SpaceX to Launch Multitude of Satellites, Polaris Dawn Crew Mission in July SpaceMonth
Launching from SLC-40, Cape Canaveral SFS FL on July 8 is $70M Falcon 9 carrying the first communication geostationary satellite built in Türkiye, Türksat 6A. This payload headed to GTO takes 4,250 kg of the available 8,300 kg on Falcon 9. July 18 has the Transporter 11 scheduled to launch from SLC 4E, Vandenberg SFB CA and head to SSO with dozens of micro- and nanosatellites, a Dedicated Rideshare launch costing US$52M. Exolaunch of Germany and Denver CO brings satellites plus deployment and separation systems. Customers include Impulse Space, Lunasonde, D-Orbit, Momentus, Capella, iQPS, Tomorrow.io, Planet Labs, Kuva Space, ThinkOrbital, Spire Global, Space Maniac, Inversion Space, Varda, NearSpace Launch, Aethero, EOI Space, Creotech Instruments, Umbra Space, Array Labs, Planet IQ, Sidus Space, Loft Orbital, Muon Space, Myriota, Added Value Solutions, Apogeo Space and Quub, from Italy, EU, Poland, Argentina, UAE, Japan, Croatia, Finland, Australia, Spain and USA. Now set for NET July 31 also SLC-40, Cape Canaveral SFS FL aboard a Falcon 9 is the first Polaris Flight of Jared Isaacman, five-day mission aiming for record-high orbit with apogee of 1,400 km. A first spacewalk with Isaacman and Sarah Gillis has all four crew using SpaceX spacesuits. Anna Menon leads research on human health in space. Mission Pilot is Scott Poteet. (Image Credits: Polaris Program/John Kraus, SpaceX) |
MONDAY☆ Jul 8 — International Space Station, ~415-km LEO: Expedition 71 seven-member crew planning for 2 members of Boeing Starliner to remain aboard this week, participating in in-flight interviews with NASA; USA EVA #91 postponed until end of July; Integrated Laser Communications Relay Demonstration ILLUMA-T, deployed from ISS, now undergoing tests and checkouts before attempting 1.2 gigabits-per-second laser comms to ground. ☆ Jul 8 — Tiangong Space Station, ~390-km LEO: Shenzhou 18 three-member crew now 1/3 complete with 6-month space mission, monitoring recent external installations performed during second EVA including additional space debris protection equipment, experiment housings. Highlights… o NewSpace: Virgin Galactic Delta, first test 2025, while crew Shawna Pandya, Kellie Gerardi and Norah Patten preparing for 2026 suborbital flight; Firefly Aerospace working toward Blue Ghost lunar lander launch November 16, successfulyl launches Alpha rocket with 8 NASA CubeSats; Space Pioneer of China hoping for launch of Tianlong-3 late in year, analyzing recent issue after accidental liftoff during static test. ☆ Solar System: Desert moss Syntrichia caninervis studied by scientists in China theorized to potentially thrive on Mars for terraforming; Astrophysicists from Princeton University and the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory proposing Jupiter atmosphere infrared glow may be due to collision of dark matter particles; Future Uranus mission desired as continued research from Voyager 2 suggests weak radiation belt detection likely from uneven particle density / distribution. o Global: ISRO Chair Somanath announces building of New Generation Launch Vehicle (NGLV) “Soorya” will commence, to carry Indians to the Moon; National and International organizations prepare to celebrate July 20 Moon Day – 55th Observation of Apollo 11; Australia Antarctic Program scientists work with international team to develop Earth Dynamics Geodetic Explorer (EDGE) satellite to monitor effects of climate and vegetation change. |
 |
● = Terrestrial and… o = International terrestrial events
☾ = Moon activity ★ = Space and… ☆ = International space / astro events in Hawaii Standard Time unless noted. Add 10 hours to obtain UT (‘Universal Time’). |
Weekly Planet Watch – Morning Planets: Mars (E), Jupiter (ENE), Saturn (SE); Evening Planets: Mercury (WNW), Venus (WNW).
