A H-2A rocket launched Japan’s first Optical Data Relay Satellite with laser communications capabilities on Sunday from the Tanegashima Space Center.
The civilian-military spacecraft will relay data from Japan’s optical and radar-imaging Information Gathering Satellites as well as JAXA’s scientific spacecraft.
JAXA’s Laser Utilsing Communication System (LUCAS) will use infrared technology to transmit data between the spacecraft and the ground.
The H-2A rocket lifted off at 4:25 p.m. local time from the southern Japanese island. The spacecraft separated at an altitude of 300 km and is using on-board propulsion to reach geosynchronous orbit.
A H-2A rocket launched $272 million reconnaissance satellite for the Japanese government on Sunday.
The booster lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center in southern Japan carrying the Information Gathering Satellite Optical 7 (IGS-Optical 7) spacecraft.
The satellite will replace IGS-Optical 5, whose five-year on-orbit lifetime is expiring this year. The spacecraft was launched in 2015.
It was Japan’s first launch of 2020 and the 35th success in a row for the H-2A booster.
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is seen as it launches from Vandenberg Air Force Base Space Launch Complex 4 East with the Jason-3 spacecraft onboard, , Sunday, Jan. 17, 2016, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. (Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls)
A SpaceX Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California has been delayed until Wednesday, Feb. 21. The launch had been previously scheduled for Feb. 16 and Feb. 18.
The primary payload is the Paz satellite for Hisdesat of Spain. The spacecraft will provide radar imaging as well as ship tracking and weather data. The flight will use a previously-flown first stage.
Elon Musk’s company will also launch two of its own satellites, Microsat-2a and Microsat-2b, that will demonstration technologies needed to provide global broadband services. The company plans to orbit 12,000 in two separate constellations for its Starlink broadband service.
Here is the launch schedule for the next two weeks. Check for updates here.
Feb. 21
Launch Vehicle: Falcon 9 Payload: Paz Launch Time: 9:17 a.m. EST; 6:17 a.m. PST (1417 GMT) Launch Site: Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
Built by Airbus Defense and Space, Hisdesat’s Paz satellite will provide radar imaging as well as ship tracking and weather data. The flight will use a previously-flown first stage.
Feb. 24/25
Launch Vehicle: H-2A Payload: IGS Optical 6 Launch Window: 11:00 p.m.-1:00 a.m. EST on Feb. 24 (0400-0600 GMT on Feb. 25) Launch site: Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
The Japanese government’s Information Gathering Satellite carries an optical reconnaissance payload.
A Chinese Long March 3B booster successfully orbited two Beidou navigational satellites on Monday. The flight, which took off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, was the seventh orbital launch by China in 2018, leading all nations thus far.
SpaceX also conducted a static fire of a Falcon 9 booster on Monday at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The rocket is set to launch Hisdesat’s Paz satellite on Saturday using a previously-flown first stage. The launch will be followed by another flight five days later from Cape Canaveral in Florida.
Here is the launch schedule for the weeks ahead. Check for updates here.
Feb. 17
Launch Vehicle: Falcon 9 Payload: Paz Launch Time: 9:22 a.m. EST; 6:22 a.m. PST (1422 GMT) Launch Site: Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
Built by Airbus Defense and Space, Hisdesat’s Paz satellite will provide radar imaging as well as ship tracking and weather data. The flight will use a previously-flown first stage.
The Hispasat 30W-6 satellite, built by Space Systems/Loral, will provide communications services over Europe, North Africa and the Americas.
Feb. 24/25
Launch Vehicle: H-2A Payload: IGS Optical 6 Launch Window: 11:00 p.m.-1:00 a.m. EST on Feb. 24 (0400-0600 GMT on Feb. 25) Launch site: Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
The Japanese government’s Information Gathering Satellite carries an optical reconnaissance payload.
March 1
Launch Vehicle: Atlas 5 Payload: GOES-S Launch Time: 5:02-7:02 p.m. EST (2202-0002 GMT) Launch Site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
The United Launch Alliance rocket will launch the second next-generation geostationary weather satellite for NASA and NOAA.
March 6
Launch Vehicle: Soyuz Payload: O3b F4 Launch Time: 11:38:36 a.m. EST (1638:36 GMT) Launch Site: French Guiana
The four O3b Networks will provide broadband services to developing countries.
China launched a satellite that will search for signals that could help scientists to predict earthquakes on Thursday.
