SpaceX has issued a statement providing more details on how its Falcon 9 rocket stranded an ORBCOMM satellite in the wrong orbit: As a result of shutting down one of its nine engines early shortly after the launch, the Falcon 9 rocket used slightly more fuel and oxygen to reach the target orbit for Dragon. For the protection of the space station mission, NASA had required that a restart of […]

SEATTLE, WA, 11 October 2012 (Andrews Space PR) — Andrews Space (Andrews) today announced it signed an agreement with ISIS of the Netherlands to begin manufacturing a US version of the ISIPOD, branded the EZPOD, in the United States.  Under the terms of the agreement, Andrews will manufacture and integrate the EZPODs domestically with initial units available as early as January 2013.

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MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Oct. 11, 2012 (B612 PR) — The B612 Foundation today announced the formation and initial findings of its Sentinel Special Review Team (SSRT) to aid B612 in building the world’s first privately funded deep space mission to protect Earth by providing early warning of threatening asteroids.

The SSRT will provide technical advice and assistance during the development and operations of the Sentinel Space Telescope mission.  Members include scientists and aerospace experts independently selected by the B612 Sentinel leadership, and members assigned by NASA, which is providing technical support through a Space Act Agreement.

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Fort Lee, NJ, October 11, 2012 (ORBCOMM PR) – ORBCOMM Inc., a global satellite data communications company focused on two-way Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communications, today announced that the single prototype of its second generation of satellites (OG2), launched as a secondary mission payload on the Cargo Re-Supply Services (CRS-1) mission of October 7, 2012, verified various functionality checkouts prior to its deorbit.

The OG2 prototype was deployed into a lower orbit as the result of a pre-imposed safety check required by NASA. The safety check was designed to protect the International Space Station and its crew. Had ORBCOMM been the primary payload on this mission, as planned for the upcoming launches, we believe the OG2 prototype would have reached the desired orbit.
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The Dragon spacecraft is secured before being transported back to a SpaceX facility. May 31, 2012. (SpaceX)

By Lori Keith
NASA’s Johnson Space Center

While the first NASA Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) flight to the International Space Station is historic, the delivery and more importantly the return of science samples is pivotal. Since the retirement of the shuttles, the only return capability available from the space station was via the Russian Soyuz vehicle, with cold stowage even more limited — but not anymore. Space Exploration Technologies Corp., or SpaceX, is now able to provide this service, as well.

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Flight: 101 Date: 04 Oct 12 Flight Time: 0.3 hr WK2 Pilot: Stucky WK2 CoPilot: Colmer WK2 FTE: Knupp Objectives: Virgin Galactic WK2 pilot proficiency Results: Objectives incomplete due to comms equipment squawks. Aircraft returned safely to base. Flight: 100 Date: 04 Oct 12 Flight Time: 1.7 hr WK2 Pilot: Stucky WK2 CoPilot: Colmer WK2 FTE: Glaser Objectives: Virgin Galactic WK2 pilot proficiency Results: All objectives achieved.

British soprano Sarah Brightman undergoes medical screening and training for her upcoming space tourism flight.

Commander Suni Williams opens the hatch to the SpaceX Dragon cargo craft. Credit: NASA TV

HOUSTON (NASA PR) — Running well ahead of schedule, Expedition 33 Commander Suni Williams and Flight Engineer Aki Hoshide opened the hatch to the SpaceX Dragon cargo ship at 1:40 p.m. EDT Wednesday, marking a milestone for the first commercial resupply mission to reach the International Space Station.

Hatch opening had been schedule to occur on Thursday, but the crew sped through its post-berthing procedures, enabling the earlier entrance into the cargo ship.

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Hawthorne, CA (SpaceX PR) — For the second time this year, a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft is at the International Space Station. Expedition 33 crew members Akihiko Hoshide and Sunita Williams today grappled Dragon and attached it to the station, completing a critical stage of the SpaceX CRS-1 cargo resupply mission.

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HOUSTON (NASA PR) — The Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) Dragon spacecraft was berthed to the International Space Station at 8:03 a.m. CDT Wednesday, a key milestone in a new era of commercial spaceflight. The delivery flight is the first contracted resupply mission by the company under NASA’s Commercial Resupply Services contract.
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