SSI News
SpaceX launches a pair of Falcon 9 rockets: one for Starlink Group 6-32 and one carrying the SARah 2 and 3 sats
SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9v1.2FT Block 5 from Cape Canaveral, USA at 0533 GMT on 23 December 2023. The launch vehicle was carrying Starlink Group 6-32, a total of 23 second-generation constellation V2 Mini Starlink satellites. The B1058 first stage, on...
Firefly Alpha launch gets to orbit but doesn’t hit the mark
A launch of the Firefly Alpha rocket took place from the Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, USA, at 1732 GMT on 22 December 2023. The payload carried was the Lockheed Martin Electronically Steerable Antenna Technology Demonstrator satellite called Tantrum....
Shenzhou-17 astronauts make spacewalk
Shenzhou-17 Astronauts Tang Hongbo and Tang Shengjie made a spacewalk from the Chinese Space Station Tiangong. They returned to Tiangong at 1335 GMT on 21 December 2023 after a seven and a half hour spacewalk. The astronauts repaired a Tianhe module solar array...
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...
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