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  1. zikalify
    SpaceX to launch private Axiom 3 mission to ISS - TWIRL #147 by Paul Hill We have plenty of SpaceX launches coming up this week. Two are Starlink missions but one will be a Crew Dragon mission to the space station. It will be carrying the Axiom 3 crew to the ISS who will spend a week there. Axiom Space is a private space company just like SpaceX. Sunday, 14 January Who: SpaceX What: Falcon 9 B5 When: 12:52 a.m. UTC Where: Cape Canaveral, Florida, US Why: SpaceX will be launching 23 Starlink satellites into a low Earth orbit. This batch of satellites is known as Starlin Group 6-37, an identifier you can use to find these satellites on tracking apps and websites. Who: SpaceX What: Falcon 9 B5 When: 8:59 - 9:27 a.m. UTC Where: Vandenberg AFB, California, US Why: This launch will put 22 Starlink satellites into a low Earth orbit. Unlike the other launch, this one will also be carrying direct-to-cell Starlink satellites which connect directly to devices. This was mean to take off on January 8 but has been delayed several times since then for some reason. Wednesday, 17 January Who: Chinese National Space Administration (CNSA) What: Long March 7 When: 2:27 p.m. UTC Where: Wenchang Satellite Launch Centre Why: CNSA will use a Long March 7 to launch the Tianzhou 7 cargo spacecraft which will head to the Chinese Space Station (CSS). The Tianzhou 7 will operate for nine months in space. Who: SpaceX What: Falcon 9 B5 When: 10:11 p.m. UTC Where: SpaceX LC-39A, Florida, US Why: SpaceX will launch the Crew Dragon spacecraft atop a Falcon 9. The spacecraft will spend a week at the International Space Station and will transport Axiom Space’s astronaut Michael López-Alegría, ESA astronaut Marcus Wandt, Italian astronaut Walter Villadei and Turkish astronaut Alper Gezeravci to the ISS on a private mission called Axiom 3. Recap The first mission last week was the launch of a Falcon 9 carrying Starlink satellites into orbit. The second launch of the week saw United Launch Alliance (ULA) a Vulcan Centaur rocket take off carrying Astrobotic’s Peregrine Lunar Lander. Unfortunately since launch, the company has said the lander won’t reach the moon. The next launch was a Long March 2C carrying the Einstein Probe which was developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics (MPE). The probe will study X-rays coming from neutron stars and black holes. The fourth launch was a Kuaizhou 1A rocket carrying the Tianxing 1 test satellite from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre. The satellite will be used for experiments like space environment detection. An interesting launch this week was the Gravity 1 which took off from a sea platform near Haiyang in China. The rocket was carrying three Yunyao 1 satellites to a low Earth orbit. The vehicle was designed by the Chinese company OrienSpace. The final launch we got was the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries H-IIA rocket carrying the IGS Optical-8 satellite. The satellite is a Japanese optical reconnaissance satellite. That’s all for this week, check in next time!
  2. zikalify
    India set to launch its first polarimetry mission this week - TWIRL #145 by Paul Hill We don’t have many launches coming up This Week in Rocket Launches with it being the new year, however, there are a lot of videos to watch in the recap section. This week, India will be launching its first polarimetry mission to study X-ray sources. Monday, 1 January Who: NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) What: PSLV DL When: 3:40 a.m. UTC Where: Dhawan Space Centre Why: NSIL will be launching the XPoSat satellite in this mission. The satellite is India’s first polarimetry mission that will study bright astronomical X-ray sources. The satellite will be carrying two scientific payloads called POLIX and XSPECT. Wednesday, 3 January Who: SpaceX What: Falcon 9 B5 When: 2:13 a.m. UTC Where: Vandenberg AFB Why: SpaceX will be conducting a launch that should have taken place last week but got delayed. A Falcon 9 will be carrying Starlink’s first direct-to-cell satellites which means that the internet can be directly delivered to devices. The other 15 satellites will be standard Starlink satellites. Recap The first launch last week was on Christmas Eve. SpaceX used a Falcon 9 to launch the SARah-2 and SARah-3 reflector satellites before landing the Falcon 9 first stage back on the pad. Next, private Chinese space firm ExPace launched a Kuaizhou 1A rocket carrying four Tianmu 1 meteorological satellites from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre. The satellites were numbers 11 to 14. They will be used to provide commercial data services. On Christmas Day, the Chinese National Space Administration launched a Long March 11 rocket carrying three Shiyan-24C satellites from a sea-based platform. These satellites will be used for space science and technology experiments. On Boxing Day, a Long March 3B was launched carrying two backup BeiDou-3 navigation satellites. These backup satellites will operate in a medium Earth orbit and are the second and third satellites to act as backups for the BeiDou-3 Navigation Satellite System (BDS-3). Following this, ExPace launched another Kuaizhou 1A carrying four more Tianmu 1 satellites, these were number 19 to 22. Probably the most interesting launch of the week was a SpaceX Falcon Heavy carrying the Boeing X-37B spy plane for the US government. We don’t get that many Falcon Heavy launches so they’re nice to watch. Finally, SpaceX launched more Starlink internet satellites before landing the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket. That’s all for this week, check back next time.
  3. zikalify
    Orienspace to launch the first Gravity 1 rocket from a sea platform - TWIRL #143 by Paul Hill We don’t have too many launches This Week in Rocket Launches. Probably the most interesting is the Gravity 1 rocket which is planned to launch on Sunday because it is its first launch. It will launch 17 satellites into orbit from a sea platform. Sunday, 17 December Who: Orienspace What: Gravity 1 rocket When: Unknown Where: Yellow Sea Why: The Gravity 1 rocket will perform its first flight and tak 17 satellites into orbit. It will be launching from a sea platform this time but it can also do land launches. One of the satellites it’ll launch is called Jilin Gaofen 05. Monday, 18 December Who: SpaceX What: Falcon 9 B5 When: 4:00 - 8:31 a.m. UTC Where: Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral, Florida, US Why: SpaceX will be launching 23 Starlink satellites into a low Earth orbit. These satellites will join the huge Starlink constellation to beam internet to customers on Earth. This batch of satellites is designated as Starlink Group 6-34; this can be used to track the satellites on apps like ISS Detector. Friday, 22 December Who: SpaceX What: Falcon 9 B5 When: 9:46 - 11:45 p.m. UTC Where: Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral, Florida, US Why: SpaceX will launch the Ovzon 3 satellite into orbit before the satellite moves itself into a final orbit over the next several months. It will be the first commercial satellite to use a Roll-Out Solar Array. Ovzon will offer mobile broadband service via satellite combining high bandwidth satellite communication services with highly mobile terminals. Recap The first launch we got this week was a Chinese Long March 2D carrying the Yaogan-39 05 satellite to orbit from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center. It is a remote sensing satellite. Next up, Chinese company iSpace launched the Hyperbola-2 in a vertical takeoff, vertical landing (VTVL) test, which it completed successfully. The rocket is a small two-stage launch vehicle that will be able to launch 1.9 tons into a low-Earth orbit and then land again for reuse. The third launch of the week was Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket carrying the QPS-SAR-5 satellite for iQPS. The mission was called “The Moon God Awakens” and the satellite is called TSUKUYOMI-I. It took off from Pad B at the Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand. The final launch this week was a Long March 5 carrying the Yaogan-41 high-orbit optical remote sensing satellite. That’s all for this week, check back next time.
