NASA and other global space programs (excluding Indian) news, Updates and Discussions

[skywatcher]

 

[skywatcher]

Size of various space stations

 

[skywatcher]

So 2033 now

 

[skywatcher]

Japan to Delay Mars Moon Exploration by 2 Years to 2026

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Committee on National Space Policy on Tuesday broadly approved the idea of delaying the planned launch of a Martian moon probe by two years to 2026.

japannews.yomiuri.co.jp

.

JAXA Mars's Moon Sample Return rescheduled to 2026

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Committee on National Space Policy on Tuesday broadly approved the idea of delaying the planned launch of a Martian moon probe by two years to 2026.

The delay is included in a draft revision of a project timetable in the country’s space basic plan, for which the committee under the Cabinet Office gave broad approval. The revised timetable will be adopted at a meeting of the Strategic Headquarters for National Space Policy later this month.

The mission, called MMX, to explore the red planet’s two moons of Phobos and Deimos will be delayed following the failed launch of the first vehicle of the H3 rocket in March this year.

In the MMX mission, Japan plans to use the probe to bring back samples from Phobos. The spacecraft was to be launched on an H3 rocket in 2024, arrive near Mars in fiscal 2025 and return to Earth in fiscal 2029.

Mars approaches Earth about every two years, so the next opportunity good for the launch would be in 2026. In that case, samples would be returned to Earth in fiscal 2031.

 

[skywatcher]

NASA's Artemis Crewed Lunar Landing Delayed to 2027

NASA's Artemis 3 astronaut moon landing unlikely before 2027, GAO report finds

The United States may have to wait a few more years to return astronauts to the moon.

www.space.com

The Artemis 3 mission, which is now tentatively scheduled to fly in December 2025, may have to wait until at least 2027.

NASA's endeavor to return humans to the moon for the first time since the Apollo program with the Artemis 3 mission will likely be delayed because it is jeopardized by "multiple challenges" and an ambitious schedule, the U.S. Government Accountability Office announced Thursday (Nov. 30).

Based on interviews with NASA and industry officials and reviewing documentation, the GAO reported it found a significant amount of pending technical work on the human landing system or HLS, a variant of SpaceX's Starship and NASA's mode of transport to the moon's surface. Also remaining is crucial design work to incorporate larger oxygen tanks into the space suits that would be used by astronauts on the moon, the report stated.

 

[skywatcher]

So 2033 nowView attachment 231630
View attachment 231629

Q: Is 2033 a plausible timeline this time?

 

[skywatcher]

After SpaceX, Blue Origin, Rocket Lab, Firefly emerges to be a promising launch startup despite dubious launch records

Firefly Alpha - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[skywatcher]

Japan's SLIM successfully enters lunar orbit, gears up for precision moon landing

Japan's SLIM successfully enters lunar orbit, gears up for precision moon landing Japan’s SLIM spacecraft entered lunar orbit Dec. 25, setting up a moon landing attempt scheduled for Jan. 19.

spacenews.com

 

[skywatcher]

2024 Envision

Moon:
1.JAXA SLIM lunar landing & roving
2.US Peregrine lunar lander
3.US Nova-C, lunar lander
4.US VIPER lunar rover
5.US Blue Ghost lunar lander
6.CNSA lunar sample return(from far side of the moon)
7.Pakistan lunar orbiter ICECUBE-Q (this is for real

)
8.(TBD)NASA Artemis 2 crewed lunar flyby

Mars:
US EscaPADE Mars orbiter
(TBD)ISRO Mars Orbiter Mission 2 Mars orbiter (inform me if anyone knows the launch date)

Jupiter:
NASA Europa Clipper Jupiter orbiter

Asteroid:
ESA Hera asteroid orbiter


Remark:
Most of the missions are dull. It's good to see so many private players joining in.

ESA Rosalind Franklin Mars rover is delayed to 2028
JAXSA MMX Martian moon sample return is delayed to 2026.
What else?

