Category Archives: Events

Videos: SpaceX launches 10 satellites and lands booster stage

Today SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket with 10 Iridium NEXT satellites from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The first stage of the rocket also came back down for a landing onto a ocean platform ship. This was the first mission for SpaceX since the explosion on September 1st during a test on a pad at Cape Canaveral.

There will be 6 more F9 launches of Iridium NEXT satellites over the next year and a half or so. The satellites will replace the current set of aging Iridium satellites and provide improved global satellite telephone and data services as well as add new services such as aircraft tracking over the entire world including the oceans.

Here are videos of today’s launch and landing:

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Astronaut John Glenn 1921-2016

Mercury 7 astronaut John Glenn, the first American to orbit the earth, died on Thursday at the age of 95:

Here is a video of an interview with Glenn on the 50th anniversary of his Friendship 7 flight:

Here is a sequence of NASA videos about Glenn:

The liftoff of Friendship 7 on an Atlas rocket on on February 20, 1962:

Astronaut memorabilia auction supports U.S. Space Walk of Fame Museum

The U.S. Space Walk of Fame Museum in Titusville, Florida is holding its annual Charity Auction:

The Space Walk of Fame Charity Space Memorabilia Auction takes place on Oct. 29. Don’t miss out on this chance to bid on exciting pieces of aerospace history — from photos signed by the Mercury Astronauts to pieces of the Hindenberg to a flown-in-space quilt and SO much more. Over 300 items offered! You can begin bidding NOW at Invaluable.com

Click HERE to see the auction items and find out how to bid!

Remember that the museum makes a percentage from each sale so you are supporting our STEAM Space education program and helping students and at-risk youth learn about science and technology. Our goal is to move them from away from being passive consumers and TOWARD producing goods, services or digital products. 

NO items featured in the memorabilia auction are being sold from the museum collection — these are all consignment pieces or are provided by astronauts or former space workers.

Check out the Space memorabilia auction items at Invaluable.com. Here are a couple of examples:

Mercury Astronaut signed photo

Mercury astronaut signed photo.
Framed and matted photograph from the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation. Authentically signed by John Glenn, Wally Schirra, Scott Carpenter and Gordon Cooper. A limited edition #261/300. In new condition.

Three “Flown” Russian Space Program souvenirs

Three (3) "Flown" Russian Space Program souvenirs; a cosmonaut-endorsed flown Soyuz alloy card and two nice medallions
Three (3) “Flown” Russian Space Program souvenirs; a cosmonaut-endorsed flown Soyuz alloy card and two nice medallions

Video: Launch of the Antares rocket from Virginia

Orbital ATK plans to launch the company’s Antares rocket tonight at 7:40 pm EDT from Wallops Island, Virginia. It will send a Cygnus cargo spacecraft to orbit and the Cygnus will proceed to a rendezvous and docking with the International Space Station on Sunday. (Has to wait for a Soyuz that will launch from Russia [on Wednesday morning at 4:05 am EDT. 0805 GMT] with a crew of three  to dock with the ISS first.)

Update: Here is a video of the NASA TV webcast of the launch:

Update 2: Here is the post-launch briefing:

Webcast coverage of the ExoMars arrival at the Red Planet

The European/Russian ExoMars mission is nearing the Red Planet. The spacecraft consists of two parts: the Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) and the Schiaparelli lander. On Sunday, Oct. 16th the two will separate and on Wednesday, Oct. 19th the TGO will go into orbit and Schiaparelli will make its landing.

exomars_2016_separation_node_full_image_21
Artist’s impression visualising the separation of the ExoMars entry, descent and landing demonstrator module, Schiaparelli, from the Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO). The separation is scheduled to occur on 16 October 2016, about seven months after launch. Schiaparelli is set to enter the martian atmosphere on 19 October, while TGO will enter orbit around Mars.

Webcasts reports will cover the events on both days:

The Live coverage overview

16 October – spacecraft separation

In addition to text updates here and via our twitter channels, a short statement confirming the outcome of the separation will be streamed live from the main control room of ESA’s Spacecraft Operations Centre starting at 14:30 GMT / 16:30 CEST.

19 October – landing and arriving at Mars

Live coverage of ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter arrival and Schiaparelli landing on Mars will begin with our Social TV programme via ESA’s Facebook page and Livestream 13:00–15:15 GMT / 15:00–17:15 CEST on 19 October.

The ESA TV programme will be broadcast on this page in two parts on 19 October:

15:44–16:59 GMT / 17:44–18:59 CEST
18:25–20:03 GMT / 20:25–22:03 CEST

20 October – status report and first images

A press conference is scheduled for 20 October at 08:00 GMT / 10:00 CEST, when a mission status update is expected, along with the first images from the Schiaparelli descent camera. This will also be streamed live via the player above.

For additional mission status text updates starting 14 October, see here.

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