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10 Satellogic ÑuSats - CZ-6 - Taiyuan - November 6, 2020 (03:19 UTC)
by
Satori
on 15 Jan, 2019 15:44
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CGWIC to launch Satellogic sat constellation.
First launch at the end of 2019.
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#1
by
Chris Bergin
on 15 Jan, 2019 16:01
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Presser:
Satellogic, the world’s first vertically integrated geospatial analytics company, today announced a Multiple Launch Services Agreement (MLA) with China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC). CGWIC will launch 90 of Satellogic’s spacecraft from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. The first launch – scheduled for later this year – will deliver a dedicated payload of 13 of Satellogic’s spacecraft to Low Earth Orbit on a Long March-6 (LM-6) rocket.
Satellogic’s team of world-class data scientists is already leveraging its current fleet of spacecraft to deliver planetary scale insights and solutions for a variety of industries, including agriculture, forestry, oil and gas, and finance and insurance. The 90 spacecraft that Satellogic announced under this agreement will form an Earth Observation Satellite Constellation that will remap the planet at one meter of resolution every week and dramatically reduce the cost of high-frequency geospatial analytics.
“We want to help solve the world’s most pressing problems by building an accurate and up-to-date picture of our planet and the many forces that reshape it everyday,” said Satellogic Founder and CEO Emiliano Kargieman. “This agreement is a major step in realizing that vision. With 90 more spacecraft in our constellation, we will be able to deliver weekly, high-resolution remaps of the entire planet at a price that will set a new standard for access and affordability in our market.”
This MLA marks another milestone in the CGWIC-Satellogic cooperation: it will be the first time that the new generation Long March launch vehicle will provide launch services to international customers. To date, CGWIC has successfully launched Satellogic’s first demonstration cubesat and 5 spacecraft. As per the terms of a previously existing agreement, CGWIC is poised to deliver another 3 spacecraft to low-earth orbit in 2019. The first LM-6 launch under this MLA will bring the total number of Satellogic’s commercial satellites in orbit to 19.
“We’re proud to extend our highly successful working relationship with Satellogic,” said Gao Ruofei, Executive Vice President of CGWIC. “Satellogic’s constellation will introduce a new era of affordable earth observation just as the LM-6 will open new opportunities for the global space industry.”
Founded in 2010, Satellogic’s headquarters and R&D facility is located in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Their satellite Assembly, Integration and Test (AIT) facility is located in Montevideo, Uruguay. Other divisions include a data-technology center in Barcelona, Spain; a product-development center in Tel Aviv, Israel; and a business development center in Miami, USA. The company’s newest branch in Beijing, China will focus on exclusive constellation customization, data services, and industrial applications.
About Satellogic
Satellogic is the first vertically integrated geospatial analytics company. We drive real outcomes with planetary-scale insights you can trust.
Our low-Earth-orbit satellite constellation, platform, and data science teams work together to deliver end-to-end solutions at the right cost. We make sense of the data so you can focus on the big decisions at hand.
We are a company of more than 150 satellite engineers, AI experts, and solution specialists on a mission to deliver a fundamentally better picture of our planet and the many forces that reshape it everyday. We bring space down to earth for large enterprises and governments of all sizes who need to see for themselves how our world is changing.
Satellogic. Now you see.
To learn more, please visit:
http://www.satellogic.com
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#2
by
Skyrocket
on 16 Jan, 2019 06:07
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#3
by
russianhalo117
on 17 Jan, 2019 06:06
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#4
by
zandr
on 18 Jan, 2019 19:09
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90 Argentine satellites to be launched in China BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- China will send 90 satellites on its Long March-6 carrier rocket into orbit from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center for an Argentine company, according to the China Great Wall Industry Corporation.
The corporation has signed a multiple launch services agreement with Satellogic, a private Argentine company specializing in Earth-observation satellites.
The first 13 satellites will be delivered later this year. It will be the first time for the Long March-6 to provide launch services for an international user.
After the 90 satellites are in orbit, an Earth observation satellite constellation will be formed, imaging the entire world with a 1-meter resolution every week.
So far, the China Great Wall Industry Corporation has successfully launched six satellites for Satellogic.
