ESA’s biggest small satellite yet: the GomX-4B six-unit CubeSat will demonstrate miniaturised technologies, preparing the way for future operational nanosatellite constellations. (Credit: GomSpace)
PARIS, 2 February 2018 (ESA PR) — ESA’s first mission of the year was launched today: GomX-4B is the Agency’s most advanced technology-tester yet, featuring a hyperspectral camera and tiny thrusters to manoeuvre thousands of kilometres from its near-twin to try out their radio link.
These CubeSats are built around standard 10×10 cm units by GomSpace in Denmark. As ‘six-unit’ CubeSats they are as big as cereal boxes – but double the size of their predecessor GomX-3, released from the International Space Station in 2015.
China launched a satellite that will search for signals that could help scientists to predict earthquakes on Thursday.
The China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite will study electromagnetic signals in Earth’s atmosphere and ionosphere to determine if they can be used to predict earthquakes. The Chinese-led mission is being conducted in cooperation with Italy.
The spacecraft was launched aboard a Long March 2D booster from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. It was the sixth successful launch of the year for China.
Here is the launch schedule for the rest of the month. Check for updates here.
Feb. 6
Launch Vehicle: Falcon Heavy Payload: Tesla Roadster Launch Window: 1:30-4:30 p.m. EST (1830-2130 GMT) Launch Site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
The inaugural flight of the Falcon Heavy will send a red Tesla Roadster into deep space.
Resupply mission to the International Space Station.
Feb. 17
Launch Vehicle: Falcon 9 Payload: Paz Launch Time: 9:22 a.m. EST; 6:22 a.m. PST (1422 GMT) Launch Site: Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
Built by Airbus Defense and Space, Hisdesat’s Paz satellite will provide radar imaging as well as ship tracking and weather data. The flight will use a previously-flown first stage.
The Hispasat 30W-6 satellite, built by Space Systems/Loral, will provide communications services over Europe, North Africa and the Americas.
Feb. 24/25
Launch Vehicle: H-2A Payload: IGS Optical 6 Launch Window: 11:00 p.m.-1:00 a.m. EST on Feb. 24 (0400-0600 GMT on Feb. 25) Launch site: Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
The Information Gathering Satellite carries an optical reconnaissance payload.
Mid-February
Launch Vehicle: Long March 3B Payload: Beidou Launch Time: TBD Launch Site: Xichang, China
The rocket will launch two Beidou navigation satellites.
February
Launch Vehicle: GSLV Mk. 2 Payload: GSAT 6A Launch Time: TBD Launch Site: Satish Dhawan Space Center, India
The GSAT 6A satellite will provide S-band communications services and demonstrate technologies for future satellite-based mobile applications.
Falcon 9 on the launch pad with Intelsat 35e satellite. (Credit: SpaceX webcast)
UPDATE: SpaceX has scrubbed for the day due to the need to replace a sensor on the second stage. The next launch window is Wednesday, Jan. 31. __________
A SpaceX Falcon 9 launch scheduled for late this afternoon will kick off a busy period of international launches that will see the inaugural launch of the Falcon Heavy and China’s sixth orbital mission of 2018. SpaceX has four flights scheduled by the middle of February. (Thanks to Spaceflight Now for the schedule.)
Jan. 30
Launch Vehicle: Falcon 9 Payload: GovSat 1 Launch Window: 4:25-6:46 p.m. EST (2125-2346 GMT) Launch Site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
The Orbital ATK-built satellite will provide secure communications as part of the nation’s contribution to NATO. There will be no attempt to recover the Falcon 9’s first stage.
Jan. 31/Feb. 1
Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 2-1a with Fregat upper stage Payload: Kanopus-V 3 & V4 Launch Time: 9:07:18 p.m. EST Jan. 31 (0207:18 GMT on Feb. 1) Launch Site: Vostochny Cosmodrome, Russia
The twin satellites will assist Russia in mapping, forest fire detection and disaster response.
Feb. 1
Launch Vehicle: Long March 2D Payload: CSES Launch Time: TBD Launch Site: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China
The China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite will study how electromagnetic signals in Earth’s atmosphere and ionosphere to determine if they can help predict earthquakes. This joint mission with Italy will be China’s sixth launch of 2018.
