We have a number of launches coming up in the rocket launch, but the most notable will be the sample return mission to the moon by China. This is part of its Chang’e missions and will include four modules: two in lunar orbit, which will return the sample to Earth, a sample collection unit, which will advance for a sample, and an ascent vehicle, which will take a sample from the surface to the orbiting modules.

Sunday, April 28

• WHO: SpaceX
• what: Falcon 9
• When: 12:34 UTC
• where: Florida, USA
• Why: SpaceX will use Falcon 9 to launch Galileo 29 ​​and 30 for the European Space Agency. They will be part of the Galileo navigation group, which complements the US GPS satellites with smartphones and so on for positioning purposes.

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• WHO: SpaceX
• what: Falcon 9
• When: 21:50 – 01:50 UTC
• where: Florida, USA
• Why: SpaceX will launch Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit. This group of 23 satellites is known as Starlink Group 6-54; This ID can be used in apps like ISS Detector to see when they will fly over your house. After liftoff, SpaceX will attempt to launch the first stage of the Falcon 9 so that it can be reused. These satellites relay internet back to Starlink customers on Earth.

Wednesday, May 1

• WHO: SpaceX
• what: Falcon 9
• When: 18:30 – 23:00 UTC
• where: California, USA
• Why: SpaceX will use Falcon 9 to launch the first two WorldView Legion Earth observation satellites for Maxar Technologies. They will be put into a sun-synchronous orbit, where they will perform various monitoring operations such as tracking natural disasters, pollution and oil spills and detect activities such as illegal fishing, piracy, drug smuggling or human trafficking. Eventually there will be six satellites in this constellation.

Friday, May 3

• WHO: CNSA
• what: Long March 5
• When: 8:00 AM UTC
• where: Wenchang, China
• Why: China will launch the Chang’e 3 sample return mission to the moon. This is the nation’s seventh mission in its Chang’e robotic lunar exploration program. This mission is complex, two modules will remain in lunar orbit while a sample collector and rover will land in the Aitken Basin at the South Pole. The collector will drill two meters underground for a sample, and the rover will take it back to the modules in orbit, which will then fly the samples back to Earth for testing.

Saturday, May 4

• WHO: SpaceX
• what: Falcon 9
• When: 2:59 am UTC
• where: California, USA
• Why: SpaceX will use Falcon 9 to launch 22 Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit. This could include more direct-to-cell Starlink satellites, which we’ve talked about before. Like other Starlink missions, the Falcon 9’s first stage should land back on Earth ready for reuse.

summarize

• The first launch we got last week was Falcon 9 carrying Starlink satellites into orbit. After launch, the first stage of the rocket made a reusable landing.

• A Rocket Lab Electron rocket then launched NASA’s Advanced Solar Sail System (ACS3) and KAIST’s NeonSat-1 Earth observation satellite from Mahia, New Zealand.

• Finally, China launched a Long March 2F Y18 with the Shenzhou-18 crew spacecraft to its space station. The astronauts launched included Guangfu Ye, Kong Li and Guangsu Li.

That’s all we have this week. Be sure to check in next time!