ULA Vulcan Centaur rocket blasts off on inaugural launch; lunar lander develops problem on way to moon
The Vulcan rocket โ which is set to replace ULAโs Atlas and Delta rockets โ is carrying a Peregrine lunar lander to deliver scientific payloads to the lunar surface ahead of landing astronauts on the moon before 2030.
Mystery โspace operationsโ planned from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, warnings show
An undisclosed space operation is planned Thursday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station โ but neither SpaceX, NASA nor United Launch Alliance have scheduled any missions for liftoff, according to News 6 partner Florida Today.
NASA, Boeing overview crewed Starliner flight test to space station
NASA and Boeing hosted a teleconference Friday to discuss an upcoming flight test of the Starliner spacecraft, the last such mission intended before the capsule is certified for crew rotation flights to the International Space Station.
WATCH AGAIN: Boeing Starliner test flight successfully launches from Cape Canaveral
Boeingโs reusable Starliner capsule embarked on its second-ever orbital test flight Thursday evening, taking off without a crew from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket.
Delta II rocket joins garden at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
After being closed for months due to COVID-19, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center is fully open with a glistening new rocket on display in the rocket garden. It was truly amazing,โ said ULAโs Director of Launch Operations, Ron Fortson, recalling the first time he worked on a Delta II launch. AdThe Delta II was a busy rocket over its nearly 30-year life flying 155 times. The Delta II also carried numerous science missions for NASA. Visitors will also notice a big structure under construction behind the new Delta II rocket.
โMajesticโ ULA Delta IV Heavy rocket lift offs off sending spy satellite into orbit
The United Launch Alliance rocket fired up and soared off the pad at 8:09 p.m. from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Launch Complex 34. Formerly an Air Force Station, it is now Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Patrick Air Force Base was also renamed as a Space Force base. Last month, ULA launched another spy satellite for the NRO on an Atlas V rocket from a different launch pad. That launch window opens at 11:20 a.m. and will take flight from Space Launch Complex 40, also at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
Boeing, NASA set March date for Starliner orbital test flight redo
Boeing and NASA announced March 29, 2021 for the next launch of the capsule designed to carry astronauts to the International Space Station. There wonโt be any humans on this flight but itโs the final test before Boeing can launch astronauts for NASA. Boeing revealed the mission patch for OFT-2 slated for March 2021 (WKMG 2020)After an extensive joint investigation with NASA, Boeing officials say they are ready for orbital flight test 2, or OFT-2. The Boeing CST-100 Starliner spacecraft near the U.S. Armyโs White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. If OFT-2 goes well, Starliner will next launch three NASA astronauts, Nicole Mann, Mike Fincke and Barry โButchโ Wilmore.
ULA launches national security satellite from Cape Canaveral
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. โ A United Launch Alliance rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral Friday evening into a clear colorful sky carrying a secret spy satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office. The Atlas V rocketโs mission was to launch a satellite known as as NROL-101 for the National Reconnaissance Office. Liftoff happened after a few brief delays at 5:32 p.m. from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex-41. The liftoff was scheduled for about 20 minutes earlier but ULA reported a timing issue with some engine valves that was quickly resolved. Meanwhile, downrange SpaceX is preparing to launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center sending four astronauts to the International Space Station.
ULA delays Atlas V launch from Cape Canaveral due to Tropical Depression Eta
The planned weekend launch of an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station will push into next week due to a tropical system near Florida, United Launch Alliance said Friday. Tropical Depression Eta, recently downgraded from hurricane status, is expected to strengthen and skirt the west coast of Florida, diminishing Atlas Vโs chances of flying Sunday evening. Atlas Vโs last launch attempt on Wednesday was scrubbed due to issues with the fueling system at Launch Complex 41, but ULA also confirmed the hardware has been fixed. โThe issue with the remotely commanded ground system liquid oxygen valves has been resolved and the rocket and payload are healthy,โ ULA said. Their Crew Dragon capsule is scheduled to launch from pad 39A at 7:49 p.m. Nov. 14.
