Tag: ESA
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NASA managers “serious” about ATV role as Orion Service Module
Orion managers are becoming more interested in the idea of the European Space Agency (ESA) taking over a role in NASA’s exploration future. Adhering to the international cooperation angle for the Agency’s future, managers have told their teams they are “serious” about ESA building the Service Module (SM) for Orion, via Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV)…
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Russian Dnepr rocket launches with CryoSat-2
An International Space Company (ISC) Kosmotras Dnepr launch vehicle has launched the European Space Agency’s CryoSat 2 Earth observation satellite from an underground silo at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. CryoSat-2 – lifted off at 15:57 (CET) – is a replacement for another spacecraft that was lost in 2005. CryoSat-2 Launch Preview: Dnepr is a…
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Soyuz TMA-15 launches for growing ISS – UPA/SPDM updates
ESA astronaut Frank De Winne, Russian cosmonaut Roman Romanenko and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Robert Thirsk have launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, at 10:34 GMT on Wednesday, with their Soyuz TMA-15 scheduled to dock with the International Space Station (ISS) at 12:36 GMT on Friday 29 May – marking the start of six crew operations…
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Second Attempt: GOCE launched via Russian Rockot
A Russian Rockot launch vehicle – a converted SS-19 Russian Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) – launched on Tuesday, following a 24 hour delay when Monday’s attempt was scrubbed at T-7 seconds, due to an issue with the Launch Service Tower. The vehicle is carrying the Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) spacecraft into orbit on Monday.…
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Ariane 5 ECA launches HOT BIRD 9 and W2M
An Arianespace Ariane 5 ECA launch vehicle has launched for the sixth and final time in 2008, lofting the HOT BIRD 9 and W2M telecommunication satellites into orbit from Kourou, French Guiana. The launch marks the 42nd launch of the commercial launcher, and is the sixth flight performed by Arianespace in 2008. Five other successful…