Jonathan's Space Report No. 737 2017 Apr 21 Somerville, MA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I've upgraded to a new server, so let me know if you find problems, or missing files on the web site. The new IP address for the planet4589.org domain name hasn't finished propagating everywhere yet, but its synonym planet4589.com should work. International Space Station --------------------------- Expedition 51 began with the undocking of Soyuz MS-02 from Poisk. Soyuz MS-03 is docked at Rassvet. Progress MS-05 is docked at Pirs. On Mar 24 Shane Kimbrough and Thomas Pesquet, in suits EMU 3008 and 3006, completed spacewalk US EVA-40 from the Quest airlock. The airlock was depressurized below 50 mbar at 1116 UTC and repressurized at 1758 UTC. The astronauts replaced the EXT-2 MDM computer (old S/N: MDM-16E-0102; new S/N not known) on the S0 truss, lubricated the LEE end-effector on the Dextre robot arm, replaced cameras on the Kibo Exposed Facility and a light on one of the CETA carts, and disconnected cables joining the PMA-3 docking unit to the Tranquility node. After the EVA, PMA-3 was removed from Node 3 and reinstalled on Node 2. PMA-3 (Pressurized Mating Adapter 3) is one of the most-relocated and least-used major components of the ISS. PMA-1 joins Unity to Zarya; PMA-2, originally at the other end of Unity, now is on the end of the Harmony module and was used for almost all Shuttle dockings. PMA-3 was used for only two dockings, STS-97 and STS-98 in 2000-2001. It was installed at Unity nadir on 2000 Oct 16 and the Canadarm-2 used to move it to new locations subsequently. In its new location it will be covered with one of the new International Docking Adapters, IDA-3, and used for Dragon-2 and Starliner dockings. 2000 Oct 16 Installed at Unity nadir 2001 Mar 11 Moved to Unity port 2007 Aug 30 Moved to Unity nadir 2009 Aug 7 Moved to Unity port 2010 Jan 23 Moved to Harmony zenith 2010 Feb 16 Moved to Tranquility aft (port) 2017 Mar 26 Moved to Harmony zenith On Mar 30, Kimbrough and Whitson carried out spacewalk EVA-41. The Quest airlock was depressurized at 1122 UTC and repressurized at 1833 UTC. The astronauts, again in suits 3008 and 3006, emerged between 1136 and 1144 UTC. The old EXT-1 MDM computer, MDM-16E-0103, was removed from S0 and replaced by a new one. Whitson removed the fabric cover from the relocated PMA-3 docking unit, but needed Kimbrough's help to stuff it into the cover bag needed to take it back to the airlock, which was done by 1319 UTC. The next tasks was to install debris shields on the newly empty axial port on Node 3. Four shields were taken from near the airlock to Node 3 bundled in pairs. Unfortunately shield 1, being installed by Kimbrough, came loose and floated away at about 1357 UTC; it was cataloged in orbit as 1998-067LF (SSN 42434). After the remaining shields were installed, the astronauts retrieved the PMA-3 cover bag once more, unpacked the cover and pinned it down to cover the empty quadrant. Finally, additional shields were added to the base of PMA-3 in its new location. On Apr 3, the Zvezda main engines were used to reboost the ISS orbit, increasing orbital period by 1.5 seconds. On Apr 10, Soyuz MS-02 undocked from Poisk at 0757 UTC and landed in Kazakhstan at 1120 UTC, returing Ryzhikov, Borisenko and Kimbrough to Earth. Peggy Whitson became ISS commander of Expedition 51. On Apr 20, Soyuz MS-03 was launched from Baykonur and docked with the Poisk module 6hr 4min later. Soyuz commander was Fyodor Yurchikin and flight engineer was Jack Fischer. This was the first two-person Soyuz mission in 14 years (Soyuz TMA-2 in Apr 2003), as Russia scales back its ISS crew pending completion of the delayed Nauka module. On Apr 18, Cygnus mission OA-7, the S.S. John Glenn, was launched on ULA Atlas AV-070 from Cape Canaveral. The 7221 kg cargo ship carries about 140 kg of small satellites for later deployment and about 3250 kg of other cargo. OA-7 is expected to arrive at ISS on Apr 22. SES-10 and Falcon 9 reuse -------------------------- On Mar 30 SpaceX launched the 5300 kg SES-10 communications satellite into