Archive for May, 2024
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May 31st, 2024
Image credit: The Aerospace Corporation
Attention air travelers. After all that huffing and puffing, trying to get to the terminal departure gate on time, here’s another worry.
With your legs finally airworthy, up and tightly locked in the up position, make sure you’re at a window seat. That way you can keep an eye out for incoming space junk that could make your arrival, perhaps, destination doubtful.
Here’s a point to ponder: As the numbers of rocket launches and commercial aircraft flights increase, the probability of a catastrophic collision between an aircraft and reentering space debris is also growing.
That’s one of the highlights from new research led by Charlotte Hook of the Department of Political Science, University of British Columbia in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Growing risk
Hook told Inside Outer Space that there is a growing risk to aircraft from space debris as both airplane flights and uncontrolled reentries of space debris increase.
“It is forecast that there will be over 40 million flights in 2024 – a new record – and it is likely rocket launches will beat 2023’s record of 212 successful launches,” Hook said. “A piece of space debris as small as 300 grams can take down a plane. This risk is increasing by the growth of both industries.”
Hook points out that in 2022 an uncontrolled space debris reentry caused a combined 309 hours of delays in Europe after flights were grounded to avoid possible debris. “Spacefaring states could be liable for economic costs to airlines under international law.”
This risk to aircraft is entirely preventable, Hook contends, as the technology for controlled reentries exists. “Space companies don’t want to fork out the money to use controlled reentries and are instead exporting this risk onto airlines and passengers. States should mandate controlled reentries before an accident occurs, as recommended in the 2023 Montreal Recommendations.”
Confirmed SpaceX debris found in Australia.
Photo courtesy: Brad Tucker
Leaving re-entry to chance
Before there is a tragedy caused by an aircraft collision with debris from a rocket body or satellite, there are some items to consider, explains Hook and fellow researchers in their newly issued research paper.
- International and domestic laws that now exist might enable the recovery of economic losses resulting from uncontrolled reentries, but such losses should not be allowed to occur in the first place.
- Instead of leaving the location of a re-entry to chance, controlled reentries can be achieved with existing technologies and mission designs, directing reentries away from areas of high aircraft traffic.
- Moving to a controlled reentry regime would create a cost to space operators – but that cost is currently being externalized to the aviation industry.
- Multilateral solutions to create a controlled reentry regime should be pursued, as recommended in the 2023 Montreal Recommendations on Aviation Safety and Uncontrolled Space Object Reentries.
Operational hazard
In making their case, Hook and colleagues explain that in 1968, an uncontrolled rocket body used to launch the then Soviet Union’s Cosmos 253 satellite passed over the United Kingdom as it reentered the atmosphere.
Taking the fall. Space hardware dives into Earth’s atmosphere with some fragments possibly making their way to the ground.
Image credit: ESA/D.Ducros
There were over 80 observations of the reentering object reported. Two of those accounts came from pilots of passenger aircraft in flight, with most of the surviving debris landed in the English Channel. Nonetheless, it was observed at the time that the debris created “a small but not entirely negligible hazard to aircraft.”
The paper adds that, although there have been no verified collisions between aircraft and space debris, “aircraft at cruising altitudes have been damaged by collisions with unidentified objects. There have also been reports of space debris falling in the proximity of air operations, and in November 2022, airspace over southern Europe was closed for up to an hour to reduce the risk from a reentering rocket body.”
Moreover, the research team adds that there is an “underappreciated operational hazard” from uncontrolled space object reentries.
Space Shuttle Columbia
Hook and colleagues in the paper also focused on the tragic Space Shuttle Columbia disaster in 2003, tragically killing all seven astronauts on board during re-entry back to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Space Shuttle Columbia debris, looking down the line of identified main fuselage fragments located on the grid system in the hangar.
Image Credit: Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB)
“Aircraft in the area were not informed of the unfolding risk and at least nine of them flew through the resulting debris field for 40 minutes,” the paper points out.
“Although none was struck, an investigation later found that they had been subject to a risk of collision between 0.3 and 10%,” the research paper flags, “with the calamity later described as a “watershed moment for reentry safety.”
Highly worthy of attention
As for solutions, the paper observes that the risk posed to aircraft by uncontrolled reentries is highly worthy of attention.
“The aviation industry faces the possible loss of an aircraft, its crew, and passengers, as well as the near certainty of economic losses associated with precautionary closures of airspace. It therefore has an interest in seeing a move away from uncontrolled reentries. For many space companies, however, uncontrolled reentries remain a low-cost means of disposing of rocket bodies and satellites.”
