This week got off to a flying start when new science experiments and cargo were launched to the International Space Station, and Roscosmos launched ionospheric research satellites. Rocket Lab has also launched its Electron rocket on the company’s quickest turnaround mission to date this week. Following a scrub of Sunday’s Starlink mission just moments before ignition and another scrub on its second attempt on Wednesday, two Starlink missions flew this week. Booster B1067 became the third Falcon 9 booster to reach the current record of 23 flights when it flew on Monday, Nov. 11.
As we enter the final two months of the year, more spaceflight milestones continue to be achieved by SpaceX, Rocket Lab, and other agencies around the globe. SpaceX launched its 200th Starlink mission on Oct. 30 with the Starlink 9-9 mission, and Roscosmos launched the year’s 200th orbital launch worldwide a day later with the Cosmos 2579 mission. This is only the second time in history that the worldwide launch count has surpassed 200 launches in a single year, with this week beginning at 170 flights worldwide in 2023. Rocket Lab, meanwhile, is close to lofting its 200th payload, with this week’s confidential launch raising the count to 198 total payloads.
SpaceX is continuing to launch Falcon missions at a rapid pace and is looking to achieve 135 total launches in 2024 by the end of the year. This number is lower than the declared goal of 148, though, with a series of unexpected setbacks during the latter half of this year leading to the grounding of Falcon 9 on several occasions. However, SpaceX has continued to push the limits of what an aerospace company can do and launched two Falcon 9 missions within three hours of each other from both coasts of the U.S. just last week. Additionally, the company surpassed 100 launches in a single year for the first time last month and proceeded to launch another Falcon 9 just over two hours later.
While 56% of launches so far this year have been from U.S. launch sites, China has now passed its 50th launch of the year but, like SpaceX, will fall short of the rumored 100 launch goal, which will be far less ambitious to reach next year. Together, the U.S. and China account for 82% of all worldwide launches this year, with 16 crewed missions and over 1,330 payloads being launched.
Ionosfera-M’s integration with Soyuz fairing. (Credit: Vostochny Space Center)
Soyuz 2.1b / Fregat-M | Ionosfera-M No.1 & 2
Launching from Site 1S at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Amur region of Russia, a Soyuz 2.1b carried two satellites into Sun-synchronous orbit on Monday, Nov. 4, at 23:18 UTC. The pair will form one-half of a four-satellite Ionosfera-M constellation, operating at around 800 km in altitude in two orbital planes. The ionospheric and magnetospheric satellites are intended to improve our understanding of geomagnetic and solar storms through the observation of Earth’s ionosphere.
Operated by Roscosmos, each of the research satellites carries eight instruments, including two plasma energy spectrometers, galactic cosmic ray and gamma ray spectrometers, and an ozonometer-TM shortwave sounder, which measures the intensity of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Also onboard is a magnetometer, which will measure oscillations in both magnetic and electric fields from low-Earth orbit, and a magnetospheric energetic particle sensor, or PES. Using both the U.S.’s GPS and Russia’s GLONASS global navigation satellite systems, the PES will study the concentration and altitude distribution of electrons in Earth’s upper atmosphere using radio occultation.
The Fregat space tug then separated from the third stage of the Soyuz vehicle and went on to deliver 53 additional secondary payloads.
Nanolab Astrobeat computer prior to assembly, which will power cold welding research. (Credit:
Malta College of Arts, Science & Technology/Leonardo Barilaro)
A new way to repair the hull of a spacecraft from the inside out is one of several science experiments joining the next shipment of cargo supplies headed to the International Space Station (ISS) on Monday, Nov. 4. CRS-31 launched successfully from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at the Kennedy Space Center at 9:29 PM EST (02:29 UTC on Nov. 5) and was the 31st mission to launch as part of a NASA Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract with SpaceX. Crew Dragon Freedom relocated on Sunday morning from the front-facing port to the space-facing zenith port of the Harmony module in readiness for Cargo Dragon C208 to dock at the Station. The Dragon spacecraft was captured on Nov. 5 at 9:52 AM EST (14:52 UTC).
The Astrobeat project, sponsored by the ISS National Lab, will test cold welding in microgravity, which is hoped to lead to the development of a low-temperature repair method. The experiment will endeavor to apply metal patches to a simulation of a spacecraft hull using the application of pressure rather than heat, meaning less force is needed to fuse metallic materials in space. The research could also provide useful repair techniques that can be applied on Earth, but the experiment’s focus is on the potential to repair impacts to the outer hull of a spacecraft from micrometeoroids or space debris, which can compromise crew safety.
CRS-31 carried out additional science experiments alongside Astrobeat, including the Coronal Diagnostic Experiment (CODEX) experiment. CODEX will use a coronagraph to block out a majority of light from the Sun, allowing the experiment to study the solar corona to better understand the formation, heating, and acceleration of solar wind. What’s more, the NASA-sponsored ARTEMOSS project will test whether samples of Antarctic moss recover from exposure to microgravity and cosmic radiation. These experiments help to inform deep space missions and the kinds of plants that will tolerate these deep space conditions.
