SSI News
Soyuz 2-1b launches military satellite from Plesetsk (Updated)
A Soyuz 2-1b rocket was launched from a snow-covered Plesetsk, Northern Russia, USA on 0848 GMT on 21 December 2023. The satellite carried was military in nature. It is thought to be a Bars-M cartography satellite. The satellite codenamed Cosmos 2574 (Kosmos-2574)...
Analysis: slow advances on both sides in Ukraine as Storm Shadow cruise missiles strike Russian-held space comms centre in Crimea
While the Soviet Union became famous during the 1960s and 1970s for running space event tracking ships, it also had ground based deep space communications facilities. One of these, along with its dish array, is located in Vitino, in the Saky district of...
Space embarrassment of the year: Vega’s final flight is delayed after upper stage tanks are accidentally trashed
The European Space Agency (ESA) agreed to Avio’s request in November that it take over the full operation of the Vega rocket family from Arianespace in addition to its construction duties. This suited both sides since Avio wanted more control and Arianespace was happy...
Return to flight: Unmanned New Shepard NS-24 flies and lands both booster and crew capsule successfully
While Blue Origin's aspirations of flying regularly have not yet come to pass given the one year hiatus after the nozzle induced-destruction of the uncrewed New Shepard NS-23 flight, it at least has now taken a step forward after a successful reflight at 1642 GMT from...
Falcon 9 puts Starlink Group 6-34 into orbit…the 200th world orbital launch success of the year
A Falcon 9v1.2FT Block 5 rocket blasted off from SLC-40 pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA, at 0401 UTC Dec 19. It was carrying the carrying Starlink Group 6-34 of 23 v2 Mini satellites for the new second generation Starlink constellation. Orbital expert Jonathan...
Second Artika-M weather satellite is launched into Molniya type orbit by Soyuz
Russia launched the Artika-M 2 (Artika-M No 2) polar weather satellite from Baiknonur launch site near Tyuratam in Kazakhstan at 0917 GMT on 16 December 2023 on a Soyuz-2-1b/Fregat. The satellite was sent into highly inclined (62.8 degrees inclination) Molniya orbit. ...
Dear-1 microgravity spacecraft is launched by Chinese Hyperbola-1 rocket
China’s national launch rate remains impressive. Its 62nd launch of the year was of the Hyperbola-1 (aka SQX-1) rocket which took place at 0700 GMT on 17 December. . The launch took place from the Jiuquan launch site in Inner Mongolia. Aboard was the Dear-1 prototype...
China’s Long March 5 launches Yaogan-41 high orbit optical remote sensing satellite
A Long March 5/YZ-2 rocket was successfully launched from Wenchang Satellite Launch Centre, Hainan Island on 15 December at 1341 GMT. The payload is reported to be Yaogan-41, a high orbit optical remote sensing satellite. Chinese state television (CCTV) later...
Rocket Lab Electron successfully returns to flight with launch of QPS-SAR 5
Rocket Lab achieved a successful launch with an Electron KS at 0405 GMT on 15 December, from the Onenui Station located on Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand. It marked the company’s first launch attempt since an ill-fated mission in September. The latest Rocket Lab launch,...
Chinese spaceplane is launched for possibly its third mission using same hull
Launching from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China, a Long March 2F rocket has reportedly successfully carried a Chinese reusable spaceplane into LEO. There has been no official confirmation of the launch time from Chinese sources but observers believe lift-off...
Stay Informed with Seradata
Stay informed on the latest news, insights, and more from Seradata by signing up for our newsletter.