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#20
by
Ken the Bin
on 08 Jul, 2023 04:40
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#21
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 09 Jul, 2023 21:31
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#22
by
GewoonLukas_
on 09 Jul, 2023 22:05
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Less than a week until this stack goes to space on Electron! #BabyComeBack
Notice the extra propellant tanks, which are required for the multiple burns the kickstage will perform to deploy the satellites into different orbits.
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#23
by
Asteroza
on 09 Jul, 2023 23:06
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Less than a week until this stack goes to space on Electron! #BabyComeBack
Notice the extra propellant tanks, which are required for the multiple burns the kickstage will perform to deploy the satellites into different orbits.
Is this the first time we are seeing auxiliary tanks on the payload deck?
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#24
by
Skyrocket
on 09 Jul, 2023 23:54
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Less than a week until this stack goes to space on Electron! #BabyComeBack
Notice the extra propellant tanks, which are required for the multiple burns the kickstage will perform to deploy the satellites into different orbits.
Is this the first time we are seeing auxiliary tanks on the payload deck?
Yes, these were never shown before.
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#25
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 10 Jul, 2023 03:38
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#26
by
Ken the Bin
on 11 Jul, 2023 03:54
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#27
by
the_big_boot
on 11 Jul, 2023 04:38
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#28
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 13 Jul, 2023 18:50
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https://www.nasa.gov/feature/ames/starling Jul 11, 2023
NASA’s Starling Mission Sending Swarm of Satellites into Orbit
This July, NASA is sending a team of four six-unit (6U)-sized CubeSats into orbit around Earth to see if they’re able to cooperate on their own, without real-time updates from mission control. While that kind of autonomous cooperation may not sound too difficult for humans, this team will be robotic – composed of small satellites to test out key technologies for the future of deep space missions, where more complex and autonomous spacecraft will be essential.
Once launched, the four CubeSats will fly in two different formations to test several technologies paving the way towards a future where swarms of satellites can cooperate to do science in deep space. This mission, called Starling, will last at least six months, positioning the spacecraft about 355 miles above Earth and spaced about 40 miles apart.
"Starling, and the capabilities it brings for autonomous command and control for swarms of small spacecraft, will enhance NASA’s abilities for future science and exploration missions,” said Roger Hunter, program manager for NASA’s Small Spacecraft Technology program at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley. “The mission represents a significant step forward.”
There are four main capabilities Starling will be testing: autonomously maneuvering to stay together as a group, creating an adaptable communications network amongst the spacecraft, keeping track of each other’s relative position, and responding to new information from onboard sensors by executing new activities on their own. In essence, Starling is looking to create a swarm of small satellites that can function as an autonomous community, capable of responding to their environment and completing tasks as a team.
Swarm technologies allow for the ability to take scientific measurements from multiple points in space, build networks capable of patching themselves if one piece goes down, and have spacecraft systems that don’t need to stay in touch with Earth to respond to changes in the environment. A swarm of spacecraft is also more resilient against failures or malfunctions within the team as each spacecraft is redundant to another. If one fails, the others can compensate.
Starling’s first mission carries a suite of four technologies to be tested out. The first is ROMEO (Reconfiguration and Orbit Maintenance Experiments Onboard), testing software designed to autonomously plan and execute maneuvers without any direct input from an operator. On the Starling mission, it will allow the satellites to fly in a cluster, both planning out trajectories and executing them on their own.
A Mobile Ad-hoc Network (MANET) is a communications system composed of wirelessly linked devices in which data is routed and rerouted automatically based on network conditions. An example on Earth is mesh Wi-Fi, in which multiple internet routers are placed throughout a home, allowing mobile devices to automatically connect to the strongest signal. In the same way, the Starling spacecraft have crosslink radios that allow communication between spacecraft when they are in range, with the onboard MANET software determining the best way to route traffic through the network of satellites. Starling will test this network, showing whether the system can automatically create and maintain a network in space over time.
Each CubeSat also has its own “star tracker” sensors onboard, normally used so that a satellite can keep track of its own orientation in space, much like sailors using the stars to navigate at night. Because the satellites will be relatively close together, in addition to stars, these sensors will pick up the light from their fellow swarm spacecraft and use specialized software to keep track of the rest of the swarm. Called StarFOX (Starling Formation-Flying Optical Experiment), this unique use of common spacecraft sensors will allow the backdrop of the stars to keep the swarm together.
Finally, the Distributed Spacecraft Autonomy (DSA) experiment demonstrates the ability of a swarm of spacecraft to collect and analyze science data onboard and cooperatively optimize data collection in response. The satellites will monitor Earth’s ionosphere – part of the upper atmosphere – and if one detects something interesting, it will communicate to the other satellites to observe the same phenomenon. The ability for satellites to autonomously react to an observation will enhance science data collection for a host of future NASA science missions.
