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Saturday’s DARC SkyNet is at 9PM CT.
The SN8 Test Flight – by Jackie Wattles
Fueling SN8
Launch Perspective
Launch Video
The Belly-flop
Flight Landing Profile
Final Landing Profile
Actual Landing
Kaboom!
Waz Up
Space Exploration and Space History
Space Exploration News
Artemis Team Selected
Starliner
Space-Related Birthdays
Steven Hawley – December 12, 1951
Robb Kulin – December 7, 1983
Francisco Rubio – December 11, 1975 – Artemis team
Matthew Dominick – December 7, 1981 – Artemis team
Kenneth Ham – December 12, 1964
This Week in Space History
December 11, 1972 – Apollo 17 lands on the lunar surface.
Gemini 6 and 7 in Orbit
Gemini VI at Stafford Air and Space Museum
Gemini VII at Udvar Hazy Center
Interesting side-note. The first musical instruments played in space were a harmonica and bells, on Gemini VI.
Miss Carolyn’s Constellation of the Week
Miss Carolyn’s Constellation of the Week– December 19, 2020
“The Star of Bethlehem”
Space Launches For This Week
Space Coast Launches
Space Flight Now Launch Schedule
Dec. 14
Angara-A5 • Test Flight
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia
A Russian government Angara-A5 rocket will launch on its second orbital test flight. Delayed from December and 2nd Quarter. Delayed from Nov. 3, Nov. 24, and Nov. 28. [Nov. 27]
December
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. [Oct. 6]
NET Dec. 17
PSLV • CMS 1
Launch time: Approx. 0930 GMT (4:30 a.m. EST)
Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India
India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), designated PSLV-C50, will launch the CMS 1 communications satellite. CMS 1 was formerly known as GSAT 12R, and is designed to replace the GSAT 12 communications satellite launched in 2011. The mission will use the PSLV-XL version of the PSLV with six strap-on solid rocket boosters. Delayed from Dec. 7 and Dec. 14. [Dec. 9]
Dec. 17
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. [Dec. 5]
Dec. 17
Soyuz • OneWeb 4
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Vostochny Cosmodrome, Russia
A Russian Soyuz rocket will launch 36 satellites into orbit for OneWeb, which is developing a constellation of hundreds of satellites in low Earth orbit for low-latency broadband communications. The Soyuz-2.1b rocket will use a Fregat upper stage. Delayed from mid-2020 by OneWeb bankruptcy. [Nov. 9]
Dec. 19
LauncherOne • ELaNa-20
Launch window: 1800-2200 GMT (1:00-5:00 p.m. EST; 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. PST)
Launch site: Cosmic Girl (Boeing 747), Mojave Air and Space Port, California
A Virgin Orbit LauncherOne rocket will launch on its second flight after dropping from a modified Boeing 747 carrier jet. The flight will be conducted under contract to NASA’s Venture Class Launch Services Program, carrying 14 CubeSats to orbit for NASA field centers, U.S. educational institutions and laboratories on the ELaNa-20 rideshare mission. Delayed from Aug. 1, Sept. 1, November, Dec. 1, mid-February, July 1 and Aug. 14. [Nov. 30]
Dec. 20
Long March 8 • XJY 7
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Wenchang, China
A Chinese medium-lift Long March 8 rocket will launch on its inaugural flight with a secret payload designated XJY 7. [Nov. 30]
Dec. 28
Soyuz • CSO 2
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: ELS, Sinnamary, French Guiana
An Arianespace Soyuz rocket, designated VS25, will launch on a mission from the Guiana Space Center in South America. The Soyuz will carry into polar orbit the second Composante Spatiale Optique military reconnaissance satellite for CNES and DGA, the French defense procurement agency. The CSO 2 satellite is the second of three new-generation high-resolution optical imaging satellites for the French military, replacing the Helios 2 spy satellite series. The Soyuz-2.1b (Soyuz ST-B) rocket will use a Fregat upper stage. Delayed from April 10 in ripple effect from Falcon Eye 2’s launch delay. [Nov. 9]
Recent Astronomical Discoveries
A Look at the Sun’s Dusty Environment
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/12/201210112131.htm
Visible satellite passages over the next couple of days.
All times are “local” (Dallas) time.
ISS
Dec. 20
Dec. 21
Envisat
Dec. 14
Dec. 17
Dec. 19
Dec. 19
Dec. 20
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