IO Group: https://groups.io/g/DARCskynet/topics
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Saturday’s DARC SkyNet is at 9PM CT.
Discussion Topic of the Evening.
“The Importance of Landsat 9”
https://landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov/landsat-9
Waz Up
Space Exploration and Space History
Astronaut Birthdays
- September 19, 1957: Richard Linnehan (STS-78, STS-90, STS-109, STS-123)
- September 19, 1965: Sunita Williams (STS-116/117-Exp 14/15, Exp 32/33, Boeing Starliner-1)
- September 19, 1987: Kayla Barron (SpaceX Crew-3/Exp 66)
- September 20, 1960: James Pawlczyk (STS-90)
- September 21, 1955: Richard Heib (STS-39, STS-49, STS-65)
- September 22, 1965: Robert Satcher (STS-129)
- September 23, 1944: Loren Shriver (STS-51-C, STS-31, STS-46)
- September 23, 1961: William C. McCool (STS-107)
- September 24, 1930: John Young (Gemini 3, Gemini 10, Apollo 10, Apollo 16, STS-1, STS-9)
- September 24, 1975: Nick Hague (Expedition 59/60)
Miss Carolyn’s Constellation of the Week
Miss Carolyn’s Constellation of the Week– September 25, 2021
Delphinus, the dolphin and Equuleus, the horse.
Space Launches For This Week
Sept. 27
Atlas 5 • Landsat 9
Launch time: 1811 GMT (2:11 p.m. EDT; 11:11 a.m. PDT)
Launch site: SLC-3E, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California
A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket will launch the Landsat 9 Earth observation satellite for NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey. Built by Northrop Grumman, Landsat 9 will continue the series of Landsat images of Earth dating back nearly 50 years. The rocket will fly in the 401 vehicle configuration with a four-meter fairing, no solid rocket boosters, and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. Delayed from Sept. 16 by liquid oxygen shortage. Delayed from Sept. 23. [Sept. 20]
Sept. 30/Oct. 1
Epsilon • RAISE 2
Launch time: 0048-0059 GMT on 1st (8:48-8:59 p.m. EDT on 30th)
Launch site: Uchinoura Space Center, Japan
A Japanese Epsilon rocket will launch the Rapid Innovative Payload Demonstration Satellite 2, or RAISE 2, technology demonstration satellite for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Eight smaller rideshare payloads will also be on this launch. [Aug. 23]
NET October
Electron • BlackSky 10 & 11
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Launch Complex 1A, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
A Rocket Lab Electron rocket will launch two small satellites for BlackSky’s commercial fleet of Earth observation spacecraft. Rocket Lab has nicknamed this mission “Love At First Insight.” Delayed from late August and September. [Sept. 10]
Oct. 5
Soyuz • ISS 65S
Launch time: 0855 GMT (4:55 a.m. EDT)
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the crewed Soyuz MS-19 spacecraft to the International Space Station with cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov, film director Klim Shipenko, and actress Yulia Peresild. Shkaplerov will remain on the ISS for a long-duration expedition, while Shipenko and Peresild will spend about 12 days before returning on a different Soyuz spacecraft. The Soyuz MS-19 capsule will remain at the station for about six months, providing an escape pod for the residents. The rocket will fly in the Soyuz-2.1a configuration. Delayed from Sept. 22. [Sept. 20]
Oct. 14
Soyuz • OneWeb 11
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 Sept. 18. [Sept. 20]
October
Long March 2F • Shenzhou 13
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Jiuquan, China
A Chinese Long March 2F rocket will launch the Shenzhou 13 spacecraft with three Chinese astronauts to rendezvous and dock with the Chinese space station in low Earth orbit. This is China’s eighth crewed space mission, and the second to the Chinese space station. [June 18]
Recent Astronomical Discoveries
Gigantic cavity in space sheds new light on how stars form
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/09/210922090906.htm
Artist’s Impression
https://scx2.b-cdn.net/gfx/news/hires/2021/gigantic-cavity-in-spa.jpg
Visible satellite passages over the next couple of days.
You can use the http://www.heavens-above.com website to find out what’s in orbit and
where to look during fly-overs
Tom can cover this one as well, otherwise follow the instructions below…
Net Control Note: Look for the highest magnitude and read those with highest point info. As an example: May 20th is the next, good pass.
All times are “local” (Dallas) time.
X-37B
Oct. 3
Envisat
Sept. 26
Sept. 29
Oct. 4