Feb. 3
Launch Vehicle: SS-520-5 Payload: TRICOM 1R CubeSat Launch Window: 12:00-12:20 a.m. EST (0500-0520 GMT) Launch Site: Uchinoura Space Center, Japan
The second launch of Japan’s upgraded sounding rocket will carry the 3U TRICOM 1R CubeSat, which has an imaging camera and store and forward communications system.
Feb. 6
Launch Vehicle: Falcon Heavy Payload: Tesla Roadster Launch Window: 1:30-4:30 p.m. EST (1830-2130 GMT) Launch Site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
The inaugural flight of the Falcon Heavy will send a red Tesla Roadster into deep space.
Feb. 10
Launch Vehicle: Falcon 9 Payload: Paz Launch Time: 9:22 a.m. EST; 6:22 a.m. PST (1422 GMT) Launch Site: Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
Built by Airbus Defense and Space, Hisdesat’s Paz satellite will provide radar imaging as well ship tracking and weather data. The flight will use a previously-flown first stage.
SpaceShipTwo Unity on the runway after its seventh glide flight. (Credit; Virgin Galactic)
A busy day in space, so let’s get right to it:
SpaceShipTwo Flies: Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo Unity performed its seven glide flight this morning in Mojave. The flight appeared to go as planned based on what I could see from the ground and Virgin Galactic’s tweets; the space plane landed and rolled to a stop on runway 30. The pilots were Mark Stucky and Michael Masucci.
This is the seventh glide flight for Unity and the 37th glide test for the SpaceShipTwo program. Its predecessor, Enterprise, flew 30 glide and three powered flights before it broke up during its fourth powered flight on Oct. 31, 2014.
Virgin Galactic officials have said today’s test should be the final glide flight for Unity. If all went well, the next test will be powered.
UPDATE: Virgin Galactic has posted a description of today’s flight here.
SpaceX Scrubs: SpaceX scrubbed a static fire of the Falcon Heavy booster for the second time in as many days at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The company planned a 12- to 15-second firing of the 27 first stage engines of the heavy-lift rocket. No reason has been given for the scrub. Reports indicate that a third attempt is set for Friday. If the same schedule is maintained, the six-hour test window will open at 1 p.m. EST.
Delta IV Launch Set: United Launch Alliance is planning to launch a Delta IV booster with the NROL 47 reconnaissance satellite from Vandenberg this afternoon. The original launch time was set for 1 p.m. PST, but ULA says it is working a technical issue that will delay the launch until later. No new time as been set yet. The launch was scrubbed on Wednesday due to high winds.
UPDATE: Liftoff is now planned for 1:55 p.m. PST. Webcast commentary will start at 1:30 p.m. PST. UPDATE 2: Liftoff now at 2:05 p.m. PST.
Chinese & Indian Launches Scheduled: A Chinese Long March 3B rocket will launch two Beidou navigation satellites at approximately 2300 GMT (6 p.m. EST) today. The flight will be conducted from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center.
India’s PSLV booster will launch the Cartosat 2F remote sensing satellite from Satish Dhawan Space Center on Friday at 0358 GMT (10:58 p.m. EST on Thursday, Jan. 11). It will be the first PSLV launch since August when a failure of the payload shroud to separate doomed an IRNSS-1H navigation satellite to a fiery destruction.
A Long March 2D rocket is set to launch an unidentified satellite from Jiuquan on Saturday at approximately 0710 GMT (2:10 a.m. EST). This will be China’s third launch of the new year.
Falcon 9 carries the Dragon cargo ship into orbit. (Credit: NASA TV)
by Douglas Messier Managing Editor
SpaceX had a banner year in 2017, launching a record 18 times and helping to propel the United States to the top of the global launch table with a perfect 29-0 record. The U.S. total made up 32.2 percent of 90 orbital launches worldwide, which was an increase over the 85 flights conducted in 2016.
The 29 American launches were a leap of seven over the 22 flights conducted the previous year. This is the highest number of American orbital launches since the 31 flights undertaken in 1999. However, that year the nation’s launch providers suffered four failures whereas they were perfect in 2017.
