If an expert and satellite images are to be believed, Iran seems to be preparing for a space launch. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The development comes even as the negotiations are continuing in Vienna over nuclear deal with world powers. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The satellite images, which were taken by Planet Labs Inc and obtained by the Associated Press, show activity at Iran's Imam Khomeini Spaceport in the desert plains of rural Semnan province. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uks-foreign-secretary-says-last-chance-for-iran-to-come-to-the-negotiating-table-and-save-nuclear-deal-436316" hreflang="en">UK's foreign secretary says 'last chance' for Iran to come to the negotiating table and save nuclear deal</a>

It comes as a list of upcoming satellite launches was shared by Iranian state media. These launches seem to be for the civilian space programme of the Islamic Republic. It was earlier beset by a series of failed launches. &nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🇮🇷🚀Space images of the Iranian cosmodrome show Iran is preparing another launch into space in parallel with negotiations on its nuclear program in Vienna. <a href="https://t.co/mDrf7xl0u2">pic.twitter.com/mDrf7xl0u2</a>
— SHIELD X (@The_ShieldX) <a href="https://twitter.com/The_ShieldX/status/1470093343451402240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

In the pics, a support vehicle can be seen parked near a massive white gantry, which typically houses a rocket on the launch pad. A hydraulic crane is also visible with a railed platform. All of this were also been seen before previous launches. &nbsp;

This development shows Iran’s hardline posture as it is carrying out the launch amid the Vienna talks. New foreign minister of Germany has also warned that "time is running out for us at this point." &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irans-nuclear-programme-ignites-new-tension-between-us-and-israel-436163" hreflang="en">Iran’s nuclear programme ignites new tension between US and Israel</a>

The talks seem to provide Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi a "last chance" to sign the 2015 nuclear deal. &nbsp;

Jeffrey Lewis, expert, James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, who studies Tehran's programme, said, "They’re not walking on eggshells. I think Raisi's people have a new balance in mind." &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

If an expert and satellite images are to be believed, Iran seems to be preparing for a space launch. The development comes even as the negotiations are continuing in Vienna over nuclear deal with world powers.

If an expert and satellite images are to be believed, Iran seems to be preparing for a space launch. The development comes even as the negotiations are continuing in Vienna over nuclear deal with world powers. The satellite images, which were taken by Planet Labs Inc and obtained by the Associated Press, show activity at Iran's Imam Khomeini Spaceport in the desert plains of rural Semnan province. Also Read: UK's foreign secretary says 'last chance' for Iran to come to the negotiating table and save nuclear deal It comes as a list of upcoming satellite launches was shared by Iranian state media. These launches seem to be for the civilian space programme of the Islamic Republic. It was earlier beset by a series of failed launches. 🇮🇷🚀Space images of the Iranian cosmodrome show Iran is preparing another launch into space in parallel with negotiations on its nuclear program in Vienna. pic.twitter.com/mDrf7xl0u2 — SHIELD X (@The_ShieldX) December 12, 2021 × In the pics, a support vehicle can be seen parked near a massive white gantry, which typically houses a rocket on the launch pad. A hydraulic crane is also visible with a railed platform. All of this were also been seen before previous launches. This development shows Iran’s hardline posture as it is carrying out the launch amid the Vienna talks. New foreign minister of Germany has also warned that "time is running out for us at this point." Also Read: Iran’s nuclear programme ignites new tension between US and Israel The talks seem to provide Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi a "last chance" to sign the 2015 nuclear deal. Jeffrey Lewis, expert, James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies, who studies Tehran's programme, said, "They’re not walking on eggshells. I think Raisi's people have a new balance in mind." (With inputs from agencies)

Iran prepares for space launch at Imam Khomeini Spaceport, suggest satellite images, expert

Elon Musk's private rocket company SpaceX is set for a repeat attempt at launching two Americans into orbit&nbsp;from Florida for a mission that would mark the first spaceflight of NASA astronauts from US soil in nine years.

The mission's first launch try on Wednesday was called off with less than 17 minutes remaining on the countdown clock due to stormy weather around the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral. The second try would be undertaken on Saturday (US time).

The forecast for Saturday is likewise precarious. Mission managers plan to make an earlier decision on weather hazards in a bid to avoid unnecessarily wearing out the crew with another suit-up and full day of launch preparations.

Barring weather or other unforeseen problems, the 24-storey-tall SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is due to lift off at 3:22 pm EDT, propelling astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken aloft on a 19-hour ride to the International Space Station.

They will be carried there inside the newly designed Crew Dragon capsule, making its first flight into orbit with humans aboard.

The launch pad is the same one used by NASA's final space shuttle flight, piloted by Hurley, in 2011. Since then, NASA astronauts have had to hitch rides into orbit aboard Russia's Soyuz spacecraft.