  4. zikalify
    LandSpace to perform third launch of reusable rocket - TWIRL #141 by Paul Hill We have a pretty ordinary week in terms of rocket launches this week. There are no manned missions or anything like that, instead we will see SpaceX, China, and Chinese companies launch satellites into space. Sunday, 3 December Who: SpaceX What: Falcon 9 B5 When: 4:00 - 4:59 a.m. Where: Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral, US Why: SpaceX will be launching 23 Starlink satellites into a low Earth orbit. This batch is designated as Starlink Group 6-31, you can use this to observe these satellites using apps like ISS Detector. As you can see these satellites, this is a problem for astronomers, to reduce the visual noise, SpaceX has applied an anti-reflective coating to the satellites. Monday, 4 December Who: CNSA What: Long March 2C When: 4:10 a.m. UTC Where: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre Why: This rocket will be carrying an unknown payload into space. Who: Galactic Energy What: Ceres GX-1 When: 11:30 p.m. UTC Where: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre Why: Galactic Energy will be launching EllipSpace’s Xingchi 2A/B (Star Pool 2A/B) satellites. According to EllipSpace’s website, the Star Pool satellites will make up a comprehensive sensing satellite constellation made up of more than 100 intelligent satellites. It’ll provide space-based communication, navigation, and remote control services. Tuesday, 5 December Who: China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) What: Smart Dragon 3 When: 7:33 p.m. UTC Where: South China Sea Why: This rocket will take off from a ship in the sea carrying the Xiangang hyperspectral remote sensing satellite for the Advanced Manufacturing Center of the Hong Kong Science Park. It will be able to provide global sub-meter visible light remote sensing images and provide high-precision data for the global Internet of Things, disaster prevention and reduction, emergency safety, remote sensing, smart city construction, and other fields. Wednesday, 6 December Who: SpaceX What: Falcon 9 B5 When: 4:00 - 8:00 a.m. UTC Where: Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral, US Why: SpaceX will be launching 23 Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit. Like the ones mentioned earlier, they have anti-reflective coatings. This batch will be known as Starlink Group 6-33. For those not up to date, Starlink satellites beam internet connectivity down from space so customers can get online is many places around the world. Who: LandSpace What: Zhuq~~ue ZQ-2 When: 11:30 p.m. UTC Where: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre Why: This is the rocket’s third launch, it will be carrying an unknown payload into space. The first stage of this rocket will be expendable this time but in future the company wants it to be reusable. Recap The first launch last week was a Falcon 9 carrying Starlink satellites to space, the first stage also landed. Next, Russia launched a Soyuz 2.1a carrying the Progress MS-25 spacecraft to resupply the International Space Station (ISS). Finally, SpaceX launched the Korea 425 mission to low Earth orbit. It’s a secretive mission containing 25 smallsats. That’s it for this week, check in next time!
  5. zikalify
    SpaceX performs a second impressive test flight of Starship - TWIRL #139 by Paul Hill SpaceX has launched Starship on its second test flight. This is a big step forward for the company as it prepares to help NASA return to the moon. You can check out the launch at the end of the article. This Week in Rocket Launches we have quite a number of missions from SpaceX and others. Sunday, 19 November Who: SpaceX What: Falcon 9 B5 When: 6:55 a.m. UTC Where: Vandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 4, California, US Why: SpaceX will be launching 22 Starlink satellites into a low Earth orbit. They will be covered with anti-reflective coatings to reduce the sun’s reflection to help astronomers. This batch is Starlink Group 7-7 if you decide to have a look for it on satellite trackers such as ISS Detector - even with the coating, you may still be able to see them but they will be dimmer. Tuesday, 21 November Who: SpaceX What: Falcon 9 B5 When: 5:50 a.m. - 10:44 a.m. UTC Where: Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral, Florida, US Why: This is yet another Starlink satellite launch, the batch this time is Starlink Group 6-29. The idea behind these frequent launches is to establish a huge constellation are satellites so that the internet can be beamed down anywhere on the planet. Wednesday, 22 November Who: CNSA What: Long March 2D When: Unknown Where: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center Why: China will be using a Long March 2D to launch the Shijian 19 new generation recoverable satellite. The satellite will conduct microgravity research with physical science, materials science, and biological experiments. Saturday, 25 November Who: China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology What: Jielong SD-3 When: Unknown Where: South China Sea Why: CALT will launch a Jielong SD-3 rocket carrying the Xiangang hyperspectral remote sensing satellite for the Advanced Manufacturing Center of the Hong Kong Science Park. The satellite is equipped with a high-res optical camera which can take sub-meter visible light remote sensing images and provides high-precision data for the Internet of Things, disaster prevention and reduction, emergency safety, remote sensing, smart city contraction, and more. Recap The first launch last week was a Falcon 9 carrying the fifth and sixth O3b mPOWER satellites for SES. The first stage proceeded to land on a drone ship in the Atlantic. The next to launch was a Long March 2C carrying the Huanjing-3 01 satellite. This will be used for monitoring the oceans to help improve the understanding of marine waters. The third launch was a Falcon 9 carrying Starlink satellites. This was Group 6-28 and included 23 satellites. They join the Starlink constellation and beam the internet back to Earth. Finally, SpaceX performed a test flight of Starship. It failed to launch properly earlier in this year as it exploded mid-flight and it also destroyed the launch pad. This time, the launch was an improvement over the first attempt but both stages of the rocket both ended up getting destroyed after they successfully separated. SpaceX will now use this data to try and improve on a third test flight. That’s all for this week, check back next time.