The Lignosat cubesat has been constructed from magnolia wood by Kyoto University using traditional Japanese crafts that avoid the need for screws or gluing. The satellite will test how timber endures the extreme environment and temperatures of space, where it will stay for six months before it deorbits and burns up in Earth’s atmosphere.
Another ISS National Lab-sponsored project by Bristol Meyers Squibb will test how microgravity crystallizes proteins more effectively to assist in developing innovative medicines. Two small-molecule compounds will be studied in different conditions to improve the size and morphology of crystals using Redwire’s triple-contained Pharmaceutical In-space Laboratory PIL-BOX. The crystallization process helps stabilize proteins and is expected to help develop suspension formulations that could be administered at home rather than at a medical center.
Falcon 9 booster B1083-5 supported this mission on its fifth flight and returned to the launch site following a boost back burn, landing successfully on the concrete pad at Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1). This booster has previously launched missions to the ISS, carrying NASA’s Crew-8 crewed mission to the orbiting laboratory on its maiden flight and the private Polaris Dawn mission most recently.
Cargo Dragon C208 was also the first Dragon to perform a reboost of the ISS — a process usually performed periodically by Progress and Cygnus cargo vehicles to counteract the atmospheric drag, which causes the Station to lose approximately 100 m of altitude each day. It performed a test burn lasting around 12.5 minutes using the aft service module Draco engines on Nov. 8.
Electron is transported to the pad at LC-1B ahead of the Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes mission. (Credit: Rocket Lab)
Electron Curie | Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes
Rocket Lab successfully launched its Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes mission on Tuesday, Nov. 5, at 11:55 PM NZDT (10:55 UTC). Electron was carrying a confidential payload for an undisclosed customer from Launch Complex 1B (LC-1B) at the company’s launch site at the Māhia Peninsula in New Zealand. This mission had been delayed since the initial launch date of Oct. 19, as Rocket Lab decided to take extra time to perform final checkouts of Electron and the payload.
This was Electron’s 12th mission of the year. Electron flew a southwesterly trajectory to place the payload into a Sun-synchronous orbit, and Electron’s longer payload fairing was utilized on this mission.
Rocket Lab noted this mission was its fastest turnaround to date, launching within ten weeks of signing the contract with the unknown customer. The mission is suspected to be contracted with E-Space, which was granted authorization to launch from New Zealand in late September. This company was founded by innovator Greg Wyler, who previously founded 03b and OneWeb. and is currently focusing on developing Constellations as a Service (CaaS).
This mission’s Electron was the first to launch from LC-1B since the “A Sky Full of SARs” mission in early August and the 50th from Launch Complex 1. Including this mission, 198 satellites have been launched on 54 Electron rockets.
22 Starlinks are deployed on the Starlink Group 10-8 mission. (Credit: SpaceX)
SpaceX Falcon 9 | Starlink Group 6-77
This mission was rescheduled following a stand down on Sunday’s launch attempt just moments before liftoff when a “hold” call led to an automatic scrub. The use of cryogenic propellants meant there was no option to recycle, and SpaceX indicated that there was a ground-side helium issue. Wednesday evening’s attempt was also scrubbed, however, this launch was successful on its third attempt on Thursday, Nov 7 at 3:19 PM EST (20:19 UTC).
Falcon 9 lofted another batch of 23 Starlink v2 Mini satellites from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Currently the youngest active core booster in the fleet, B1085 had previously carried Crew-9 to the ISS and took its maiden voyage in August with the Starlink 10-5 mission. The booster landed on the autonomous droneship Just Read The Instructions, which was stationed approximately 600 km southeast of the Cape.
Just over a week ago, SpaceX celebrated four years since first activating the Starlink service for paying customers and now services over four million customers worldwide with its high-speed connectivity. With this launch, SpaceX has launched a total of 7,236 satellites, of which 659 have re-entered, and 6,075 have moved into their operational orbit.
Chang Zheng 2C lifts off from Site 9401 at Jiuquan with PIESAT-2 01-04 payload. (Credit: CCTV/CASC)
Chang Zheng 2C | PIESAT-2 01-04
A Chang Zheng 2C (CZ-2C) rocket launched into Sun-synchronous orbit from Site 9401, also known as SLS-2, of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in China on Saturday, Nov. 9, at 03:39 UTC. The payload onboard was confirmed as being four X-band synthetic aperture radar, or SAR, remote observation satellites for Chinese company PIESAT. This is a second batch, which will complement the four similar satellites that were previously launched in March 2023 from Taiyuan. Two more launches are anticipated in the next four months, bringing the constellation up to 16 satellites in total.
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 9-10
Originally planned to fly on Wednesday, Nov. 6, this Starlink mission launched from SLC-4E at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Friday, Nov. 8, at 10:14 PM PST (06:14 UTC on Nov. 9). Onboard was a payload of 20 Starlink v2 Mini satellites, 13 of which were the Direct-to-Cell variant. The satellites will maneuver into an orbit inclined 53 degrees at 535 km altitude.
