Space Brief 18 Sep 2024

📄Top Stories

Rocket Lab successfully launches five IoT satellites for French company Kinéis, showcasing future constellations’ promise. SpaceX adds two more Galileo satellites to Europe’s navigation system while the FAA hits SpaceX with a hefty fine for launch license violations. Private astronauts complete the pioneering Polaris Dawn mission with record-setting achievements in space.

📰Detailed Coverage

Rocket Lab Launches IoT Satellites for Kinéis

Rocket Lab achieved another milestone with the successful launch of five IoT (Internet of Things) satellites for French technology company Kinéis. The mission, utilizing the Electron rocket from New Zealand, is part of an ongoing series aimed at deploying 25 satellites to enhance global IoT connectivity. The launch marks their second mission for Kinéis, following a previous successful deployment in June. These satellites will enable better tracking and data exchange for various applications, including shipping and asset management.

With these launches, Rocket Lab continues to highlight its role in providing flexible, dedicated launch services for small satellite constellations, a critical aspect for modern-day satellite tracking and deployment, accessible through our web app.

Read the full story: Space.com

SpaceX Adds to European Galileo Constellation

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched from Cape Canaveral, boosting two Galileo navigation satellites for the European Union. This marks the 22nd mission for this particular booster, accentuating SpaceX’s advancements in reusability. Galileo satellites, aiding Europe’s Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), provide precise positioning services to users worldwide.

The incorporation of these satellites into medium Earth orbit enriches navigational capabilities, complementing our web app’s satellite tracking features that utilize such navigational aids for robust real-time data.

Read the full story: Space.com

FAA Fines SpaceX for Launch License Violations

The FAA has announced its intent to fine SpaceX $633,000 for violating launch licenses on two occasions in 2023. The issues revolve around unapproved changes to the launch control room and propellant farm usage during the PSN SATRIA and Jupiter 3 launches. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has indicated plans to contest these fines, citing regulatory overreach. This highlights the ongoing regulatory challenges faced by commercial space operators.

These regulatory actions underscore the importance of compliance in satellite operations, an aspect monitored by our app to ensure users are informed about the legal framework governing satellite launches.

Read the full story: Reuters

Polaris Dawn Mission Sets New Records

The Polaris Dawn mission, funded by billionaire Jared Isaacman, saw four private astronauts return safely from a five-day journey in SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft. This mission set several records, including the highest Earth orbit since the 1970s Apollo missions and the first commercial spacewalks. The crew also conducted numerous scientific experiments and utilized SpaceX’s Starlink network to showcase the future of private and commercial space missions.

These advancements in private space exploration reflect the growing capabilities in space travel and mission planning, aligning with our app’s goals of enhancing user engagement with real-time mission tracking.

Read the full story: Space.com

🛰️Satellite Spotlight

• Satellite Name: EagleEye
• NORAD ID: 60508
• International Designator: 2024-149AS
• Launch Date: 16 Aug 2024
• Mission: Earth observation and technology demonstration
• Owner/Operator: Creotech Instruments S.A.
• Interesting Facts:
  • EagleEye is Poland’s largest and most advanced satellite to date, weighing over 50 kg.
  • It’s based on the proprietary HyperSat platform, enabling a wide range of space missions.
  • The satellite is capable of operating in very low Earth orbit (VLEO), improving Earth imaging quality.

Current TLE Data:

1 60508U 24149AS  24261.78714123  .00029357  00000-0  13810-2 0 99998
2 60508  97.4384 336.8635 0005519  39.0554 321.1078 15.19503561  4851

Track this satellite in real-time on our web app: Track EagleEye

🗑️Space Debris Update

Current tracked debris objects: 14001

Notable recent events

• ESA and Neuraspace Deal: The European Space Agency (ESA) has entered into a two-year, multi-million Euro contract with Neuraspace, a Portuguese company specializing in Space Traffic Management (STM). This collaboration aims to enhance the control of satellite maneuvers and mitigate space debris risks. Neuraspace’s technology will help in predicting and avoiding potential collisions between operational satellites and space debris, thereby contributing to a safer orbital environment.

Source

🚀Upcoming Space Launches

September 18

• Rocket Lab Electron:
  1. Kinéis Killed the RadIoT Star (Kinéis 6-10) from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1B, Onenui Station, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand (23:00 UTC) Second batch of five satellites for the French Kinéis IoT constellation designed to operate with 25 nanosatellites of 30 kg each.

September 19

• China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Long March 3B/YZ-1:
  1. Unknown Payload from Launch Complex 2 (LC-2), Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People’s Republic of China (00:54 UTC) Possible launch of Beidou navigation satellites; details TBD.
• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:
  1. Starlink Group 9-17 from Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA (14:12 UTC) A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

September 20

• China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Long March 2D:
  1. Unknown Payload from Launch Complex 9, Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People’s Republic of China (04:01 UTC) Details TBD.
• ExPace Kuaizhou-1A:
  1. Unknown Payload from Mobile Launcher Pad, Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People’s Republic of China (09:33 UTC) Details TBD.

September 22

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:
  1. Starlink Group 9-8 from Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA (23:51 UTC) A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

September 25

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:
  1. Crew-9 from Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral, FL, USA (18:28:07 UTC) SpaceX Crew-9 is the ninth crewed operational flight of a Crew Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

September 30

• Galactic Energy Ceres-1:
  1. Unknown Payload from Launch Area 95A, Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People’s Republic of China (00:00 UTC) Details TBD.
• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:
  1. OneWeb 20 from Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA (00:00 UTC) A batch of 20 satellites for the OneWeb satellite constellation, which is intended to provide global Internet broadband service for individual consumers. The constellation is planned to have around 648 microsatellites (of which 60 are spares), around 150 kg each, operating in Ku-band from low Earth orbit.

Note: Launch dates and times are subject to change due to technical or weather considerations.

💡Did You Know?

Did you know that the Boca Chica launch site in Texas, now called Starbase, transformed from a small village to a major spaceport in just a few years? SpaceX began developing the site in 2014, and by 2024, it had become the primary testing and launch facility for the company’s Starship program. This rapid development showcases the evolving landscape of commercial spaceflight infrastructure.