Spacecraft

The Progress MS-12 cargo spacecraft approaching the International Space Station (Image NASA TV)

A few hours ago the Progress MS-12 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 ultra-fast track in its resupply mission to the International Space Station also called Progress 73 or 73P. After almost 3.5 hours it reached the International Space Station docking with its Pirs module.

The Dragon cargo spacecraft starting its CRS-18 mission blasting off atop a Falcon 9 rocket (Image courtesy SpaceX)

A few hours ago the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft blasted off atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral in its CRS-18 (Cargo Resupply Service 18) mission, also referred to as SPX-18. After just over ten minutes it separated successfully from the rocket’s last stage and went en route. This is the 18th mission for the Dragon spacecraft to resupply the International Space Station with various cargoes and then return to Earth, again with various cargoes.

The Chandrayaan 2 with the launch of a GSLV Mk-III rocket (Image courtesy ISRO)

A little while ago a GSLV Mk-III rocket blasted off from the Indian Satish Dhawan Space Centre with the Chandrayaan 2 mission’s orbiter, the Vikram lander and the Pragyaan rover. After just over 16 minutes, the vehicles separated from the rocket’s last stage to begin the series of maneuvers that will slowly stretch their orbit to bring them into the area of ​​influence of the Moon, where the lander and rover’s landing is scheduled as soon as September 6.