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| Image credit: Orienspace |
Launch of Gravity-1 Rideshare
Orienspace launched a Gravity-1 from the launch ship Dongfang Hangtian Gang in the East China Sea off the coast of Shanghai at 0254 UTC, or 1054 local time (CST). It was carrying a total of nine payloads to Sun-synchronous orbit; Dongpo-13, 14, 17, 18, 19, and 20 for Huantian Intelligence (a subsidiary of MinoSpace), Tianyi-49 for SpaceTY, Xiguang-2-01 for Xi'an Zhongke Xiguang Aerospace Technology, and Zidingxiang-3 (Lilac-3) for the Harbin Institute of Technology. All except the latter are Earth observation satellites of various kinds. Zidingxiang-3 is an experimental spacecraft with a very thin profile. This was the 3rd launch of Gravity-1. [Source: Orienspace]
Shijian-31 Orbit
Back in June, China launched a classified satellite called Shijian-31. Tracking data now shows that this satellite is in a unique high-inclination Molniya orbit. Orbits like this are usually used to monitor polar regions because they cause spacecraft to loiter over high latitudes for a long time. But Shijian-31 is instead in a Molniya orbit close to the equator, which isn't much good for Earth observation and instead suggests that the spacecraft is surveying satellites in high-up geosynchronous orbit. Satellite-to-satellite inspection is nothing new, but this is the first time such a unique orbit has been used to monitor satellites at such high altitude. [Source: COMSPOC]
Preparations for Starship Flight 13
SpaceX is still targeting tomorrow for the second launch attempt of Starship Flight 13, weather permitting. By midnight UTC, Ship 40 and the Superheavy booster with its replaced engines were in the process of being stacked up again on the launch pad. [Source: SpaceX]
International Space Station Activities
The crew of the International Space Station prepared for the departure of the MS-28 crew this weekend, as well as carrying out routine research and maintenance. [Source: NASA]
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