General Space News.

[ngatimozart]

Update about latest space news.

• Elon Musk reckons that the next Starship will fly in 6 - 8 weeks. We'll see.
• Rocketlab are delaying their Venus mission for one year.
• NASA is to become a an advisor for commercial space companies.

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

Thank you for creating this thread.


After 27 years of service, the Ariane 5 era has come to an end. Yesterday the Ariane 5 rocket, specifically the ECA+ variant, was launched for the last time. It took two satellites into a geostationary transfer orbit, leaving the rest of the work to onboard propellant systems. The two satellites are the Syracuse 4B and the Heinrich Hertz (H2Sat) for the French government and German space agency, respectively.

This will be the 117th and final mission for the Ariane 5, which had its first successful launch in 1998 as it’s G variant. The first ever launch attempt was in 1996. The Ariane V has launched numerous notable payloads such as the Rosetta (March 2004), BepiColombo (Oktober 2018), James Webb Space Telescope (December 2021) and the recently launched JUICE (April 2023). From the 117 launches, with an average cost of around €200 million per launch in the last years, 112 were completely successful. The sixth generation of the Ariane launch system, the Ariane 6, is still in development.

Ariane 5-raket voor het laatst gelanceerd, Europa voorlopig afhankelijk van buitenland

De Ariane 5-raket werd voor het eerst in 1996 gelanceerd. Slechts twee keer ging het mis. Aan een opvolger wordt nog gewerkt.

nos.nl

Europe's Ariane-5 rocket completes final launch

The big rocket that underpinned Europe's access to space for three decades heads into retirement.

www.bbc.com

For more information about Ariane 5:

Syracuse 4B & Heinrich Hertz (H2Sat) | Ariane 5 ECA+

For the final time, an Ariane 5 rocket will take to the skies from South America and loft two heavy satellites in orbit.

everydayastronaut.com

Ariane 5

Ariane 5 was Europe’s principal launch system for more than a quarter century, flying 117 times between 1996 and 2023 from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. Notable payloads include ESA’s comet-chasing Rosetta mission, a dozen of Europe’s Galileo navigation satellites – orbited by just three...

www.esa.int

 

[kato]

The two satellites are the Syracuse 4B and the Heinrich Hertz (H2Sat) for the French government and German space agency, respectively.

Small note: Both satellites are dual-use with significant dedicated military payloads.

Heinrich Hertz in particular had been delayed for several years. The last delay was a 3-month extension on delivery to Kourou.

 

[Ananda]

Return of Nuclear Propulsion Concept

The future of spaceflight is clear. Actually, it's nuclear. We have a long history and expertise in nuclear technology development and the DRACO... | By Lockheed Martin | Facebook

The future of spaceflight is clear. Actually, it's nuclear. We have a long history and expertise in nuclear technology development and the DRACO...

fb.watch

Future is Nuke. I'm gonna put this on Future Energy thread, but then decided to put it back on Space thread. Hope this idea will not be torpedo by those 'Greenies' (sorry can't mask my personal disdain to those greenies). This is good as finally and hopefully humanity space propulsion can move on from traditional chemicals that's been the backbone so far. This perhaps the acknowledgement for long range Interplanetary, we need something new.

The 'greenies' so far manage to quite successful on tarnish nukes tech in media and social environment. Ironically making the world depends more on fossil and chemicals fuels.

This also potentially going to make Russian to dust back their nuke propulsion tech from old Soviet bin. With Chinese capital, they can still potentially give challenges.

Russia reveals a formidable nuclear-powered space tug

TEM space tug | Story by Anatoly Zak | Editor: Alain Chabot

www.russianspaceweb.com

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

Without radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTG, RITEG) on board scientific research space probes, voyages outside the inner part of the Solar System wasn't possible.
And for human travels for long distances, direct nuclear propulsion is absolutely required.

 

[Mainframe]

Has Trump's idea for a 'Space Force' fizzled out or what since he left office?

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

On 12 August 2023, china launched the L-SAR4-01 SAR-observation satellite.
It seems to be the first one of its kind.

China launches new satellite

China launches new satellite-

english.news.cn

Text editing in progress.

 

[ngatimozart]

Solar Probes.

BBC video on the complexities of solar probes and getting them to the sun.

The NASA Parker solar probe is the first human vehicle to touch the sun.

Video on the Indian solar probe that will touch the sun.

And talking about stars, there's a star with a hyper velocity transiting our galaxy at the moment

 

[ngatimozart]

A look at a possible NASA human crewed mission to an asteroid.

It is claimed that Betelgeuse could be the next supernova within our galaxy. It is far enough away not to have any detrimental effects here, but still close enough that it will be seen in daylight. It could happen tomorrow or it could happen anywhere in between 1,000 and 100,000 years time.

What Earth colonising Mars would mean for us.

This is more cosmology rather than space news per se., but it is quite an interesting and controversial theory. It is possible because there is a terrific amount about the universe that we simply don't understand or more importantly know.

 

[ngatimozart]

A discussion on Space X's next Starship launch which could be as early as next week. Space X are waiting for the FAA launch licence.

Some space news updates.

 

[ngatimozart]

Latest NSF news. Covers Rocket Lab, PRC satellite launches, Virgin Galactic, Space X and others.

Space X have installed the Flight Termination System into both Booster 9 and Ship 25. This is usually done just prior to launch. They are looking at a launch on 17/11/23 subject to FAA launch licence approval. IIRC with the first Starship Test Launch, the launch licence was approved the day before the launch.
- SpaceX - Launches

EDIT: 17/11/23 Correct ship number.

 

[John Fedup]

The X-37B will launch via the Falcon Heavy rocket for the first time. Speculation is this will allow experimentation with higher orbits.

