Archive for the ‘Launch’ Category

Video of the launch of the Soyuz-FG rocket carrying the Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft destined to meet up with the International Space Station on Thursday at 6:25 p.m. EST. The new crew members will join the others on ISS and be part of Expedition 24. The trio consist of Russian Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin, NASA’s Shannon Walker, and another American astronaut Douglas H. Wheelock. Shannon made her first spaceflight today, making her the 518th person to reach space.

In the second attempt to launch their own launch vehicle the Korea Aerospace Research Institute has had another setback, with the Naro-1 carrier rocket having seemed to explode about two minutes after liftoff. You might remember the first attempt back in August of 2009 when the payload fairing failed to separate. South Korea would have been only the 10th nation to successful launch its own rocket, alas that didn’t happen despite the hefty investment to ensure Korea has its own space capabilities.

Second video is from the BBC NEWS which has further information about the carrier rocket.

Space X’s Falcon 9 rocket lifted off successfully from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and Space Launch Complex 40 this afternoon at 2:46 p.m. EST. This after several delays throughout the morning, and an abort by the Falcon 9′s on board computer. Looks like a successful launch thus far, with confirmation of the dummy Dragon capsule being boosted to orbit.

So congratulation to Space X, hope all the data comes back only to confirm that this has been a success.

Yesterday at 2201 GMT (6:01 p.m. EDT), the Ariane 5 rocket made its 50th flight. Its payload a 12,063-pound ASTRA 3B television broadcasting satellite for use in Europe and the Middle East, and the German COMSATBw 2 satellite that will provide secure data links for the German armed forces. Failing its very first mission in 1996, the Ariane 5 launch vehicle has become highly reliable with a dominant role in the launch business.

Video replay of the launch of space shuttle Atlantis as viewed by cameras attached to the twin solid rocket boosters and showing their descent back to earth.

The Japanese Space Agency JAXA had a busy and successful morning with the liftoff of an H-IIA launch vehicle at 6:58:22 a.m. Japan Standard Time (5:58 p.m. EST). The main payload being the Venus Climate Orbiter Akatsuki (Planet-C), which will study the planet Venus in significant detail and joining the European Space Agency orbiter Venus Express around the planet in December. Then there is Ikaros or Interplanetary Kite-craft Accelerated by Radiation Of the Sun, a solar sail spacecraft.

Video of the launch of possibly the last launch of space shuttle Atlantis. Liftoff happened on schedule at 2:20 p.m. EST from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Update: Longer video has been made available for those who watched the original. Same video up to the SRB’s falling away, but going all the way to Main Engine Cut Off and External Tank separation.

Video highlights of the successful pad abort system tested on May 6th at the US Army’s White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. Note, this video has no sound.

Earlier this morning at 9 a.m. EST NASA tested the Orion spacecraft pad abort system at the Army’s White Sands Missile Range near Las Cruces New Mexico. Here is video of the successful launch.

Warning: The Audio is a little loud, its recommend that you turn your volume down.

The alternative launch abort system flew last year, and video of the Max Launch Abort System is here.

Video of the launch of the Atlas V rocket carrying the X-37B for the United States Air Force. Launching from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral, everything was nominal for a 7:52 p.m. EST liftoff and all stages were successful in putting the new spaceplane into orbit.