The China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite will study electromagnetic signals in Earth’s atmosphere and ionosphere to determine if they can be used to predict earthquakes. The Chinese-led mission is being conducted in cooperation with Italy.
The spacecraft was launched aboard a Long March 2D booster from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. It was the sixth successful launch of the year for China.
Here is the launch schedule for the rest of the month. Check for updates here.
Feb. 6
Launch Vehicle: Falcon Heavy Payload: Tesla Roadster Launch Window: 1:30-4:30 p.m. EST (1830-2130 GMT) Launch Site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
The inaugural flight of the Falcon Heavy will send a red Tesla Roadster into deep space.
Resupply mission to the International Space Station.
Feb. 17
Launch Vehicle: Falcon 9 Payload: Paz Launch Time: 9:22 a.m. EST; 6:22 a.m. PST (1422 GMT) Launch Site: Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
Built by Airbus Defense and Space, Hisdesat’s Paz satellite will provide radar imaging as well as ship tracking and weather data. The flight will use a previously-flown first stage.
The Hispasat 30W-6 satellite, built by Space Systems/Loral, will provide communications services over Europe, North Africa and the Americas.
Feb. 24/25
Launch Vehicle: H-2A Payload: IGS Optical 6 Launch Window: 11:00 p.m.-1:00 a.m. EST on Feb. 24 (0400-0600 GMT on Feb. 25) Launch site: Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
The Information Gathering Satellite carries an optical reconnaissance payload.
Mid-February
Launch Vehicle: Long March 3B Payload: Beidou Launch Time: TBD Launch Site: Xichang, China
The rocket will launch two Beidou navigation satellites.
February
Launch Vehicle: GSLV Mk. 2 Payload: GSAT 6A Launch Time: TBD Launch Site: Satish Dhawan Space Center, India
The GSAT 6A satellite will provide S-band communications services and demonstrate technologies for future satellite-based mobile applications.
Falcon 9 carries the Dragon cargo ship into orbit. (Credit: NASA TV)
by Douglas Messier Managing Editor
SpaceX had a banner year in 2017, launching a record 18 times and helping to propel the United States to the top of the global launch table with a perfect 29-0 record. The U.S. total made up 32.2 percent of 90 orbital launches worldwide, which was an increase over the 85 flights conducted in 2016.
The 29 American launches were a leap of seven over the 22 flights conducted the previous year. This is the highest number of American orbital launches since the 31 flights undertaken in 1999. However, that year the nation’s launch providers suffered four failures whereas they were perfect in 2017.
SpaceX is set to close out the year with a night launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base on Friday. The The Falcon 9 booster with 10 Iridium Next communications satellite is set to take off at 5:27 p.m. PST. It will be the company’s 18th launch attempt of the year and the 29th for U.S. launch providers.
The SpaceX mission is one of six launches set for the rest of the rest of the year (see list below). If all flights go forward in the next 10 days, there will be a total of 91 orbital launches worldwide in 2017.
Launch Vehicle: Falcon 9 Payloads: Iridium Next 31-40 communications satellites Launch Time: 0127:23 GMT on 23rd (8:27:23 p.m. EST; 5:27:23 p.m. PST on 22nd) Launch Site: Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
SpaceX will not attempt to recover the Falcon 9 first stage on this flight.
Launch Vehicle: H-2A Payloads: GCOM-C & SLATS environmental satellites Launch Tme: 0126:22-0148:22 GMT on 23rd (8:26:22-8:48:22 p.m. EST on 22nd) Launch Site: Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
Launch Vehicle: Long March 2D Payload: Unidentified military satellite Launch Time: Approx. 0400 GMT on 23rd (11:00 p.m. EST on 22nd) Launch Site: Jiuquan, China
Launch Vehicle: SS-520-5 Payload: TRICOM 1R communications & imaging CubeSat Launch Window: 0330-0515 GMT on 28th (10:30 p.m.-12:15 a.m. EST on 27th/28th) Launch Site: Uchinoura Space Center, Japan
Second attempt to launch the SS-520 microsat booster after the first failed in January.
TBD
Launch Vehicle: March 2D Payloads: Superview 1-03 and 04 Earth observation satellites Launch Time: TBD Launch Site: Taiyuan, China
Launch crews in the United States, China and Japan are celebrating successful flights to start a busy launch week.
China got things started by launching the Venezuelan Remote Sensing Satellite aboard a Long March 2D rocket from Jiuquan.
