Tag: Launch

  • Full story: Delta 2 rises to occasion with SMAP observatory

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    VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE — The ever-dependable Delta 2 rocket continued its flawless service to NASA and Earth sciences today with the launch of a $916 million environmental probe focused on producing global maps of soil moisture from space. “The SMAP project is absolutely thrilled to be catching a ride to space on the Delta…

  • Hayabusa 2 launches on audacious asteroid adventure

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    Japan’s Hayabusa 2 asteroid mission blasts off from Tanegashima Space Center aboard an H-2A rocket. Credit: JAXA A Japanese H-2A launcher blasted off from an idyllic island spaceport Tuesday, dispatching a daring six-year expedition to bring a piece of an asteroid back to Earth. The Hayabusa 2 mission’s roundtrip voyage began at 0422 GMT Wednesday…

  • China’s Shenzhou-7 launched via Chang Zheng-2F

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    After three years of training and planning, China has launched the Shenzhou-7 mission on Thursday, marking an important step in the Chinese space exploration effort. Lift-off occurred at 9:10 am US Eastern from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The CZ-2F Chang Zheng-2F (CZ2F-7) launch vehicle carrying Shenzhou-7 has a crew of three taikonauts: Jing Haipeng, Zhai…