To start the week, China’s CASC is sending a Chang Zheng 4B on what could be its 50th successful mission.
Chang Zheng 6 will also take to the skies, delivering a presently unknown payload.
Chang Zheng 4B | Unknown Payload A Chang Zheng 4B is preparing to launch out of LC-3 at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in China on Tuesday, Sept. 3.
The launch window opens at 01:13 UTC, with launch expected to occur at 01:20 UTC.
If this mission succeeds, it will be Chang Zheng 4B’s 50th successful mission and the third of this year.
Vega | Sentinel-2C On Wednesday, Sept. 4, Arianespace’s Vega rocket is expected to launch on its final flight before retirement.
A Chang Zheng 6 will deliver an unknown payload to orbit on Thursday, Sept. 5, at 18:35 UTC.
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Polaris Dawn The Polaris Dawn mission will take four private astronauts to low-Earth orbit for one of the most groundbreaking spaceflight missions this year.
Polaris Dawn is now expected to launch no earlier than Friday, Sep. 4, at 3:38 AM EDT (07:38 UTC).
For more on the Polaris Dawn mission, check out NSF’s dedicated launch article.
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Rockets will take off from all over the world this week. This week’s first mission could be the Chang Zheng 4B, which China’s CASC is sending on its 50th successful mission. Tuesday is scheduled to mark the last launch of Arianespace’s Vega rocket. Polaris Dawn is scheduled to deliver four private astronauts to low-Earth orbit, where they will conduct the first-ever private extended vertical escape (EVA) from Crew Dragon.
SpaceX will launch a second batch of Starshield satellites for the National Reconnaissance Office after Starlink Group 8-11 completes construction of the Starlink internet constellation. Chang Zheng 6 will also fly, carrying a payload that is currently unidentified.
Payload unknown for Chang Zheng 4B.
On Tuesday, September, at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in China, a Chang Zheng 4B is getting ready to launch out of LC-3. No 3. It is anticipated that the launch will take place at 01:20 UTC, with the launch window opening at 01:13.
The payload is unknown right now, as is the case with most Chinese missions, but it will probably be revealed closer to launch. This mission, if it is successful, will be the third of this year and Chang Zheng 4B’s 50th mission overall.
Vega | Sentinel-2C.
This Wednesday, September. 4. The Vega rocket from Arianespace is scheduled to take off on its last mission before retirement. At the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana, the Ensemble de Lancement Vega (ELV) pad is where Vega is expected to lift off at 01:50 UTC.
An Earth observation satellite called Sentinel-2C will be launched on this mission and placed in a Sun-synchronous orbit. Out of the four Sentinel-2 satellites, this will be the third to enter orbit. Sentinel-2C and 2D will take the place of satellites 2A and 2B, respectively, once they are in orbit. Sentinel-2C will keep an eye on land to detect changes in sea ice, forests, and natural disasters. It will also look for signs of ships.
The most recent Vega launch was in October. 9, 2023, marking the rocket’s first launch in almost 11 months. This will be the last launch for Vega, as was previously announced. The upgraded Vega-C rocket, which is currently in flight, will completely replace it.
Falcon 9 Block 5 | Starlink Group 8–11.
This week’s sole Starlink mission is scheduled to launch on Wednesday, Sept. 4, shortly after the launch of Polaris Dawn, at 8:59 AM EDT (12:59 UTC) from SLC-40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS). A series of Starlink v2 Mini satellites will be launched by Falcon 9 on a northeastern trajectory and placed in a 53-degree inclined low-Earth orbit. A portion of these satellites possess direct-to-cell functionality.
It is unknown right now which booster is sending Falcon 9 into orbit. Both of the east coast droneships have not yet been assigned launches, but they will be downrange in the Atlantic Ocean. SpaceX will be trying to hit recovery targets with a higher number after losing B1062 last week. SpaceX will launch 83 times in 2024 with this launch.
Unknown Payload | Chang Zheng 6.
This week, CASC is scheduled to launch its second rocket from LC-16 at the Chinese Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. On Sept. 4, a Chang Zheng 6 is scheduled to launch an unidentified payload into orbit. 5, at 18.35 UTC. This mission will be Chang Zheng 6’s 20th mission overall and fifth of the year.
NROL-113 | Falcon 9 Block 5.
SpaceX is getting ready to blast off from SLC-4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base with Starshield satellites for the National Reconnaissance Office. Set to begin at 6:14 PM PDT on Thursday, September. 5 (1:14 UTC on Sept. 6), Falcon 9 will launch 21 Starshield satellites into an orbit with a 70-degree tilt by flying in a southeasterly direction.
It is unknown what the mission’s booster will be. After stage separation, the second stage will carry on to place the Starshield satellites in low-Earth orbit, while the booster will land on the droneship Of Course I Still Love You.
Starshield satellites’ involvement with the national defense of the United States government has resulted in a lack of information being disclosed about their capabilities. It is thought that Northrop Grumman-built imaging payloads are aboard the satellites on this flight.
Block 5 | Polaris Dawn | Falcon 9.
This year, one of the most innovative spaceflight missions will send four private astronauts to low-Earth orbit—the Polaris Dawn mission. As Crew Dragon soars higher than any human has since Apollo, commander Jared Issacman, pilot Scott Poteet, mission specialists Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon, and themselves may spend as much as five days in the spacecraft.
The mission was originally scheduled to launch last week from the historic LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, but bad weather in the recovery zones forced a postponement. It is now anticipated that Polaris Dawn will launch on Friday, September. at 07:38 UTC, 3:38 AM EDT on April 4.
Under orbit, the Polaris Dawn crew will carry out a variety of research projects, such as studying human health during extended spaceflight, Starlink laser communication between spacecraft, and the functionality of SpaceX’s recently developed EVA suit during an EVA that requires completely depressurizing and opening the Crew Dragon to space vacuum.
See the NSF’s launch article for additional information about the Polaris Dawn mission.
