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WG3K > ANS 12.01.25 01:14l 9 Lines 4842 Bytes #120 (0) @ AMSAT
BID : ANS012.9
Read: GUEST
Subj: Satellite Shorts From All Over
Path: IW8PGT<IZ3LSV<DB0ERF<DK0WUE<PI8ZTM<PI8LAP<K5DAT<N3HYM<WG3K
Sent: 250112/0008Z 12308@WG3K.#SMD.MD.USA.NOAM LinBPQ6.0.24
+ Eutelsat's OneWeb internet constellation experienced a 48-hour outage starting on December 31, 2024, due to a software glitch likely caused by failing to account for the leap year. The issue disrupted internet services but was resolved once the root cause, a ground segment software problem, was identified and addressed. Eutelsat operates over 630 satellites and has been building the OneWeb constellation since 2020 to provide global high-speed internet, targeting business clients rather than direct consumers. The company faced challenges in launching its satellites due to strained relations with Roscosmos following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, forcing it to rely on SpaceX and India for launches. Despite completing its constellation in 2023, regulatory delays in countries like India and Turkey have prevented global broadband coverage, leaving services available only in limited regions. Eutelsat is now planning to update its constellation with 100 new satellites by Airbus, aiming for improved reliability and full global service rollout by spring 2025. (ANS thanks Gizmodohttps://gizmodo.com/ for the above information)
+ Florida's Space Coast set a record with 93 launches in 2024, surpassing the previous year's 74, thanks to innovations from Space Launch Delta 45 and private sector collaboration. Brig. Gen. Kristin Panzenhagen credited advancements like automation, modernized infrastructure, and streamlined processes for the milestone. SpaceX dominated with 88 launches from Florida and completed 134 missions globally, including government, commercial, and test flights. The Space Force introduced initiatives like the "One Falcon" program to support SpaceX's rapid launch cadence, unifying personnel across ranges to enhance efficiency. Although only four launches directly supported national security, innovations in commercial space strengthen resilience and responsiveness for military missions, exemplified by the Rapid Response Trailblazer mission. With Blue Origin's New Glenn and ULA's Vulcan Centaur preparing for national security roles, competition is poised to grow, diversifying capabilities and bolstering launch options. (ANS thanks SpaceNewshttps://spacenews.com/ for the above information)
+ SpaceX's next-generation Starship, Version 2 or Block 2, is set to launch on its seventh test flight from Starbase, Texas, as early as Monday, January 13, 2025, with the launch window opening at 5:00 p.m. EST (4:00 p.m. CST; 2200 UTC). This iteration, taller and more advanced than its predecessors, introduces numerous upgrades, including smaller, repositioned flaps for better heat protection, an enhanced propulsion system, and improved avionics for extended missions. For the first time, SpaceX will test Starship's payload deployment mechanism, releasing mock Starlink satellites on a suborbital trajectory and conducting reentry experiments to refine the vehicle's heat shield and reuse capabilities. The Super Heavy booster, equipped with additional protections and sensor enhancements, aims to achieve another tower catch, a feat last accomplished in October. The mission also marks progress toward full reusability, with one of the booster's engines recovered and reused from a previous flight. These advancements, combined with a focus on orbital refueling and vehicle endurance, lay the groundwork for Starship's future goals, including lunar landings under NASA's Artemis program and beyond. (ANS thanks Ars Technicahttps://arstechnica.com/ for the above information)
+ Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost Mission 1, named "Ghost Riders in the Sky," is set to launch in mid-January aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, marking the company's first lunar mission. The lander, recently integrated at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, will carry 10 NASA payloads and technology demonstrations as part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. These payloads will test conditions between Earth and the moon, investigate lunar geology, and demonstrate innovative technologies like radiation-resistant hardware and lunar GPS. The 60-day mission includes 25 days in Earth orbit, a four-day translunar injection, 16 days in lunar orbit, and two weeks of operations on the moon's surface. During its time on the moon, Blue Ghost will collect critical data and images, including capturing a solar eclipse and documenting the phenomenon of lunar dust levitation, last observed during Apollo 17. The mission will provide valuable insights to support NASA's goal of a sustainable human presence on the moon through Artemis while also showcasing the technical capabilities of private industry. Firefly CEO Jason Kim emphasized the mission as a tribute to Apollo's legacy and a pivotal step forward in advancing lunar exploration. (ANS thanks Space.comhttps://www.space.com/ for the above information)
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