For Musk, the launch represents another milestone for the reusable rockets his company pioneered to make spaceflight less costly and frequent. And it would mark the first time that commercially developed space vehicles -- owned and operated by a private entity rather than NASA -- have carried Americans into orbit.

The last time NASA launched astronauts into space aboard a brand new vehicle was 40 years ago at the start of the shuttle programme.

President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence visited the Kennedy Space Center three days ago for the first launch attempt. Trump said he plans to return for Saturday's retry.

If the mission is scrubbed again, the next launch window would be Sunday afternoon, with weather forecasts appearing somewhat more favourable for that day.

(with inputs from Reuters)

Elon Musk's private rocket company SpaceX is set for a repeat attempt at launching two Americans into orbit from Florida for a mission that would mark the first spaceflight of NASA astronauts from US soil in nine years.

Elon Musk's private rocket company SpaceX is set for a repeat attempt at launching two Americans into orbit from Florida for a mission that would mark the first spaceflight of NASA astronauts from US soil in nine years. The mission's first launch try on Wednesday was called off with less than 17 minutes remaining on the countdown clock due to stormy weather around the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral. The second try would be undertaken on Saturday (US time). The forecast for Saturday is likewise precarious. Mission managers plan to make an earlier decision on weather hazards in a bid to avoid unnecessarily wearing out the crew with another suit-up and full day of launch preparations. Barring weather or other unforeseen problems, the 24-storey-tall SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is due to lift off at 3:22 pm EDT, propelling astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken aloft on a 19-hour ride to the International Space Station. They will be carried there inside the newly designed Crew Dragon capsule, making its first flight into orbit with humans aboard. The launch pad is the same one used by NASA's final space shuttle flight, piloted by Hurley, in 2011. Since then, NASA astronauts have had to hitch rides into orbit aboard Russia's Soyuz spacecraft. For Musk, the launch represents another milestone for the reusable rockets his company pioneered to make spaceflight less costly and frequent. And it would mark the first time that commercially developed space vehicles -- owned and operated by a private entity rather than NASA -- have carried Americans into orbit. The last time NASA launched astronauts into space aboard a brand new vehicle was 40 years ago at the start of the shuttle programme. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence visited the Kennedy Space Center three days ago for the first launch attempt. Trump said he plans to return for Saturday's retry. If the mission is scrubbed again, the next launch window would be Sunday afternoon, with weather forecasts appearing somewhat more favourable for that day. (with inputs from Reuters)

NASA, SpaceX to try again for landmark launch of two astronauts from Florida

SpaceX, the private rocket company of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, was set to launch two Americans into orbit on Wednesday from Florida on a mission that would mark the first spaceflight of NASA astronauts from US soil in nine years.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was due to lift off from the Kennedy Space Center at 4:33 p.m. EDT (2033 GMT), launching Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken on a 19-hour ride aboard the company's newly designed Crew Dragon capsule to the International Space Station.

They were to blast off from the same launch pad used by NASA's final space shuttle flight, piloted by Hurley, in 2011. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence were scheduled to visit Florida's Cape Canaveral to view the launch in person.

Prospects for an on-time liftoff hinged on the weather, with forecasters late on Monday citing a 40% chance that storms over eastern Florida could force a postponement. If that happens, the next launch window would be Saturday afternoon.

A successful mission would achieve NASA's top priority, as articulated by agency chief Jim Bridenstine, of resuming launches of "American astronauts on American rockets from American soil." Over the past nine years, NASA astronauts have had to hitch rides into orbit aboard Russia's Soyuz spacecraft.

For Musk, Thursday's launch represents another milestone for the reusable rockets his company pioneered to make spaceflight less costly and frequent. It would also mark the first time that commercially developed space vehicles - owned and operated by a private entity rather than NASA - have carried Americans into orbit.

The last time NASA launched astronauts into space aboard a brand new vehicle was 40 years ago at the start of the shuttle program. 
Musk, the South African-born high-tech entrepreneur who made his fortune in Silicon Valley, is also the CEO of electric carmaker and battery manufacturer Tesla Inc.

Hurley, 53, and Behnken, 49, NASA employees under contract to fly with SpaceX, are expected to remain at the space station for several weeks, assisting a short-handed crew aboard the orbital laboratory.

Aerospace giant Boeing Co, producing its own space launch vehicles in competition with SpaceX for NASA business, is expected to launch its CST-100 Starliner vehicle with astronauts aboard for the first time next year.

NASA has awarded nearly $8 billion to SpaceX and Boeing combined for development of the rival space launch systems. 
Bridenstine declared the manned SpaceX flight a "go" last week after NASA and the company convened for final engineering checks.

The Hawthorne, California-based rocket company, founded by Musk in 2002 and formerly known as Space Exploration Technologies, has never previously flown humans into orbit, only cargo.

