PSLV launch June 23 2017

Rideshare demand grows despite development of small launch vehicles

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Despite the ongoing development of a fleet of small launch vehicles, both launch providers and customers continue to see demand for flying small satellites as secondary payloads on larger rockets.

Business Launch PSLVRocket LabSmallsatSoyuzSpaceflight IndustriesVega
Glavkosmos Soyuz smallsat launch

Glavkosmos seeks to become a major smallsat launch provider

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Russian company Glavkosmos is seeking to become a major player in the small satellite launch market, with plans to launch up to 120 satellites as secondary payloads on three Soyuz missions this year.

Business Launch GlavkosmosSmallsatSoyuz
A Europeanized Soyuz rocket lifts off carrying the SES-15 satellite. Credit: Arianespace video capture

Arianespace Soyuz orbits SES-15 carrying FAA hosted payload

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Arianespace launched a Soyuz rocket May 18 from Europe’s space center in French Guiana, carrying the electrically propelled SES-15 satellite to geostationary transfer orbit.

Launch ArianespaceFAAhosted payloadSESSoyuz
Galileo launch

Italian radar satellite will share Soyuz launch with European science satellite

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ASI said it will launch a Cosmo-Skymed radar satellite from French Guiana, co-manifested with ESA's Cheops exoplanet satellite.

First Up ESAEuropeanized SoyuzSoyuz
The Soyuz MS-02 spacecraft being prepared for launch in September. A problem with the spacecraft found only after it was placed inside its payload fairing has delayed its launch until the end of October. Credit: NASA/Victor Zelentsov

NASA signs agreement with Boeing for Soyuz seats

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NASA has quietly signed a contract with Boeing for up to five additional Soyuz seats to provide for both additional U.S. crewmembers on the International Space Station and margin for commercial crew delays.

Business Missions BoeingISSNASASoyuz
Hispasat-36W-1 launch Soyuz

European Soyuz launches SmallGEO satellite for Hispasat

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European launch provider Arianespace completed its first launch of the year Jan. 27, orbiting the first SmallGEO satellite for Spanish satellite operator Hispasat.

Business Launch HispasatOHBSmallGEOSoyuz
The Soyuz MS-02 spacecraft being prepared for launch in September. A problem with the spacecraft found only after it was placed inside its payload fairing has delayed its launch until the end of October. Credit: NASA/Victor Zelentsov

NASA considering Boeing offer for additional Soyuz seats

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NASA is proposing to purchase, through Boeing, additional Soyuz seats for International Space Station missions to both take advantage of Russian plans to decrease the size of its crew and as insurance against potential additional commercial crew delays.

Business Missions BoeingCommercial CrewISSNASASoyuz
A Soyuz-U rocket carrying the Progress MS-04 spacecraft lifts off Dec. 1. A problem during the rocket's third stage burn caused the loss of the mission. Credit: NASA

Progress launch to space station fails

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A Progress cargo spacecraft bound for the International Space Station failed to reach orbit after launch Dec. 1, a failure that should not have an immediate impact on operations of the station and its crew.

Launch Missions ISSProgressSoyuz
The Soyuz MS-02 spacecraft being prepared for launch in September. A problem with the spacecraft found only after it was placed inside its payload fairing has delayed its launch until the end of October. Credit: NASA/Victor Zelentsov

Roscosmos confirms plans to reduce space station crew

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Roscosmos officials said Sept. 26 they planned to reduce the size of their crew on the International Space Station next year from three to two.

Missions ISSRoscosmosSoyuz
Soyuz MS-01 crew

Soyuz spacecraft set to launch astronauts to ISS

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Wednesday's briefing begins with a Soyuz MS-01 spacecraft set to launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome that will carry three astronauts to the International Space Station.

First Up ISSSoyuz
Tim Peake of the European Space Agency talks on a satellite phone in a chair outside the Soyuz TMA-19M spacecraft just minutes after he and Yuri Malenchenko of Roscosmos and Tim Kopra of NASA landed in a remote area near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan on June 18. Kopra, Peake, and Malenchenko are returning after six months in space where they served as members of the Expedition 46 and 47 crews onboard the International Space Station. Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

Britain’s Tim Peake and crewmates back home following Soyuz Landing

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Monday's briefing begins British astronaut Tim Peake returning home after landing in Kazakstan Saturday.

First Up ISSSoyuz
Expedition 46 Soyuz Commander Yuri Malenchenko and flight engineers Tim Kopra of NASA, center, and Tim Peake of ESA farewell prior to boarding the Soyuz TMA-19M rocket for launch Dec. 15 from Baikonur Cosmodrome. These three astronauts will make their way back to earth this evening. Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky

Three ISS astronauts to return tonight

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Friday's briefing begins with news that a Soyuz TMA-19M will bring three ISS astronauts home late in the evening

First Up ISSSoyuz
Soyuz MS-01 crew

Russia delays next Soyuz launch to space station

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The next Soyuz mission to the International Space Station has been postponed to July, but that delay will not have an immediate effect on two U.S. cargo missions also slated for launch to the station that month.

Launch Missions CygnusDragonISSSoyuz
At the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, Expedition 48-49 prime crewmembers Kate Rubins of NASA (left), Anatoly Ivanishin of Roscosmos (center) and Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (right) pose for pictures May 26 during a final qualification exam session. Rubins, Onishi and Ivanishin will launch June 24 on the Soyuz MS-01 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a four-month mission on the International Space Station. NASA/Stephanie Stoll

Russian officials say no decision until Monday on Soyuz delay

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Friday's briefing starts with Russian officials saying they will decide Monday whether to delay the next Soyuz flight to the ISS.

First Up ISSRussiaSoyuz
Expedition 48-49 prime crewmembers Takuya Onishi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (left), Anatoly Ivanishin of Roscosmos (center) and Kate Rubins of NASA (right) field questions from reporters May 27 at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia. Rubins, Onishi and Ivanishin will launch July 7 on the Soyuz MS-01 spacecraft from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for a four-month mission on the International Space Station. Credit: NASA/Stephanie Stoll

Russia delays next Soyuz, Progress launches to ISS

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Thursday's briefing begins with a Russian report that the next Soyuz launch to the ISS has been delayed to July 7 due to concerns about the crewed capsule's control system.

First Up RussiaSoyuz
A Russian Soyuz rocket lifts off May 29 carrying a Glonass navigation satellite. Credit: Video grab

Soyuz upper stage “irregularity” mars successful Glonass launch

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Tuesday's briefing begins with Russian media reports that Sunday's otherwise successful launch of a Glonass navigation satellite was marred by a problem with the launcher's upper stage.

First Up GlonassSoyuz

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