For access to “Uncontrolled Reentries of Space Objects and Aviation Safety” in the pages of the Acta Astronautica journal, go to:
Posted in 
Image credit: Nicolas Sarter/Université Paris Cité/CNRS
A detailed look at both orbital and seismological data gathered at Mars point to a clear increase in the number of dust avalanches around the epicenters of two “Marsquakes.”
The seismic events were recorded during the NASA InSight lander mission to the Red Planet that performed duties at Elysium Planitia from May 2018 to the end of 2022.
“The first seismic event was caused by an impactor hitting the Martian surface. The second seismic event was the largest marsquake ever recorded. This finding sheds light on how endogenous and exogenous processes can currently shape the surface of Mars and trigger active mass wasting.”
The research findings have been reported by Antoine Lucas, a research scientist at the Institut de physique du globe de Paris in France.
Meteorite impact
Lucas and colleagues explain that the first seismic event under investigation, named S1000a, occurred on September 18, 2021. At that time, a meteorite impact led to a seismic signal registering a local Martian magnitude of 4.1, resulting in the formation of a crater approximately 500 feet (150 meters) in diameter.
A comparison of before and after orbital images of the area reveals a massive increase in new dust avalanches within a 12 mile (20 kilometers) radius of the epicenter, likely caused by intense surface acceleration and atmospheric blast. “To date, this is by far the largest number of avalanches triggered by an impact that has been spotted,” Lucas and the research team point out.
A sequence of images captured 8 months prior to S1222a and taken shortly after the marsquake.
Image credit: A. Lucas, et al.
Connection to ancient volcano?
The second seismic event, named S1222a, took place on May 4, 2022 and was the largest marsquake ever recorded. Estimated at a magnitude of 4.7, the rattle occurred near the Apollinaris volcano, with the epicenter estimated to lie at a depth of less than 12 miles (20 kilometers).
“Despite its energy being approximately 25 times greater than the S1000a impact event, orbital data reveal more gentle number of new avalanches. Nonetheless, the comparison of orbital images since 2005 with high-resolution images post-S1222a reveals a significant rise in avalanche occurrence, from 3% to 40% in certain areas, over one Martian year (equivalent to 687 Earth days).”
There are two potential interpretations of the Marsquake’s mechanism: a connection to the ancient volcano, Apollinaris Patera, although its current activity is deemed improbable. The second hypothesis posits a large geological structure — a 450 km-long ridge — as the probable seismic source, situated adjacent to the estimated epicenter location, the researchers explain.
This image shows InSight’s domed Wind and Thermal Shield that covers the Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure (SEIS) seismometer.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Groundwork ahead
“These findings not only lay the groundwork for future investigations into Martian seismic activity and its influence on surface and subsurface processes but also underscore the significance of surface process analysis in elucidating the mechanisms driving the Red Planet’s seismic phenomena,” the investigators conclude.
Along with the InSight recordings, data used was gleaned from the European Space Agency’s Mars Express as well as cameras aboard NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.
For more information, go to — “Possibly seismically triggered avalanches after the S1222a Marsquake and S1000a impact event” — at:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0019103523005213
Also, go to this animation with credits to Nicolas Sarter (illustration)/Antoine Lucas (animation), viewed at:
https://www.ipgp.fr/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Animation_avalanche.gif
Wait-a-Minute! Image credit: Barbara David
Eye-patches on! Practice your best “grrr.” Plop down pieces of eight, doubloons and cue “Captain” Jack Sparrow!
It’s a wait-a-moment meeting. Get ready for the First Annual Space Piracy Conference, set for early next year.
The Center for the Study of Space Crime, Policy, and Governance (CSCPG) plans a two-day, invite only symposium that brings together experts prepared to review crime, piracy, and smuggling in space.
“Be among the first to discuss mitigating space crime and piracy, from the perspectives of investment, space law, space policy, intelligence, and the military,” notes the group.
Movie credit: Walt Disney Pictures/Jerry Bruckheimer Films
Risks of piracy
Asks the CSCPG: What are the risks of piracy in space and solutions to this potentially devastating economic and legal problem?
“Now is the time to start thinking and talking about mitigating the threat of piracy in space,” said Marc Feldman, Executive Director of the CSCPG. “As we like to say, and please forgive me, Leon Trotsky, but you may not be interested in space piracy, but space pirates are interested in you….”
