[JSR] Jonathan's Space Report, No. 791

Jonathan McDowell jcm at planet4589.com
Wed Apr 21 23:07:51 EDT 2021


Jonathan's Space Report
No. 791                                                        2021 Apr 20   Somerville, MA
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International Space Station
---------------------------

On Apr 5 at 1030 UTC the Dragon spaceship Resilience undocked from the IDA-2/PMA-2 docking
port on the ISS Harmony module, backed off 60 metres, and redocked with the IDA-3/PMA-3
port on the same module's zenith side.

On Apr 9 at 0742 UTC the Soyuz MS-18 spaceship was launched from Baykonur carrying Oleg Novitskiy,
Pyotr Dubrov and Mark Vande Hei. It docked with the ISS Rassvet module at 1105:06 UTC the same day.

On Apr 17 at 0134 UTC Soyuz MS-17 undocked from the Poisk module with astronauts Ryzhikov, Kud-Sverchkov
and Rubins. After a deorbit burn at 0401 UTC the descent module landed in Kazakhstan at 0455 UTC.
Expedition 65, under the command of Shannon Walker, formally began when Soyuz MS-17 undocked.

As of Apr 22 the ISS visiting vehicle list was:
 Zvezda aft:    Progress MS-14
 Pirs:          Progress MS-16
 Poisk:         -
 Rassvet:       Soyuz MS-18
 IDA-2/PMA-2:   -
 IDA-3/PMA-3:   Dragon C207 (Resilience)
 Unity nadir:   Cygnus NG-15 (S.S. Katherine Johnson)
 Harmony nadir: -

OneWeb
------

On 2021 Mar 25 Starsem launched a Soyuz-2-1b from the Russian eastern launch site of Vostochniy,
placing the fifth set of OneWeb satellites in a 433 x 445 km x 87.4 deg parking orbit.

Gao Fen 12-02
-------------

On Mar 30 China's SAST launched a CZ-4C placing the second GF-12 radar satellite in orbit.


Unisat-7
--------

The Gauss srl Unisat-7 host satellite released its tiny payloads on Mar 25.

Shiyan 9
--------

China made the second launch of the CZ-7A on Mar 11, following a launch failure on the first such mission.
The payload, Shiyan 9, was placed in geotransfer orbit. It seems likely that this is a test mission
intended to remain in that orbit, perhaps making radiation measurements, and no 
apogee burn to geonsynchronous orbit was planned. (This item was inadvertently omitted from JSR 790).

Shiyan 6
--------

The third Shiyan 6 satellite was launched on Apr 8 from Taiyuan. The satellite went to a higher
orbit than the two previous Shiyan 6 missions. The purpose of the missions is unclear.

Electron 19
-----------
  
Rocket Lab's Electron mission 19 was launched from Mahia on Mar 22 placing in orbit several small satellites:
 BlackSky Global 9 (also called BlackSky 7), a 55 kg imaging sat
 RAAF M2 A and B, a pair of 0.2 x 0.2 x 0.3m satellites for the Royal Australian Air Force
   with AIS payloads and formation flying tests. The satellites were deployed attached and
   will separate later.
 Myriota 7, a 3U cubesat for IoT data relay for Myriota (Australia). Also called Tyvak-0152.
 Centauri 3, a 6U cubesat for IoT data relay for Fleet (Australia). Also called Tyvak-0210.
 Veery Hatchling v0.2, a 1U test satellite for Care Weather Technologies (US)
 Gunsmoke-J, a communications satellite for the US Army SMDC; a similar sat is awaiting deployment from ISS.
The Electron kick stage also carries the Photon Pathstone payload with test components for the planned Capstone mission.

Starlink
---------

Starlink mission V1.0-L23 flew from Canaveral on Apr 7, with 60 more satellites. The first
stage landed on the OCISLY.

I have a new web page with detailed statistics and orbit histories for the Starlink satellites:
https://planet4589.org/space/stats/star/starstats.html

MEV-2
-----

The Space Logistics Services/Northrop Grumman MEV-2 satellite docked with the Intelsat 10-02 satellite at 1734 UTC
on Apr 12. The docked satellites are in GEO at 1.0W; MEV-2 will provide orbit control to extend IS 10-02's useful
life.

