Jonathan's Space Report No. 736 2017 Mar 21 Somerville, MA --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- International Space Station --------------------------- Expedition 50 continues. Soyuz MS-02 is docked at Poisk. Soyuz MS-03 is docked at Rassvet. Progress MS-05 is docked at Pirs. Dragon CRS-10 was berthed at Harmony nadir until Mar 18. The NanoRacks NRCSD-10 deployer was extracted from the Kibo airlock on Mar 6. Four SpireGlobal Lemur satellites and the TechEdSat-5 satellite were deployed from it the same day. The satellites were launched aboard HTV-6 in December. TechEdSat-5 carries an ExoBrake experiment to perform a semi-controlled reentry. The Dextre and Canadarm-2 robot arms were used to unload the experiments in the Dragon external cargo trunk on Feb 25-Mar 7 in a rather complicated sequence involving Dextre's two main arms and its EOTP (Enhanced ORU Temp Platform, a storage position). The experiments were installed on the Express Logistics Carriers ELC-1 and ELC-4 on the station truss. Older experiments from ELC-1, ELC-2 and ELC-4 were removed for disposal. Feb 25 Dextre Arm 2 removes STP-H5 from Dragon Feb 27 Dextre Arm 1 removes OPALS from ELC-1 F8 Feb 28 Dextre Arm 1 installs OPALS on Dextre EOTP Feb 28 STP-H5 transferred from Arm 2 to Arm 1 Feb 28 Dextre Arm 1 installs STP-H5 on ELC-1 F8. Mar 2 2313 Dextre Arm 2 moves SAGE-IP from Dragon to Dextre EOTP Mar 3 1547 Dextre Arm 1 removes SAGE-NVP from Dragon Mar 3 2222 Dextre Arm 2 moves OPALS from EOTP to Dragon trunk Mar 5 Dextre Arm 2 removes RRM from ELC-4 F3 Mar 5 Dextre Arm 1 installs SAGE-NVP on ELC-4 F3 Mar 7 Dextre Arm 1 removes SAGE-IP from EOTP, installs it on SAGE-NVP. Mar 8 Dextre Arm 2 installs RRM on EOTP. Mar 10 Dextre removes DCSU from ELC-2 F2 Mar 10 Dextre removes MISSE FSE from ELC-2 F3 Mar 10 Dextre reinstalls DCSU on ELC-2 F2 Mar 13 Dextre installs MISSE FSE in Dragon trunk. Mar 16 Dextre Arm 1 moves RRM from EOTP to Dragon trunk. The OPALS laser comm payload was launched in 2014; the RRM Robotic Refuelling Mission experiment in 2011. The MISSE FSE is an adapter that mounted the MISSE 7 and 8 materials exposure experiments; it was launched with ELC-2 in 2009. These packages, with a total mass of 811 kg, were destroyed on reentry when the Dragon trunk was jettisoned following Dragon's deorbit burn. Dragon was unberthed from the Harmony module at 2145 UTC Mar 18 and released by Canadarm-2 at 0911 UTC Mar 19. After a deorbit burn at 1355 UTC it splashed down in the Pacific near 31 44N 121 15W at 1446 UTC, carrying 1652 kg of ISS return cargo. This return cargo includes 104 kg of unspecified EVA equipment, per Stephen Clark of spaceflightnow.com. NROL-79 ------- ULA launched Atlas V serial AV-068 on Mar 1 from Vandenberg, carrying a National Reconnaissance Office payload to orbit on NRO launch NROL-79. The payload is thought to be an NRO/Navy signals intelligence system code-named INTRUDER consisting of a pair of satellites in 1010 x 1200 km x 63 deg orbit. Both satellites were observed by hobbyists on Mar 3. The Centaur second stage was deorbited south of Australia on the first orbit with impact around 1956 UTC. KT-2 ---- On Mar 2 China's CASIC missile agency launched the KT-2, a new orbital launch vehicle developed by CASIC's 4th Academy. It placed a small satellite, Tiankun-1, in orbit. Tiankun 1, built by the CASIC 2nd Academy (CCMETA), is a test of a new satellite bus and probably has a mass of a few hundred kg. So far as I know the only large missile developed previously by CASIC was the DF-21 and its JL-1 submarine sibling; the KT-1 and KZ-1 launch vehicles are thought to be based on the DF-21. It has been suggested that KT-2 is based on the DF-31 missile which was originally developed by CASIC's rival CALT which built the CZ-11 rocket based on that missile. This is a bit strange, but would be similar to the way China's leaders made Beijing's CALT and the Shanghai bureau develop the rival-but-similar CZ-2 and FB-1 launch vehicles in the 1970s. PSLV launch ----------- Identification of the 104 satellites from the PSLV launch is continuing with most of the Flock-3p now associated with a catalog number. The Nayif-1 satellite with its Funcube-5 amateur radio payload has been designated Emirates-OSCAR-88 by AMSAT. The SpireGlobal Lemur satellites are not yet