SpaceX successfully tested Crew Dragon without astronauts last year in its first orbital mission to the space station, but that vehicle was destroyed the following month during a ground test when a valve for its in-flight abort system failed, causing an explosion. The ensuing nine-month investigation ended in January.

SpaceX, the private rocket company of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, was set to launch two Americans into orbit on Wednesday from Florida on a mission that would mark the first spaceflight of NASA astronauts from US soil in nine years.

SpaceX, the private rocket company of billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, was set to launch two Americans into orbit on Wednesday from Florida on a mission that would mark the first spaceflight of NASA astronauts from US soil in nine years. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was due to lift off from the Kennedy Space Center at 4:33 p.m. EDT (2033 GMT), launching Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken on a 19-hour ride aboard the company's newly designed Crew Dragon capsule to the International Space Station. They were to blast off from the same launch pad used by NASA's final space shuttle flight, piloted by Hurley, in 2011. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence were scheduled to visit Florida's Cape Canaveral to view the launch in person. Prospects for an on-time liftoff hinged on the weather, with forecasters late on Monday citing a 40% chance that storms over eastern Florida could force a postponement. If that happens, the next launch window would be Saturday afternoon. A successful mission would achieve NASA's top priority, as articulated by agency chief Jim Bridenstine, of resuming launches of "American astronauts on American rockets from American soil." Over the past nine years, NASA astronauts have had to hitch rides into orbit aboard Russia's Soyuz spacecraft. For Musk, Thursday's launch represents another milestone for the reusable rockets his company pioneered to make spaceflight less costly and frequent. It would also mark the first time that commercially developed space vehicles - owned and operated by a private entity rather than NASA - have carried Americans into orbit. The last time NASA launched astronauts into space aboard a brand new vehicle was 40 years ago at the start of the shuttle program. Musk, the South African-born high-tech entrepreneur who made his fortune in Silicon Valley, is also the CEO of electric carmaker and battery manufacturer Tesla Inc. Hurley, 53, and Behnken, 49, NASA employees under contract to fly with SpaceX, are expected to remain at the space station for several weeks, assisting a short-handed crew aboard the orbital laboratory. Aerospace giant Boeing Co, producing its own space launch vehicles in competition with SpaceX for NASA business, is expected to launch its CST-100 Starliner vehicle with astronauts aboard for the first time next year. NASA has awarded nearly $8 billion to SpaceX and Boeing combined for development of the rival space launch systems. Bridenstine declared the manned SpaceX flight a "go" last week after NASA and the company convened for final engineering checks. The Hawthorne, California-based rocket company, founded by Musk in 2002 and formerly known as Space Exploration Technologies, has never previously flown humans into orbit, only cargo. SpaceX successfully tested Crew Dragon without astronauts last year in its first orbital mission to the space station, but that vehicle was destroyed the following month during a ground test when a valve for its in-flight abort system failed, causing an explosion. The ensuing nine-month investigation ended in January.

NASA set to resume human spaceflight from US soil with historic SpaceX launch

President Donald Trump will watch American astronauts blast into orbit from the Kennedy Space Center for the first time in more than a decade, next week.

This means he would be on the Florida coast on Wednesday to watch the event unfold.

It will be the first time since the space shuttle programme ended in 2011 that US astronauts will launch into space aboard an American rocket from American soil.

The USP of this event, however, is that Elon Musk's SpaceX is the conductor and NASA the customer as businesses begin chauffeuring astronauts to the International Space Station.

Vice President Mike Pence, who is chairman of the National Space Council, also plans to attend Wednesday's launch.&nbsp;

The NASA/SpaceX Commercial Crew flight test launch will carry NASA's newest test pilots, Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken, in a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

They're scheduled to blast off from launch pad 39A, the same one the Apollo astronauts used to get to the moon.

(with inputs from agencies)

President Donald Trump will watch American astronauts blast into orbit from the Kennedy Space Center for the first time in more than a decade, next week. This means he would be on the Florida coast on Wednesday to watch the event unfold.

President Donald Trump will watch American astronauts blast into orbit from the Kennedy Space Center for the first time in more than a decade, next week. This means he would be on the Florida coast on Wednesday to watch the event unfold. It will be the first time since the space shuttle programme ended in 2011 that US astronauts will launch into space aboard an American rocket from American soil. The USP of this event, however, is that Elon Musk's SpaceX is the conductor and NASA the customer as businesses begin chauffeuring astronauts to the International Space Station. Vice President Mike Pence, who is chairman of the National Space Council, also plans to attend Wednesday's launch. The NASA/SpaceX Commercial Crew flight test launch will carry NASA's newest test pilots, Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken, in a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. They're scheduled to blast off from launch pad 39A, the same one the Apollo astronauts used to get to the moon. (with inputs from agencies)

Trump to attend NASA astronaut launch in Florida on Wednesday

US warns Iran against its upcoming space launches

China&#39;s newly launched Long March-7 rocket will deliver the country&#39;s first cargo spacecraft to its planned space station in April 2017, officials announced at a press conference on Saturday. 
 
