Blogs

The Stargazer aircraft has moved into position end of the Skid Strip runway 13 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

Here are the pilots and flight engineers charged with delivering the Orbital ATK Pegasus XL rocket to its drop point 39,000 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. From left to right are pilots Ebb Harris and Bob Gordon, chief pilot Don Walter, flight engineer Bob Taylor, ret. Chief pilot Bill Weaver, and flight engineer Mark Kenny.

Launch managers now are targeting the drop and launch of the Orbital ATK Pegasus XL rocket with NASA’s CYGNSS spacecraft for 8:40 a.m. EST. The L-1011’s anticipated departure time is now 7:37 a.m., allowing time for the pilot to navigate around some precipitation on the way to the drop point. This adjusted timeline keeps NASA …

Now that the sun has risen, the fog already has lifted to a half-mile of visibility at the Skid Strip runway at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and in other areas has improved a bit beyond that, according to NASA Launch Commentator George Diller. The L-1011’s engines are being powered on and we’re standing by …

At the Skid Strip runway at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, the Stargazer aircraft and a NASA F-18 chase plane provided by the agency’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in California are preparing for takeoff. Due to heavy fog in the area, discussions are on the way among launch managers and Launch Weather Officer Mike …

Good morning from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, where NASA’s Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System, or CYGNSS, spacecraft is scheduled to launch this morning. The launch time has been adjusted to 8:30 a.m. EST, although the one-hour launch window remains the same and opens at 8:19 a.m. Times throughout the blog will be …

NASA’s CYGNSS mission is set to begin with launch aboard an Orbital ATK Pegasus XL rocket this morning. Updates from the countdown will begin right here at 6:30 a.m. and on NASA Television at 7 a.m. The Pegasus XL rocket is an air-launched vehicle that begins its flight after it is dropped from Orbital ATK’s …

I’ve just gotten back from the CYGNSS pre-launch reception. We were happy to get to this day, after countless hours of hard work. Now, we’re all just excited and nervous to see what happens when our baby CYGNSS satellites (Octuplets!) are born into the world. We can’t wait to see what science mysteries CYGNSS data […]

The L-1 Day forecast from the U.S. Air Force 45th Weather Squadron has improved to a 60 percent chance of favorable weather for the launch of NASA’s CYGNSS mission spacecraft. Launch is scheduled for 8:24 a.m. EST Monday during the one-hour window, which opens at 8:19 a.m. CYGNSS will take off aboard an Orbital Sciences …

You’re probably wondering why I’m down at NASA KSC so early before launch day. We’re not down here relaxing on the beach; the weekend before launch is packed with events. For example, just today, I participated in our CYGNSS Science Team meeting and two press events. Earlier today, I kicked off our science team meeting by […]