NASA REVEALS ASTRONAUTS FLYING ON SPACEX'S CREW-10 MISSION TO THE ISS - We now know who will fly on SpaceX's Crew-10 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) next year. On Thursday (Aug. 1), NASA revealed the four astronauts of Crew-10, which will launch toward the ISS no earlier than February 2025. NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers will command and pilot the mission, respectively. Japan's Takuya Onishi and Kirill Peskov, of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, will both serve as mission specialists. More (Source: Space.com - Aug 4)
SPACEX LAUNCHES 23 STARLINK SATELLITES ON FALCON 9 ROCKET FROM THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER - SpaceX launched its latest batch of Starlink satellites, increasing the company’s mega-constellation in low Earth orbit. The mission came as SpaceX works towards the launch of a cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station over the weekend. Liftoff of the Starlink 10-6 mission from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center happened at 1:01 a.m. EDT (0501 UTC). More (Source: SpaceFlight Now - Aug 3)
CHINA LAUNCHES SECOND SECRETIVE HIGH ORBIT INTERNET SATELLITE - China launched the second of a new series of geostationary communications satellites Thursday, though its purposes remain unclear. A Long March 3B rocket lifted off at 9:14 a.m. Eastern Aug. 1 (1314 UTC) from Xichang Satellite Launch Center, southwest China. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) declared the launch was a complete success. CASC’s statement revealed the earlier undisclosed payload for the launch to be High orbit internet satellite-02 (Weixing Hulianwan Gaogui-02). It follows the first such satellite, which was launched Feb. 29. More (Source: SpaceNews - Aug 3)
ROCKET LAB LAUNCHES 5TH MISSION FOR JAPANESE EARTH OBSERVATION COMPANY, SYNSPECTIVE - Rocket Lab launched its ninth mission of 2024 and its 51st Electron rocket launch to date. The flight sent an Earth observing satellite to low Earth orbit on behalf of Japan-based Synspective. Liftoff of the “Owl for One, Owl for All” mission from Launch Complex 1’s Pad B in Mahia, New Zealand happened Saturday, Aug. 3, at 4:39 a.m. NZT (Friday, Aug. 2, at 12:39 p.m. EDT, 1639 UTC). More (Source: SpaceFlight Now - Aug 3)
SPACEX TO RESUME ASTRONAUT LAUNCHES ON AUG. 18 WITH CREW-9 MISSION TO ISS - NASA and SpaceX are looking to launch the Crew-9 mission around the middle of this month. Crew-9, SpaceX's next astronaut launch to the International Space Station (ISS) for NASA, is currently set for Aug. 18. The four astronauts that will be on board are commander Zena Cardman, pilot Nick Hague, mission specialist Stephanie Wilson and mission specialist Alexsandr Gorbunov, of Russia's space agency Roscosmos. More (Source: Space.com - Aug 3)
AFTER ISS: THE PRIVATE SPACE STATION ERA IS DAWNING - There are continual, creaky reminders that the International Space Station is showing its age. Hissy-fit pressure leaks in the Russian segment, loss of attitude control on two separate occasions in 2021. To remain safe and sound for human occupants, the massive structure requires continuous maintenance, a flow of replacement parts, and upgrades to many of the station's systems. More (Source: Space.com - Aug 3)
SPACEX LAUNCHING 23 STARLINK SATELLITES TO ORBIT EARLY AUG. 2 - SpaceX will launch another batch of its Starlink satellites to orbit early Friday (Aug. 2), continuing the company's bounceback from a July 11 failure. A Falcon 9 rocket topped with 23 Starlink craft is scheduled to lift off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Friday, during a four-hour window that opens at 12:19 a.m. EDT (0419 GMT). More (Source: Space.com - Aug 2)
NO, BOEING STARLINER'S NASA ASTRONAUTS ARE NOT STRANDED IN SPACE. HERE'S WHY. - Boeing Starliner's two astronauts knew to expect the unexpected when they took off on the spacecraft's first crewed mission on June 5. I learned this back in March, when NASA hosted reporters at the agency's Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston for two days. We used four Starliner simulators, spoke at length with senior agency and Boeing leadership, and sat down with NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. More (Source: Space.com - Aug 2)
SPACE STATION ASTRONAUTS CHECK OUT STARLINER SYSTEMS AND PREPARE FOR CARGO DELIVERY - Expedition 71 focused on preparing for a cargo resupply mission with Cygnus, performing spacesuit maintenance, and conducting various scientific tasks. Crew members also practiced for the robotic capture of Cygnus and engaged in regular maintenance and research activities. On the International Space Station (ISS), the Expedition 71 crew turned its attention to an upcoming U. S. cargo mission, spacesuit work, and a variety of life science on Monday, July 29. NASA’s Boeing Crew Flight Test members began the week servicing their Starliner flight suits and the spacecraft’s life support systems following a morning of light research duties. More (Source: SciTechDaily - Aug 1)
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