Space Brief 23 Oct 2024

📄Top Stories

The escalating issue of space debris is spotlighted as a recent satellite breakup contributes significantly to the growing orbital clutter. Meanwhile, SpaceX continues its Starlink expansion with another launch, showcasing the service on the world’s largest passenger aircraft. In addition, California Governor Gavin Newsom supports Elon Musk in a legal battle over SpaceX rocket launches.

📰Detailed Coverage

Escalating Space Debris: Satellite Breakup Adds to Concerns

A significant communications satellite has broken up in orbit, amplifying concerns over space debris. This incident affected users across Europe, Central Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. The breakup adds to the already growing mass of 4,300 tons of space debris, emphasizing the critical need for improved space traffic management and debris mitigation measures.

Technically, the satellite’s fragmentation intensifies the challenge of tracking numerous particles that can collide with other satellites or even the International Space Station, leading to potential hazards. This ongoing issue highlights our web app’s importance in tracking satellite debris and ensuring safe orbital operations.

Read the full story: Phys.org

Starlink Takes to the Skies on Boeing 777

SpaceX’s Starlink internet has been successfully integrated into a Boeing 777 jet for the first time, marking an expansion of in-flight internet capability. This milestone occurred during a Qatar Airways flight from Doha to London, setting a new standard for in-flight connectivity.

As SpaceX continues to increase the number of Starlink satellites in low Earth orbit, their application in aviation demonstrates the multipurpose use of this satellite network. Users can track the expanding Starlink constellation via our app, monitoring its growth and impact on both global internet coverage and astronomical observations.

Read the full story: Space.com

SpaceX to Deploy More Starlink Satellites

SpaceX is scheduled to launch 23 more Starlink satellites from Florida on October 23. The Falcon 9 rocket is set to lift off from Cape Canaveral, marking the 18th launch and landing attempt for this booster, emphasizing SpaceX’s reuse capabilities.

Starlink’s consistent launches reflect its ambition to expand its internet service network, which involves a vast and increasing number of satellites. Tracking these satellite launches is crucial for understanding their density and observing their “train” in the night sky, tasks facilitated by our web app’s real-time capabilities.

Read the full story: Space.com

Newsom Backs Musk in SpaceX Launch Dispute

California Governor Gavin Newsom has expressed support for Elon Musk in a legal dispute concerning the frequency of SpaceX’s coastal rocket launches. This action highlights the ongoing balance between business innovation and regulatory frameworks in space operations.

The dispute focuses on the permissible number of annual launches, essential for maintaining SpaceX’s rapid deployment pace. This case points to the broader implications of how legal decisions can affect space logistics and satellite tracking, areas that are crucial to our app’s monitoring features.

Read the full story: Phys.org

U.S. Space Force Faces Indo-Pacific Expansion Demands

The U.S. Space Force is encountering growing demands in the Indo-Pacific region, as commanders seek to defend critical space infrastructure against potential threats. The focus is on safeguarding satellite communications and navigation services vital to regional security.

This development underscores the strategic importance of space assets and the necessity for real-time security via complex satellite networks. Ensuring the safeguarding of these satellites can significantly benefit from the options available in our web app to track and monitor satellite operations efficiently.

Read the full story: SpaceNews

🛰️Satellite Spotlight

• Satellite Name: EXPRESS AM-2
• NORAD ID: 28629
• Launch Date: 2005
• Mission: Communications satellite aimed at providing television broadcasting, telephony, and broadband internet services.
• Orbit: Inclination: 8.2889°, Period: 1453.94 min, Eccentricity: 0.0023
• Operator: Satellite Communications Co.
• Fun Fact: EXPRESS AM-2 was part of a new generation of Russian communications satellites designed to enhance the nation’s broadcast and communication capacities.

Current TLE Data:

1 28629U 05010A   24290.75768293 -.00000215  00000-0  00000+0 0 99995
2 28629   8.2889  61.0981 0022608  97.7590  92.4510  0.99041178 71259

Track this satellite in real-time on our web app: Track EXPRESS AM-2

🚀Upcoming Space Launches

October 23

• Blue Origin New Shepard:

  • New Shepard | NS-27 from West Texas Suborbital Launch Site, Corn Ranch, Van Horn, TX, USA (15:00 UTC) Twenty-seventh flight of New Shepard, flying unmanned as a test for the newest booster.

• SpaceX Falcon 9:

  • Starlink Group 6-61 from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA (21:47 UTC) A batch of 23 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

October 24

• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • NROL-167 from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA (17:13 UTC) Fourth batch of satellites for a reconnaissance satellite constellation built by SpaceX and Northrop Grumman for the National Reconnaissance Office to provide imaging and other reconnaissance capabilities.

October 26

• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • Starlink Group 10-8 from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA (21:47 UTC) A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

October 30

• Mitsubishi Heavy Industries H3-22:
  • DSN 3 (Kirameki 3) from Tanegashima Space Center, Japan (06:46 UTC) DSN 3, also known as Kirameki 3, is a geostationary communications satellite to be used for military communications by the Japanese military.

October 31

• Galactic Energy Ceres-1:

  • Unknown Payload from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People’s Republic of China (00:00 UTC)

• Rocket Lab Electron:

  • Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand (00:00 UTC) Launch of a yet to be identified satellite to SSO for an undisclosed customer. The customer is suspected to be Low Earth Orbit communication satellite constellation operator E-Space.

• SpaceX Falcon 9:

  • Starlink Group 11-2 from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA (00:00 UTC) A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

• China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Long March 2F/G:

  • Shenzhou 19 from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People’s Republic of China (00:00 UTC) Eighth crewed flight to the Chinese space station.

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