ULA scrubs national security satellite liftoff from Cape Canaveral
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. โ United Launch Alliance was preparing to launch one of its Atlas V workhorse rockets from Cape Canaveral Wednesday, offering a nice distraction from the ongoing ballot counting country-wide, however, due to a technical issue the liftoff has been delayed. The Atlas V rocket made the 1,800-feet journey to the launch pad for the second time Tuesday afternoon from the hangar at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. [RELATED: When is the next rocket launch from Florida?] Another NRO satellite launch was delayed a handful of times in August, September and October before ULA announced the launch was delayed indefinitely. The Falcon 9 will liftoff from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
No Election Day launch, ULA delays national security satellite liftoff
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. โ Central Florida voters wonโt see a rocket launch on Election Day after all. The #AtlasV stands atop its Cape Canaveral pad for Tuesday's #NROL101 launch in support of U.S. national security. Another NRO satellite launch was delayed a handful of times in August, September and October before ULA announced the launch was delayed indefinitely. The company is slated to launch a GPS satellite for the U.S. Space Force and Air Force on Thursday. The Falcon 9 will liftoff from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
ULA pushes back Delta IV Heavy launch planning date
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. โ United Launch Alliance says itโs adjusting its launch planning date for its next Delta IV Heavy liftoff, saying teams need more time to make sure systems will perform properly. ULA extended its planning period to Oct. 23 to allow crews to perform additional analysis and data monitoring of ground systems. Once the analysis is complete, ULA will release a new launch date to send up a security payload. โ ULA (@ulalaunch) October 13, 2020The further precautions come as the last Delta IV Heavy launch attempt was scrubbed 7 seconds before liftoff on Oct. 1. Once all systems are sorted, the Delta IV Heavy is slated to launch from Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in its sixth attempt to complete the NROL-44 mission.
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk coming to Space Coast to investigate scrub issues
Some locals are calling the unusually long streak of launch scrubs โScrubtoberfestโ but to SpaceX CEO Elon Musk itโs not a joke. The ultimate goal is for the Cape to run as efficiently as an airport with rockets being able to take off within hours of each other on multiple launch pads, News 6 partner Florida Today said. Over the past month, United Launch Allianceโs Delta IV Heavy launch of a top secret military satellite has scrubbed five times due to weather, hardware and technical issues causing two SpaceX launches to reschedule multiple times. [TRENDING: DeSantis to lift restaurant limits in Fla. | Hereโs how to track your mail-in ballot | How can I tell difference between flu and COVID-19?] Musk attributed the Friday night abort to an โUnexpected pressure rise in the turbomachinery gas generator.โMusk tweeted that his team will be problem-solving all weekend.
Double scrubs: SpaceX, ULA launches both delayed continuing streak
It started out with the chance for three launches but as of Thursday morning, after two scrubs in less than 12 hours from ULA and SpaceX, itโs down to one remaining Falcon 9 liftoff. A Falcon 9 rocket was set to liftoff at 9:17 a.m. from launchpad 39A at KSC but it wasnโt meant to be. One of Falcon 9โฒs fairing halves was used during two previous Starlink launches, according to SpaceX. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said in a tweet the company is โprioritizing emergency responders and locations with no Internet connectivity at allโ for its first customers. Happy to have the support of @SpaceXโs Starlink internet as emergency responders look to help residents rebuild the town of Malden, WA that was overcome by wildfires earlier this month.
UPDATE: ULA launch scrubbed after weather delayed prelaunch preparations
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. โ ***11:33 p.m. 9/29/2020 Update***The launch of the United Launch Alliance Rocket has been scrubbed after the weather in Central Florida resulted in a delay to relaunch preparations, according to ULA. Launch officials said a hydraulic leak in the ground system required crews to move the tower and it needed further evaluation. The weather prevented the team from moving forward with the attempt on Tuesday, according to ULA. When it does launch, it will mark the 13th round of Starlink satellites for SpaceXโs constellation. Space Force Weather forecasters are predicting a 40% chance of favorable launch weather for the heavy lift rocket.
