At Its Best: Remembering STS-32, Thirty Years On

By Ben Evans, on January 5th, 2020

Thirty years ago, this month, the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) was plucked from orbit after almost six years. It was a triumphant moment as the Space Shuttle Program sought to recover from the loss of Challenger. Photo Credit: NASA

Thirty years ago, in January 1990, the Space Shuttle turned a corner. Long touted […]

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'The Granddaddy of All Experiments': 25 Years Since the STS-32 Mission to Snatch LDEF (Part 2)

By Ben Evans, on January 4th, 2015

The 12-sided Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) was intended to spend less than a year in orbit, but ended up remaining for almost six years, traveling the equivalent distance from Earth to Saturn. Photo Credit: NASA, via Joachim Becker/SpaceFacts.de

A quarter-century ago, next week, the crew of Columbia embarked on the longest shuttle […]

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'What You Saw Was What You Got': 25 Years Since the STS-32 Mission to Snatch LDEF (Part 1)

By Ben Evans, on January 3rd, 2015

Twenty-five years ago, next week, the crew of Shuttle Columbia retrieved the giant Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF). The satellite’s orbit had degraded to such an extent that it was only weeks away from an uncontrolled re-entry. Photo Credit: NASA

Twenty-five years ago, next week, on 9 January 1990, the crew of Columbia […]

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Ding-Dong Merrily On-Orbit: Celebrating Yuletide in Space (Part 1)

By Ben Evans, on December 23rd, 2014

Truly the voyage of Apollo 8 over the Christmas period in 1968 carried with it the most profound message of the Greatest Story Ever Told: a message of peace, goodwill and harmony to the inhabitants of Planet Earth. Photo Credit: NASA

For the first time in history, two women will celebrate Christmas on […]

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Photo Feature: Double (No) Trouble—ULA Atlas V With AEHF-3 and Orbital's Antares With Cygnus 1

By Jason Rhian, on September 21st, 2013

AmericaSpace broke its core photography team into two elements this past week to report on two launches taking place in a single day. Photo Credit: Alan Walters & John Studwell / AmericaSpace

Virginia Is for (Rocket) Lovers:

WALLOPS ISLAND, Va — Concerns about high-upper level winds and cloud ceilings failed to materialize […]

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One Day, Two Launches: East Coast Launch Facilities Set to Roar Tomorrow

By Jason Rhian, on September 17th, 2013

As it currently stands, two launches will take place off the U.S. East Coast on Sept. 18. Photo Credit: Mike Howard & Jason Rhian / AmericaSpace

WALLOPS FLIGHT FACILITY, Va — From two different locations, NASA, in partnership with Orbital Sciences Corporation, along with United Launch Alliance ULA) and the U.S. Air Force, […]

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In Honor of David: The Astronaut Who Inspired Orbital’s First Cygnus Mission (Part 2)

By Ben Evans, on September 15th, 2013

The Cygnus 1 spacecraft is seen here being integrated onto the Antares launch vehicle. Cygnus 1 has been renamed in honor of the late David G. Low. Photo Credit: NASA / Orbital

Only days remain before the scheduled 18 September launch of the first Cygnus cargo mission to the International Space Station by […]

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Launch of Antares With Orbital's Cygnus 1 Spacecraft Delayed

By Jason Rhian, on September 14th, 2013

Photo Credit: Orbital Sciences Corporation / NASA

After a launch readiness review, mission planners with Orbital Sciences Corporation have opted to delay the first flight of the company’s Cygnus 1 cargo vessel, perched atop their Antares rocket, for no earlier than Sept. 18. The launch window extends from 10:50 to 11:05 a.m. (EDT). […]

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In Honor of David: The Astronaut Who Inspired Orbital's First Cygnus Mission (Part 1)

By Ben Evans, on September 14th, 2013

Orbital Sciences will honor the memory and achievements of G. David Low with its second Antares launch and the culmation of the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) contract with NASA. Photo Credit: Mark Usciak / AmericaSpace

Only days remain before the scheduled Sept. 17 launch of the first Cygnus cargo mission to the […]

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