a 246 x 35673 km x 26.2 deg geotransfer orbit. After several orbit raising burns SES-10 reached a 35775 x 35796 km x 0.1 deg geostationary orbit at 68.5W on Apr 11. The Falcon 9 F9-033 second stage reduced its apogee slightly, ending up in a 235 x 33407 km orbit. The first stage was Falcon 9 core B1021, which had previously flown on the F9-023/CRS-8 mission in Apr 2016. The reused stage performed successfully and landed for a second time on the ASDS drone ship 'Of Course I Still Love You' in the Atlantic. Tianzhou --------- China's first space station cargo resupply ship was launched on Apr 20. Tianzhou-1 has a mass of 12910 kg. It flew on the second Chang Zheng 7 rocket, launched from Wenchang space centre on Hainan island. Tianzhou-1 will rendezvous and dock with the Tiangong-2 space lab, currently unoccupied. This mission is mainly for technology development; the Tianzhou frieghters will be user operationally to resupply China's future large space station. Tianzhou 1 was inserted into a 198 x 372 km x 42.8 deg initial orbit, which was then raised to 311 x 369 km. The second stage ejected the usual four motor separation covers into 200 x 550 km orbits. SJ-13 ----- China's Shi Jian 13 was launched on Apr 12 into geotransfer orbit. The satellite is for Ka-band high bandwidth communications experiments. After its experimental phase it will be transferred to China Satcom which will operate it as Zhongxing-16. Table of Recent Orbital Launches ---------------------------------- Date UT Name Launch Vehicle Site Mission INTL. Catalog Perigee Apogee Incl Notes km km deg Feb 14 2139 SkyBrasil-1) Ariane 5ECA Kourou ELA3 Comms 07B S41945 35662 x 35785 x 0.1 Telkom-3S ) Comms 07A S41944 35641 x 35810 x 0.0 Feb 15 0358 Cartosat-2 Series/4) PSLV-XL Sriharikota FLP Imaging 08A S41948 505 x 520 x 97.5 INS-1A ) Tech 08B S41949 496 x 508 x 97.5 INS-1B ) Imaging 08G S41954 496 x 507 x 97.5 BGUSat ) Tech 08BW S42016 496 x 506 x 97.5 PEASSS ) Tech 08BV S42015 496 x 506 x 97.5 Al-Farabi 1 ) Tech 08BD S41999 496 x 506 x 97.5 Dido-2 ) Micrograv 08BE S42000 496 x 506 x 97.5 Nayif-1 ) Tech 08BX S42017 496 x 506 x 97.5 Lemur-2-Jopanbutra ) Com/Met-RO 08BB S41997 496 x 506 x 97.5 Lemur-2-Spire-Minions) Com/Met-RO 08AW S41992 496 x 506 x 97.5 Lemur-2-Satchmo ) Com/Met-RO 08AV S41991 496 x 506 x 97.5 Lemur-2-RDeaton ) Com/Met-RO 08AZ S41995 496 x 506 x 97.5 Lemur-2-Smita-Sharad ) Com/Met-RO 08AX S41993 496 x 506 x 97.5 Lemur-2-Mia-Grace ) Com/Met-RO 08AW S41992 496 x 506 x 97.5 Lemur-2-NoguesCorreig) Com/Met-RO 08BA S41996 496 x 506 x 97.5 Lemur-2-Tachikoma ) Com/Met-RO 08BC S41998 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-1 ) Imaging 08V S41967 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-2 ) Imaging 08U S41966 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-3 ) Imaging 08W S41968 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-4 ) Imaging 08T S41965 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-5 ) Imaging 08Z S41971 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-6 ) Imaging 08X S41969 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-7 ) Imaging 08Y S41970 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-8 ) Imaging 08D S41951 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-9 ) Imaging 08AB S41973 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-10 ) Imaging 08AC S41974 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-11 ) Imaging 08AD S41975 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-12 ) Imaging 08AA S41972 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-13 ) Imaging 08CW S42040 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-14 ) Imaging 08BS S42012 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-15 ) Imaging 08CV S42039 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-16 ) Imaging 08BR S42011 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-17 ) Imaging 08Q S41962 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-18 ) Imaging 08K S41957 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-19 ) Imaging 08H S41955 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-20 ) Imaging 08C S41950 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-21 ) Imaging 08M S41959 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-22 ) Imaging 08L S41958 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-23 ) Imaging 08BY S42018 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-24 ) Imaging 08J S41956 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-25 ) Imaging 08S S41964 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-26 ) Imaging 08P S41961 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-27 ) Imaging 08R S41963 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-28 ) Imaging 08N S41960 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-29 ) Imaging 08DB S42045 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-30 ) Imaging 08AR S41987 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-31 ) Imaging 08DF S42049 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-32 ) Imaging 08CD S42023 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-33 ) Imaging 08AU S41990 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-34 ) Imaging 08AS S41988 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-35 ) Imaging 08AT S41989 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-36 ) Imaging 08AQ S41986 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-37 ) Imaging 08F S41953 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-38 ) Imaging 08CT S42037 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-39 ) Imaging 08CU S42038 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-40 ) Imaging 08BQ S42010 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-41 ) Imaging 08BJ S42004 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-42 ) Imaging 08BN S42008 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-43 ) Imaging 08BM S42007 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-44 ) Imaging 08CP S42033 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-45 ) Imaging 08BK S42005 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-46 ) Imaging 08CM S42032 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-47 ) Imaging 08CN S42033 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-48 ) Imaging 08BL S42006 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-49 ) Imaging 08BF S42001 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-50 ) Imaging 08CK S42029 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-51 ) Imaging 08E S41952 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-52 ) Imaging 08CL S42030 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-53 ) Imaging 08BT S42013 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-54 ) Imaging 08BU S42014 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-55 ) Imaging 08CX S42041 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-56 ) Imaging 08CY S42042 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-57 ) Imaging 08AG S41978 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-58 ) Imaging 08AF S41977 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-59 ) Imaging 08CB S42021 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-60 ) Imaging 08AE S41976 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-61 ) Imaging 08BP S42009 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-62 ) Imaging 08CS S42036 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-63 ) Imaging 08CR S42035 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-64 ) Imaging 08CQ S42034 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-65 ) Imaging 08CJ S42028 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-66 ) Imaging 08CH S42027 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-67 ) Imaging 08BG S42002 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-68 ) Imaging 08BH S42003 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-69 ) Imaging 08BZ S42019 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-70 ) Imaging 08AJ S41980 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-71 ) Imaging 08CE S42024 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-72 ) Imaging 08DH S42051 