The suborbital thread!

[russianhalo117]

Next from Esrange: SubOrbital Express-3/MASER-15 mission on a VSB-30 rocket, first launch window opening on 23 November at 07:00 UTC

https://twitter.com/SSCspace/status/1594726945924993024

Livestream:
Part 1:



Part 2:

[Fmedici]

Launched at 08:23:00

[Steven Pietrobon]

Screen grab of the launch of Maser 15.

https://www.satellitetoday.com/launch/2022/11/23/swedish-space-corporation-launches-suborbital-mission-from-norway-with-research-payloads/

The Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) announced Nov. 23 that its SubOrbital Express 3 had launched the 12 payloads into suborbital space after two and a half years of preparation. Among the 12 payloads onboard were scientific experiments to investigate everything from stem cells for diabetes research, to particle research that will provide answers about the origin of planets. The launch took place from the Esrange Space Center, above the Polar Circle in Northern Sweden.

[Lewis007]

The Japan Flight Test Mission–07 (JFTM–07) took places recently, in which Japan intercepted ballistic missile targets with two SM-3 variants.

For more info, see here: https://www.naval-technology.com/news/japan-ballistic-missile-sm3-variants/

Video: https://www.dvidshub.net/video/865609/japan-flight-test-mission-07-jftm-07

[Fmedici]

An Up Aerospace's SpaceLoft XL should be launched today from Spaceport America for the Celestis Aurora space burial mission. Despite the lack of updates from Up Aerospace, the launch seems to be confirmed also from external sources: https://eu.lcsun-news.com/story/money/business/2022/11/29/nasa-first-australian-american-astronaut-philip-chapman-gets-space-flight-spaceport-america-celestis/69682415007/.

[Fmedici]

An Up Aerospace's SpaceLoft XL should be launched today from Spaceport America for the Celestis Aurora space burial mission. Despite the lack of updates from Up Aerospace, the launch seems to be confirmed also from external sources: https://eu.lcsun-news.com/story/money/business/2022/11/29/nasa-first-australian-american-astronaut-philip-chapman-gets-space-flight-spaceport-america-celestis/69682415007/.

The launch did not take place because of some issues with a NASA payload, next launch window is 9-13 December (https://eu.lcsun-news.com/story/news/local/new-mexico/2022/12/01/flight-planned-to-take-australian-american-into-space-scuttled-for-now/69692202007/)

[Rik ISS-fan]

I think this is worth sharing here.
Raytheon and MBDA are planning to jointly manufacture Patriot PAC-2 GEM-T missiles in germany. Euro-SD
This is additional production capability on top of the USA production. The missile motors are planned to be manufactured by Bayern Chemie. MBDA

This relates to suborbital spaceflight by the fact that PAC-2 motors at end of life are turned into Malemute rocket motors. Bayern Chemie also is developing the Red Kite for DLR (MoRaBa). So Bayern Chemie might turn into the main rocket motor provider for European suborbital rockets.

I messed around a bit with paint on the DLR MoRaBa launcher graphic.
I've added the smaller TME rockets and some hybrid and liquid suborbital rockets that are in development in Europe.

PS: Esrance Space Center updated their launching program.

late edit: DLR MoRaBa RedKite link pdf
  RedKite - Imp. Malemute   MAPHEUS-14 & > RK-IM

[russianhalo117]

I think this is worth sharing here.
Raytheon and MBDA are planning to jointly manufacture Patriot PAC-2 GEM-T missiles in germany. Euro-SD
This is additional production capability on top of the USA production. The missile motors are planned to be manufactured by Bayern Chemie. MBDA

This relates to suborbital spaceflight by the fact that PAC-2 motors at end of life are turned into Malemute rocket motors. Bayern Chemie also is developing the Red Kite for DLR (MoRaBa). So Bayern Chemie might turn into the main rocket motor provider for European suborbital rockets.

I messed around a bit with paint on the DLR MoRaBa launcher graphic.
I've added the smaller TME rockets and some hybrid and liquid suborbital rockets that are in development in Europe.

PS: Esrance Space Center updated their launching program.

Rheinmetall Defence is involved in developing the launch system for the listed Patriot PAC-2 GEM-T missile system.

[Fmedici]

NASA's sounding rockets schedule has been updated recently too, I think in November right before the ACES launches

[Fmedici]

An Up Aerospace's SpaceLoft XL should be launched today from Spaceport America for the Celestis Aurora space burial mission. Despite the lack of updates from Up Aerospace, the launch seems to be confirmed also from external sources: https://eu.lcsun-news.com/story/money/business/2022/11/29/nasa-first-australian-american-astronaut-philip-chapman-gets-space-flight-spaceport-america-celestis/69682415007/.

The launch did not take place because of some issues with a NASA payload, next launch window is 9-13 December (https://eu.lcsun-news.com/story/news/local/new-mexico/2022/12/01/flight-planned-to-take-australian-american-into-space-scuttled-for-now/69692202007/)

Now according to the launch schedule on Celestis website it seems that the launch has been delayed to 2023 TBD. (https://www.celestis.com/launch-schedule/)

[MiqBos]

It seems that there will be a new suborbital launching site in Europe.

SaxaVord Spaceport has announced the design and manufacture of a new launch rail for suborbital launches. It's funded with £378,000 from the UK Space Agency.

https://twitter.com/SaxaVord_Space/status/1603057047024680964?cxt=HHwWiIC-qYL5mb8sAAAA

Judging from the information released until now, I suppose the ramp will be installed in one of the concrete pads in "launchpad Fredo". It looks like a static installation, similar to the ones in Andoya and ESRANGE. Maybe it will have a cover moving on rails.

