Kennedy Space Center | Range Tracking

SLS ML at 39B – Part Two

2018/09/03 by terranovabay

Traveling at a top speed of .7-mile-per-hour, the mobile launcher made its inaugural trek along the crawlerway to Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39B for a quick fit check during late August and early September 2018. Key systems being checked out over the next several days include ensuring the water suppression systems align and the environmental control system that provides air and gaseous nitrogen purges to the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket through the umbilicals hooks up properly with the […]

Categories: Space Age Bulletins • Tags: Kennedy Space Center, Launch Complex 39B, Mars, Mobile Launcher, Moon, NASA, Orion, Pied-billed Grebe, SLS, Space Launch System, VAB, Vehicle Assembly Building

SLS ML at 39B – Part One

2018/09/02 by terranovabay

The mobile launcher (ML) is the ground structure that will be used to assemble, process and launch NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft from Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center for missions to deep space destinations, such as the Moon, Mars and beyond. The SLS, topped by the Orion spacecraft, will be stacked atop the mobile launcher while inside the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). Afterward the mobile launcher will be moved by the crawler-transporter over four […]

Categories: Space Age Bulletins • Tags: Kennedy Space Center, Launch Complex 39B, Mars, Mobile Launcher, Moon, NASA, Orion, SLS, Space Launch System, VAB, Vehicle Assembly Building

Rocket Security

2018/06/24 by terranovabay

A NASA helicopter performs a security sweep at Kennedy Space Center prior to the scrubbed launch attempt of Bangabandhu Satellite-1 on 10 May 2018.

Categories: Space Age Bulletins • Tags: Bangabandhu Satellite-1, helicopter, Kennedy Space Center, KSC

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Return to Flight

2018/06/10 by terranovabay

The Space Shuttle Discovery on Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center prior to its launch on mission STS-114 in July 2005. This would be the Space Shuttle Program’s return to flight following the Columbia accident in February 2003. Discovery carried out the STS-114 mission, a resupply mission to the International Space Station, without a problem This is a highly magnified view through a refracting telescope taken from Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge showing the external fuel tank and the […]

Categories: Space Age Bulletins • Tags: Columbia, Discovery, Kennedy Space Center, Launch Complex 39B, Return to Flight, Space Shuttle

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Space Station Deferred

2018/05/24 by terranovabay

Years ago at the beginning of the Space Shuttle Program and long before the International Space Station, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex used to have a mockup of a future space station complete with animatronic astronauts. The idea was this is something the Space Shuttle would help to build although it looked a little sci-fi to keep it interesting. Sadly, this large station would not be built but the exhibit was fun. You know they are in space because the […]

Categories: Darkroom Photography • Tags: Kennedy Space Center, Space Shuttle, Space Station

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Bangabandhu Satellite-1 Launch Time Lapse

2018/05/13 by terranovabay

A time lapse video made from still images captured by a second camera setup for the launch of Bangabandhu Satellite-1 on 11 May 2018 at 4:14 p.m. from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center. Click here to view my Bangabandhu Satellite-1 launch gallery.

Categories: Rocket Launch • Tags: Bangabandhu Satellite-1, Bangladesh, Block 5, Falcon 9, Friend of Bengal, Kennedy Space Center, LC-39A, Space Launch Complex 39A, SpaceX, Thales Alenia Space

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Digital Bangladesh

2018/05/12 by terranovabay

In the drive towards a “Digital Bangladesh” the country launched its first geostationary communications satellite, Bangabandhu Satellite-1, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on 11 May 2018 at 4:14 p.m. from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center. Bangabandhu means “Friend of Bengal” in Bangladesh, and is the popular name for the first president of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who was also instrumental in fighting for the country’s independence from Pakistan. In this series of images, shock waves form around […]

Categories: Rocket Launch • Tags: Bangabandhu Satellite-1, Bangladesh, Block 5, Falcon 9, Friend of Bengal, Kennedy Space Center, LC-39A, Space Launch Complex 39A, SpaceX, Thales Alenia Space

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Venting Frustration

2018/05/11 by terranovabay

A long and hot Thursday afternoon spent waiting for the launch of the first SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket. Reportedly the last iteration of the Falcon 9 and one promising rapid reuse of its first stage booster from upwards of ten to a hundred reflights. This particular rocket is supposed to carry Bangabandhu Satellite-1, the first satellite for Bangladesh and the large contingent of dignitaries and guests from that country seemed very enthusiastic for the launch. An attitude that […]

Categories: Rocket Launch • Tags: Bangabandhu Satellite-1, Bangladesh, Block 5, Falcon 9, Kennedy Space Center, Launch Complex 39A, SpaceX

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SLS Mobile Launcher

2018/03/06 by terranovabay

The Space Launch System Mobile Launcher topped with the gantry tower that holds the umbilicals and other access points to the large rocket when its on the pad has had the crew access arm installed. The arm, that can be seen sticking out from the tower up toward the top on the left, provides the walkway astronauts will take to get into the Orion spacecraft when the rocket is on the launch pad. The recent addition to the tower was […]

Categories: Space Age Bulletins • Tags: Kennedy Space Center, Mobile Launcher, SLS, Space Launch System

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Reusable Launch Vehicle Hanger

2018/02/12 by terranovabay

The Reusable Launch Vehicle Hanger, located at the south end of the Shuttle Landing Facility, is used for a diverse number of activities, including storage of NASA helicopters used at Kennedy Space Center as seen here. One of the buildings most memorable uses was the collection and reconstruction of debris from the Space Shuttle Columbia during the accident investigation. The event is commemorated with the STS-107 logo on the building. Space Florida currently manages the facility under contract with NASA.

Categories: Space Age Bulletins • Tags: Columbia, Kennedy Space Center, Reusable Launch Vehicle Hanger, Shuttle Landing Facility, Space Florida, Space Shuttle, STS-107

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Range Tracking

Photography by Bob Montanaro

Tag: Kennedy Space Center

SLS ML at 39B – Part Two

SLS ML at 39B – Part One

Rocket Security

Return to Flight

Space Station Deferred

Bangabandhu Satellite-1 Launch Time Lapse

Digital Bangladesh

Venting Frustration

SLS Mobile Launcher

Reusable Launch Vehicle Hanger