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| Image credit: NASA |
Launch of FLEX and Sentinel-C
Avio launched a Vega C from Kourou in French Guiana at 0121 UTC, or 2221 Monday evening local time (GFT). This carried two satellites to orbit for the European Space Agency. The first was Sentinel-3C, an oceanography satellite that is the third of four planned Sentinel satellites launched as part of the European Union's Copernicus programme for climate monitoring. The second was FLEX, short for Fluorescence Explorer, which carries a spectrometer for mapping plant fluorescence to monitor photosynthesis and global plant health, and is the eighth mission launched for ESA's Earth Explorer series of satellites, part of the agency's FutureEO programme. This was the 30th flight of Vega C. [Source: ESA]
Launch of Qianfan Polar Group 19
LandSpace launched a Zhuque-2E Block 2 from Jiuquan in Gansu at 0626 UTC, or 1426 local time (CST). This carried Qianfan Polar Group 19, a batch of 10 satellites for the Qianfan (SpaceSail) internet constellation operated by Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology. Group 19 is actually the 15th batch of these satellites to be launched. This was the first time a private company have delivered satellites for the constellation, which have previously all been delivered by state-operated Long March rockets. This was the 9th flight of Zhuque-2, and the 3rd flight of the 2E Block 2 variant. [Source: LandSpace]
Launch of Qianfan Polar Group 26
Orienspace were scheduled to launch a Gravity-1 from the launch ship Dongfang Hangtian Gang in the East China Sea off the coast of Shanghai at 2155 UTC, or 0555 Wednesday morning local time (CST). Confirmation of the launch and details about its payload were not available at the time of writing. An update will be provided tomorrow. This was the 4th flight of Gravity-1, marking another increase in launch cadence for the vehicle.
UPDATE: The reported launch time is 2200 UTC, or 0600 Wednesday morning local time (CST). The rocket was carrying nine satellites for Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology; eight comprising Polar Group 26 of the Qianfan (SpaceSail) internet constellation, and one technology test satellite. This is today's second Qianfan launch, and the 16th overall, meaning the constellation's first two launches with private launch providers occurred on two different rockets on the same day. [Source: CCTV]
United States Discloses Possession of Space Weapons
The United States has admitted for the first time that it has deployed weapons in space. The nature of these weapons is not known, nor how long they have been in orbit, though they are probably anti-satellite weapons equipped with electronic interference devices. The Space Force would likely prefer for any inter-satellite conflict to avoid creating the cloud of debris that would be caused by a more physical weapon. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink explained he was making the disclosure as a "deterrent". The United States claims to believe that Russia and China both also have weapons in space. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty bans weapons of mass destruction from being placed in orbit, but conventional and electronic orbital weapons are allowed under international law. China has denounced the disclosure and called for the avoidance of an arms race in space. [Source: BBC]
Roman First Light
NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope has taken its first test image of the stars. The Wide Field Instrument has not yet been properly deployed, so the stars are intentionally out-of-focus. The mission will arrive at the Sun-Earth L2 point in December and is aiming to release its first science images in early 2027. [Source: NASA]
International Space Station Activities
The crew of the International Space Station performed routine research and maintenance. Jessica Meir and Sophie Adenot worked on bioprinting research. Meir also performed stress and sleep research, while Adenot inspected the hatch seals in the US segment of the station. Andrey Fedyaev took blood pressure readings and performed maintenance on the ventilation system. Jack Hathaway installed a new oxygen tank in the atmospheric control system and checked spacesuit batteries and carbon dioxide scrubbers. Pyotr Dubrov and Anna Kikina tested material science equipment and inspected the hatch seals in the Russian segment. Anil Menon continued studying lead-free soldering techniques, cleaned a water filter, and tested one of the spacesuits' emergency jet packs. [Source: NASA]
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