 

[skywatcher]

98 at most

 

[skywatcher]

Launch startup ABL may attempt to launch RS-1 rocket for second time in Jan 2024. Stay tuned

 

[skywatcher]

Orbital flights in 2023

 

[FalconSlayers]

7.Pakistan lunar orbiter ICECUBE-Q (this is for real

)

Its a cubesat, basically due to small dick energy they are pulling off this joke to show how they're equal-equal to India in space achievements .

 

[skywatcher]

Orbital flights in 2023View attachment 234416
View attachment 234415

2023 saw unprecedented number of orbital flights since 1957.

 

[skywatcher]

Orbital flights in 2023View attachment 234416
View attachment 234415

2024 will be a big year.
US 160-170 (140+from SpaceX)
China 80-90(~1/3 from private sector)
Russia 20-30(overestimate?)
Rest of the world <30(underestimate?)
Total: ~300+

 

[skywatcher]

New player joins the game

A ULA LOX/CH4 fueled heavy lift Vulcan rocket launched Peregrine Moon lander on its first orbital flight.

 

[skywatcher]

New player joins the gameView attachment 235497
A ULA LOX/CH4 fueled heavy lift Vulcan rocket launched Peregrine Moon lander on its first orbital flight.
View attachment 235496

This launch has 4 highlights
1.It's the world's second LOX/CH4 fueled orbital launcher.

2.It's a heavy lift rocket with payload capacity of 27 t to LEO.
3.Its payload is a private Moon lander.

4.Successful launch on first orbital flight attempt.

 

[skywatcher]

Something seems to be wrong with the private Moon lander

 

[skywatcher]

Artemis II crewed lunar flyby delayed to Sept 2025

Artemis III crewed lunar landing delayed to Sept 2026

Artemis IV crewed lunar gateway delayed to Sept 2028

NASA delays Artemis moon missions

The space agency said it’s now targeting September 2025 for its crewed missions around the moon, which had been scheduled for later this year.

www.nbcnews.com

Q: Is further delay possible

 

[skywatcher]

2024 Envision

Moon:
1.JAXA SLIM lunar landing & roving
2.US Peregrine lunar lander
3.US Nova-C, lunar lander
4.US VIPER lunar rover
5.US Blue Ghost lunar lander
6.CNSA lunar sample return(from far side of the moon)
7.Pakistan lunar orbiter ICECUBE-Q (this is for real)
8.(TBD)NASA Artemis 2 crewed lunar flyby

Mars:
US EscaPADE Mars orbiter
(TBD)ISRO Mars Orbiter Mission 2 Mars orbiter (inform me if anyone knows the launch date)

Jupiter:
NASA Europa Clipper Jupiter orbiter

Asteroid:
ESA Hera asteroid orbiter


Remark:
Most of the missions are dull. It's good to see so many private players joining in.View attachment 233764
ESA Rosalind Franklin Mars rover is delayed to 2028
JAXSA MMX Martian moon sample return is delayed to 2026.
What else? View attachment 233765

Update: 2024 Envision

Moon:
1.JAXA SLIM lunar landing & roving
2.US Peregrine lunar lander

3.US Nova-C, lunar lander
4.US VIPER lunar rover
5.US Blue Ghost lunar lander
6.CNSA lunar sample return(from far side of the moon)
7.Pakistan lunar orbiter ICECUBE-Q (this is for real

)
8.(TBD)NASA Artemis 2 crewed lunar flyby

Mars:
US EscaPADE Mars orbiter
(TBD)ISRO Mars Orbiter Mission 2 Mars orbiter (inform me if anyone knows the approximate launch date)

Jupiter:
NASA Europa Clipper Jupiter orbiter

Asteroid:
ESA Hera asteroid orbiter


Remark:
Most of the missions are dull. It's good to see so many private players joining in.
ESA Rosalind Franklin Mars rover is delayed to 2028.
JAXA MMX Martian moon sample return is delayed to 2026.
NASA Artemis II crewed lunar flyby is delayed to Sept 2025.
CNSA Tianwen-2 asteroid sample return is delayed to 2025.
What else?