Skynet 11-7-20 Osiris-Rex Update! & Constellation Cepheus, the King 9PM CT |

The Long March 6 lifted off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center at 11:19 a.m. local time Friday (0319 GMT; 10:19 p.m. EDT on Nov. 5) carrying 10 remote sensing satellites for Satellogic, an Argentine imagery company.

Each 90-lb. (41 kilograms) satellite carries multispectral and hyperspectral imaging payloads. They have been designed to operate in orbit for at least three years.

Rocket Lab Will Try to Recover an Electron Booster During Nov. 15 Launch

Rocket Lab plans to take a big step toward booster reuse this month.

The California-based company aims to recover the first stage of its two-stage Electron rocket during its next mission, which is scheduled to lift off from New Zealand during a window that opens on Nov. 15.

After helping launch 30 small satellites on the mission, which is called “Return to Sender,” the first stage will return to Earth for a soft, parachute-aided ocean splashdown. Rocket Lab personnel will then fish the booster out of the Pacific Ocean and haul it to shore for a thorough inspection.

Upcoming Launches

Nov. 7

PSLV • EOS 1

Launch time: 0932 GMT (4:32 a.m. EST)

Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India

India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), designated PSLV-C49, will launch the EOS 1 radar Earth observation satellite for the Indian Space Research Organization. EOS 1 was formerly known as RISAT 2BR2. 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 use the PSLV-DL version of the PSLV with two strap-on solid rocket boosters. Delayed from December 2019 and Nov. 6. [Oct. 31]

Nov. 11

Atlas 5 • NROL-101

Launch time: 2222 GMT (5:22 p.m. EST)

Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket will launch a classified spacecraft payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. The rocket will fly in the 531 vehicle configuration with a five-meter fairing, three solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. The mission was changed from an earlier planned “551” configuration. This will be the first launch of an Atlas 5 rocket with new Northrop Grumman-built GEM-63 solid rocket motors, replacing the Aerojet Rocketdyne AJ-60A solid rocket motors used on previous Atlas 5s. Delayed from September, October, and Nov. 3. Scrubbed on Nov. 4 by valve issue on ground liquid oxygen system. Delayed from Nov. 6 and Nov. 8. [Nov. 6]

November

Long March 3B • Tiantong 1-02

Launch time: TBD

Launch site: Xichang, China

A Chinese Long March 3B rocket will launch the Tiantong 1-02 mobile communications satellite. [Oct. 23]

Nov. 14/15

Falcon 9 • Crew-1

Launch time: 0049 GMT on 15th (7:49 p.m. EST on 14th)

Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Crew Dragon spacecraft on its first operational flight with astronauts on-board to the International Space Station. NASA astronauts Mike Hopkins, Victor Glover and Shannon Walker, and Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi will launch on the Crew Dragon spacecraft. The Crew Dragon will return to a splashdown at sea. Delayed from late September, Oct. 23 and Oct. 31. Delayed from NET Nov. 11. [Oct. 26]

Nov. 15/16

Electron • “Return to Sender”

Launch window: 0144-0434 GMT on 16th (8:44-11:34 p.m. EST on 15th)

Launch site: Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand

A Rocket Lab Electron rocket will launch 30 small satellites and payloads for a range of customers, including TriSept, Unseenlabs, Swarm Technologies, Te Pūnaha Ātea – Auckland Space Institute, and Gabe Newell, co-founder of global gaming software company Valve. Rocket Lab will also try to attempt to recover the Electron rocket’s first stage by parachute for the first time. [Nov. 4]

NET Nov. 16/17Vega • SEO

Sat-Ingenio & Taranis

Launch time: 0152:20 GMT on 17th (8:52:20 p.m. EST on 16th)

Launch site: ZLV, Kourou, French Guiana

An Arianespace Vega rocket, designated VV17, will launch the SEOSat-Ingenio Earth observation satellite and the Taranis scientific research satellite for Spanish and French customers. The SEOSat-Ingenio Earth-imaging satellite is managed by the Spanish Center for Development of Industry Technology, an arm of the Spanish government, in partnership with the European Space Agency. Airbus Defense and Space built the SEOSat-Ingenio spacecraft. The Taranis spacecraft, developed by the French space agency CNES, will study the transfers of energy between the Earth atmosphere and the space environment occurring above thunderstorms. Delayed from June by coronavirus concerns. Delayed from Aug. 25 and September in ripple effect from Vega/SSMS POC delays. Moved forward from Nov. 18. Delayed from Nov. 13. [Nov. 4]

NET Nov. 18

Falcon 9 • NROL-108

Launch window: TBD

Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a classified spacecraft payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. The mission is designated NROL-108. The first stage booster is expected to attempt a return to launch site landing at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Delayed from Oct. 25. [Oct. 31]

Nov. 21

Falcon 9 • Sentinel 6-Michael Freilich

Launch time: 1717 GMT (12:17 p.m. EST; 9:17 a.m. PST)

Launch site: SLC-4E, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Sentinel 6A, or Jason-CS A, satellite. The satellite is also named Sentinel 6-Michael Freilich in honor of the late director of NASA’s Earth science division. The satellite is a joint mission between the European Space Agency, NASA, NOAA, CNES and Eumetsat to continue the sea level data record previously collected by the Jason series of satellites. Sentinel 6A, built by Airbus Defense and Space and Thales Alenia Space in Europe, will also join the European Commission’s Copernicus Earth observation satellite network. Delayed from Nov. 10 by Merlin 1D engine issue. [Nov. 4]