Skynet 9-3-22 “Artemis 1 Nuts and Bolts” & Constellation “Aquila the Eagle” 9PM CT |

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch with another batch of Starlink internet satellites. This mission is also expected to launch Spaceflight’s propulsive Sherpa-LTC2 space tug, which will climb into a higher orbit with Boeing’s Varuna Technology Demonstration Mission, a pathfinder for a planned constellation of broadband satellites. The Varuna demo mission is a hosted payload on the Sherpa-LTC2 orbital transfer vehicle. The Falcon 9’s first stage booster will land on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. [Aug. 22]

Sept. 6

Ariane 5 • Eutelsat Konnect VHTS

Launch time: 2145 GMT (5:45 p.m. EDT)

Launch site: ELA-3, Kourou, French Guiana

Arianespace will use an Ariane 5 ECA rocket, designated VA258, to launch the Eutelsat Konnect VHTS communications satellite. Owned by Eutelsat and built by Thales Alenia Space, Eutelsat Konnect VHTS will provide fixed broadband and in-flight connectivity services over Europe. [Aug. 31]

Sept. 10

Falcon 9 • Starlink 4-2 & BlueWalker 3

Launch time: Approx. 2350 GMT (7:50 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 BlueWalker 3 test satellite for AST SpaceMobile’s planned space-based cellular broadband network is a ridshare payload on this mission. The Falcon 9’s first stage booster will land on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. [Aug. 31]

Sept. 11/12

Alpha • Multi-payload

Launch window: 2200-0200 GMT on 11th/12th (6:00-10:00 p.m. EDT; 3:00-7:00 p.m. PDT on 11th)

Launch site: SLC-2W, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California

A Firefly Alpha rocket will launch on its second test flight with a rideshare payload consisting of multiple unspecified small satellites. Delayed from May. [Sept. 1]

NET

Sept. 12

Falcon 9 • Starlink 4-34

Launch time: TBD

Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, 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. [Aug. 31]

Mid/Late September

Falcon 9 • Starlink 4-35

Launch time: TBD

Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, 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. [Aug. 31]

Sept. 21

Soyuz • ISS 68S

Launch time: 1354 GMT (9:54 a.m. EDT)

Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan

A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the crewed Soyuz MS-22 spacecraft to the International Space Station with the next team of three cosmonauts and astronauts to live and work on the complex. The crew is led by commander Sergey Prokopyev, who will be joined by Russian flight engineer Dmitry Petelin and NASA astronaut Frank Rubio. The rocket will fly in the Soyuz-2.1a configuration. [Aug. 31]

Sept. 24

Delta 4-Heavy • NROL-91

Launch time: TBD

Launch site: SLC-6, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California

A United Launch Alliance Delta 4-Heavy rocket will launch a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office, the U.S. government’s spy satellite agency. Delayed from August. [Aug. 31]

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]

Check-ins or comments

At this point we should be reaching our 90 minute cut-off point, so NCS can decide whether to cut any of these topics due to lack of time.