Satellogic provides solutions in the fields of agriculture, forestry, oil and gas, finance, and insurance, using satellite imaging.
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#5
by
gongora
on 13 Sep, 2019 16:28
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#6
by
zubenelgenubi
on 10 Jul, 2020 16:34
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Is there any news of this launch? I checked the company website and found no "new news."
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#7
by
Alter Sachse
on 13 Jul, 2020 08:30
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Is there any news of this launch? I checked the company website and found no "new news."
spaceflightfans.cn only writes " second half 2020"
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#8
by
Satori
on 15 Jul, 2020 10:12
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Possibly to take place in September.
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#9
by
Closer to Space
on 30 Aug, 2020 08:48
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#10
by
Galactic Penguin SST
on 29 Sep, 2020 04:00
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#11
by
Alter Sachse
on 04 Oct, 2020 17:09
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#12
by
zubenelgenubi
on 04 Oct, 2020 19:57
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#13
by
Satori
on 06 Oct, 2020 19:50
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So, only ten satellites...
ÑuSat-9 'Alice'
ÑuSat-10 'Caroline'
ÑuSat-11 'Cora'
ÑuSat-12 'Dorothy'
ÑuSat-13 'Emmy'
ÑuSat-14 'Hedy'
ÑuSat-15 'Katherine'
ÑuSat-16 'Lise'
ÑuSat-17 'Mary'
ÑuSat-18 'Vera'
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#14
by
Skyrocket
on 06 Oct, 2020 23:36
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So, only ten satellites...
ÑuSat-9 'Alice'
ÑuSat-10 'Caroline'
ÑuSat-11 'Cora'
ÑuSat-12 'Dorothy'
ÑuSat-13 'Emmy'
ÑuSat-14 'Hedy'
ÑuSat-15 'Katherine'
ÑuSat-16 'Lise'
ÑuSat-17 'Mary'
ÑuSat-18 'Vera'
These are the namesakes:
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#15
by
Galactic Penguin SST
on 07 Oct, 2020 01:05
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So, only ten satellites...
ÑuSat-9 'Alice'
ÑuSat-10 'Caroline'
ÑuSat-11 'Cora'
ÑuSat-12 'Dorothy'
ÑuSat-13 'Emmy'
ÑuSat-14 'Hedy'
ÑuSat-15 'Katherine'
ÑuSat-16 'Lise'
ÑuSat-17 'Mary'
ÑuSat-18 'Vera'
There are apparently other Chinese ride-shares, details TBD.
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#16
by
Satori
on 13 Oct, 2020 10:30
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I haven't seen any updates regarding this schedule launch for tomorrow. Should we expect any NOTAMs for this one?
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#17
by
Satori
on 13 Oct, 2020 10:35
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And now we now that the launch was delayed due to "...rescheduling events at the launch base." New launch date TBD.
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#18
by
Satori
on 13 Oct, 2020 14:49
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Spaceflightfans.cn is giving a new launch date of October 20 (TBD).
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#19
by
Steven Pietrobon
on 18 Oct, 2020 12:45
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#20
by
Steven Pietrobon
on 19 Oct, 2020 01:43
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#21
by
Galactic Penguin SST
on 19 Oct, 2020 01:48
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#22
by
AStick
on 19 Oct, 2020 13:47
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But shouldn’t they have said something by now if it was on the 20th?
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#23
by
Galactic Penguin SST
on 19 Oct, 2020 16:58
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But shouldn’t they have said something by now if it was on the 20th?
Nothing certain could be found on Chinese sources I checked, with the site reporting October 20 some days ago now listing October TBD for this one.
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#24
by
Olaf
on 21 Oct, 2020 14:05
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#25
by
zubenelgenubi
on 23 Oct, 2020 23:18
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#26
by
Satori
on 02 Nov, 2020 11:54
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Launch schedule at 0318:50UTC on November 6.