Reentries
---------

The Falcon 9 second stage from the Mar 4 Starlink mission, mentioned in JSR 790, reentered
over Oregon and Washington on Mar 26 at 0400 UTC. It was widely observed from the US Pacific Northwest
and the Vancouver area, and a COPV pressure vessel was found largely intact in eastern Washington state.

Ingenuity
---------

The Ingenuity Mars Helicopter made its first flight at about 0734:19 UTC
on Apr 19. It took off from the newly named Wright Brothers Field
(77.45102 E, 18.44486N in Jezero Crater, Mars; ICAO designator JZRO) and
reached 3 metres altitude before landing at the same spot 38 seconds
later.

Errata
------

In JSR 790, the EVA-72 hatch opening time should have read 1136 UTC, not 1336 UTC.
Note that Hirogari is another name for OPUSAT-II.

Table of Recent Orbital Launches
 ----------------------------------

Date UT       Name                           Launch Vehicle      Site            Mission  INTL.  Catalog  Perigee Apogee  Incl   Notes
Mar  4 0825   Starlink 2068     )              Falcon 9             Kennedy LC39A   Comms     17A S47222  259 x   280 x 53.1
              Starlink 2107     )
              Starlink 2116     )
              Starlink 2125-2126)
              Starlink 2129     )
              Starlink 2131-2132)
              Starlink 2140-2144)
              Starlink 2146-2150)
              Starlink 2152     )
              Starlink 2154     )
              Starlink 2156-2164)
              Starlink 2168-2172)
              Starlink 2174-2185)
              Starlink 2189     )
              Starlink 2192-2198)
              Starlink 2209-2213)
              Starlink 2223     )
Mar 11 0813   Starlink 2257     )              Falcon 9               Canaveral LC40  Comms   18A S47787 258 x     278 x 53.1
              Starlink 2314-2315)
              Starlink 2319     )
              Starlink 2322     )
              Starlink 2334     )
              Starlink 2338     )
              Starlink 2341     )
              Starlink 2347     )
              Starlink 2373     )
              Starlink 2377     )
              Starlink 2379-2396)
              Starlink 2399-2403)
              Starlink 2406-2411)
              Starlink 2413     )
              Starlink 2415-2416)
              Starlink 2419-2420)
              Starlink 2422-2427)
              Starlink 2429     )
              Starlink 2431-2435)
              Starlink 2446     )
              Starlink 2453     )
              Starlink 2456     )
Mar 11 1330?  EP9                                                  ISS, LEO     Garbage scow   9867RZ S47853  417 x 422 x 51.6
Mar 11 1751   Shiyan 9                         Chang Zheng 7A         Wenchang LC201  Tech    19A     S47851  250 x35836 x 19.5
Mar 13 0219   Yaogan 31 hao 04 zu 01 xing)     Chang Zheng 4C         Jiuquan         Sigint  20A     S47854 1092 x 1098 x 63.4
              Yaogan 31 hao 04 zu 02 xing)                                            Sigint  20B     S47855 1090 x 1096 x 63.4
              Yaogan 31 hao 04 zu 03 xing)                                            Sigint  20C     S47856 1090 x 1096 x 63.4
Mar 14 1001   Starlink 2258     )              Falcon 9               KSC LC39A       Comms   21    
              Starlink 2280     )
              Starlink 2291     )
              Starlink 2293     )
              Starlink 2304     )
              Starlink 2310     )
              Starlink 2320-2321)
              Starlink 2323-2324)
              Starlink 2326-2333)
              Starlink 2335-2337)
              Starlink 2339-2340)
              Starlink 2342-2346)
              Starlink 2348-2372)
              Starlink 2374-2376)
              Starlink 2378     )
              Starlink 2397     )
              Starlink 2398     )
              Starlink 2405     )
Mar 14 1120   Hirogari    )                                        ISS, LEO           Tech   9867SG  S47930   419 x 420 x 51.6
              GuaraniSat-1)                                                           Tech   9867SH?          419 x 420 x 51.6
              Maya-2      )                                                           Tech   9867SA?          419 x 420 x 51.6
              Tsuru       )                                                           Tech   9867SD  S47927   419 x 420 x 51.6
              RSP-1       )                                                           Tech   9867SB  S47925   419 x 420 x 51.6
Mar 14 1150   Nichirin                                             ISS, LEO           Tech   9867SF?          419 x 420 x 51.6
Mar 14 1430   TAU-SAT-01                                           ISS, LEO           Tech   9867SC  S47926   419 x 420 x 51.6
Mar 14 1500   Sanko                                                ISS, LEO           Tech   9867SE  S47928   419 x 420 x 51.6
Mar 22 0607   CAS500-1                         Soyuz-2-1a/Fregat      Baykonur LC31   Imaging 22A    S47932   495 x 510 x 97.4
              GRUS 1B                                                                 Imaging 22B    S47933   579 x 605 x 97.7
              GRUS 1C                                                                 Imaging 22C    S47934   579 x 605 x 97.7
              GRUS 1D                                                                 Imaging 22D    S47935   579 x 605 x 97.7
              GRUS 1E                                                                 Imaging 22E    S47936   579 x 605 x 97.7
              ELSA-d                                                                  Tech    22N    S47944   535 x 558 x 97.6
              DMSat-1                                                                 Imaging 22J    S47940   534 x 560 x 97.6
              Najm-1                                                                  Imaging 22R?   S47947   534 x 558 x 97.6
              Unisat-7                                                                Tech    22P    S47945   534 x 560 x 97.6
              Kepler-6  (Rocinante)                                                   Comms   22Z    S49755   535 x 563 x 97.6
              Kepler-7  (C3PO)                                                        Comms   22T    S47949   535 x 563 x 97.6
