Launches
A success for the launch of the Russian cargo spaceship Progress MS-8 to the International Space Station
A little while ago the Progress MS-8 spacecraft blasted off atop a Soyuz 2.1a rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. After about nine minutes it successfully separated from the rocket’s last stage and was placed on its route. The cargo spacecraft began its resupply mission to the International Space Station also called Progress 69 or 69P.
A success for the maiden launch of SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket
It was yesterday afternoon in Florida when SpaceX launched its Falcon Heavy rocket from Cape Canaveral on its maiden flight. What was announced as the most powerful rocket in activity launched its owner Elon Musk’s Tesla Roadster car with a dummy in a space suit nicknamed Starman to insert it into an orbit around the Sun between the Earth’s and Mars’.
The two side boosters, both already used in 2016 in previous missions, were the first to separate and then begin the maneuvers that led them to landing on the platforms set up for that task at Cape Canaveral. After a few seconds the second stage also separated from the core booster, which instead attempted to land on the autonomous spaceport drone ship “Of course I still love you”.
Three Expedition 54 astronauts have been launched to the International Space Station
A few hours ago the Soyuz MS-07 spacecraft blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan with aboard three new crew members to be transported to the International Space Station carrying Norishige Kanai, Anton Shkaplerov and Scott Tingle, three new crew members. This time the Soyuz traveled on the 2-day path instead of the 6-hour fast path used in the previous launches.
The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft blasted off for its CRS-13 mission for NASA
A little while ago the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft blasted off atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral in its CRS-13 (Cargo Resupply Service 13) mission, also referred to as SPX-13. After just over ten minutes it separated successfully from the rocket’s last stage and went en route. This is the 13th mission for the Dragon spacecraft to resupply the International Space Station with various cargoes and then return to Earth, again with various cargoes.
