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#40
by
abaddon
on 03 Aug, 2020 21:16
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https://www.geekwire.com/2020/swarm-technologies-chooses-momentus-spacex-launch-constellation-tiny-satellites/
Swarm Technologies has struck an agreement with California-based Momentus for the launch of a dozen telecommunication satellites, each the size of a slice of bread, aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in December.
The December rideshare mission is the first of a series that Momentum plans to execute for Swarm, continuing into 2021 and 2022. Swarm plans to have 150 satellites launched over the next couple of years for a communication network in low Earth orbit.
The first 12 SpaceBee satellites covered by the agreement announced today will be deployed into orbit from the Falcon 9. The inch-thick satellites fit into a 3U CubeSat deployer that’s about the size of a large loaf of bread.
Now appears to be 24 satellites:
https://spacenews.com/swarm-launch-with-exolaunch/ and it is unclear if they are still working with Momentus (the PR talks about their working with Exolaunch)
[EDIT] Article includes a nice photo of SpaceBees. The "slice of bread" characterization isn't horrible, but I'd say it's Texas Toast sized.
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#41
by
scr00chy
on 04 Aug, 2020 11:16
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Could the 24 sats on Exolaunch be in addition to 12 on Vigoride?
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#42
by
gongora
on 04 Aug, 2020 14:20
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Could the 24 sats on Exolaunch be in addition to 12 on Vigoride?
There aren't any Swarm sats actually on Vigoride. There could be some in the ISIL cubesat deployers that are mounted alongside Vigoride, those payloads aren't broken down in the Momentus paperwork.
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#43
by
scr00chy
on 04 Aug, 2020 14:26
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Could the 24 sats on Exolaunch be in addition to 12 on Vigoride?
There aren't any Swarm sats actually on Vigoride. There could be some in the ISIL cubesat deployers that are mounted alongside Vigoride, those payloads aren't broken down in the Momentus paperwork.
My point was that there were supposed be 12 sats flying in December on Vigoride (as quoted above). So was that deal between Swarm and Momentus replaced by the 24-sat deal with Exolaunch, or is it a separate thing (which would mean there would be 36 Swarm sats flying in December)?
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#44
by
gongora
on 04 Aug, 2020 15:10
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https://www.prweb.com/releases/momentus_selected_as_launch_provider_for_swarm/prweb17063836.htmThe agreement includes a first launch onboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 rideshare mission in December 2020, with additional launches to be scheduled over the 2021-2022 time frame. Swarm's constellation of uniquely small satellites enables it to offer worldwide connectivity at a fraction of the cost of existing space-based solutions, and the company plans to launch 150+ satellites over the next couple of years.
After the integration of 12 Swarm satellites into a single 3U deployer, the satellites are then carried on the first leg to orbit via a Falcon 9 rocket. This, however, is where similarities to existing launch providers end. Beginning in 2021, the Momentus Vigoride in-space shuttle will perform the next leg of the journey, providing constellation deployments into optimal orbits, which is a huge value-add for networks like Swarms.
The first set of sats was probably manifested to deploy from the Plaza Deck, which is where the ISIL deployers are located. I don't know if they're still on the Momentus port at all, or moved to the Exolaunch port.
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#45
by
gongora
on 21 Aug, 2020 02:58
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The NASA ELaNa schedule lists this flight as SpaceX Transporter-1.
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#46
by
Steven Pietrobon
on 21 Aug, 2020 08:11
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The NASA ELaNa schedule lists this flight as SpaceX Transporter-1.
Actually its "Transporter-1". SpaceX is the name of the launch service provider, indicated by the comma after the name.
"ELaNa 35
Date: December 1, 2020
Mission: SpaceX, Transporter-1 – Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL
1 CubeSat Mission scheduled to be deployed"
https://www.nasa.gov/content/upcoming-elana-cubesat-launches
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#47
by
starbase
on 31 Aug, 2020 20:27
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#48
by
Comga
on 02 Sep, 2020 01:24
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I have not read every link and attachment in this thread, but is there an indication of the ascending or descending node or launch time for this launch?
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#49
by
gongora
on 04 Sep, 2020 00:51
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I have not read every link and attachment in this thread, but is there an indication of the ascending or descending node or launch time for this launch?
I saw LTAN ~21:00 on one document.
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#50
by
Comga
on 04 Sep, 2020 02:31
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I have not read every link and attachment in this thread, but is there an indication of the ascending or descending node or launch time for this launch?
I saw LTAN ~21:00 on one document.
Would that make for about an 11 AM local time southbound launch?
That should have it crossing the equator heading south (descending) around 9 AM
That wouldn’t be dramatic like a sunset or sunrise launch but it still could be impressive from the south Florida eastern shore.
