Miscellaneous Launches and Payloads (updates)


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It will be awhile for prelim health and approx 10 days for insertion into proper placement.

 

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Tonight...

 

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Feb. 14/15   PSLV • Cartosat 2D
Launch time: 0358 GMT on 15th (10:58 p.m. EST on 14th)
Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India
India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, flying on the PSLV-C37 mission, will launch India’s Cartosat 2D high-resolution Earth observation satellite and a collection of smaller secondary payloads from international customers. Delayed from Jan. 27. [Feb. 13]

http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/

 

 

 

livestream at...

http://www.isro.gov.in/pslv-c37-cartosat-2-series-satellite/pslv-c37-cartosat-2-series-satellite-live

 

 

 

and for fun...

 

 

:)

 

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Sweet, two launches today. :yes: Lately the Arianne ones have been cloudy so viewing hasn't been ideal, but eh. Even with the cloudy viewing it's still pretty good. :D 

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PSLV-C37 / CARTOSAT-2 Series Satellite Launch along with 103 Co-Passenger Satellite.

video is 2:12 min.

 

 

Not the most stable view, but it's shown at least....:)

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Agreement on work on the device PHEBUS - http: // www. roscosmos.ru/23242/ 

 

Roskosmos and the ESA. AGREEMENT ON THE WORK ON THE APPLIANCE PHEBUS

 

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14.02.2017 15:09
February 14, 2017 the State Corporation "Roskosmos" and the National Center of Space Studies of France (the CNES, "CNES") signed an agreement for the development and creation PHEBUS instrument elements ( "Phoebus"), ultraviolet spectrometer to study the exosphere of Mercury for space "LAM" system (Mercurial orbiter), the European space agency (ESA) as part of the joint Russian-European project BepiColombo.
 
PHEBUS - ultraviolet spectrometer to measure the composition and dynamics of Mercury's exosphere. Phoebus is composed of a double spectrometer tight ranges (about 55 - 155 nm) and far (about 145 - 315 nm) ultraviolet regions of the spectrum. To sight the instrument on the full circle of 360 degrees, close to the orbital plane of the station, used a rotating mirror.
 
Head developer of the scientific equipment of the probe - CNES. In particular, the French agency administers development PHEBUS instrument and related ground support system, and manages the integration of the device at the system level, the collection, dissemination and archiving of data.
 
Roscosmos will provide the design, manufacture, testing and delivery of the autonomous French side of the Russian part of the device - a rotary mechanism. In addition, Roscosmos will provide support during the installation and testing of the PHEBUS instrument on the spacecraft after delivery of the ESA. 
 
On behalf of the state corporation "Roscosmos", co-executor to establish a rotary mechanism for the scientific instrument is assigned to the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IKI). On the French side the partner chosen laboratory to study the atmospheres, environments and space-based observations (LATMOS).
 
BepiColombo Project: study of the composition of Mercury's surface and its surroundings, including - observation of the invisible hand of Mercury with Earth; assessment of the geological development of the planet the way; study of the chemical composition of the surface and its internal structure; analysis of the origin of the magnetic field and study its interaction with the solar wind; search for the presence or absence of ice in the polar regions. Interplanetary probe is scheduled for launch to Mercury in April 2018. Enterprises of the State Corporation "Roskosmos" involved in the creation of a spacecraft.

http://www.roscosmos.ru/23242/

 

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Launch Schedule...

 

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Feb. 18   Falcon 9 • SpaceX CRS 10
Launch time: 1501 GMT (10:01 a.m. EST)
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the 12th Dragon spacecraft on the 10th operational cargo delivery mission to the International Space Station. The flight is being conducted under the Commercial Resupply Services contract with NASA. Delayed from Feb. 13, June 10 and Aug. 1. Moved up from Nov. 21. Delayed from Nov. 11, Jan. 22 and Feb. 8. Moved up from Feb. 15. Delayed from Feb. 14. [Feb. 8]


February 22   Soyuz • Progress 66P
Launch time: 0558:33 GMT (12:58:33 a.m. EST)
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the 66th Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. Delayed from Feb. 1, Feb. 2 and Feb. 21. [Feb. 3]


