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Saturday’s DARC SkyNet is at 9PM CT.
Discussion Topic of the Evening.
Lots of stuff!
Space Exploration and Space History
Brenda WB5OZL
Space Exploration News
Dinosaur Astronaut
Mars rover Perseverance had a successful launch and is on its way to Mars.
Space-Related Birthdays
August 1, 1818. Maria Mitchell. First female professional astronomer in the U.S. In 1847, she discovered Comet C/1847 T-1, named Miss Mitchell’s Comet.
July 28, astronaut Bob Behnken celebrated his 50th birthday on board the ISS. Talk about a special birthday!
This Week in Space History
July 28, 1851 Berkowski (no first name was ever published) made the first solar eclipse photograph, using the daguerrotype process, at the Royal Observatory in Königsberg, Prussia.
1929 August 1 – .
First JATO takeoff.
Waz Up/Miss Carolyn’s Constellation of the Week
Space Launches For This Week
Space Coast Launches
Space Flight Now Launch Schedule
Aug. 2nd and 3rd
Rocket 3.1 • Test Flight
Launch window: 0200-0400 GMT on 3rd (10:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m. EDT on 2nd)
Launch site: Pacific Spaceport Complex, Kodiak Island, Alaska
A commercial small satellite launch vehicle developed by Astra will make its first orbital launch attempt. Astra says there will be no payloads on this test flight. [July 30]
Aug. 6
Falcon 9 • Starlink 9/BlackSky Global
Launch time: 0533 GMT (1:33 a.m. EDT)
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is expected to launch the tenth batch of approximately 60 satellites for SpaceX’s Starlink broadband network, a mission designated Starlink 9. Two Earth observation microsatellites for BlackSky Global, a Seattle-based company, will launch as rideshare payloads on this mission. Moved forward from June 24. Delayed from June 23, June 25 and June 26. Scrubbed on July 8 due to poor weather. Scrubbed on July 11 due to technical issue. Delayed from July 29, July 31 and Aug. 1. [July 30]
Aug. 6
Soyuz • Glonass K
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia
A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch a Glonass K navigation satellite. The Glonass K satellites are upgraded spacecraft for Russia’s Glonass positioning and timing network. The rocket will fly in the Soyuz-2.1b configuration with a Fregat upper stage. [June 18]
Mid-AugustFalcon 9 • Starlink 10/SkySats 19-21
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch 58 satellites for SpaceX’s Starlink broadband network, a mission designated Starlink 10. Three SkySat Earth-imaging satellites for Planet will launch as rideshare payloads on this mission. Delayed from late July. [July 22]
TBD
Falcon 9 • SXM 7
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: Cape Canaveral, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the SXM 7 satellite for SiriusXM. The satellite will replace the XM 3 satellite in SiriusXM’s fleet providing satellite radio programming to consumers across North America. SXM 7 was built by Maxar Technologies, and features a large unfurlable S-band reflector to broadcast radio signals to users on the ground. Delayed from Aug. 1. [June 18]
AugustFalcon 9 • Starlink 11
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the 12th batch of approximately 60 satellites for SpaceX’s Starlink broadband network, a mission designated Starlink 11. [July 10]
TBD
GSLV Mk.2 • GISAT 1
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India
India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk. 2 (GSLV Mk.2), designated GSLV-F10, will launch India’s first GEO Imaging Satellite, or GISAT 1. The GISAT 1 spacecraft will provide continuous remote sensing observations over the Indian subcontinent from geostationary orbit more than 22,000 miles (nearly 36,000 kilometers) above Earth. Delayed from Jan. 15, February and March 5. [March 13]
TBD
SSLV • Demonstration Launch
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India
India’s Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) will launch on its first orbital test flight. Consisting of three solid-fueled stages and a liquid-fueled upper stage, the SSLV is a new Indian launch vehicle designed to carry small satellites into low Earth orbit. Delayed from September, December and January.
Recent Astronomical Discoveries
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/07/200731135600.ht
Visible satellite passages over the next couple of days.
All times are “local” (Dallas) time.
ISS
Aug 2nd
Aug 3rd
Aug 5th
X-37B
Aug 3rd
Aug 5th
Aug 7th