1

Rocket Lab / Re: Rocket Lab Mars Sample Return Mission Proposal

« Last post by StraumliBlight on Today at 06:54 pm »

https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/1942704818872844732

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2

SpaceX Falcon Missions Section / Re: SpaceX F9/Crew Dragon : Crew-11 : KSC LC-39A : NET 31 July 2025 (~16:00 UTC)

« Last post by StraumliBlight on Today at 06:13 pm »

Watch as NASA’s SpaceX Crew-11 mission leadership discuss final preparations. The Crew-11 mission, targeted to launch in late July/early August, will carry NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov to the International Space Station.

In a live news briefing from Johnson Space Center, the four crew members of NASA's SpaceX Crew-11 discuss their upcoming mission to the International Space Station.

3

Space Policy Discussion / Re: FY 2026 NASA Budget (May 2nd and 30th 2025)

« Last post by yg1968 on Today at 06:11 pm »

Scientists Rally Support for NASA as Appropriators Begin Markups:
https://spacepolicyonline.com/news/scientists-rally-support-for-nasa-as-appropriators-begin-markups/

4

Space Science Coverage / Re: Neptune Odyssey: Neptune-Triton orbiter mission

« Last post by TheKutKu on Today at 06:02 pm »

NASA might still explore Neptune and  largest moon Triton. once again, however in 2021, NASA selected the Venus missions DAVINCI+ and VERITAS over Trident and the Io Volcano Observer



China perhaps has something planned, it does not seem to be approved yet? Chinese scientists are eyeing a 2033 launch for a first orbiter mission to an ice giant to study Neptune and its enigmatic retrograde moon Triton.
https://x.com/AJ_FI/status/1942263052604166244

Spacenews has new management and the article is behind a paywall now

there were previous reports of Mars Sample Return Tianwen-3 then 2029 Tianwen-4 to Jupiter and Callisto, 2039 Probe to Neptune and Triton

The article refers to this freely available paper  Conceptual design and technical challenges of ice giant orbital exploration mission Tong WANG, Feng GAO, Mengfei YANG
Andrew Jones outlined the article on twitter https://x.com/AJ_FI/status/1942263055523668401
This is the same proposal as that one: https://x.com/AJ_FI/status/1905041716509294653
(the attached pictures are additional slides from the same presentation).

While Neptune has been a recurrent target for CNSA for years, and is the most likely gas giant to have a tianwen mission after Tianwen 4, this is still only a proposal. The 2033 date of this proposal can also be considered as optimistic (however the direct Hohmann transfer trajectory of this mission means it isn't bound by Jupiter Gravity Assist windows).

5

SpaceX Falcon Missions Section / Re: SpaceX F9 : Starlink group 15-2 : VSFB SLC-4E : NET 13/14 July 2025 (~02:27 UTC)

« Last post by randomname on Today at 05:58 pm »

NGA notices for this launch.

090931Z JUL 25
NAVAREA XII 412/25(18,21).
NORTH PACIFIC.
CALIFORNIA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING:
   A. 140227Z TO 140523Z JUL, ALTERNATE
      150213Z TO 150523Z, 160159Z TO 160523Z,
      170145Z TO 170523Z, 180131Z TO 180523Z,
      190117Z TO 190523Z AND
      200104Z TO 200523Z JUL IN AREA BOUND BY
      32-24.00N 119-01.00W, 34-36.00N 120-39.00W,
      34-40.00N 120-38.00W, 34-27.00N 120-18.00W,
      32-36.00N 118-58.00W.
   B. 140227Z TO 140525Z JUL, ALTERNATE
      150213Z TO 150525Z, 160159Z TO 160525Z,
      170145Z TO 170525Z, 180131Z TO 180525Z,
      190117Z TO 190525Z AND
      200104Z TO 200525Z JUL IN AREA BOUND BY
      29-40.00N 117-40.00W, 30-06.00N 117-55.00W,
      30-16.00N 117-53.00W, 30-15.00N 117-45.00W,
      29-46.00N 117-25.00W.
   C. 140227Z TO 140542Z JUL, ALTERNATE
      150213Z TO 150542Z, 160159Z TO 160542Z,
      170145Z TO 170542Z, 180131Z TO 180542Z,
      190117Z TO 190542Z AND
      200104Z TO 200542Z JUL IN AREA BOUND BY
      29-38.00N 117-45.00W, 29-49.00N 117-18.00W,
      29-32.00N 116-58.00W, 29-07.00N 117-07.00W,
      29-09.00N 117-40.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 200642Z JUL 25.//