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#27
by
Galactic Penguin SST
on 02 Nov, 2020 12:07
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#28
by
Alter Sachse
on 03 Nov, 2020 14:29
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#29
by
Galactic Penguin SST
on 04 Nov, 2020 02:14
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A4018/20 - A TEMPORARY RESTRICTED AREA ESTABLISHED BOUNDED BY:
N321546E1094937N321124E1101434-N304937E1094955-N305320E1092902-N314
619E1094156 BACK TO START. VERTICAL LIMITS: GND-UNL. ALL ACFT
SHALL BE FORBIDDEN TO FLY INTO THE RESTRICTED AREA. GND - UNL, 06 NOV 03:11
2020 UNTIL 06 NOV 03:39 2020. CREATED: 03 NOV 09:08 2020
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#30
by
Liss
on 04 Nov, 2020 19:47
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On 9ifly, they say there are at least two Chinese satellites onboard apart from 10 Satellogic birds -- one from Tianyi Research Institute and an educational one named BY-03 Taiyuan.
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#31
by
gongora
on 05 Nov, 2020 14:54
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#32
by
Chris Bergin
on 06 Nov, 2020 00:13
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Keep an eye out for more details on the payloads, so it can help Rui's article (when it goes on). Post what you see here.
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#33
by
Steven Pietrobon
on 06 Nov, 2020 01:35
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#34
by
Steven Pietrobon
on 06 Nov, 2020 01:47
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https://twitter.com/Satellogic/status/1324369313034309632"In a few hours, #ourfirstdedicatedlaunch will add these 10 new spacecraft to our constellation, turning us into the global leader in high-resolution data collection from space. We are proud to be leading the way to a new era of Earth Observation. #Satellites #Satellogic"
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#35
by
Steven Pietrobon
on 06 Nov, 2020 02:12
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#36
by
Steven Pietrobon
on 06 Nov, 2020 02:17
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https://www.weibo.com/u/5616492130?refer_flag=1005055013_Long March 6: The latest news from Argentina's Satellitelogic Corporation: The company's 10 microsatellites will be launched by the Long March 6 carrier rocket at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center on November 6 at 11:18:50 p.m. (Beijing time).
The launch mission is the Long March 6 remote 3 carrier rocket, this launch will be China's new generation of launch vehicles for the first time to provide international users with special launch services, representing China's new generation of launch vehicles officially to the international market
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#37
by
Steven Pietrobon
on 06 Nov, 2020 02:18
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Launch should be happening about now.
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#38
by
Steven Pietrobon
on 06 Nov, 2020 02:23
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#39
by
Steven Pietrobon
on 06 Nov, 2020 02:29
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#40
by
Steven Pietrobon
on 06 Nov, 2020 02:35
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#41
by
Steven Pietrobon
on 06 Nov, 2020 02:44
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#42
by
Steven Pietrobon
on 06 Nov, 2020 02:48
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#43
by
Steven Pietrobon
on 06 Nov, 2020 02:56
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Prelaunch and launch images. Says launch was at 03:19 UTC. Total of 13 satellites launched. Other satellites are Taiyuan (Bayi 03), Tianyi 05 and Bei Hangkong Shi Weixing 1 (North Aeronautical Satellite One). Bayi 03 is the gold coloured satellite below. Information on these satellites is in the article below.
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/gmK8P6mvNd9yAck4-YcquA"Long March VI successfully launched 10 remote sensing satellites for Argentine users
China Aerospace News today
On 6 November, at 1119 hours, the Long March VI carrier rocket was launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre, successfully launching 13 satellites into their intended orbit.
The 10 satellites are the NewSat satellite developed by Argentina's Satellitelogic Corporation, which is also equipped with the Taiyuan science satellite (8103 stars), the Tianyi 05 satellite and the North Aeronautical Satellite One.
This is the first time that the Long March 6 carrier rocket has undertaken international commercial satellite launch services, and the first time that a new generation of Long March series launch vehicles has completed the performance of international commercial satellite orders.
According to the long march rocket NewSat satellite launch service agreement signed between China Great Wall Industrial Group Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China Great Wall Industrial Group Co., Ltd., which is part of China Aerospace Science and Technology Group Co., Ltd., and URUGUS of Argentina, 10 NewSat satellites will be launched for Satelogic using the Long March 6 carrier rocket.
The Long March 6 carrier rocket, developed by china Aerospace Science and Technology Group Co., Ltd., belongs to the new generation of cryogenic liquid rapid launch three-stage rocket, is the first arrow of the new generation long march series of carrier rockets.
