Saturday’s DARC SkyNet is at 9PM CT.
Discussion Topic of the Evening.
Discussion Topic of the Evening
Space Missions for 2022
Psyche Mission
https://skyandtelescope.org/wp-content/uploads/jpegPIA21275.width-1600.jpg
Starship
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FHtpk9cXIAApKwf?format=jpg&name=medium
Orion – Return to the Moon
https://skyandtelescope.org/wp-content/uploads/ksc-20211020-ph-fmx01_0216_medium.jpg
Nova-C Lander on Moon
https://skyandtelescope.org/wp-content/uploads/im_1_nova_c_intuitive_machines-1536×1350.jpg
Peregrine Mission One
https://skyandtelescope.org/wp-content/uploads/47974859117_a9fe1ee054_k-1536×1113.jpg
ExoMars Launch
Waz Up
Space Exploration and Space History
Space Exploration News
ISS
The Biden-Harris administration has directed NASA to enable the International Space Station’s (ISS) use through 2030.
JWST
The James Webb telescope has fully unfolded its mirrors, the last segment happening this morning. So far, a flawless mission.
Perseverance
It recently captured its sixth rock core and has encountered a new challenge. Seems some pebble-sized debris is obstructing its robotic arm from handing off the tube for sealing/storage.
Ingenuity
The next flight on Mars marks the first of 2022 and the nineteenth for NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter.
https://duckduckgo.com/i/f51f2195.png
Mystery Hut
The “mystery hut,” or “house,” spotted by China’s Yutu-2 rover on the far side of the moon turns out to be a rock. That’s not exactly a surprise, but it’s an amusing conclusion to the lunar enigma that entranced so many of us in December.
https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AASxOuk.img?w=768&h=413&m=6
Space-Related Birthdays
Frederick D. Gregory Jan 07, 1941 STS-51B, STS-33, STS-44
Christopher Cassidy Jan 04, 1970 STS-127, Soyuz TMA-08M (Expedition 35/36), Soyuz MS-16 (Expedition 62/63)
Michael Foale Jan 06, 1957
STS-45, STS-56, STS-63, STS-84 (up), Mir NASA-5 (Mir EO-23 and 24), STS-86 (down), STS-103, Soyuz TMA-3 (Expedition 9
Guy Gardner Jan 06, 1948 STS-27, STS-35
Stephen Hawking Jan. 08, 1942 Theort ical Physicist
This Week in Space History
First Near Moon Shot January 2, 1959
The USSR Lunik I is launched with the objective to impact the Moon’s surface.
Sputnik
On this day (Jan 4) in 1958, Sputnik, the world’s first artificial satellite.
Miss Carolyn’s Constellation of the Week
Fornax, the furnace and Eridanus, the river
8. Space Launches For This Week
Tom KE5ICX
Space Coast Launches
Space Flight Now Launch Schedule
January
LauncherOne • Above the Clouds
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: Cosmic Girl (Boeing 747), Mojave Air and Space Port, California
A Virgin Orbit LauncherOne rocket will launch on its fourth flight after dropping from a modified Boeing 747 carrier jet. The mission will be Virgin Orbit’s second operational launch, carrying small satellites for the U.S. military’s Space Test Program, Spire, and the Polish company SatRevolution. Delayed from Dec. 22. [Dec. 22]
January
Electron • BlackSky 16 & 17
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Launch Complex 1A, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
A Rocket Lab Electron rocket will launch two small second-generation satellites for BlackSky’s commercial fleet of Earth observation spacecraft. Delayed from September and December. [Nov. 29]
Jan. 13
Falcon 9 • Transporter 3
Launch time: 1525 GMT (10:25 a.m. EST)
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Transporter 3 mission, a rideshare flight to a sun-synchronous orbit with numerous small microsatellites and nanosatellites for commercial and government customers. Delayed from December. [Jan. 4]
JanuaryFalcon 9 • Starlink
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch with another batch of Starlink internet satellites. [Jan. 5]
Jan. 21
Atlas 5 • USSF 8 (GSSAP 5 & 6)
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket will launch the USSF 8 mission with the fifth and sixth satellites for the Space Force’s Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program, or GSSAP, designed to help the military track and observe objects in geosynchronous orbit. The rocket will fly in the 511 vehicle configuration with a five-meter fairing, one solid rocket booster and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. Delayed from 4th Quarter of 2020, March, August, and early September. [Dec. 14]
Jan. 24
Falcon 9 • CSG 2
Launch time: Approx. 2311:12 GMT (6:11:12 p.m. EST)
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the second COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation, or CSG 2, radar surveillance satellite for ASI, the Italian space agency. The spacecraft was built by Thales Alenia Space. Delayed from Nov. 18 and Dec. 14. [Jan. 5]
JanuaryFalcon 9 • Starlink
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch with another batch of Starlink internet satellites. [Jan. 5]
Early 2022
Falcon Heavy • USSF 44
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket will launch the USSF 44 mission for the U.S. Space Force. The mission is expected to deploy two spacecraft payloads directly into geosynchronous orbit, one of which is the military’s TETRA 1 microsatellite. Delayed from late 2020, 2nd quarter of 2021, July 2021, and October 2021 by payload issues. [Oct. 6]
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 and December 2019. Delayed from January and December 2020. Delayed from April. [March 31]
TBD
SSLV • BlackSky Global
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India
India’s Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) will launch on its first commercial mission with four Earth observation satellites for BlackSky Global, a Seattle-based company. The rideshare mission for BlackSky is being arranged by Spaceflight. Delayed from November, late 2019 and early 2020. Delayed from early 2021 and July. [March 31]
TBD
PSLV • RISAT 1A
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India
India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), designated PSLV-C52, will launch the Indian RISAT 1A radar Earth observation satellite. [March 12]
Early 2022
Starship • Orbital Test Flight
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Starbase, Boca Chica Beach, Texas
A SpaceX Super Heavy and Starship launch vehicle will launch on its first orbital test flight. The mission will attempt to travel around the world for nearly one full orbit, resulting in a re-entry and splashdown of the Starship near Hawaii. [Nov. 17]
Recent Astronomical Discoveries
Earth isn’t ‘super’ because the sun had rings before planets
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/01/220105103250.htm
Sun with Halo
https://physicsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Rings-around-a-star-635×449.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
All times are “local” (Dallas) time.
ISS
Jan. 9
Jan. 16
Tiangong
Jan. 14
Jan. 15
Envisat
Jan. 12
Jan. 15
You must log in to post a comment.