works’ … and also looks really cool
The spacesuit designed to be worn aboard SpaceX’s Dragon capsule turns up the coolness dial for spaceflight, as befits a company that’s a corporate cousin of the Tesla electric-car venture. “Was incredibly hard to balance esthetics and function,” Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of both companies, said today in a first-look Instagram post. “Easy to…
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Falcon 9 rocket test-fired for California launch next week
The Falcon 9 rocket slated to launch Aug. 24 with the Formosat 5 satellite test-fires its nine main engines Saturday. Credit: SpaceX A commercial Falcon 9 rocket in the final stages of launch preparations fired its nine Merlin main engines Saturday at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, verifying its readiness for liftoff with a…
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SpaceX informed NASA of slowdown in its commercial Mars program
Artist’s concept of a Red Dragon spacecraft on the surface of Mars. Credit: SpaceX Confirming rumors and suspicions that SpaceX is adjusting its plans to begin dispatching robotic landers to Mars, NASA officials said the commercial space company has informed the agency that it has put its Red Dragon program on the back burner. Under…
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IAI sees demand in Earth observation, but few opportunities in telecom
The Israeli-built Optsat 3000 reconnaissance satellite during launch preparations last month in French Guiana. Credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace – Photo Optique Video du CSG – P. Baudon Fresh off the successful launch and initial checkout of two of its spacecraft earlier this month, Israel’s top satellite manufacturer sees a robust global market for new low-altitude reconnaissance payloads,…
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Google Lunar XPRIZE teams get more time and more cash incentives for moon shots
A prototype moon rover makes an appearance at the 2007 kickoff of the Google Lunar XPRIZE competition. (XPRIZE Photo) The Google Lunar XPRIZE finalists now have $4.75 million more to shoot for with the moon missions they’re planning, and more time to shoot for the moon as well. The competition was set up a decade…
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Rocket Lab finishes test flight inquiry, plans second launch later this year
The first Electron rocket took off May 25 from a launch base in New Zealand. Credit: Rocket Lab The inaugural test flight of Rocket Lab’s commercial small satellite booster in May fell short of orbit because a software programming error on a piece of ground equipment led a safety officer to send a premature termination…