Launch roundup: Falcon Heavy to launch largest GEO satellite, Rocket Labs Electron to complete 40th flight

Date:
Tue, 25 Jul 2023 21:52:32 +0000

Description:
The week of July 24 through July 30 will end the month with at least The post Launch roundup: Falcon Heavy to launch largest GEO satellite, Rocket Labs Electron to complete 40th flight appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com .

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The week of July 24 through July 30 will end the month with at least four
more launches, focused mostly on increasing the number of Earth-imaging satellites sent to space. Firstly, China will launch a currently unknown payload atop the Chang Zheng 2D. The Earth-imaging satellites include the Singapore governments latest synthetic aperture radar (SAR) payload launching from India and the first of Capella Spaces Acadia satellites launching from New Zealand with Rocket Lab. Dubbed the We Love the Nightlife mission, it will mark Electrons 40th launch into space.

Lastly, a SpaceX Falcon Heavy is set to launch the largest-ever geostationary (GEO) satellite into space, the EchoStar XXIV (Jupiter 3). These launches
will mark the 111th through 115th orbital launches of 2023.



Long March 2D (CZ-2D) Unknown payload

Kicking off the first event of the week is a Chang Zheng 2D (CZ-2D) rocket launch for the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, sending an unknown payload into space.

The rocket is scheduled to lift off on Wednesday, July 25, with a launch window beginning at 4:00 PM EDT (20:00 UTC). The rocket will launch from Launch Complex (LC) 3 at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC).

The launch will come only two days after the two-stage CZ-2D successfully
sent four satellites into space from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center on Sunday, July 23. The mission sent Chinas first communications satellite with flexible solar panels, called Lingxi-03, into low-Earth orbit (LEO).

Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C56) DS-SAR

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is scheduled to launch Singapores next Earth Observation satellite into LEO on Wednesday, July 26. The mission, dubbed DS-SAR, was ordered by the Singaporean governments
Defence Science and Technology Agency and is the second SAR satellite launch for the nation. The satellite was built by Israel Aerospace Industries and will be operated by Singaporean defense and engineering company, ST Electronics. DS-SAR satellite prepares for launch. (Credit: ISRO)

The 360-kilogram payload will be launched by Indias four-stage Polar
Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C56) from the First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre. The DS-SAR will serve both government and commercial customers, focusing on maritime security and oil skills.

The event will come just over a year following Singapores first SAR
satellite, which launched on June 30, 2022. Dubbed NeuSAR, the small 160-kilogram satellite was supported by Singapores national space office, the Office for Space Technology & Industry to serve as a pathfinder for a potential constellation.

Falcon Heavy Jupiter 3 (EchoStar XXIV)

Also launching on Wednesday, July 26, is satellite communications company EchoStar Corporations latest high-density satellite, Jupiter 3, which will provide better connectivity to customers across America. The launch window opens at 10:34 PM EDT (02:34 AM UTC on July 27) and concludes at 1:18 AM EDT (05:15 AM UTC). According to SpaceX, approximately eight minutes after
launch, Falcon Heavys side boosters will return on Landing Zones 1 and 2. Launch is currently scheduled for 11:04 PM EDT (03:04 UTC on July 27).

The satellite will be the most massive GEO satellite ever launched, massing 9,200 kilograms, and will lift off from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Falcon Heavy in the hangar at LC-39A in Florida pic.twitter.com/EAOp1Nbvqb

SpaceX (@SpaceX) July 21, 2023

Development of the satellite was announced in August 2017, after Colorado-based Maxar Technologies was selected by EchoStars subsidiary,
Hughes Network Systems, to build EchoStar XXIV. The multi-spot beam Ka-band satellite has 18 technological advances, including the miniaturization of electronics, solid-state amplifiers, and better antenna designs.

The satellite is engineered to deliver 500 gigabits per second to customers across North and South America, providing advanced coverage to support
several applications, and offering more than double the capacity of its predecessor, Jupiter 2.

The satellite was originally supposed to launch in 2021, but Maxar Technologies experienced production issues causing several delays. In
November 2022, the company said it would compensate EchoStar for the ongoing delays, waiving all remaining milestone payments. Upcoming Falcon Heavy!

SpaceX will launch a geostationary satellite called EchoStar 24 (Jupiter 3). Both side core boosters will be landing on LZ-1 and LZ-2.

B1073 will be making its 10th flight, B1076 will be making its 6th flight,
and the brand new center core, B1079 will pic.twitter.com/ppQKfmIO3w

Jenny Hautmann (@JennyHPhoto) July 19, 2023

Electron We Love the Nightlife

After signing a deal with Rocket Lab in February this year, California-based Capella Space will see the first installment of its Acadia satellite constellation fly to space on Friday, July 28. Rocket Labs two-stage Electron rocket is scheduled to launch the first Acadia satellite from Launch Complex
1 in Mhia Peninsula launch, New Zealand. The satellites will be deployed to a 640-kilometer mid-inclination orbit, according to Rocket Lab.

Rocket Lab will launch three more satellites for Capella Space, and the four will eventually form the Acadia constellation.

The Earth-imaging Acadia satellites are slated to offer increased imaging capability and better communications connectivity for customers. The satellites feature SAR technology and are designed, manufactured, and
operated by Capella Space. Its time for the big four-oh! Our 40th Electron mission is scheduled forJuly 28 UTC! #WeLoveTheNightLife is a dedicated mission for @CapellaSpace from LC-1 to launch the first of their next-generation Acadia SAR satellites.

More: https://t.co/oDOZ0NnDmp pic.twitter.com/bCFzUMdU4g

Rocket Lab (@RocketLab) July 20, 2023

This is the third time Rocket Lab will launch a Capella Space payload, following the Stronger Together mission in March 2023, and the I Cant Believe Its Not Optical mission in August 2020, which sent the companys
first satellite in its SAR constellation into space.

The mission will also be significant for Rocket Lab, as it will mark
Electrons 40th launch into space.

Reaching 40 Electron launches is a wonderful milestone for our team members who have built the most reliable small launch vehicle in history, and were delighted to share such a significant launch with our long-standing mission partner Capella, said Peter Beck, founder, and CEO of the launch company.

Falcon 9 Block 5 Group 6-7

Keeping up with the momentum, SpaceX is set to launch its next batch of Starlink satellites into space, notching up the companys missions of 2023 to 51.

The satellites will launch atop a Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, on Friday, July 28. The Falcon 9
first stage will attempt to land on the Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship A Shortfall of Gravitas barge in the Atlantic Ocean.

The event would be the second Starlink launch of the week, following days after sending 22 Starlink v2 Mini satellites in Group 6-6 into orbit on Sunday, July 23.

(Lead image: Singapore governments DS-SAR satellite ready for launch.
Credit: ISRO)

The post Launch roundup: Falcon Heavy to launch largest GEO satellite, Rocket Labs Electron to complete 40th flight appeared first on NASASpaceFlight.com .



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Link to news story:
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2023/07/launch-roundup-24/


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