NET Feb. 28   Falcon 9 • EchoStar 23
Launch window: 0527-0757 GMT (12:27-2:57 a.m. EST)
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch EchoStar 23 communications satellite for EchoStar Corp. EchoStar 23, based on a spare platform from the canceled CMBStar 1 satellite program, will provide direct-to-home television broadcast services over Brazil. Delayed from 3rd quarter, 4th quarter, Jan. 8, Jan. 26, Jan. 30 and Feb. 3. [Feb. 13]


March 1   Atlas 5 • NROL-79
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: SLC-3E, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket, designated AV-068, will launch a classified spacecraft payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. The rocket will fly in the 401 vehicle configuration with a four-meter fairing, no solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. Delayed from Dec. 1, Jan. 26 and Feb. 9. [Feb. 13]

http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/

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Don’t miss this spectacular video of 104 satellites deployed in space

 

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India’s space agency has released stunning video captured by cameras mounted on-board a rocket that launched this week with 104 satellites.

The views begin with the blastoff of the 145-foot-tall (45-meter) Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle from India’s east coast, then the separation of the rocket’s six strap-on solid rocket boosters and main stages.

 

The video then jumps to the deployment of the Cartosat 2D environmental satellite, the mission’s primary passenger, to begin its tasks aiding Indian infrastructure planners and mapmakers. Two Indian-built nanosatellites carrying experimental Earth observation sensors are then seen flying away from the PSLV’s fourth stage in orbit 300 miles (500 kilometers) above the planet.

 

Next comes the release of 101 CubeSats from 25 “QuadPacks” mounted on the rocket. The deployments from both sides of the rocket occurred at intervals of every few seconds, taking around 10 minutes for all of the tiny spacecraft to fly free of the rocket.

 

Most of the satellites seen in the video are CubeSats built and owned by Planet, a San Francisco-based company with a fleet of more than 140 mini-observatories looking down on Earth.

 

Tiny reaction wheels derived from the motors used in dental drills were to gain pointing control of each of Planet’s 88 CubeSats, and the satellites — which are not equipped with rocket thrusters — will be spread out along their orbital path by tilting into the rarefied air flow in the uppermost reaches of Earth’s atmosphere, generating minute drag forces, according to a representative of the company.

http://spaceflightnow.com/2017/02/16/dont-miss-this-spectacular-video-of-104-satellites-deployed-in-space/

 

ISRO PSLV-C37 onboard camera view of 104 satellites deployment

video is 5:54 min.   You may want to turn the vol down, great images on this launch...:D

 

 

 

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88 Dove cubesats will provide frequently updated coverage the earth's landmass at 3 to 5 meter resolution

 

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These devices, called Doves, will flock with already-orbiting instruments to capture pictures of the Earth. They’re tiny, weighing less than 11 pounds. But with their powers combined, they can track much more of the Earth than massive satellites from military-industrial juggernauts like DigitalGlobe. Even more, Planet just this month purchased another mini-sat company, Terra Bella, from Google, to amp up its space surveillance. And that means it can sell more data—data perhaps about where you live or work or play—for more money.

Planet will launch 88 satellites, which will be the largest fleet of satellites to be launched in history. The Dove satellites, collectively known as Flock 3p, will ride aboard a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) rocket from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. They will head to a morning crossing time, sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) at an approximate altitude of 500 kilometres (310 mi). 

Doves form a satellite constellation that provides a complete image of Earth at 3-5 meter optical resolution and open data access.

Feb 14/2017

Dove-Satellite-2016-TA.jpg

Dove  Planet.com

 

http://www.nextbigfuture.com/2017/02/88-dove-cubesats-will-provide.html

 

 

Flock-3p

 

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Flock-3p represents the tenth Flock of Dove Earth-Observation CubeSats launched by San Francisco imaging company Planet. The company has been operating Dove satellites since early 2014 for the acquisition of Earth imagery at rapid revisit time by deploying a large constellation of satellites to orbit.

 

Planet, founded as Cosmogia in 2010, started out with four Dove prototypes launched in 2013 before inaugurating the operational version of their 3U CubeSats with the Flock-1 constellation launched from the International Space Station in February 2014. In June 2014, Planet introduced the polar-orbiting segment of their constellation by launching a dozen satellites to cover the entire planet as opposed to satellites deployed from ISS that fly at an inclination of 51.6 degrees.