Feldman, who has worked in the space venture sector for years, is co-author, with Hugh Taylor, of the soon-to-be published book Space Piracy: Preparing for a Criminal Crisis in Orbit.
Image credit: CSCPG/Wiley
Threat to space commerce, national security
“While crime and piracy in space are at this point largely theoretical problems, our view is that now is the time to start thinking about the issue and discussing potential solutions,” Taylor, publications director of the center, tells Inside Outer Space. “Space piracy is a threat to space commerce and national security.”
“Any serious analysis and planning process for the future of space commerce, as well as space aspects of national security, needs to consider the threat of piracy,” explains Gordon Roesler, a space system developer and retired US Navy Captain who serves as an advisor to the conference.
For more information on this event scheduled for next February, as well as the Center for the Study of Space Crime, Policy, and Governance (CSCPG), go to:
Ali Hajimiri, co-director of the Caltech Space-Based Solar Power Project.
Image credit: Caltech/Francesca Forquet
The thought of beaming energy to an energy-hungry Earth from space has long been studied, even advanced over 80 years ago in science fiction.
Fast forward to the 21st century, investigations here on Earth and now in space seemingly bolster the concept. Still, space solar power beaming is viewed by some as a truly far out and off-the-beam technology, an economically dubious concept that does make for good science fiction.
The SOLARIS initiative is preparing Europe to make future decisions regarding the prospect of space-based solar power.
Image credit: ESA/A. Treuer
I reached out to several technologists as to what’s new, what’s old, and what’s still missing to plug in space power transmission to Earth.
To read my new Space.com story – “Is it time to put a dimmer on the push for space solar power?” – go to:
Curiosity Front Hazard Avoidance Camera Right B image taken on Sol 4197, May 27, 2024.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover at Gale Crater is carrying out an array of extraterrestrial tasks.
Conor Hayes, a graduate student at York University in Toronto, Canada, reported on the robot’s duties on Sols 4193-4194.
Curiosity Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) photo produced on Sol 4197, May 27, 2024.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
A recent drive of Curiosity added up to nearly 100 feet (30 meters) as the rover continued to move towards the Gediz Vallis channel crossing. While it was executed perfectly, the “workspace” (the area in front of the rover that is reachable by the arm) “was not as exciting as we had anticipated, consisting mostly of sand and smaller rocks,” Hayes notes.
Curiosity Left B Navigation Camera image acquired on Sol 4197, May 27, 2024.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Straightforward transition
Consequently, it was decided to convert from a “contact science” plan where the rover’s robotic arm is unstowed for a lengthy list of activities before driving away on the second sol, to a “touch and go” plan.
Curiosity Left B Navigation Camera image acquired on Sol 4197, May 27, 2024.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Hayes adds that touch and go is where Mars researchers mostly focus on remote sensing and a more limited list of contact science activities (the “touch”) and drive away on the first sol (the “go”).
Curiosity Left B Navigation Camera image acquired on Sol 4197, May 27, 2024.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
“From the environmental science side, these kinds of major plan reorganizations can be a bit stressful as they often involve lots of last-minute shuffling around of our pre-planned activities,” Hayes explains, “but the transition today was thankfully fairly straightforward.”
Curiosity Left B Navigation Camera image acquired on Sol 4197, May 27, 2024.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Good decision
The decision to convert the plan ended up being a good decision, Hayes continues, “as we parked with our left front wheel on top of a pile of small rocks, which limited the kinds of arm activities we could safely perform regardless of how interesting the workspace was.”
Moving the drive from the second to the first sol also means the rover team can relay more useful data down to Earth before plans were scripted for the long weekend that began last Friday.
“Despite the less interesting workspace (and setting aside the fact that calling any part of the surface of another planet ‘less interesting’ feels a little crazy), we’re still fitting a decent amount of science into this plan,” Hayes says.
Curiosity Left B Navigation Camera image acquired on Sol 4197, May 27, 2024.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Remote sensing
The plan called for first sol use of remote sensing, beginning with Chemistry and Camera (ChemCam) Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) on “Lake Catherine” and two ChemCam Remote Micro-Imager (RMI) mosaics, one on the Kukenán butte “that’s filled up our eastern view for many months now and another on “Echo Ridge,” a feature near the rover that we’re currently driving towards in the hopes of understanding its origin,” Hayes reports.
Curiosity Left B Navigation Camera image acquired on Sol 4197, May 27, 2024.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Mastcam was to perform documentation of the LIBS target and take a couple of images of “Evelyn Lake” and “Emerson Lake,” two of the slightly larger rocks that lie just outside of the current workspace.
