SATURDAY STARLINK LAUNCH MARKS 200TH ORBITAL FLIGHT FROM VANDENBERG’S PAD 4E - SpaceX launched its latest batch of Starlink satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base Saturday afternoon. The mission was the 111th orbital launch for SpaceX from its pad at Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) and the 200th orbital launch in total from that site. Liftoff happened at 3:02 p.m. PST (6:02 p.m. EST, 2302 UTC). More (Source: SpaceFlight Now - Feb 2)
EUROPEAN 'SWARM' SATELLITES DETECT ELECTRIC CURRENTS FROM THE OCEAN'S TIDES - Satellites have managed to detect faint electromagnetic signals generated by ocean tides, suggesting that space-born sensors could be used to obtain insights into the motion of other liquid masses on Earth, including magma below the planet's surface. The observations were made by the European Space Agency's (ESA) Swarm constellation, which consists of three satellites circling the planet in low Earth orbit at altitudes between 287 and 318 miles (462 to 511 kilometers). More (Source: Space.com - Feb 1)
NASA ASTRONAUTS BEGIN SPACEWALK FOR MAINTENANCE AND SCIENCE - NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore began a spacewalk at approximately 7:43 a.m. EST to remove a radio frequency group antenna assembly from the station’s truss, collect samples of surface material for analysis from the Destiny laboratory and the Quest airlock to see whether microorganisms may exist on the exterior of the orbital complex, and prepare a spare elbow joint for the Canadarm2 robotic arm. More (Source: NASA - Feb 1)
SAFETY PANEL REPORTS PROGRESS IN STARLINER INVESTIGATION - Boeing and NASA are making “significant progress” on addressing issues seen on a test flight of the company’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft last year, an independent NASA safety panel says, although key problems with the spacecraft’s thrusters remain unresolved. Paul Hill, a member of the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP), said at a Jan. 30 public meeting that the committee was briefed on the status of the investigation into Starliner’s Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission recently. More (Source: SpaceNews - Jan 31)
YORK UNVEILS M-CLASS SATELLITE FOR 1,000-KILOGRAM PAYLOADS - York Space Systems unveiled its largest satellite to date, the M-Class platform for payloads as large as 1,000 kilograms. Denver-based York developed the M-Class platform in response to customer demand “for more power and capability,” Michael Lajczok, York chief technology officer, said in a statement. Both government and commercial customers are demanding larger platforms offering additional power for Earth-observation and communications missions. The M-Class platform is designed for payloads with a peak power consumption of 8 kilowatts. More (Source: SpaceNews - Jan 30)
SPACEX LAUNCHES SPAINSAT NEW GENERATION 1 SATELLITE ON FALCON 9 ROCKET FROM THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER - SpaceX launched a secure communications satellite on behalf of Hisdesat, a Spanish communications company, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Wednesday night. The SpainSat New Generation 1 (SNG 1) satellite is supported by the European Space Agency (ESA) and manufactured by Airbus Defense and Space. Liftoff of the Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A happened at 8:34 p.m. EST (0134 UTC), the opening of a two-hour window. More (Source: - Jan 30)
SPACEX STARLINK SATELLITE SPARKS BRILLIANT FIREBALL AS IT FALLS FROM SPACE OVER US - A SpaceX Starlink internet satellite fell from space in a blaze of glory overnight, lighting up the Midwest U.S. sky with a brilliant fireball. Stargazers across parts of Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois witnessed the Starlink satellite's fiery demise as it burned up in Earth's atmosphere late Tuesday (Jan. 28) and were quick to share videos of the sight. More (Source: Space.com - Jan 30)
CREW PREPS FOR THURSDAY SPACEWALK AND WORKS SPACE GARDENING - Spacewalk preparations and space gardening were the main duties aboard the International Space Station on Tuesday. The seven Expedition 72 crewmates also serviced electronics systems and packed a cargo craft for its upcoming departure. Commander Suni Williams and Flight Engineer Butch Wilmore began their day with standard health checks required for astronauts getting ready for a spacewalk. The duo checked vital signs including temperature, blood pressure, and breathing rate then transferred the data to a tablet computer for review by doctors on the ground. More (Source: NASA - Jan 29)
MUSK: PRESIDENT TRUMP CALLS FOR FAST-TRACK RETURN TO EARTH OF THE FORMER STARLINER ASTRONAUTS - In a late afternoon post to X, SpaceX founder Elon Musk stirred up some confusion and consternation among the space community. Without any indication ahead of time, Musk suggested that the Crew Dragon capsule, named ‘Freedom,’ may make an early departure from the International Space Station with NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams onboard. More (Source: SpaceFlight Now - Jan 29)
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