UPDATE: United Launch Alliance Amazon Project Kuiper launch targeting April 28 – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2025-04-20 00:00
Kuiper 1, the launch of a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V 551 rocket carrying the first production satellites for Amazon’s Project Kuiper, is now planned for April 28, 2025. The launch is scheduled for 7 p.m. EDT at the opening of a two-hour window, from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. Project Kuiper is a mega constellation of satellites in Low Earth Orbit that will offer broadband internet access.
Space Systems Command partners with the National Reconnaissance Office for Proliferated Architecture Mission – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2025-04-20 00:00
SpaceX launched the National Reconnaissance Office Launch (NROL)-145 mission on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket today at 5:29 a.m. From Space Launch Complex (SLC)-4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. The NROL-145 launch service was procured by SSC’s National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program.
Earth-Moon space now occupied by a three satellite Chinese constellation – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2025-04-20 00:00
China has successfully established the world’s first three-satellite constellation based on the Distant Retrograde Orbit (DRO) in the Earth-moon region of space. DRO is a unique type of orbit, and the Earth-moon space refers to the region extending outward from near-Earth and near-lunar orbits. DRO provides a highly stable orbit where spacecraft require little fuel to enter and stay, it serves as natural space hub connecting Earth, the moon and deep space.
SpaceX’s Easter Sunday super foggy NROL-145 launch on a secret reconnaissance mission – SatNews
Original Publication Date: 2025-04-20 00:00
The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) launched the NROL-145 mission from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. This launch is the tenth batch of satellites for a reconnaissance satellite constellation built by SpaceX and Northrop Grumman for the National Reconnaissance Office. The mission will cost $52 million.
Faces of Leadership: The Directors of JPL
JPL Director, 2001-2016 Charles Elachi was born in Lebanon. Elachi taught at Caltech, served in a variety of research and management positions at JPL beginning in 1971. He became the Director of JPL in May 2001. During his tenure as Director, JPL was involved in more than 20 missions.
Documentary Series: JPL and the Space Age
JPL and the Space Age uses rare archival footage and interviews with many of JPL’s pioneering engineers and scientists. Each episode of JPL and the Space age was written, produced and directed by JPL Fellow and national Emmy Award-winning documentarian Blaine Baggett.
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