Monthly Dose of Space - October 2024
Welcome to our thirteenth Monthly Dose of Space! In this monthly newsletter, we bring you major news from the past month we haven't covered in our weekly newsletters. October has been another busy month worldwide, so let's jump into it!
News of the Month
October saw one of the largest in-development reusable launch vehicles move toward launch, Crew-8 return home after a series of delays, the Artemis Accords gaining more members, and a satellite breaking up in geostationary orbit.
Crew-8 returns to Earth
October 25th had NASA's Crew-8 mission return to Earth after over 235 days in space. Splashdown occurred at 07:29 am Universal Coordinated Time off the coast near Pensacola, Florida.
Flying onboard the Crew-8 mission for almost eight months were NASA astronauts Matthew Dominick, Michael Barratt, and Jeanette Epps, along with cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin from Roscosmos. Crew-8's return to Earth was delayed by two weeks due to adverse weather off the coast of Florida as well as Hurricane Milton.
In the hours following splashdown, NASA disclosed that the four astronauts were flown together to Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola, in Florida, after one of the crew experienced a medical issue. Three of the crew have since been discharged from the hospital, all underwent medical checks out of an abundance of caution. With this medical issue, NASA stated the following:
"After medical evaluation at the hospital, three of the crew members departed Pensacola and have arrived at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston." – "The one astronaut who remains at Ascension is in stable condition under observation as a precautionary measure. To protect the crew member’s medical privacy, specific details on the individual’s condition or identity will not be shared."
The following day, NASA shared an update saying the following:
"After an overnight stay at Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola in Florida, the NASA astronaut was released and returned to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston Saturday. The crew member is in good health and will resume normal post-flight reconditioning with other crew members."
New Glenn's first flight booster arrives at LC-36
On October 30th, Blue Origin rolled out the first stage of their New Glenn launch vehicle, transferring the rocket stage from the assembly building to the launch and integration facility at Launch Complex 36 in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
According to Blue Origin's Chief Executive Officer, Dave Limp, transporting the first-stage took multiple hours due to the 23-mile route needed for safe transportation. Moving the first-stage was what Blue has nicknamed GERT, Giant Enormous Rocket Truck, a repurposed U.S. Army Oshkosh M1070 tank transporter. During transportation, the first-stage was secured by a 'strongback assembly' resting on two connected trailers.
With New Glenn's first-stage now at Launch Complex 36, Blue Origin is expecting to conduct a static fire of the stage, with both flight stages integrated for launch. Following a successful static fire, New Glenn's first flight is expected to occur in November.
Chile and Cyprus sign Artemis Accords
NASA announced on October 23rd and 25th that the Republic of Cyprus and Chile had signed onto the Artemis Accords, bringing the total number of signatories up to forty-seven.
Nicodemos Damianou, deputy minister of research, innovation, and digital policy, signed the accords on behalf of Cyprus. Once having signed, Damianou stated:
“Today marks a significant milestone for Cyprus as we officially sign the Artemis Accords,” – “As we embark on this exciting journey, we reaffirm our commitment to a safe and responsible space exploration, as well as our strong belief in the importance of international cooperation in ensuring space is utilized to the benefit of all humanity. Cyprus, an European Union member state, is capitalizing on its geostrategic location between three continents, and aspires to play an integral role in the international space community.”
Signing on behalf of Chile was Aisén Etcheverry, minister of science, technology, knowledge and innovation. After signing, Etcheverry said the following:
“The signing marks a significant milestone for Chile, particularly as our government is committed to advancing technological development as a key pillar of our national strategy,” – “Chile has the opportunity to engage in the design and development of world-leading scientific and technological projects. Moreover, this collaboration allows us to contribute to areas of scientific excellence where Chile has distinguished expertise, such as astrobiology, geology, and mineralogy, all of which are critical for the exploration and colonization of space.”
With the signings at the end of October Cyprus and Chile join Australia, Canada, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States, Ukraine, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Brazil, Poland, Mexico, Israel, Romania, Bahrain, Singapore, Colombia, France, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Rwanda, the Czech Republic, Spain, Ecuador, India, Argentina, Germany, Iceland, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, Angola, Belgium, Greece, Uruguay, Switzerland, Sweden, Slovenia, Lithuania, Peru, Slovakia, Armenia, Estonia, and the Dominican Republic.
Intelsat-33e breaks up in geostationary orbit
On October 19th, Intelsat stated in a press release that the Intelsat-33e communications satellite was suffering from a service outage, as the spacecraft serves customers in Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia. Two days later, the company confirmed that the satellite had broken up, saying:
"Intelsat reported today that the anomaly previously disclosed on October 19 has resulted in the total loss of the Intelsat 33e satellite. We are coordinating with the satellite manufacturer, Boeing, and government agencies to analyze data and observations. A Failure Review Board has been convened to complete a comprehensive analysis of the cause of the anomaly. Since the anomaly, Intelsat has been in active dialogue with affected customers and partners."