X-37B Headed Deeper Into Space With Falcon Heavy Rocket's Help

The X-37B spaceplane is planned to be launched again in December, this time atop the most powerful commercial rocket in the world.

www.thedrive.com

 

[ngatimozart]

Space X have received the launch license for the 2nd Starship test flight.


Source
Note that the licence uses the word "launches", so this looks like Space X has approval for subsequent launches during the testing phase. That definitely will make things easier for them. As Elon Musk says, excitement guaranteed.

The launch window is from 0700 - 0900 central time (1300 UTC / GMT 17 NOV 23).


- SpaceX - Launches

 

[ngatimozart]

There is a 24 hour delay of the Integrated Starship Test Flight 2 launch due to a grid fin actuator on the Super Heavy Booster requiring replacement. Ship 25 needs to be destacked and the hot separation ring removed to enable technicians to replace the actuator. The grid fins are control surfaces used during the return flight through the atmosphere.

https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1725231694645461403

The launch window is now from 0700 - 0720 central time (1300 - 1320 UTC / GMT 18 NOV 23). This is a very short launch window.

Update on the launch license. This updated licence grants authorisation for:

4. Authorization: In accordance with the representations in the Space Exploration Technologies, Corp. application as of the date of this license, and any amendments to the license application or waivers approved by the FAA, in writing, Space Exploration Technologies, Corp. is authorized to conduct: ​

a. Pre-flight ground operations ​

i. Using the StarshipͲSuper Heavy vehicle. ​

ii. At SpaceX Boca Chica Launch Complex, Boca Chica, Texas. ​

b. Flights: ​

i. Using the StarshipͲSuper Heavy vehicle. ​

ii. From SpaceX Boca Chica Launch Complex, Boca Chica, Texas. ​

iii. To Gulf of Mexico and Pacific Ocean locations specified in its application. ​

iv. For the Orbital Flight Test 2 mission only, unless this license is modified to remove this term. ​

License No. VOL 23Ͳ129 Rev. 1 Order AͲ1​

​

So, I was incorrect in my most recent post that this license was for multiple launches.

 

[ngatimozart]

Starship flew and reached space. Many in the MSM have deemed the launch a failure because of Booster 7 and Starship 25 having RUDs (Rapid Unplanned Disassembly), however the flight test has to be judged a success because the goals were achieved. There was a successful hot stage separation between the booster and the ship reached space. Anything after the hot stage separation was icing on the cake.

She had all 33 engines burning which was a first for the Super Heavy Booster.


She's a big ship and this graphic gives the size some context.


Space X released a video on social media showing the hot stage separation.

https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1726316194649846026

There was little if any apparent damage caused by the launch. Elon Musk posted a couple of photos of Stage 0, the launch pad.

https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1726328010499051579

Initially it appears that Booster 7 failed to restart all of its required engines after the flip manoeuvre, losing one of the centre three engines that were used during the hot stage separation manoeuvre. Then the Flight Termination System (FTS) determined that lack of engines and loss of control wasn't a good thing so self-destructed the vehicle. It is good to see that the FTS on the booster worked like advertised. Ship 25 reached space and apparently appeared to suffer engine trouble as well with all engines stopping about 30 seconds short of the programmed full burn. Its FTS made the decision that this wasn't a good thing so self-destructed the ship as well. Space X had problems receiving some telemetry from Ship 25 after the hot stage separation because of the ships position relative to available ground stations. However, they may have received quite a bit of data via Starlink.

Since both the ship and boosters RUD caused no known injuries or damage to property, the FAA investigation should be relatively quick, and the third Starship Intergrated Flight Test MAY occur as soon as February 2024. This will want a repeat of all 33 booster engines burning until the hot stage separation and another successful hoot stage separation. They will also be wanting to prove the Starship in space and its return to earth from space with a hard splash down off Hawaii. They will also want to see a successful soft water landing for the booster. Finally, they will be wanting to show a quick turnaround time, because this is part of their contract with NASA. It is possible that Booster 9 and Ship 28 will be the next integrated test flight vehicles.

 

[ngatimozart]

Latest weekly space news video. India has quite an impressive program planned, and the Chinese had a test go boom.

Star Ship is being upgraded with a new mark being built.

A flyover of Cape Canaveral / Kennedy Space Flight Center.

There's been a recent geomagnetic storm which has excited the Aroura Australis and the Auroura Borellis somewhat. The Auraoura Australis was visble at 46S in the South Island of NZ late last week with some very big displays.

 

[Ananda]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1733792656961282126

Another video of Chinese I Space which basically Space X competition. This is the 2nd trial from the first one, which I already posted in Chinese Thread.

스페이스X를 뒤쫓는 중국 재사용 로켓!

영상출처: 중국 아이스페이스 웨이보 (일본 아이스페이스와 구별 요망)

youtube.com

Put it again the video from their 1st flight. The 2nd one increase trial parameter.

 

[ngatimozart]

I think that the Chinese have a long way to go before they can be seriously considered serious competition to Space X. One problem with the Chinese is that they are so secretive about their space capabilities. They do have a methalox (liquid CH4 and liquid O2) rocket in prototype stage.

 

[John Fedup]

Another example of how space will be contested in any major war. Perhaps the X-37B is a tool to counter these daughter satellites. Launching just before US national holidays, perhaps a way to lull the US into thinking an attack will only occur on Xmas, Thanksgiving, and July 4!

LeoLabs: Russia, China time suspicious space activity for some US holidays - Breaking Defense

The company said that on Thanksgiving, for instance, a Russian satellite's sub-satellite — in a Matryoshka-style — released yet another satellite, in what a LeoLabs analysis said could've been timed for fewer American eyes on the sky.

breakingdefense.com

 

[ngatimozart]

Some space news.