Tag: ESA
-
SpaceX given green light to launch Crew-3 mission to ISS, Crew-2’s return date set
Having completed the Flight Readiness Review for the United States Crew Vehicle 3 (USCV-3) mission, NASA, ESA, JAXA, and SpaceX teams have given the green light for Crew-3 to launch on October 31 at 02:21 EDT (06:21 UTC) and for Crew-2 to return to Earth no earlier than November 4. Crew-3 will mark SpaceX’s fifth…
-
BepiColombo completes first Mercury flyby, science provides insight into planet’s unique environment
On October 1, 2021, the joint European Space Agency (ESA) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) BepiColombo spacecraft successfully performed its first flyby of the solar system’s innermost planet, Mercury. The flyby is the first in a set of six such events BepiColombo will complete before entering orbit around Mercury in late 2025. Following the…
-
Artemis 1 Orion joins SLS to complete vehicle stack
The Orion spacecraft that will fly to the Moon on NASA’s Artemis 1 mission was lifted atop its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket on October 20, completing major assembly of the full vehicle stack. Integrated operations team members from the agency’s Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) program and prime launch processing contractor Jacobs received the spacecraft…
-
UK spaceports and launchers gearing up for first flights
In recent months, the United Kingdom’s endeavor to tap into a rapidly-growing market of commercial spaceflight has become a firm prospect. To achieve this, spaceports and aerospace companies are clearing major hurdles in order to begin orbital launches as soon as next year — as several projects are vying to provide an unprecedented orbital launch…
-
DART in transit to Vandenberg Space Force Base ahead of November 2021 launch
After completing months of tests and assembly, NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) is in transit to Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB) in California ahead of its launch. DART is a first-of-its-kind NASA mission to demonstrate an asteroid deflection via a kinetic impact. The probe will launch on a flight-proven Falcon 9 rocket from Space…
-
Work on Artemis I Orion nears completion, other Orions make progress
The Artemis I Orion spacecraft is currently undergoing final checkouts before the critical milestone of transportation to the Vehicle Assembly Building for final stacking, integration, and checkout ahead of launch. Meanwhile, the Orion crew modules for the Artemis II, III, and IV missions are also continuing assembly in their processing flows. Artemis I The Artemis…
-
SpaceX and NASA beginning final preparations for Crew-3 mission
With the launch just weeks away, SpaceX, NASA, and the European Space Agency (ESA) are making final preparations for the third operational Crew Dragon mission. Crew-3 will be the third long-duration mission flown by SpaceX as part of the Commercial Crew Program. The four Crew-3 astronauts will launch aboard a Crew Dragon spacecraft atop a…
-
Astronauts finish spacewalk to prepare ISS for new solar arrays
Two astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) have completed a 6 hour 54 minute spacewalk to continue the process of outfitting the orbiting laboratory with new sets of solar arrays. US EVA-77 — the first US spacewalk to not involve an American — saw Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut and current ISS Commander…
-
ExoMars 2022 mission in final testing, ESA & Roscosmos prepare for approaching launch
The European Space Agency (ESA) and Roscosmos are preparing for the 2022 launch of the next mission in their joint ExoMars program, which is currently undergoing final testing before shipment to Kazakhstan for a launch in September next year. The 2022 astrobiology mission will see the long-awaited Rosalind Franklin rover land on Mars with the…
-
Earth observation satellite and secondary payloads launched on Arianespace Vega
The Vega rocket conducted its nineteenth launch of Europe’s small lift vehicle, the second Vega launch of 2021, as well as the seventh Arianespace mission of the year. Arianespace flight VV19 lifted off from the ELV launch pad at the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana on Monday, August 16, at 10:47 PM local time…