Tag: CubeSats
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Software fix could position Astra for another launch attempt by end of year
Astra’s Rocket 3.1 vehicle lifts off Friday night from Kodiak Island, Alaska. Credit: Astra / John Kraus Astra officials said Saturday a software fix will likely resolve a guidance system problem that caused the company’s first orbital-class rocket to begin drifting off course soon after liftoff from Alaska Friday night, prompting a range safety officer…
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Astra launch falters during first stage burn
Astra’s Rocket 3.1 takes off from Kodiak Island, Alaska. Credit: Astra / John Kraus Astra’s privately-developed small satellite launcher crashed shortly after liftoff from Alaska Friday evening on the company’s first try at reaching orbit. The startup launch company confirmed on Twitter that the flight ended during the rocket’s first stage burn, following a successful…
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Astra readies small satellite launcher for test flight from Alaska
EDITOR’S NOTE: Updated Aug. 3 after scrubbed launch attempt. Updated Aug. 4 after second scrub. Astra’s Rocket 3.1 stands on its launch mount at the Pacific Spaceport Complex on Kodiak Island, Alaska. Credit: Astra / John Kraus After completing a countdown dress rehearsal, Astra is gearing up for its first orbital launch attempt this week from…
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Rocket Lab identifies faulty electrical connector as cause of launch failure
A Rocket Lab Electron rocket lifts off from New Zealand on July 4 with seven small satellites. The rocket’s upper stage shut down prematurely, resulting in the loss of all seven payloads. Credit: Rocket Lab A detached electrical connector on the second stage of Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket caused a failure on a July 4…
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Virgin Orbit traces cause of LauncherOne engine failure to propellant line
Virgin Orbit’s first LauncherOne rocket ignites its engine after release from a Boeing 747 carrier jet during the company’s first orbital launch attempt May 25. Credit: Virgin Orbit An engine failure that cut short the first test flight of Virgin Orbit’s air-dropped LauncherOne rocket in May was caused by a faulty propellant feed line, the…
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Astra ships next small satellite launcher to Alaska spaceport
Astra’s second orbital-class small satellite launcher undergoes a hotfire test before its shipment to Alaska for final launch preparations. Credit: Astra Astra’s next small satellite launcher has shipped to Kodiak Island in Alaska for final preparations ahead of a test flight planned in early August, five months after the company’s first orbital rocket faltered before…
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Astra ships next small satellite launcher to Alaska spaceport
Astra’s second orbital-class small satellite launcher undergoes a hotfire test before its shipment to Alaska for final launch preparations. Credit: Astra Astra’s next small satellite launcher has shipped to Kodiak Island in Alaska for final preparations ahead of a test flight planned in early August, five months after the company’s first orbital rocket faltered before…
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Chinese launches loft satellites to study space environment and observe Earth
A Long March 4B rocket takes off from the Taiyuan space center Friday. Credit: Xinhua China launched a Long March 2D rocket Saturday with a satellite Chinese officials claimed will study the space environment and conduct technology demonstrations, less than two days after a Long March 4B rocket took off from a different launch site…
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Rocket Lab satellite launch fails before reaching orbit
An Electron rocket takes off Saturday (U.S. time) from New Zealand with seven satellites on-board. Credit: Rocket Lab A failure during the second stage burn of a Rocket Lab Electron rocket caused seven small commercial satellites to crash back to Earth Saturday following liftoff from New Zealand. Carrying satellites from the United States, Japan and…
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Live coverage: Rocket Lab confirms launch failure after liftoff with seven satellites
Live coverage of the countdown and launch of a Rocket Lab Electron rocket from Launch Complex 1 on Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand carrying payloads into orbit for Canon Electronics, Planet and In-Space Missions. Text updates will appear automatically below. Follow us on Twitter. Rocket Lab’s live video webcast begins approximately 15 minutes prior to launch, and will…