SpaceX has started commissioning a second launch pad at the company's Starbase facility in Texas.
See full article...
See full article...
Rocket Report: Pentagon needs more missile interceptors; Artemis II clears review
- Thread starter JournalBot
- Start date
SpaceX now have over 10,000 Starlink satellites in orbit.
Tweet was written during the launch from California last night/this morning.Jonathan McDowell said:
Upvote
21
(21
/
0)
First indications of a solid date for the first Soyuz-5 flight:
Anatoly Zak said:
Upvote
15
(15
/
0)
Artemis II rollout on March 19th now possible.
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions...emis-ii-rollout-as-ground-teams-make-up-time/
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/missions...emis-ii-rollout-as-ground-teams-make-up-time/
Upvote
15
(15
/
0)
Nice article on how space weather could affect Artemis II.
https://science.nasa.gov/missions/a...-ii-astronauts-nasa-experts-keep-eyes-on-sun/
Includes the surprising news that the Perseverance rover on Mars is part of the surveillance network....
https://science.nasa.gov/missions/a...-ii-astronauts-nasa-experts-keep-eyes-on-sun/
Includes the surprising news that the Perseverance rover on Mars is part of the surveillance network....
Upvote
20
(20
/
0)
Statistical
Ars Legatus Legionis
Hah. I thought they had given up on Soyuz-5. Those Russians do like the name Soyuz so maybe that kept it alive.
I still say Russia has too many launch vehicles. It would be like Italy fielding not one but six launch vehicles (Soyuz 2.1a, Soyuz 2.1b, Proton-M, Angara-1.2, Angara-A5, and Soyuz-5).
Upvote
7
(7
/
0)
Bill Swallow
Ars Centurion
Maybe Ars could do an article highlighting what distinguishes the various Russian launch vehicles from each other - or point readers to a source of such if someone's already done it?
Upvote
1
(1
/
0)
Proton is being phased out, so can be ignored for the future. It looks like all the variants they have span different capabilities. If we look at payload to LEO:
Angara-1.2 -> 3,500 kg
Soyuz 2.1a -> 7,430 kg
Soyuz 2.1b -> 8,670 kg
Soyuz-5 -> 18,000 kg
Angara 5 -> 24,500 kg
Proton -> 23,000 kg
Upvote
16
(16
/
0)
https://satnews.com/2026/03/16/l3ha...-and-satellite-direct-to-device-connectivity/
L3Harris Unveils XL-300P: The First P25 Handheld with 5G and Satellite Direct-to-Device Connectivity
The new device is the industry’s first land mobile radio (LMR) to integrate a native 5G modem and 3GPP-standard Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) capabilities, providing first responders with a triple-layered redundancy of P25, cellular broadband, and satellite connectivity in a single handheld form factor.
Just want to point out it's the first device of it's class with 5G and direct to cell, not the first with direct to cell.
And it's not new either. It's been available through channel partners.
I've also seen vehicle tracking applications. But only in NZ and USA.
Airtel Kenya and MTN Zambia are also about to release something similar to T-Mobile. They are done testing the Carrier app.
L3Harris Unveils XL-300P: The First P25 Handheld with 5G and Satellite Direct-to-Device Connectivity
The new device is the industry’s first land mobile radio (LMR) to integrate a native 5G modem and 3GPP-standard Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) capabilities, providing first responders with a triple-layered redundancy of P25, cellular broadband, and satellite connectivity in a single handheld form factor.
Just want to point out it's the first device of it's class with 5G and direct to cell, not the first with direct to cell.
And it's not new either. It's been available through channel partners.
I've also seen vehicle tracking applications. But only in NZ and USA.
Airtel Kenya and MTN Zambia are also about to release something similar to T-Mobile. They are done testing the Carrier app.
Upvote
3
(3
/
0)
Statistical
Ars Legatus Legionis
Useful gear for first responders. However it is made by L3 which comes with a defacto "if you have to ask how much it costs you can't afford it" disclaimer.
Upvote
6
(6
/
0)
Booster 19 was removed from the launch mount again this evening, and there is a road delay notice for midnight-4am for it to be rolled back to the megabay to get more engines.
View: https://x.com/wvmattz/status/2034083069628502523
View: https://x.com/wvmattz/status/2034083069628502523
Upvote
12
(12
/
0)
Soyuz-2 - the same good old ICBM that kicked off the space race in the 1950s, still going. Center kerolox sustainer and four strap-on kerolox LRBs with an upper stage. After the fall of the Soviet Union, Soyuz-FG got new engines with slightly improved chamber pressure and all domestic components. Soyuz-2.1a got upgraded structures and digital flight computers. Soyuz-2.1b replaced the second stage GG engine with a new ORSC engine (RD-0124).
