Cosmic Chicago
Chicago's Independent Space News Outlet
Category: News
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Photos: Boeing Starliner Successfully Launches to the International Space Station
After a stuck thruster valve delayed the launch of the Boeing Starliner capsule in August 2021, the spacecraft successfully lifted off this past Thursday to the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the OFT-2 mission. Following the successful launch Starliner then autonomously docked to the ISS Friday afternoon. Starliner is carrying about 500 pounds…
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Boeing's Starliner is Ready for Launch: How to Watch OFT-2
Boeing and NASA are ready to launch the Starliner spacecraft to the International Space Station for Orbital Flight Test-2. The OFT-2 mission is meant to demonstrate the spacecraft’s ability to support crewed missions to the Space Station as part of NASA’s commercial crew program. Launch is scheduled for liftoff at 5:54pm CT on Thursday, May…
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How to See the Total Lunar Eclipse in Chicago
Tomorrow evening, May 15th, there will be a total lunar eclipse visible from Chicago. We haven’t been able to view a total lunar eclipse from the city in three years, so it’s definitely an exciting event worth staying up late for. The eclipse will begin just after 9:30 pm and end at 1:55 am, but…
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NOAA Releases First Image from GOES-18 Weather Satellite
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released the first images from the GOES-18 weather satellite. The images were taken on May 5th and show the capabilities of the GOES Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) 16 channels. The first four are visible and near-infrared, and the next ten are infrared. Data from the ABI is…
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NASA's Fourth Crew Rotation Heads to Station: How to Watch the Crew-4 Launch
The fourth crew of NASA’s Commercial Crew program is ready to head to the Space Station. Launching on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, Crew 4 will begin their mission in space to conduct microgravity research, test student hardware, and carry out medical research. Crew 4 is scheduled for an early morning liftoff from Launch Complex 39A…
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The First All Private Astronaut Crew to the ISS: How to Watch the Axiom-1 Launch
SpaceX is preparing to launch the first all-private astronaut crew to the ISS for Axiom Space. Ax-1 includes an international crew of four private astronauts on a ten-day mission to space where they will live and work aboard the International Space Station for eight days. Ax-1 is currently scheduled for liftoff from Launch Complex 39A…
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Artemis 1 Wet Dress Rehearsal Underway: What to Know About the Final Test
Now that the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket is on the launchpad, the final test before launch has begun, the Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR). The WDR began after 4 pm CT or L-45 hours before the targeted test T-0. The WDR will allow the launch team to practice propellant loading operations, conduct a full launch…
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NASA Rolls Out its Mega Moon Rocket for the First Time
Last week, NASA unveiled its new mega Moon rocket when it rolled out to the launch pad for testing and a wet dress rehearsal. When the Shuttle program ended, the focus within the agency became the Space Launch System and the Artemis program. Since 2011 the Vehicle Assembly Building, Mobile Launcher Tower, Crawler-Transporter-2, and launchpad…
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Mission Update: GOES-T Becomes GOES-18
GOES-T successfully launched atop a ULA Atlas V rocket on March 1, 2022. That evening the satellite was deployed into its transfer orbit, and mission managers confirmed that GOES-T was operating under its own power after deploying its solar array. On March 14th, GOES-T performed its final engine burn to place it in its final…
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PHOTOS: SLS Rolls to the Launch Pad for Dress Rehearsal
NASA’s new rocket, the Space Launch System (SLS), made its way to Launch Pad 39B last Thursday evening for final testing before launching the Artemis I mission to the Moon. The journey began at the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB), where the SLS rocket was assembled and “stacked” atop the Mobile Launch Platform (MLP). The Crawler…
