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

[skywatcher]

What's up for June?

?? June 2023 SpaceX Falcon 9 IM-1 Lunar lander & Moon Mark rovers & UK Spacebit Lunar rover
?? June 2023 SpaceX Falcon 9 Cargo Dragon to ISS
?? June 2023 ISRO PSLV Aditya-L1 solar observatory
?? June 2023 JAXA H-IIA SLIM Lunar lander & LEV-1 Lunar rover
?? June 2023 ISRO LVM III Chandrayaan-3 Lunar lander & Lunar rover

*Launch dates are for your reference onlyView attachment 197752

IM-1 lunar lander delayed to no earlier than July

 

[skywatcher]

All methalox orbital launch attempts

14 Dec 2022 Land Space Zhuque-2
22 Mar 2023 Relativity Terran-1
20 Apr 2023 SpaceX Starship
June Land Space Zhuque-2
July ULA Vulcan Centaur

 

[skywatcher]

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North Korea: Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Inspects NADA Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, inspected the National Aerospace Development Administration (NADA) on April 18. He was accompanied by Pak Thae Song, secretary of the WPK Central Committee, Kim Jong Sik, vice department director of the WPK Central Committee, Kim Sung Chan, president of Kim Il Sung University and minister of Higher Education under the Education Commission, Pak Ji Min, president of Kim Chaek University of Technology, senior officials of educational and scientific research institutions, technicians and experts in the field of IT communication sci-tech studies and commanding officers of the technical intelligence department of the General Reconnaissance Bureau of the Korean People’s Army. He was greeted by leading officials of the NADA and the Academy of Defence Science on the spot. Going round the space science research institute, the space environment test center and other places, he learned in detail about the work for fulfilling the immediate scientific research tasks set forth by the Party’s far-reaching space-conquering policy on the long-term development of the country’s space industry, and about the recent progress achieved by the field of space science research in the development of core technologies and production. The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un highly praised the noteworthy achievements made by the NADA in the core space sci-tech studies to attain the immediate and long-term objectives of the space policy set forth at the 8th Congress of the WPK, the 5th and 6th Plenary Meetings of the 8th WPK Central Committee. Noting that the development of space industry is of very important significance in building a socialist economic power whose development is propelled and guaranteed by science and technology, he set forth the important tasks to be fulfilled to radically develop space science and technology. The growth of the space industry is a key element in the exploration of a shortcut to securing the position of a world-class economic and sci-tech power and a demonstration of the overall national power, he said, adding that it is necessary to build a full-fledged space industry capable of dynamically steering the economic development of the country by constantly spurring the independent space development. He noted that it is the steadfast stand of the WPK and the DPRK government to fulfill on a priority basis the advanced and valuable space development plans in the light of the strategic interests of the country in the present-stage efforts for achieving accelerated space development, steadily expand the successes and finally turn the country into a world space power. He underscored the need to set it as a main thrust to possess weather and earth observation and communication satellites, in particular, to get thoroughly prepared for the disastrous weather, effectively protect and use the resources of the country, and immediately provide the possibilities for giving strong impetus to the scientific development of the national economy. He also called on the educational and scientific research units at all levels to establish a system of actively participating in the development of application satellites of various uses, increase state investment for promoting the development of space science and technology, produce standardized and reliable carrier rockets on a full scale in step with the accelerated development of various satellites, and successfully build satellite launching sites reflecting the ideal and ambition for building a space power. He recalled that in the light of the present situation, in which the U.S. imperialists are deploying nuclear carriers, nuclear strategic bombers and other huge strategic assets of various missions on a permanent basis on the Korean peninsula and its vicinity to turn south Korea into an advanced base for aggression and an arsenal for war, and of the prospective concern that the military actions of the U.S. and south Korea threatening the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DPRK under the pretext of the allied readiness would get more undisguised, the Eighth Congress of the WPK specified it as the most important and prerequisite task for building up the national defence capabilities of the country to have access to the space reconnaissance capability for securing real-time information about the hostile forces’ military scenario and moves in the five-point major goals for developing the national defence capabilities. Again referring to the role and the strategic value and significance of possessing the military reconnaissance satellite in bolstering up the self-defensive military capabilities for defending the security environment and territorial integrity of the state, the safety and development interests of the people from the escalating military threat and challenge of the U.S. and south Korea, and for using the preemptive military power according to situation, he said that possession of such satellite is a primary task to be indispensably fulfilled to bolster up the armed forces of the DPRK that can never be abandoned, missed and changed, and belongs to its sovereignty and legitimate right to self-defence in view of the requirements of the recent security environment on the Korean peninsula and tackling of the long-term threats. As the U.S. and south Korea are scheming to further tighten their military posture against the DPRK under the pretext of "offer of extended deterrence" and "strengthened south Korea-U.S. alliance", as evidenced by their most hostile rhetoric and explicit action this year, it is quite natural for the DPRK to develop its military deterrence strong enough to cope with the serious security environment at present and in the future, he said, adding that possessing and operating military reconnaissance means is the most crucial primary task for increasing the military effectiveness and utility of different war deterrence means of the DPRK in doing so. He set forth the militant task to organize a non-permanent satellite-launching preparatory committee to make sure that the military reconnaissance satellite No. 1 completed as of April will be launched at the planned date, speed up its final preparations and firmly establish the satellite intelligence-gathering capability by deploying several reconnaissance satellites on different orbits in succession in the future. Upon receiving the deep trust and encouragement of the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, the officials, scientists and technicians of the NADA were filled with a firm determination to become conquerors of space faithfully upholding the Party’s far-reaching plan for building a space power through their perfect practice and thus proudly demonstrate the dignity and prestige of the DPRK and the great national power of Juche Korea in outer space.

