SpaceX F9 : Transporter-9 Rideshare : Vandenberg : 11 November 2023 (18:49 UTC)

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1723480885767639491

Falcon 9 launches SpaceX’s ninth dedicated rideshare mission

[gongora]

We received a render from Kepler for the AETHER pathfinder sats (top front in the photo of the payload stack from SpaceX).

[gongora]

Spire Global Successfully Launched 11 Satellites on SpaceX’s Transporter-9 Mission

Ten of the satellites will serve missions for Space Services customers, marking the most satellites launched for Spire’s Space as a Service business on a single launch

The Spire-built satellites will serve missions focused on Earth observation, connectivity and radio frequency intelligence covering frequencies across VHF, X,S, L band, Ka and Ku band

VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif., November 11, 2023 — Spire Global, Inc. (NYSE: SPIR) (“Spire” or “the Company”), a leading global provider of space-based data, analytics and space services, successfully launched eleven satellites on the SpaceX Transporter-9 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base, including ten satellites for Space Services customers and one for Spire’s data and analytics solutions.

Spire Achieves Milestone with Largest Number of Space Services Customers on Single Launch

Spire Space Services allows organizations to deploy and scale their own satellite constellation at maximum speed and reliably, all through a subscription model that eliminates the high upfront cost of building and maintaining infrastructure in space.

Onboard the launch, Spire Space Services had satellites for:

GHGSat: Spire launched three satellites carrying payloads to monitor greenhouse gas emissions for GHGSat, including the first commercial CO2 sensor and two sensors dedicated to methane monitoring. This innovation marks the beginning in frequent, precise and independent high-resolution CO2 data collection, revolutionizing carbon emissions monitoring.

HiSky: Ella 1, a satellite designed to showcase the capabilities of hiSky’sSmartellite™ ground network, also launched on the mission. The satellite will demonstrate hiSky network’s ability to switch between geostationary (GEO) satellites and low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, allowing them to offer low data rate connectivity for IoT and high data rate connectivity for substantial data transfers.

Jacobs: Spire launched two satellites for Jacobs, a leader in advanced manufacturing, critical infrastructure, health & life sciences and national security. Jacobs has developed and is delivering cost-effective and resilient radio frequency (RF) signal detection and processing systems through Jacobs Mango Series Payload (MSP) as part of an integrated system with Spire. Jacobs embarked on its space payload vision in 2018, and has rapidly achieved space qualification of their space radar systems. Jacobs’ agile design methodology provides maximum payload flexibility ensuring advanced, affordable space radar solutions.

SNC: Spire also launched the Vindlér satellite constellation consisting of four satellites carrying radio frequency (RF) technology for SNC. Vindlér is designed to detect and geolocate specific objects from LEO based on targeted RF emissions ranging from VHF to L-band. Vindlér can be used to locate emitters of interest throughout the world and can be used to track dark vessels, GPS jammers and more in support of national security efforts.

“This launch marks a milestone for us, hosting the largest number of Space Services customers on a single mission to date,” said Frank Frulio, the general manager of Space Services at Spire. “Rather than viewing space as an escape from Earth’s challenges, we see it as a source of invaluable insights and data for addressing our planet’s most pressing issues. Through Spire Space Services, we’re streamlining space access so that any organization can tap into the benefits of space-based data.”

Spire Enhances Data Collection and Analysis

LEMUR 2 NANAZ was launched as part of the mission, showcasing Spire’s capability to track and gather information from terrestrial and space-based signals emitted by Next-Generation Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit (NGSO) broadband internet constellations. It aims to harvest data for in-depth analyses of Ku and Ka-band spectrum usage across diverse applications, regions, and markets, identifying specific activities and behavioral patterns. The payload validates Spire’s radio frequency monitoring technology, extending signal collection up to 30GHz with enhanced capabilities.

The ten customer satellites were manifested on the mission through a multi-launch agreement between Spire and Exolaunch, which includes access to the Transporter missions through Exolaunch’s long-term launch arrangements with SpaceX. Under this agreement, Exolaunch is also providing its EXOpod Nova deployer, which was developed in collaboration with Spire. Spire’s LEMUR 2 NANAZ was manifested on the mission through D-Orbit onboard their OTV ION Satellite Carrier (“ION”) for last mile orbital transfer.

