Launch Services Program

NASA Launches International Mission to Survey Earth's Water

Retrieved on: 
Friday, December 16, 2022

The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) spacecraft also has contributions from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and the UK Space Agency.

Key Points: 
  • The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) spacecraft also has contributions from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and the UK Space Agency.
  • The satellite will measure the height of water in freshwater bodies and the ocean on more than 90% of Earth's surface.
  • "This mission marks the continuity of 30 years of collaboration between NASA and CNES in altimetry," said Caroline Laurent, CNES Orbital Systems and Applications director.
  • "It shows how international collaboration can be achieved through a breakthrough mission that will help us better understand climate change and its effects around the world."

Advanced Space Leads First Ever Commercial Mission to Operate at the Moon

Retrieved on: 
Monday, November 21, 2022

Consistent with the company vision to enable the sustainable exploration, development, and settlement of space, Advanced Space has worked to support the Nations focus on returning to the Moon.

Key Points: 
  • Consistent with the company vision to enable the sustainable exploration, development, and settlement of space, Advanced Space has worked to support the Nations focus on returning to the Moon.
  • In partnership with NASA and others, Advanced Space is developing state-of-the-art tools and infrastructure that will support safe operations at the Moon for future missions.
  • Advanced Space will be demonstrating the autonomous spacecraft-to-spacecraft navigation software it has been developing in anticipation of increasingly congested operations at the Moon.
  • Providing telemetry, tracking and control services for NASA and commercial space missions and toengage university students in deep space mission operations.

CAPSTONE is at the Moon! Advanced Space Leads Pathfinding Efforts for NASA

Retrieved on: 
Monday, November 14, 2022

CAPSTONE is demonstrating how to get into this orbit; in the weeks to come, CAPSTONE will demonstrate and verify orbital operations in the NRHO for NASA.

Key Points: 
  • CAPSTONE is demonstrating how to get into this orbit; in the weeks to come, CAPSTONE will demonstrate and verify orbital operations in the NRHO for NASA.
  • The Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment or CAPSTONE, is owned and operated by Advanced Space and was built by Terran Orbital.
  • Providing telemetry, tracking and control services for NASA and commercial space missions and toengage university students in deep space mission operations.
  • Advanced Space ( https://advancedspace.com/ ) supports the sustainable exploration, development, and settlement of space through software and services that leverage unique subject matter expertise to improve the fundamentals of spaceflight.

NASA to Share First Results of Inflatable Heat Shield Technology Test

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, November 15, 2022

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA will host a media briefing on Thursday, Nov. 17, at 2 p.m. EST to share early results from the Low-Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator (LOFTID) technology demonstration.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, Nov. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA will host a media briefing on Thursday, Nov. 17, at 2 p.m. EST to share early results from the Low-Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator (LOFTID) technology demonstration.
  • About one hour after launch aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket, the LOFTID inflatable heat shield deployed and began its demonstration.
  • The inflatable heat shield technology tested by LOFTID could improve landing capability on worlds with atmospheres, allowing the landing of heavier payloads and safe touchdown at higher altitudes than are currently accessible.
  • The LOFTID project is managed and funded through NASA's Technology Demonstration Missions program, part of the agency's Space Technology Mission Directorate.

NASA, ULA Successfully Launch Weather Satellite, Re-entry Tech Demo

Retrieved on: 
Friday, November 11, 2022

"Our Launch Services Program has successfully launched its 100th primary mission, and on this same flight enabled us to test a new technology for atmospheric re-entry with the LOFTID demonstration."

Key Points: 
  • "Our Launch Services Program has successfully launched its 100th primary mission, and on this same flight enabled us to test a new technology for atmospheric re-entry with the LOFTID demonstration."
  • The JPSS fleet will assist with weather forecasting, help predict extreme weather events, and help track and monitor climate change.
  • "We were pleased to work with our ULA, NASA science, and NOAA colleagues to perform this technology demonstration in conjunction with JPSS-2's launch."
  • NASA's Launch Services Program, based at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, managed the launch service.

NASA Invites Media to Launch of Water-Monitoring Satellite

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, October 13, 2022

NASA and SpaceX are targeting no earlier than Monday, Dec. 5, for launch of the Earth-facing satellite on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex-4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

Key Points: 
  • NASA and SpaceX are targeting no earlier than Monday, Dec. 5, for launch of the Earth-facing satellite on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex-4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
  • U.S. and international media interested in attending this launch must apply no later than 5 p.m. EDT on Thursday, Oct. 27.
  • Media accreditation requests should be submitted at:
    A copy of NASA's media accreditation policy is available online .
  • NASA's Launch Services Program at Kennedy is managing the launch.

NASA Invites Media to Learn About Inflatable Heat Shield Demo

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, October 5, 2022

This technology could support landing crew and large robotic missions on Mars, as well as returning heavier payloads to Earth.

Key Points: 
  • This technology could support landing crew and large robotic missions on Mars, as well as returning heavier payloads to Earth.
  • To participate, media must RSVP at least two hours prior to the virtual event to Gerelle Dodson at: [email protected] .
  • The LOFTID project ismanaged and funded through NASA's Technology Demonstration Missions program, part of the agency's Space Technology Mission Directorate.
  • NASA's Launch Services Program, based at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, is responsible for managing the launch service.

NASA, NOAA Invite Media to Polar Orbiting Weather Satellite Launch

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, September 1, 2022

The NOAA/NASA Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi NPP) satellite, and NOAA-20, previously known as JPSS-1, are both already in orbit.

Key Points: 
  • The NOAA/NASA Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi NPP) satellite, and NOAA-20, previously known as JPSS-1, are both already in orbit.
  • Each satellite carries at least four advanced instruments to measure weather and climate conditions on Earth.
  • Together, NASA and NOAA partner in the development, launch, testing, and operation of all the satellites in the JPSS program.
  • On behalf of NOAA, NASA develops and builds the instruments, spacecraft, and ground system and launches the satellites, which NOAA operates.

NASA Announces New CubeSat Launch Initiative Partnership Opportunities

Retrieved on: 
Monday, August 8, 2022

WASHINGTON, Aug. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA has announced a new round of opportunities through the agency's CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI) for CubeSat developers, including educational institutions, to conduct scientific investigations and technology demonstrations in space and contribute to the agency's exploration goals.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, Aug. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA has announced a new round of opportunities through the agency's CubeSat Launch Initiative (CSLI) for CubeSat developers, including educational institutions, to conduct scientific investigations and technology demonstrations in space and contribute to the agency's exploration goals.
  • NASA anticipates making selectionsby March 17, 2023,for flight opportunities in 2024-2027, although selection does not guarantee a launch opportunity.
  • Designs that includerestrictive orbit requirements may limit launch opportunities and lead to later-than-desired launch dates.
  • For more information about NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative, visit:
    View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-announces-new-cubesat-laun...

NASA Awards Launch Services Contract for Roman Space Telescope

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, July 19, 2022

WASHINGTON, July 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA has awarded a NASA Launch Services (NLS) II contract to Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) in Hawthorne, California, to provide launch service for the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope mission.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, July 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA has awarded a NASA Launch Services (NLS) II contract to Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) in Hawthorne, California, to provide launch service for the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope mission.
  • The Roman Space Telescope is the top-priority large space mission recommended by the 2010 Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey.
  • The total cost for NASA to launch the Roman telescope is approximately $255 million, which includes the launch service and other mission related costs.
  • NASA's Launch Services Program at Kennedy is responsible for launch vehicle program management of the SpaceX launch service.