              NanoSatC-Br 2                                                           Sci     22
              KMSL                                                                    Mgrav.  22U    S47950   535 x 563 x 97.6
              CANYVAL-C                                                               Tech    22
              Hiber 3                                                                 Comms   22L    S47942   535 x 563 x 97.6
              Beesat 5                                                                Tech    22AM?  S48083   535 x 565 x 97.6
              Beesat 6                                                                Tech    22AB?  S47957   535 x 565 x 97.6
              Beesat 7                                                                Tech    22AN?  S48084   535 x 565 x 97.6
              Beesat 8                                                                Tech    22AP?  S48085   535 x 565 x 97.6
              SAMSON 1                                                                Tech    22F?   S47937   534 x 565 x 97.6
              SAMSON 2                                                                Tech    22H?   S47939   534 x 565 x 97.6
              SAMSON 3                                                                Tech    22M?   S47943   534 x 565 x 97.6
              Lacunasat 2b                                                            Tech    22S    S47948   535 x 563 x 97.6
              3B5GSAT                                                                 Comms   22Y    S47954   535 x 563 x 97.6
              ChallengeOne                                                            Tech    22AA   S47956   534 x 566 x 97.6
              GRB-Alpha                                                               Astron  22AD   S47959   534 x 565 x 97.6
              WildTrackCube-SIMBA                                                     Comms   22
              KSU-Cubesat                                                             Tech    22Y    S47965   534 x 565 x 97.6
              OrbiKraft-Zorkiy                                                        Tech    22AE   S47960   534 x 565 x 97.6
              NIU VsHE-DZZ                                                            Imaging 22W    S47952   534 x 565 x 97.6
              Sirius-DZZ                                                              Imaging 22V    S47951   534 x 565 x 97.6
Mar 22 0830   Lawkanat 1                                            ISS, LEO          Imaging 9867SJ S47976  417 x 421 x 51.6
Mar 22 2230   Black Sky Global                Electron             Mahia LC1A         Imaging 23G    S47971  449 x 460 x 45.0
              Photon Pathstone                                                        Tech    23H    S47972  448 x 458 x 45.0
              Centauri 3                                                              Comms   23B    S47966  549 x 557 x 45.0
              Myriota 7                                                               Comms   23D    S47968  545 x 557 x 45.0
              RAAF M2 A/B                                                             Comms   23C    S47967  546 x 558 x 45.0
              Gunsmoke-J                                                              Comms   23E    S47969  544 x 557 x 45.0
              Veery Hatchling                                                         Tech    23A    S47965  540 x 557 x 45.0
Mar 24 0828   Starlink 1647                   Falcon 9             Canaveral LC40     Comms   24A            258 x 281 x 53.0
              Starlink 2087
              Starlink 2153
              Starlink 2216
              Starlink 2218
              Starlink 2226
              Starlink 2229
              Starlink 2239
              Starlink 2243
              Starlink 2254
              Starlink 2259-2268
              Starlink 2270-2273
              Starlink 2277-2279
              Starlink 2281-2290
              Starlink 2292
              Starlink 2294-2303
              Starlink 2305-2309
              Starlink 2311-2313
              Starlink 2316-2318
              Starlink 2325
Mar 25 0247   OneWeb SL0101                   Soyuz-2-1b/Fregat    Vostochniy PU1S    Comms   25A  S48049-    433 x 445 x 87.4
              OneWeb SL0107-0108                                                              25AK S48075
              OneWeb SL0112-0113
              OneWeb SL0115-0116
              OneWeb SL0148-0164
              OneWeb SL0166-0175
              OneWeb SL0177-0178
Mar 25        BCCSAT-1                                            Unisat-7, LEO       Imaging 22AK S48041     536 x 559 x 97.6
              FEES                                                                    Comms   22AL?S48082     536 x 559 x 97.6
              DIY-1                                                                   Tech    22AH S47963     532 x 559 x 97.6
              SMOG-1                                                                  Sigint  22AJ S47964     532 x 559 x 97.6
              STECCO                                                                  Calib   22AG S47962     534 x 558 x 97.6
Mar 30 2245   Gao Fen 12-02                   Chang Zheng 4C       Jiuquan            Radar   26A  S48079     594 x 600 x 97.8
Apr  6 2100?  Jackie (AC-10a Probe 5)                            AC-10a, LEO          Calib  19-022P          462 x 475 x 51.6
Apr  7 1634   Starlink 2048                   Falcon 9             Canaveral LC40     Comms   27A  S48092     261 x 280 x 53.0
              Starlink 2404
              Starlink 2412
              Starlink 2414
              Starlink 2417-2418
              Starlink 2421
              Starlink 2428
              Starlink 2430
              Starlink 2436-2440
              Starlink 2442-2445
              Starlink 2447-2452
              Starlink 2454-2455
              Starlink 2458-2460
              Starlink 2462-2469
              Starlink 2471-2476
              Starlink 2478-2493
              Starlink 2503
Apr  8 2301   Shiyan 6-03                     Chang Zheng 4B        Taiyuan            Imaging?  28A  S48157  992 x 1001 x 99.5
Apr  9 0742   Soyuz MS-18                     Soyuz-2-1a            Baykonur           Spaceship 29A  S48159  192 x 228 x 51.6