SpaceX Starlink launch scrubbed Monday
SpaceX Starlink launch scrubbed MondayPublished: September 28, 2020, 3:00 pmSpaceXโs first launch of the week was scrubbed Monday due to cloudy weather but the company still has another mission ready to liftoff on Tuesday, meanwhile, downrange, there is a United Launch Alliance rocket waiting for liftoff just after midnight Tuesday following another technical delay.
ULA looks towards Tuesday for Delta IV rocket launch from Cape Canaveral
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. โ ***UPDATE ***United Launch Alliance says it is ready to launch the NROL-44 satellite after multiple postponed launches. โWe are taking extra precautions to ensure all issues are resolved with the swing arm retraction system,โ ULA said in a tweet. โAdditional time is needed for the team to test and evaluate the swing arm retraction system,โ ULA officials said. โ(The mission) is delayed due to an issue with the swing arm retraction system,โ ULA tweeted. Although only two will launch on ULAโs heavy lift rocket, the launch set for Sept. 26 and NROL-82 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California later this year.
ULA finds cause of dramatic Delta IV Heavy launch scrub; targeting new date
United Launch Alliance teams have determined the cause behind a Delta IV Heavy rocketโs dramatic, last-second abort late last month, setting the stage for another attempt no earlier than next week, News 6 partner Florida Today reports. We will replace or rebuild as needed, re-test, and then resume towards launch.โHe said teams are currently targeting no earlier than Friday, Sept. 18, for the next pre-dawn attempt. If the timeline holds, it will actually mark Delta IV Heavyโs third attempt to launch a secretive intelligence-gathering satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office known as NROL-44. The first launch on Aug. 27 was scrubbed due to a pneumatics issue in ground support equipment. Elsewhere on the Eastern Range, SpaceX is tentatively targeting about 12 hours before Delta IV Heavy โ so next Thursday afternoon โ for its next mission from Kennedy Space Centerโs pad 39A.
ULA Delta IV Heavy rocket launch scrubbed again
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. โ ***4:15 a.m. Aug. 29, 2020 p.m.***The United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket launch of a national security satellite was scrubbed for the second time this week. ULA Launch Director Lou Mangieri announced another attempt would not be made Saturday within the launch window. ***ORIGINAL***United Launch Alliance will launch a U.S. national security mission using its Delta IV Heavy rocket early Saturday morning and it should be a treat for early risers because the heavy-lift rocket is a rare sight. The launch will take place from Space Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Ahead of the launch, ULA did something unusual with the rocket.
ULA scrub leaves 2 SpaceX launches remaining this weekend
There are two more launch opportunities this weekend for ULA but the company has not announced when the next liftoff attempt will happen from Space Launch Complex-37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. According to ULA CEO Tory Bruno, the first scrub was caused by an issue is with the gas ground system involved in preparing the rocket for launch. Meanwhile, SpaceX will attempt two launches on Sunday, including the landing of two rocket boosters. Due to the ULA scrub, SpaceX delayed its launch for the Argentina Space Agency, or CONAE, which was scheduled for Friday. Hereโs a recap of the launches happening in the next 48 hours:SaturdayULA Delta IV Heavy with NROL-44Launch time: 2:04 a.m.
SpaceX, ULA line up 3 rocket launches in 3 days but will it happen?
The current forecast from the 45th Space Wing shows an 80% chance of favorable launch weather for the four-hour window. A Delta IV Heavy launch alone would be a treat to see because the powerful three-booster, 235-foot-tall rocket doesnt launch very often. Ahead of the launch, ULA did something unusual with the rocket. It used the rocket and launch hangar as a backdrop to project an interactive video, known as 3D mapping. Its the first time a real rocket has been used as a landscape for art, according to ULA.
Launch alert: ULA Delta Heavy rocket ready to rumble
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. United Launch Alliance will launch a U.S. national security mission on Aug. 26 using its Delta IV Heavy rocket, a treat for early risers because the heavy-lift rocket is a rare sight. Liftoff is scheduled for 2:16 a.m. from Space Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Last October, the heavy-lift rocket launched NASAs Parker Solar Probe from Cape Canaveral on a mission to study the sun. Tropical Storm Laura is forecast to become a Category 1 hurricane off Floridas west coast next week. Meanwhile, Tropical Depression 14 is moving on a projected path toward Houston, where it could make landfall as a tropical storm after becoming a Category 1 hurricane.
