Update: Arianespace has effectively released the Soyuz rocket carrying 2 Galileo satellites into a shift orbit. It will take just under four hours to release the 2 satellites in their final orbit. Read our full story on the launch here.Arianespace is now targeting the launch of a Soyuz rocket bring 2 brand-new Galileo navigation satellites for Saturday night, Dec. 4, and you can enjoy it live, courtesy of Arianespace. Liftoff is set for 7:19 p.m. EST (0019 GMT on Dec. 3). The launch has been delayed consistently this week due to bad weather and launch devices schedule. A Friday, Dec. 3, launch attempt was scrubbed due to lightning risks.The Russian-built Soyuz rocket will launch the 2 Galileo FOC-M9 (23-24) satellites into orbit from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana. They will mark the 27th and 28th Galileo navigation system satellites to launch for Europe given that the 2011. Fourteen of those satellites were launched on Soyuz rockets, while the rest were flown on Arianespaces Ariane 5 rockets.Arianespace at first wished to introduce the Galileo satellites earlier today, however postponed the flight due to bad weather. The launch webcast must begin about 20 minutes before liftoff.Mission DescriptionArianespaces 13th launch of 2021 with the 8th Soyuz of the year will position its satellite guests into medium Earth orbit. The launcher will be carrying an overall payload of roughly 1645 kg. The launch will be performed from Kourou, in French Guyana.Payload OverviewArianespace will orbit two more satellites, Galileo FOC-M9 (23-24), SAT 27-28, bringing the Galileo constellation fleet to 28 satellites after the launch. This mission will be performed for the benefit of the European Space Agency (ESA) acting on behalf of the European Commission.Galileo is the European worldwide satellite navigation system, operational since 2016. It is the sole satellite navigation system run under civilian control. It uses high-precision positioning, navigation and timing services to more than 2,3 billion users worldwide. By using double frequencies as basic, Galileo is set to provide real-time positioning accuracy to the meter variety. Being the biggest European Union (EU) infrastructure effort, Galileo is bringing strategic autonomy and sovereignty to the EU citizens and its Member States. Funded and completely owned by the European Union, designed by ESA and run by the EU company for the Space Programme (EUSPA), it features innovative technologies established by European market for the advantage of all citizens.The Galileo satellites are built by prime specialist OHB System, with the payloads provided by UK-based Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL), which is 99% owned by Airbus Defence and Space.Out of 26 Galileo satellites currently in orbit, 14 have been released by Soyuz (produced by Progress Space Rocket Center, part of Roscosmos) in between 2011 and 2016; and 12 by Ariane 5 in between 2016 and 2018. VS26 will raise Galileos overall fleet to 28 satellites and it continues with tomorrows flights onboard Soyuz and Ariane 62 to complete the first-generation release, beginning with 6 additional Galileo FOC satellites, over the next years.Galileo FOC-M9 will be the 61st objective (83rd and 84th satellites) to be released by Arianespace for ESA.Galileo FOC-M9 will be the 23rd and 24th FOC satellites to be launched by Arianespace for the European Commission.Thanks to Galileo FOC-M9, Arianespace has launched 150 objectives (180 satellites) for European institutions.OHB, prime professional of Galileo, is a dependent partner of Arianespace: Galileo FOC-M9 will be the 26th and 27th OHB satellites introduced by Arianespace.Rocket launch on Sunday: Atlas V introducing STP-3A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket will release the Space Test Program 3 mission for the U.S. military and NASA early Monday, Dec. 6, and you can enjoy it live. Liftoff is at 4:04 a.m. EST (0904 GMT). The launch was postponed one day due to a leak in a ground propellant system for the rockets RP-1 fuel.The Atlas V rocket will release the STP-3 mission for the U.S. Space Force from Space Launch Complex 41 of the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The objectives primary satellite is the STP Satellite 6, or STP-6, which carries numerous different experiments, including the Space and Atmospheric Burst Reporting System 3, a functional payload designed to track nuclear detonation detection system, NASAs Laser Communication Relay Demonstration for space communications technology and other space weather and situational awareness payloads. STP-3 is likewise bring the Long Duration Propulsive Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Seconday Payload Adapter, or LDPE-1, a platform bring several experiments that is developed to remain in orbit for up to 3 years. A United Launch Alliance rocket bring the STP-3 mission for the U.S. military, consisting of a NASA laser area communications experiment, stands atop its pad at Space Launch Copmlex 41 of the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida for a Dec. 5, 2021 launch. (Image credit: United Launch Alliance) Mission OverviewA United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V 551 rocket will launch the Space Test Program-3 (STP-3) mission for the U.S. Space Forces (USSF) Space Systems Command (SSC). STP-3 is a co-manifested mission that matures innovation and