October 2024

Article in Wireless World, “Extra-Terrestrial Relays — Can Rocket Stations Give Worldwide Radio Coverage?” makes the first discussion of geostationary satellites as a means of communication. Written by Arthur C. Clarke.

Venera 9 was a Soviet un-crewed space mission to Venus. It consisted of an orbiter and a lander. It was launched on

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/Venera_9_Space_Probe_01.jpg/260px-Venera_9_Space_Probe_01.jpg

Miss Carolyn’s Constellation of the Week

Constellation Cepheus, the King

Space Launches For This Week

Space Flight Now Launch Schedule

Launch Schedule

October 29 Falcon 9 • Starlink 9-9

Launch time: 4:30 a.m. PDT (7:30 a.m. EDT, 1130 UTC)

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

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch another batch of Starlink V2 Mini satellites to low Earth orbit. A little more than eight minutes after liftoff, the first stage booster will land on the SpaceX droneship, ‘Of Course I Still Love You.’

Updated: October 24

October 30 Falcon 9 • Starlink 10-13

Launch time: 5:10 p.m. EDT (2110 UTC)

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

Updated: October 24

November 4 Electron • ‘Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes’

Launch time: 11:30 p.m. NZDT (5:30 a.m. EST, 1030 UTC)

Launch site: Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand

A Rocket Lab Electron rocket will launch a satellite for “a confidential commercial customer.” The mission is described as “Rocket Lab’s fastest turnaround to date: from signed contract to launch date in less than two months.” The payload, the orbit and the timing of deployment were not disclosed at the time the launch was announced. Delayed by Rocket Lab from Oct. 19 “to perform final checkouts.”

Updated: October 25

November 4/5 Falcon 9 • CRS-31

Launch time: 9:29 p.m. EST (0229 UTC)

Launch site: Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch one of its Cargo Dragon spacecraft to deliver thousands of pounds of science and other supplies to the International Space Station. This will be SpaceX’s 31st supply run to the ISS as part of its Commercial Resupply Services-2 contract with NASA. The first stage booster will perform a return to landing site (RTLS) landing at Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1) less than eight minutes after liftoff.

Updated: October 24

NET November New Glenn • NG-1

Launch time: TBD

Launch site: Launch Complex 36

A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket will launch the company’s Blue Ring spacecraft, which is capable of both hosting and deploying multiple payloads. Blue Origin will attempt to land the first stage booster on its sea-based landing platform, ‘Jacklyn.’

Updated: September 11

NET Spring 2025 New Glenn • EscaPADE

Launch time: TBD

Launch site: Launch Complex 36, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

A Blue Origin New Glenn rocket will launch a pair of identical spacecraft on NASA’s Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (EscaPADE) mission. The two satellites, named Blue and Gold, will make a roughly 11-month journey to Mars where they will then perform about an 11-month science mission while orbiting the Red Planet. Blue and Gold were manufactured by Rocket Lab over about 3.5 years and carry science experiments from the University of California, Berkeley. This launch of the New Glenn rocket will also feature a landing attempt on its landing barge in the Atlantic Ocean. Delayed from October 13.

Updated: September 11

TBD 2025 Vulcan Centaur • Dream Chaser 1

Launch time: TBD

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

A United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur rocket will launch on its second demonstration flight with Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser cargo vehicle for the International Space Station. The Dream Chaser is a lifting body resupply spacecraft that will launch on top of a rocket and land on a runway. This will be the Dream Chaser’s first flight to space. The Vulcan Centaur rocket will fly in the VC4L configuration with four GEM-63XL solid rocket boosters, a long-length payload fairing, and two RL10 engines on the Centaur upper stage. Delayed from August 2022, December 2023, January 2024, April 2024 and September 2024.