Tag: ISS
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SpaceX’s Dragon already achieving key milestones following Falcon 9 ride
Preliminary results are showing SpaceX’s Falcon 9 enjoyed a nominal ride uphill – with no issues – prior to deploying the Dragon spacecraft on orbit. So as not to let down its ride, Dragon then passed several major – and new – milestones, including the deployment of both solar arrays, and the opening of its…
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SpaceX launch Falcon 9 – Dragon’s ISS debut is on
SpaceX have launched their Falcon 9/Dragon duo – the latter of which is aiming to complete the spacecraft’s remaining COTS demonstration objectives, and culminate in a visit to the International Space Station. The launch suffered from no problems, lifting off from Cape Canaveral at 3:44am Eastern. The key milestone of solar array deployment was also…
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Soyuz TMA-04M sends three new crewmembers for busy mission to ISS
The Russian Soyuz TMA-04M spacecraft, known by its US designation of 30S, launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Tuesday (local time) carrying three new crewmembers bound for the International Space Station (ISS). Liftoff was on schedule at 4:01 AM GMT Tuesday, ahead of a successful docking two days later at 4:36 AM GMT.…
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SpaceX’s Dragon debut to the ISS passes software validation process
One of the key pre-launch requirements for SpaceX’s upcoming Dragon mission to the ISS – the completion of software validation tasks for the spacecraft’s approach and berthing with the orbital outpost – has been passed, pending the expected completion of “action items”. The milestone means the latest launch date target of May 19 now holds…
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ISS schedule slips Dragon launch to May 19 – future manifest outlook
Launch of SpaceX’s first Dragon spacecraft to visit the International Space Station (ISS) has been set for a new target date of May 19, following consultations between SpaceX and NASA. The new launch date is a product of a busy schedule of ISS flight activities that Dragon needs to fit into alongside other launches and…
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Soyuz TMA-22 returns to Earth with three outbound ISS crewmembers
The Russian Soyuz TMA-22 spacecraft, known by its US designation of 28S, undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) and landed safely in Kazakhstan Friday morning after a five and a half month stay in space, carrying three crewmembers of the ISS crew back to Earth and beginning the Expedition 31 mission aboard the station. Soyuz…
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SpaceX, NASA managers decide on May 7 launch date following slip
Following SpaceX’s announcement that their Falcon 9 launch date will be slipping from its April 30 target, evaluations have been taking place – in cooperation with NASA – to ascertain when the Dragon spacecraft can make its debut attempt to berth with the International Space Station (ISS). With the NET date of May 7 now…
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Progress M-15M docks to ISS amid busy period of visiting vehicle activities
Russia’s Progress M-15M spacecraft, launched on Friday from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, has successfully docked to the International Space Station (ISS) bringing with it a fresh load of supplies for the station crew, who are busy preparing for the departure of three crewmembers next week and the arrival of the first ever commercial cargo…
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Cargo up and down: Dragon to demonstrate the importance of downmass
When SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft heads uphill at the end of the month, the young spacecraft has a long set of objectives to pass prior to being given permission to arrive at the International Space Station (ISS). However, should Dragon achieve the historic first, it will not only provide some welcome cargo, but it will have…
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Progress M-14M bids farewell to ISS as M-15M launches
Russia’s Progress M-14M/46P has undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) and made way for the Progress M-15M/47P, which was successfully launched into orbit atop of a Soyuz-U launch vehicle on Friday. The departed resupply ship will remain on orbit until the end of the month, prior to ending its life via a destructive re-entry.…