The Long March VI carrier rocket has a single-star, multi-star launch capability required to launch a variety of satellites and different orbits, and under the conditions of three stages of two launches, the 700 km solar synchronous orbit can carry up to 1 ton.
The Long March 6 carrier rocket has made its first flight since 2015 and has carried out four launch missions so far, from the first two years to one this year. It is reported that next year, the Long March 6 will carry out four launch missions as planned.
The 10 NewSat satellites (i.e. NewSat-9 to NewSat-18) are commercial remote sensing satellites designed and developed by Argentina's Satellitelogic Corporation, each with a mass of 41 kg. The satellites are equipped with multispectral and hyperspectral payloads and have a design life of 3 years.
The successful entry of 10 satellites into orbit will form part of the company's global remote sensing satellite constellation. Subsequently, the Long March 6 will also carry out a number of group launches for the formation of the constellation.
The mission was The first time Thatlogic had purchased an arrow launch service internationally. Previously, the Long March IV series launch vehicle, the Long March 2 Ding carrier rocket has been launched through four launches, successfully put the company's seven NewSat satellites into orbit.
"Taiyuan" science satellite (8103 stars) is mainly used to carry out cerial remote sensing observation, Earth observation, space and earth collaborative programming education and other experiments, to provide young students with space science and education practice platform.
The satellite project was initiated by the Taiyuan Municipal Education Bureau in cooperation with the China Aerospace Science and Technology Group Co., Ltd.'s China Space Science and Technology International Exchange Center, Taiyuan City Jinshan Middle School students participated in the full process of satellite development, Northwestern University of Technology for satellite development and ground measurement and control to provide technical support.
The Satellite of the University of Electronic Science and Technology (also known as the "Tianyi 05 Satellite") was jointly developed by Chengdu Guoxing Aerospace Science and Technology Co., Ltd., the University of Electronic Science and Technology and Beijing Microna Star Science and Technology Co., Ltd., and is mainly used for remote sensing observation of the Earth, providing services for smart city construction, agroforestry disaster monitoring and other industries. At the same time, tests on the telecommunications payload will be carried out on the satellite platform.
North Aviation Satellite One is a 12U scientific experimental satellite developed by Changsha Tianyi Space Science and Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd. in cooperation with Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and is also the first key payload technology verification satellite of China's space satellite system.
The launch was the fourth launch of the Long March 6 carrier rocket and the 351st launch of the Long March series of launch vehicles."
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#44
by
otter
on 06 Nov, 2020 03:07
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#45
by
Steven Pietrobon
on 06 Nov, 2020 03:18
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#46
by
otter
on 06 Nov, 2020 03:20
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#47
by
Galactic Penguin SST
on 06 Nov, 2020 03:22
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http://www.chinanews.com/gn/2020/11-06/9331794.shtml
T-0 @ 11:19 local (3:19 UTC)
They probably rounded it off from 03:18:50 which was reported by Satellogic.
Also mission logo confirms CZ-6 s/n Y3 used.
This launch also carried the BY70-3 ham radio cubesat, a second one from SpaceTY and a 3rd from MinoSpace.
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#48
by
Steven Pietrobon
on 06 Nov, 2020 03:35
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#49
by
otter
on 06 Nov, 2020 03:45
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#50
by
Steven Pietrobon
on 06 Nov, 2020 03:45
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#51
by
otter
on 06 Nov, 2020 03:46
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#52
by
jcm
on 06 Nov, 2020 04:00
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Prelaunch and launch images. Says launch was at 03:19 UTC. Total of 13 satellites launched. Other satellites are Taiyuan (Bayi 03), Tianyi 05 and Bei Hangkong Shi Weixing 1 (North Aeronautical Satellite One). Bayi 03 is the gold coloured satellite below. Information on these satellites is in the article below.
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/gmK8P6mvNd9yAck4-YcquA
"Long March VI successfully launched 10 remote sensing satellites for Argentine users
China Aerospace News today
On 6 November, at 1119 hours, the Long March VI carrier rocket was launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre, successfully launching 13 satellites into their intended orbit.
The 10 satellites are the NewSat satellite developed by Argentina's Satellitelogic Corporation, which is also equipped with the Taiyuan science satellite (8103 stars), the Tianyi 05 satellite and the North Aeronautical Satellite One.
