Weekly Update - March 13 - 22nd
The past nine days have been quite busy for spaceflight.
Here’s a summary of all of the missions and events that have taken place.
Jielong 3 - CentiSpace-1
On March 22 at 11:49 AM EDT China successfully launched Jielong 3 carrying 10x CentiSpace-1 spacecraft.
CentiSpace-1 is a group of Chinese commercial small satellites by Beijing-based company Future, a Navigation, providing GNSS augmentation signal services from LEO. They are part of a planned 160 satellite constellation.
Image Credit: @PhilLeafSpace on Weibo
Soyuz 2.1a - Progress MS-33
On March 22 at 7:59 AM EDT, Russia successfully launched Progress MS-22 to the International Space Station.
This is the 186th flight of Progress, MS-33 is a Russian cargo vehicle that will resupply the International Space Station.
Image Credit: Roscosmos
Falcon 9 - Starlink Group 10-62
On March 22, SpaceX successfully launched Starlink Group 10-62 into orbit, adding 29 more Starlink satellites to the mega-constellation from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida.
The First stage Booster B1078 landed for its 27th time on this mission and previously supported Crew-6, SES O3b mPOWER-B, USSF-124, BlueBird 1-5, Nusantara Lima (PSN N5), and now 22 Starlink missions.
The booster landed on the drone ship, A Shortfall Of Gravitas (ASOG), which was stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
Image Credit: Tyler P.
Falcon 9 - Starlink Group 17-15
On March 20th, SpaceX successfully launched Starlink Group 17-15 into orbit, adding 25 more Starlink satellites to the constellation from SLC-4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.
The first stage Booster, B1100, flew for its 4th time on this mission and previously supported NROL-105 and now three Starlink missions.
The first stage booster landed on the drone ship, Of Course I Still Love You (OCISLY), stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
Image Credit: SpaceX
Electron - Launches Eight Days A Week Mission
On March 20th, Rocket Lab successfully launched Electron from LC-1B in Māhia Peninsula, New Zealand, carrying StriX-6 into Orbit.
The StriX-6 payload is a single Earth-observation radar satellite built and operated by the Japanese company Synspective.
Image Credit: Rocket Lab
Artemis II Rollout
On March 20th, NASA rolled SLS back out to LC-39B in Florida to prepare for the launch of Artemis II, which is currently targeting no earlier than April 1st at 6:24 PM EST.
Image Credit: Asher B.
Falcon 9 - Starlink Group 10-33
On March 19th, SpaceX successfully launched Starlink Group 10-33 into orbit, adding 29 more Starlink satellites to the mega-constellation from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida.
The First stage Booster, B1077, flew for its 27th time on this mission and previously supported Crew-5, GPS III Space Vehicle 06, Inmarsat I6-F2, CRS-28, Intelsat G-37, NG-20, TD7, and now 20 Starlink missions.
The first stage Booster landed on the drone ship, Just Read the Instructions (JRTI), stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
Image Credit: Asher B.
SpaceX Starship Booster 19 - 10 Engine Static Fire
On March 18th, SpaceX conducted a 10-engine static fire test of the first V3 Super Heavy booster (Booster 19). SpaceX confirmed the static fire ended early due to a ground-side issue. The booster is now being prepared for a 33-engine static Fire test.
Credit: SpaceX
Falcon 9 - Starlink Group 10-46
On March 17th, SpaceX successfully launched Starlink Group 10-46 into orbit, adding 29 more Starlink satellites to the mega-constellation from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida.
The First stage Booster, B1090, flew for its 11th time on this mission and previously supported SES O3b mPOWER-E, Crew-10, Bandwagon-3, mPOWER-D, CRS-33, and now six Starlink missions.
The first stage Booster landed on the drone ship, A Shortfall of Gravitas (ASOG), stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
Image Credit: SpaceX
Falcon 9 - Starlink Group 17-24
On March 17th, SpaceX successfully launched Starlink Group 17-24 into orbit, adding 25 more Starlink satellites to the mega-constellation from SLC-4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.
The First stage Booster, B1088, flew for its 14th time on this mission and previously supported NROL-126, Transporter-12, SPHEREx, NROL-57, and now 10 Starlink missions.
The first stage landed on the drone ship, Of Course I Still Love You (OCISLY), stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
Image Credit: SpaceX
Kuaizhou 11 - 8 satellites
On March 16th, EXPACE launched Kuaizhou 11 carrying 8 satellites to a sun-synchronous Orbit.
Payloads: Juntian-104A, Dongpo-11, Dongpo-12, Dongpo-16, Weitong-1-01, Xiguang-1-06, Yuxing-3-05, Yuxing-3-06.
The vehicle launched from Site 95A, Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China
Credit: China Central Television (CCTV)
SpaceX Starlink Group 10-48
On March 14th, SpaceX launched Starlink Group 10-48 into orbit, adding 29 more Starlink satellites to the constellation from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida.
The First stage Booster, B1095, flew for its 6th time on this mission and previously supported six Starlink missions.
The first stage landed on the drone ship, Just Read the Instructions (JRTI) stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
Image Credit: Alex L.
Falcon 9 - Starlink Group 17-31
On March 13th, SpaceX launched Starlink Group 17-31 into orbit, adding 25 more Starlink satellites to the constellation from SLC-4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.
The First stage Booster, B1071, flew for it’s 32rd time on this mission and previously supported NROL-87, NROL-85, SARah-1, SWOT, Transporter-8, Transporter-9, NROL-146, Bandwagon-2, NROL-153, NROL-192, Transporter-14, Transporter-15, and now 20 Starlink missions.
The first stage landed on the drone ship, Of Course I Still Love You (OCISLY), stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
Image Credit: SpaceX