  6. zikalify
    SpaceX to hog this quiet week in rocket launches - TWIRL #138 by Paul Hill This Week in Rocket Launches is pretty quiet this time. Both launches come from SpaceX and both involve Falcon 9 rockets. The first mission will see the launch of two O3b mPOWER broadband satellites and the second will see more Starlink satellites launched. The highly anticipated SpaceX Starship launch is also due at some point and is marked as launching no earlier than 15 November but that doesn’t mean we will see it this week. Sunday, 12 November Who: SpaceX What: Falcon 9 B5 When: 9:08 - 10:37 p.m. UTC Where: Cape Canaveral, Florida, US Why: SpaceX will be launching two O3b mPOWER broadband satellites into a medium Earth orbit for the satellite telecommunications provider SES. The Boeing-made satellites were supposed to be launched this week on November 9 but faced a delay. These satellites have an electric propulsion system that will allow the satellites to operate in a medium Earth orbit for at least a decade. Thursday, 16 November Who: SpaceX What: Falcon 9 B5 When: 3:00 a.m. UTC Where: Cape Canaveral, Florida, US Why: SpaceX will launch 23 Starlink mini satellites into a low Earth orbit where they will provide internet for customers back on Earth. This group of satellites is designated Starlink Group 6-28 - it’s possible to find these satellites on tracking software like ISS Detector if you want to try your luck at viewing them as they pass over your house. Recap The first launch this week was a SpaceX Falcon 9 carrying 23 Starlink satellites. This is Starlink Group 6-27. The first stage of the rocket landed back on the “Just Read the Instructions” drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. By reusing the first states of rockets, SpaceX can save a lot of money. The second and final launch of the week was another Falcon 9 but this time carrying the CRS-29 Dragon spacecraft on a cargo mission to the space station. This spacecraft was carrying various science experiments. That’s all for this week, check back next time
  7. zikalify
    Dragon 2 spacecraft to send science experiments to the space station - TWIRL #137 by Paul Hill We have a pretty busy week in This Week in Rocket Launches. All of the launches are uncrewed so there's nothing super exciting going on. The most interesting launch is the Dragon 2 mission taking some science experiments up to the International Space Station (ISS). Tuesday, 7 November Who: SpaceX What: Falcon 9 B5 When: 6:47 p.m. UTC Where: Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral, Florida, US Why: This is SpaceX’s Transporter 9 rideshare mission. The company will be launching several payloads including the Vigoride 7 space tug and several other satellites. The payloads will be delivered to a Sun-synchronous orbit. Wednesday, 8 November Who: SpaceX What: Falcon 9 B5 When: 3:00 a.m. UTC Where: Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral, Florida, US Why: SpaceX will be launching 23 Starlink satellites to bolster its Starlink constellation. If you want to have a look at this batch of satellites on apps like ISS Detector then you’ll need to look for Starlink Group 6-27. Like other recent Starlink satellites, these ones have an anti-reflective coating so that they don’t interrupt astronomers as much. Thursday, 9 November Who: CNSA What: Long March 3B/E When: 11:30 a.m. Where: Xichang Satellite Launch Centre Why: It’s not clear what the purpose of this mission as the payload is unknown. Friday, 10 November Who: SpaceX What: Falcon 9 B5 When: 1:28 a.m. UTC Where: SpaceX LC-39A, Florida, US Why: SpaceX will be launching a Dragon 2 spacecraft on a cargo delivery mission to the International Space Station. It will be carrying the Atmospheric Waves Experiment (AWE), and the laser communications terminal ILLUMA-T. This mission is part of the Commercial Resupply Service contract that SpaceX has with NASA. Saturday, 11 November Who: SpaceX What: Falcon 9 B5 When: 11:08 p.m. UTC Where: Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral, Florida, US Why: SpaceX will be launching two O3b mPOWER broadband internet satellites to a medium Earth orbit for SES of Luxembourg. They will provide internet services over much of the world and were built by Boeing. Recap The first launch last week was a Falcon 9 carrying 22 Starlink satellites to orbit. This group of satellites is Starlink Group 7-6. Next up, SpaceX launched Starlink Group 6-25 consisting of 23 Starlink satellites. The third launch was a Long March 6A carrying the TianHui 5 satellite. It’s going to be used for geographic mapping, land resource survey, scientific experiments, and other missions. This week we also got the fifth commercial spaceflight and sixth successful human space mission in six months from VIrgin Galactic. In China we got an interesting test mission from private space firm iSpace which did a test flight and landing of its Hyperbola 2 rocket. Next, China launched a Long March 7a carrying the TJSW-10 comms tech test satellite. It will be used for multi-band and high-speed comms tech experiments. Lastly, SpaceX launched another group of 23 Starlink satellites to orbit. This group is Starlink Group 6-26. That’s all for this week, check back next time.
  8. zikalify
    China is preparing to launch astronauts to its own space station - TWIRL #135 by Paul Hill In This Week in Rocket Launches, China is planning to launch several astronauts to its Tiangong Space Station. The crew isn’t known yet but they will join three astronauts who are already residing in orbit. Be sure to check the recap section for India’s Gaganyaan crew module launch too. Sunday, 22 October Who: SpaceX What: Falcon 9 B5 When: 2:49 a.m. - 6:47 a.m. UTC Where: Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral, Florida, US Why: SpaceX will be launching 23 Starlink mini satellites into a low Earth orbit to bolster the Starlink constellation and beam internet back down to customers on Earth. The satellites are designated Starlink Group 6-24 and will appear on apps like ISS Detector if you want to try spotting them when they are in orbit. Monday, 23 October Who: CNSA What: Long March 2D When: 8:03 p.m. UTC Where: Xichang Satellite Launch Centre Why: China will launch three Yaogan 39 satellites on a Long March 2D rocket. These satellites are remote sensing satellites that will be used for scientific experiments, land and resource surveys, agricultural production estimates, and disaster prevention and mitigation. Thursday, 26 October Who: CNSA What: Long March 2F/G When: 3:13 a.m. UTC Where: LC-43/91 Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre Why: The Long March rocket will launch the Shenzhou 17 spacecraft carrying a crew to the Tiangong Space Station. It marks China’s twelfth crewed space mission. It’s not clear who the crew is going to be on this mission but they will be greeted by Jing Haipeng, Gui Haichao, and Zhu Yangzhu when they arrive. Saturday, 28 October Who: SpaceX What: Falcon 9 B5 When: 9:07 p.m. UTC Where: Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral, Florida, US Why: SpaceX will launch two O3b mPOWER broadband internet satellites into a medium Earth orbit on a Falcon 9 rocket for the Luxembourgish company SES. The satellites were built by Boeing and will help to provide internet services over the world. Recap The first launch last week was a Long March 2D carrying the Yunhai 1 04 satellite. This satellite will observe atmospheric, marine, and space environments and provide disaster prevention and mitigation services. Next up, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 carrying more Starlink satellites. The first stage of the rocket also landed so that it can be reused. Finally, India used a test vehicle to launch its Gaganyaan Crew Module where it performed an in-flight abort demonstration of the Crew Escape System. That’s all for this week, check back next time.