identified. Sentinel-2B ----------- The ESA Sentinel-2B imaging satellite, part of the EU's Copernicus Earth observing system, was launched by Vega VV09 on Mar 7. Echostar 23 ----------- The Echostar 23 communications sat will provide television services to Brazil and Latin America for Echostar Corp. It was launched by Falcon 9 F31; the first stage on this mission did not have landing legs and no recovery was attempted. IGS R5 ------- At 0120 UTC Mar 17, Japan launched the Joho shushu eisei Reda 5-goki (IGS Radar 5) spy satellite into polar orbit. WGS 9 ----- Wideband Global Satcom 9 is to be added to the US DoD communications satellite constellation. This WGS was partly funded by allied countries, although it is still owned and operated by USAF. A United Launch Alliance Delta 4 sent the satellite aloft on Mar 19, first into a 185 x 6097 km x 27.6 deg parking orbit and then to a 430 x 44262 km x 27.0 deg supersynchronous transfer orbit. The Delta 377 second stage was deorbited over the Pacific near the Phillipines with reentry around 1230 UTC. Cassini ------- Cassini continues ring close approaches in a 86600 x 1226000 km x 63.6 deg orbit around Saturn. This 'Molniya'-style frozen orbit exploits a peculiarity of orbital mechanics: an object in orbit with inclination i around an oblate (flattened) planet like Earth or Saturn causes the orbital ellipse to rotate in its orbital plane at a rate proportional to 4 - 5 sin-squared i, which is zero if i = 63.4 degrees. Using this 'magic' inclination keeps the close approach to Saturn in the ring plane instead of letting it drift to higher latitudes. On Apr 22 Cassini will make its last close flyby of Titan; this will lower the orbital periapsis to only 2600 km above Saturn's cloud tops and begin the Proximal Orbits phase of the mission. It will also mark a record close approach to Saturn, finally beating the record it set in Jun 2004 when it came within 18100 km during Saturn arrival. Table of Recent Orbital Launches ---------------------------------- Date UT Name Launch Vehicle Site Mission INTL. Catalog Perigee Apogee Incl Notes km km deg Feb 14 2139 SkyBrasil-1) Ariane 5ECA Kourou ELA3 Comms 07B S41945 35662 x 35785 x 0.1 Telkom-3S ) Comms 07A S41944 35641 x 35810 x 0.0 Feb 15 0358 Cartosat-2 Series/4) PSLV-XL Sriharikota FLP Imaging 08A S41948 505 x 520 x 97.5 INS-1A ) Tech 08B S41949 496 x 508 x 97.5 INS-1B ) Imaging 08G S41954 496 x 507 x 97.5 BGUSat ) Tech 08BW? S42016? 496 x 506 x 97.5 PEASSS ) Tech 08BV S42015 496 x 506 x 97.5 Al-Farabi 1 ) Tech 08BD? S41999? 496 x 506 x 97.5 Dido-2 ) Micrograv 08BE S42000 496 x 506 x 97.5 Nayif-1 ) Tech 08BX S42017 496 x 506 x 97.5 Lemur-2-Jopanbutra ) Com/Met-RO 08AV? S41991? 496 x 506 x 97.5 Lemur-2-Spire-Minions) Com/Met-RO 08AW? S41992? 496 x 506 x 97.5 Lemur-2-Satchmo ) Com/Met-RO 08AX? S41993? 496 x 506 x 97.5 Lemur-2-RDeaton ) Com/Met-RO 08AY? S41994? 496 x 506 x 97.5 Lemur-2-Smita-Sharad ) Com/Met-RO 08AZ? S41995? 496 x 506 x 97.5 Lemur-2-Mia-Grace ) Com/Met-RO 08BA? S41996? 496 x 506 x 97.5 Lemur-2-NoguesCorreig) Com/Met-RO 08BB? S41997? 496 x 506 x 97.5 Lemur-2-Tachikoma ) Com/Met-RO 08BC? S41998? 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-1 ) Imaging 08V S41967 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-2 ) Imaging 08U S41966 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-3 ) Imaging 08W S41968 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-4 ) Imaging 08T S41965 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-5 ) Imaging 08Z S41971 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-6 ) Imaging 08X S41969 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-7 ) Imaging 08Y S41970 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-8 ) Imaging 08D S41951 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-9 ) Imaging 08AB S41973 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-10 ) Imaging 08AC S41974 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-11 ) Imaging 08AD S41975 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-12 ) Imaging 08AA S41972 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-13 ) Imaging 08CW S42040 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-14 ) Imaging 08BS S42012 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-15 ) Imaging 08CV S42039 