Jonathan's Space Report No. 767 2019 Aug 2 Somerville, MA --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- International Space Station --------------------------- Expedition 60 continues. Soyuz MS-13 was launched on Jul 20 and docked with the Zvezda module 6h 19 min after launch. Crew were Aleksandr Skvortsov, Luca Parmitano and Drew Morgan. They joined Aleksey Ovchinin, Nick Hague and Christina Koch aboard the ISS. Cargo ship Dragon CRS-18 was launched on Jul 25. The Falcon 9 stage 1 landed back at Cape Canaveral's LZ1. Dragon was grappled by the Canadarm-2 at 1311 UTC Jul 27 and berthed on the Harmony nadir port by 1601 UTC Jul 27. Cargo ship Progress MS-11 undocked from the Pirs module at 1043 UTC Jul 29 and was deorbited over the Pacific, with deorbit burn at 1350 UTC and atmosphere entry at 1423 UTC. Progress MS-12 was launched on Jul 31 and docked with Pirs after a 3h 18m flight, the fastest trip to date from Earth to ISS. Soyuz-2-1v ----------- On Jul 10 Russia launched a Soyuz-2-1v (light Soyuz with no strapon boosters) from Plesetsk. The Volga third stage placed 4 Russian Defense Ministry satellites in a 620 km sun-sync orbit and then maneuvered to a lower 475 x 510 km disposal orbit. At least one of the satellites is thought to be similar to the Kosmos-2519 (possible Nivelir-L) payload launched two years ago and used for rendezvous experiments. Vega ---- Flight VV15 of Europe's Vega launch vehicle was the rocket's first failure. Problems developed about 2 min 15s into flight during the second stage burn and the rocket fell into the Atlantic. The payload was Falcon Eye 1, a French-built spy satellite for the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces. SRG --- On Jul 13 Russia's Spectrum-Rontgen-Gamma X-ray observatory was launched by Proton/DM-03 from Baykonur, after a 30 year development process. In its current form, SRG carries the Russian ART X-ray telescope and the European eROSITA X-ray telescope. eROSITA will carry out a sky survey in the relatively unexplored 2-10 keV energy band. The spacecraft is on its way to the Sun-Earth Lagrange 2 point. Chandrayaan-2 ------------- ISRO launched a GSLV-3 on Jul 22, putting the Chandrayaan-2 lunar probe in geotransfer orbit. The probe will use its own engine to raise its orbit and reach the Moon. The Vikram lander will then deliver the Pragyan rover to the lunar surface. By Aug 2, Chandrayaan-2 had raised its orbit to 277 x 89472 km. SQX-1 ----- On Jul 25 the first launch of the orbital version of the Shuang Quxian-1 (Hyperbola-1) rocket was a success. It placed a Beijing Inst of Technology amateur radio satellite and another payload in orbit, as well as several experiments attached to the liquid-propellant 4th stage. The second payload, believed to be an inflatable air density experiment from Aerospace Science