  9. zikalify
    India to launch test flight of rocket capable of carrying a crew - TWIRL #134 by Paul Hill This Week in Rocket Launches we have a number of missions coming up. By far the most interesting is India's launch of an uncrewed Gaganyaan spacecraft. The country wants to put astronauts in it by late 2024. Sunday, 15 October 2023 Who: China What: Long March 2D When: 12:54 a.m. UTC Where: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre Why: This mission will likely launch the Yunhai 1-04 satellite designed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST). It will be used in a satellite that will observe atmospheric, marine, and space environments. Its most important function will be to help prevent and mitigate disasters. Tuesday, 17 October 2023 Who: SpaceX What: Falcon 9 Block 5 When: 8:49 p.m. UTC Where: Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral, Florida, US Why: SpaceX will be launching 22 Starlink mini satellites into a low-Earth orbit. From there, they will work with the rest of the Starlink constellation and beam internet connectivity back to Earth for Starlink customers. This set of satellites is known as Starlink Group 6-23 and can be tracked after launch on apps like ISS Detector. Like other more recent Starlink satellites, these have an anti-reflective coating to help reduce the glare for astronomers on the ground. Saturday, 21 October 2023 Who: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) What: L-40 When: Unknown Where: Dhawan Space Centre, Satish, India Why: ISRO will be launching the Gaganyaan spacecraft on its first uncrewed suborbital test flight. The mission is a high altitude abort test and is designated TV-D1. In total, there will be four TV-D missions and two G missions which will be orbital test flights. The first crewed mission is designated H1 and is due for launch in late 2023. On that mission, three Indian astronauts will go on a short orbital test flight. Recap The first launch last week was a Vega rocket carrying two Earth observation satellites called THEOS-2 and TRITON. They took off from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana. Next up, SpaceX launched 21 Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California and the first stage of the Falcon 9 landed on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. Next up, a SpaceX Falcon Heavy launched NASA’s Psyche spacecraft which will study a metal-rich asteroid with the same name located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Finally, we got yet another Starlink launch with the first stage performing a landing. That’s all for this week, check in next time!
  10. zikalify
    SpaceX to orbit NASA's Psyche spacecraft that will reach asteroid in 2029 - TWIRL #133 by Paul Hill We have an interesting schedule This Week in Rocket Launches as SpaceX will be launching a Falcon Heavy carrying NASA’s Psyche mission. By 2029, the NASA spacecraft will reach an asteroid called Psyche which is metal-rich. This is the first time that NASA will go to an asteroid with this composition so some discoveries could be made. Sunday, 8 October Who: Arianespace What: Vega When: 1:36 a.m. UTC Where: French Guiana Why: Arianespace will be launching a Vega rocket carrying 12 satellites including THEOS 2, Triton, and ProbaV-CC to orbit. Of these, THEOS 2 is the main payload; it was built by Airbus Defense for Thailand and it will complement THEOS 1 which was launched in 2008. It is an Earth observation satellite. Monday, 9 October Who: SpaceX What: Falcon 9 B5 When: 12:37 a.m. - 5:07 a.m. UTC Where: Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral, Florida, US Why: SpaceX is launching 2 Starlink mini satellites into a low-Earth orbit where they will provide internet connectivity to customers on Earth. The satellites being launched this time are known as Starlink Group 6-22 - this identifier can be used on various satellite-spotting apps to find these exact satellites that are being launched. Who: SpaceX What: Falcon 9 B5 When: 7:13 a.m - 11:25 a.m. UTC Where: Vandenberg AFB, California, US Why: SpaceX regularly performs numerous Starlink launches each week but it’s a little less common to see two launches on one day. Well, that’s what is happening this week. In both cases, the satellites will be covered in anti-reflective coatings to have less impact on astronomy. Thursday, 12 October Who: SpaceX What: Falcon Heavy When: 2:16 p.m. UTC Where: SpaceX LC-39A, Florida, US Why: SpaceX will be launching a mission for NASA called Psyche. The spacecraft will head to an asteroid called Psyche and enter orbit with the body in 2029. Apparently, Psyche is the first craft to explore a metal-rich asteroid so there could be some interesting discoveries to be made. If you decide to tune in to the launch of SpaceX’s website, look out for the Falcon Heavy’s two side boosters performing a landing. Recap The first launch we got this week was a Long March 2D rocket carrying the third Yaogan-39 mission from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in China. It is a remote sensing satellite used for observing the Earth. Next, we got the launch of a Falcon 9 carrying Starlink satellites to space to beam internet to the Earth. The first stage of the rocket also landed. This week, Amazon’s Project Kuiper got off the ground after United Launch Alliance launched some prototype satellites on an Atlas V rocket. Next, we got another commercial launch from Virgin Galactic which carried passengers to the edge of space where they could experience microgravity. Finally, PLD Space launched the MIURA 1 suborbital launch vehicle on its first test flight. PLD Space is a Spanish company that is developing reusable rockets to orbit commercial satellites. That’s all for this week, be sure to check in next time!
  11. zikalify
    Two Starlink missions coming up this week from SpaceX - TWIRL #130 by Paul Hill We have quite a lot of rocket launches coming up this week though none are particularly exciting as they're all satellite launches. With all that said, Chinese company Galactic Energy has an unknown payload going to space so that's a bit mysterious. Sunday, 17 September Who: China What: Long March 2D When: 4:15 a.m. UTC Where: Launch Complex 3 – Xichang Satellite Launch Centre Why: In this mission, China will launch three Yaogan 39 satellites into orbit. They are remote sensing satellites and will be used in scientific experiments, land and resources surveys agricultural production estimates, and disaster prevention and mitigation. Tuesday, 19 September Who: Rocket Lab What: Capella 12 When: 6:30 a.m. UTC Where: Mahia, New Zealand Why: This mission will launch the Acadia 2 satellite for Capella Space. This satellite is a synthetic aperture satellite and is part of a 30-satellite constellation. This constellation of satellites provides high-quality imagery at a ground-range resolution for commercial customers. Wednesday, 20 September Who: SpaceX What: Falcon 9 B5 When: 1:47 a.m. UTC Where: Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral, Florida, US Why: SpaceX will be launching a bath of 22 Starlink v2 “Mini” satellites into a low-Earth orbit. The Starlink constellation is used to provide internet connectivity on Earth. Ultimately, SpaceX is aiming to have thousands of Starlink satellites in orbit to provide connectivity around the world. Who: Galactic Energy What: Ceres GX-1 When: 2:00 p.m. UTC Where: LC-43/95A – Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre Why: The rocket is launching with an unknown payload. The mission is called Autumn Sonata. Saturday, 23 September Who: SpaceX What: Falcon 9 B5 When: 7:00 a.m. UTC Where: Vandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 4, California, US Why: SpaceX will be launching 21 Starlink v2 “Mini” satellites into low-Earth orbit. Similar to the mission earlier in the week, this launch will help to bolster the Starlink constellation. Recap The first launch last week was a Long March 6A carrying the Yaogan-40 satellite which will be used for electromagnetic environment detection. Next up, United Launch Alliance launched the Atlas V 551 carrying the NROL-107 mission for the US National Reconnaissance Office and the US Space Force. On Monday (local time), a SpaceX Falcon 9 launched 21 Starlink satellites and landed the first stage of the rocket. On Friday, Russia launched the Soyuz MS-24 spacecraft from Baikonur on a Soyuz 2.1a. The mission was to ferry astronauts to the International Space Station. Finally, a SpaceX Falcon 9 launched another 2 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit. That’s all for this week, check in next time.
