I assume that the Peruvian 1U that was delivered on the recent Progress will have to wait, maybe until May? Or are they going to do a special deploy for it, perhaps.
It will be launched manually by cosmonauts during ISS Russian EVA-38 in August.
And two more must have been deployed sometime today - they have just been cataloged(snip)All the sats are in approx 409 x 416 km x 51.65 deg orbit.The first sat ejected, Flock 1-1/39512, has now decayed to 400 x 407 km.
Planet Labs @planetlabs · 28. feb. Big cheers at @planetlabs office today as we watch the final two of 28 Flock 1 satellites deployed from ISS! Flock 1 complete.
Laurynas Maciulis @orbitronas · 28. feb. Thank You @NanoRacks! Great job! @LituanicaSat is in space and we think it works!
Does that mean that the average altitude of the nanosats has decayed by ~11 km since deployment 18 days ago? Can we use that to estimate the orbital lifetimes?
Cube Satellite (CubeSat) Operations: Four more CubeSats were successfully launched overnight by JAXA Robotic Flight Controllers from two NanoRacks CubeSat Deployers (NRCSDs). The remaining 7 CubeSats will be deployed overnight. CubeSat format satellites are launched from the ISS for a variety of commercial and national customers.
Cube Satellite (CubeSat) Operations: Overnight the final 7 CubeSats were successfully launched by JAXA Robotic Flight Controllers from two NanoRacks CubeSat Deployers (NRCSDs). Two Dove CubeSats and ArduSat-2, LitSat-1, LituanicaSat-1, UaPSat-1, and SkyCube CubeSats were launched. A total of 17 CubeSats have been deployed from the NRCSDs this week. The NRCSDs and Multi-Purpose Experiment Platform (MPEP) were then returned by the JEMRMS to the JEM Airlock Slide Table and brought back into the JEM. CubeSat format satellites are launched from the ISS for a variety of commercial and national customers.
Cube Satellite (CubeSat) Closeout Operations: Today, Flight Engineer (FE) 6 Wakata and FE-3 Hopkins closed out the Nanorack Cubesat Deployer (NRCSD) operations. This morning the slide table was moved from the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) Airlock into the JEM Pressurized Module (JPM). Later, the crew removed the empty Nanoracks Cubesat Deployers (NRCSDs) and Multi-Purpose Experiment Platform (MPEP) from the slidetable and stowed them. The slidetable was moved back into the Airlock.
While the Planet Labs staff ate pancakes that morning in February, two shoebox-size nine-pound pods made in the company’s unconventional factory floated from the International Space Station toward a polar orbit of Earth. Ten hours later, two more were released.
There is an article in the new york times today about Planet Labs - it includes a nice video. Worth a read and a watch.http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/17/technology/start-ups-aim-to-conquer-space-market.html?hp&_r=0Smallish error: QuoteWhile the Planet Labs staff ate pancakes that morning in February, two shoebox-size nine-pound pods made in the company’s unconventional factory floated from the International Space Station toward a polar orbit of Earth. Ten hours later, two more were released.
SAT-MOD-20150802-00053 E S2912Granted in Part/ Deferred in Part Effective Date: 06/15/2016Modification 06/15/2016 - 02/28/2029Planet Labs Inc.Nature of Service: Earth Exploration Satellite ServiceOn June 15, 2016, the Satellite Division granted in part and deferred in part, with conditions, the application of Planet Labs Inc. to modify itsauthorization to construct, deploy and operate a system of technically identical non-geostationary orbit Earth Exploration Satellite Servicesatellites. The Satellite Division deferred action on Planet Labs' request to include in its authorization satellites that are the subject of a Petitionto Deny by ORBCOMM. It also deferred action on transmissions of remote sensing and telemetry data to certain earth stations in the8025-8400 MHz frequency band. The Satellite Division otherwise granted Planet Labs' application. Specifically, Planet Labs was authorized toconstruct, deploy, and operate up to 600 technically identical NGSO EESS satellites in addition to those satellites already deployed and currentlyoperational. The satellites will be deployed at altitudes between 350 km and 660 km and will transmit remote sensing and telemetry data to fixedearth stations in the 8025-8400 MHz (space-to-Earth) frequency band, receive command signals in the 2025-2110 MHz (Earth-to-space)frequency band, and may use the 401-402 MHz (space-to-earth) and 449.75-450.25 MHz (Earth-to-space) frequency bands for early-phase andemergency-backup telemetry, tracking, and command operations, as well as for ranging and orbit determination on a non-emergency basisthroughout the mission lifetime.
CONTRACT ANNOUNCEMENTNGA awards contract to Planet LabsSept. 12, 2016 SPRINGFIELD, Va. — The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency awarded a contract subscribing to imagery products and services provided by Planet Labs, Inc. of San Francisco, California. The contract allows the Department of Defense and intelligence community to access Planet Labs’ global imagery content, updated every fifteen days. The introductory contract includes a seven-month period of performance and the total value of the contract is $20,000,000. The effective date is Sept. 12, 2016. The global scope of coverage and high temporal frequency of collection from Planet labs will provide NGA with new data sources to support its many missions.
SAT-AMD-20171025-00144 E S2912Date Filed: 10/25/2017 18:49:46:46300Planet Labs Inc.Planet Labs Inc. amends its previously submitted request for modification of its authorization for an Earth Exploration Satellite Service (EESS) system. IBFS File No. SAT-MOD-20170713-00103 (filed July 13, 2017). Specifically, Planet seeks to modify three of its authorized non-geostationary orbit satellites by removing the imaging camera and replacing it with a nano propulsion system to be used in a technology demonstration. The satellites will be deployed to orbital apogee altitudes of no greater than 550 kilometers with a 97.4 degree inclination...
Other than replacing the imaging camera with a propulsion system, the satellite is technically identical to the other Flock satellites. It shares the same design and manufacture of the structural, power, avionics, and communications aspects of the Flock satellites and shares the same associated earth stations for the uplink and downlink of space operations data and propulsion system performance data. There are no changes to the frequencies and concept of operations for each of the bands as proposed in the Modification.The nano propulsion system is known as Indium Field Emission Electric Propulsion. This propulsion system consists of a 250-gram cylinder of indium, associated heaters, ion generator mechanism, and beam neutralizer mechanism. Thrust is generated by the acceleration of ions via an applied electric field between an emitter crown and extractor electrode. The expected thrust is 350 micro-Newtons (uN), and there is a total of 5000 Newton-second total impulse capability for up to 1415 m/s velocity change for the 5 kg Dove Turbo satellite.
Planet Labs Inc. (Planet) respectfully requests to amend its previously submitted request to modify the authorization (Modification) for the Planet Earth Exploration Satellite Service (EESS) system (FCC Call Sign S2912, a.k.a. “Flock”), as amended.1Specifically, Planet requests authority to:● Modify up to three (3) of its authorized satellites of the Flock constellation to add an Automatic Identification System (AIS) receiver system to the satellites to demonstrate the capability of the Planet Dove satellites to receive the AIS 1 (161.9625MHz – 161.9875MHz) and AIS 2 (162.0125MHz – 162.0375MHz) channels. Planet currently has planned only one satellite demonstration but requests additional authority in the event the planned satellite fails onorbit, fails to reach orbit, or additional demonstrations or testing become necessary.