Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/306498286059167/
Saturday’s DARC SkyNet is at 9PM CT.
Gauging Light Pollution: The Bortle Dark-Sky Scale
Reference Article
Bortle Ratings
https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/parks/things-to-do/stargazing/bortle-ratings
Bortle Scale
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bortle_scale
Space Exploration and Space History
Waz Up/Miss Carolyn’s Constellation of the Week
Constellation Sagittarius
Space Launches For This Week
Space Coast Launches
Space Flight Now Launch Schedule
Aug. 26
Delta 4-Heavy • NROL-44
Launch time: 0616 GMT (2:16 a.m. EDT)
Launch site: SLC-37B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
A United Launch Alliance Delta 4-Heavy rocket will launch a classified spy satellite cargo for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. The largest of the Delta 4 family, the Heavy version features three Common Booster Cores mounted together to form a triple-body rocket. Delayed from June. [Aug. 17]
Aug. 27
Falcon 9 • SAOCOM 1B
Launch time: 2319 GMT (7:19 p.m. EDT)
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the SAOCOM 1B satellite for CONAE, Argentina’s space agency. SAOCOM 1B is the second of two SAOCOM 1-series Earth observation satellites designed to provide radar imagery to help emergency responders and monitor the environment, including the collection of soil moisture measurements. Delayed from 4th Quarter of 2019, January and February. This mission was originally scheduled to launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. Delayed from March 30 due to coronavirus pandemic. [Aug. 17]
Late August
Rocket 3.1 • Test Flight
Launch window: TBD
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. Scrubbed on Aug. 2 due to upper level winds and boat in range. Scrubbed on Aug. 4 and Aug. 6. [Aug. 7]
Aug. 31/Sept. 1
Vega • SSMS POC
Launch time: 0151:10 GMT on 1st (9:51:10 p.m. EDT on 31st)
Launch site: ZLV, Kourou, French Guiana
An Arianespace Vega rocket, designated VV16, will launch on the Small Spacecraft Mission Service (SSMS) Proof of Concept mission with around 50 microsatellites, nanosatellites and CubeSats for commercial and institutional customers. This rideshare launch is the first flight of a multi-payload dispenser funded by the European Space Agency to allow the Vega rocket to deliver numerous small satellites to orbit on a single mission. Delayed from August, Sept. 10 and February. Delayed from March 23 due to coronavirus outbreak. Delayed from June 18 due to unfavorable high-altitude winds. Scrubbed on June 27 and June 28 by high-altitude winds. Delayed from Aug. 17. [Aug. 11]
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. [Jan. 25]
TBD
PSLV • RISAT 2BR2
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India
India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), designated PSLV-C49, will launch the RISAT 2BR2 radar Earth observation satellite for the Indian Space Research Organization. The PSLV will also launch four Kleos Scouting Mission radio surveillance nanosatellites for Kleos Space, a Luxembourg-based company, and multiple Lemur 2 CubeSats for Spire Global. The mission will likely use the “Core Alone” version of the PSLV with no strap-on solid rocket boosters. Delayed from December. [Feb. 11]
Recent Astronomical Discoveries
Spinning Black Hole Powers Jet by Magnetic Flux
Visible satellite passages over the next couple of days.
All times are “local” (Dallas) time.
ISS
Aug. 24
Aug. 25
Aug. 27
X-37B
Aug. 24
Hubble Space Telescope
Aug. 29
Aug. 30
Aug. 31
SKYNET!!!! 9PM CT – 10:30PM CT
Saturday’s Topic: “Gauging Light Pollution: The Bortle Dark-Sky Scale” & “Constellation Sagittarius”
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Afterglow Movie 10:30PM: “Invaders From Mars” (1987)
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Echolink: W5FC-R, node 37247.
Youtube.com Search “DARC Skynet”
Facebook.com Search “DARC Skynet”
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Direct Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCishlh8WmW7OXy9Q6sxsaag
IO Group: https://groups.io/g/DARCskynet/topics
Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/306498286059167/
Saturday’s DARC SkyNet is at 9PM CT.
Gauging Light Pollution: The Bortle Dark-Sky Scale
Reference Article
Bortle Ratings
https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/parks/things-to-do/stargazing/bortle-ratings
Bortle Scale
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bortle_scale
Space Exploration and Space History
Waz Up/Miss Carolyn’s Constellation of the Week
Constellation Sagittarius
Space Launches For This Week
Space Coast Launches
Space Flight Now Launch Schedule
Aug. 26
Delta 4-Heavy • NROL-44
Launch time: 0616 GMT (2:16 a.m. EDT)
Launch site: SLC-37B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
A United Launch Alliance Delta 4-Heavy rocket will launch a classified spy satellite cargo for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. The largest of the Delta 4 family, the Heavy version features three Common Booster Cores mounted together to form a triple-body rocket. Delayed from June. [Aug. 17]
Aug. 27
Falcon 9 • SAOCOM 1B
Launch time: 2319 GMT (7:19 p.m. EDT)
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the SAOCOM 1B satellite for CONAE, Argentina’s space agency. SAOCOM 1B is the second of two SAOCOM 1-series Earth observation satellites designed to provide radar imagery to help emergency responders and monitor the environment, including the collection of soil moisture measurements. Delayed from 4th Quarter of 2019, January and February. This mission was originally scheduled to launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. Delayed from March 30 due to coronavirus pandemic. [Aug. 17]
Late August
Rocket 3.1 • Test Flight
Launch window: TBD
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. Scrubbed on Aug. 2 due to upper level winds and boat in range. Scrubbed on Aug. 4 and Aug. 6. [Aug. 7]
Aug. 31/Sept. 1
Vega • SSMS POC
Launch time: 0151:10 GMT on 1st (9:51:10 p.m. EDT on 31st)
Launch site: ZLV, Kourou, French Guiana
An Arianespace Vega rocket, designated VV16, will launch on the Small Spacecraft Mission Service (SSMS) Proof of Concept mission with around 50 microsatellites, nanosatellites and CubeSats for commercial and institutional customers. This rideshare launch is the first flight of a multi-payload dispenser funded by the European Space Agency to allow the Vega rocket to deliver numerous small satellites to orbit on a single mission. Delayed from August, Sept. 10 and February. Delayed from March 23 due to coronavirus outbreak. Delayed from June 18 due to unfavorable high-altitude winds. Scrubbed on June 27 and June 28 by high-altitude winds. Delayed from Aug. 17. [Aug. 11]
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. [Jan. 25]
TBD
PSLV • RISAT 2BR2
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India
India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), designated PSLV-C49, will launch the RISAT 2BR2 radar Earth observation satellite for the Indian Space Research Organization. The PSLV will also launch four Kleos Scouting Mission radio surveillance nanosatellites for Kleos Space, a Luxembourg-based company, and multiple Lemur 2 CubeSats for Spire Global. The mission will likely use the “Core Alone” version of the PSLV with no strap-on solid rocket boosters. Delayed from December. [Feb. 11]
Recent Astronomical Discoveries
Spinning Black Hole Powers Jet by Magnetic Flux
Visible satellite passages over the next couple of days.
All times are “local” (Dallas) time.
ISS
Aug. 24
Aug. 25
Aug. 27
X-37B
Aug. 24
Hubble Space Telescope
Aug. 29
Aug. 30
Aug. 31
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