Soyuz-2.1v - Nothing to do with the above rocket. Single stick kerolox using the same surplus N-1 engines that doomed Antares 100. It has the same second stage engine (RD-0124) as Soyuz-2.1b, but the stage itself is different.
Proton - UR (Universal Rocket) 500, part of a planned "family" of various size rockets with no commonality. Build as an ICBM but was never actually an ICBM. Russia's Saturn-1. This appears to have a set of LRBs, but those "boosters" are six fuel (UDMH) tanks surrounding a common oxidizer (NTO) tank, and do not detach.
Angara - URM (Universal Rocket Module, no relation to Proton) is a common booster like Delta IV Heavy or Falcon Heavy, with 0, 2, 4, or 6 boosters attached. Boosters are kerolox using the same engine as Antares 200. Only 0 and 4 booster versions are likely to ever fly. Both versions use the same ORSC engine as Soyuz-2.1b (RD-0124), but with different upper stages. 4-booster version can optionally be operated without an upper stage.
Irtysh - a.k.a. Soyuz-5 (because all must be Soyuz) is the stretched, Russified Zenit. It's the four-chamber RD-170 from Energia/Zenit, redesigned to use all Russian parts, required after they bombed the previous manufacturing plant in Dnipro, Ukraine. Single-stick kerolox ORSC first stage, with yet another unique second stage based off the same Soyuz upper stage engine. This has been sitting on the pad since late last year.
Rokot - UR-100 (to Proton's 500). No commonality besides UDMH/NTO propellants. This one actually did serve as an ICBM. 1.5yrs overdue for return to flight.
Amur - a.k.a Soyuz-7 (why not...) reusable, methalox, vaporware
Rus-M - basically the Russian Atlas V, but with options for two or for common core boosters. It wasn't named Soyuz, so it had to be canceled.
Yenisei - RD-180 sustainer and six RD-170 boosters, staged four, then two, then center. Hydrolox upper. This will take the new spacecraft and the new lunar lander to the new lunar base. Except it won't, because it's not Soyuz.
Upvote
31
(31
/
0)
Rumor has it it's $7k don't know about other costs.
Last edited:
Upvote
3
(3
/
0)
https://satnews.com/2026/03/16/rheinmetall-walked-away-germany-should-take-the-hint/
View: https://x.com/SatNewsEvents/status/2033575196775334032?s=20
Mynaric going to RKLB anyway?
View: https://x.com/Megaconstellati/status/2033560148086521885?s=20
Taiwan at the ITU. Applies for it's own constellation.
View: https://x.com/SatNewsEvents/status/2033575196775334032?s=20
Mynaric going to RKLB anyway?
View: https://x.com/Megaconstellati/status/2033560148086521885?s=20
Taiwan at the ITU. Applies for it's own constellation.
Upvote
5
(5
/
0)
Additional launches this week:
(Appeared on NSF yesterday)
3/19 04:00 UTC, China, LandSpace, Zhuque-2E, from Jiuquan, undisclosed payload
This is the first launch of the ZQ-2E variant since a failure (of the upper stage) in August 2025, preceded by two successes of the -2E, -3 and-2. The Zhuque-2E is a two-stage methalox launcher, 47.3 m tall, capable of 6,000 kg to LEO and 4,000 kg to SSO.
(Appeared on NSF today)
3/19 11:00 UTC, Russia, Roscosmos, Soyuz 2.1b, from Plesetsk, 16 birds to LEO
This the first tranche of 16 Rassvet ("Dawn") satellites for a LEO broadband constellation manufactured by private company Byuro 1440 ("Bureau 1440"), a domestic alternative to Starlink. (Satnews, Jan 2026)
(Appeared on NSF yesterday)
3/19 04:00 UTC, China, LandSpace, Zhuque-2E, from Jiuquan, undisclosed payload
This is the first launch of the ZQ-2E variant since a failure (of the upper stage) in August 2025, preceded by two successes of the -2E, -3 and-2. The Zhuque-2E is a two-stage methalox launcher, 47.3 m tall, capable of 6,000 kg to LEO and 4,000 kg to SSO.
(Appeared on NSF today)
3/19 11:00 UTC, Russia, Roscosmos, Soyuz 2.1b, from Plesetsk, 16 birds to LEO
This the first tranche of 16 Rassvet ("Dawn") satellites for a LEO broadband constellation manufactured by private company Byuro 1440 ("Bureau 1440"), a domestic alternative to Starlink. (Satnews, Jan 2026)
Upvote
10
(10
/
0)
EVA underway at the ISS. Jessica Meir and Chris Williams are doing prep work for an iROSA installation.