[Yellowstone10]

It saves money (and time?) by needing less of the expensive and scarce materials used for the nozzle (I forget which particular element it is).

Niobium! It's got a very high melting point and a lower density than other "refractory metals" with similarly high temperature resistance.

[abaddon]

It saves money (and time?) by needing less of the expensive and scarce materials used for the nozzle (I forget which particular element it is).

Niobium! It's got a very high melting point and a lower density than other "refractory metals" with similarly high temperature resistance.

I’ve seen this speculated on but has anyone confirmed it officially has to do with the material and not something else?

(Not that the OG nozzle is Niobium, that the reason for the short nozzle is to avoid using it).

[gongora]

Confirmation from SatRev that STORK-7 is in this launch:

https://twitter.com/satrev_space/status/1723354156541395297

I've got confirmation from the SatRev team that AMAN-1 is the STORK-7.

This article has some more info about the satellite:
https://www.rmf24.pl/nauka/news-polskie-satelity-leca-ze-spacex-na-orbite,nId,7141103#crp_state=1

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1723551386720256293

I’ve updated the latest.html page with a summary of the 90 satellites deployed from Transporter-9 and 11 satellites though to be aboard the deployed tugs (ION, SpaceVan and LEO-Express). We don't have a full list of the payloads on the tugs.

https://planet4589.org/latest.html

[Fmedici]

https://twitter.com/D_Orbit/status/1723634065234895273?s=20

EDIT: adding info from their mission page

https://www.dorbit.space/cosmic-wander-november-2023

During the mission, ION will deploy 11 satellites and perform 7 in-orbit demonstrations of hosted payloads.

Throughout the mission, ION SCV Ultimate Hugo will deploy satellites for several clients, including Spire, c ryptosat, Apogeo Space, Odyssey SpaceWorks, and three more satellite from KP Labs, Wyvern, and a partnership between Saab and ORBCOMM, through AAC Clyde Space. The OTV will also perform in-orbit demonstration of another hosted payloads from KP Labs, as well as from Picosats and Genergo. Finally, onboard the OTV are also two 6P PocketQube satellite deployers by Alba Orbital, which will release in orbit six PocketQubes from different commercial and research entities.

edit/gongora: altered satellite name to bypass forum text substitution

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/oqtec/status/1723689498880471446

🎉 Great update on our mission 🎉 We acquired the signal of both satellites Tiger-5 and Tiger-6! Tiger-5 was acquired immedately after deployment during the first pass and Tiger-6 was acquired on the second pass. Both Tigers are healthy. #transporter9 #3gpp #5g #nbiot

[gongora]

https://www.dorbit.space/cosmic-wander-november-2023

During the mission, ION will deploy 11 satellites and perform 7 in-orbit demonstrations of hosted payloads.

Throughout the mission, ION SCV Ultimate Hugo will deploy satellites for several clients, including Spire, c ryptosat, Apogeo Space, Odyssey SpaceWorks, and three more satellite from KP Labs, Wyvern, and a partnership between Saab and ORBCOMM, through AAC Clyde Space. The OTV will also perform in-orbit demonstration of another hosted payloads from KP Labs, as well as from Picosats and Genergo. Finally, onboard the OTV are also two 6P PocketQube satellite deployers by Alba Orbital, which will release in orbit six PocketQubes from different commercial and research entities.

Can they be any more vague?  Apparently the PocketQubes aren't counted in the 11, so are there 17 total?  If there are 11 CubeSats, does that mean Apogeo has 5 instead of the expected 9, or are there undisclosed customers? (Going further, if there are 17 here and 1 on Impulse-1 then where are another 5?  Is anything on SpaceVan?)

[Mintae Lee]

Do you happen to have any information about JINJUSat-1?

According to SpaceX's announcement, it seems that a total of 3 satellites were not deployed, and among them,
2 satellites appear to be those loaded onto the ISIS Deployer by Momentus [JINJUSat-1, Aman-1(STORK-7)].
How would you assess such a situation?

[gongora]

Do you happen to have any information about JINJUSat-1?

