Global Space Race Heats Up: China, Japan, and SpaceX Gear Up for Major Launches This Week

October 22, 2024
Global Space Race Heats Up: China, Japan, and SpaceX Gear Up for Major Launches This Week
  • China'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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