NASA: no notification by Russia to end ISS participation
Original Publication Date: 2022-07-26 16:45
NASA officials say they have not been formally notified of any plans by Roscosmos. Russian media reported that Yuri Borisov told Russian president Vladimir Putin. It's unclear if Borisov’s comments reflect any change in Russia’s position. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson also said the agency has not been notified.
Massive Long March 5B booster predicted to reenter on July 31
Original Publication Date: 2022-07-26 18:00
China launched the second module for its Tiangong space station early July 24. The Wentian module successfully docked with the already-orbiting Tianhe core module. The massive first stage of the rocket also entered orbit. Aerospace Corporation experts have been closely tracking the 53.6-meter-tall stage.
Boeing takes another Starliner charge against its earnings
Original Publication Date: 2022-07-28 10:02
Boeing recorded a $93 million charge in the second quarter from its commercial crew program. The company did not elaborate on the specific issues that caused the charge. Boeing has now recorded $688 million in charges related to development of Starliner. If CFT is successful, Starliner could start operational missions in 2023.
Saltzman tapped to succeed Raymond as chief of the U.S. Space Force
Original Publication Date: 2022-07-28 07:31
Lt. Gen. Chance Saltzman is currently serving as U.S. Space Force deputy chief of operations. If confirmed by the Senate, Saltzman will succeed Gen. John “Jay” Raymond. Raymond was the first chief of the military space branch established in December 2019.
SpaceX requests spectrum to upgrade Starlink mobile services
Original Publication Date: 2022-07-27 23:50
SpaceX has applied for more spectrum to upgrade Starlink satellite broadband services. The company wants to use the 2 GHz spectrum band to “augment” its mobile satellite services. Dish Network has permission from the FCC to use 2 GHz and other spectrum bands for its U.S.-based wireless network.
L3Harris to deliver five missile-warning satellites for 2023 launches
Original Publication Date: 2022-07-27 23:31
L3Harris expects to complete these satellites on schedule and ramp up production of 14 more. Four of the infrared sensor satellites are for the U.S. Space Development Agency. The fifth one, developed for the Missile Defense Agency, is expected to launch in 2023. L3Harris is developing a missile-detection satellite under a $121 million contract.
NASASpaceFlight.com
India launched its 55th Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) – in its Core Alone (CA) configuration – carrying nine payloads to a low Earth orbit (LEO) These included POEM, to demonstrate using the fourth stage as a hosted payload bus. PSLV-C53 launched from the second launch pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre on June 30, 2022.
Commercial Archives
SpaceX launched the Starlink 4-25 mission Sunday, at 9:38 AM EDT (13:38 UTC) A Falcon 9 rocket carried another 53 satellites for the Starlink internet constellation. The satellites were deployed into an initial orbit of about 230 by 340 kilometers in altitude.
International Archives
CAS Space Zhongke-1A made its first-ever launch at 04:12 UTC on Wednesday, July 27. The rocket successfully flew from Jiuquan in the remote Inner Mongolia desert region of northwest China. This is one of several Chinese launch vehicles with solid-fueled ICBM heritage.
Chinese Long March 3B Launches APStar-6C Communications Satellite – Spaceflight101
China conducted a rare commercial launch of a Long March 3B rocket with the APStar-6C communications satellite. Long March 3B lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 16:06 UTC on a mission of under half an hour to lift the spacecraft into an elliptical Geostationary Transfer Orbit. Confirmation of launch success was provided by APT Satellite around 40 minutes after liftoff when the satellite had been separated into its target orbit.
Blue Origin’s New Shepard Reaches new Heights in latest Test Flight – Spaceflight101
Blue Origin launched their reusable New Shepard launch system on Sunday. The mission was designed to expand the vehicle’s operational envelope by sending it to a peak altitude of 107 Kilometers. Sunday’s flight marked the second for this particular set of hardware, following up on the successful December 2017 mission.
News – Spaceflight101
A Russian Rockot booster is set to blast off from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome at 17:57 UTC with the Sentinel-3B multi-function satellite. The rocket will carry a Russian Rockot booster set to blast off at 17:57 GMT.
ISS Updates – Spaceflight101 – International Space Station
A veteran NASA spacewalker and an EVA rookie from Japan ended their week with nearly six hours of work outside the International Space Station. The restoration of the Station’s Mobile Servicing System started last year and continued in January to provide Canadarm2 with a new pair of grappling hands.
Featured – Spaceflight101
A SpaceX Falcon 9 took to the skies over Florida’s Cape Canaveral Monday afternoon. The flight-proven Dragon spacecraft was set to deliver science gear, supplies and maintenance hardware to the International Space Station. It was the first of at least six cargo ships inbound to the U.S. Segment of ISS this year.
Re-Entry: Long March 11 Rocket Body – Spaceflight101
The CZ-11 fourth stage used leftover propellant for a partial de-orbit maneuver, lowering its perigee to 120 Kilometers to significantly accelerate its orbital decay. It is reportedly built around a YF-50 main engine and in a nominal mission conducts the orbital circularization after the three CZ-11 stages finish their job.
NASA Will Inspire World When It Returns Mars Samples to Earth in 2033
The Mars Sample Return campaign is expected to move into its preliminary design phase this October. The Earth Return Orbiter and Sample Retrieval Lander are scheduled to launch in 2027 and 2028. The samples are expected to arrive on Earth in 2033. Bringing Mars samples to Earth would allow scientists across the world to examine the specimens.
NASA Marks 25 Years Since Pathfinder Touched Down on Mars
Pathfinder landed on Mars in 1997. The team harnessed new technologies to deliver the mission ahead of schedule and at a lower cost than the Viking landers. The Internet provided an inspiring new way to experience space exploration. Sojourner began as a technology demonstration, NASA’s way of testing and proving what is possible.
US-European Satellite Will Make World’s First Global Freshwater Survey
SWOT will measure the water height – whether it be in a lake, river, or reservoir – and also measure its extent, or surface area. That crucial information will enable scientists to calculate how much water moves through freshwater bodies. Once in orbit, SWOT will be sending back about one terabyte of unprocessed data a day.
NASA, ESA to Discuss Mars Sample Return Mission
NASA and the ESA recently held a systems requirement review as part of the Mars Sample Return campaign’s conceptual design phase. The briefing will present the architecture proposal that is expected to be finalized in September 2022. The Mars Sample Return campaign may revolutionize humanity’s understanding of Mars.
NASA’s New Mineral Dust Detector Readies for Launch
EMIT will map the world’s mineral dust source regions. The imaging spectrometer will also provide information on the color and composition of dust sources globally for the first time. This data will help scientists understand which kinds of dust dominate each region and advance their understanding of dust’s impact on climate.
NASA Reveals Webb Telescope’s First Images of Unseen Universe
Full set of the telescope’s first full-color images and spectroscopic data, which uncover a collection of cosmic features elusive until now, released Tuesday. “This is a singular and historic moment,” said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate.