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
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
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 a SpaceX droneship.
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.
Visible satellite passages over the next couple of days.
The DARC needs your help – please sign up below to help the DARC support the 2024 YMCA Turkey Trot. The “Trot” is Thanksgiving Day Nov 28, 2024 – more details on the event can be found here on this link. The race starts at 9am but the DARC will be there bright and early. To Volunteer please sign up using the form below. Additional details to follow. The DARC needs at least 28 helpers – but the more the better.
Come join the DARC for the October 26, 2024 Lecture and Lab. This lab will be a Radio In the Park Day shine only event at a nearby POTA Park (Parks On the Air) in the Garland area just off the Geo Bush highway. Join the DARC on site at Spring Creek Forest Preserve Oct 26, 2024 start time is 10am more details below.
Electronic Check-in: https://forms.gle/Dyji5tgwd6sPGggN9 Saturday’s Topic: “Astronomers Spot a “Super-Mars” & Constellation “Austrinus, the Southern Fish” and “Grus the Crane”
Net Control: Bill N5BB
Afterglow Movie 10:30PM: “Missile to the Moon” (1958)
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