Skynet 12-16-23 “Rover Discovers History of Martian Lake” 9 PM CT |

December 11, 1975: Francisco Rubio (Exp. 67/68/69 for 370.6 days, first American over year, longest spaceflight)
December 12, 1951: Steven Hawley (STS-41-D, STS-61-C, STS-31, STS-82, STS-93)
December 12, 1964: Kenneth Ham (STS-124, STS-132)
December 14, 1936: Robert Parker (STS-9, STS-35)
December 14, 1960: Cady Coleman, KC5ZTH (STS-73, STS-93, Exp 26/27)

Miss Carolyn’s Constellation of the Week

Pisces the Fishes and Cetus the Sea Monster

Space Launches For This Week

Space Coast Launches

https://www.spacecoastlaunches.com/blog/launch-list/

Space Flight Now Launch Schedule

Launch Schedule

NET December 17 Falcon 9 • Starlink 6-34

Launch time: 11 p.m. – 3 a.m. EST (0400-0800 UTC)

Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launched another batch of second-generation Starlink V2 Mini internet satellites. The Falcon 9’s first stage booster is due to land on the drone ship ‘A Shortfall of Gravitas’ in the Atlantic Ocean. Delayed from Dec. 10 & 11. Delayed from Dec. 12 due to strong, ground-level winds. Delayed from Dec. 13 due to poor weather in the Atlantic Ocean.

Updated: December 14

December Falcon 9 • SARah 2 &3

Launch time: TBD

Launch site: SLC-4E, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California

A SpaceX Falcon 9 will launch two satellites with passive synthetic aperture radar reflectors for the German military.

Updated: December 16

December 22 Falcon 9 • Ovzon3

Launch time: TBD

Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida

A Falcon 9 will launch a much delayed small geostationary satellite for the Swedish broadband internet provider Ovzon. Originally scheduled to launch on an Ariane 5, the satellite was moved to Falcon 9 due to delayed in manufacturing. Delayed from summer 2023. Delayed from Dec. 15, 16 & 17.

Updated: December 14

December 28 Falcon 9 • Starlink 7-9

Launch time: 9:09 p.m. PST (12:09 a.m. EST / 0409 UTC)

Launch site: SLC-4E, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch another batch 21 Starlink internet satellites from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E). The mission includes six satellites equipped to provide cellphone coverage. The Falcon 9’s first stage booster will land on the drone ship ‘Of Course I Still Love You’ in the Pacific Ocean. Delayed from Dec. 14 and 15.

Updated: December 16

December 28/29 Falcon Heavy • USSF-52

Launch time: 7-11 p.m. EDT (0000-0400 UTC)

Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida

A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket will launch the USSF 52 mission for the U.S. Space Force. The Falcon Heavy will launch the experimental X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle on this mission. This will be the seventh flight of this spacecraft on a mission also known as OTV-7. This will be the first launch of an X-37B using a Falcon Heavy rocket. There is a 10-minute launch window for this mission. Delayed from October 2021 and 2nd Quarter 2022. Delayed from October 2022 and June 23, delayed from July 6, Dec 7, 10, 11 and 12.

Updated: December 16

NET January 8 Vulcan Centaur • Peregrine

Launch time: TBD

Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida

A United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur rocket will launch on its inaugural flight with the Peregrine commercial lunar lander for Astrobotic. The Peregrine robotic lander will carry multiple experiments, scientific instruments, and tech demo payloads for NASA and other customers. The mission will also launch two prototype satellites for Amazon’s Kuiper broadband constellation. The Vulcan Centaur rocket will fly in the VC2S configuration with two GEM-63XL solid rocket boosters, a short-length payload fairing, and two RL10 engines on the Centaur upper stage. Delayed from mid-2022 and late 2022. Delayed from 1st Quarter 2023, May 4 and Dec. 24.

Updated: December 12

January 9/10 Falcon 9 • Axiom Mission 3

Launch time: 8:18 p.m. EST (0118 UTC)

Launch site: TBD

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched a Crew Dragon spacecraft on the program’s 13th flight with astronauts. The commercial mission, managed by Axiom Space, is commanded by a former NASA astronaut. Three passengers, including a representative of the Turkish Space Agency, are expected to also fly on this two-week commercial mission to the International Space Station. The first stage booster will return to Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Updated: December 13

NET January 12 Falcon 9 • IM-1

Launch time: TBD

Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the IM-1 mission with the Nova-C lander built and owned by Intuitive Machines. The IM-1 mission will attempt to deliver a suite of science payloads to the surface of the moon for NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program. Delayed from 3rd Quarter of 2022, December 2022, January 2023, March 2023, June 2023 and November 2023.

Updated: December 13

January 29 Falcon 9 • NG-20

Launch time: TBD

Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch Northrop Grumman’s 21st Cygnus cargo freighter on the 20th operational cargo delivery flight to the International Space Station. The mission is known as NG-20. The launch vehicle for this mission was changed from Northrop Grumman’s own Antares 230+ rocket to SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine ended engine and booster production for the Antares program. Delayed from October.

Updated: December 13

TBD Atlas 5 • USSF 51

Launch time: TBD

Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida

A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket, designated AV-101, will launch the USSF 51 mission for the U.S. Space Force. This mission will launch an undisclosed payload for the military.

Updated: December 13

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.

Recent Astronomical Discoveries

Scientists measure the distance to stars by their music

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/12/231215140310.htm

Black Rock Desert Galaxy

https://dq0hsqwjhea1.cloudfront.net/BRDESERT-500KB.jpg