It is the end of November for 2017, meaning this is episode 11 of the Unity module. Just one more
It is the end of November for 2017, meaning this is episode 11 of the Unity module. Just one more to go before we move on to Destiny. There’s a fair bit that happened this month, some ups, some downs. We’ve got a lot to cover but before we get started, there’s been a subtle change to the show. I’ve been having trouble finding stories that qualify to me as ‘Earth Science’ so I’ve decided to fold that segment in with ‘Plantery Science’. I like to think of the change to these style of segments as the ‘block 2 configuration’. And with this little change, I’ll call it the ‘block 2.1 configuration.’ I’m always trying to figure out ways to make the show better, so if you have ideas, let me know. I’d like to maybe have a block 3 for Destiny.
Anyway, let’s go ahead and jump right in to the news.
==Astronomy==
• Dark energy detector looking to strip down due to rising cost, link
• Ancient galaxy imaged by LMT, link
• Earth-like neighbor around a quiet, well-mannered Friend, Ross, link
• Arecibo gets a new lease on life, link
==Planetary Science==
• Muons help find a hidden void inside the Great Pyramid, link
• Curiosity shows off its fancy Instagram filters, link
• Japanese mission to Mars gets NASA contribution, link
• Interstellar visitor zips through solar system, link
• Scientists suggest that Mars’ evidence of water flowing on the surface may be ‘dry flows’, link
• Cassini’s final shots of Saturn, link
==Launches and Rocketry==
• Penultimate Delta II launch delayed by battery swap, other delays, then successfully launches, link 1, link 2, link 3, link 4
• NASA probe delayed due to issues with launcher, examination underway, link
• Antares launch delayed by wayward plane, then launches the next day, link 1, link 2
• The spaceplane that could glides to a safe landing, link
• Next Electron rocket arrives in New Zealand, link
• SLS slips to 2020, confirms NASA, link
==SpaceX News==
• Launch Complex 40 to come back online in December, free up 39 for Falcon Heavy, link
• Secret ‘Zuma’ mission sees test fire, then delay to study fairing data, link 1, link 2
• SpaceX does the Falcon Shuffle, link
• This is Heavy, and it’s delayed… again, link
==International==
• China gets back on the horse with the Long March 3B, link
• Cold moon is actually hot under the collar, link
• ESA studies how seedlings grow in microgravity, link
• Vega launches surveillance satellite, link
• China launches weather satellite by Long March 4C, link
• China’s Long March 6 launches three Earth observing satellites, link
• China’s Long March 2c launches three experimental military satellites, link
• Russia has a teachable moment for everyone in spaceflight, link
==ISS News==
• Cygnus spacecraft, USS Gene Cernan, arrives at station with supplies, link
==Upcoming Launches==
ALL LAUNCH DATES AND TIMES SUBJECT TO CHANGE DUE TO THE NATURE OF ROCKETRY
Dec 2 – 5:30 am EST
Soyuz 2-1b – Lotos – Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia
Remember what I said about the Soyuz 2-1b being grounded? Well, as of right now this one is still on the books. It might get delayed, it might not. But if it launches, it will be carrying an electronic intelligence spy satellite.
Dec 8 – 1:20 pm EST
Falcon 9 – CRS 13 – SLC 40, Cape Canaveral AFB, Florida
This will be the 15th flight of the Dragon, and the 13th operational mission to resupply the ISS. The capsule will be a previously flown Dragon 1, and the booster will be a previously flown first stage that will land at LZ-1 at Cape Canaveral.
Dec. 11 – window TBD
Long March 3B – Alcomsat 1 – Xichang, China
This will be a geostationary comms satellite for the government of Algeria.
Dec. 12 – 1:36:07 p.m. EST
Ariane 5 – Galileo 19-22 – ELA-3, Kourou, French Guiana
ESA is launching four Galileo navigation satellites to add to Europe’s GPS network.
Dec. 13 – window TBD
Delta 4 – NROL-47 – SLC-6, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
ULA is going to launch a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office, and it will fly in the Medium+ configuration, that’s one core booster with two solid rockets.
Dec. 17 – 2:20 a.m. EST
Soyuz – ISS 53S – Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
The next Expedition bound for the ISS will carry new crew members for a six month stay on station.
Dec. 22/23 – 8:26 p.m. EST; 5:26 p.m. PST on 22nd
Falcon 9 – Iridium Next 31-40 – SLC-4E, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
The fourth batch of satellites for the Iridium Next network will fly on previously flown first stage booster. The first stage will land on SpaceX’s drone ship in the Pacific.
Dec. 22/23 – 8:26:22-8:48:22 p.m. EST on 22nd
H-2A – GCOM-C & SLATS – Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
This is a dual payload launch. GCOM-C, nicknamed Shikisai will conduct observations into the carbon cycle. SLATS, nicknamed Tsubame, is a prototype, carrying an ion engine and will fly in a ‘super low’ orbit where it will face greater air resistance.
Dec. 22 – window TBD
Soyuz 2-1a – Kanopus-V 3 and 4 – Vostochny Cosmodrome, Russia
The Russian government is launching a pair of Earth observing satellites, meant to assist in disaster response, mapping, and forest fire detection.
Dec. 24/25 – 8:00 p.m. 24th-12:15 a.m. 25th EST
SS-520-5 – TRICOM 1R – Uchinoura Space Center, Japan
This is a demonstration flight of a modified sounding rocket with an additional third stage. This is the second flight after a failed attempt in January. The payload will be a three unit cubesat with communications system and an imaging camera.
Dec. 26 – window TBD
Zenit 3F – AngoSat – Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
A Ukrainian Zenit rocket with a Russian Fregat upper stage will launch the AngoSat communications satellite. Built by RSC Energia in Russia, AngoSat is Angola’s first satellite.
Dec. 30 – window TBD
PSLV – Cartosat 2ER & NovaSAR-S – Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India
India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle is back! After a snafu with a payload fairing, India’s returning to flight with an Earth observing satellite and a radar remote sensing satellite. It will also be carrying around 30 smaller secondary payloads for a number of customers. Go India go!
December – date and time TBD
Electron – Still Testing – Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
The second orbital test flight of Rocket Lab’s light payload lifter. We’re expecting a few commercial cubesats aboard.
Late December – Date TBD – 1:05 p.m. EST
Long March 2D – Superview 1-03 and 04 Taiyuan, China
China’s continuing their pace, launching two Earth observing satellites for the Beijing Space View Technology Co, providing hi-res images for civilian and commercial use.
Date and Time To Be Determined
Falcon 9 – Zuma – Cape Canaveral, Florida
The mystery payload is supposed to launch sometime. We just don’t know when.
Epsilon – ASNARO 2 – Uchinoura Space Center, Japan
They’re launching an Earth observing satellite which was developed by Japan Space Systems and NEC Corp. This is the second satellite for the Advanced Satellite with New System ARchitecture for Observation
Contact:
Email: Show AT CommittedToLaunch DOT com
Twitter @LaunchCommit
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute
==Keep looking up, space fans==