The launching rail will be build and designed by Lerwick Engineering & Fabrication & T12 Consultancy. Besides of the images, the only spec listed is the capability of launching a 3 ton rocket.

The UK Space Agency also funded, among others, engine tests by HyImpulse and the development of Gravitilab's Isaac sounding rocket.

https://gravitilab.space/fleet/

[Rik ISS-fan]

And footage of the TME Kingfisher rocket launch.


AFAIK the TME (T-Minus Engineering) Baracuda uses the same solid rocket motor (215-7-S) as the TME Kingfisher (Dart XL). And the Baracuda has about the same performance as the GravityLab ISAAC.
AFAIK another name for the QinetiQ operated MOD Hebrides range (used by Gravitilab) is Spaceport 1.

[Fmedici]

And footage of the TME Kingfisher rocket launch.


AFAIK the TME (T-Minus Engineering) Baracuda uses the same solid rocket motor (215-7-S) as the TME Kingfisher (Dart XL). And the Baracuda has about the same performance as the GravityLab ISAAC.
AFAIK another name for the QinetiQ operated MOD Hebrides range (used by Gravitilab) is Spaceport 1.

I think that they never explicitly mentioned the launch times and dates for the two rockets, but from what they say in the description of the video ("In a two-week campaign in the Outer Hebrides, our launch team launched two 200mm diameter, 25kN thrust rockets within a 2-hour window") I guess it's safe to assume at least that both rockets have been launched during that launch window on 21 October, the last day of the launch campaign.

[Satori]

North Korea says it launched a rocket as part of its space program and satellite development on Sunday.

https://twitter.com/nknewsorg/status/1604583880555913216

[Steven Pietrobon]

NK recently ground tested a 1.37 MN thrust solid motor!

http://www.kcna.kp/en/article/q/5423e068147b92829b052588227b402d.kcmsf

"An important institute under the Academy of Defence Science succeeded in the static firing test of high-thrust solid-fuel motor with a thrust of 140tf, the first of its kind in the country, at the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground on the morning of Dec. 15."
...
"The test results scientifically and clearly showed that all the technical indices, including the motor's thrust, specific impulse, combustion feature, duration and thrust vector controlling feature, are equal to the design values, and proved its reliability and stability.

This important test has provided a sure sci-tech guarantee for the development of another new-type strategic weapon system."

[Steven Pietrobon]

NK news release on the satellite tests. They are planning an orbital launch by April 2023.

http://www.kcna.kp/en/article/q/e2839617f6fd41419cad886ed869137e.kcmsf

"NADA Conducts Important Test for Development of Reconnaissance Satellite

Pyongyang, December 19 (KCNA) -- The National Aerospace Development Administration (NADA) of the DPRK conducted an important final-stage test for the development of reconnaissance satellite at the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground on December 18.

A spokesperson for the NADA said that the test was mainly aimed to evaluate the capabilities of satellite photography and data transmission system and ground control system.

The test was conducted in the mode of evaluating the processing capability and stability of data transmission devices while verifying the reliability of ground control system including photography control command and attitude control command for various kinds of cameras in the optimum environment simulating space environment after high-angle launch of a test-piece satellite into the altitude of 500km with one panchromatic camera for 20m resolution test, two multispectral cameras, video transmitter and transmitters and receivers of various bands, control devices and batteries, he said.

The test confirmed the important technical indices including the technology of camera operation in space environment, data processing and transmission capability of communication devices and the tracking and controlling accuracy of ground control system. The NADA said this is an important success which has gone through the final gateway process of the launch of reconnaissance satellite.

The NADA announced that it would finish the preparations for the first military reconnaissance satellite by April 2023.

The results of the important test were immediately reported to the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea. -0-"

[zubenelgenubi]

Wallops suborbital launches:

https://www.nasa.gov/wallops-launch-schedule

Below is a list of upcoming missions supported by NASA's Wallops Flight Facility. All dates are subject to change.

Mission: Virginia is for Launch Lovers
Vehicle: Rocket Lab Electron
Date: January 23, 2023
Time: 6-8 p.m. EST
Location: Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia

Mission: MesOrion
Vehicle: Two Improved-Orion sounding rockets
Date: Feb. 9, 2023
Time: Day EST
Location: Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia

Mission: VORTEX
Vehicle: Two Black Brant IX and two Terrier-Improved Orion
Date: Feb. 10-25, 2023
Time: Night
Location: Andøya Space, Norway

Mission: SubTEC-9
Vehicle:  Terrier-Improved Malemute
Date: March 13, 2023
Time: Day
Location: Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia

Mission: SubTEC-9
Vehicle:  Terrier-Improved Malemute
Date: March 13, 2023
Time: Day
Location: Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia

[catdlr]

and now for something different...

Microgravity drop pod deployed from drone over UK

A British startup has performed a first-of-its-kind microgravity experiment using a drone.

The company, called Gravitilab, flew its adapted quadcopter to an altitude of 2,000 feet (600 meters), where it dropped a specially designed capsule carrying scientific experiments.

SOURCE

COMAPNY LINK

[russianhalo117]

MesOrion livestream:

https://www.youtube.com/live/t5LJpCSOKBw?feature=share

[Steven Pietrobon]

MesOrion livestream:

https://www.youtube.com/live/t5LJpCSOKBw?feature=share

The video has been deleted as the launch was scrubbed.