Global Space Race Heats Up: China, Japan, and SpaceX Gear Up for Major Launches This Week
October 22, 2024China's Chang Zheng 6 rocket is set to launch today, marking the country's 50th launch of 2024, although the payload remains unspecified.
This week, Japan's H3 rocket will conduct its fourth flight, carrying a military communications satellite, alongside two launches from China.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' H3-22S rocket is scheduled to launch the Kirameki 3 communications satellite for the Japanese military.
Blue Origin plans to test its second human-rated New Shepard capsule after experiencing delays earlier this month.
Blue Origin's NS-27 mission is set for October 23, aimed at verifying its new New Shepard capsule, which will carry several payloads including LIDAR sensors.
SpaceX is gearing up for the NROL-167 mission using Falcon 9, scheduled for October 24, potentially marking the company's 400th orbital launch.
As SpaceX approaches its 400th orbital mission, it began the week with a total of 398 missions after successfully launching OneWeb #20 from California.
Additionally, SpaceX will launch a Starlink mission from Cape Canaveral, which will be the company's 100th launch of the year.
The H3 rocket is expected to conduct another mission later this year, with plans for future launches including a lunar exploration mission.
Another Chang Zheng 2C rocket is scheduled to launch on October 23, also carrying an unknown payload from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center.
Summary based on 1 source
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Source
NASASpaceFlight.com • Oct 21, 2024
Launch Roundup: SpaceX approaches 400th orbital flight; Blue Origin, China, Japan launch missions - NASASpaceFlight.com