  12. zikalify
    Russia to launch astronauts to the International Space Station this week - TWIRL #129 by Paul Hill This Week in Rocket Launches we only have two launches coming up and for the first, we are not even sure what the payload will be. To make up for this, we have quite a beefy recap section as there were quite a lot of launches last week. Sunday, 10 September Who: China National Space Administration What: Long March 6A When: 4:30 a.m. UTC Where: Launch Complex 9A Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre Why: The payload for this mission is unknown but it’s probably a satellite of some kind. Friday, 15 September Who: Roscosmos What: Soyuz 2.1a (Soyuz MS-24 / ISS 70S) When: 3:44 p.m. UTC Where: Pad 31/6 Baikonur Cosmodrome Why: Roscosmos will use a Soyuz 2.1a rocket to launch a crewed mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The crew consists of Oleg Kononenko, Nikolai Chub, and Loral O’Hara. Once the astronauts are at the ISS, the craft will remain attached to the space station for six months to act as an emergency escape pod. Recap The first launch we got last week was a Falcon 9 carrying 21 Starlink satellites that are part of the Starlink 103 mission. The first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket also touched down on a landing pad so that SpaceX can reuse it in the future. Next up, Chinese firm Galactic Energy performed the first sea launch of the Ceres-1 rocket which is pretty interesting to watch as we don’t typically see boats being used as a launchpad. The rocket launched four Tianqi satellites into orbit, they will act as part of an Internet of Things constellation. Another interesting launch we got last week was that of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ H-IIA launch vehicle which was carrying the X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) and the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM). It’s interesting because while we have seen this rocket launch before, it’s not too common. Next, China launched a Long March 4C carrying the Yaogan 33 03 satellite. It’s a remote sensing satellite that will be used for scientific experimental research, marine and land resource census, agricultural product production estimation, and disaster prevention and mitigation. Lastly, Virgin Galactic performed its third commercial spaceflight. The private passengers who went to the edge of space included Ken Baxter, Timothy Nash, Adrian Reynard, and Beth Moses who was the Chief Astronaut Instructor. That’s all we have this week, be sure to check in next time!
  13. Unobscured Vision
    Since we enjoy discussing general Space-related matters (politics, business, conjecture, etc), I thought it would be appropriate to create a dedicated thread for that very purpose. Now we can express all the hyperbole we want without fear of "getting off-topic", because it is the topic! Let's spin the turbopump, shall we?
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    SpaceX to launch a globally diverse crew to the International Space Station - TWIRL #128 by Paul Hill We have a very busy week coming up. The most notable launch will take place on Friday when SpaceX launches its Crew Dragon with astronauts from the US, Europe, Russia, and Japan to the ISS. JAXA and NASA will also be launching their XRISM mission this week. Sunday, 20 August Who: Chinese National Space Agency What: Long March 4C Where: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre When: 5:45 p.m. UTC Why: It’s unclear what the payload is but it could be the Gaofen 12-04 radar satellite. Tuesday, 22 August Who: SpaceX What: Falcon 9 B5 Where: Vandenburg Air Force Base Space Launch Complex 4 - viewable on the SpaceX website. When: 6:00 a.m. UTC Why: 21 Starlink v2 Mini satellites are being launched into a low Earth orbit. The satellites are designated as Starlink Group 7-1. Wednesday, 23 August Who: SpaceX What: Falcon 9 B5 Where: Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral - viewable on the SpaceX website. When: 12:47 a.m. UTC Why: 22 Starlink v2 Mini satellites are being put into a low Earth orbit. This group will be known as Starlink Group 6-11. Who: Roscosmos What: Soyuz 2.1a Where: Baikonur Cosmodrome When: 1:08 a.m. UTC Why: It will launch the 85th Progress cargo delivery to the crew up at the International Space Station (ISS). Who: Rocket Lab What: Electron Where: LC-1B, Mahia, New Zealand - viewable on Rocket Lab’s website. When: 11:30 p.m. UTC Why: Rocket Lab will launch the first Arcadia series satellite dubbed Acadia 1 for Capella Space. The Acadia synthetic aperture radar satellites will be used for snapping images of the Earth. Friday, 25 August Who: SpaceX What: Falcon 9 B5 Where: SpaceX LC-39A, Florida - viewable on the SpaceX website. When: 7:49 a.m. UTC Why: SpaceX will launch Crew-7 on the Crew Dragon spacecraft to the ISS. The mission is part of NASA’s commercial crew program. The crew includes NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, ESA astronaut Andreas Mogensen, JAXA astronaut Satoshi Furukawa, and cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov. Saturday, August 26 Who: JAXA and NASA What: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries H-IIA Where: Yoshinobu Launch Complex LP-1 When: 12:34 a.m. UTC Why: JAXA and NASA will launch the X-Ray Imaging and Spectroscopy Mission (XRISM) to perform high-res X-ray spectroscopic observations of the hot gas plasma wind that travels through galaxies in the universe. It will help us learn more about the composition and evolution of celestial objects. Also hitching a ride is JAXA’s Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM). This payload will test out precision landing technology on the moon. Recap The first launch we got last week was a Long March 3B carrying the L-SAR4 01 satellite from Xichang Satellite Launch Centre. It will be used to provide remote sensing information services. Next, a Kuaizhou 1A rocket was launched carrying five HeDe-3 satellites from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre. They will be used as part of a new VDES maritime communication system. Finally, a SpaceX Falcon 9 launched 22 Starlink satellites to a low Earth orbit where they will provide broadband services. The group is known as Starlink Group 6-10. That’s all for this week, there will be a break next week with TWIRL hopefully returning the week after.
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    Watch Virgin Galactic launch its second tourist mission to space - TWIRL #127 by Paul Hill We have a pretty calm week when it comes to rocket launches. Both of the upcoming missions are Chinese satellite launches. Unusually, there aren’t any Starlink missions locked in at the time of writing, but after the amount of Starlink missions last week, the company is probably just catching its breath. Sunday, 13 August The first launch this week will be a Chinese Long March 3B/E carrying the Ludi Tance 4A L-SAR satellite which will snap photos of the Earth. The launch probably won’t be available to live stream but there should be footage afterwards. This mission will take off at 4:55 p.m. UTC from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre. We mentioned this mission last week, it was supposed to take off on August 11 but got delayed. Monday, August 14 The second and final launch of the week is an ExPace Kuaizhou 1A rocket carrying an unknown payload. It should have taken off on Sunday but was pushed back to Monday. This mission will take off at 5:35 a.m. UTC, also from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre. The delay of the Ludi Tance 4A launch could have had a knock on impact on this launch. Recap The first launch we got last week was a SpaceX Falcon 9 carrying the Starlink 96 mission into orbit consisting of many Starlink satellites. Just a day later, Starlink 97 was launched by a Falcon 9. Next, China launched a Long March 2C carrying the Huanjing-2 06 satellite from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre. It’s going to be used to support disaster prevention, reduction, relief, and environmental protection. On 10 August, we got a Ceres-1 launch from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre. It was carrying seven satellites which were successfully put into orbit. Virgin Galactic’s second commercial spaceflight got a fair amount of press coverage this week, you can check out the footage below. Next, Russia launched a Soyuz 2.1b rocket carrying the Luna-25 lunar lander mission from Vostochny Cosmodrome. Luna-25 launched on 10 August and is due to arrive at the lunar south pole on 21 August. The lander will carry several scientific apparatus and it’s worth noting that the lunar south pole contains water so they’ll be on the lookout for that. Another interesting note is that the Luna-24 mission took off on 9 August 1976. Finally, we got another Falcon 9 launch carrying the Starlink 98 mission. That’s all for this week, check back next time!