After its primary mission is complete, the next stage for Starling will be a partnership with SpaceX’s Starlink satellite constellation to test advanced space traffic management techniques between autonomous spacecraft operated by different organizations. By sharing future trajectory intentions with each other, NASA and SpaceX will demonstrate an automated system for ensuring that both sets of satellites can operate safely while in relative proximity in low-Earth orbit.
“Starling 1.5 will be foundational for helping understand rules of the road for space traffic management,” said Hunter.
Robotics will always be at the forefront of exploration, both crewed and uncrewed. The ability to have satellites and spacecraft operate in a networked, autonomous, and coordinated capacity means NASA is ensuring humanity can go further and do better science than ever before.
NASA Ames leads the Starling project. NASA’s Small Spacecraft Technology program, based at NASA Ames and within NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD), funds and manages the Starling mission. Blue Canyon Technologies designed and manufactured the spacecraft buses and is providing mission operations support. Rocket Lab USA, Inc. provides launch and integration services. Partners supporting Starling’s payload experiments include Stanford University’s Space Rendezvous Lab in Stanford, California, Emergent Space Technologies of Laurel, Maryland, CesiumAstro of Austin, Texas, L3Harris Technologies, Inc., of Melbourne, Florida, and NASA Ames – with funding support by NASA’s Game Changing Development program within STMD.
Banner image caption:
NASA’s Starling six-month mission will use a team of four CubeSats in low Earth orbit to test technologies that let spacecraft operate in a synchronized manner without resources from the ground. The technologies will advance capabilities in swarm maneuver planning and execution, communications networking, relative navigation, and autonomous coordination between spacecraft. Credits: NASA/Conceptual Image Lab/Ross Walter
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#29
by
Ken the Bin
on 14 Jul, 2023 01:37
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Postponed two days to July 16, still at 23:30-01:30 UTC.
https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/1679614909452275712🚀Launch Update 🚀
We’re targeting no earlier than 17 July NZST / 16 July UTC for the launch of #BabyComeBack! Final recovery preparations are underway as we get ready to bring another Electron booster home via marine retrieval ⛴️🌊🚀
The
Next Mission webpage has also been updated.
Mission Name: Baby Come Back
Rocket: Electron
Electron Name: Baby Come Back
Launch Window: 17 July NZST / 16 July UTC
Launch Time: 11:30 NZST / 23:30 UTC
Launch Site: Launch Complex 1, Pad B
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#30
by
Ken the Bin
on 14 Jul, 2023 04:58
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NGA Rocket Launching and Space Debris notices. These do NOT reflect the postponement to July 16.
140410Z JUL 23
HYDROPAC 2301/23(76).
WESTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
NEW ZEALAND.
DNC 06.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
2130Z TO 0200Z DAILY 14 THRU 28 JUL
IN AREA BOUND BY
39-12.00S 178-09.00E, 39-12.60S 177-42.00E,
39-51.00S 177-36.00E, 39-51.00S 178-06.00E.
2. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
IN AREA BOUND BY
43-48.00S 177-12.00E, 43-30.00S 175-54.00E,
46-06.00S 174-42.00E, 46-24.00S 176-09.00E.
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 290300Z JUL 23.//
140421Z JUL 23
HYDROPAC 2302/23(76).
WESTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
DNC 06.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
2130Z TO 0200Z DAILY 14 THRU 28 JUL
IN AREA BOUND BY
53-36.00S 172-15.00E, 53-27.00S 171-24.00E,
56-30.00S 169-42.00E, 56-42.00S 170-36.00E.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 290300Z JUL 23.//
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#31
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 14 Jul, 2023 16:52
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https://twitter.com/exolaunch/status/1679893241334775811The SFL-built LEO 3 is heading to #space for @Telesat on @RocketLab #Electron via our #CarboNIX! Our team flew around the🌏to complete the integration of LEO 3 at the launch site in #NewZealand! Thanks @RocketLab SFL for the thrilling experience! GO LEO 3! 🚀#LaunchWithExolaunch
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#32
by
Ken the Bin
on 16 Jul, 2023 02:42
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Postponed another day, due to weather.
https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/1680403126522884096🚀 Launch Update 🚀
Due to unfavorable weather conditions the #BabyComeBack mission is now targeting a no earlier than July 17 UTC launch.
The
Next Mission webpage has also been updated.
Mission Name: Baby Come Back
Rocket: Electron
Electron Name: Baby Come Back
Launch Window: 18 July NZST / 17 July UTC
Launch Time: 11:30 NZST / 23:30 UTC
Launch Site: Launch Complex 1, Pad B
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#33
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 17 Jul, 2023 16:38
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https://blogs.nasa.gov/smallsatellites/2023/07/17/its-launch-day-for-nasas-starling-mission/It’s Launch Day for NASA’s Starling Mission!