 

[skywatcher]

Space Race on the Korean Peninsula

The Two Koreas are racing neck to neck to launch their next satellites respectively.

 

[skywatcher]

Turkey will launch their rocket MUFA next year

 

[skunk works]

Space Race on the Korean Peninsula

The Two Koreas are racing neck to neck to launch their next satellites respectively.

View attachment 205614

View attachment 205616
View attachment 205617

In the third image why is the reflection in the floor blurred, and also why is it a totally different reflection?

Edit: the entire image looks poorly photoshopped.

 

[Indx TechStyle]

In Saudi's First-Ever Space Mission, A Woman And A Fighter Pilot
Rayyanah Barnawi, a breast cancer researcher, will become the first Saudi woman to voyage into space and will be joined by fellow Saudi Ali Al-Qarni, a fighter pilot.

Cape Canaveral: A private mission to the International Space Station (ISS) organized by Axiom Space is due to blast off from Florida on Sunday, carrying the first two Saudi astronauts to go to the orbiting laboratory.

Rayyanah Barnawi, a breast cancer researcher, will become the first Saudi woman to voyage into space and will be joined on the mission by fellow Saudi Ali Al-Qarni, a fighter pilot.

The Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2) crew will take off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral in the southern state of Florida at 5:37 pm (2137 GMT).

The team also includes Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut who will be making her fourth flight to the ISS, and John Shoffner, a businessman from Tennessee who will serve as pilot.

They are due to spend around 10 days on board the ISS, where they should arrive around 1:30 pm on Monday.

"Being the first Saudi woman astronaut, representing the region, it's a great pleasure and honor that I'm very happy to carry," said Barnawi at a recent press conference.

She added that, aside from excitement for the research she will carry out on board, she is looking forward to sharing her experience with kids while on the ISS.

"Being able to see their faces when they see astronauts from their own region for the first time is very thrilling," she said.

A career fighter pilot, Al-Qarni said he has "always had the passion of exploring the unknown and just admiring the sky and the stars."

"It is a great opportunity for me to pursue this kind of passion that I have, and now maybe just fly among the stars."

The mission is not Saudi Arabia's first foray into space.

In 1985, Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, an air force pilot, took part in a US-organized space voyage.

But the space mission involving a Saudi woman is the latest move by the oil-rich Gulf kingdom, where women only gained the right to drive a few years ago, to revamp its ultraconservative image.

