📄Top Stories

SpaceX is set for two major Starlink satellite deployments today, one from Cape Canaveral and another from Vandenberg SFB, continuing its record-breaking launch pace. Meanwhile, NASA’s Dragonfly mission advances toward exploring Titan, bolstering hopes for discovering extraterrestrial life. Starlink’s entry into India’s lucrative market hits a snag, as regulatory hurdles delay its service rollout.

📰Detailed Coverage

SpaceX’s Dual Starlink Launches Today

SpaceX is gearing up for a double launch day, deploying a total of 50 Starlink satellites from two locations. The first launch, carrying 23 satellites, is scheduled from Cape Canaveral, with an expected liftoff at 10:58 pm EDT. Concurrently, another Falcon 9 rocket will lift off from Vandenberg Space Force Base at 3:41 pm PDT to place 27 satellites in orbit.

This dual deployment underscores SpaceX’s relentless pace, marking the 50th U.S. orbital launch this year, primarily driven by the Starlink network expansion. This growth in satellite constellations enhances the capabilities of various satellite tracking tools; our web app provides real-time tracking for these new additions, offering detailed telemetry and positional data.

Read the full stories: Cape Canaveral Launch, Vandenberg Launch

NASA’s Dragonfly Mission Crosses Key Milestone

NASA’s Dragonfly mission, set to explore the intriguing Saturnian moon Titan, has successfully passed its critical design review. This milestone ensures the nuclear-powered rotorcraft’s development is on track for its anticipated 2028 launch. Dragonfly aims to investigate Titan’s potential for hosting life, benefiting from the moon’s methane-rich atmosphere and vast liquid hydrocarbon lakes.

This mission represents a significant leap in interplanetary exploration, leveraging advanced nuclear energy technologies to traverse Titan’s complex terrain over extended periods. The ongoing progress fuels excitement and hope within the scientific community for unprecedented discoveries in our search for life beyond Earth.

Read the full story: NASA’s Dragonfly Mission

Regulatory Hurdles Delay Starlink in India

Despite Starlink’s promise of high-speed internet connectivity, its rollout in India has encountered significant delays due to stringent regulatory requirements. The Indian government’s approval is pivotal for Starlink to operate, with the Telecom Minister emphasizing the need for the company to meet existing conditions before commencing services.

These regulatory challenges highlight the complexities of expanding satellite internet services globally, particularly in regions with intricate compliance landscapes. Starlink’s resolution of these issues could pave the way for enhanced internet accessibility in remote Indian regions, reinforcing the platform’s global connectivity mission.

Read the full story: Starlink India’s License Delay

SpaceX Investment Boosts Alphabet’s Profits

Alphabet Inc. has reported a remarkable upswing in its quarterly profits, thanks in part to its lucrative investment in SpaceX. An $8 billion unrealized gain from this stake significantly contributed to Alphabet’s 46% rise in net income, illustrating the financial benefits of strategic investments in space technology ventures.

This financial boost reaffirms the viability and potential profitability of supporting pioneering companies like SpaceX, which continuously redefine technological boundaries with advances like reusable rocket technology and ambitious space endeavors.

Read the full story: SpaceX Investment Fuels Alphabet’s $8 Billion Profit Surge

Jared Isaacman’s NASA Confirmation Vote Set

Jared Isaacman is nearing a significant milestone as the U.S. Senate prepares to vote on his confirmation as NASA’s next Administrator. The Senate Committee will review his responses to pressing issues confronting NASA, highlighting his vision and strategy for guiding the agency amidst evolving space challenges.

Isaacman, a renowned entrepreneur and space enthusiast, brings a dual perspective of business acumen and passion for space innovation. His potential leadership could drive NASA’s exploration and development efforts into new exciting directions.

Read the full story: Jared Isaacman’s Confirmation Vote

🛰️Satellite Spotlight

• Satellite Name: ONEWEB-0111
• NORAD ID: 47261
• Launch Date: 2020 Dec 18
• Mission: Communication
• Orbit: Inclination 87.8859, Period 13.12441475, Eccentricity 0.0001951
• Operator: ONEWEB
• Fun Fact: ONEWEB-0111 is part of OneWeb’s mission to bridge the digital divide globally, by providing affordable internet access even in the most remote areas.

Current TLE Data:

1 47261U 20100D   25116.94473923  .00000446  00000+0  12039-2 0  9999
2 47261  87.8859  73.4632 0001951  84.5250 275.6101 13.12441475209962

Track this satellite in real-time on our web app: Track ONEWEB-0111

Upcoming Space Launches

April 27

• Firefly Aerospace Alpha:

  • FLTA006 (Message in a Booster) from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA (13:37 UTC) Sixth flight of the Firefly Alpha small satellite launcher, featuring Lockheed Martin’s LM400 satellite bus with a communications payload.

• China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Long March 3B/E:

  • Unknown Payload from Xichang Satellite Launch Center, People’s Republic of China (15:44 UTC) Details TBD.

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:

  • Starlink Group 11-9 from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA (22:41 UTC) A batch of 27 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation, SpaceX’s space-based Internet communication system.

April 28

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:

  • Starlink Group 12-23 from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA (02:58 UTC) A batch of 23 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation, SpaceX’s space-based Internet communication system.

• China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Long March 5B/YZ-2:

  • SatNet LEO Group TBD? from Wenchang Space Launch Site, People’s Republic of China (20:02 UTC) A batch of communication satellites for the SatNet constellation managed by China Satellite Network Group.

• United Launch Alliance Atlas V 551:

  • Project Kuiper (KA-01) from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA (23:00 UTC) Project Kuiper’s mega constellation offering broadband internet access, managed by Kuiper Systems LLC, an Amazon subsidiary.

April 29

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:

  • Starlink Group 12-10 from Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA (01:37 UTC) A batch of 23 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation, SpaceX’s space-based Internet communication system.

• Arianespace Vega-C:

  • Biomass from Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana (09:15 UTC) ESA mission designed to measure carbon density in global forests using innovative radar technology.

April 30

• Gilmour Space Technologies Eris-1:
  • Maiden Flight from Bowen Orbital Spaceport (00:00 UTC) Maiden flight of Gilmour Space’s orbital launch vehicle, Eris.

May 1

• SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5:
  • Starlink Group 6-75 from Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA (02:17 UTC) A batch of satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation, SpaceX’s space-based Internet communication system.

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