AeroSpace | Range Tracking

SpaceX Falcon 9 launches INMARSAT-5 F4

2017/05/16 by terranovabay

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches the INMARSAT-5 F4 commercial communications satellite from Space Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center at 7:21 p.m. on 15 May 2017. INMARSAT-5 F4 is the fourth satellite in the Global Xpress constellation; the world’s first globally available, high speed, mobile broadband service for users on land, at sea, and in the air. The satellite was built by Boeing Network & Space Systems. Due to the weight of the satellite, the first stage did […]

Categories: Rocket Launch • Tags: Boeing Network & Space Systems, Falcon 9, Global Xpress, INMARSAT-5 F4, Kennedy Space Center, Roseate Spoonbill, Space Launch Complex 39A, SpaceX

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Up and Down for National Security

2017/05/03 by terranovabay

A SpaceX Falcon 9 first stage booster makes a succesful landing at Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station after sending a classified satellite (NROL-76) into orbit for the National Reconnaissance Office. Liftoff was at 7:15 a.m. on 1 May 2017 from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A with the landing happening a little over eight minutes later. Click to view the gallery of NROL-76 launch and landing photographs.

Categories: Rocket Launch • Tags: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Falcon 9, Kennedy Space Center, Landing Zone 1, Launch Complex 39A, National Reconnaissance Office, NROL-76, SpaceX

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TE in motion

2017/04/23 by terranovabay

SpaceX ran the Transporter Erector (TE) through its paces at Space Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center in the hours before the launch of OA-7 from nearby Launch Complex 41. “Standing 212 feet high – more than 20 stories,” as a NASA press release explains, the Transporter Erector ”. . .will move launch-ready rockets and spacecraft from the processing hangar at the base of the pad up to the pad surface and into a vertical position over the flame […]

Categories: Space Age Bulletins • Tags: Falcon 9, Falcon 9 Heavy, Kennedy Space Center, Launch Complex 39A, NASA, SpaceX, TE, Transporter Erector

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Making a delivery to the International Space Station

2017/04/20 by terranovabay

It is all about the lighting. Having to shoot almost directly into the sun turns the launch of an Atlas V rocket carrying a cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station into a silhouette, albeit a rather spectacular silhouette, at 11:11AM on 18 April 2017 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Click to view more of the launch photos.

Categories: Rocket Launch • Tags: Atlas V, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Cygnus, International Space Station, ISS, NASA, OA-7, Orbital ATK, ULA, United Launch Alliance

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SES-10 booster returns to Port Canaveral

2017/04/07 by terranovabay

The twice-flown SpaceX Falcon 9 first stage has returned to Port Canaveral and is back on shore. Click to view the images added to the SES-10 launch photo gallery.

Categories: Rocket Launch • Tags: droneship, Falcon 9 rocket, Kennedy Space Center, KSC, Launch Complex 39A, Of Course I Still Love You, Port Canaveral, SES-10, SpaceX

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SpaceX launches SES-10 aboard a used rocket

2017/03/31 by terranovabay

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is not quite clear of the tower yet in this photo from the 30 March 2017 launch of the SES-10 satellite. Lots of reusable items here, including the old shuttle launch pad getting a new lease on life with SpaceX, and the Falcon 9 first stage, which flew once before less than a year ago and is now proving it can do it again. Click to view the rest of my SES-10 launch photos.

Categories: Rocket Launch • Tags: Falcon 9 rocket, Kennedy Space Center, KSC, Launch Complex 39A, SES-10, SpaceX

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Enhanced Communications for the Warfighter

2017/03/19 by terranovabay

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV rocket carrying the ninth Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS-9) satellite for the United States Air Force lifted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station’s Space Launch Complex-37 at 8:18 p.m. on 18 March 2017. “This launch commemorates the 70th anniversary of the USAF.” said Laura Maginnis, ULA vice president of Government Satellite Launch. “We are absolutely honored to play a role in this important milestone, while safely delivering WGS-9 to orbit.” WGS satellites are […]

Categories: Rocket Launch • Tags: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Delta IV rocket, SLC 37, Space Launch Complex 37, ULA, United Launch Alliance, United States Air Force, WGS-9, Wideband Global SATCOM

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EchoStar XXIII hitches a ride on Falcon 9

2017/03/17 by terranovabay

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched EchoStar XXIII on 16 March 2017 at 2:00 a.m. from Launch Complex-39A at Kennedy Space Center as seen in this time exposure from the beach at Sebastian Inlet State Park. Click to view more.

Categories: Rocket Launch • Tags: EchoStar XXIII, Falcon 9, Kennedy Space Center, Launch Complex 39A, Sebastian Inlet State Park, Space Exploration Technologies Corp., SpaceX

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TVC Scrubs CRS-10

2017/02/18 by terranovabay

A gathering of space fans atop Exploration Tower at Port Canaveral eagerly await the first launch of a Falcon 9 rocket from historic Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center. The Apollo missions to the Moon and all the Space Shuttle missions were launched from 39A and its nearby twin, 39B. SpaceX leased 39A for commercial use after the retirement of the Space Shuttle. As the 10:01 a.m. launch time rolled around on 18 February 2017 everything pointed toward getting […]

Categories: Rocket Launch • Tags: Commercial Resupply, CRS-10, Exploration Tower, International Space Station, ISS, Kennedy Space Center, KSC, Launch Complex 39A, NASA, Port Canaveral, Thrust Vector Control, TVC

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Subtle Penumbral Eclipse

2017/02/10 by terranovabay

The Moon passed through the edge, the penumbra, of Earth’s shadow leading to a very subtle lunar eclipse on 10 February 2017. A trio of photographs show the progression, which was far more apparent to the camera than it was to the human eye. To paraphrase Jack Kerouac, the Moon, big sad face of infinity.

Categories: Astrophotography • Tags: eclipse, Jack Kerouac, Lunar eclipse, Moon, penumbral lunar eclipse

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Range Tracking

Ground & Sky

Category Archives: AeroSpace

SpaceX Falcon 9 launches INMARSAT-5 F4

Up and Down for National Security

TE in motion

Making a delivery to the International Space Station

SES-10 booster returns to Port Canaveral

SpaceX launches SES-10 aboard a used rocket

Enhanced Communications for the Warfighter

EchoStar XXIII hitches a ride on Falcon 9

TVC Scrubs CRS-10

Subtle Penumbral Eclipse

May 2017
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