· space brief · 5 min read
Space Brief 26 Oct 2024
Explore the recent signing of the Artemis Accords by Chile, Boeing's strategic considerations, and captivating space missions including China's satellite endeavors and the James Webb Space Telescope's latest discovery.
📄Top Stories
NASA has welcomed Chile as the latest signatory to the Artemis Accords, a significant step in international cooperation for space exploration. Boeing is reportedly contemplating the sale of its space arm as the company navigates financial challenges. In satellite news, China’s Shijian-19 mission has disclosed its array of payloads highlighting space-breeding experiments. Meanwhile, the James Webb Space Telescope has identified potential brown dwarfs beyond the Milky Way, marking an impressive astronomical discovery.
📰Detailed Coverage
NASA Welcomes Chile to the Artemis Accords
Chile has joined a growing list of nations committed to safe and sustainable space exploration by signing the Artemis Accords. This makes Chile the 47th signatory and bolsters NASA’s vision of cooperative space endeavors. The Artemis Accords lay out a framework for de-conflicting and coordinating activities on the lunar surface and beyond.
This agreement exemplifies the global effort to develop norms of behavior in space and ensure peaceful use of outer space. Satellite enthusiasts can leverage the Artemis Accords to anticipate how nations may influence satellite deployment and use in lunar missions.
Read the full story: NASA
Boeing Mulls Sale of Space Business
Boeing is reportedly considering selling its space operations as part of efforts to stabilize its finances. This strategic move reflects a broader focus on core business areas, although specific details remain under wraps.
This consideration could impact existing and future satellite development and might reshape partnerships in the satellite industry, affecting satellite tracking and deployment strategies critical to our users.
Read the full story: Phys.org
China’s Shijian-19 Satellite Mission Details Unveiled
China has unveiled the Shijian-19 mission’s payloads, which include crop seeds and technology experiments focused on space-breeding. The satellite, which completed its mission by returning to Earth, represents a significant step in space experimentation.
This mission highlights alterations induced by cosmic rays on genetic material, advancing agricultural development. Such experiments could revolutionize satellite-assisted agricultural forecasting and space-bound biological research.
Read the full story: Space.com
James Webb Telescope Spots Potential Extragalactic Brown Dwarfs
The James Webb Space Telescope has potentially identified brown dwarfs in the Small Magellanic Cloud, offering the first evidence of such objects beyond the Milky Way. These findings point to new understandings of stellar evolution in metal-poor environments akin to the early universe.
These observations contribute to our catalog of space objects, enriching data for satellite tracking systems. They also inspire future satellite missions focused on observing distant astronomical phenomena.
Read the full story: Space.com
NASA Astronaut Hospitalized Post ISS Return
A NASA astronaut has been hospitalized following the return from the International Space Station on the Crew-8 mission. The astronaut is reported to be in stable condition, underscoring the physical risks inherent in space travel.
Such incidents remind us of the human considerations within space operations and how satellite technology can monitor astronaut health metrics in real-time.
Read the full story: SpaceNews
NASA and SpaceX’s Busy Week
Following the return of the Crew-8 astronauts, SpaceX is poised to launch additional Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral, further expanding its broadband network. This rapid cadence of missions showcases the logistics of maintaining and expanding satellite constellations.
The launch will be integrated into satellite tracking platforms, providing users with real-time data and visualization of Starlink’s growing network.
Read the full story: Spaceflight Now
AST SpaceMobile’s Satellite Unfolding Success
AST SpaceMobile has successfully deployed its first set of production satellites aimed at providing direct-to-smartphone broadband. They were launched aboard a SpaceX rocket and mark a significant milestone in satellite telecommunications.
These new satellites are now available to track on our web app, offering users insights into their position and connectivity status.
Read the full story: SpaceNews
🛰️Satellite Spotlight
- Satellite Name: THOR 2A
- NORAD ID: 24808
- Launch Date: 1997-05-20
- Mission: To provide communication services to Europe and the Middle East.
- Orbit: Inclination: 11.0326°, Period: 1454.94 minutes, Eccentricity: Near zero
- Operator: Telenor
- Fun Fact: THOR 2A utilizes the reliable HS-376HP platform known for its extended operational life in geostationary orbits.
Current TLE Data:
1 24808U 97025A 24298.49231615 -.00000093 00000-0 00000-0 0 99994
2 24808 11.0326 37.0012 0001998 254.8533 298.0750 0.98973148 40135
Track this satellite in real-time on our web app: Track THOR 2A
🚀Upcoming Space Launches
October 26
- SpaceX Falcon 9:
- Starlink Group 10-8 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (21:47 UTC) A batch of 22 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 (11:30 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 (20:17 UTC) Eighth crewed flight to the Chinese space station.
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 (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 (00:00 UTC)
- Russian Space Forces Soyuz 2.1b:
- Kosmos (Unknown Payload) from Plesetsk Cosmodrome (07:00 UTC) Russian military payload of unknown purposes.
November 3
- SpaceX Falcon 9:
- Starlink Group 6-77 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (21:57 UTC) A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.
November 4
- Rocket Lab Electron:
- Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand (10:30 UTC) Launch of a yet to be identified satellite suspected to be for E-Space.
- Russian Federal Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS) Soyuz 2.1b/Fregat-M:
- Ionosfera-M 1 & 2 from Vostochny Cosmodrome, Siberia, Russian Federation (23:18 UTC) Ionosfera is a constellation of four ionospheric and magnetospheric research satellites for Roscosmos.
Note: Launch dates and times are subject to change due to technical or weather considerations.