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-16 ) Imaging 08BR S42011 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-17 ) Imaging 08Q S41962 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-18 ) Imaging 08K S41957 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-19 ) Imaging 08H S41955 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-20 ) Imaging 08C S41950 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-21 ) Imaging 08M S41959 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-22 ) Imaging 08L S41958 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-23 ) Imaging 08BY S42018 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-24 ) Imaging 08J S41956 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-25 ) Imaging 08S S41964 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-26 ) Imaging 08P S41961 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-27 ) Imaging 08R S41963 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-28 ) Imaging 08N S41960 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-29 ) Imaging 08DB? S42045? 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-30 ) Imaging 08AR S41987 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-31 ) Imaging 08DF S42049 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-32 ) Imaging 08CD S42023 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-33 ) Imaging 08AU S41990 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-34 ) Imaging 08AS S41988 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-35 ) Imaging 08AT S41989 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-36 ) Imaging 08AQ S41986 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-37 ) Imaging 08F S41953 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-38 ) Imaging 08CT S42037 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-39 ) Imaging 08CU S42038 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-40 ) Imaging 08BQ S42010 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-41 ) Imaging 08BJ S42004 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-42 ) Imaging 08BN S42008 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-43 ) Imaging 08BM S42007 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-44 ) Imaging 08CP S42033 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-45 ) Imaging 08BK S42005 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-46 ) Imaging 08CM S42032 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-47 ) Imaging 08CN S42033 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-48 ) Imaging 08BL S42006 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-49 ) Imaging 08BF S42001 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-50 ) Imaging 08CK S42029 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-51 ) Imaging 08E S41952 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-52 ) Imaging 08CL S42030 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-53 ) Imaging 08BT S42013 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-54 ) Imaging 08BU S42014 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-55 ) Imaging 08CX S42041 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-56 ) Imaging 08CY S42042 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-57 ) Imaging 08AG S41978 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-58 ) Imaging 08AF S41977 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-59 ) Imaging 08CB S42021 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-60 ) Imaging 08AE S41976 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-61 ) Imaging 08BP S42009 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-62 ) Imaging 08CS S42036 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-63 ) Imaging 08CR S42035 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-64 ) Imaging 08CQ S42034 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-65 ) Imaging 08CJ S42028 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-66 ) Imaging 08CH S42027 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-67 ) Imaging 08BG S42002 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-68 ) Imaging 08BH S42003 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-69 ) Imaging 08BZ S42019 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-70 ) Imaging 08AJ S41980 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-71 ) Imaging 08DH S42051 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-72 ) Imaging 08CE? S42024? 