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Chicago's Independent Space News Outlet
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OSIRIS-REx Explained: NASA’s Asteroid Sample Return Mission
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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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What's Happening This Week in Space: April 18th, 2022
Astronauts launching to space and returning to Earth, two local astronomy days, and an online Earth Day celebration with NASA are all happening this week in space. And, as the weather warms up, more opportunities to get outside and view the night sky are here. Read on to learn more about what’s happening this week…
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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…
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NASA Ready to Rollout its Artemis Moon Rocket
NASA’s mission managers announced the agency is ready to rollout its Artemis moon rocket to the launch pad this week. The rocket, officially named, Space Launch System (SLS) will undergo testing and a wet dress rehearsal before to launch later this year. Following completion of a test readiness review, Charlie Blackwell-Thompson, the Artemis launch director…
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Photos: GOES-T Launches from Cape Canaveral
A ULA Atlas V rocket launched the GOES-T weather satellite to orbit for NOAA and NASA from Cape Canaveral, Florida on March 1, 2022. These photos capture the launch and pre-launch activities. A ULA Atlas V rocket carrying the GOES-T weather satellite for NASA and NOAA launches to orbit from Cape Canaveral on Tuesday, March…
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