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacesta...rs-prep-to-install-solar-array-mod-kit-today/
https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacesta...rs-prep-to-install-solar-array-mod-kit-today/
Upvote
17
(17
/
0)
https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-419255A1.pdf
The document notably fails to define "Weird Space Stuff", but seems to be looking to open up new telemetry channels for satellites that are not providing communications services. They also want to define "telemetry" as any data that pertains specifically to operation of the satellite, including high-data-rate tasks such as onboard video.
Upvote
10
(10
/
0)
Bill Swallow
Ars Centurion
Thank you! That is pretty much exactly what I was looking for. A very good, concise summary!
Upvote
10
(10
/
0)
Upvote
19
(19
/
0)
SpaceX have published https://www.spacex.com/launches/sl-10-33 with details of a Starlink launch from Florida, currently scheduled for about 6:30am local time on the 19th.
Livestreams:
Spaceflight Now:
NASA Spaceflight:
Space Affairs:
The booster being flown is B1077 which last flew on February 20th.
Livestreams:
Spaceflight Now:
NASA Spaceflight:
Space Affairs:
Upvote
9
(9
/
0)
Scott Manley crunches the numbers on datacentres in space.
Upvote
11
(11
/
0)
Statistical
Ars Legatus Legionis
Artemis II rollout is a go for tomorrow. Will start at 8PM so an overnight rollout. Usually takes around 12ish hours.
From the nazi social media site
From the nazi social media site
Upvote
6
(8
/
-2)
Spacewalk at ISS complete, 7 hours and 2 minutes long. Internal airlock hatch has been opened.
Edit: details from NASA - https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacesta...stall-solar-array-mod-kit-complete-spacewalk/
Edit: details from NASA - https://www.nasa.gov/blogs/spacesta...stall-solar-array-mod-kit-complete-spacewalk/
Upvote
14
(14
/
0)
I expect it will take them a week to install the 23 other engines. I don’t know how we can wait so long! /s
Upvote
8
(8
/
0)
During V1/V2 they could install all engines practically overnight, definitely within 24 hours.
Let's see how quickly they can fit V3 once they get 2-3 launches done.
Upvote
7
(7
/
0)
During V1/V2, they could install engines in a couple hours. They had a flat pad and would just drive under the rocket with lifts. The new pad does not support such operations. I thought they had installed rails for a removable work platform, but it turns out that's just for the test stands. There's no reason the work itself would need to be slower, but they at least need to lift it off the pad.During V1/V2 they could install all engines practically overnight, definitely within 24 hours.
Let's see how quickly they can fit V3 once they get 2-3 launches done.
Upvote
15
(15
/
0)
An interesting write-up on the development of APAS-89.
https://fiftyonepointsix.com/how-different-are-apas-95-and-apas-89-really-6908546db068
https://fiftyonepointsix.com/how-different-are-apas-95-and-apas-89-really-6908546db068
Upvote
6
(6
/
0)
Two FCC PDF links in link
"Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (“NGSC”) hereby requests a two-year conventional experimental authorization beginning March 19, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter, to conduct uplink (Earth-to-Space) testing of an experimental earth station with the U.S.-licensed Space Exploration Holdings Co. (“SpaceX”) Starlink system (ICFS Call Signs S3069). NGSC is currently operating pursuant to a special temporary authorization (STA) for the operations contemplated in this application. The proposed experimentation is for a Global Lightning government-sponsored contract that supports DEUCSI, or Defense Experimentation Using Commercial Space Internet, which is a U.S. Air Force program . . .."
View: https://x.com/StevenJCrowley/status/2034379368324386843
I kinda follow this stuff but the codenames....
"Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (“NGSC”) hereby requests a two-year conventional experimental authorization beginning March 19, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter, to conduct uplink (Earth-to-Space) testing of an experimental earth station with the U.S.-licensed Space Exploration Holdings Co. (“SpaceX”) Starlink system (ICFS Call Signs S3069). NGSC is currently operating pursuant to a special temporary authorization (STA) for the operations contemplated in this application. The proposed experimentation is for a Global Lightning government-sponsored contract that supports DEUCSI, or Defense Experimentation Using Commercial Space Internet, which is a U.S. Air Force program . . .."
View: https://x.com/StevenJCrowley/status/2034379368324386843
I kinda follow this stuff but the codenames....
Upvote
4
(4
/
0)
Both SFN and NSF streams have this launch pushed back to about 10:20am local time, but the SpaceX departure board doesn't seem to have been updated yet.
Upvote
12
(12
/
0)
Upvote
13
(13
/
0)
Upvote
9
(9
/
0)