and Tech. Space Eng. Dvpt. Co Ltd of Beijing, and the fourth stage are believed to have reentered within 24 hours and no orbital data for them was released by US tracking. The Shang Quxian-1 rocket was developed by the Beijing xingji rongyao kongjian keji YG (Beijing Interstellar Glory Space Tech Co. Ltd., also known as iSpace). This represents the first successful orbital launch by a commercially-developed and operated Chinese rocket. YG-30 ----- The three Yaogan-30 group 05 satellites were launched on Jul 26 from Xichang. The CZ-2C first stage was modified to use grid fins, which helped it steer its trajectory to a relatively precise impact location. Meridian-M ---------- The first upgraded Meridian-M military communications satellite, No. 18L, was launched on Jul 30. It will supplement the original Meridian satellites Nos. 11-17L. Hayabusa-2 ---------- Hayabusa-2 made its second sampling touch-and-go on the surface of Ryugu at 0106UTC Jul 11. Note ---- Many of the payloads from the 2019-032, 2019-036 and 2019-038 launches remain unassociated with specific tracked objects. Table of Recent Orbital Launches ---------------------------------- Date UT Name Launch Vehicle Site Mission INTL. Catalog Perigee Apogee Incl Notes Jun 5 0406 Jilin-1 GaoFen 03A ) Chang Zheng 11H Barge, Yellow Sea Imaging 32 S44310 558 x 576 x 45.0 Tianqi-3 ) Comms 32 S44311 556 x 576 x 45.0 Xiaoxiang-1 04 xing ) Imaging 32 S44312 557 x 575 x 45.0 Bufeng-1A ) Meteo 32 S44313 555 x 576 x 45.0 Bufeng-1B ) Meteo 32 S44314 555 x 576 x 45.0 Tianxiang 1 ) Tech 32 S44315 552 x 576 x 45.0 Tianxiang 2 ) Tech 32 S44316 556 x 576 x 45.0 Jun 12 1417 RCM-1 ) Falcon 9 Vandenberg SLC4E Radar 33A S44322 584 x 604 x 97.8 0600LT SSO RCM-2 ) Radar 33B S44323 584 x 604 x 97.8 0600LT SSO RCM-3 ) Radar 33C S44324 584 x 604 x 97.8 0600LT SSO Jun 17 1015 Uguisu ) ISS, LEO Tech 9867QG S44331 405 x 417 x 51.6 Raavana-1 ) Tech 9867QF S44330 405 x 417 x 51.6 NepaliSat-1 ) Tech 9867QE S44329 405 x 417 x 51.6 Jun 17 1020 SpooQy-1 ISS, LEO Tech 9867QH S44332 405 x 417 x 51.6 Jun 20 2143 T-16 ) Ariane 5 Kourou ELA3 Comms 34A S44333 255 x35737 x 6.0 Eutelsat 7C ) Comms 34B S44334 251 x35714 x 6.0 Jun 24 1809 Beidou DW46 Chang Zheng 3B Xichang LC3 Nav 35A S44337 200 x35822 x 28.6 Jun 25 0630 OCULUS-ASR ) Tech 36T S44356 305 x 858 x 28.5 TEPCE 1 ) Falcon Heavy Kennedy LC39A Tech 36 305 x 858 x 28.5 TEPCE 2 ) Tech 36 305 x 858 x 28.5 DOTSI/Falconsat-7 ) Tech 36 305 x 858 x 28.5 ARMADILLO ) Tech 36 305 x 858 x 28.5 PSAT-2 ) Comms 36U S44357 305 x 858 x 28.5 BRICSAT-2 ) Tech 36 305 x 858 x 28.5 Prometheus-2.6 ) Comms 36AB S44386 305 x 858 x 28.5 Prometheus Mass Sim ) Inert 36 305 x 858 x 28.5 E-TBEx A ) Science 36 305 x 858 x 28.5 E-TBEx B ) Science 36 305 x 858 x 28.5 LEO-CP9 ) Tech 36X S44360 305 x 858 x 28.5 StangSat ) Tech 36 305 x 858 x 28.5 PROX-1 ) Tech 36A S44339 710 x 724 x 24.0 NPSAT-1 ) Science 36B S44340 710 x 724 x 24.0 OTB ) Tech/Burial 36C S44341 710 x 724 x 24.0 GPIM ) Tech 36D S44342 710 x 724 x 24.0 COSMIC 2-1 ) Meteo 36L S44349 710 x 724 x 24.0 COSMIC 2-2 ) Meteo 36N S44351 710 x 724 x 24.0 COSMIC 2-3 ) Meteo 36E S44343 710 x 724 x 24.0 COSMIC 2-4 ) Meteo 36M S44350 710 x 724 x 24.0 COSMIC 2-5 ) Meteo 36V S44358 710 x 724 x 24.0 COSMIC 2-6 ) Meteo 36Q S44353 710 x 724 x 24.0 DSX ) Science 36F 5994 x12012 x 42.2 Jun 27 2005 RED-EYE ISS, LEO Tech 9867QJ S44364 408 x 418 x 51.6 Jun 29 0430 BlackSky Global 3 ) Electron Mahia LC1 Imaging 37C S44367 452 x 460 x 45.0 SpaceBEE 8 ) Comms 37 452 x 460 x 45.0 SpaceBEE 9 ) Comms 37 452 x 460 x 45.0 ACRUX 1 ) Tech 37 452 x 460 x 45.0 Prometheus 2.7 ) Comms 37K S44374 452 x 460 x 45.0 Prometheus 2.9 ) Comms 37B S44366 452 x 460 x 45.0 UNIDENTIFIED PAYLOAD) UNK 37 452 x 460 x 45.0 Jul 1? Oculus-ASR Sphere 1 Oculus-ASR,LEO Cal 36AA S44376 306 x 796 x 28.5 Jul 2 0749 LightSail-2 PROX-1, LEO Tech 36AC S44420 710 x 724 x 24.0 Jul 3 1015 IOD-1 GEMS ISS, LEO Tech 9867QK S44385 408 x 418 x 51.6 Jul 3 1150 KrakSat ) ISS, LEO Tech 9867QL S44426 408 x 418 x 51.6 Swiatowid ) Tech 9867QM S44427 408 x 418 x 51.6 Jul 3 1450 VCC-A Aeternitas) ISS, LEO Tech 9867QN S44428 408 x 418 x 51.6 VCC-B Libertas ) Tech 9867QR S44431 408 x 418 x 51.6 VCC-C Ceres ) Tech 9867QQ S44430 408 x 418 x 51.6 Jul 3 1625 EntrySat ISS, LEO Tech 9867QP S44429 408 x 418 x 51.6 Jul 5 0541 Meteor-M No. 2-2 ) Soyuz-2-1B/Fregat Vostochniy Weather 38A S44387 812 x 816 x 98.7 ICEYE-X4 ) Radar 38D S44390 574 x 595 x 97.7 ICEYE-X5 ) Radar 38C S44389 574 x 595 x 97.7 CarboNIX ) Tech 38 574 x 595 x 97.7 DoT-1 ) Tech 38P S44399 574 x 595 x 97.7 El Camino Real ) Tech 38Y S44408 574 x 595 x 97.7 NSLSat-1 ) Tech/Comm 38 574 x 595 x 97.7 SEAM 2.0 ) Science 38 574 x 595 x 97.7 SONATE ) Tech 38 574 x 595 x 97.7 JAISAT 1 ) Comm 38 574 x 595 x 97.7 EXOCONNECT ) Comm 38 574 x 595 x 97.7 LightSat ) Comm 38 574 x 595 x 97.7 Ecuador-UTE ) Tech 38 574 x 595 x 97.7 Lucky-7 ) Tech 38W S44406 574 x 595 x 97.7 MOVE-IIb ) Tech 38 574 x 595 x 97.7 MTCube ) Tech 38 574 x 595 x 97.7 Koit TTU101 ) Imaging 38 574 x 595 x 97.7 BEESAT 9 ) Tech 38 574 x 595 x 97.7 BEESAT 10 ) Tech 38 574 x 595 x 97.7 BEESAT 11 ) Tech 38 574 x 595 x 97.7 BEESAT 12 ) Tech 38 574 x 595 x 97.7 BEESAT 13 ) Tech 38 574 x 595 x 97.7 Lemur-2-Morag ) Met/AIS 38T S44403 574 x 595 x 97.7 Lemur-2-Wanli ) Met/AIS 38S S44402 574 x 595 x 97.7 Lemur-2-Yndrd ) Met/AIS 38U S44404 574 x 595 x 97.7 Lemur-2-EJatta ) Met/AIS 38Z S44409 574 x 595 x 97.7 Lemur-2-LillyJo ) Met/AIS 38L S44396 574 x 595 x 97.7 Lemur-2-DustInTheWind ) Met/AIS 38V S44405 574 x 595 x 97.7 Lemur-2-Alex-Maddy ) Met/AIS 38X S44407 574 x 595 x 97.7 Lemur-2-GregRobinson ) Met/AIS 38AB S44411 574 x 595 x 97.7 AmGU 1 ) Tech 38J