 

Before 3p, Planet launched a total of 175 operational satellites, 133 of which arrived in orbit as some constellation segments were lost in launch failures and individual satellites suffered deployment failures. The 3p constellation of 88 satellites represents the largest Flock deployed to date and also represents the largest number of satellites launched at a single time by a satellite operator.

 

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The 3-Unit CubeSats, weighing close to 5 Kilograms and measuring 30 x 10 x 10 centimeters in size, host small telescopic imagers that can collect panchromatic, color and near infrared imagery of Earth at a resolution of up to three meters.

 

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The Dove spacecraft are based on the three-unit CubeSat specification having a launch mass of about 4.7 Kilograms and being 100mm × 100mm × 340mm in size featuring body mounted solar panels and two deployable solar arrays with three panels each using triangular advanced solar cells.

 

The solar arrays are spring-loaded and deployed by burn-wires once the satellites are released into their independent orbits. Flock spacecraft contain Lithium-Ion batteries that provide power to the various systems via a power distribution unit. The load bearing satellite structure consists of three skeleton plates, with L rails along each corner edge. Laser etched side panels are used for the Flock satellites.

 

Attitude data is provided by three-axis magnetometers to accomplish three-axis stabilization via a reaction wheel system and magnetic torquers for momentum management. Fine pointing data is provided by a Star Camera. Flock satellites use a single-board computer to control all spacecraft and payload functions with a watchdog board able to reboot the flight computer in the event of errors or radiation related upsets.

 

The satellites use an X-Band system for the downlink of acquired images and systems telemetry at data rates of up to 120Mbit/s. Primary command uplink is done via S-Band, although a low-speed Telemetry and Command System operating in the UHF band is also available and in use for early commissioning operations and as a backup.

 

The main payload of each satellite is an optical telescope of unknown specifications to acquire medium-resolution images of Earth. The telescope has an aperture diameter of 90mm and is protected by an aperture cover that is deployed via springs. The optical axis is down the central axis of the satellite to achieve a maximum focal length.

more at the link...

http://spaceflight101.com/pslv-c37/flock-3p/

 

:D

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Launch Schedule

 

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Feb. 22   Soyuz • Progress 66P
Launch time: 0558:33 GMT (12:58:33 a.m. EST)
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the 66th Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. Delayed from Feb. 1, Feb. 2 and Feb. 21. [Feb. 3]

http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/

 

 

 

 

livestream at...

 

https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/#public

 

http://spaceflightnow.com/2017/02/20/soyuz-booster-rolled-out-to-snowy-baikonur-launch-pad/

 

:)

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When the launch video is available, I'll post it.

 

We may get an external video as well, later on...external cam pack in use on this last Soyuz U.

 

Nasa TV will also cover the docking on Friday....meanwhile Dragon due at station approx 3 hrs, also on NASA TV.

 

Launch Schedule next...

 

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NET Feb. 28   Falcon 9 • EchoStar 23
Launch window: 0527-0757 GMT (12:27-2:57 a.m. EST)
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch EchoStar 23 communications satellite for EchoStar Corp. EchoStar 23, based on a spare platform from the canceled CMBStar 1 satellite program, will provide direct-to-home television broadcast services over Brazil. Delayed from 3rd quarter, 4th quarter, Jan. 8, Jan. 26, Jan. 30 and Feb. 3. [Feb. 13]


March 1   Atlas 5 • NROL-79
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: SLC-3E, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket, designated AV-068, will launch a classified spacecraft payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. The rocket will fly in the 401 vehicle configuration with a four-meter fairing, no solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. Delayed from Dec. 1, Jan. 26 and Feb. 9. [Feb. 13]


March 6/7   Vega • Sentinel 2B
Launch time: 0149:24 GMT on 7th (8:49:24 p.m. EST on 6th) 
Launch site: ZLV, Kourou, French Guiana
An Arianespace Vega rocket, designated VV09, will launch with the Sentinel 2B Earth observation satellite for the European Space Agency and the European Commission. Sentinel 2A carries an optical imaging payload for land observation. [Jan. 10]

http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/

 

:)

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ISS Progress 66 - Progress MS-05 launched by Soyuz-U

video is 3:47 min.

 

 

It doesn't get any better than that...excellent launch and goodbye to the 40+ year Soyuz-U.

 

:D

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