reduces future area program danger for the Department of the Air Force and the U.S. Space Force by advancing warfighting capabilities in the areas of nuclear detonation detection, space domain awareness (SDA), weather, and communication. Both spacecraft will be provided to geosynchronous orbit. Liftoff will take place from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.The primary spacecraft is STP Satellite (STPSat) -6 and the rideshare spacecraft is the Long Duration Propulsive Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA) (LDPE) – 1. Both spacecraft were constructed by Northrop Grumman. The STPSat-6 payloads consisting of the Space and Atmospheric Burst Reporting System 3 (SABRS-3), a functional objective from the National Nuclear Security Administration, NASAs Laser Communication Relay Demonstration (LCRD) payload to check technologies for the next generation of data relay satellites, and several Department of Defense Space Experiments Review Board space weather and situational awareness payloads. LDPE-1 is developed for a 1-3 year objective life and brings speculative payloads. The experiments are meant for rapid danger decrease efforts to inform future programs.The STP-3 mission debuts three engineering functions designed to decrease threat and collect flight experience before use on the Vulcan Centaur, these include Out-of-Autoclave (OoA) payload fairings, an in-flight power system and GPS boosted navigation.The OoA payload fairing was developed with a new manufacturing approach, an alternative process to treat carbon fiber composites, which permits a more efficient production process, lower expense and lower system mass while preserving the same level of reliability and quality.The Atlas V is likewise geared up with a new In-Flight Power System (IFPS). This system provides power to the satellites batteries throughout the rockets long period climb, an objective more than seven hours. The IFPS will make sure the spacecraft have actually fully charged batteries when deployed into geosynchronous orbit.GPS Enhanced Navigation is an additional first flight item that uses existing flight hardware to provide GPS signals that improve the Centaurs navigation system efficiency, enabling the Centaur to achieve much more precise orbits. ISS Live! Tune in to the space stationFind out what the astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station depend on by tuning in to the “ISS Live” broadcast. Hear discussions in between the crew and objective controllers on Earth and see them work inside the U.S. sector of the orbiting lab. When the team is off duty, you can take pleasure in live views of Earth from Space. You can view and listen in the window below, courtesy of NASA.” Live video from the International Space Station consists of internal views when the team is on-duty and Earth views at other times. The video is accompanied by audio of conversations in between the crew and Mission Control. When the space station is in contact with the ground, this video is only offered. Throughout loss of signal durations, audiences will see a blue screen.” Since the station orbits the Earth when every 90 minutes, it experiences a dawn or a sunset about every 45 minutes. When the station is in darkness, external video camera video may appear black, but can in some cases provide magnificent views of lightning or city lights listed below.” Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook..
A Friday, Dec. 3, launch effort was scrubbed due to lightning risks.The Russian-built Soyuz rocket will introduce the 2 Galileo FOC-M9 (23-24) satellites into orbit from the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, French Guiana. VS26 will raise Galileos overall fleet to 28 satellites and it continues with tomorrows flights onboard Soyuz and Ariane 62 to complete the first-generation implementation, beginning with 6 additional Galileo FOC satellites, over the next years.Galileo FOC-M9 will be the 61st objective (84th and 83rd satellites) to be launched by Arianespace for ESA.Galileo FOC-M9 will be the 23rd and 24th FOC satellites to be launched by Arianespace for the European Commission.Thanks to Galileo FOC-M9, Arianespace has actually introduced 150 objectives (180 satellites) for European institutions.OHB, prime professional of Galileo, is a dependent partner of Arianespace: Galileo FOC-M9 will be the 26th and 27th OHB satellites released by Arianespace.Rocket launch on Sunday: Atlas V launching STP-3A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket will release the Space Test Program 3 mission for the U.S. military and NASA early Monday, Dec. 6, and you can view it live. The launch was delayed one day due to a leakage in a ground propellant system for the rockets RP-1 fuel.The Atlas V rocket will release the STP-3 objective for the U.S. Space Force from Space Launch Complex 41 of the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. (Image credit: United Launch Alliance) Mission OverviewA United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V 551 rocket will launch the Space Test Program-3 (STP-3) mission for the U.S. Space Forces (USSF) Space Systems Command (SSC). Liftoff will take place from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.The main spacecraft is STP Satellite (STPSat) -6 and the rideshare spacecraft is the Long Duration Propulsive Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA) (LDPE) – 1.