Rocket Launch notification thread

[MartG]

This morning's Electron launch - skip to -54m for the launch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvPcY3SrgAs

And this afternoon's Starlink mission

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bhe91f5smxM

[Beati Dogu]

The penultimate Delta IV Heavy launch is coming up on Wed, Jun 21st at 3.29 am local time from Florida. That’s 8.29 am UK time. This is for the NROL-68 mission, which is classified.

Livestream will be here:

https://youtu.be/qNLo5QbVhVM

[Eric Mc]

Looks like it's been deferred for 24 hours./

[Beati Dogu]

Yes, delayed due to an issue with a ground systems pneumatic valve.

The launch is now planned for Thursday at 3.25 am local, 8.25 am UK time.

The weather forecast is 75% go currently.

[Beati Dogu]

A nice view of the launch:

https://twitter.com/torybruno/status/1673721058640...

[MartG]

Virgin Galactic flight today

Skip to about 38mins for the drop

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-bnaq9BKio

Apogee only 85km, so below the Karman line

[Flooble]

And they wouldn't get their Astronaut pins even if above it anyway IIRC?

[Beati Dogu]

The final Ariane 5 rocket is scheduled the launch on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. EDT (2130 UTC).

https://www.youtube.com/live/i_8BZdKkrc8?feature=s...

This will be its 117th flight since it started in 1996.

[Beati Dogu]

Delayed to tonight at 11 pm UK time.

[Beati Dogu]

Tonight, 10th August 10, at 23:10 UTC, the Russian Federation are launching their first Moon mission. The Luna 25 spacecraft is scheduled to launch from Vostochny cosmodrome in Siberia on top of a Soyuz-2.1b rocket with a Fregat-M upper stage. The plan is to make a soft landing near the Moon’s South Pole.

The last one from that part of the world was Luna 24, launched 47 years ago in 1976 by the Soviet Union.

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2023/08/luna-25-mi...

[Eric Mc]

Nice to see the Russians back in the moon game.

[Beati Dogu]

They probably plan to have a vote and make it part of Russia.

Anyway, it launched ok and should be In a Luna orbit in 5 days. The landing is expected to be on August 21st.

So a few days before India’s Chandrayaan3 is supposed to land.

The goal is to do a couple more up to 2030 and then go for a manned landing. Which is nice.

Edited by Beati Dogu on Sunday 13th August 00:06

[Beati Dogu]

The side boosters from that Soyuz launch crashed back over land, which is normal.



It’s a sparsely populated area, like much of Siberia. Apparently there’s one village that boosters may possibly land on, so that’s evacuated before launches.

[MartG]

Looks like RocketLab suffered an 'anomaly' during this morning's launch for Capella Space

All went well up to fairing separation

[MartG]

Scott Manley short video on the failure, pointing out sparks seen from the top of the engine at ignition

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/07bs3cT6tYY

[Beati Dogu]

ULA are about to launch their second Atlas V of the year.

It's carrying two prototype Project Kuiper satellites for Amazon. Their answer to SpaceX's Starlink.

A very expensive way to launch two small satellites, but they have a deadline to get so many in orbit by a certain time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhxpuiOUZIc

[annodomini2]

ULA Vulcan first launch attempt 0718 tomorrow

[Flooble]

And success - I have to admit to being surprised, with the length of development I expected either unforeseen hitch or something would have seized up.

That's good news for the USA - another rocket to replace the Atlas V

[annodomini2]

Flooble said:

And success - I have to admit to being surprised, with the length of development I expected either unforeseen hitch or something would have seized up.

That's good news for the USA - another rocket to replace the Atlas V

Rocket performed flawlessly, the Lunar lander on the other hand is having issues.

[MartG]

annodomini2 said:

Rocket performed flawlessly, the Lunar lander on the other hand is having issues.

Fixed apparently