📄Top Stories

United Launch Alliance proposes a new military application for its Vulcan rocket’s upper stage, while the FAA takes steps to streamline the launch licensing process. Meanwhile, BepiColombo’s recent flyby of Mercury provides new insights into the planet’s surface. Each of these developments plays a crucial role in the evolving landscape of space operations and exploration.

📰Detailed Coverage

ULA Proposes Military Use for Vulcan Stage

United Launch Alliance (ULA) is exploring innovative military applications for its Vulcan rocket’s Centaur V upper stage. This move is aimed at setting the rocket apart in the fiercely competitive space launch market, particularly by proposing a “space interceptor” role that could support defense objectives.

The Centaur V’s versatility could offer strategic advantages in a variety of missions, including debris removal or protection of assets. This proposal signifies ULA’s intent to enhance national security capabilities in space. Such innovations could potentially be integrated with our satellite tracking web app features for real-time monitoring of these intercept applications.

Read the full story: SpaceNews

FAA Accelerates Launch Licensing

In response to mounting pressures, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is implementing measures to simplify the licensing process for rocket launches. This step is intended to alleviate delays experienced by commercial space operations and is a crucial adjustment as launch activities continue to grow.

By optimizing the licensing workflow, the FAA aims to better support the increasing demand for launch services. This move is expected to enhance the adaptiveness of the American space industry in responding to both national security needs and commercial opportunities.

Read the full story: SpaceNews

BepiColombo’s Illuminating Mercury Flyby

The European Space Agency’s BepiColombo mission successfully conducted its fifth Mercury flyby, capturing detailed images of the planet’s surface in mid-infrared light. This milestone in the mission offers new data that could clarify Mercury’s geological history and composition.

BepiColombo’s insights could augment our understanding of planetary formation. The spacecraft’s instruments are providing unprecedented views that will benefit ongoing research and analysis in planetary science.

Read the full story: NASASpaceFlight.com

🛰️Satellite Spotlight

• Satellite Name: COSMOS 1953 (Kosmos-1953)
• NORAD ID: 19210
• Launch Date: 1988-06-03
• Mission: An electronic intelligence satellite intended for geolocation of radar and communication devices.
• Orbit: Inclination: 82.5128°, Period: 94.74 minutes, Eccentricity: Near-circular
• Operator: GRU (Russian Main Intelligence Directorate)
• Fun Fact: COSMOS 1953 was part of a long-running series aimed at advancing electronic warfare capabilities during the late Cold War era.

Current TLE Data:

1 19210U 88050A   24349.81980352  .00009049  00000-0  41840-3 0 99994
2 19210  82.5128 247.9431 0010849 268.3592  91.6400 15.19975053969254

Track this satellite in real-time on our web app: Track COSMOS 1953

🚀Upcoming Space Launches

December 16

• China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Long March 5B:
  • 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.
• China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Long March 2D:
  • Unknown Payload from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People’s Republic of China (18:42 UTC) Possibly CZ-2D launch with PIESAT-2 05-08; details TBD.

December 17

• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • GPS III SV10 from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA (00:51 UTC)
• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • 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.
• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • O3b mPower 7 & 8 from Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA (20:59 UTC)

December 18

• Space One KAIROS:
  • Flight 2 from Spaceport Kii, Japan (02:00 UTC) Includes 5 satellites for testing various technologies: TATARA-1, PARUS-T1A, SC-Sat1, ISHIKI.
• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • 4x Astranis MicroGEO from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA (03:38 UTC)

December 19

• Galactic Energy Ceres-1S:
  • Unknown Payload from Sea Launch (10:07 UTC) Details TBD.

December 20

• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • Bandwagon 2 (Dedicated Mid-Inclination Rideshare) from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA (11:53 UTC) Dedicated rideshare flight to a mid-inclination orbit with dozens of small microsatellites and nanosatellites, including South Korea’s 425 Project Flight 3.

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