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-73 ) Imaging 08AK S41981 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-74 ) Imaging 08DE S42048 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-75 ) Imaging 08AH S41979 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-76 ) Imaging 08CA S42020 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-77 ) Imaging 08CF S42025 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-78 ) Imaging 08DD S42047 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-79 ) Imaging 08AN S41984 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-80 ) Imaging 08CG S42026 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-81 ) Imaging 08CZ S42043 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-82 ) Imaging 08DC? S42046? 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-83 ) Imaging 08DG? S42050? 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-84 ) Imaging 08CC S42022 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-85 ) Imaging 08AM S41983 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-86 ) Imaging 08AP S41985 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-87 ) Imaging 08DA S42044 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-88 ) Imaging 08AL S41982 496 x 506 x 97.5 Feb 19 1439 Dragon CRS-10 Falcon 9 Kennedy LC39A Cargo 09A S42053 204 x 359 x 51.6 Feb 22 0558 Progress MS-05 Soyuz-U Baykonur LC1 Cargo 10A S42056 186 x 210 x 51.6 Mar 1 1749 USA 274 ) Atlas V 401 Vandenberg SLC3E Sigint 11A S42058 1010 x 1204 x 63.4 USA 274 P/L 2) Sigint 11B - 1009 x 1204 x 63.5 Mar 2 2353 Tiankun-1 KT-2 Jiuquan Tech 12A S42062 373 x 404 x 96.9 Mar 6 1025 Lemur-2-Trutna ) ISS, LEO AIS/MetRO 98067LA? S42059? 396 x 409 x 51.6 Lemur-2-TrutnaHD ) AIS/MetRO 98067LB? 396 x 409 x 51.6 Mar 6 1505 Lemur-2-Austintacious ) ISS, LEO AIS/MetRO 98067LC? 396 x 409 x 51.6 Lemur-2-Redfern-Goes ) AIS/MetRO 98067LD? 396 x 409 x 51.6 Mar 6 1820 TechEdSat-5 ISS, LEO Tech 98067LE? 396 x 409 x 51.6 Mar 7 0149 Sentinel-2B Vega CSG ZLV Imaging 13A S42063 776 x 782 x 98.6 Mar 16 0600 Echostar 23 Falcon 9 Kennedy LC39A Comms 14A S42070 179 x 35903 x 22.4 Mar 17 0120 IGS Radar 5 H-IIA 202 Tanegashima Radar Imaging 15A S42072 500?x 510?x 97.5 Mar 19 0018 WGS 9 Delta 4M+(5,4) Canaveral SLC37B Comms 16A S42075 430 x 44262 x 27.0 Table of Recent Suborbital Launches ----------------------------------- Date UT Payload/Flt Name Launch Vehicle Site Mission Apogee/km Target Feb 4 0830 SFTM-1 Target ? Kauai Target 200? Pacific Fab 4 0833? SFTM-1 KV SM-3-IIA DDG-53, Pacific Intercept 150? SFTM-1 Feb 9 0739 RV x 3? Minuteman 3 Vandenberg LF10 Test 1300? Kwajalein Feb 11 2255 RV Bukgueksong-2 North Pyongan Test 500? Sea of Japan Feb 14 1130 RV x 8? Trident D-5 Unknown sub, Cape Arguello Test 1000? Wake Island Feb 14 1420 RV x 8? Trident D-5 Unknown sub, Cape Arguello Test 1000? Wake Island Feb 15? RV x 8? Trident D-5 Unknown sub, Cape Arguello Test 1000? Wake Island Feb 16? RV x 8? Trident D-5 Unknown sub, Cape Arguello Test 1000? Wake Island Feb 22 1014 ISINGLASS-1 Black Brant 9 Poker Flat, Alaska Auroral 362 Poker Flat zone 4 Mar 2 0541 NASA 36.301GE Black Brant 9 Poker Flat, Alaska Auroral 330 Poker Flat zone 4 Mar 2 0542 NASA 36.306GE Black Brant 9 Poker Flat, Alaska Auroral 190 Poker Flat zone 4 Mar 2 0750 ISINGLASS-2 Black Brant 9 Poker Flat, Alaska Auroral 365 Poker Flat zone 4 Mar 5 2237 RV Hwasong ER? Sohae? Test 260? Sea of Japan Mar 5 RV Hwasong ER? Sohae? Test 260? Sea of Japan Mar 6? RV Hwasong ER? Sohae? Test 260? Sea of Japan Mar 6? RV Hwasong ER? Sohae? Test 260? Sea of Japan Mar 15 1043 REXUS 21 Imp. Orion Kiruna Micrograv 86 ESRANGE B zone Mar 16 1300 REXUS 22 Imp. Orion Kiruna Micrograv 84 ESRANGE B zone .-------------------------------------------------------------------------. | Jonathan McDowell | | | Somerville MA 02143 | inter : planet4589 at gmail | | USA | twitter: @planet4589 | | | | JSR: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html | | Back issues: http://www.planet4589.org/space/jsr/back | | Subscribe/unsub: http://www.planet4589.org/mailman/listinfo/jsr | '-------------------------------------------------------------------------'