Welcome to launch day for NASA’s Starling CubeSat mission! A team of four satellites wait atop a Rocket Lab Electron rocket for liftoff from Launch Complex 1 in Māhia, New Zealand. This launch, named Baby Come Back, will send Starling’s cereal box-sized satellites, called CubeSats, to low Earth orbit, where they will test new autonomous spacecraft swarm technologies.
A two-hour launch window opens at 7:30 p.m. EDT (11:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 18, New Zealand Standard Time). Rocket Lab is providing a live launch broadcast, available on the company’s website approximately 20 minutes before launch.
Today’s launch aims to deploy the four Starling CubeSats more than 300 miles above Earth. Following commissioning, the spacecraft will demonstrate maneuver planning, communications networking, relative navigation, and autonomous coordinated science measurements, all with minimal intervention from operators on the ground.
This ambitious test is an important step in advancing self-coordinating robotic swarms for future science and exploration missions to the Moon, Mars, and deep space. Projects like the upcoming HelioSwarm mission, which will launch nine spacecraft to study the Sun like never before, will benefit from lessons learned from Starling.
Here’s a look at some of today’s upcoming milestones. All times are approximate:
-00:02:00 Launch autosequence begins
-00:00:02 Rutherford engines ignite
00:00:00 Lift-off
00:01:00 Vehicle Supersonic
00:01:11 Max-Q
+00:02:24 Main Engine Cut Off (MECO) on Electron’s first stage
+00:02:27 Stage 1 separates from Stage 2
+00:02:31 Electron’s Stage 2 Rutherford engine ignites
+00:03:03 Fairing separation
+00:04:07 Stage 1 apogee
+00:07:23 Stage 1 drogue parachute deployment
+00:07:38 Stage 1 is subsonic
+00:08:13 Stage 1 main parachute deployment
+00:08:59 Second Engine Cut Off (SECO) on Stage 2
+00:09:09 Stage 2 separation from Kick Stage
+00:15:15- +00:17:43- Splashdown predicted to occur between
+00:46:27 Kick Stage Curie engine ignition (1)
+00:48:39 Curie engine Cut Off (1)
+00:49:14 NASA Starling 1 Deploys
+00:49:44 NASA Starling 2 Deploys
+00:50:14 NASA Starling 3 Deploys
+00:50:44 NASA Starling 4 Deploys
Follow launch updates on this blog and stay connected with the mission on social media:
Twitter: @NASAAmes, @NASA, @RocketLab
Facebook: NASA Ames, NASA, RocketLabUSA
Instagram: @NASAAmes, @NASA, @RocketLabUSA
Ames leads the Starling project. NASA’s Small Spacecraft Technology program, based at Ames and within NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD), funds and manages the Starling mission. Blue Canyon Technologies designed and manufactured the spacecraft buses and is providing mission operations support. Rocket Lab USA, Inc. provides launch and integration services. Partners supporting Starling’s payload experiments include Stanford University’s Space Rendezvous Lab in Stanford, California, Emergent Space Technologies of Laurel, Maryland, CesiumAstro of Austin, Texas, L3Harris Technologies, Inc., of Melbourne, Florida, and Ames – with funding support by NASA’s Game Changing Development program within STMD.
Author Gianine Figliozzi
Posted on July 17, 2023
Categories Uncategorized
Tags CubeSats, Starling
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#34
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 17 Jul, 2023 17:36
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https://twitter.com/rocketlab/status/1680994697626669056Welcome to launch day! Today we launch 7 satellites for @NASA, @SFL_SmallerSats, @Telesat & @SpireGlobal. And we’re also trying to bring back Electron’s booster after an ocean splashdown.
🚀Mission: Baby Come Back
⏰ Time: 23:30 UTC/11:30 NZST
📺Webcast: Rocketlabusa.com/live-stream
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#35
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 17 Jul, 2023 18:36
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https://twitter.com/rocketlab/status/1681009809372618752Electron is vertical on the pad at LC-1. Lift-off for Baby Come Back is currently on track.
Launch window opens:
July 17, EDT | 19:30
July 17, UTC | 23:30
July 17, PDT | 16:30
July 18, NZST | 11:30
Mission info: rocketlabusa.com/missions/next-…
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#36
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 17 Jul, 2023 18:39
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#37
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 17 Jul, 2023 19:16
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#38
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 17 Jul, 2023 20:05
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https://twitter.com/rocketlab/status/1681032118040956929LOx loading is underway and ice is starting to form on the outside of Electron’s carbon composite structure, as always. Now about T-3.5 hours to lift-off from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand.
Target lift-off:
EDT | 19:30
UTC | 23:30
PDT | 16:30
NZST | 11:30
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#39
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 17 Jul, 2023 21:29
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