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 followed up with an early morning launch of 10 Iridium NEXT satellites from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The flight included the 17th successful landing of a Falcon 9 first stage.
The Japanese successfully launched the Michibiki 4 navigation satellite from the Tanegashima Space Center.
Below is the launch schedule for the rest of the month. It is possible that an Atlas V that had been scheduled to launch a national reconnaissance satellite last week will be added to the schedule for later this month. The launch was delayed twice due to weather and the third time because of a faulty telemetry transmitter. ULA has not set a new launch date.
October 11
Falcon 9 Payload: SES 11/EchoStar 105 communications satellite Launch window: 6:53-8:53 p.m. EDT (2253-0053 GMT) Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Falcon 9 lifts off from Vandenberg Air Force Base. (Credit: SpaceX)
Early risers in Southern California will be able to see a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch 10 Iridium Next communication satellites on Monday morning. The flight from Vandenberg is set to take off at 5:37 a.m. PDT (8:37 a.m. EDT/1237 GMT).
The SpaceX mission will be the second of three launches planned for Monday and Tuesday. China is scheduled to launch a remote sensing satellite for Venezuela and Japan is planning to orbit a navigation satellite.
SpaceX is also scheduled to launch two communications satellites from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday evening.
October 9
Long March 2D Payload: Venezuelan Remote Sensing Satellite Launch time: Approximately 12:10 a.m. EDT (0410 GMT) Launch site: Jiuquan, China
Falcon 9 Payload: Iridium Next 21-30 communication satellites Launch time: 8:37 a.m. EDT; 5:37 a.m. PDT (1237 GMT ) Launch site: Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
H-2A Payload: Michibiki 4 navigation satellite Launch time: Approx. 6:01 p.m. EDT (2201 GMT) Launch site: Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
October 11
Falcon 9 Payload: SES 11/EchoStar 105 communications satellite Launch window: 6:53-8:53 p.m. EDT (2253-0053 GMT) Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with the Dragon spacecraft on board, (Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls)
There is a busy schedule of launches for the rest of the month. Nine launches are on tap, including seven in the next week. SpaceX is planning three flights this month, including launches from Florida and California within two days next week.
October 7
Atlas V Payload: NROL-52 reconnaissance satellite Launch time: 0759 GMT (3:59 a.m. EDT) Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
October 9
Long March 2D Payload: Venezuelan Remote Sensing Satellite Launch time: Approx. 12:10 a.m. EDT (0410 GMT) Launch site: Jiuquan, China
Falcon 9 Payload: Iridium Next 21-30 communications satellites Launch time: 8:37 a.m. EDT; 5:37 a.m. PDT (1237 GMT ) Launch site: Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
H-2A Payload: Michibiki 4 navigation satellite Launch time: Approx. 6 p.m. EDT (2200 GMT) Launch site: Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
October 11
Falcon 9 Payload: SES 11/EchoStar 105 communications satellite Launch window: 6:53-8:53 p.m. EDT (2253-0053 GMT) Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Arianespace will launch the ViaSat 2 and Eutelsat 172B communications satellites.
Monday, June 5
GSLV Mk.3 Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India Launch Time: 1208 GMT (8:08 a.m. EDT)
ISRO has placed the GSAT 19E experimental communications satellite aboard the first orbital flight test of the nation’s largest booster. The space agency conducted a suborbital test of the GSLV Mk. 3 in December 2014. The new rocket is capable of placing 8 metric tons into low Earth orbit and 4 metric tons to geosynchronous transfer orbit.
Hayabusa2 launch aboard a H-2A rocket (Credit: JAXA)
TOKYO (JAXA PR) — Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) successfully launched the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 26 (H-IIA F26) with the Asteroid Explorer “Hayabusa2” onboard at 1:22:04 p.m. on December 3, 2014 (Japan Standard Time, JST) from the Tanegashima Space Center.
The launch vehicle flew as planned, and at approximately one hour, 47 minutes and 21 seconds after liftoff, the separation of the Hayabusa2 to earth-escape trajectory was confirmed.
JAXA received signals from the Asteroid Explorer “Hayabusa2” at 3:44 p.m. on December 3, 2014 (Japan Standard Time) at the NASA Goldstone Deep Space Communication Complex (in California) and confirmed that its initial sequence of operations including the solar array paddle deployment and sun acquisition control have been performed normally.
The explorer is now in a stable condition.