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    Virgin Galactic to send astronauts to the edge of space - TWIRL #126 by Paul Hill We have quite a lot of launches coming up this week. The two launches that stand out include Virgin Galactic’s mission to send astronauts to the edge of space and Russia’s mission to send a craft to the Lunar south pole. Sunday, 6 August The first mission this week will see Rocket Lab launch one of its Electron rockets carrying the first Acadia series satellite for Capella Space. This mission was previously aborted on July 30. The Acadia 1 satellite is a synthetic aperture radar satellite that will snap images of the Earth. It will launch at 5:00 a.m. UTC from New Zealand and will be streamed on Rocket Lab’s website. Monday, 7 August At 12:55 a.m. UTC, SpaceX will launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral carrying 22 Starlink satellites to orbit. Starlink satellites beam internet back to Earth, helping people in rural areas get online. It’ll be streamed on SpaceX’s website. The final launch of the day will take place at 12:00 p.m. UTC and will see Roscosmos launch a Soyuz 2.1b rocket carrying the first GLONASS-K2 navigation satellite. Tuesday, 8 August At 6:57 a.m. UTC, China will launch a Long March 2C rocket carrying the Huanjing 2F environmental disaster mitigation satellite. The mission will take off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre and the satellite will be put into a Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 500 km. Thursday, 10 August The first launch on Thursday will happen at 2:00 p.m. UTC when Virgin Galactic launches its SpaceShipTwo rocketplane from the VMS Eve carrier aircraft. The Galactic 02 mission, as it has been designated, will be carrying Jon Goodwin, Keisha Schahaff, and Anastatia Mayers as part of the crew. The second launch on Thursday is another Roscosmos Soyuz 2.1b but this time it will be carrying the Luna 25 lander to the Moon. It will be aiming for the Lunar south pole’s Boguslavsky crater. The lander will be carrying a science payload including a soil-sampling robotic arm and other hardware. The mission will take off at 11:10 p.m. from Vostochny Cosmodrome. Friday, 11 August The final launch of the week will be a Long March 3B/E carrying the Ludi Tance 4A L-SAR satellite. It will take off at 6:20 p.m. from Xichang Satellite Launch Centre. Recap The first launch we got last week was Northrop Grumman’s Antares 230+ rocket which launched the CRS-19 Cygnus spacecraft. It was carrying cargo to the International Space Station. Next up, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the Intelsat Galaxy 37 comms satellite from Cape Canaveral. Finally, China launched a Long March 4C rocket carrying the FengYun-3F meteorological satellite from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre. That’s all for this week, check back next time!
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    Northrop Grumman Antares rocket to take cargo to the ISS - TWIRL #125 by Paul Hill We have a range of launches coming up this week, perhaps the most interesting is the launch of the Antares rocket carrying the Cygnus cargo freighter. If you read last week's instalment of This Week in Rocket Launches, you may also notice that some of this week’s launches were pushed back from then. Sunday, 30 July The first launch this week will take off at 1:00 a.m. UTC from the Dhawan Space Centre in India. NewSpace India Limited (NSIL) will launch a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) carrying the DS-SAR satellite for Singapore into orbit. The DS-SAR is a Synthetic Aperture Radar Earth Observation satellite that has been ordered by Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology Agency and will be used for government and commercial satellite imagery purposes. The second launch of the day is a Rocket Lab Electron rocket. It will be carrying the first in a series of satellites called Acadia for Capella Space. Acadia satellites are Synthetic Aperture Radar satellites. The launch will happen at 5:00 a.m. UTC from Mahia in New Zealand. If you want to tune in, just head over to the Rocket Lab website which should have a livestream of the event. Wednesday, 2 August On Wednesday, a Northrop Grumman Antares rocket will launch a Cygnus cargo freighter on a mission to the International Space Station. As a cargo ship, this mission won’t be manned but will instead bring supplies to the ISS. It’s unclear if Northrop Grumman will stream the event on its website or on YouTube, but if it does, it’s scheduled to launch at 12:31 a.m. UTC. Thursday, 3 August Finally, we have SpaceX launching a Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Galaxy 37 communications satellite for Intelsat. While the mission is due to take off from Cape Canaveral, we do not have a launch time for this mission. If you’re interested in watching this mission, SpaceX will stream the website as usual. Once in orbit, the Galaxy 37 satellite will provide television broadcast services in the United States. Recap The first launch we got last week was a Falcon 9 carrying Starlink satellites to orbit. The first stage of the rocket also performed a landing. Next, a Long March 2D launched the Yaogan 36 satellites to orbit where they will perform remote sensing tasks. Next up was the subsequent Starlink mission, with the first stage of the Falcon 9 successfully landing. Finally, a SpaceX Falcon Heavy launched the JUPITER 3 comms satellites into orbit. SpaceX recovered the two side boosters of the rocket but not the core booster. That’s all for this week, check in next time.
  18. Aditya Tiwari
    NASA announces its own streaming service called NASA+, coming later this year by Aditya Tiwari Netizens are soon going to have a new streaming service to try out as the American space agency NASA announced its on-demand streaming platform called NASA+. The body is also upgrading its mobile app and websites to offer a "connected, topic-driven experience" complete with a common search engine and integrated navigation. The NASA+ streaming service is set to launch sometime later this year. You will be able to stream the agency’s Emmy Award-winning live coverage and get insights into NASA's missions through various original video series. It will stream various titles, including NASA Explorers, The Color of Space, NASA Talks, Space Out, First Light, Mars Is Hard, and Artemis I Path To The Pad. The company already offers live streams of its space feeds but the NASA+ streaming service will be clubbed with some new video series when it arrives. While services like Netflix and Peacock are either busy raising their prices or stopping users from sharing passwords, NASA+ will be a no-cost streaming service with an ad-free experience. NASA said its streaming service won't require a subscription. You'll be able to access it via web browsers, through the upgraded NASA app on Android and iOS, and digital media players like Apple TV, Roku, and Fire TV. You can try out the revamped version of the NASA website using this link. The agency said it will continue to take feedback and make changes to the beta website on a rolling basis. The new website will serve as the one-stop homebase for the agency's growing database about its missions, research, climate data, Artemis updates, and more. NASA is redesigning the nasa.gov and space.nasa.gov websites during the initial phase. But the organization said it will connect more of its websites and media libraries in the future to "continually streamline all the information shared across its centers, missions, and programs." "With an enhanced digital presence, NASA will share science, research, exploration, and innovation with the world through cohesive platforms," it added.
