What Do SBIRS-GEO-3, Gemini VII and Bumper 7 All Have in Common?

Bill Jelen

January 27, 2018

Filtered by Month: January 2018

An Atlas V rocket, flying in the 411 configuration lifted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Friday, January 19, 2018. The logo on the fairing clearly said SBIRS-GEO-4, but the satellite inside the fairing was the third Space-Based Infrared System Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (SBIRS-GEO-3) satellite off the production line. This isn't the first time that a mission launched out of sequence. Gemini-7 launched before Gemini-6. Bumper-8 launched before Bumper-7. And now, the 4th SBIRS-GEO launched one year before the third SBIRS-GEO.

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After Static Fire, Delaware North Offers VIP Falcon Heavy Launch Tickets

At 12:30 PM on Wednesday January 24, 2018, SpaceX fired up the 27 engines of their Falcon Heavy at Pad 39A. With the successful static fire, launch fever cranked up as Delaware North announced $195 VIP Launch Viewing Tickets starting at 9AM on Thursday January 25. This price is higher than ever before, but is good for multiple days in case of a scrub.

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NASA Day of Remembrance Focuses on Four Early Space Casualties

A large crowd convened at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Information Center on January 25, 2018 for the annual NASA Day of Remembrance. A focus this year was on four astronauts who perished in events other than Apollo One, Challenger, and Columbia. Family members of Charles A. Bassett II, Elliot M. See Jr., Clifton C. Williams, and Michael J. Adams shared memories of each astronaut. Also in attendance, Tal Ramon, son of Columbia crew member Ilan Ramon shared two original compositions and spoke about his father.

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A unique, low angle image shows the Air Force's Space Based Infrared System Geosynchronous Earth Orbit Flight-4 (SBIRS GEO-4) satellite just after its final encapsulation at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, Jan. 9, 2018. (Photo courtesy Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Colorado)

45th Space Wing Prepares for SBIRS GEO-4 Launch on January 18, 2018

ULA

CAPE CANAVERAL: The Air Force's Space Based Infrared System Geosynchronous Earth Orbit Flight-4 (SBIRS GEO-4) satellite completed encapsulation on January 9th at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. Today, on January 10, 2018, GEO-4 will make the journey to Space Launch Complex-41, where it will be mated with its Atlas V-411 rocket. It is scheduled for launch on Jan. 18, 2018, at 7:52 p.m., Eastern.

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