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Saturday’s DARC SkyNet is at 9PM CT.
Recent Astronomical Discoveries
From Science Daily:
Trapped by moon dust: The physics error that fooled NASA for years
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250726234412.htm
“Traversing State”
Discussion Topic of the Evening.
The Physics of Spinning Black Holes Explained
Spinning Accretion Disk
Non-Spinning Black Hole
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qK56Dvpx6fiv36G3TpR37N-650-80.jpg.webp
Lens-Thirring Effect
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PapRqFV7GZaBW8JtUBPzz-1600-80.png.webp
Waz Up
Space Exploration and Space History
Space Exploration News
ASTEROID IMPACT COULD CAUSE A METEOR STORM: Mark your calendar.
https://spaceweather.com/images2025/25jul25/corridor.jpg
NASA Scientist Finds Predicted Companion Star to Betelgeuse
https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/c-betelgeuse-20241209-466-16bit-cc2-crop-12x.png
Space-Related Birthdays
Jul 27 – Aug 2
Daniel Burbank July 27, 1961 STS-106, STS-115, Exp 29/30)
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8d/Daniel_Burbank.jpg
Robert L. Behnken July 28, 1970 STS-123, STS-130, SpX-DM2 (Expedition 63)
Scott E. Parazynski July 28, 1971 STS-66, STS-86, STS-95, STS-100, STS-120
Gregory C. Johnson July 30, 1954 STS-125
Richard O. Covey August 1, 1946 STS-51-I, STS-26, STS-38, STS-61
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/05/Covey.jpg/220px-Covey.jpg
This Week in Space History
Jul 27 – Aug 2
August 1, 1774. Oxygen was discovered by Joseph Priestly. https://th.bing.com/th?id=ODL.363d81a32ec2cf9173a1c7a3f09e911f&w=156&h=196&c=10&rs=1&qlt=99&o=6&pid=13.1
Apollo 15 (July 26 – August 7, 1971) was the ninth crewed mission in the United States’ Apollo program and the fourth to land on the Moon.
Miss Carolyn’s Constellation of the Week
Sagittarius the Centaur
Space Launches For This Week
Space Flight Now Launch Schedule
August 4 Falcon 9 • Starlink 10-30
Launch time: Window opens at 12:11 a.m. EDT (0411 UTC)
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a batch of 28 Starlink V2 Mini satellites into low Earth orbit. The first stage booster, tail number B1080, launching for a 21st time, will target a landing on the droneship, ‘Just Read the Instructions,’ which will be positioned in the Atlantic Ocean.
Updated: July 29
NET August 10 Falcon 9 • Starlink 17-4
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: SLC-4E, Vandenberg Space Force Base, California
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch 24 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit. A little more than eight minutes after liftoff, the first stage booster, tail number B1088, launching for a ninth time, will land on the droneship, ‘Of Course I Still Love You,’ positioned in the Pacific Ocean. Delayed from Aug. 2/3.
Updated: July 30
August 21 Falcon 9 • USSF-36
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the eighth mission of the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV-8), a cargo spaceplane built by Boeing on behalf of the U.S. Space Force in cooperation with the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office. The mission, also referred to as USSF-36, will demonstrate space-based communications using laser links between the spaceplane and “proliferated commercial satellite networks in Low Earth Orbit.” Officials haven’t said if this will involve SpaceX’s Starlink constellation or the Starshield satellites developed for government use. It will also demonstrate what USSF calls “the highest performing quantum inertial sensor ever tested in space” in order to show navigation capabilities without the use of the GPS satellite constellation. The day-to-day operations of the X-37B are managed by the Fifth Space Operations Squadron within USSF Delta 9.
Updated: July 29
NET August Ariane 6 • MetOp-SG A1 / Sentinel-5
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Europe’s Spaceport, Kourou, French Guiana
An Ariane 6 rocket from Arianespace will launch EUMETSAT’s MetOp-SG A1 (MetOp Second Generation) satellite to a polar orbit at an altitude of 832 km (517 mi). The satellite also carries the Copernicus Sentinel-5 satellite onboard. This is the first in a series of six satellites scheduled to be launched between now and 2040. These MetOp satellites weigh more than 4,000 kg (8,819 lbs) each and is about the size of a small truck. This will be the third launch of an Ariane 6 rocket.
Updated: July 03
Late Summer Falcon 9 • CRS-33
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Cargo Dragon spacecraft with thousands of pounds of science and supplies to the International Space Station. Its launch date is being driven by the launch of the SpaceX Crew-11 flight to the ISS, which is scheduled for late July or early August as of July 3, as well as the departure of Crew-10. The Dragon flying this mission will include a new propulsion system within the vehicle’s trunk that will allow it to perform a boost of the space station. This is a milestone in SpaceX’s development of the ISS Deorbit Vehicle, which will help slowly lower the orbit of the space station at the end of its functional life around the 2030/2031 timeframe.
Updated: July 03
NET Mid-September Falcon 9 • NG-23
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: LC-39A or SLC-40, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a Cygnus spacecraft from Northrop Grumman on a resupply mission to the International Space Station. This will be the 22nd launch of a Cygnus spacecraft. The NG-22 mission was delayed indefinitely after the spacecraft was damaged during transport to Florida.
Updated: July 03
Visible satellite passages over the next couple of days.
You can use the http://www.heavens-above.com website to find out what’s in orbit and
where to look during fly-overs
All times are “local” (Dallas) time.
NO VISIBLE PASSES FOR ISS or TIANGONG