This remote sensing session was to wrap up with some environmental science, including a Mastcam tau to monitor the amount of dust in the atmosphere, a dust devil movie, and Navcam monitoring of the dust and sand on the rover deck.
Curiosity Right B Navigation Camera image taken on Sol 4197, May 27, 2024.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Deck monitoring
Before the rover’s drive, the plan scripted a brief unstowing of the robotic arm to acquire Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) observations of Lake Catherine.
Curiosity was to finish its first sol in this plan by driving away, followed by a standard suite of post-drive images to help us with Friday planning, including another Navcam deck monitoring mosaic to see if the drive moved around any of the sand and dust.
Look for dust devils
“Because we’ll be in a new location, the second sol of this plan [Sol 4194] is all untargeted remote sensing. ChemCam was to use AEGIS (Autonomous Exploration for Gathering Increased Science) – a software suite that permits the rover to autonomously detect and prioritize targets.
Curiosity Left B Navigation Camera image acquired on Sol 4197, May 27, 2024.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
AEGIS was to autonomously search for a LIBS target in the rover’s new location, “then we’ll take a series of short Navcam movies to look for dust devils around the rover and a Navcam 3×1 line-of-sight mosaic to determine the amount of dust currently in the atmosphere within Gale,” Hayes points out.
Curiosity Left B Navigation Camera image acquired on Sol 4197, May 27, 2024.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
High solar activity
Shortly after noon, Curiosity was slated to call it a day (or sol, really), Hayes continued, “and head back to sleep for the rest of this plan, occasionally waking up to phone home with the data it has gathered.”
As always, the Dynamic Albedo of Neutrons (DAN), the Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD), and the Rover Environmental Monitoring Station (REMS) “remain hard at work in the background, RAD particularly so given the high solar activity that has been seen recently,” Hayes concluded.
Artwork depicts Chang’e-6 now in Moon orbit.
Image credit: CNSA/CGTN/Inside Outer Space screengrab
China’s Chang’e-6 Moon-orbiting mission is studying far side landing sites for accessibility and to perform a safe touchdown in early June.
Launched on May 3, some 5 days later the craft entered a 12-hour lunar orbit and began circularizing its orbit.
James Head of the Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Science at Brown University has been working with China’s cadre of lunar exploration planners.
At a May 24th NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter project science working group meeting, Head detailed the progression of China’s Moon effort.
Image courtesy James Head.
Projected landing date
The Chang’e-6 mission profile is essentially identical to China’s Chang’e-5 robotic Moon mission in late 2020, Head advised Inside Outer Space. That earlier effort returned 1,731 grams of lunar materials from Northern Oceanus Procellarum near a huge volcanic complex, Mons Rümker, located in the northwest lunar near side.
Chang’e-6 mission profile is essentially identical to China’s Chang’e-5 robotic Moon mission in late 2020.
Image courtesy James Head
A key upcoming event for Chang’e-6 is a projected June 2 (Beijing Time) descent and landing, followed by three days of lunar surface sampling and instrument observations at the far side landing site. This sequence is followed by the sample-loaded ascent module rocketing off the Moon into lunar orbit, for rendezvous and docking with a lunar orbiter.
After the lunar collectibles are transferred into a return-to-Earth module that then carries out a trans-Earth coast, the return capsule on June 25 (Beijing Time) is to enter the Earth’s atmosphere and make a parachute-assisted landing.
Sample catalog
With samples retrieved, they will be transferred to a lunar receiving lab in Beijing for examination. The far side specimens are to be described and documented, prior to publication of a Chang’e-6 sample catalog.
Chinese President Xi Jinping inspects Chang’e-5 lunar sample return capsule.
Credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Samples then become open for application to the China National Space Agency for analysis by the scientific community, Head said.
In the case of Chang’e-5 returned lunar materials, China later delivered about 17 grams of these samples to 13 institutions which had submitted applications to the Lunar Exploration and Space Program Center of the Chin National Space Agency (CNSA) to utilize them for research purposes.
Image courtesy James Head
Far side specimens
The Chang’e-6 landing site is within the South Pole-Aitken Basin (SPA), the largest and most ancient lunar impact basin. SPA basin is in the southern part of the Apollo basin. It is possible that this return sample mission will haul back to Earth lunar basalts that have major implications for the magmatic processes and the far side mantle properties.
Wang Chi, chief scientist of the fourth phase of the lunar exploration project.
