NASA's Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) in a clean room at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, in August. ICON will launch on a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL vehicle, attached beneath the company's L-1011 Stargazer aircraft. Credit: NASA

This article originally appeared in the May 6, 2019 issue of SpaceNews magazine.

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Caleb Henry is a former SpaceNews staff writer covering satellites, telecom and launch. He previously worked for Via Satellite and NewSpace Global.He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science along with a minor in astronomy from Grove City College.