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    Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission successfully launches for the moon - TWIRL #123 by Paul Hill We have a fairly unvaried week coming up in rocket launches. On Sunday we have a Starlink mission then again on Wednesday, there’s another Starlink mission! If you want to see something out of the ordinary, head to the bottom of the recap section and watch India’s successful launch of its lunar mission Chandrayaan-3. Sunday, 16 July The first Starlink mission this week will see SpaceX launch a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 54 Gen2 Starlink satellites into a low Earth orbit. The mission is scheduled to take off from Space Launch Complex 40 which is in Cape Canaveral, Florida at 3:50 a.m. UTC. If you use any websites or apps that allow you to find details on Starlink satellites as they fly overhead, this group is designated as Starlink Group 5-15. Amazingly, this is also the 16th flight of the first stage booster - it was used in the Transporter-2 and Transporter-6 missions previously, among others. As always, you can tune into the launch from SpaceX’s website where presenters will explain what’s going on throughout the launch process. Wednesday, 19 July The second Starlink mission will be heading up to space at 2:29 a.m. from Vandenberg AFB in California. This time it will be carrying 22 Starlink Mini satellites to a low Earth orbit. This batch of satellites will be called Starlink Group 6-15 if you want to try and spot them in the sky when they’re in orbit. This mission will also stream on SpaceX’s website, but the page isn’t available yet so check in closer to launch. Recap The first launch last week was a Long March 2C carrying an internet technology test satellite from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in China. It took off at 11:00 a.m. UTC and entered its planned orbit. Next up, SpaceX launched 22 Starlink satellites using a Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral. A few days later we were back at Jiuquan Space Launch Centre as the private Chinese company Landspace successfully launched its ZhuQue-2 rocket. Finally, India successfully launched its LVM3 rocket carrying the Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission. It took off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. That’s all for this week, check back next time!
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    India to launch Chandrayaan 3 lunar lander mission - TWIRL #122 by Paul Hill We have a fair number of rocket launches this week including from private firms SpaceX, Rocket Lab, and Landspace. The most interesting by far, though, is the lunar lander mission Chandrayaan 3 which the Indian space agency, ISRO, is launching. Monday, July 10 The first launch on Monday is a Falcon 9 carrying 22 Starlink mini satellites from Cape Canaveral. The mission is due to launch at 12:36 a.m. UTC and will be streamed on SpaceX’s website. The mission was delayed from July 9. Wednesday, July 12 The second launch this week comes from China’s Landspace which will be launching the Zhuque ZQ-2 rocket on its second flight. The launch will take place at an unspecified time from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre. In this launch, the first stage will be expendable but the company hopes to be able to make it before a vertical landing in the future so that it can be reused, similar to what SpaceX has achieved. Thursday, July 13 At 4:35 a.m. UTC on Thursday, SpaceX will launch a Falcon 9 carrying a batch of Starlink satellites into orbit. This group is known as Starlink Group 5-15 and can be found on astronomy apps with this label. The first stage of the rocket has flown before in a previous launch. If you’re interested in tuning in, the event will be streamed on the SpaceX website. Friday, July 14 We’ve got two launches on Friday, the first is the Indian space agency’s LVM3 rocket carrying the Chandrayaan 3 lunar lander to the moon. The lander is a replacement for the previous Chandrayaan 2 lunar lander and consists of a Lander module (LM), Propulsion module (PM), and a Rover which will demonstrate technologies for use in interplanetary missions. The mission will take off from Sriharikota in India at 9:05 a.m. It’s not clear if or where the launch will be streamed live but the ISRO website or YouTube would be good places to look if you’re interested. Finally, Rocket Lab will send up one of its Electron rockets carrying four Starling Satellites for NASA, LEO 3 for Canadian comms company Telesat, and two CubeSats for Spire Global. The mission is due for launch at 8:23 p.m. UTC and the event will be live-streamed on Rocket Lab’s website. Recap The first launch we got last week was an Ariane 5 carrying the Heinrich Hertz and Syracuse 4B satellites. Sadly, this is the final flight of the Ariane 5 rocket, it’ll be replaced by Ariane 6. The second and final launch of the week was a Falcon 9 from SpaceX carrying 48 Starlink satellites. The first stage of the Falcon 9 also landed safely. That’s all for this week, check back next time!
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    Arianespace to launch two European satellites on an Ariane 5 ECA+ rocket - TWIRL #121 by Paul Hill We have a really quiet week this week. Arianespace will launch an Ariane 5 ECA+ rocket carrying two satellites - the Heinrich Hertz and Syracuse 4B. We also have a pretty small recap section due to the lack of launches last week. Tuesday, July 4 The only launch this week is Arianespace’s Ariane 5 ECA+ rocket carrying the Heinrich Hertz and Syracuse 4B satellites. We spoke about these previously as it looks like their launch was delayed before. The Syracuse 4B satellite has been built by Airbus and will enable communications between French military aircraft, ground vehicles, and naval vessels including submarines. The Heinrich Hertz satellite was built by OHB and is going to be testing new communications technologies. This satellite was funded by the German government. The rocket will launch between 9:30 p.m. and 11:05 p.m. UTC from French Guyana. If you want to watch, Arianespace will stream the event on YouTube. Recap The first launch last week was a Russian Soyuz 2.1b carrying the Meteor-M 2 meteorological satellite and 42 small satellites. It took off from Vostochny Cosmodrome. Next up, we got the launch of Virgin Galactic’s first commercial spaceflight using the VSS Unity to carry the customers. Finally, a Falcon 9 blasted off carrying the Euclid telescope from Cape Canaveral. The first stage of the Falcon 9 was recovered successfully. That’s all for this week, be sure to check in next time!
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    SpaceX to launch ESA's Euclid space observatory - TWIRL #120 by Paul Hill We have two launches planned this week, the first is a Russian Soyuz rocket which is launching a Meteor-M 2 polar-orbiting weather satellite and the second is a SpaceX Falcon 9 carrying the Euclid space observatory for the European Space Agency (ESA). Tuesday, June 27 The first launch of the week will be Russia’s Soyuz rocket carrying the fourth Meteor-M 2 polar-orbiting weather satellite and 42 other smaller satellites. The Meteor-M 2 satellite is carrying four instruments that allow it to obtain infrared and visible images of clouds and ice cover, measure the temperature and humidity in the atmosphere, and monitor the ozone layer. The mission has been delayed a number of times since 2020. This time it’s scheduled for launch at 11:34 a.m. UTC from Vostochny Cosmodrome. Saturday, July 1 The second and last launch of the week is a Falcon 9 carrying ESA’s Euclid space observatory. Euclid is a space telescope designed to explore the evolution of the dark universe. The data collected by Euclid will be used to make a 3D map of the universe in a third of the sky. The galaxies it will snap for this 3D model will be up to 10 billion light-years away. This mission has been delayed since 2020 and was initially going to be launched on a Soyuz rocket, then switched to an Ariane 6, and finally a Falcon 9. It’ll take off from Cape Canaveral in Florida at 3:11 p.m. UTC. It will be available to watch on SpaceX’s website and possibly via ESA. Recap The first launch we got last week was a Falcon 9 carrying Indonesia’s Satria-1 satellite, the first stage then landed. Next up, China launched a Long March 6 rocket carrying the Shiyan-25 satellite from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre. On Thursday, we saw the launch of a Falcon 9 carrying 47 Starlink satellites to space from California. Also on Thursday, United Launch Alliance launched a Delta IV Heavy carrying a payload for the National Reconnaissance Office but it’s classified. The final launch, on Friday, was another Falcon 9 taking more Starlink satellites to orbit. That’s all for this week, check back next time.