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space
“We can conduct exploration and research on the oldest soil and lunar soil on the Moon, which will reveal the history of the formation of the Moon,” academician Wang Chi, chief scientist of the fourth phase of China’s lunar exploration project, recently explained to China Central Television (CCTV).
“The main task of Chang’e-6 is to collect samples from the Aitken Basin on the far side of the Moon and return them. In order to facilitate sampling, we also have a series of payloads. For example, our panoramic camera will be used to detect the terrain and landforms, and an important payload is the lunar radar, which will be used to investigate the geological structure,” said Wang.
Image credit: CGTN/CNSA/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Solar illumination
The Chang’e-6 lander relies on solar panels for power generation.
“Our spacecraft depends on solar illumination for power generation, and this illumination varies with latitude. For this mission, we have selected a landing site in a region with moderate latitude. We chose the South Pole-Aitken Basin due to its adequate solar illumination and reliable communication signals, meeting the engineering standards,” Lu Yuntong, an engineer at the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, told CCTV.
The Wang Chi interview is available at:
Possible design of China’s space plane.
Image source: Homem do Espaco/Twitter
Back in mid-December from the Jiuquan Space Center, China launched its reusable spacecraft test vehicle on a flight 3 cruise.
UK satellite tracker, Bob Christy via his Orbital Focus posting, explains that the Chinese space plane released a small satellite May 24, “or maybe earlier if it ran close alongside its parent for a while. Both vehicles made thruster firings, probably during the evening of May 24 UTC.”
Interesting observations
The previous flight of this type of vehicle also released a companion object for multiple rendezvous and capture operations, Christy explains, “so this pair may offer some interesting observations.”
Credit: China Central Television (CCTV)/Xinhua News Agency/China National Space Administration (CNSA)/screengrab Inside Outer Space
Launched December 14, 2023, the Chinese spacecraft has now been circling Earth for roughly 165 days.
For a look at the latest update on China’s space mission and meaning, go to the newly-posted story by China space watcher, Andrew Jones/SpaceNews– “China’s secretive spaceplane releases object into orbit” – at:
https://spacenews.com/chinas-secretive-spaceplane-releases-object-into-orbit/
Artwork depicts X-37B space plane. Image credit: Boeing/Inside Outer Space screengrab
U.S. Space Force flyer
Meanwhile, also underway is the hush-hush mission of the U.S. Space Force Orbital Test Vehicle 7 (OTV-7).
This Boeing-built, X-37B reusable space plane was launched to a highly elliptical orbit aboard a Falcon Heavy rocket on its classified mission on December 28, 2023.
OTV-6 was the first mission to introduce a service module that expanded the capabilities of the spacecraft.
Image credit: U.S. Space Force/Staff Sgt. Adam Shanks
For more details on this U.S. Air Force mission also now on-going, go to:
https://www.leonarddavid.com/u-s-military-space-plane-next-mission-what-will-it-do/
Mystery object found in North Carolina.
Image credit: WLOS TV Staff
Perhaps yet another bit of space debris leftover has hot-footed its way onto terra firma.
This latest incident is within The Glamping Collective in Canton, a secluded mountaintop 160-acre site that features travel/leisure outdoor structures near Clyde, North Carolina.
WLOS, a local ABC-affiliated TV station in Asheville, North Carolina, reported the find last week by a grounds worker at the site. The large object is thought to be a chunk of “trunk” associated with the SpaceX Crew-7 mission – appearing to be similar to earlier clutter found in Australia and Canada.
North Carolina debris. Image credit: WLOS TV Staff
Canada debris.
Image credit: Barry Sawchuk
Canada debris.
Image credit: Barry Sawchuk
Chunks of space junk rained down in Australia, later identified as SpaceX leftovers from its Crew-1 Mission that flew in 2020-2021.
Photo courtesy: Brad Tucker
Confirmed SpaceX debris found in Australia.
Photo courtesy: Brad Tucker
Space tracker Jonathan McDowell had noted several days ago that the SpaceX Dragon “Trunk” from the Crew-7 mission re-entered the atmosphere over Birmingham, Alabama.
Given its northeast track, potential debris could have fallen in Tennessee, western Virginia and West Virginia, McDowell noted.
Re-entry path going just west of Asheville, North Carolina. Direction of flight path was to the northeast reports space tracker Jonathan McDowell.
Image credit: J. McDowell
According to WLOS TV reporting, the object in question was found along a very remote trail on the Canton property.
