SSI News
Galactic Energy of China suffers first launch failure of its Ceres-1 rocket losing insured Jilin 1 Gaofen 04B-01
Having been launched at 0459 GMT on the morning of 21 September it later filtered out that the Ceres-1 Y11 launch ended in failure. The mission lifted-off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, north western China, but reportedly “flew abnormally”. Specifics of the...
Starlink Group 6-17 is launched by Falcon 9
SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9v1.2FT Block 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA at 0338 GMT on 20 September 2023. The vehicle was carrying Starlink Group 6-17, a total of 22 v2 Mini Starlink communications satellites for the second-generation...
Electron KS rocket has another failure losing Acadia 2 radar Earth observation satellite
Rocket Lab launched Electron KS from Māhia Peninsula, New Zealand, at 0655 GMT on 19 September 2023. The Electron was carrying Acadia 2 (aka Capella-12) radar Earth observation satellite from Capella Space. The rocket's first stage successfully separated (but not...
China launches Long March 2D carrying Yaogan 39 trio
China successfully launched a Long March 2D/2 (CZ-2D/2) from Xichang Satellite Launch Centre, Sichuan Province, China at 0312 GMT on 17 August 2023. The vehicle carried a trio of Yaogan 39 Group 2 (Yaogan 39-02-A, B, C) Chinese reconnaissance satellites. The orbit...
SpaceX launches Falcon 9 with Starlink Group 6-16 aboard
SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9v1.2FT Block 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA at 0338 GMT on 16 September 2023 (launch pad SLC-40). The launch vehicle was carrying Starlink Group 6-16, a total of 22 v2 Mini Starlink satellites as part of the second...
Soyuz MS-24 is launched into orbit on Soyuz 2-1a from Baikonur on way to ISS
Soyuz MS-24 was launched via a Soyuz 2-1a rocket into orbit at 1544 GMT on 15 September 2023 from Baikonur near Tyuryatam. The launch was a crewed flight to the International Space Station. Onboard Soyuz MS-24 is Russian Commander Oleg Kononenko, Russian flight...
Victus Nox payload is launched by Firefly Alpha in rapid response launch test
There was an unexpected launch of the Firefly Alpha rocket (its third flight) which took place from Vandenberg, California, at 0228 GMT on 15 September 2023. The launch was a demonstration flight as part of the programme to demonstrate a Responsive Space Mission...
Film of ancient ‘alien bodies’ is displayed at Congress of Mexico hearing
Following on from similar US Congressional hearings on UFOs which appeared to have footage of flying UFOs, at a Mexican governmental hearing into the possibility of alien life, TV footage of an actual pair of diminutive 'alien' bodies uncovered from their casks was...
Chinese Long March 6A rocket carries new Yaogan 40 triplet to LEO
Launching at 0430 GMT on 10 September a Chinese Long March 6A (CZ-6A) rocket carried the Yaogan 40 mission into a 800 km polar orbit. This mission took place from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, northern China. Chinese state media refers to this mission in a...
Unexpected fallout from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine: Elon Musk is branded a ‘traitor’ while Putin allegedly trades space tech for North Korean munitions
The effects of Russia's war with Ukraine are being felt in unexpected places. Elon Musk, CEO and Founder of SpaceX, has taken a direct hand in the progress of the war - and been strongly criticised for doing so. Meanwhile, Russia is running out of munitions and is...