The kingdom established the Saudi Space Commission in 2018 and launched a program last year to send astronauts into space.

Experiments

The four-member team is set to carry out some 20 experiments while on the ISS.

One of them involves studying the behavior of stem cells in zero gravity.

They will join seven others already on board the ISS: three Russians, three Americans and Emirati astronaut Sultan al-Neyadi, who was the first Arab national to go on a spacewalk last month.

The mission to the ISS will be the second in partnership with ISS-key holder NASA by Axiom Space, a private space company, which offers the rare voyages for sums that run into the millions of dollars.

The company oversees training the astronauts, chartering their means of transport and ensuring the smooth management of their stay.

Axiom Space carried out its first private astronaut mission to the ISS in April 2022, sending three businessmen and former astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria to spend 17 days in orbit as part of Ax-1.

Some astronauts on the ISS at the time said they had to take time out of their day -- precious in zero gravity -- to take care of the space tourists.

"My time is actually a lot less constrained than Mike Lopez-Alegria's time was on the first mission," said Whitson. "I'll be available to help the crew members a lot more as they need assistance."

Private space stations

For Axiom Space, these missions are a first step toward an ambitious goal: the construction of its own space station, with the first module expected to launch in 2025.

The station would at first be attached to the ISS before separating and orbiting independently.

NASA plans to retire the ISS around 2030 and to instead send astronauts to private stations, which will also host their own clients, leading the US space agency to encourage the development of programs by several companies.

Russia recently agreed to extend its use of the ISS until 2028, having threatened an earlier pullout last year as ties unraveled between the Kremlin and the West over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

The other international partners -- Japan, Canada and the European Space Agency -- have committed themselves, like the United States, to continue operations until 2030.

 

[skywatcher]

two lunar missions launch date confirmed(if not further delayed)
12 July 2023 ISRO
13 July 2023 ROSCOMOS

 

[skywatcher]

New record, 17 people in space!
MS-23: 3 ISS
Crew-6: 4 ISS
AX-2: 4 ISS
SZ-15: 3 CSS
SZ-16: 3 CSS

 

[skywatcher]

New record, 17 people in space!
MS-23: 3 ISS
Crew-6: 4 ISS
AX-2: 4 ISS
SZ-15: 3 CSS
SZ-16: 3 CSS

China: 6
Russia: 3
Saudi Arabia: 2
UAE: 1
US: 5

 

[skywatcher]

two lunar missions launch date confirmed(if not further delayed)
12 July 2023 ISRO
13 July 2023 ROSCOMOS
View attachment 206364

Russia's lunar lander delayed to Aug 2023

 

[skywatcher]

Israel, South Korea & North Korea(launch failure) all launched this year. It's in Iran's turn now

 

[skywatcher]

Q: Will Zhuque-2 be the first methane based rocket in the world to reach orbit this time?

Unconfirmed launch date: 20 June 2023

 

[skywatcher]

AVIATION WEEK in 2004: Can tiny SpaceX rock Boeing?

 

[skywatcher]

ESA Mars livestream today

 

[skywatcher]

Peaceful co-existence

 

[skywatcher]

Can SpaceX achieve 100 orbital launches this year

 

[skywatcher]

Two heavy lift rockets are going to be phased out soon

Falcon Heavy
Delta IV Heavy(retire in 2024)
Long March 5/5B
Angara-A5
Proton-M*
Falcon 9
Ariane 5(retire in 2023)

New rockets:
Vulcan Centaur (July 2023)
Ariane 6 (Q4 2023)
New Glenn (2024)

*Given current situation of Roscosmos, Proton-M will retire no earlier than 2026.

 

[skywatcher]

ULA BE-4 fired up yesterday all set for Vulcan maiden flight in July.

ULA Vulcan Centaur would notch the first methane fueled rocket in the world to reach orbit if Zhuque-2 failed again in June.

 

[skywatcher]

RS-25 E10001 going for its 10th hot fire today at Stennis.