Tag: Earth observation
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UAE military satellite lost in Vega launch failure
A Vega rocket fired off its launch pad in Kourou, French Guiana, at 9:53:03 p.m. EDT Wednesday (0153:03 GMT Thursday), but fell back to Earth minutes after after suffering an in-flight failure. Credit: Arianespace A European Vega launcher failed Wednesday night around two minutes after liftoff from French Guiana and fell into the Atlantic Ocean,…
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Live coverage: Vega rocket fails during launch of UAE surveillance satellite
Live coverage of the countdown and launch of a Vega rocket with the Falcon Eye 1 Earth-imaging satellite for the United Arab Emirates. Text updates will appear automatically below. Follow us on Twitter. Arianespace’s live video webcast begins at approximately 0135 GMT (9:35 p.m. EDT), and will be available on this page.
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Vega launch timeline with Falcon Eye 1
The Falcon Eye 1 military reconnaissance satellite for the United Arab Emirates is set to ride a Vega launcher into a 379-mile-high (611-kilometer) orbit Wednesday night from French Guiana on a mission that will take less than one hour from liftoff until spacecraft separation. Liftoff is scheduled for July 10 at 9:53:03 p.m. EDT (0153:03…
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Commercial satellite images historic Apollo launch pads
Launch pad 39A is now used by SpaceX for Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rocket launches. In this view captured Monday, the strongback transporter structure is seen in the horizontal position at pad 39A, with a U.S. flag waving from the fixed service structure, a tower originally built for the space shuttle and modified for…
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Arianespace delays Vega launch to avoid unfavorable high-altitude winds
EDITOR’S NOTE: Launch postponed again Sunday. The Falcon Eye 1 observation satellite, encapsulated inside the Vega rocket’s Swiss-made payload fairing, is prepared for attachment on top of the launch vehicle. Credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace – Photo Optique Video du CSG – P. Baudon The launch from French Guiana of a solid-fueled Vega rocket with a European-built surveillance satellite…
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Rocket Lab flies again from New Zealand as work progresses at Virginia launch pad
Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket lifts off from New Zealand on Saturday. Credit: Rocket Lab Rocket Lab’s third flight of the year delivered seven small commercial, military and educational satellites into orbit Saturday after a launch from New Zealand, while construction of a new launch pad in Virginia continues on pace for completion by the end…
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Launch timeline for Rocket Lab’s “Make it Rain” mission
EDITOR’S NOTE: Updated June 28 to reflect new target launch date. Rocket Lab’s light-class Electron launcher is set to take off on its seventh flight from New Zealand, aiming for a 280-mile-high (450-kilometer) orbit with seven small satellites for commercial customers, the U.S. military and university students. The two-stage, 55-foot-tall (17-meter) rocket is scheduled for liftoff…
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Live coverage: Rocket Lab launches rideshare mission
Live coverage of the countdown and launch of a Rocket Lab Electron rocket from Launch Complex 1 on Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand carrying seven small Earth observation, data relay and tech demo satellites into orbit. Text updates will appear automatically below. Follow us on Twitter. Rocket Lab’s live video webcast begins approximately 15 minutes prior to launch,…
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Rocket Lab’s next launch will loft cluster of satellites on Spaceflight rideshare
The BlackSky Global 3 Earth-imaging satellite is the largest of seven spacecraft slated to launch on Rocket Lab’s sixth mission. Credit: Rocket Lab Rocket Lab’s next launch from New Zealand is set for no earlier than June 27 with a bundle of spacecraft including a commercial Earth-observing microsatellite for BlackSky, two CubeSats for U.S. Special…
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Photos: Falcon 9’s fog-enshrouded launch and landing at Vandenberg
These photos show the June 12 launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California with three Earth-observing satellites for Canada’s Radarsat Constellation Mission. The 229-foot-tall Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex 4-East at Vandenberg at 7:17 a.m. PDT (10:17 a.m. EDT; 1417 GMT). Eight minutes later,…