foodconsumer.org: When are the next NASA spacecraft launches?

When are the next NASA spacecraft launches?
================================================================================
admin on 02/06/2010 03:44:00
 
All spacecraft, regardless of their type, require a lot of advance planning and
scheduling. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has a
number of facilities around the world, some of which are also used to launch
spacecraft. Factors determining a launch facility include the type of spacecraft
and the type of mission, among others. Although NASA is in charge of all space
shuttle missions, the agency is not involved in all rocket launches. Many
commercial, military and international missions launched from the U.S. and
around the world are not affiliated with NASA.
Space shuttle launches always take place at John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC)
on the east coast of Central Florida. Rocket launches may take place at the Cape
Canaveral Air Force Station, which is next to the KSC, or at Vandenberg Air
Force Base (AFB) in California. Missions which require equatorial orbits are
typically launched from Cape Canaveral, while those requiring polar orbits are
usually launched from Vandenberg AFB. NASA also has secondary launch sites on
Kodiak Island, Alaska, and on the Kwajalein Atoll in the Republic of the
Marshall Islands.
Launches from the KSC or Cape Canaveral can be viewed by the public. Only
certain launches at the KSC are viewable by the public on-site, but there are a
number of ideal viewing locations off-site, from which all launches from the
Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral or Vandenberg AFB can be observed. A
complete schedule of missions is available online.
Additional Resources:
*NASA: Human Spaceflight 	*Technology: Artificial Satellites 	*NASA: Hubble
Space Telescope (HST) 	*NASA: International Space Station (ISS) 	*NASA: Lunar
Exploration Missions 	*NASA: Constellation Program 	*NASA: Orion Spacecraft
	*NASA: Centennial Challenges 	*NASA: History
By USA.gov team