Spacecraft

Boeing's CST-100 Starliner spacecraft blasting off atop an Atlas V rocket (Image NASA TV)

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A little while ago, Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft blasted off atop a ULA Atlas V rocket from the Cape Canaveral base in its Boe-OFT (Boeing Orbital Flight Test) mission. After about 15 minutes it successfully separated from the rocket’s last stage. After a little more than half an hour the first of a series of maneuvers for orbit insertion was schduled but a problem emerged that required that the possible options to be assessed to have the CST-100 Starliner go for a proper orbit insertion and on its way to carry out its mission. Boeing has control of the spacecraft, which is in a stable orbit, so it’s not in danger.

The Progress MS-13 cargo spacecraft blasting off atop a Soyuz-2.1a rocket (Image courtesy Roscosmos)

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A little while ago the Progress MS-13 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 74 or 74P. In this mission, the route used is out of the ordinary since the journey will last about three days.

The Dragon cargo spacecraft blasting off atop a Falcon 9 rocket (Image NASA TV)

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A little while ago the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft blasted off atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral in its CRS-19 (Cargo Resupply Service 19) mission, also referred to as SPX-19. After just over ten minutes it separated successfully from the rocket’s last stage and went en route. This is the 19th mission for the Dragon spacecraft to resupply the International Space Station with various cargoes and then return to Earth, again with various cargoes.