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#51
by
gongora
on 04 Sep, 2020 02:42
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The dawn/dusk launches tend to be stuff like SAR satellites (they get steady power generation from that orbit and don't care so much about the shadows on the ground). Mixed launches like this would tend to favor the late morning/early afternoon slots if they're going to have any optical observation sats.
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#52
by
Comga
on 04 Sep, 2020 02:49
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The dawn/dusk launches tend to be stuff like SAR satellites (they get steady power generation from that orbit and don't care so much about the shadows on the ground). Mixed launches like this would tend to favor the late morning/early afternoon slots if they're going to have any optical observation sats.
I am well aware of the
uses of late morning ascending and descending nodes for optical imaging (good light, fewer clouds) and the continuously sunlit terminator orbits (like WISE).
My question is basically the time of day of the launch for thinking about being in south FL to watch from the shore.
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#53
by
gongora
on 09 Sep, 2020 00:53
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0657-EX-CN-2020
https://fcc.report/ELS/Near-Space-Launch-Inc/0657-EX-CN-2020The overall goal of the TAGSAT-1 mission, is to test and monitor performance for the NearSpace
Launch, Incorporated (NSL) Black Box Tag. The Tag returns data on position and velocity,
gathered via GPS receiver, to NSL via the Globalstar system. It is self powered and operates
independently of the larger Sherpa spacecraft to which it is attached.
The Sherpa, owned by Spaceflight Inc., and attached Tag will be launched on SpaceX SXRS-3,
NET December 1, 2020, into a near-circular, sun synch orbit at 525 km altitude. Transmission
from the Tag will begin 12 hours after the payloads are deployed from the Sherpa, and then the Tag
will remain active for 2 years. Atmospheric friction will de orbit the Sherpa and attached Tag,
approximately 4 years after launch.
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#54
by
gongora
on 09 Sep, 2020 01:18
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[Space News] Exolaunch arranges rides for Loft Orbital satellites
German launch services provider Exolaunch announced an agreement to launch two Loft Orbital microsatellites on SpaceX Falcon 9 rideshare missions.
...
Exolaunch is preparing to launch Loft Orbital’s YAM-3 satellite, built by LeoStella, a Seattle-based joint venture of Thales Alenia Space and Spaceflight Industries, on a Falcon 9 flight scheduled for December 2020. YAM-3 includes an internet-of-things payload, an onboard autonomy demonstration, a position and queuing demonstration and blockchain applications.
According to the most recent FCC filing from Loft Orbital, YAM-3 is on the June flight now.
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#55
by
YoannMoguer
on 10 Sep, 2020 08:11
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That seems to be based on my list, but it's incomplete.
See my maintained list here.
Hello! Thank you for your work, do we have an official clue about Radcube being on this filght?
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#56
by
scr00chy
on 10 Sep, 2020 10:06
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That seems to be based on my list, but it's incomplete.
See my maintained list here.
Hello! Thank you for your work, do we have an official clue about Radcube being on this filght?
It's not super official but
this article mentions there will be a payload from C3S of Hungary, which after a little digging seems to match
RADCUBE. But I could be wrong, maybe there is another satellite that fits.
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#57
by
gongora
on 14 Sep, 2020 17:16
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Capella "Whitney 1&2 are currently planned to be launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, in December 2020."
Two 110-kg SAR sats. Whitney 1 & 2 are also called Capella 3 & 4. The Whitney design has a Xenon thruster, unlike the previous Sequoia satellite that used water as the propellant.
https://fcc.report/IBFS/SAT-LOA-20200914-00108
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#58
by
gongora
on 14 Sep, 2020 23:24
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Spaceflight said this flight is currently targeting mid-December
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#59
by
scr00chy
on 14 Sep, 2020 23:34
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We've seen December 16 mentioned before, so maybe that's still the plan?
R2 Space was founded in 2018 in order to provide cutting-edge commercial satellite technology to address the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance needs of the United States Government (“USG”). R2 Space plans to launch and operate eight XR satellites over a series of launches. The XR-1 satellite will be the first deployment of the XR constellation with an anticipated launch date of December 16, 2020. R2 Space plans to launch the XR-1 satellite using the Falcon 9 launch vehicle, which will be launched out of the Vandenberg Air Force Base near Lompoc, California. The XR-1 satellite is projected to be in a Sun-Synchronous Orbit (“SSO”) and have an operational altitude of 550 kilometers with a 97.7-degree inclination angle. All of the XR satellites are expected to be identical. Each XR satellite has a stowed form profile measuring 0.66 x 0.51 x 0.40 meters, with a total mass of 90 kilograms (85 kilograms dry mass).