Visible satellite passages over the next couple of days.
All times are “local” (Dallas) time.
Tiangong
Nov. 4
Nov. 5
Nov. 6
X-37B
Oct. 30
Oct. 31
Recent Astronomical Discoveries
Cosmic Rays Drive Galaxy’s Winds
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/10/221025165708.htm
Artist’s Concept: Cosmic Ray Driven Winds
https://public.nrao.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/M33art-1170×600.jpg
Space Launches of the Week
Space Coast Launches
Space Flight Now Launch Schedule
Oct. 31
Long March 5B • Mengtian
Launch time: Approx. 0730 GMT (3:30 a.m. EDT)
Launch site: Wenchang, China
A Chinese Long March 5B rocket will launch the Mengtian laboratory module, the third major element of China’s space station in low Earth orbit. [Oct. 21]
Nov. 1
Atlas 5 • JPSS 2 & LOFTID
Launch time: 0925 GMT (5:25 a.m. EDT; 2:25 a.m. PDT)
Launch site: SLC-3E, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California
A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket, designated AV-098, will launch Joint Polar Satellite System 2, or JPSS 2, polar-orbiting weather satellite for NASA and NOAA. Built by Northrop Grumman, JPSS 2 will provide global weather observations for medium and long-term forecasts. The Atlas 5 will also launch the Low-Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator, or LOFTID, re-entry aeroshell vehicle on a test flight. LOFTID is a joint project between NASA and ULA. 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. 30 due to anomaly during testing of the satellite’s Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite, or VIIRS, instrument. [Oct. 26]
Nov. 1
Falcon Heavy • USSF 44
Launch time: 1340 GMT (9:40 a.m. EDT)
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. The Falcon Heavy’s two side boosters will land at Landing Zone 1 and 2 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, and the core stage will be expended. Delayed from late 2020, 2nd quarter of 2021, July 2021, and October 2021 by payload issues. Delayed from early 2022 and June 2022. Delayed from Oct. 28. [Oct. 27]
Nov. 2 / 3
Falcon 9 • Hotbird 13G
Launch time: 0325 GMT on 3rd (11:25 p.m. EDT on 2nd)
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Hotbird 13G television broadcasting satellite for Eutelsat. Hotbird 13G is the second satellite to be built on Airbus’s new Eurostar Neo all-electric spacecraft design, and will provide television broadcast services to Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. The Falcon 9’s first stage booster will land on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. [Oct. 26]
Nov. 6
Antares • NG-18
Launch time: 1050 GMT (5:50 a.m. EST)
Launch site: Pad 0A, Wallops Island, Virginia
A Northrop Grumman Antares rocket will launch the 19th Cygnus cargo freighter on the 18th operational cargo delivery flight to the International Space Station. The mission is known as NG-18. The rocket will fly in the Antares 230+ configuration, with two RD-181 first stage engines and a Castor 30XL second stage. Delayed from Aug. 15 and Oct. 15. [Sept. 29]
Nov. 6
Long March 7 • Tianzhou 5
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Wenchang, China
A Chinese Long March 7 rocket will launch the Tianzhou 5 resupply ship to dock with the Chinese space station. The automated cargo craft is the fourth resupply freighter for the Chinese space station. [Oct. 26]
Nov. 8
Falcon 9 • Galaxy 31 & 32
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Galaxy 31 and Galaxy 32 commercial communications satellites for Intelsat. Built by Maxar, Galaxy 31 and Galaxy 32 will be positioned in geostationary orbit to provide C-band video and television broadcast services in the United States. The Falcon 9’s first stage booster will be expended on this mission. [Oct. 26]
Nov. 14
Space Launch System • Artemis 1
Launch window: 0507-0616 GMT (12:07-1:16 a.m. EST)
Launch site: LC-39B, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
NASA’s Space Launch System heavy-lift rocket will launch on its first test flight with an uncrewed Orion spacecraft. The mission, known as Artemis 1, will place the Orion spacecraft into orbit around the moon before the capsule returns to Earth for splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. Ten small CubeSat rideshare payloads will also launch on the Artemis 1 mission. Delayed from February, March, April, May, and June. Scrubbed on Aug. 29 by engine cooling issue. Scrubbed on Sept. 3 by hydrogen leak. Delayed from no earlier than Sept. 23 to allow more time to prepare for tanking test. Delayed from Sept. 27 due to threat from potential Hurricane Ian. [Oct. 26]
Miss Carolyn’s Constellation of the Week
Lacerta the Lizard
Space Exploration and Space History
History
October 24, 1946
First image of Earth from outer space, taken by the V-2 No. 13 suborbital spaceflight.
October 24, 1968
Last flight of the X-15.
Birthdays
Susan Kilrain Oct 24, 1961 STS-83, STS-94
Rusty Schweickart Oct 25, 1935 Apollo 9
Zena Cardman Oct 26, 1988 NASA Group 22
Stephen Robinson Oct 26, 1955 STS-85, STS-95, STS-114, STS-130
Terry Hart Oct 27, 1946 STS-41-C
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/75/Hart-tj.jpg/220px-Hart-tj.jpg
Steven R. Nagel Oct 27, 1946 STS-51-G, STS-61-A, STS-37, STS-55
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Steven_Nagel.jpg/220px-Steven_Nagel.jpg
Michael A. Baker Oct 27, 1953 STS-43, STS-52, STS-68, STS-81
News
NASA and ESA Agree on Next Steps to Return Mars Samples to Earth
https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/1-pia25243-1041.jpg
Marsquake
NASA’s InSight lander recorded a magnitude 4 marsquake last Dec. 24, but scientists learned only later the cause of that quake
Something spooky is happening at the edge of the solar system
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mihJRtvXMTVqCMbvkcAxXJ-970-80.png.webp
Waz Up
Discussion Topic of the Evening.
“Tonight is Samhain!”
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