China capped off a trifecta of international launches on Saturday by orbiting the Yaogan Weixing remote sensing satellite atop a Long March 2D booster. The rocket was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
China’s official media are referring to the spacecraft, also called the Land Surveying Satellite -2 (LKW-2), as a civilian remote sensing satellite. However, Western analysts believe it is a military reconnaissance satellite.
This was the 17th launch of the year for China. Fifteen launches have been successful with one failure and one partial failure. The nation has one more launch scheduled for the next week. A Long March 2D is set to launch the Superview 1-03 and Superview 1-04 satellite from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center.
SpaceX is set to close out the year with a night launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base on Friday. The The Falcon 9 booster with 10 Iridium Next communications satellite is set to take off at 5:27 p.m. PST. It will be the company’s 18th launch attempt of the year and the 29th for U.S. launch providers.
The SpaceX mission is one of six launches set for the rest of the rest of the year (see list below). If all flights go forward in the next 10 days, there will be a total of 91 orbital launches worldwide in 2017.
Launch Vehicle: Falcon 9 Payloads: Iridium Next 31-40 communications satellites Launch Time: 0127:23 GMT on 23rd (8:27:23 p.m. EST; 5:27:23 p.m. PST on 22nd) Launch Site: Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
SpaceX will not attempt to recover the Falcon 9 first stage on this flight.
Launch Vehicle: H-2A Payloads: GCOM-C & SLATS environmental satellites Launch Tme: 0126:22-0148:22 GMT on 23rd (8:26:22-8:48:22 p.m. EST on 22nd) Launch Site: Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
Launch Vehicle: Long March 2D Payload: Unidentified military satellite Launch Time: Approx. 0400 GMT on 23rd (11:00 p.m. EST on 22nd) Launch Site: Jiuquan, China
Launch Vehicle: SS-520-5 Payload: TRICOM 1R communications & imaging CubeSat Launch Window: 0330-0515 GMT on 28th (10:30 p.m.-12:15 a.m. EST on 27th/28th) Launch Site: Uchinoura Space Center, Japan
Second attempt to launch the SS-520 microsat booster after the first failed in January.
TBD
Launch Vehicle: March 2D Payloads: Superview 1-03 and 04 Earth observation satellites Launch Time: TBD Launch Site: Taiyuan, China
Launch crews in the United States, China and Japan are celebrating successful flights to start a busy launch week.
China got things started by launching the Venezuelan Remote Sensing Satellite aboard a Long March 2D rocket from Jiuquan.
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 followed up with an early morning launch of 10 Iridium NEXT satellites from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The flight included the 17th successful landing of a Falcon 9 first stage.
The Japanese successfully launched the Michibiki 4 navigation satellite from the Tanegashima Space Center.
Below is the launch schedule for the rest of the month. It is possible that an Atlas V that had been scheduled to launch a national reconnaissance satellite last week will be added to the schedule for later this month. The launch was delayed twice due to weather and the third time because of a faulty telemetry transmitter. ULA has not set a new launch date.
October 11
Falcon 9 Payload: SES 11/EchoStar 105 communications satellite Launch window: 6:53-8:53 p.m. EDT (2253-0053 GMT) Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Falcon 9 lifts off from Vandenberg Air Force Base. (Credit: SpaceX)
Early risers in Southern California will be able to see a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch 10 Iridium Next communication satellites on Monday morning. The flight from Vandenberg is set to take off at 5:37 a.m. PDT (8:37 a.m. EDT/1237 GMT).
The SpaceX mission will be the second of three launches planned for Monday and Tuesday. China is scheduled to launch a remote sensing satellite for Venezuela and Japan is planning to orbit a navigation satellite.
SpaceX is also scheduled to launch two communications satellites from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday evening.
October 9
Long March 2D Payload: Venezuelan Remote Sensing Satellite Launch time: Approximately 12:10 a.m. EDT (0410 GMT) Launch site: Jiuquan, China
Falcon 9 Payload: Iridium Next 21-30 communication satellites Launch time: 8:37 a.m. EDT; 5:37 a.m. PDT (1237 GMT ) Launch site: Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
H-2A Payload: Michibiki 4 navigation satellite Launch time: Approx. 6:01 p.m. EDT (2201 GMT) Launch site: Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
October 11
Falcon 9 Payload: SES 11/EchoStar 105 communications satellite Launch window: 6:53-8:53 p.m. EDT (2253-0053 GMT) Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with the Dragon spacecraft on board, (Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls)
There is a busy schedule of launches for the rest of the month. Nine launches are on tap, including seven in the next week. SpaceX is planning three flights this month, including launches from Florida and California within two days next week.