Viewer comments
WLOS TV reporting points out that the surface of the recovered object features burnt carbon fiber with heavy-duty pieces and plates of metal, held together by what seems to be thick bolts.
When broadcast on WLOS TV, the video report stirred up viewer comments, such as: “Fear not…Scully & Mulder are on their way,” “WeAreAllDoomed,” to “Probably fell off of a balloon” and “Marjorie Taylor Green’s Jewish Space Laser.”
Advised another comment: “100% belongs to the SpaceX Dragon Space Capsule that reentered about 4:30 in the afternoon on 5/21 over NC. Lots of Debris on radar between GA and Asheville.”
Image credit: Google Maps/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Kessler syndrome
In a twist of space debris fate, the possible SpaceX detritus fell not too far away from former NASA orbital debris expert, Donald Kessler.
Among his scientific credits, Kessler is noted for the “Kessler Syndrome” that suggests when so much human-made garbage is adrift in Earth orbit, collisions between objects may well spark a cascade of fragments that increases the likelihood of further collisions.
The purported space junk was found not too far away from Kessler’s home, “about a 30 minute drive from us,” he told Inside Outer Space.
Kessler added: “If it were from space, I’d bet there are more similar objects scattered across several miles.”
To view the WLOS TV report, go to:
Note: Special thanks to Ewan Wright, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada for calling this video to my attention.
Image credit: CNSA via James Head
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
At a NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) Project Science Working Group meeting today, James Head of Brown University offered this projected milestone update on China’s now lunar orbiting Chang’e-6 mission – a sample return to Earth from the Moon’s far side — now targeted to land June 2 (Beijing Time).
The mission underway mirrors the earlier Chang’e-5 lunar sample mission and its step-by-step steps (see upper opening artwork).
Artwork depicts Chang’e-6 now in Moon orbit.
Image credit: CNSA/CGTN/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Image credit: CGTN/CNSA/Inside Outer Space screengrabto land on June 2.
Chang’e 6 Current Mission Timeline (5-24-24)
• 5-3-24: Launched
• 5-8-24: Entered a 12-hour lunar orbit (~200 X 380,000 km
altitude) begins circularizing orbit.
• 5-24-24: Currently; studying landing site areas for
accessibility and landing.
Following are in Beijing Times:
• 6-2-24: Descent and Landing: Surface sampling and
instrument observations for three days:
• 6-4-24: Ascent to lunar orbit:
• 6-6-24: Ascent module docks with orbiter, transfers
samples then leaves lunar orbit for trans-Earth coast:
• 6-25-24: Earth atmosphere reentry, descent and landing. Samples recovered where a preliminary examination team undertakes description and documentation prior to publication of the Chang’e-6 sample catalog.
Samples then become open for application to the China National Space Administration (CNSA) for analysis to the scientific community.
SpaceX/Inside Outer Space screengrab
SpaceX is posting that the fourth flight test of its Starship could launch as soon as June 5, pending regulatory approval.
The fourth flight test is focused from achieving orbit to demonstrating the ability to return and reuse Starship and Super Heavy.
“The primary objectives will be executing a landing burn and soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico with the Super Heavy booster, and achieving a controlled entry of Starship,” according to SpaceX.
Software/hardware upgrades
For the upcoming flight, several software and hardware upgrades have been made to increase overall reliability and address lessons learned from the last Starship test – flight 3 last March.
Image credit: SpaceX
In addition, the SpaceX team will execute operational changes, including the jettison of the Super Heavy’s hot-stage following boostback to reduce booster mass for the final phase of flight.
According to SpaceX, the flight 4 mission will fly a similar trajectory as the previous flight test. Starship is targeted to splashdown in the Indian Ocean.
Image credit: SpaceX
“This flight path does not require a deorbit burn for reentry,” SpaceX adds, “maximizing public safety while still providing the opportunity to meet our primary objective of a controlled Starship reentry.”
Schedule is dynamic
“We’re continuing to rapidly develop Starship, putting flight hardware in a flight environment to learn as quickly as possible as we build a fully reusable transportation system designed to carry crew and cargo to Earth orbit, the Moon, Mars and beyond,” SpaceX explains.
A live webcast of the flight test will begin about 30 minutes before liftoff. Viewing will be available via the SpaceX website and on X @SpaceX.
The projected June 5 launch window opens as early as 7 a.m. Central Time.
“As is the case with all developmental testing, the schedule is dynamic and likely to change, so be sure to stay tuned to our X account for updates,” SpaceX explains.
