Month: June 2018

Stunning SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon PreDawn Resupply Launch to ISS Mesmerizers Skywatchers with Moving Jellyfish-like Figure: Photos

Long exposure streak shot of spectacularly beautiful and successful launch of SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket before dawn at 5:42 a.m. on June 29, 2018 from Space Launch Complex-40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force.  It is carrying the Dragon CRS-15cargo ship loaded with 3 tons of science for NASA  to the ISS  – captured from roof of NASA’s iconic VAB at the Kennedy Space

Used SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon Set for Spectacular Pre-Dawn Blastoff June 29 to ISS Carrying CIMON Artificial Intelligence Astronaut Assistant: Watch Live

Under gloomy skies this up close view shows the reused SpaceX Dragon CRS-15 spacecraft joined to the reused Falcon 9 first stage resting horizontal at Space Launch Complex-40 on June 28 prior to resupply mission to the ISS targeted for launch June 29, 2018 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.  Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com Ken Kremer  —   SpaceUpClose.com  —   28

3 Tons of Science Flying to Space Station Aboard Recycled SpaceX Falcon 9 on NASA Resupply Mission Launching June 29

CIMON (Crew Interactive Mobile CompanioN)  involves the first test of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the ISS and is free flying mobile and autonomous assistance system designed to aid astronauts with their everyday tasks on the station.  Credit: DLR/NASA Ken Kremer  —   SpaceUpClose.com  —   27 June 2018 CAPE CANAVERAL, FL –  3 tons of science experiments covering a wide range of

SpaceX Wins $130 Million Air Force Contract for Classified Military Launch on Falcon Heavy

Maiden SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket is erected to vertical launch position at Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida prior to successful launch on Feb. 6, 2018.  Credit: Ken Kremer/SpaceUpClose.com/kenkremer.com Ken Kremer  —   SpaceUpClose.com  —   24 June 2018 CAPE CANAVERAL, FL –  SpaceX has won a competitively bid military contract from the US Air Force for the

SpaceX Completes Successful Static Fire Test of Reused Falcon 9 Rocket for NASA Resupply Launch to ISS

SpaceX conducts successful static fire test of reused Falcon 9 first stage at 5:30 p.m. EDT on June 23 at Space Launch Complex-40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station for CRS-15 resupply mission to the ISS targeted on launch June 29, 2018.  Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com Ken Kremer  —   SpaceUpClose.com  —   23 June 2018 CANAVERAL NATIONAL SEASHORE, FL –  After touch

Escalating Dust Storm Encircles Mars, NASA’s Opportunity Rover Remains Silent Fate Unknown

Two 2001 images from the Mars Orbiter Camera on NASA’s Mars Global Surveyor orbiter show a dramatic change in the planet’s appearance when haze raised by dust-storm activity in the south became globally distributed. The images were taken about a month apart. Credit:  NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS Ken Kremer  —   SpaceUpClose.com  —   20 June 2018 CAPE CANAVERAL, FL –  The escalating dust storm

Blastoff of NASA’s Parker Solar Probe Retargeted to August 2018

Illustration of NASA’s Parker Solar Probe spacecraft approaching the sun. Blastoff is targeted for August 2018 from Cape Canaveral, FL.  Credit: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory Ken Kremer  —   SpaceUpClose.com  —   19 June 2018 CAPE CANAVERAL, FL – Blastoff of NASA’s groundbreaking Parker Solar Probe mission that will virtually ‘touch the sun’ has been retargeted to early August 2018 from

President Trump Tasks Pentagon to Create Military ‘Space Force’

President Donald Trump delivers opening remarks as Vice President Mike Pence looks on during a meeting of the National Space Council in the East Room of the White House, Monday, June 18, 2018, in Washington. Chaired by the Vice President, the council’s role is to advise the President regarding national space policy and strategy, and review the nation’s long-range goals

NASA’s Curiosity Rover Discovers More Signs of Habitability on Mars; Past and Present

NASA’s Curiosity rover has discovered ancient organic molecules on Mars, including the molecule thiophene, embedded within sedimentary rocks at Gale Crater that are billions of years old.  The rover used an instrument called SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars).  Credit:  NASA/GSFC Ken Kremer  —   SpaceUpClose.com  —   15 June 2018 CAPE CANAVERAL, FL –  NASA’s Curiosity rover has discovered additional signs of

Intensifying Global Martian Dust Storm Imperils Survival of NASA’s Opportunity Rover at ‘Perseverance Valley’

This pre-dust storm panaromic mosaic view was taken by NASA’s Opportunity rover showing the spectacular view from her approximate current position in June 2018 after traveling halfway down the fluid carved slope of Perseverance Valley – while peeing into the interior of vast Endeavour Crater.  This navcam camera photo mosaic was assembled by Ken Kremer and Marco Di Lorenzo from