This is the first time that the Long March 6 carrier rocket has undertaken international commercial satellite launch services, and the first time that a new generation of Long March series launch vehicles has completed the performance of international commercial satellite orders.
According to the long march rocket NewSat satellite launch service agreement signed between China Great Wall Industrial Group Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of China Great Wall Industrial Group Co., Ltd., which is part of China Aerospace Science and Technology Group Co., Ltd., and URUGUS of Argentina, 10 NewSat satellites will be launched for Satelogic using the Long March 6 carrier rocket.
[...]
North Aviation Satellite One is a 12U scientific experimental satellite developed by Changsha Tianyi Space Science and Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd. in cooperation with Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and is also the first key payload technology verification satellite of China's space satellite system.
The launch was the fourth launch of the Long March 6 carrier rocket and the 351st launch of the Long March series of launch vehicles."
North Aviation is a mistranslation;
Beihang is a contraction of Beijing ("Northern Capital") Hangkong Hangtian ("Aeronautics and Astronautics") Daxue (University),
or BUAA, which is at some level China's equivalent of MIT (or at least the MIT Aero Astro department)
You might call it "BUAA 1" or "Beihang 1".
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#53
by
otter
on 06 Nov, 2020 04:05
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China sends 13 satellites into orbit with single rocket
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-11/06/c_139495660.htmTAIYUAN, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- China successfully sent 13 satellites into orbit from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in north China's Shanxi Province on Friday.
The satellites, including 10 commercial remote sensing satellites developed by Argentine company Satellogic, blasted off atop a Long March-6 carrier rocket at 11:19 a.m. (Beijing Time).
Friday's launch was the 351st by the Long March rocket series.
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#54
by
otter
on 06 Nov, 2020 04:16
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#55
by
SciNews
on 06 Nov, 2020 05:40
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Preparations and launch
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#56
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 06 Nov, 2020 06:50
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#57
by
otter
on 06 Nov, 2020 07:37
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http://www.cgwic.com.cn/News/2020/20201106.html/.../ The piggyback satellites are MN50-3 satellite of Beijing MinoSpace Technology Corporation, TY20 satellite of SpaceTY Co., Ltd. (Changsha) and BY70-3 satellite of China Center for Aerospace Science and Technology International Communications & Northwestern Polytechnical University.
/.../ MN50-3 satellite is a remote sensing satellite, TY20 satellite is a scientific experiment satellite, and BY70-3 satellite is for science education.
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#58
by
Steven Pietrobon
on 06 Nov, 2020 07:51
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So that would be
Taiyuan (BY70 3)
Tianyi 05 (TY20)
Bei Hangkong Shi Weixing 1 (MN50 3)
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#59
by
Galactic Penguin SST
on 06 Nov, 2020 12:18
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Exact T-0 ended up at 03:19:14.901 UTC.
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#60
by
Chris Bergin
on 06 Nov, 2020 12:32
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#61
by
Alter Sachse
on 06 Nov, 2020 13:09
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Launch code 5-80
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#62
by
otter
on 06 Nov, 2020 13:53
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http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-11/06/c_139496906.htm/.../ Also on board the rocket were three satellites developed by Chinese high-tech companies and research institutes for remote-sensing observation, science experiments, and science popularization.
One of the three is a 6G test satellite, weighing 70 kg and named after one its developers, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China. The satellite, carrying a terahertz satellite communication load, will establish a transceiver link on the satellite platform and carry out terahertz load tests.
The launch of the 6G test satellite marks a breakthrough in the exploration of terahertz space communication technologies in China's space field, said Xu Yangsheng, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.
The satellite will be used in smart city construction, disaster prevention and mitigation, land planning, environmental protection, and the monitoring of major infrastructure construction.
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#63
by
GELORD
on 06 Nov, 2020 16:40
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#64
by
jcm
on 07 Nov, 2020 00:56
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Do we have any launch sequence info for CZ-6? Stage 1, 2, 3 burn and separation times? For this or the other missions?