Following the breakup, over five hundred pieces of debris were tracked in geostationary orbit by ExoAnalytic Solutions, according to SpaceNews. What caused Intelsat-33e's breakup has not yet been disclosed but the debris will remain in orbit for a few thousand years.
Intelsat-33e was based on Boeing's BSS-702MP satellite platform and launched in August of 2016. The satellite entered service in early 2017 after reaching its geostationary slot, 60 degrees East, after a delay due to propulsion system issues.
Astra wins defense contract
Astra announced on October 23rd that it had been awarded a contract from the Defense Innovation Unit with a maximum value of 44 million United States dollars. The contract is expected to advance and scale up the production of Astra's supposedly "unique tactically responsive launch system", which will have the company's Rocket 4 vehicle fly from the United States, Australia, or others.
Two of Astra's founders, Chris Kemp, currently Astra's Chief Executive Officer, and Dr. Adam London, currently Astra's Chief Technical Officer, commented on the contract award saying:
“This award is a testament not only to our team’s perseverance this past year, but also a validation of our vision for tactically responsive space,” – “We’re proud to have so many partners who understand and support the importance of point-to-point space delivery for national security and defense applications.”
- Chris Kemp
“This is a major vote of confidence in Astra and the continued development of Rocket 4 and our next gen launch system,” – “We are honored to partner with the Defense Innovation Unit as we bring Rocket 4 to market with a renewed focus on reliability and scale.”
- Dr. Adam London
The company also added in its press release that they are currently in the process of moving all of its design and manufacturing efforts into Astra's 250,000-square-foot campus in Alameda, California.
Astra was taken private back in March of this year following a sharp decline in share price due to a less-than-stellar flight history. It remains to be seen if or when Rocket 4 will fly.
SpaceX
This month at Starbase began on October 3rd when Booster 14 was rolled out from the production site to the Massey's test site during the early hours of the morning. The following day had water bags arrive at the launch site ahead of testing of the launch towers 'chopsticks', using a specially made piece of hardware these bags were attached to the 'chopsticks' a little later.
The water bags were filled with water on the evening of October 4th to conduct loading tests on the 'chopsticks'. Previous tests like this have been done in the past, recent months have seen the launch towers 'chopsticks' receive minor modifications.
A few days later on October 7th, Booster 12 and Ship 30 conducted a partial tanking test on the orbital launch mount. In the early hours of October 8th the launch pad deluge system conducted a test, flowing thousands of gallons of water underneath the orbital launch mount. In the sunlight hours of the 8th, Ship 30 was destacked from Booster 12 and placed near the launch tower.
October 9th had what is believed to be the installation of the flight termination system explosives on Booster 12 and Ship 30. Testing of the launch towers 'chopsticks' also occurred late on the 9th.
On October 11th, Ship 30 was lifted back onto Booster 12 for the final stacking ahead of the fifth flight test. The following day, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration granted SpaceX a launch license for the fifth flight test, removing the last major obstacle to launch.
October 13th saw the fifth flight test of Starship-Super Heavy launch with Ship 30 and Booster 12, liftoff occurred at 12:25 pm Universal Coordinated Time. Almost seven minutes after launch, Booster 12 returned to the launch site and was caught by the launch towers 'chopsticks'.
After having caught Booster 12, the 'chopsticks' lowered the booster onto the Orbital Launch Mount. The 14th had teams remove the booster flight termination system explosives removed. October 15th had Booster 12 removed from the Orbital Launch Mount, placed onto a transport stand, and then moved to the production site.
On October 17th, a few days after Booster 12 left the launch site, the Orbital Launch Mounts alignment pins were reinstalled. These pins are used to fine-tune the placement of Super Heavy boosters during stacking, ahead of testing or flight. The 17th also saw the 'chopsticks' open and move for the first time since catching Booster 12 on flight five.
A little over a week after the fifth flight, SpaceX was spotted recovering Booster 12's hot staging ring, as it had jettisoned it ahead of being caught for flight five, out in the Gulf of Mexico. Not long after, Booster 13 was rolled out to the launch site to undergo testing ahead of flight six of Starship-Super Heavy. Late on October 22nd, Booster 13 was lifted onto the Orbital Launch Mount by the launch towers 'chopsticks'.
Two days later on October 24th, Booster 13 underwent a propellant loading test, followed by propellant unloading a little later. Near sunset propellant was flowed back into the booster and it performed a static fire, presumably with all thirty-three of its Raptor engines. The day after performing a static fire, Booster 13 was moved off of the Orbital Launch Mount and rolled back to the production site.
