NASA awards launch contract for solar mission
Posted: Thu, Mar 19, 2015, 11:40 AM ET (1540 GMT)
NASA announced Wednesday that it has selected a Delta 4 Heavy to launch a solar probe mission in 2018. NASA said it awarded a $389-million contract to United Launch Alliance for the launch of the agency's Solar Probe Plus mission, scheduled for July 31, 2018, at the beginning of a one-month launch window. ULA will launch the spacecraft on its Delta 4 Heavy, the largest launch vehicle currently available, with a Star-48 upper stage provided by Orbital ATK. NASA had previously considered using the most powerful Atlas 5 version, the Atlas 5 551, but determined that vehicle would require the use of a new, custom-developed upper stage. Solar Probe Plus will be the first spacecraft to fly through the solar corona, approaching within four million kilometers of the solar photosphere; the powerful launch vehicle, along with multiple gravity assist flybys of Venus, are needed to bring the spacecraft that close to the Sun.
NASA announced Wednesday that it has selected a Delta 4 Heavy to launch a solar probe mission in 2018. NASA said it awarded a $389-million contract to United Launch Alliance for the launch of the agency's Solar Probe Plus mission, scheduled for July 31, 2018, at the beginning of a one-month launch window. ULA will launch the spacecraft on its Delta 4 Heavy, the largest launch vehicle currently available, with a Star-48 upper stage provided by Orbital ATK. NASA had previously considered using the most powerful Atlas 5 version, the Atlas 5 551, but determined that vehicle would require the use of a new, custom-developed upper stage. Solar Probe Plus will be the first spacecraft to fly through the solar corona, approaching within four million kilometers of the solar photosphere; the powerful launch vehicle, along with multiple gravity assist flybys of Venus, are needed to bring the spacecraft that close to the Sun.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
China launches first Long March 12A, but booster landing fails
Posted: Sun, Dec 28 9:50 AM ET (1450 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Friday, January 2
L3Harris $843M 'Golden Dome' missile-satellite work coming to Palm Bay
Florida Today — 7:55 am ET (1255 GMT) Thursday, January 1
Europe’s Space Agency Says Cyber Incident May Have Hit Servers
Bloomberg News — 9:01 am ET (1401 GMT) AFSOC looks to add Starlink terminals to Ghostrider gunships
Defensescoop — 9:00 am ET (1400 GMT) US Labor Board Abandons One of Its Cases Against Musk’s SpaceX
Bloomberg News — 8:57 am ET (1357 GMT) British company that worked with Elon Musk sends tiny factory capable of reaching 1,000C into space
GB News — 8:57 am ET (1357 GMT) |