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#65
by
SciNews
on 07 Nov, 2020 06:56
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#66
by
otter
on 07 Nov, 2020 07:57
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#67
by
SciNews
on 07 Nov, 2020 09:09
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Star Era-12 - the World’s First 6G Communications Test Satellite
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#68
by
Liss
on 07 Nov, 2020 15:13
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#69
by
Steven Pietrobon
on 08 Nov, 2020 01:46
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Seems like Beihang Kongshi Weixing 1 is carrying a subsatellite called "Tiange Jihua 2".
In addition, the satellite carried the second experimental satellite payload of the Tiange Project, the Tiange Project II. The "Tiange Project" is a student-oriented scientific research and practice project oriented to the frontiers of basic sciences. It is also a basic science talent training project that intersects science and engineering.
...
This is the 11th space mission of the Tianyi Research Institute and the 19th satellite. Beihangxingsat-1 uses a new generation satellite platform developed by Tianyi, which inherits the high integration and high reliability of the previous generation satellite platform of Tianyi, and iteratively innovates on this basis to make the satellite platform load The ratio exceeds 1:3.
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#70
by
eeergo
on 22 Jan, 2021 10:07
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Seems like Beihang Kongshi Weixing 1 is carrying a subsatellite called "Tiange Jihua 2".
In addition, the satellite carried the second experimental satellite payload of the Tiange Project, the Tiange Project II. The "Tiange Project" is a student-oriented scientific research and practice project oriented to the frontiers of basic sciences. It is also a basic science talent training project that intersects science and engineering.
...
This is the 11th space mission of the Tianyi Research Institute and the 19th satellite. Beihangxingsat-1 uses a new generation satellite platform developed by Tianyi, which inherits the high integration and high reliability of the previous generation satellite platform of Tianyi, and iteratively innovates on this basis to make the satellite platform load The ratio exceeds 1:3.
Successfully fired its new iodine thruster (funded through ESA and France):
https://www.esa.int/Applications/Telecommunications_Integrated_Applications/Iodine_thruster_could_slow_space_junk_accumulation
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#71
by
Liss
on 22 Nov, 2021 11:53
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An official report on the test:
https://www.thrustme.fr/post/49-world-s-first-demonstration-of-an-iodine-electric-propulsion-system-in-spaceWorld’s first demonstration of an iodine electric propulsion system in space
Posted on 18 November, 2021
ThrustMe has successfully tested an iodine-fuelled electric propulsion system in space and results of this historic demonstration have been published today in one of the leading scientific journals, Nature. These results confirm for the first time that iodine is not only a viable alternative to conventional xenon propellant, but that it also enables extreme propulsion system miniaturization. This provides small satellites with new maneuvering and space exploration potential, and critical new collision avoidance and deorbiting capabilities that will prove vital for the long-term sustainability of the space industry.
Propulsion is an important subsystem needed by many satellites to perform maneuvers in space and ensure mission success. Electric propulsion systems, such as ion thrusters, are a particularly attractive choice because of their very high fuel efficiency. Since satellites have limited power generation capability however, electric propulsion systems typically use a propellant that maximises their thrust-to-power ratio. Currently, the propellant of choice is almost exclusively the noble gas xenon (and to a lesser extent krypton).
Xenon however is rare (less than 1 part per 10 million in the atmosphere), expensive (around $3000/kg), and commercial production limited. Xenon is also used in competing applications in other sectors such as the medical, lighting, and semiconductor industries. Market projections estimate that more than 24 000 satellites could be launched within the next 10 years and most of them will require electric propulsion. Increasing space industry demand alone is expected to outpace supply in the coming years, and it is therefore critical that a viable replacement propellant be found. Iodine has been investigated as a possible game-changing alternative propellant within the space community by a number of universities, companies, and space agencies over the last 20 years, but no iodine propulsion system has previously been launched or tested in space.
“ThrustMe is pioneering the use of iodine within the space industry” says Dmytro Rafalskyi, CTO and co-founder of ThrustMe. “Iodine is significantly more abundant and cheaper than xenon, and has the added advantage that it can be stored unpressurized as a solid”. Xenon by comparison must be stored under high-pressure (typically 100-200x atmospheric pressure). Iodine also has a storage density almost 3x higher than xenon (and 9x higher than krypton). This enables significant simplification and miniaturization of propulsion systems. “ThrustMe has developed a revolutionary propulsion system with an iodine ion thruster, the NPT30-I2, which includes all needed subsystems and fits within a single package of roughly 10 cm x 10 cm x 10 cm” says Dmytro. Comparison with xenon shows that iodine gives an almost 50% performance enhancement.
