NROL-52 Successfully Launches On A United Launch Alliance Atlas V Booster

On October 15th, 2017 a United Launch Alliance Atlas V booster launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 40 carrying a “Satellite Data System”  communications satellite into orbit for the United States Department of Defense. This launch was interesting in that it was originally planned earlier in the month, but was repeatedly delayed […]

Progress MS-07 Launches Towards The International Space Station

A few days after a rather unique pad abort, the Progress MS-07 supply craft successfully launched today for it’s rendezvous and docking with the International Space Station. As mentioned, the vehicle was delayed in launching following the abort the other day. Incidentally, that launch was timed for a very fast (read, about 3 hours) rendezvous […]

A SpaceX Falcon 9 Launches Echostar 105 / SES-11

A SpaceX Falcon 9 booster successfully launched from Launch Complex 39A yesterday (October 11th) carrying the Echostar 105 / SES-11 satellite. This is an interesting “Dual  Mission” type of satellite, carrying two independent communications relay systems dedicated to two separate tasks which both cover the same general range over the Earth. This launch was delayed […]

A SpaceX Falcon 9 Successfully Launches A New Set of Iridium NEXT Satellites

Early this morning a SpaceX Falcon 9 booster launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, carrying 10 new satellites for the Iridium NEXT communications network. They were released about an hour after launch once they were in their proper positions to function in the “constellation” of satellites that will make up the Iridium NEXT […]