Tokyo Hosts 9th SPACETIDE and 6th SWF Space Sustainability Summit
|
★ Jul 8 — SpaceX, Launch Falcon 9 / Turksat-6A, SLC-40, Cape Canaveral SFS FL: Communication satellite for Türkiye to be launched to geostationary orbit. o Jul 8-10 — SPACETIDE Foundation, Tokyo, Japan: SPACETIDE 2024. o Jul 8-12 — Lunar and Planetary Institute, Universities Space Research Association, Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada: Eighth International Conference on Mars Polar Science and Exploration. ☆ Jul 8 — Apollo Asteroid 2024 MT1: Near-Earth Flyby (0.010 AU) Ongoing… ● May 28 – Aug 7 — LPI-JSC Center for Lunar Science and Exploration, Houston TX: Exploration Science Summer Intern Program. ● Jun 8 – Aug 3 — International Space University (ISU), Rice University, NASA, Johnson Space Center, Houston TX: 36th ISU Space Studies Program (SSP 2024). ☆ NET Jul — ISRO, Launch LVM-3 (Launch Vehicle Mark-3) / Gaganyaan G2, Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India: India planning for 1st uncrewed flight of Gaganyaan on a short orbital test flight. o Jul 1 – Aug 30 — Academia Sinica Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Taipei, Taiwan: 2024 Summer Student Program; students conduct original research under supervision of professional astronomers. TUESDAY☆ Jul 9 — ESA, Launch Ariane 6 / First Flight, ELA-4, Guiana Space Centre, Kourou, French Guiana: Arianespace inaugural launch of Ariane 6 new heavy-lift launch vehicle. ● Jul 9 — Lunar Exploration Analysis Group (LEAG), Online: LEAG ExComm Community Meeting. ☾ Jul 9 — Moon: 2.77° NNE of Regulus, 05:00. ☆ Jul 9 — Venus: At perihelion, 0.7185 AU from Sun, 19:00. ☆ Jul 9 — Jupiter: 4.8° N of Aldebaran, 13:00. |
WEDNESDAY
o Jul 10 — International Astronomical Union, South Africa National Research Foundation, African Astronomical Society, South African Institute of Physics, Academy of Science of South Africa, Cape Town and Western Cape Convention Bureau, et al, Cape Town, South Africa: Early Bird Registration Due: XXXII (32nd) IAU General Assembly; being held Aug 6-15.
☆ Jul 10 — Apollo Asteroid 2024 ME1: Near-Earth Flyby (0.029 AU)
THURSDAY
● Jul 11-12 — NASA Small Bodies Assessment Group (SBAG), Online: SBAG Meeting #31.
o Jul 11-12 — Secure World Foundation, National Space Policy Secretariat of the Cabinet Office of the Japanese Government, Tokyo, Japan: 6th Summit for Space Sustainability.
☾ Jul 11 — Moon: At apogee, distance 404,375 km, 22:00.
☆ Jul 11 — Apollo Asteroid 2022 YS5: Near-Earth Flyby (0.028 AU)
FRIDAY
☆ Jul 12 — International Space Station, Cygnus NG-20 Undocking, ~415-km LEO: Undocking of cargo ship Cygnus NG-20, which will eventually burn up in Earth atmosphere with waste; live coverage available of unberthing.
● Jul 12 — Lunar and Planetary Institute, Flagstaff AZ: Early Registration Due: Second Workshop on Terrestrial Analogs for Planetary Exploration; being held Aug 12-14.
SATURDAY
o Jul 13-21 — United Nations Committee on Space Research, Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI), Korean Space Science Society, Busan, S Korea: 46th Scientific Assembly of the Committee on Space Research and Associated Events (COSPAR 2024).
☾ Jul 13 — Moon: At first quarter, 12:49; 0.87° NE of Spica, 18:00.
☆ Jul 13 — Aten Asteroid 2012 VC26: Near-Earth Flyby (0.071 AU)
SUNDAY
o Jul 14-20 — Kuwait National Library (NCCAL), MVA, Kuwait City, Kuwait: Kuwait International Moon Day + Moon Workshop.
☆ Jul 14 — Apollo Asteroid 187040 (2005 JS108): Near-Earth Flyby (0.086 AU)