First Virgin Orbit U.K. launch fails
Original Publication Date: 2023-01-10 01:39
Virgin Orbit's first launch from the United Kingdom failed to reach orbit. The company incorrectly reported that the rocket's upper stage and payloads had reached orbit. It was the sixth LauncherOne mission for the company but the first to fly from a location other than Mojave. The Start Me Up mission carried nine small satellites.
European firms partner for LEO collision avoidance demo
Original Publication Date: 2023-01-09 22:23
Three young European space companies say they have teamed up to test a collision avoidance system. The partners plan to use data from Portuguese space traffic management company Neuraspace. Neuraspace’s machine-learning algorithms pool space-tracking data from commercial partnerships.
Space Force looking to extend laser communications to satellites in higher orbits
Original Publication Date: 2023-01-09 20:10
U.S. Space Force is seeking information on laser communications systems. Optical communications terminals are being acquired for low Earth orbit constellations. New request for information describes possible plans to expand military's information highway. Optical links would connect satellites in orbits ranging from 10,000 to more than 35,000 kilometers.
Rogue Space hires sustainability expert to advocate for startup-friendly policies
Original Publication Date: 2023-01-09 13:34
Daniel Porras will be Rogue’s director of space sustainability policy. Rogue is seeking venture funding to build out a fleet of satellite-servicing and debris-removal smallsats. Rogue is one of dozens of small businesses that won research contracts from the U.S. Space Force.
China’s Tianwen-1 Mars orbiter and rover appear to be in trouble
Original Publication Date: 2023-01-09 12:04
Zhurong Mars rover has been hibernating on the Martian surface since May 18 last year. The rover was expected to resume activity in December, around the time of the Spring equinox. The Tianwen-1 orbiter has been tasked with assessing the area and attempting to contact the rover. Radio amateurs have also noted issues with attempts for ground stations to lock onto the orbiter.
SpaceX’s first Starlink launch of 2023 set to fly from California – Spaceflight Now
Original Publication Date: 2023-01-09 00:00
SpaceX's first launch of the year was set to blast off from California's Central Coast Monday night. High winds and storms could stood in the way of the Falcon 9 rocket lifting off with 51 new broadband relay stations. Another launch attempt is scheduled Tuesday night. The 51 Starlink internet satellites on-board the rocket will bring the total number of Starlink spacecraft launched to 3,717.
Live coverage: Virgin Orbit rocket fails before reaching orbit on first UK mission – Spaceflight Now
Original Publication Date: 2023-01-09 00:00
Air-launched rocket will climb into orbit with nine small satellite payloads after release from a Boeing 747 carrier aircraft after taking off from Spaceport Cornwall in South West England. Virgin’s live webcast begins at 2130 GMT (4:30 p.m. EST)
SpaceX cargo capsule undocks from space station, heads for splashdown – Spaceflight Now
Original Publication Date: 2023-01-09 00:00
SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft departed the International Space Station Monday. The unpiloted supply ship launched Nov. 26 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Dragon spacecraft autonomously linked up with the station Nov. 27, delivering more than 7,700 pounds of supplies.
Weather favorable for SpaceX’s late-night launch for OneWeb – Spaceflight Now
Original Publication Date: 2023-01-09 00:00
SpaceX is set to deliver 40 more internet satellites into orbit for OneWeb with a late-night blastoff Monday from Cape Canaveral. The Falcon 9 rocket will head south along Florida’s east coast, targeting a polar orbit for deployment of the 40 OneWeb satellites. Forecasters from the U.S. Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron predict a greater than 90% chance of favorable conditions for liftoff.
NASASpaceFlight.com
India launches a new ocean monitoring satellite on Saturday morning. The EOS-06 spacecraft was delivered into a low Earth orbit. The mission, PSLV C54, lifted off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at 11:56 local time (06:26 UTC)
Commercial Archives
SpaceX and its workhorse Falcon 9 rocket have launched the second of three OneWeb missions from Florida. The OneWeb Flight #16 mission saw Falcon 9 carry 40 OneWeb high-speed internet satellites into a polar low Earth orbit. Liftoff occurred at 11:50 PM EST on Jan. 9 (04:50 UTC on Jan. 10).
International Archives
China joins the US as the second nation to have launched to orbit in 2023. First, the Shijian 23 and Shiyan 22A/B payloads lifted off at 22:00 UTC on Sunday. Just seven hours later, Gushenxing-1 carried the “Give Me Five’ rideshare mission to orbit from Jiuquan.
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
SpaceX Falcon 9 takes to the skies over Florida’s Cape Canaveral Monday afternoon. First of at least six cargo ships inbound to the U.S. Segment of ISS this year. Critical delivery of science gear, supplies and maintenance hardware to the orbiting laboratory.
News – Spaceflight101
Europe's Copernicus satellite fleet is gearing up for the arrival of its next addition on Wednesday. A Russian Rockot booster set to blast off from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome at 17:57 UTC with the Sentinel-3B multi-function satellite.
Re-Entry: Long March 11 Rocket Body – Spaceflight101
The CZ-11 fourth stage used leftover propellant for a partial de-orbit maneuver. It lowered 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.
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NASA Launches International Mission to Survey Earth’s Water
SWOT will provide data on more than 95% of the world’s lakes larger than 15 acres (62,500 square meters) and rivers wider than 330 feet (100 meters) across. SWOT measurements will also help researchers, policymakers, and resource managers better assess and plan for things, including floods and droughts.
NASA Space Missions Pinpoint Sources of CO2 Emissions on Earth
Emissions from large facilities account for about half of global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels. Bełchatów Power Station, in operation since 1988, is the largest lignite-fired power plant in the world. The Polish government has drafted plans to close the plant by the end of 2036. NASA data could be used more extensively in quantifying CO2 point-source emissions in the future.
Watch the Latest Water Satellite Unfold Itself in Space
The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) satellite launched into Earth orbit on Friday, Dec. 16. The solar arrays fully deployed shortly after launch, taking about 10 minutes. The mission monitors and controls the satellite using telemetry data, but it also equipped spacecraft with four customized commercial cameras.
Construction Begins on NASA’s Next-Generation Asteroid Hunter
NASA’s Near-Earth Object Surveyor recently passed a rigorous technical and programmatic review. Now the mission is transitioning into the final design-and-fabrication phase. The mission supports the objectives of NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO)
Moon Water Imager Integrated With NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer
Lunar Trailblazer, NASA’s mission to understand lunar water and the Moon’s water cycle, is one step closer to launching next year. Earlier this month, the agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California delivered a key science instrument to Lockheed Martin Space in Colorado. The instrument, called the High-resolution Volatiles and Minerals Moon Mapper, is one of two on Lunar Trailblazer.