On May 5, 2017 at 11:27 UTC the Indian “GSLV Mk. 2” (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) rocket-carrier was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Center on Sriharikota Island, India's primary launch site on the country's east coast. The rocket orbited Indian-built GSAT-9 communications satellite.

On May 4, 2017 at 21:50 UTC the "Ariane-5ECA” rocket-carrier was launched from Kourou launch site (the Guiana Space Centre) in French Guiana. The rocket orbited 2 telecommunications satellites. The SGDC-1 (Satélite Geoestacionário de Defesa e Comunicações Estratégicas) satellite was launched on a dual-use mission for the Brazilian military and to help bridge the digital divide for far-flung Brazilian citizens. The “Koreasat-7” satellite, owned by KTsat based in Seoul, will provide a full range of video and data applications such as direct-to-home broadcasting and Internet access for customers in South Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia, Indochina and India.

On May 1, 2017 at 11:15 UTC the “Falcon-9” rocket-carrier was launched from Cape Canaveral launch site of US Air Force. The launch was performed by SpaceX company supported by the 45th Space Wing of US Air Force. The rocket orbited the NROL-76 classified satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office. The NROL (National Reconnaissance Office Launch) abbreviation is used to identify classified satellites operated by the United States National Reconnaissance Office. The nature of the payload is not officially reported. It is said only that the satellite is intended for the timely detection of potential threats to the national interests of the United States. The “Falcon” rocket landed around nine minutes after liftoff, settling on the LZ-1 concrete pad of the Kennedy Space Centre around 15 kilometers south of where the “Falcon-9” took off. SpaceX intends to inspect the ... Read more »