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Saturday’s DARC SkyNet is at 9PM CT.
Discussion Topic of the Evening.
“Why are Uranus and Neptune Different Colors?”
https://www.sciencealert.com/we-might-finally-know-why-uranus-and-neptune-are-different-colors
Uranus and Neptune Faceoff
https://www.sciencealert.com/images/2022-02/processed/uranus-and-neptune-voyager-2-small_1024.jpg
Cause and Effect of Hazes on Uranus and Neptune
https://www.universetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/noirlab2211b-768×431.jpg
Waz Up
Space Exploration and Space History
Space Exploration News
The SLS rocket finally has a believable launch date, and it’s soon
https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/SLS-Apr-21-2022-8868-1-800×534.jpg
Roman Space Telescope
NASA has selected SpaceX to launch the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope on a Falcon Heavy, but at a price significantly higher than most previous agency contracts.
https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/roman-space-telescope.jpg
Far Side Lunar Lander Mission
NASA awarded a contract to Draper to send three science instruments to the far side of the moon through a commercial payload delivery program.
https://spacenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/draper-lander.jpg
Space-Related Birthdays
Janet L. Kavandi July 17, 1959 STS-91, STS-99, STS-104
John Glenn July 18, 1921 Mercury-Atlas 6
Josh A. Cassada July 18, 1973 SpaceX Crew-5 (Expedition 67/68)
Scott D. Tingle July 19, 1965 Soyuz MS-07 (Expedition 54/55)
Roy D. Bridges Jr. July 19, 1943STS-51-F, STS-61-F (never flew)
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/Roy_Bridges.jpg/220px-Roy_Bridges.jpg
Elliot See July 23, 1927 No missions (died in a plane crash)
This Week in Space History
July 20, 1969
Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the Moon. And the world was forever
changed. Astronaut Mike Collins orbited above.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FYIN0HtXgAM9PrX?format=jpg&name=small
July 21, 1961
Second American spaceflight. Gus Grissom flew the Liberty Bell 7 (Mercury-Redstone 4) on a successful mission.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FYNXZsNXoAADHPl?format=jpg&name=small
July 20, 1976
Viking 1 was the first of two spacecraft, along with Viking 2, each consisting of an orbiter and a lander, sent to Mars as part of NASA’s Viking program.
Miss Carolyn’s Constellation of the Week
Constellation: Draco the Dragon
Space Launches For This Week
Tom KE5ICX
Space Coast Launches
Space Flight Now Launch Schedule
July 24
Long March 5B • Wentian
Launch time: Approx. 0615 GMT (2:15 a.m. EDT)
Launch site: Wenchang, China
A Chinese Long March 5B rocket will launch the Wentian laboratory module, the second major element of China’s space station in low Earth orbit. [July 13]
July 24
Falcon 9 • Starlink 4-25
Launch window: 1209-1349 GMT (8:09-9:49 a.m. EDT)
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch with another batch of Starlink internet satellites. The Falcon 9’s first stage booster will land on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. [July 13]
TBD
Electron • NROL-199
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Launch Complex 1B, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
A Rocket Lab Electron rocket will launch a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office. This mission was contracted through the NRO’s Rapid Acquisition of a Small Rocket, or RASR, program. Delayed from July 22. [July 21]
Aug. 2
Falcon 9 • KPLO
Launch time: Approx. 2330 GMT (7:30 p.m. EDT)
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter, or KPLO. This is South Korea’s first space exploration mission. The KPLO spacecraft carries science instruments to image permanently shadowed craters to search for signs of water ice, measure the composition of lunar regolith, and capture high-resolution images to map future landing sites. The Falcon 9’s first stage booster will land on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. [July 21]
Aug. 4
Atlas 5 • SBIRS GEO 6
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket, designated AV-097, will launch the U.S. Space Force’s sixth Space Based Infrared System Geosynchronous satellite, or SBIRS GEO 6, for missile early-warning detection. The rocket will fly in the 421 vehicle configuration with a four-meter fairing, two solid rocket boosters, and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. Delayed from June 18 and July 31. [July 21]
Early August
Falcon 9 • Starlink 3-3
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. The Falcon 9’s first stage booster will land on a drone ship in the Pacific Ocean. [July 21]
Aug. 9
Falcon 9 • Starlink 4-26
Launch time: Approx. 2300 GMT (7 p.m. EDT)
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch with another batch of Starlink internet satellites. The Falcon 9’s first stage booster will land on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. [July 21]
TBD
Astra Rocket 3.3 • TROPICS 3 & 4
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: SLC-46, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
A commercial small satellite launch vehicle developed by Astra will launch the second pair of small CubeSats for NASA’s TROPICS mission. The Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats, or TROPICS, mission will measure environmental and inner-core conditions for tropical cyclones. Delayed from April and June. [June 13]
TBD
Astra Rocket 3.3 • TROPICS 5 & 6
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: SLC-46, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
A commercial small satellite launch vehicle developed by Astra will launch the third pair of small CubeSats for NASA’s TROPICS mission. The Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats, or TROPICS, mission will measure environmental and inner-core conditions for tropical cyclones. Delayed from April and July. [June 13]
Summer
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 2021, May 2022, and June 2022. [June 26]
TBD
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. Delayed from early 2022. [March 9]
Recent Astronomical Discoveries
Brenda WB5OZL
Why Jupiter Doesn’t Have Rings Like Saturn
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/07/220721101508.htm
Jupiter
https://duckduckgo.com/i/04146f68.jpg
Visible satellite passages over the next couple of days.
All times are “local” (Dallas) time.
ISS
Aug. 1
Tiangong
Jul. 28
Jul. 29
Jul. 30
HST
Jul. 24
Jul. 25
Jul. 27
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