RocketNews: semi-successful Ariane launch, RocketLab's Humanity Star, FH launch date
Hey there!
Ariane 5 launch
That was an unhealthy night for our hearts! After 2nd stage separation, there was a telemetry downlink causing an insertion into false orbits of both satellites. But by chance, both are able to reach their final destination with their own propellant systems.
Detailed information can be found here
and some math about ascend path here.
A short footage of launch seconds:
Humanity Star
As RocketLab revealed today, they put another object secretly into orbit with their first Electron launch!
The Humanity Star was created by Rocket Lab Founder and CEO Peter Beck. It was born of the desire to encourage people to consider their place in the universe and reflect on what’s important in their own lives and the lives of humanity as a species.
The Humanity Star will orbit the Earth for approximately nine months before its orbit starts to decay and it is pulled back into the Earth’s gravity.
The Humanity Star is a geodesic sphere with 65 highly reflective panels inspired by the Iridium flare phenomenon. The Humanity Star sphere spins rapidly, reflecting the sun's light back to Earth. Essentially it creates a similar effect as a disco ball, creating the appearance of a bright flashing shooting star.
An amazing project, showing again, what a tiny little dot we humankind are in the big universe.
Definitely going to try to spot it this night! If you want to know when it's above you, check out their website.
See also @technocracy 's post: https://steemit.com/space/@technocracy/rocket-lab-launched-an-artificial-star-into-space-it-is-visible-from-the-earth
new FH launch date
We have an unofficial launch date for FH maiden flight:
February 6th, 18:30 - 21:30 UTC
by Chris G on Twitter
It fits in the "one week or so" window of Elon Musk, so let's wait for official confirmation.
That's that for today, so
Stay assembled!
upcoming launches
| date | window (UTC) | vehicle | manufaturer | payload | location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 30 | 21:23 - 23:37 | Falcon 9 | SpaceX | GovSat | SLC 40, Cape Canaveral |
| February 1 | 02:07 | Soyuz-2 | Progress Rocket Space Centre | Kanopus-V 3 & 4 | Vostochny Cosmodrome Site 1S |
| February 2 | 07:30 | Long March 2D | CASC | CSES Zhangheng-1 | JSLC |
February 6th, with a backup on the 7th.
Launch time is 13:30-1… twitter.com/i/web/status/9…
Disclaimer: I am just a bot trying to be helpful.