📄Top Stories

SpaceX expands its Starlink constellation by launching 22 satellites from California, marking another milestone in global connectivity. Meanwhile, the Space Force is set to test groundbreaking modular satellite technology, potentially transforming future space missions. The Pentagon successfully conducted long-range tests of hypersonic and precision strike missiles, showcasing growing advancements in military technology.

📰Detailed Coverage

SpaceX Expands Starlink Network with California Launch

SpaceX successfully launched 22 new Starlink internet satellites on December 13 from California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base. The mission, which further expands Starlink’s global internet service capacity, saw the Falcon 9 rocket triumphantly landing at sea, marking yet another serialized endeavor of SpaceX to enhance internet connectivity worldwide. This launch is a part of SpaceX’s ambitious plan to create a mega-constellation of satellites aimed at providing high-speed internet globally.

The increased launch cadence highlights the growing necessity and efficiency of satellite deployments to maintain and expand the Starlink constellation. This operation underscores the importance of tracking newly deployed satellites, a feature efficiently accessible through our web app, enhancing users’ ability to observe and analyze such orbital activities in real-time.

Read the full story: Space.com

Space Force to Test Modular Satellite Technology

The US Space Force is preparing for an innovative mission to test modular satellite technology that could revolutionize how satellites are designed and deployed. Developed by The Aerospace Corporation, the “plug-and-play” interface aims to simplify satellite assembly, making it more adaptable for various mission requirements. This technology is particularly significant for tactically responsive space missions where time and efficiency are crucial.

The modular approach allows for rapid reconfiguration and integration of different satellite components, potentially reducing costs and increasing the speed of deployment. This capability aligns with the growing trend in the space industry towards flexibility and rapid mission turnaround, crucial for strategic operations and space asset management.

Read the full story: SpaceNews

Pentagon Conducts Successful Tests of Long-Range Missiles

The Pentagon announced successful tests of two significant missile systems: the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon and the Army’s Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) Increment 1. These tests underscore continuous advancements in missile technology aimed at enhancing the United States’ strike capabilities. The PrSM and hypersonic missile tests are pivotal in expanding the military’s options for rapid response to emerging threats.

The tests reflect a broader strategic effort to integrate cutting-edge technologies into military applications, improving precision and effectiveness. These advancements are crucial for maintaining a technological edge in defense systems, supporting both offensive and defensive operations across various military platforms.

Read the full story: Breaking Defense

GCAP Partners Form Joint Fighter Venture

The UK, Japan, and Italy have joined forces to create a joint venture aimed at delivering a next-generation fighter aircraft, slated to enhance the aerial capabilities of these nations. This collaboration highlights a commitment to shared military advancements, with equal ownership and headquartered operations in the UK to bolster international cooperation.

This endeavor represents a significant step in multinational defense projects, combining resources and expertise to create superior aerospace technology. By uniting under common objectives, the partners aim to foster innovation and maintain strategic balances in air defense capabilities.

Read the full story: Breaking Defense

🛰️Satellite Spotlight

• Satellite Name: MOS 1B (MOMO 1B)
• NORAD ID: 20478
• Launch Date: 1990-02-07
• Mission: MOS 1B, also known as Momo-1B, is an Earth observation satellite tasked with environmental monitoring and resource mapping.
• Orbit: Inclination 99.3015°, Period 103.16 minutes, Eccentricity near zero
• Operator: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
• Fun Fact: The MOS 1B was Japan’s second Earth observation satellite and part of their Marine Observation Satellite program, representing early steps in global environmental monitoring.

Current TLE Data:

1 20478U 90013A   24338.72316053  .00000303  00000-0  25494-3 0 99994
2 20478  99.3015  25.9457 0004628 272.2949  87.7682 13.95895615693836

Track this satellite in real-time on our web app: Track MOS 1B

🚀Upcoming Space Launches

December 14

• Rocket Lab Electron:
  • HASTE | Stonehenge from Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia, USA (00:45 UTC) Sub-orbital launch of the Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron (HASTE) program for a confidential customer.
• China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Long March 2D:
  • Unknown Payload from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People’s Republic of China (17:52 UTC) Possibly CZ-2D launch with PIESAT-2 05-08; details TBD.

December 15

• Space One KAIROS:
  • Flight 2 from Spaceport Kii, Japan (02:00 UTC) Second flight of the KAIROS launch vehicle. 5 satellites for testing various technologies will be on board: TATARA-1, PARUS-T1A, SC-Sat1, ISHIKI.

December 16

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:
  • GPS III SV10 from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA (00:55 UTC) GPS-IIIA is the first evolution stage of the third generation of the GPS satellites, consisting of the first ten of the GPS III satellites.
• China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Long March 5B/YZ-2:
  • SatNet LEO Group 01 from Wenchang Space Launch Site, People’s Republic of China (10:00 UTC) A batch of Low Earth Orbit communication satellites for the Chinese state owned SatNet constellation operated by the China Satellite Network Group.
• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:
  • O3b mPower 7 & 8 from Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA (20:58 UTC) Seventh and eighth of a constellation of eleven high-throughput communications satellites in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) built by Boeing and operated by SES.

December 17

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:
  • NROL-149 from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA (09:20 UTC) Sixth batch of satellites for a reconnaissance satellite constellation built by SpaceX and Northrop Grumman for the National Reconnaissance Office.
• Rocket Lab Electron:
  • Owl The Way Up (StriX Launch 6) from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand (14:00 UTC) Synthetic aperture radar satellites for Japanese Earth imaging company Synspective.

December 18

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:
  • 4x Astranis MicroGEO from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA (03:38 UTC) Four Astranis MicroGEO communications satellites inserted in a custom geostationary orbit, from where they conduct on-orbit maneuvers to reach their individual slots.

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