Waz Up
Space Exploration and Space History
Astronaut Birthdays
- July 11, 1950: Lawrence DeLucas (STS-50)
- July 12, 1957: Rick Husband (STS-96, STS-107)
- July 13, 1950: George Nelson (STS-41-C, STS-61, STS-26)
- July 14, 1936: Robert Overmyer (STS-5, STS-51-B)
- July 17, 1959: Janet Kavandi (STS-91, STS-99, STS-104)
Miss Carolyn’s Constellation of the Week
Hercules, the strong man..
Space Launches For This Week
Space Coast Launches
Space Flight Now Launch Schedule
July 21
Proton • Nauka
Launch time: 1458 GMT (10:58 a.m. EDT)
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
A Russian government Proton rocket will launch the Nauka laboratory module to the International Space Station. The Nauka module, or the Multipurpose Laboratory Module, will also carry the European Robotic Arm to the space station. Delayed from July 15. [July 13]
July
Falcon 9 • Starlink
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: SLC-4E, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch on the first dedicated mission with Starlink internet satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base. This mission will deploy an unspecified number of Starlink satellites into a high-inclination orbit. [June 7]
July 27
Ariane 5 • Star One D2 & Eutelsat Quantum
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: ELA-3, Kourou, French Guiana
Arianespace will use an Ariane 5 ECA rocket, designated VA254, to launch the Star One D2 and Eutelsat Quantum communications satellites. Owned by the Brazilian operator Embratel Star One, the Star One D2 was built by Maxar and will deliver telecommunications, direct-to-home television services, and fast broadband to customers in South America, Mexico, Central America, and parts of the Atlantic Ocean. The Eutelsat Quantum satellite was built by SSTL and Airbus Defense and Space under the auspices of a public-private research and development project between the European Space Agency, Eutelsat and Airbus. Designed for coverage over the Middle East and North Africa, the software-defined satellite can be reprogrammed for new communications missions in orbit. Delayed from January, February, March 4, and May. [June 7]
July 30
Atlas 5 • CST-100 Starliner Orbital Flight Test 2
Launch time: 1853 GMT (2:53 p.m. EDT)
Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket, designated AV-082, will launch Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft on second unpiloted test flight to the International Space Station. This mission was added after Boeing’s decision to refly the Starliner’s Orbital Flight Test before proceeding with the Crew Flight Test. The rocket will fly in a vehicle configuration with two solid rocket boosters and a dual-engine Centaur upper stage. Delayed from 3rd Quarter. Delayed from Jan. 4. Moved forward from March 29, April 2 and May. [May 13]
Aug. 2
Soyuz • OneWeb 9
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
A Russian Soyuz rocket will launch 34 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. [May 13]
Aug. 10
Antares • NG-16
Launch time: 2155 GMT (5:55 p.m. EDT)
Launch site: Pad 0A, Wallops Island, Virginia
A Northrop Grumman Antares rocket will launch the 17th Cygnus cargo freighter on the 16th operational cargo delivery flight to the International Space Station. The mission is known as NG-16. The rocket will fly in the Antares 230+ configuration, with two RD-181 first stage engines and a Castor 30XL second stage. Delayed from July and Aug. 1. [July 13]
Recent Astronomical Discoveries
How the universe is reflected near black holes
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/07/210712122120.htm
Visible satellite passages over the next couple of days.
All times are “local” (Dallas) time.
Hubble Space Telescope
July 24
July 25
July 26
Envisat
July 22
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