Recent Launches: SpaceX’s 300th booster landing, NASA’s solar sail testing, and China’s latest taikonaut missions
In the world of space exploration, exciting missions and launches are happening every week. In the last full week of April, there are several noteworthy events scheduled. SpaceX, the leading private space company, is set to launch two Starlink missions as well as two Falcon 9 flights carrying customer satellites. Additionally, Rocket Lab will be launching their fifth Electron rocket of the year, which will carry two demonstration missions into different orbits. Lastly, China’s space program will send three more taikonauts to the Tianhe core module of their Tiangong space station.
One significant milestone to look forward to is the 300th landing of a Falcon 9 booster by SpaceX. This achievement will be reached during the first Starlink mission of the week, known as the Group 6-53 mission. SpaceX has been steadily increasing their launch cadence, and if all goes according to plan, Falcon 9 is on track to complete 13 flights in a month, matching its current record. Another interesting mission is the Electron rocket launch by Rocket Lab. This mission will carry two payloads, including a novel solar sail developed by NASA. The solar sail is powered by the pressure of sunlight acting upon it, demonstrating a unique propulsion method.
In terms of space station missions, China’s Shenzhou 18 mission will send three taikonauts to the Tianhe core module. This mission will mark the 13th crewed mission of the Chinese space program and will continue their progress in human spaceflight.
Looking back at historical events, it’s noteworthy that 13 years ago this week, Shuttle Endeavour was ready for its final mission but experienced a delay due to a malfunction. It was eventually launched in May of that year. Additionally, this week marks ten years since SpaceX achieved the first successful ocean touchdown of a liquid rocket engine orbital booster on one of their missions.
In terms of satellite launches, SpaceX’s Starlink program continues to expand. This week’s Starlink mission will launch another batch of 23 Starlink v2 Mini satellites, bringing the total number of Starlink satellites launched to 6,258. The goal is to have 28 satellites launched in a single batch by the end of the year, further expanding global internet coverage.
The WorldView Legion satellite constellation, developed by Maxar Technologies, is also set to launch this week. These satellites will provide high-resolution imagery and multispectral imagery across 15 revisits per day over the most active regions of the world. The data collected will support national security missions, maritime monitoring, and various other applications.
Finally, there is the Galileo FOC FM25 & FM 27 mission, which will be launched by SpaceX. This mission will deploy a pair of satellites for the European Space Agency’s Galileo constellation. The satellites will provide global navigation services, reducing Europe’s reliance on other satellite navigation systems.
To wrap it up, the last full week of April brings an array of exciting space missions and launches. SpaceX continues to make strides with their Starlink program and the landing of their 300th booster. Rocket Lab is set to launch their fifth Electron rocket of the year with two demonstration missions. China’s space program continues its crewed missions with Shenzhou 18, and Maxar Technologies will launch their WorldView Legion satellite constellation. Overall, these missions highlight the ongoing progress and achievements in space exploration.
