📄Top Stories

Today marks a significant leap in the deployment of military network satellites as York Space completes the delivery of 21 satellites for the U.S. military’s constellation. The Chinese space station benefits from a new AI assistant aiding astronauts during spacewalks. Additionally, the Solar System Internet achieves a breakthrough in space communications with a successful test on a lunar mission.

📰Detailed Coverage

York Space Boosts U.S. Military Network with Satellites

York Space successfully delivered 21 satellites scheduled for deployment in September as part of the Space Development Agency’s Transport Layer network. This marks the first operational deployment within a constellation aimed at enhancing U.S. military communications and data exchange capabilities in low Earth orbit.

Each satellite will play a crucial role in forming an interconnected network that supports secure, high-speed communication across various military units. This deployment emphasizes the importance of satellite tracking in monitoring and managing the expanding orbital infrastructure. Explore more about these developments on our web app.

Read the full story: SpaceNews

AI Assistant Supports Astronauts on the Chinese Space Station

Astronauts aboard China’s Tiangong space station have commenced their third spacewalk, guided by the Wukong AI—a sophisticated artificial intelligence system delivered by the Tianzhou 9 cargo craft. The AI facilitates various tasks, enhancing the efficiency of the crew during extravehicular activities.

The Wukong AI symbolizes a significant advancement in human-automation collaboration within orbital stations. This implementation reflects China’s ongoing commitment to integrating advanced technologies in their space endeavors, and it highlights how innovative systems like AI can enhance operational effectiveness in space.

Read the full story: SpaceDaily

SpaceX Launches Secretive Military X-37B Drone

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched on Thursday, carrying the clandestine X-37B space drone for the U.S. military. This launch underscores the strategic importance of reusable space vehicles in conducting long-duration missions to test and demonstrate new technologies.

The X-37B program, while secretive, is known to involve a series of high-priority tests and experiments pertinent to national security. The success of this mission further strengthens the rapport between the U.S. military and private aerospace companies like SpaceX.

Read the full story: SpaceWar

Breakthrough in Lunar Communications with Solar System Internet

Lonestar Data Holdings announced a successful test of the Solar System Internet’s Delay Tolerant Network on a lunar mission, marking a milestone in space communication. Conducted aboard the Intuitive Machines’ Athena lander, this test validated the technology’s ability to maintain robust communications amidst high-latency environments.

The achievement highlights the potential of extending internet technologies beyond Earth, revolutionizing how data is transferred across vast cosmic distances. This advancement could set a precedent for future lunar and interplanetary missions, enhancing information flow in outer space.

Read the full story: MoonDaily

Space Force’s Systems Delta 85 Enhances Space Defense

The U.S. Space Force has established the Systems Delta 85 to unify the acquisition and operational support for defense missions. Officially activated at the Peterson Space Force Base, this initiative aims to bolster the integration of various space defense operations, aligning them under a cohesive strategy.

This reorganization reflects the Space Force’s continuous efforts to enhance its capabilities and responsiveness in safeguarding national security interests in space. With Col. Jason West at the helm, Systems Delta 85 is set to streamline critical processes and improve mission effectiveness.

Read the full story: SpaceWar

NASA’s DART Impact Findings Inform Planetary Defense

NASA’s DART mission, which involved a spacecraft crashing into an asteroid, provides new insights for planetary defense strategies. This exercise aimed to refine techniques capable of deflecting potentially hazardous asteroids, ensuring Earth’s safety.

Analyzing the impact results will help planetary scientists devise accurate models for deflection strategies, underscoring the role of satellite operations in planetary protection efforts.

Read the full story: SpaceDaily

🛰️Satellite Spotlight

• Satellite Name: AGILA 1 (PALAPA B2P)
• NORAD ID: 17706
• Launch Date: March 20, 1987
• Mission: Communication
• Orbit: GEO (Geostationary Orbit)
• Operator: PER (Perusahaan Umum Telekomunikasi Indonesia)
• Fun Fact: AGILA 1, also known as Palapa B2P, was one of the first satellites launched to provide telecommunication services in Indonesia and is equipped with 24 C-band transponders.

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

🌌Space Weather

Space weather conditions are currently quiet.

Current

R0 - S0 - G0

Last 24 Hour Maximums

R1 - S1 - G0

Recent Alerts

• ALERT: Proton Event with a 10MeV Integral Flux exceeded 10 pfu, categorized as S1 - Minor. Potential impacts include minor HF radio propagation fades.
• EXTENDED WARNING: Proton 10MeV Integral Flux is expected to remain above 10 pfu, indicating continued S1 - Minor level conditions.
• CONTINUED ALERT: Electron 2MeV Integral Flux exceeded 1000 pfu, holding potential significant charges that may impact satellite systems.
• EXTENDED WARNING: Proton 10MeV Integral Flux remains at or near the 10 pfu threshold, indicating potential for radio impacts on polar HF frequencies.

Next 24 Hours

• Radio Blackouts Probability

  • Minor: 55
  • Major: 10
  • Risk: None

• Solar Radiation

  • Probability: 85
  • Risk: None

• Geomagnetic Storming

  • Scale: 0
  • Impact: None
  • Activity: Low

• Impact Summary

  • No risk of radio blackouts in the next 24 hours.
  • No risk of solar radiation storms.
  • Geomagnetic outlook indicates no G1 (Minor) or greater storms expected.
  • The greater than 10 MeV proton flux is forecasted to persist at S1 (Minor) storming levels until at least 26/1200 UTC, with a gradual decline anticipated.
  • Expected moderate solar activity could lead to isolated X-class flare chances through August 28.

Long Term Forecast

• Solar activity is forecasted to remain low with potential for M-class flares (R1-R2/Minor-Moderate) until September 20.
• Greater than 10 MeV proton levels are expected to drop below 10 pfu by August 26, staying below thresholds through September 20.
• Moderate levels of greater than 2 MeV electron flux are anticipated on specific dates, with high levels projected around the end of August and mid-September.
• Geomagnetic activity generally expected to be quiet with some unsettled periods, particularly at the end of August and early September, with potential active conditions and minor storms linked to coronal hole high-speed stream influences.

🚀Upcoming Space Launches

August 26

• Blue Origin New Shepard:
  • NS-35 from West Texas Suborbital Launch Site / Corn Ranch (11:30 UTC) This flight will fly more than 40 scientific and research payloads to space and back, including 24 experiments from NASA’s TechRise Student Challenge and other universities.
• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • NAOS from Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA (18:53 UTC) NAOS is the space component of Luxembourg’s governmental dual-use observation satellite system, providing high-resolution images to national and international governmental and military organizations.
• SpaceX Starship:
  • Flight 10 from SpaceX Starbase, TX, USA (23:30 UTC) 10th test flight of the two-stage Starship launch vehicle.

August 27

• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • Starlink Group 10-56 from Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA (10:53 UTC) A batch of 28 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation, which is SpaceX’s project for a space-based Internet communication system.

August 28

• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • Starlink Group 10-11 from Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA (05:27 UTC) Another batch of 28 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation.

August 30

• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • Starlink Group 17-7 from Space Launch Complex 4E, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA (02:05 UTC) Launching 24 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation.

August 31

• Rocket Lab HASTE:
  • JAKE 4 from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2, Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia, USA (00:00 UTC) Sub-orbital launch under Rocket Lab’s Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron (HASTE) program, details TBD.
• SpaceX Falcon 9:
  • Starlink Group 10-14 from Space Launch Complex 40, Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA (11:15 UTC) A batch of 28 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation.

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