The booster supporting this mission was B1081 on its 11th flight, which landed successfully downrange on SpaceX’s west coast droneship Of Course I Still Love You, stationed to the southeast of Vandenberg. This booster has already supported two other missions to this shell of the constellation and took its maiden voyage carrying Crew 7 to the ISS in August 2023, returning with cargo on the CRS-29 mission. Additional missions on its manifest include EarthCARE, PACE, NROL-186, and Transporter 10.
Just over a week ago, SpaceX celebrated four years since first activating the Starlink service for paying customers and now services over four million customers worldwide with its high-speed connectivity.
Lijian-1 on the pad ahead of the previous Y4 mission at Site 130 of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. (Credit: CAS Space)
CAS Space’s Lijian 1, also known as the Kinetica 1, was originally expected to launch for the third time this year from Site 130 at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Thursday, Nov. 7. The attempt was, however, stood down due to a “non-launcher issue” and took place on Monday, Nov. 11 at 04:03 UTC within a 31 minute launch window available.
On board were 15 satellites, primarily for urban planning, agriculture, and weather monitoring, CAS noted. They include the Jilin-1 Gaofen-05B, Pingtai 02A03, Yunyao-1 31~36, Shiyan-26 A,B & C, Xiguang-1 04 & 05, IRSS-1/OL-1, Tianyan-24 and the Omani IRSS-1/OL-1 remote sensing satellite for an international client. This was the fifth flight of the four-stage launch vehicle overall, which uses solid propellants and measures 31 m high with a 3.35 m diameter fairing. The company plans to launch one more Lijian 1 before the end of the year.
CAS Space was recently awarded one of two commercial cargo supply contracts to service the Tiangong Space Station. Its new cargo craft, QingZhou, is expected to launch next September on the company’s Lijian-2 rocket, which is still in development.
Render of the Koreasat-6a satellite. (Credit: Thales Alenia Space)
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Koreasat 6A
The Koreasat 6A mission saw Falcon 9 launch a replacement for the Koreasat 6 TV broadcasting satellite, which was launched into a geostationary transfer orbit in 2010. Liftoff took place on Monday, Nov. 11, at 12:22 PM EST (17:22 UTC) heading east from SLC-40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Booster B1067 took its 23rd flight and returned to land successfully on the concrete pad at Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1). This record flight count has only been achieved twice before and, positions the booster as the first to potentially exceed the record. Booster B1061 was expended on the Hera mission on its 23rd flight, and B1062 was lost as it landed after the Starlink Group 8-6 mission, ending a streak of 267 consecutive successful landings. B1067 has been active since June 2021 and has visited the ISS four times, carrying both Crew 3 and 4 as well as the CRS-22 and CRS-25 cargo missions to the orbiting outpost.
Built and designed by Thales Alenia Space, Koreasat 6A will have a lifespan of around 15 years and a mass of approximately 3,500 kg. The satellite has 20 transponders for fixed satellite services and six for TV broadcasting. It arrived at Port Canaveral in mid-September and will meet the ever-growing demand in the Asia Pacific region for data communication, delivering both a broadcasting satellite service (BSS) and fixed satellite service (FSS).
Operator KT-SAT is South Korea’s leading satellite service provider and announced last year that the mission would also include a system to improve the continuity and availability of the Korea Augmentation Satellite System (KASS). The upgrade will reduce the 15 m to 30 m GPS positioning accuracy to closer to one meter.
Fairing separation confirmed!
View from the active and passive halves of a payload fairing during a recent Falcon 9 launch of @Starlink pic.twitter.com/TUjcweZBwF
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) October 21, 2024
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 6-69
The Starlink Group 6-69 mission sent the 65th batch of Group 6 Starlink satellites into the Starlink Group 6 shell, which serves as the largest of the constellation’s satellite shells. The launch was initially moved right by 24 hours, following delays to the Starlink Group 6-77 mission which took off from this pad on Thursday on its third attempt. A planned launch on Sunday, Nov. 10 was then delayed further due to unfavorable weather. Falcon 9 successfully lifted off on Monday, Nov. 11, at 4:02 PM EST (21:02 UTC) from SLC-40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
The booster supporting this mission was B1080 on its 12th flight, which landed on the autonomous droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas approximately eight minutes into the mission after flying on a southeasterly trajectory. B1080 has been active since May 2023, making its debut on the Axiom 2 mission and going on to loft Axiom 3 as well as the Euclid Telescope last summer. This booster has also supported two cargo missions to the ISS with CRS-30 and the Northrop Grumman CRS NG-21 missions. This launch was the company’s 108th Falcon 9 flight of the year and brought the company five flights away from its 400th Falcon 9 mission.
(Lead image: Falcon 9 launches from Florida. Credit: Julia Bergeron for NSF)