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-73 ) Imaging 08AK S41981 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-74 ) Imaging 08DE S42048 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-75 ) Imaging 08AH S41979 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-76 ) Imaging 08CA S42020 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-77 ) Imaging 08CF S42025 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-78 ) Imaging 08DD S42047 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-79 ) Imaging 08AN S41984 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-80 ) Imaging 08CG S42026 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-81 ) Imaging 08CZ S42043 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-82 ) Imaging 08DC S42046 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-83 ) Imaging 08DG S42050 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-84 ) Imaging 08CC S42022 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-85 ) Imaging 08AM S41983 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-86 ) Imaging 08AP S41985 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-87 ) Imaging 08DA S42044 496 x 506 x 97.5 Flock 3p-88 ) Imaging 08AL S41982 496 x 506 x 97.5 Feb 19 1439 Dragon CRS-10 Falcon 9 Kennedy LC39A Cargo 09A S42053 204 x 359 x 51.6 Feb 22 0558 Progress MS-05 Soyuz-U Baykonur LC1 Cargo 10A S42056 186 x 210 x 51.6 Mar 1 1749 USA 274 ) Atlas V 401 Vandenberg SLC3E Sigint 11A S42058 1010 x 1204 x 63.4 USA 274 P/L 2) Sigint 11B S42065 1009 x 1204 x 63.5 Mar 2 2353 Tiankun-1 KT-2 Jiuquan Tech 12A S42062 373 x 404 x 96.9 Mar 6 1025 Lemur-2-Trutna ) ISS, LEO AIS/MetRO 98067LC S42067 396 x 409 x 51.6 Lemur-2-TrutnaHD ) AIS/MetRO 98067LE S42069 396 x 409 x 51.6 Mar 6 1505 Lemur-2-Austintacious ) ISS, LEO AIS/MetRO 98067LD S42068 396 x 409 x 51.6 Lemur-2-Redfern-Goes ) AIS/MetRO 98067LA S42059 396 x 409 x 51.6 Mar 6 1820 TechEdSat-5 ISS, LEO Tech 98067LB S42066 396 x 409 x 51.6 Mar 7 0149 Sentinel-2B Vega CSG ZLV Imaging 13A S42063 776 x 782 x 98.6 Mar 16 0600 Echostar 23 Falcon 9 Kennedy LC39A Comms 14A S42070 179 x 35903 x 22.4 Mar 17 0120 IGS Radar 5 H-IIA 202 Tanegashima Radar Imaging 15A S42072 500?x 510?x 97.5 Mar 19 0018 WGS 9 Delta 4M+(5,4) Canaveral SLC37B Comms 16A S42075 430 x 44262 x 27.0 Mar 30 2227 SES-10 Falcon 9 Kennedy LC39A Comms 17A S42432 246 x 35673 x 26.2 Apr 12 1104 Shi Jian 13 Chang Zheng 3B Xichang LC2 Comms 18A S42662 237 x 41743 x 21.0 Apr 18 1511 SS John Glenn Atlas V 401 Canaveral SLC41 Cargo 19A S42681 398 x 412 x 51.6 Apr 20 0713 Soyuz MS-04 Soyuz-FG Baykonur LC1 Spaceship 20A S42682 399 x 409 x 51.6 Apr 20 1141 Tianzhou-1 Chang Zheng 7 Wenchang LC201 Cargo 21A S42684 311 x 369 x 42.8 Table of Recent Suborbital Launches ----------------------------------- Note; RV = unspecified reentry vehicle. Date UT Payload/Flt Name Launch Vehicle Site Mission Apogee/km Target Mar 2 0541 NASA 36.301GE Black Brant 9 Poker Flat, Alaska Auroral 330 Poker Flat zone 4 Mar 2 0542 NASA 36.306GE Black Brant 9 Poker Flat, Alaska Auroral 190 Poker Flat zone 4 Mar 2 0750 ISINGLASS-2 Black Brant 9 Poker Flat, Alaska Auroral 365 Poker Flat zone 4 Mar 5 2234 RV Hwasong ER Sohae Test 260? Sea of Japan Mar 5 2234 RV Hwasong ER Sohae Test 260? Sea of Japan Mar 5 2234 RV Hwasong ER Sohae Test 260? Sea of Japan Mar 5 2234 RV Hwasong ER Sohae Test 260? Sea of Japan Mar 15 1043 REXUS 21 Imp. Orion Kiruna Micrograv 86 ESRANGE B zone Mar 16 1300 REXUS 22 Imp. Orion Kiruna Micrograv 84 ESRANGE B zone Mar? RV Hyunmoo-2C Anhuei Test 200? Yellow Sea Apr 4 2142 RV Hwasong ER? Sinpo Test 189 Sea of Japan Apr 7 0930 MAXUS 9 Maxus Kiruna Micrograv 678 ESRANGE B zone .-------------------------------------------------------------------------. | Jonathan McDowell | | | Somerville MA 02143 | inter : planet4589 at gmail | | USA | twitter: @planet4589 | | | | JSR: http://www.planet4589.org/jsr.html | | Back issues: http://www.planet4589.org/space/jsr/back | | Subscribe/unsub: http://www.planet4589.org/mailman/listinfo/jsr | '-------------------------------------------------------------------------'