Starlink 4-5 and James Webb Update [Live: 06.01.2022, UTC 21:49]
James Webb Update
Maybe the most exciting launch of 21 was the long awaited and often postponed launch of JWST. So far space origami is going well. Unfolding and establishing the telescope takes 50 separate movements. The whole process has 344 single points of failure (Launching the World’s Biggest Space Telescope).
To illustrate: if we assume a failure likelihood of 1 in 1000, that only gives a chance of 71% for the whole deployment phase.
Original minimum design life was 6 years. Because the Ariane rocket delivered the telescope to the perfect position, a lot of maneuvering fuel can be saved and it is expected to last for at least 10 years now.
Goddard Space Flight Center is providing live updates of the current state of James Webb.
Source: NASA
Last completed step was "Secondary Mirror Deployment". Have a look at animations of the single deployment steps: NASA
CRS 24
The brand new booster must have suffered an incident during transport on a barge. The landing looked good, but the booster arrived with significant damage to the landing legs and engine nozzles in port.
Starlink 4-5
SpaceX closed 2021 with 31 missions. 17 were for Starlink. SpaceX is allowed to 60 missions per year from Florida. Let's see how close they get this year.
SpaceX is launching 49 additional Satellites for their own Starlink Constellation.
This is the fourth batch of satellites for the 4th layer of the constellation. Shell 4 is in a 540km circular low-Earth orbit. These satellites are equiped with laser links installed.
The booster is a Block 5 and will land on a drone ship. This is the first time a booster will be reflown for the 4th time.
The mission to low earth orbit will launch from Kennedy Space Center, Florida.
Weather is 80% go according to the 45th Weather Squadron.
Cargo:
- Payload mass is approximately 14,5 tonnes
- 49 Starlink Satellites
Check your local time of launch at: www.timeanddate.com
Where to watch:
15 minutes before launch: SpaceX Livestream
NASASpaceflight: LIVE: Falcon 9 Launch of 49 Starlink Satellites
Background information about previous SpaceX launches: Wikipedia
Ellie in Space: Does SpaceX's Starlink have a first mover advantage against competitors like Amazon?
Scott Manley: SpaceX's 'Wet' Fleet 2021
Why SpaceX is Making Starlink - Real Engineering: Youtube
MikeOnSpace: OFFICIAL Starlink SPEED TEST results and SPACE LASERS - details on the Private Beta and Public Beta
Mark Handley: Using ground relays with Starlink
MikeOnSpace: Amazon KUIPER vs SpaceX STARLINK - Another heavyweight enters the race for Global Satellite Internet
Ben Sullins: Starlink Could Change EVERYTHING!
LTT: Gaming on STARLINK!!
Now You Know: We Test Elon’s $99 Mobile Internet | In Depth
Mediocre Coffee: Starlink vs. Telus: My Experience in Rural Alberta
Scott Manley: Graveyard Orbits Where Old Satellites Are Forgotten
Useful links to stay up to date on launches:
Spaceflightnow.com: Launch Schedule
Everyday Astronaut: Prelaunch Previews
Space News:
NASA Spaceflight nasaspacefight.com
TMRO: YouTube
Track Starlink satellites: https://satellitemap.space/
Subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/Starlink
Vote for my witness: @blue-witness
Posted with STEMGeeks