October 26th had Ship 33, the first 'Block 2' Starship vehicle, rolled out from the production site to the Massey's test site in the early morning hours. Booster 13 was also spotted being lifted for hardware installation inside one of the 'mega-bays' a few hours later.
The next day, the 27th, Booster 12 was moved outside from the 'mega-bay' and arrived in the 'rocket garden' at the production site on October 28th. The same day the 'chopsticks' on the launch tower were seen undergoing movement testing near the highest point they can move to.
On October 29th, Ship 33 underwent cryogenic propellant loading tests, partially loading both its liquid methane and liquid oxygen tanks with propellant. The next day, the 30th, Ship 33 performed another cryogenic propellant loading test, filling its tanks with liquid methane and liquid oxygen tanks propellant.
Launches of the Month
This month saw twenty-one launches worldwide, if you want to know what each launch was we have them all listed below!
October 4th - Vulcan for Cert-2
The first launch this month was the second flight of United Launch Alliance's Vulcan rocket. This mission lifted off from Space Launch Complex 41, in Florida, carrying an inert payload and some experiments.
Vulcan's second flight was a success according to the company. An anomaly was observed during the launch as one of the two GEM-63XL solid rocket boosters was seen liberating its nozzle. The first-stage and Centaur V second-stage compensated for the loss of performance to enter the targeting orbit as planned.
Further details about this launch are available here.
October 7th - Falcon 9 with Hera
A Falcon 9 launched the European Space Agency's Hera mission from Space Launch Complex 40, in Florida. Hera is heading to the Didymos binary asteroid system to study the effects of NASA's DART mission to improve understanding of planetary defense missions.
Supporting this mission was booster B1061, making its twenty-third and final flight.
October 10th - Long March 3B/E with WHG-03
The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology's Long March 3B/E lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center carrying the WHG-03, also known as internet high-orbit satellite, to a geostationary transfer orbit. This was also the 99th launch of a Long March 3B launch vehicle.
October 13th - Starship-Super Heavy for Flight 5
The most anticipated launch of the month was Starship-Super Heavy's fifth flight test from SpaceX's launch site near Boca Chica, in south Texas. The flight test had Super Heavy Booster 12 successfully perform the first catch between the launch towers 'chopsticks' while Ship 30 splashed down in the Indian Ocean after passing through atmospheric reentry in one piece. More details about this flight are available here.
October 14th - Falcon Heavy with Europa Clipper
Falcon Heavy launched from Launch Complex 39A on October 14th carrying NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft to an Earth-escape, beginning its journey to Jupiter's moon Europa. Details about this mission are available here.
Supporting this launch were boosters B1089, flying for the first time, B1065, flying for the sixth time, and B1064, also flying for the sixth time.
October 15th - Falcon 9 with Starlink Group 10-10
SpaceX launched a batch of twenty-three Starlink satellites from Space Launch Complex 40, in Florida, atop of Falcon 9. The booster for this mission was B1080, flying for the eleventh time, and landing downrange on the drone ship 'A Shortfall Of Gravitas'.
October 15th - Falcon 9 with Starlink Group 9-7
Another batch of twenty Starlink satellites were launched atop of Falcon 9 from Space Launch Complex 4E, in California. The booster supporting this mission was B1071, making its nineteenth flight, and landing on the drone ship 'Of Course I Still Love You' downrange.
October 15th - Long March 6A with Qianfan Polar Group 02
A Long March 6A launched a second batch of eighteen Qianfan satellites to a polar orbit from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, in the north of Shanxi province.
October 16th - Long March 4C with Gaofen-12 05
The Gaofen-12 05 satellite was launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center atop of a Long March 4C. Following launch, Gaofen-12 05 was tracked to a 586 by 599-kilometer 97.9-degree orbit.
October 19th - Falcon 9 with Starlink Group 8-19
Falcon 9 launched another batch of twenty Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40. Supporting this mission was booster B1076, flying for the seventeenth time, and landing downrange on the drone ship 'Just Read The Instructions'.
October 20th - Falcon 9 with OneWeb 20
Another Falcon 9 lifted off from Space Launch Complex 4E, in California, carrying twenty internet satellites into a polar orbit for OneWeb. Supporting this mission was booster B1082, flying for the seventh time, and landing back at Landing Zone 4.
October 22nd - Long March 6 with Tianping-3
A Long March 6 lifted off from Launch Complex 16 at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center carrying three Tianping-3 satellites to sun-synchronous orbit. The Tianping-3 satellites are expected to provide space environment surveys, orbital prediction model corrections, supporting imaging tests for ground optical equipment, and detection and monitoring tests of the low Earth orbit environment.
