Discussion Topic of the Evening.
Sofia Sheikh: Exo-Civilization Detective
Sofia Sheikh
https://physicsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/APPELL-sofia_sheikh-portrait.jpg
2019 Radio-signal from Proxima Centauri?
https://physicsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Appell-Sheikh-BLC1.jpeg
Allen Telescope Array
https://physicsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Appell-Sheikh-telescope.jpeg
Waz Up
Space Exploration and Space History
Space Exploration News
NASA plans to retire the International Space Station by 2031 by crashing it into the Pacific Ocean
NASA intends to keep operating the International Space Station until the end of 2030, after which the ISS would be crashed into a remote part of the Pacific Ocean known as Point Nemo, according to newly published plans outlining its future.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 launched a U.S. government spy satellite into orbit Feb. 2 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.
James Webb Telescope Team Starts Aligning The Telescope
Space-Related Birthdays
Jonny Kim Feb 05, 1984 NASA Astronaut group 22, in training for 2024 moon mission
Andrew R. Morgan Feb 05, 1976 Soyuz MS-13/Soyuz MS-15 (Expedition 60/61/62)
Daniel M. Tani Feb 01, 1961 STS-108, STS-120/122 (Expedition 16)
Wally Funk Jan 31, 1939 Blue Origin NS-16
Mary L. Cleave Feb 05, 1947 STS-61-B, STS-30
Joe F. Edwards Jr. Feb 03, 1958 STS-89
This Week in Space History
On this day (Feb. 4) in 1966, Soviet spacecraft Luna 9 sent the first photo from the lunar surface. It was intercepted by astronomers in England, who released it to the press before the USSR did:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FKw3Ox2XMAI1f3V?format=jpg&name=small
US launches first satellite
• Date: Jan. 31, 1958
Miss Carolyn’s Constellation of the Week
Space Launches For This Week
Tom KE5ICX
Space Coast Launches
Space Flight Now Launch Schedule
Feb. 10
Soyuz • OneWeb 13
Launch time: 1809:37 GMT (1:09:37 p.m. EST)
Launch site: ELS, Sinnamary, French Guiana
An Arianespace Soyuz rocket, designed VS27, will launch on a mission from the Guiana Space Center in South America. The Soyuz 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 (Soyuz ST-B) rocket will use a Fregat upper stage. [Jan. 28]
Feb. 13/14
Electron • BlackSky 16 & 17
Launch window: 0055-0300 GMT on 14th (7:55-10:00 p.m. EST on 13th)
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. Rocket Lab has nicknamed this mission “Without Mission a Beat.” Delayed from September, December, and Feb. 4. [Feb. 2]
Feb. 14
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. Delayed from 2021. [Feb. 2]
Feb. 14/15
Soyuz • Progress 80P
Launch time: 0425 GMT on 15th (11:25 p.m. EST on 14th)
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the 80th Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. The rocket will fly in the Soyuz-2.1a configuration. [Jan. 27]
FebruaryFalcon 9 • Starlink 4-8
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Cape Canaveral, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch with another batch of Starlink internet satellites. [Jan. 27]
Feb. 19
Antares • NG-17
Launch time: 1739 GMT (12:39 p.m. EST)
Launch site: Pad 0A, Wallops Island, Virginia
A Northrop Grumman Antares rocket will launch the 18th Cygnus cargo freighter on the 17th operational cargo delivery flight to the International Space Station. The mission is known as NG-17. The rocket will fly in the Antares 230+ configuration, with two RD-181 first stage engines and a Castor 30XL second stage. [Jan. 15]
Late February
Falcon 9 • Starlink
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: SLC-4E, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch with another batch of Starlink internet satellites. [Feb. 2]
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]
Recent Astronomical Discoveries
Puffy planets lose atmospheres, become super-Earths
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/02/220203161238.htm
Neptune Planet to Super Earth
https://scitechdaily.com/images/Transforming-Mini-Neptunes-into-Super-Earths.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.
Tiangong
Feb. 6
Feb. 7
X-37B
Feb. 9
Envisat
Feb. 11
Feb. 13
Feb. 14
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