Re-Entry: FREEDOM Drag Sail CubeSat

February 6, 2017February 10, 2017 Patrick Blau 8200 Views CubeSat

Japan’s FREEDOM CubeSat re-entered the atmosphere on February 5, 2017 after only three weeks in orbit, indicating its drag sail was successful in rapidly removing the small satellite from orbit.

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Photos: All Orbital Launches of 2015

December 29, 2015 Patrick Blau 1 Views Photos

The year 2015 saw 87 orbital launch attempts from spaceports across the globe – 84 missions reached orbit in a year that saw 82 successful orbital launches. Here are photos of all of 2015’s space launches.

Commercial Space Earth Observation ESA Expedition 45 Featured HTV Human Spaceflight ISS NASA News Newsfeed Orbit

International Space Station completes next Round of CubeSat Deployments

October 7, 2015February 5, 2017 Patrick Blau 5989 Views AAUSat-5, Flock, GOMSpace, GOMX-3

The deployment of CubeSats from the International Space Station resumed this week with a total of 16 satellites up for release Monday through Wednesday comprised of two Danish satellites for the monitoring of ship and aircraft traffic and 14 Planet Labs Doves to become part of the company’s Earth Observation satellite constellation.

Expedition 45 Featured HTV Human Spaceflight ISS Japan News Newsfeed Re-Entry

HTV-5 ends six-week ISS Cargo Mission with destructive Re-Entry

September 29, 2015January 28, 2017 Patrick Blau 3137 Views

The HTV-5 spacecraft brought to an end a five week mission into space on Tuesday, burning up in the atmosphere after making a targeted deorbit maneuver.

Expedition 45 Featured HTV Human Spaceflight ISS Japan NASA News Newsfeed

HTV-5 Cargo Craft departs ISS after One-Orbit Delay

September 28, 2015January 28, 2017 Patrick Blau 3232 Views

The HTV-5 cargo spacecraft departed the International Space Station on Monday, being released by the Station’s robotic arm and sent on a short free flight of just over a day to set up for the craft’s fiery re-entry that will mark the end of a five-week mission.

Expedition 45 Featured HTV Human Spaceflight ISS Japan News Newsfeed

HTV-5 Cargo Craft ready to depart ISS for fiery Re-Entry

September 26, 2015January 28, 2017 Patrick Blau 3260 Views

The HTV-5 spacecraft is ready to wrap up a four-week stay at the International Space Station that was dedicated to the delivery of crucial cargo, re-stocking the shelves aboard the orbiting complex that had gotten rather empty given the loss of cargo missions.