Tag: rocket

Apr152018 by adminNo Comments

ULA Atlas V rocket launched payloads for U.S. Air Force

April 14 (UPI) -- The United Launch Alliance's Atlas V rocket successfully launched a pair of payloads for the U.S. Air Force on Saturday night.Blast-off was at 7:13 p.m. ET from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.The Air Force Space Command mission, AFSPC-11, features two spacecraft. The primary payload is the Continuous Broadcast Augmenting SATCOM, or CBAS, a geostationary communications satellite.The satellite will lend communications support to the Air Force, relaying messages between leaders back at base and commanders in combat."The mission of CBAS is to augment existing military satellite communications capabilities and broadcast military data continuously through space-based, satellite communications relay links," the U.S. Air Force said.Behind t...

Apr142018 by adminNo Comments

Watch live: ULA Atlas V rocket to launch payloads for U.S. Air Force

Science

April 13 (UPI) -- The United Launch Alliance's Atlas V rocket is scheduled to launch a pair of payloads for the U.S. Air Force on Saturday night.The rocket is set to blast-off at 7:13 p.m. ET from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.The Air Force Space Command mission, AFSPC-11, features two spacecraft. The primary payload is the Continuous Broadcast Augmenting SATCOM, or CBAS, a geostationary communications satellite.The satellite will lend communications support to the Air Force, relaying messages between leaders back at base and commanders in combat."The mission of CBAS is to augment existing military satellite communications capabilities and broadcast military data continuously through space-based, satellite communications relay links," the U.S. Air F...

Mar272018 by adminNo Comments

NASA: SpaceX rocket 'too small for our missions'

Technology

SpaceX launched the most powerful rocket in the world back in February when its Falcon Heavy sent Elon Musk's car into space - but it still isn't powerful enough for NASA.Following the successful launch of the Falcon Heavy rocket, NASA has come under increased scrutiny over its decision not to save money by pursuing it as a commercial option for launches.NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) vehicle is currently being developed to fulfil the space agency's planned deep space exploration missions - including a manned mission to Mars.However, according to online tech publication Ars Technica, its development has been slow and very expensive.On Monday, this prompted questions about whether it might be better for the agency to use SpaceX's commercially available craft instead of spending billions d...

Mar132018 by adminNo Comments

Design error may have caused SpaceX rocket explosion in 2015: NASA

Technology

A design error may have caused a SpaceX rocket to explode mid-air in June of 2015, according to a NASA report that was released Monday. The unmanned rocket was headed to the International Space Station to deliver 4,000 pounds of supplies. It burst into flames above Cape Canaveral in Florida just 139 seconds after its launch, and SpaceX concluded that the explosion was most likely due to a faulty steel part called a strut. "SpaceX chose to use an industrial grade (as opposed to aerospace grade) 17-4 PH SS (precipitation-hardening stainless steel) cast part (the 'Rod End') in a critical load path under cryogenic conditions and strenuous flight environments," NASA said in its report. NASA also concluded the steel strut was implemented without sufficient testing. "The implementation was d...

Feb92018 by adminNo Comments

SpaceX's big new rocket blasts off, puts sports car in space

Technology

SpaceX's big new rocket blasted off Tuesday on its first test flight, carrying a red electric sports car aiming for an endless road trip past Mars. The Falcon Heavy rose from the same launch pad used by NASA nearly 50 years ago to send men to the moon. With liftoff, the Heavy became the most powerful rocket in use today, doubling the liftoff punch of its closest competitor. For SpaceX, the private rocket company run by Elon Musk, it was a mostly triumphant test of a new, larger rocket designed to hoist supersize satellites as well as equipment to the moon, Mars or other far-flung points. For the test flight, a red sports car made by another of Musk's companies, Tesla, was the unusual cargo, enclosed in protective covering for the launch. The three boosters and 27 engines roared to life at...