Spaceflight community mourns loss of ULA Chief Scientist Bernard Kutter
The space and engineering community is grieving for the loss of one of spaceflightโs most gifted minds after the death of United Launch Alliance Chief Scientist Bernard Kutter. Kutter, who was considered a leader in NewSpace and the architect of ULA lunar plan, died unexpectedly of a heart attack on Aug. 12, according to the National Space Society. It is with a very heavy heart we share that Bernard Kutter, our Chief Scientist and manager of Advanced Programs, unexpectedly passed away. He hosted workshops on lunar science for ULA employees and other members of the spaceflight and planetary science community. Phil Metzger, a planetary scientist at the University of Central Florida, described Kutter as a โcentral partโ of space.
2020's final Mars mission poised for blastoff from Florida
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket that will launch to Mars arrives at Space Launch Complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Tuesday, July 28, 2020, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The rocket scheduled to launch on Thursday will land on Mars in February 2021 and the Mars 2020 rover, named Perseverance, will study Martian geology. (AP Photo/John Raoux)CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. The summers third and final mission to Mars featuring NASA's most elaborate life-hunting rover is on the verge of liftoff. The rover Perseverance will follow Chinas rover-orbiter combo and a United Arab Emirates orbiter, both launched last week. First things first, though: Good flying weather is forecast for United Launch Alliance's Atlas V rocket.
Live updates: NASAs Mars rover set for launch from Cape Canaveral
NASA and United Launch Alliance are in the final hours before launching a rover and helicopter to Mars from Floridas coast. The liftoff is scheduled for 7:50 a.m. Thursday from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station where ULA will launch its Atlas V rocket with the rover named Perseverance and the chopper nicknamed Ingenuity on their journey to the red planet. Follow updates below throughout the countdown and liftoff:3 p.m. Live views of the launch padA camera at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station is showing live views of Atlas standing tall on the launch pad ready for Thursdays morning liftoff. Wondering when and where you may see the #AtlasV launch of Mars 2020? Launch is scheduled for tomorrow morning at 7:50amEDT from Cape Canaveral.
Launch of NASA Mars rover delayed again, 2 weeks left to fly
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. NASA has delayed the launch of its newest Mars rover yet again to the end of July at the earliest this time for a rocket issue. Rocket maker United Launch Alliance needs extra time to deal with a liquid oxygen sensor line that showed questionable readings during a recent practice countdown, officials said Tuesday. The United Arab Emirates and China, meanwhile, still are pressing ahead with launches this month or next of Mars spacecraft. Russia and the European Space Agency had to bow out, delaying their Mars rover until 2022 because of delayed spacecraft testing and travel limitations due to the coronavirus pandemic. ___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education.
NASA Mars rover launch shifts again to end of July
United Launch Alliance was scheduled to launch the rover, named Perseverance, on an Atlas V rocket sometime in July. The last launch date was pushed to July 22 now NASA says it is targeting no earlier than July 30. NASA officials said they experienced rocket processing delays preparing to mount the spacecraft to the rocket that will carry the rover to Mars leading to the first launch time change. NASA said flight analysis teams have expended this yearโs Mars launch window by five additional days to August 15 and are looking into whether that could push further into August. After launch, the Perseverance rover will land in the Mars Jezero creator in late February where it will seek signs of ancient life and collect samples to return to Earth on another mission.
ULA launches Atlas V carrying X-37B after initial launch was scrubbed
The rocket is carrying the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle under the newly formed U.S. Space Force. Liftoff of the United Launch Alliance #AtlasV rocket on the #USSF7 mission featuring the #X37B Orbital Test Vehicle for the United States Space Force! ULA will launch the spacecraft, which resembles a small space shuttle, on an Atlas V rocket Saturday from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The launch will mark the sixth flight of the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle and the fourth launched aboard an Atlas V rocket. They were directly involved in building a satellite scheduled to launch into space May 16 aboard the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle.