📄Top Stories

A Chinese commercial Lijian-1 rocket successfully placed 15 satellites into orbit, further boosting China’s space capabilities. A Starlink satellite provided a spectacular sky show over the U.S. during reentry. SpaceX marks another milestone with its Falcon 9 booster, landing for a record 23rd time amid the Koreasat-6A mission. Meanwhile, China plans to enhance support for its commercial space sector.

📰Detailed Coverage

Chinese Lijian-1 Rocket Launch Successful

China’s commercial Lijian-1 rocket successfully launched 15 satellites, marking a significant deployment for CAS Space. Notable among these is CAS Space’s first international payload, highlighting the growing competitiveness of China’s private space market. The Lijian-1, a solid-propelled launcher, is increasingly significant in China’s satellite launch capabilities due to its cost-effectiveness and versatility.

Technical insights reveal that the payloads include a variety of novel and experimental satellites, which will be used for purposes such as Earth observation and scientific research. This launch underpins CAS Space’s strategic goal of enhancing the commercialization of space technology and expanding its international business. For satellite tracking enthusiasts, this development enlarges the variety of objects to monitor, now accessible through our web app.

Read the full story: SpaceNews

Starlink Satellite Turned Meteor

A dazzling fireball spotted over several U.S. states was the result of a Starlink satellite’s controlled reentry. This event captivated onlookers and highlighted both the dramatic end-of-life of satellites and the increasing role of observational technology in tracking space activities.

The satellite’s fiery descent was part of routine deorbiting procedures implemented by SpaceX to manage orbital debris and ensure safe satellite reentry. This event underscores the challenges in balancing increasing satellite numbers with sustainable orbital practices. The visibility of such events also offers real-time tracking opportunities, accessible via satellite tracking tools.

Read the full story: Space.com

SpaceX Achieves Booster Landing Record

SpaceX achieved a significant milestone with the Falcon 9 booster landing for the 23rd time during the Koreasat-6A mission launch. This accomplishment reflects advancements in reusability that significantly lower costs and enhance mission frequency. The launch took off from Kennedy Space Center, further cementing SpaceX’s role as a leader in space transport innovation.

The Koreasat-6A satellite, launched aboard this mission, extends SpaceX’s successes in commercial satellite deployment. The Falcon 9’s reusability continues to be a pivotal factor in the company’s competitive edge, emphasizing on the sustainable model of space resource utilization. This achievement reflects broader industry trends toward reusability, reshaping global launch strategies.

Read the full story: Spaceflight Now

China Enhances Support for Commercial Space

China’s national space agency announced plans to increase support for its burgeoning commercial space sector. This includes policy changes, reducing licensing constraints, and facilitating resource access. This governmental push is expected to further energize China’s already dynamic space industry, promoting greater innovation and competition in the international market.

The initiative emphasizes China’s strategy to foster a sustainable and competitive commercial space market, which could lead to a diversification of space service offerings and collaborations. These steps are critical to ensuring that Chinese commercial space firms can compete globally, potentially resulting in an increased number of launch events and new orbital assets for tracking.

Read the full story: SpaceNews

Expanding Reusable Launch Vehicle Adoption

As the industry shifts towards a more sustainable trajectory, more launch companies are betting on reusability. Inspired by SpaceX’s success, firms are exploring the blend of new technologies with established models to replace expendable launch systems. These efforts signal a transformative phase in launch paradigms, with implications for reducing costs and increasing access to space.

The move towards reusable systems stands to reshape economic models within the industry, potentially democratizing space access. This transition points to a future where satellite deployments are more frequent and cost-effective, an important consideration for entities interested in satellite tracking and deployment.

Read the full story: SpaceNews

🛰️Satellite Spotlight

• Satellite Name: COSMOS 2298
• NORAD ID: 23431
• Launch Date: 1994-11-17
• Mission: A communications satellite designed for military use by the Russian Federation
• Orbit: Inclination 74.027°, Period 100.64 minutes, Eccentricity 0.0017
• Operator: VKS (Russian Aerospace Forces)
• Fun Fact: COSMOS 2298 is part of the Strela-2M series, which has been key in providing secure communication channels for the military.

Current TLE Data:

1 23431U 94083A   24316.93475839  .00000622  00000-0  24629-3 0 99997
2 23431  74.0270 128.7820 0016776 212.6139 147.3977 14.30897129560456

Track this satellite in real-time on our web app: Track COSMOS 2298

🚀Upcoming Space Launches

November 13

• China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Long March 4C:
  • Unknown Payload from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People’s Republic of China (22:34 UTC)
  • Details TBD.

November 14

• SpaceX Falcon 9:

  • Starlink Group 9-11 from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA (04:21 UTC)
  • A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

• SpaceX Falcon 9:

  • Starlink Group 6-68 from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA (10:33 UTC)
  • A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

November 15

• China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Long March 7:
  • Tianzhou-8 from Wenchang Space Launch Site, People’s Republic of China (15:03 UTC)
  • Seventh cargo delivery mission to the Chinese space station.

November 16

• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • Starlink Group 6-66 from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA (18:04 UTC)
  • A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX’s project for space-based Internet communication system.

November 17

• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • Optus-X from Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA (00:00 UTC)
  • An unannounced geostationary communication satellite built by Northrop Grumman, nominally for the Australian telecommunications operator Optus. Details TBD.

November 18

• SpaceX Starship:
  • Integrated Flight Test 6 from SpaceX Starbase, TX, USA (22:00 UTC)
  • Sixth test flight of the two-stage Starship launch vehicle.

November 19

• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • GSAT-20 from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA (18:30 UTC)
  • GSAT-20 is an Indian geostationary Ka-band high-throughput communications satellite. It will be the first fully Electric Propulsion/EP enabled satellite which can be five to six times more efficient than chemical-based propulsion.

Note: Launch dates and times are subject to change due to technical or weather considerations.