The Asteroid Explorer “Hayabusa2” is a successor to the “Hayabusa”, which verified various new exploration technologies and returned to Earth in June 2010. The “Hayabusa2” is setting out on a journey to clarify the origin and evolution of the solar system as well as life matter. The “Hayabusa2” will find out more about the world.
With a launch success rate for H-IIA/B launch vehicles at 96.7%, this launch confirms the quality and reliability of the H-IIA/B.
We would like to express our profound appreciation for the cooperation and support of all related personnel and organizations that helped contribute to the successful launch of the H-IIA F26.
Nine launches are scheduled worldwide for the month of May. The manifest includes three launches by American providers, three by Russia, one joint Russian-Ukrainian flight, and one launch each by Japan and Europe.
The U.S. launches include six Orbcomm OG2 communications satellites by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, and a pair of military satellites to be launched by ULA’s Atlas V and Delta V rockets.
The Russian launches include a new crew to the International Space Station, two communications satellites (1 with Ukraine), and a reconnaissance satellite. Arianespace will launch a pair of communications satellites with Ariane 5, while the Japanese H-2A will launch the ALOS 2 Earth observing spacecraft.
There have been 24 orbital launches through April, all successful. That number will rise to 33 if all scheduled launches are completed in May.
A Long March 3-B rocket lifts off with China’s Chang’e-3 lunar rover. (Credit: CAST)
UPDATE: SpaceX’s Falcon 9 launch has been shifted to Tuesday evening.
China has kicked off a busy month with the successful launch of the Chang’e-8 lunar rover mission. There are 15 launches on the manifests of the world’s rocket companies in December. If all missions are completed and none are added, there will be 85 orbital launches for the year.
SpaceX is the next to go on Tuesday evening, with the company hoping its third attempt to launch the SES-8 communications satellite is a charm. The launch window opens at 5:41 p.m. EST, and SpaceX will webcast the attempt.
The company is hoping to get one more launch in by the end of 2013 on Dec. 20 with the Thaicom 6 satellite as the payload. Some other notable launches scheduled for December include:
Antares/Cygnus: Orbital Sciences first commercial cargo delivery to the International Space Station (Dec. 17);
Soyuz 2-1v: The first flight of Russia’s “light” version of the venerable booster (Dec. 23);
GSLV/GSAT 14: India will make a re-flight of a cryogenic engine that failed to fire during its inaugural mission in April 2010 (TBD);
Long March 4B/CBERS 3: China will launch a Earth resources satellite jointly developed with Brazil (Dec. 10);
Atlas V/Delta IV: These two ULA military launches will bring the company’s total to 12 for the year (Dec. 5 & 12);
SCHEDULED LAUNCHES FOR DECEMBER 2013
Date
Launch Vehicle
Launch Site
Nation/Company /Agency
Payload
Result
USA
12/03/13
Falcon 9
CCAFS
USA/SpaceX
SES 8
12/05/13
Atlas V
VAFB
USA/ULA/USAF
NROL-39
12/12/13
Delta IV
CCAFS
USA/ULA/USAF
GPS 2F-5
12/17/13
Antares
MARS
USA/Orbital/NASA
Cygnus 2
12/20/13
Falcon 9
CCAFS
USA/SpaceX
Thaicom 6
RUSSIA
12/08/13
Proton
Baikonur
Russia/ILS
Inmarsat 5
12/19/13
Soyuz
Kourou
Russia/Europe/Arianespace
Gaia
12/23/13
Soyuz 2-1v
Plesetsk
Russia/TsSKB-Progress
AIST & Calibration Spheres
12/26/13
Proton
Baikonur
Russia/ILS
Express AM5
CHINA
12/02/13
Long March 3B
Xichang
China/CNSA
Chang’e-3
Success
12/10/13
Long March 4B
Taiyuan
China/CNSA
CBERS 3
12/20/13
Long March 3B
Xichang
China/CNSA
Tupac Katari
TBD
Long March 4B
Taiyuan
China/CSNA
Gaofen 2
INDIA
TBD
GSLV
Satish Dhawan
India/ISRO
GSAT 14
JAPAN
TBD
H-2A
Tanegashima
Japan/Mitsubishi /JAXA
ALOS 2
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Japan unveils new space rocket, hoping to boost prestige Space Daily
Nestled in a cavernous but air-tight hangar, scientists are putting the finishing touches to Japan’s H-2B rocket, hoping it will boost the country’s prestige when it blasts off later this year.