According to SpaceX's announcement, it seems that a total of 3 satellites were not deployed, and among them,
2 satellites appear to be those loaded onto the ISIS Deployer by Momentus [JINJUSat-1, Aman-1(STORK-7)].
How would you assess such a situation?

I'm not sure. Hello Space was also in that group, and they said they heard from at least one of their satellites.  I'm assuming ISIS also did the deployers for Planet?  One of those deployments wasn't confirmed either but they made contact with the satellite. I'm hoping they all deployed but we'll just have to wait and see if the groups involved hear from their sats.

[gongora]

https://www.dorbit.space/cosmic-wander-november-2023

During the mission, ION will deploy 11 satellites and perform 7 in-orbit demonstrations of hosted payloads.

Throughout the mission, ION SCV Ultimate Hugo will deploy satellites for several clients, including Spire, c ryptosat, Apogeo Space, Odyssey SpaceWorks, and three more satellite from KP Labs, Wyvern, and a partnership between Saab and ORBCOMM, through AAC Clyde Space. The OTV will also perform in-orbit demonstration of another hosted payloads from KP Labs, as well as from Picosats and Genergo. Finally, onboard the OTV are also two 6P PocketQube satellite deployers by Alba Orbital, which will release in orbit six PocketQubes from different commercial and research entities.

Can they be any more vague?  Apparently the PocketQubes aren't counted in the 11, so are there 17 total?  If there are 11 CubeSats, does that mean Apogeo has 5 instead of the expected 9, or are there undisclosed customers? (Going further, if there are 17 here and 1 on Impulse-1 then where are another 5?  Is anything on SpaceVan?)

Apogeo had 9 sats, so the 11 number is just fiction.

[shiro]

Some reusability stats for this launch (Transporter-9):

Booster B1071.12 turnaround time: 60 days 11 hours 52 minutes
(its previous mission was Starlink Group 7-2 on Sep 12, 2023 UTC).

FYI: median turnaround time for Falcon 9 / Heavy boosters is currently 57.30 days *
* – based on the last 30 launches, excluding new first stages.

Launchpad SLC-4E turnaround time: 13 days 9 hours 49 minutes
(the previous launch from this pad was Starlink Group 7-6 on Oct 29, 2023 UTC).

FYI: median turnaround time for SLC-4E is currently 13.62 days *
* – based on the last 30 launches.

The same type of stats for previous SpaceX launches may be found on this spreadsheet online.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/lrocket/status/1723769027435405633

Great news for our Mira LEO Express 1 mission- we are receiving data from Mira and spacecraft health is good!  I want to thank the Impulse team, our investors and all of our partners and suppliers. @GoToImpulse

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/tskelso/status/1723781183295918485

CelesTrak has ephemeris-based SupGP data for 35 of 37 Planet satellites from the #Transporter-9 launch (2023-174) atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg SFB on Nov 11 at 1849 UTC: spaceflightnow.com/2023/11/11/liv…. Data for the launch can be found at: https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/table.php?INTDES=2023-174

[Skyrocket]

D-orbit has released the mission booklet.

[gongora]

D-orbit has released the mission booklet.

So there were 21 total satellites aboard ION.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/jaredhead/status/1723930023084654898

Our view today of the recently landed @SpaceX B1071, having returned to LZ-4 after completing its 12th successful flight. Snapped from @Amtrak Coast Starlight 14. #SpaceX

[jacqmans]

Two ESA Φ-lab-enabled satellites launched
13/11/2023


MANTIS, the first satellite mission to be supported from concept to liftoff by ESA’s Earth Observation InCubed programme, was launched yesterday on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. MANTIS carries a high-resolution multispectral camera coupled with a powerful AI processing unit.

Intuition-1 was also launched on the same rocket and will similarly demonstrate the advantages of onboard AI capabilities, in this case in tandem with a hyperspectral imager. The satellite’s machine learning algorithms were developed under the ESA-funded Genesis project

The two satellites lifted off from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, US, at 18:49 GMT (19:49 CET, 10:49 PST) on 11 November.

MANTIS and Intuition-1 were delivered into orbit about one hour after liftoff.

https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Two_ESA_Ph-lab-enabled_satellites_launched