October 23rd - Long March 2C with Yaogan-43 Group 03
A Long March 2C blasted off from Launch Complex 3 at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center carrying three satellites for Group 03 of the Yaogan-43 constellation into low Earth orbit. The Yaogan-43 satellites are expected to test technologies for low Earth orbit constellations along with providing data for land surveying, disaster prevention, and monitoring of the Earth below as remote sensing satellites.
October 23rd - New Shepard with NS-27
Blue Origin completed a suborbital flight of New Shepard with a brand new booster and capsule ahead of flying passengers above the Kármán line. This mission also carried twelve payloads onboard instead of passengers. Seven of these payloads were in the capsule while five were on the booster.
October 23rd - Falcon 9 with Starlink Group 6-61
Falcon 9 delivered another twenty-three Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40. The booster for this mission for B1073, on its eighteenth flight, and landing on the drone ship 'A Shortfall of Gravitas' downrange.
October 24th - Falcon 9 with NROL-167
Falcon 9 launched the NROL-167 mission, likely carrying a batch of Starshield satellites, into an undisclosed orbit. Booster B1063 was supporting this mission, flying for the twenty-first time, and landed on the drop ship 'Of Course I Still Love You' downrange.
October 26th - Falcon 9 with Starlink Group 10-8
Twenty-two more Starlink satellites were delivered to low Earth orbit atop of a Falcon 9 flying from Space Launch Complex 40. This mission's booster was B1069, making its nineteenth flight, and landing on the drone ship 'Just Read The Instructions' downrange.
October 29th - Long March 2F/G with Shenzhou-19
Taikonauts Cai Xuzhe (蔡旭哲), Wang Haoze (王浩泽), and Song Lingdong (宋令东) blasted off from Launch Area 4 at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center atop of a Long March 2F/G for the Shenzhou-19 mission to the Tiangong Space Station. Details about this mission can be found here.
October 30th - Falcon 9 with Starlink Group 9-9
A Falcon 9 lifted off from Space Launch Complex 4E carrying twenty Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit. The booster for this mission was B1075, flying for the fourteenth time and landing on the drone ship 'Of Course I Still Love You' downrange.
October 30th - Falcon 9 with Starlink Group 10-13
From Space Launch Complex 40, another Falcon 9 carried twenty-three Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit. Supporting this mission was booster B1078, making its fourteenth flight and landing downrange on the drone ship 'A Shortfall Of Gravitas'.
October 31st - Soyuz 2.1a with Cosmos 2579
A Soyuz 2.1a lifted off from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome carrying the secretive Cosmos 2579 satellite. Cosmos 2579 is believed to be a Bars-M electro-optical imaging satellite with a resolution of approximately one meter.
Launches to look out for in November!
November looks to be another busy month of launches. Listed below are all of the launches expected or very likely to happen next month, launches on the 1st of November may have already occurred due to when this newsletter is published.
November 3rd - Falcon 9 with Starlink Group 6-77
SpaceX is expecting to launch a batch of Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 40.
November 4th - H3 with DSN-3
Japan's H3 launch vehicle is expected to launch the DSN-3 satellite to geostationary transfer orbit from the Tanegashima Space Center. This satellite will be used for Japanese military communications.
November 4th - Electron for 'Changes in Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes'
Rocket Lab is expected to launch an Electron rocket into a sun-synchronous orbit from Launch Complex 1B, located on the Māhia Peninsula. The customer and payload for this mission have not been stated.
November 4th - Soyuz 2.1b with Ionosfera-M 1 & 2
A Soyuz 2.1b is expected to fly to a sun-synchronous orbit carrying two Ionosfera-M satellites. The Ionosfera-M satellites are part of a small constellation for ionospheric and magnetospheric research.
November 5th - Falcon 9 with CRS-31
SpaceX's 31st resupply mission is expected to launch atop of a Falcon 9 from Launch Complex 39A in early November. The booster for this mission is unknown but it is expected to land back at Cape Canaveral.
November 5th - Falcon 9 with Starlink Group 9-10
A Falcon 9 is expected to carry a batch of Starlink satellites to low Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4E.
November 21st - Soyuz 2.1a with Progress MS-29
The Progress MS-29 International Space Station resupply mission is expected to launch atop of a Soyuz 2.1a from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
NET November - New Glenn for its maiden flight
Blue Origin is expecting to launch its first New Glenn launch vehicle from Launch Complex 36 in November. The booster called 'So Your Telling Me There's A Chance' is planning to land on the drone ship 'Jacklyn' downrange.
NET November - Long March 8 with a Qianfan group
A Long March 8 is believed to be targeting launch sometime in the coming weeks from the Wenchang Commerical Space Launch Site. The payload is also believed to be the third batch of Qianfan satellites.
