· space brief · 5 min read
Space Brief 24 Oct 2024
Today's Space Brief highlights SpaceX Crew-8's return, Intelsat-33e satellite breakup, SpaceX's upcoming Starship tests, and notable launches including China's new mega-constellation.
📄Top Stories
SpaceX is making strides with its Starship program while managing the safe return of Crew-8 astronauts from the ISS. Meanwhile, a satellite breakup incident involving Intelsat-33e adds to orbital debris concerns. China’s launch of a new mega-constellation further populates Low Earth Orbit, showcasing the global race to deploy satellite networks.
📰Detailed Coverage
Intelsat-33e Breakup Raises Debris Concerns
The Intelsat-33e communications satellite has become a “total loss” following an unexpected breakup in geostationary orbit, resulting in multiple debris pieces. This incident poses a potential risk to nearby satellites and highlights the increasing challenges of maintaining orbital safety. The U.S. Space Force remains vigilant, tracking up to 57 fragments from the event.
This occurrence underscores the importance of real-time satellite tracking and debris monitoring, a key feature of our web app, which can help prevent collisions and ensure the safety of active satellites.
Read the full story: Space.com
SpaceX Advances Arrangements for Starship Flight 6
SpaceX is set to conduct its sixth Starship test flight, with the Super Heavy booster already positioned at the Starbase pad in Texas. This test is vital for developing the spacecraft intended to carry astronauts for NASA’s Artemis program. SpaceX continues to impress with its rapid pace of development, meeting milestones crucial for future lunar missions.
Our web app offers features to follow SpaceX’s progress and anticipate future launch dates, allowing users to stay updated on this groundbreaking advancement.
Read the full story: Space.com
Crew-8 Returns after Prolonged Mission
After weeks of weather delays, SpaceX Crew-8 has safely undocked from the ISS and is on course for a splashdown off Florida’s coast. The mission marks another successful long-duration stay for NASA and Roscosmos astronauts aboard the ISS, as SpaceX continues to solidify its role in crewed spaceflight operations.
Tracking the Crew Dragon’s movements and splashdown is made easy with our app, which provides real-time updates for such dynamic space missions.
Read the full story: Space.com
NASA’s Quiet Space Fan Project to Aid Future Stations
NASA’s development of a Quiet Space Fan aims to improve acoustic environments aboard spacecraft, offering potential benefits for future commercial space stations. This innovation reduces noise pollution, enhancing the living conditions for astronauts on long-duration missions.
The improved onboard environment will significantly impact the sustainability of living in space, which can be monitored through various related missions as featured in our tracking tools.
Read the full story: Phys.org
China Launches ‘Thousand Sails’ Mega-Constellation
China’s “Thousand Sails” has been deployed as part of an ambitious initiative to establish a large satellite network in Low Earth Orbit, rivalling SpaceX’s Starlink constellation. This launch reflects the competitive dynamics in global satellite networking, contributing to the rapidly evolving orbital landscape.
Such mega-constellations can be tracked and analyzed using our app, which provides insights into satellite trends and their global impacts.
Read the full story: Phys.org
Artemis II Crew Tests Orion’s Side Hatch
The Artemis II crew has successfully conducted tests on the Orion spacecraft’s side hatch, a crucial component for their upcoming mission around the Moon. This test ensures the reliability of the hardware during lunar orbit operations, emphasizing NASA’s continued preparation for crewed lunar missions.
Our app users can stay informed on preparations and follow the mission milestones leading to this historic lunar mission.
Read the full story: Phys.org
🛰️Satellite Spotlight
- Satellite Name: PALAPA B1
- NORAD ID: 14134
- Launch Date: 1983-09-16
- Mission: The satellite served as a communications satellite for Indonesia, expanding telecommunication capabilities.
- Orbit: Inclination 12.3641°, Period 1437.38 minutes, Eccentricity 0.0003384
- Operator: PER
- Fun Fact: PALAPA B1 was among the early generation of Indonesian satellites contributing significantly to the country’s communications infrastructure.
Current TLE Data:
1 14134U 83059C 24290.30613105 .00000099 00000-0 00000-0 0 99992
2 14134 12.3641 333.6880 0003384 157.3078 203.5754 1.00182368114698
Track this satellite in real-time on our web app: Track PALAPA B1
🚀Upcoming Space Launches
October 24
- SpaceX Falcon 9:
- NROL-167 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, 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 Space Force Station, FL, USA (21:47 UTC) A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.
October 29
- SpaceX Falcon 9:
- Starlink Group 9-9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, CA, USA (11:30 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) A geostationary communications satellite for military communications by the Japanese military.
SpaceX Falcon 9:
- Starlink Group 10-13 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, FL, USA (21:10 UTC) A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.
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.
CASC 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.