After extensive testing and qualification, the first NPT30-I2 was integrated into the Beihangkongshi-1 satellite operated by Spacety and launched into space by a Long March 6 rocket on the 6 November 2020. Since then ThrustMe has been carefully analysing propulsion system and satellite data and comparing in-flight results with ground-based measurements. Results confirm successful operation with expected performance, and definite satellite orbital changes matching predictions based on propulsion system telemetry.
ThrustMe’s in-orbit demonstration is a world-first and results have now been rigorously peer-reviewed and published in one of the leading scientific journals, Nature. “Publication of these historic results is not only important for ThrustMe, but also for the space industry in general” says Ane Aanesland CEO and co-founder of ThrustMe. “Many new companies have entered the market in recent years but demonstrated evidence of flight heritage and performance transparency are missing. Having our results peer-reviewed and publically accessible provides the community with further confidence and helps to create a benchmark within the industry”.
Publication in a prominent journal like Nature highlights the evolving needs and challenges currently facing the space industry. The capability of modern electronics, and easier access to space, has resulted in a shift towards small satellites and new space-based applications for Earth observation, disaster management, climate change monitoring, urban planning, and global internet access. Until recently, suitable propulsion systems were not always available for small satellites due to their strict size constraints. Iodine however, allows significant miniaturization and gives unprecedented new maneuvering capabilities to such satellites. This capability extends beyond missions around the Earth, and high-performance miniaturized propulsion systems will prove instrumental in the coming decade as humanity returns to the Moon and expands further into space.
“The successful demonstration of the NPT30-I2 means we can proceed to the next step in the development of iodine propulsion. In parallel with our in-space testing we have developed new solutions allowing increased performance and have commenced an extensive ground-based endurance testing campaign to further push the limits of this new technology” says Dmytro.
About ThrustMe:
ThrustMe offers true turnkey, smart and streamlined in-orbit propulsion solutions, critical for the growing space industry facing new challenges due to the rise of satellite constellations. As experts in in-space propulsion, alternative space propellants, and satellite orbital maneuvering strategies, ThrustMe enables a future where space is used sustainably to create value both on Earth, and beyond. Founded in 2017 with a headquarters just south of Paris, France, ThrustMe has a complete portfolio of game-changing propulsion products that have been tested in space and delivered to customers worldwide.
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#72
by
Sam Ho
on 25 Nov, 2021 03:35
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Citation for the
Nature paper mentioned in the press release above. It is open-access.
Rafalskyi, D., Martínez, J.M., Habl, L. et al. In-orbit demonstration of an iodine electric propulsion system.
Nature 599, 411–415 (2021).
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-04015-yAbstract:
Propulsion is a critical subsystem of many spacecraft. For efficient propellant usage, electric propulsion systems based on the electrostatic acceleration of ions formed during electron impact ionization of a gas are particularly attractive. At present, xenon is used almost exclusively as an ionizable propellant for space propulsion. However, xenon is rare, it must be stored under high pressure and commercial production is expensive. Here we demonstrate a propulsion system that uses iodine propellant and we present in-orbit results of this new technology. Diatomic iodine is stored as a solid and sublimated at low temperatures. A plasma is then produced with a radio-frequency inductive antenna, and we show that the ionization efficiency is enhanced compared with xenon. Both atomic and molecular iodine ions are accelerated by high-voltage grids to generate thrust, and a highly collimated beam can be produced with substantial iodine dissociation. The propulsion system has been successfully operated in space onboard a small satellite with manoeuvres confirmed using satellite tracking data. We anticipate that these results will accelerate the adoption of alternative propellants within the space industry and demonstrate the potential of iodine for a wide range of space missions. For example, iodine enables substantial system miniaturization and simplification, which provides small satellites and satellite constellations with new capabilities for deployment, collision avoidance, end-of-life disposal and space exploration.
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by
SciNews
on 25 Nov, 2021 04:51
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