090856Z JUL 25
HYDROPAC 1762/25(22,83).
SOUTH PACIFIC.
DNC 06, DNC 07.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   140414Z TO 140725Z JUL, ALTERNATE
   150400Z TO 150725Z, 160346Z TO 160725Z,
   170332Z TO 170725Z, 180318Z TO 180725Z,
   190304Z TO 190725Z AND
   200251Z TO 200725Z JUL IN AREA BOUND BY
   59-58.00S 099-05.00W, 59-09.00S 095-34.00W,
   27-09.00S 120-43.00W, 27-59.00S 122-44.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 200825Z JUL 25.//

6

SpaceX Falcon Missions Section / Re: SpaceX F9/Crew Dragon : Axiom AX-4 : KSC LC-39A : 25 June 2025 (06:31 UTC)

« Last post by randomname on Today at 05:55 pm »

NGA notice for splashdown.

080937Z JUL 25
NAVAREA XII 410/25(GEN).
NORTH PACIFIC.
CALIFORNIA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS:
   A. 130225Z TO 130255Z JUL, ALTERNATE
      140200Z TO 270505Z JUL IN AREA
      WITHIN NINE MILES OF 33-40.72N 119-09.16W.
   B. 130215Z TO 130245Z JUL, ALTERNATE
      140150Z TO 270500Z JUL IN AREA
      WITHIN NINE MILES OF 33-00.72N 117-44.88W.
   C. 130210Z TO 130240Z JUL, ALTERNATE
      140150Z TO 270505Z JUL IN AREA
      WITHIN NINE MILES OF 32-36.17N 117-42.27W.
   D. 130210Z TO 130255Z JUL, ALTERNATE
      140150Z TO 270505Z JUL IN AREA BOUND BY
      19-48.00N 134-48.00W, 17-06.00N 131-48.00W,
      28-18.00N 121-54.00W, 29-54.00N 124-24.00W.
   E. 130210Z TO 130255Z JUL, ALTERNATE
      140150Z TO 270505Z JUL IN AREA BOUND BY
      46-00.00N 135-42.00W, 44-48.00N 139-00.00W,
      37-12.00N 124-54.00W, 37-30.00N 123-42.00W,
      38-36.00N 124-12.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 270605Z JUL 25.//

7

Chinese Launchers / Re: Shiyan 28B-01 - CZ-4C - Xichang - July 3, 2025 (09:35 UTC)

« Last post by Galactic Penguin SST on Today at 05:54 pm »

And...2025-145 has finally been cataloged. No wonder USSF lost track of this launch - the 2 objects expected were found in LEO of 11° (!!!) inclination.

2025-145A/64753: 793 x 796 km x 11.00°
2025-145B/64754: 619 x 791 km x 10.99°

8

Commercial Space Flight General / Re: Axiom Space LLC

« Last post by lightleviathan on Today at 05:48 pm »

Why do they refuse to announce the cost?

The total cost is $228 million, which is what was awarded by NASA for their task order.

9

SpaceX Falcon Missions Section / Re: SpaceX F9 : Project Kuiper KF-01 : CCSFS SLC-40 : 16 July 2025 (06:05 UTC)

« Last post by Galactic Penguin SST on Today at 05:43 pm »

Launch has shown up on CADENA OIS as "SpaceX KF-1" confirming the identity as for this Kuiper launch.

Primary Launch Day 16 Jul 0605Z-0738Z Backup Launch Day 17 Jul 0545Z-0718Z Backup Launch Day 18 Jul 0525Z-0653Z Backup Launch Day 19 Jul 0505Z-0633Z Backup Launch Day 20 Jul 0440Z-0613Z Backup Launch Day 21 Jul 0420Z-0548Z

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a mega constellation of satellites in Low Earth Orbit that will offer broadband internet access managed by Kuiper Systems LLC, a subsidiary of Amazon. The Falcon 9’s first stage booster will land on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean.

10

SpaceX Starship Program / Re: SpaceX Starship/Super Heavy Engineering General Thread 5

« Last post by equiserre on Today at 05:41 pm »

This is one of the best threads. Can we keep it OT?