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    SpaceX, United Launch Alliance, and China ready rockets this week - TWIRL #119 by Paul Hill We have a packed schedule coming up This Week in Rocket Launches, with missions from SpaceX, United Launch Alliance, and China. Most of the launches we normally get from SpaceX are Starlink and Transporter rideshare missions, but this week, the company will also launch the Satria comms satellite for various Indonesian entities too. Sunday, June 18 The first launch of the week involves the Satria comms satellite. At 10:04 p.m. UTC SpaceX will launch a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral carrying the satellite. It is being launched for the Indonesian Satelit Nusantara Tiga (SNT) consortium, the Indonesian government, and the Indonesian satellite operator PSN. The Satria satellite will provide broadband internet and communications capacity for schools, hospitals, and other public use facilities in rural regions of Indonesia. You’ll be able to tune into the launch on SpaceX’s website. Tuesday, June 20 There’s not a lot to say about China’s launch of its Long March 6 rocket due on Tuesday. It will be taking off at 3:19 a.m. UTC from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre but as for the payload, that is unknown. The event won’t be streamed either but there should be a video recording later on. Wednesday, June 21 On Wednesday at 7:29 a.m. UTC, United Launch Alliance will launch a Delta IV Heavy from Cape Canaveral carrying a classified spy satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office. The mission designated NROL 68 and dubbed Nusquam Celare or Nowhere to Hide, will be streamed live on ULA’s website. Thursday, June 22 We have an interesting launch next. China will launch a Long March 2D rocket carrying the Liangxi space return capsule on a test flight. Apparently, the capsule can return to Earth carrying 300kg of cargo and has electronic components on board that can provide customized research data. The mission will launch from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre at an unspecified time. Saturday, June 24 The final launch will be a common Starlink satellite launch atop a Falcon 9. As you probably know if you read TWIRL, the Starlink satellites beam internet back down to the planet for paying customers. This mission will take off at an undisclosed time from Cape Canaveral. You’ll be able to watch the launch via the SpaceX website. Recap The first launch we got last week was a Falcon 9 carrying Starlink satellites to space, the first stage of the Falcon 9 also landed after takeoff. Next, SpaceX launched another Falcon 9, this time carrying the Transporter-8 rideshare satellites. Finally, China launched a Long March 2D rocket carrying 41 satellites from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre. That’s all for this week, check in next time.
  24. zikalify
    Arianespace to launch Syracuse 4B satellite for the French military - TWIRL #118 by Paul Hill SpaceX will dominate the launch schedule this week. We have two Falcon 9 launches and an Ariane 5 ECA+ launch. We will see Starlink satellites get orbited, the Transporter-8 rideshare mission, and a French military satellite launched. Monday, June 12 The first launch of the week is going to be a SpaceX Falcon 9 carrying 53 second-generation Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit. These satellites will work with the rest of the Starlink constellation to provide internet to customers on Earth. This mission is scheduled to launch at 7:10 a.m. UTC from Cape Canaveral in Florida and will be streamed online. The second launch of the week will also happen on Monday and it’s yet another Falcon 9. This time it will be conducting the Transporter-8 rideshare mission, which should have happened last week. This mission will carry dozens of small microsatellites and nanosatellites for commercial and government customers. It will fly at 9:00 p.m. UTC from Cape Canaveral in Florida and will be streamed online too. Friday, June 16 The final launch will see Arianespace launch an Ariane 5 ECA+ rocket carrying the Heinrich Hertz and Syracuse 4B satellites to orbit. The Heinrich Hertz satellite is a comms satellite built by OHB and funded by the German government while the Syracuse 4B satellite was built by Airbus to relay secure comms between French military aircraft, ground vehicles, and naval vessels. The launch window for this mission is between 9:16 p.m. and 11:01 p.m. UTC and it’ll take off from French Guyana. Recap The first launch we got last week was a Falcon 9 carrying Starlink satellites the space. As is becoming a regular occurrence, the first stage of the rocket landed for reuse. Next up, SpaceX launched another Falcon 9 carrying a Dragon cargo spacecraft to the ISS. The third launch was that of CAS Space’s Lijian-1 rocket which launch 26 small satellites into space. Finally, a Kuaizhou-1A rocket launched the Longjiang-3 satellite which will be used for communications. That’s all for this week, check back next time!
  25. zikalify
    TWIRL 117: SpaceX plans four Falcon 9 launches this week by Paul Hill It’s a pretty busy week in rocket launches this week, with SpaceX making up the bulk of the launches with its Falcon 9. Perhaps the most interesting Falcon 9 launch takes place on Sunday when the rocket will carry a Dragon 2 spacecraft to orbit before heading off to the ISS to resupply the crew. Sunday, June 4 On Sunday there are going to be two launches, both by SpaceX and both in Florida. The first launch sees a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 22 Starlink satellites to a low Earth orbit. It is scheduled to take off at 9:56 a.m. and the event will be streamed on SpaceX’s website. Several hours later, another Falcon 9 will take off carrying a Dragon 2 spacecraft. The Dragon 2 will be performing a cargo delivery mission to the ISS. You’ll be able to tune in to this launch on the SpaceX website too. The launch is due at 4:12 p.m. Wednesday, June 7 Next up is CAS Space’s Kinetica 1 rocket. This is its second launch and it will orbit 26 satellites including the Fucheng 1. This mission will take off at 4:11 a.m. from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre. Given that the launch is coming from China, it’s unlikely there will be a live stream of the event. Thursday, June 8 On Thursday, there will be yet another Falcon 9 launch but this time it will be carrying the Transporter-8 rideshare mission. In terms of payloads, this mission will carry dozens of small microsatellites and nanosatellites for commercial and government customers. There is no scheduled time given for this launch but it will be taking off from Florida and should be streamable on the SpaceX website. Friday, June 9 The fourth and final mission is another Falcon 9 rocket carrying two O3b mPOWER broadband internet satellites into a medium Earth orbit for SES. Just like the other Falcon 9 launches, this one will take off from Cape Canaveral at 7:15 p.m. and will be watchable on the SpaceX website. Recap The first launch last week was an Indian GLSV Mk II rocket carrying the NVS-01 navigation satellite to orbit. The satellite will make up part of India’s NavIC satnav system that works over the subcontinent. Later on in the week, China launched a Long March rocket carrying three astronauts to the Chinese Space Station aboard Shenzhou-16. These astronauts were temporarily in space with the Shenzhou-15 crew before the latter departed back for Earth. For a short while last week, there were a whopping 17 people in space - that’s quite a lot more than usual. The final launch was a Falcon 9 carrying 52 satellites to orbit where they will help power the Starlink internet constellation. That’s all for this week, check in next time!