Table of Recent Suborbital Launches
-----------------------------------

Date UT       Payload/Flt Name Launch Vehicle      Site                  Mission    Apogee/km    Target

Feb  3        RV                Ghaznavi           Somniani?             Test           80?      Arabian Sea?
Feb  4        ABM Target        B-611?             Taiyuan               Test          200?      Urumqi        
Feb  4        Interceptor       DF-21?             Urumqi?               Interceptor   100?      Takla Makan
Feb  5 0905   OS-X6B            OS-X6B             Jiuquan?              Test          300       Jiuquan?
Feb  9 2330   USN RV            Trident II        Sub, 76W 28N           Op. Test     1000?      S Atlantic
Feb 24 0749   GT237GM           Minuteman III      Vandenberg LF10       Op. Test     1300?      Kwajalein
Feb 27        HE RV             Zulfiqar           Sanaa?                Weapon        150?      Riyadh
Mar  3        Chem. release     Terr.Terr.Oriole   Wallops               Ionosphere    300?      Atlantic
Mar 12 1345   SOUREX            RH-560 Mk III     Satish Dhawan          Atmosphere    300?      Bay of Bengal
Apr 14 1651   NS-15             New Shepard        West Texas            Test          106       West Texas
Apr 19 0830   SHIELDS           Black Brant IX     White Sands           UV Astron     285       White Sands

.-------------------------------------------------------------------------.
|  Jonathan McDowell                 |                                    |
|  Somerville MA 02143               |  inter : planet4589 at gmail       |
|  USA                               |  twitter: @planet4589              |
|                                                                         |
| JSR: https://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html                                 |
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