October 7
Atlas V Payload: NROL-52 reconnaissance satellite Launch time: 0759 GMT (3:59 a.m. EDT) Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
October 9
Long March 2D Payload: Venezuelan Remote Sensing Satellite Launch time: Approx. 12:10 a.m. EDT (0410 GMT) Launch site: Jiuquan, China
Falcon 9 Payload: Iridium Next 21-30 communications satellites Launch time: 8:37 a.m. EDT; 5:37 a.m. PDT (1237 GMT ) Launch site: Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
H-2A Payload: Michibiki 4 navigation satellite Launch time: Approx. 6 p.m. EDT (2200 GMT) Launch site: Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
October 11
Falcon 9 Payload: SES 11/EchoStar 105 communications satellite Launch window: 6:53-8:53 p.m. EDT (2253-0053 GMT) Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
China introduced a new commercial rocket this week aimed at the small satellite market with the successful launch of three satellites.
The solid fuel Kuaizhou 1A rocket lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Monday. It carried the JL-1 commercial Earth observation satellite and two experimental CubeSats named Canton-1 and XS-Y1, according to the official Xinhau news agency.
It was the third flight for the Kuaizhou booster, but the first commercial launch under Expace, which is a commercial subsidiary of the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation.
Kuaizhou 1A is capable of lifting up to 200 ( 441 lb) into sun synchronous orbit and 300 kg (661 lb) into low Earth orbit. Expace is targeting the booster at the booming small satellite market.
The Soyuz MS-02 rocket is launched with Expedition 49 Soyuz commander Sergey Ryzhikov of Roscosmos, flight engineer Shane Kimbrough of NASA, and flight engineer Andrey Borisenko of Roscosmos, Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. (Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky)
Part 2 of 2
There were 85 orbital launches in 2016, not including the Falcon 9 that exploded on launch pad prior to a pre-flight engine test. The launches break down as follow:
Long March 2F rocket in flight carrying Shenzhou-11. (Credit: CCTV)
China successfully launched two astronauts into space on Monday morning for a 30-day stay aboard the Tiangong-2 space station.
Veteran Chinese astronaut Jing Haipeng and rookie Chen Dong lifted off aboard the Shenzhou-11 spacecraft from Jiunquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert. The Long March 2F booster appeared to perform flawlessly in a launch shown live around the world.
Shenzhou-11 spacecraft in orbit. (Credit: CCTV)
Shenzhou-11 is now in orbit and has deployed its two solar arrays as planned. Chinese officials said the spacecraft is performing as planned. The astronauts will dock with the space station two days from now.
Haipeng, 50, previously flew aboard Shenzhou 7, which was a three-day mission conducted in 2008, and commanded Shenzhou-9 on a 13-day flight to the Tiangong-1 space station in 20012. This is the first flight for Dong, 37.
Tiangong-2 is similar to its predecessor in size and design. It is about half the size of the 20-meter long Salyut 1 space station flown by the Soviet Union in the early 1970’s.
China plans to launch the core of a multi-module space station around 2018. Construction of the facility is expected to be complete four years later.
This mission is the sixth Shenzhou flight with a crew aboard for the three-seat spacecraft, which resembles the Russian Soyuz transport in design. It is the first mission with a crew aboard since Shenzhou-10 in June 2013.
The inaugural flight of China’s new Long March 7 rocket next month will be the first launch from the nation’s newest spaceport.
Long March 7 will carry a prototype re-entry capsule for China’s next-generation human spacecraft when it lifts off from the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center on June 26.
Located on Hainan Island, Wenchang is China’s first orbital launch site located on the coastline. The Jiuquan, Taiyuan and Xichang launch facilities are all situated inland.
Wenchang will be the primary launch site for Long March 7 and Long March 5 rockets. Wenchang is located 19 degrees above the equator, which will make it easier for China to launch satellites into equatorial orbit.