S44394 574 x 595 x 97.7 Sokrat ) Tech 38 574 x 595 x 97.7 VDNKh-80 ) Tech 38G S44392 574 x 595 x 97.7 Jul 10 1714 Kosmos-2535 ) Soyuz 2-1V Plesetsk LC43/4 Tech 39A S44421 611 x 622 x 97.9 Kosmos-2536 ) Tech 39B S44422 611 x 622 x 97.9 Kosmos-2537 ) Tech 39C S44423 611 x 622 x 97.9 Kosmos-2538 ) Tech 39D S44424 611 x 622 x 97.9 Jul 11 0153 FalconEye 1 Vega CSG ZLV Imaging F05 -6175? x 75?x 98.5? Jul 12 1230 Spektr-RG Proton-M/DM-03 Baykonur LC81/24 Astronomy 40A 500 x1240000 x 51.6 Jul 20 1628 Soyuz MS-13 Soyuz-FG Baykonur LC1/5 Spaceship 41A S44437 200 x 211 x 51.6 Jul 22 0913 Chandrayaan 2 GSLV-3 Satish Dhawan Lunar 42A S44441 133 x45171 x 21.4 Jul 25 0500 CAS-7B ) Shuang Quxian 1 Jiuquan Comms 43 S44443 280 x 299 x 42.7 Hangtian KKG Fazhang sat) Tech 43 Jul 25 2201 Dragon CRS-18 Falcon 9 Canaveral SLC40 Cargo 44A S44446 203 x 386 x 51.6 Jul 26 0357 Yaogan-30 05 zu 01 xing ) Chang Zheng 2C Xichang Sigint 45A S44449 590 x 605 x 35.0 Yaogan-30 05 zu 02 xing ) Sigint 45B S44450 590 x 605 x 35.0 Yaogan-30 05 zu 03 xing ) Sigint 45C S44451 590 x 605 x 35.0 Jul 30 0557 Meridian-M No. 18L Soyuz-2-1A/Fregat Plesetsk LC43/4 Comms 46A S44453 985 x39734 x 62.8 Jul 31 1210 Progress MS-12 Soyuz-2-1A Baykonur LC31 Cargo 47A S44455 185 x 218 x 51.6 Table of Recent Suborbital Launches ----------------------------------- The FTA-01 exercise saw three US Missile Defense Agency medium range targets of undisclosed type launched from an undisclosed location on undisclosed dates in July, all intercepted by Israeli Arrow 3 interceptors launched from Kodiak, Alaska. Dates, target types and target launch location shown below are speculative. Date UT Payload/Flt Name Launch Vehicle Site Mission Apogee/km Target Jun 1 2015? RV JL-3? Submarine,Bohai Sea Test 1000? Taklamakan Desert Jun 13 0221 ATEK/MAPHEUS 8 IM/VS-30 ESRANGE Microgravity 240 ESRANGE Jun 19 1128 TooWINDY 1 Black Brant IX Kwajalein Ionosphere 373 Pacific Jun 19 1133 TooWINDY 2 Black Brant IX Kwajalein Ionosphere 412 Pacific Jun 20 0938 NASA 41.126UO Terrier Imp.Orion Wallops Island Education 117 Atlantic Jun 24 0652 MASER 14 VSB-30 ESRANGE Microgravity 260 ESRANGE Jul 15? MRBM Target eMRBM? C-17, Kauai? Target 300? Alaska Jul 15? Arrow 3 KV Arrow 3 Kodiak Interceptor 100? Intercept MRBM Jul 24 Shahab RV Shahab 3 Iran Test 250? Iran? Jul 26 Topol-E RV Topol' Kapustin Yar Reentry test 1000? Sary Shagan Jul 22? MRBM Target eMRBM? C-17, Kauai? Target 300? Alaska Jul 22? Arrow 3 KV Arrow 3 Kodiak Interceptor 100? Intercept MRBM Jul 27? MRBM Target eMRBM? C-17, Kauai? Target 300? Alaska Jul 27? Arrow 3 KV Arrow 3 Kodiak Interceptor 100? Intercept MRBM .-------------------------------------------------------------------------. | 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 | '-------------------------------------------------------------------------'