&quot;The Long March-7 project began in January 2011 as a baseline model for China&#39;s latest generation of medium-sized carrier rockets. According to the plan, the Long March-7 is expected to launch China&#39;s first cargo spacecraft in April 2017. During the construction and operation of the space station, the rocket and the cargo spacecraft will serve as a transport system to replenish supplies and propellant for the station,&quot; said Wu Ping, deputy director of the China Manned Space Engineering Office, at a press conference after the successful launch of the carrier rocket from Wenchang Satellite Launch Center in the south China&#39;s Hainan Province on Saturday. 
 
The 53-meter, 597-ton, liquid-fueled rocket can carry up to 13.5 tons to low-Earth orbit (LEO). Its main role in the future will be to transport cargo ships to China&#39;s future space stations as well as satellites and other spacecraft. 
 
&quot;The Long March-7 carrier rocket uses kerosene and liquid oxygen as fuel and a low-temperature pressurization system. Powered by six engines, it has a takeoff thrust of 730 tons and can carry 1.5 times as much as the current launch vehicles, which means a significant step forward in our country&#39;s rocket development project. In order to deliver as much propellant as possible and augment the rocket&#39;s takeoff thrust, we fitted a three-point strap-on booster configuration instead of the traditional two-point configuration,&quot; said Wang Xiaojun, the general director of the Long March-7 Project at the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. 
 
The Wenchang Satellite Launch Center is the fourth of its kind in China, after the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Dessert, the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwestern China&#39;s Sichuan Province and the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in the northern China&#39;s Shanxi Province. 
 
Located on the country&#39;s southernmost point, the Wenchang center allows better access to geostationary orbit for Chinese satellites. It will be the main launch site for future space station missions. 
 
&quot;The center will be used for the launch of geosynchronous satellites, large polar orbiting satellites, low and medium Earth orbit spacecraft, cargo spacecraft, space stations, as well as deep space exploration and other missions. It will also be used during the third phase of China&#39;s lunar exploration program and the launch of the Chang&#39;e-5 probe,&quot; said Wang Jingzhong, the Party Committee secretary at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center. 
 
(Reuters)

The 53-meter, 597-ton, liquid-fueled rocket can carry up to 13.5 tons to low-Earth orbit.

China's newly launched Long March-7 rocket will deliver the country's first cargo spacecraft to its planned space station in April 2017, officials announced at a press conference on Saturday. "The Long March-7 project began in January 2011 as a baseline model for China's latest generation of medium-sized carrier rockets. According to the plan, the Long March-7 is expected to launch China's first cargo spacecraft in April 2017. During the construction and operation of the space station, the rocket and the cargo spacecraft will serve as a transport system to replenish supplies and propellant for the station," said Wu Ping, deputy director of the China Manned Space Engineering Office, at a press conference after the successful launch of the carrier rocket from Wenchang Satellite Launch Center in the south China's Hainan Province on Saturday. The 53-meter, 597-ton, liquid-fueled rocket can carry up to 13.5 tons to low-Earth orbit (LEO). Its main role in the future will be to transport cargo ships to China's future space stations as well as satellites and other spacecraft. "The Long March-7 carrier rocket uses kerosene and liquid oxygen as fuel and a low-temperature pressurization system. Powered by six engines, it has a takeoff thrust of 730 tons and can carry 1.5 times as much as the current launch vehicles, which means a significant step forward in our country's rocket development project. In order to deliver as much propellant as possible and augment the rocket's takeoff thrust, we fitted a three-point strap-on booster configuration instead of the traditional two-point configuration," said Wang Xiaojun, the general director of the Long March-7 Project at the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. The Wenchang Satellite Launch Center is the fourth of its kind in China, after the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Dessert, the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwestern China's Sichuan Province and the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in the northern China's Shanxi Province. Located on the country's southernmost point, the Wenchang center allows better access to geostationary orbit for Chinese satellites. It will be the main launch site for future space station missions. "The center will be used for the launch of geosynchronous satellites, large polar orbiting satellites, low and medium Earth orbit spacecraft, cargo spacecraft, space stations, as well as deep space exploration and other missions. It will also be used during the third phase of China's lunar exploration program and the launch of the Chang'e-5 probe," said Wang Jingzhong, the Party Committee secretary at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center. (Reuters)

China?s Long March-7 rocket to launch country?s first cargo spacecraft in 2017

space-launch

Space Launch, News on Space Launch, stories on Space Launch, articles on Space Launch, Space Launch stories at Wion, Space Launch news, Space Launch latest news