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Space X’s Falcon 9 full thrust rocket lifts off from Vandenberg Air Force Base (Attribution: SpaceX, presented at: WindermereSun.com)

CA Vandenberg Air Force Base space launch complex 4 East (Attribution: Space X, Presented at: WindermereSun.com)

Falcon Heavy rocket during a test of its engine in Jan. 2018 (Credit: SpaceX, Presented at: WindermereSun.com)

Flacon Heavy Pad 39A (Credit: Space X, Presented at: WindermereSun.com)

 (Please click on red links & note magenta)

Wow, we’re getting closer and closer to the day when there will be daily rocket launches from planet earth! According to Spaceflight Now, in April of 2018, there had already been four launches and at least six more to go:

• April 2, 2018, Falcon 9-SpaceX CRS14:
  Launch time: 2030:38 GMT (4:30:38 p.m. EDT)
  Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
  A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched the 16th Dragon spacecraft mission on its 14th operational cargo delivery flight to the International Space Station. The flight is being conducted under the Commercial Resupply Services contract with NASA. Delayed from Feb. 9 and March 13.

• April 5, 2018, Ariane 5-Superbird 8/DSN 1 & Hylas 4:
  Launch time: 2134 GMT (5:34 p.m. EDT)
  Launch site: ELA-3, Kourou, French Guiana
  Arianespace used an Ariane 5 ECA rocket, designated VA242, to launch the Superbird 8/DSN 1 and Hylas 4 communications satellites. Built by Mitsubishi Electric Corp., the Superbird 8/DSN 1 satellite is a hybrid communications craft for Tokyo-based SKY Perfect JSAT Corp. and the Japanese Ministry of Defense. The Superbird 8/DSN 1 satellite’s launch was delayed from mid-2016 after it was damaged during shipment from Japan to the launch site in French Guiana. Built by Orbital ATK and owned by UK-based Avanti Communications, Hylas 4 will provide broadband and broadcast coverage with a Ka-band payload for customers in Africa, Latin America and Europe. Delayed from March 16 and March 21

• April 10, 2018, Long March 4C-Yaogan 31:
  Launch time: 0425 GMT (12:25 a.m. EDT)
  Launch site: Jiuquan, China
  A Chinese Long March 4C rocket launched three Yaogan 31 military reconnaissance satellites. Delayed from March.

• April 11, 2018,  PSLV-IRNSS1I:
  Launch time: 2234 GMT (6:34 p.m. EDT)
  Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India
  India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, flying on the PSLV-C41 mission, launched the IRNSS 1I navigation satellite. The payload is the ninth spacecraft in the Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System, which aims to improve positioning services over India and neighboring regions. The PSLV flew in the PSLV XL configuration with enlarged solid rocket boosters. Delayed from March.

There will be at least 6 more launches for the remaining of April, 2018, listed below:

• April 14/15, Atlas 5-AFSPC 11:
  Launch period: 2313-0111 GMT on 14th/15th (7:13-9:11 p.m. EDT on 14th)
  Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
  A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket, designated AV-079, will launch the AFSPC 11 mission for the U.S. Air Force. The mission will launch the Air Force’s Continuous Broadcast Augmenting SATCOM (CBAS) payload and the EAGLE satellite hosting multiple military experiments. The rocket will fly in the 551 vehicle configuration with a five-meter fairing, five solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. Delayed from Dec. 7 and March. Moved forward from April 18. Delayed from April 12
• April 16, 2018, Falcon 9-TESS:
  Launch window: 2232:07-2232:37 GMT (6:32:07-6:32:37 p.m. EDT)
  Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
  A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). The TESS mission will identify planets ranging from Earth-sized to gas giants, orbiting a wide range of stellar types and orbital distances. The principal goal of the TESS mission is to detect small planets with bright host stars in the solar neighborhood, so that detailed characterizations of the planets and their atmospheres can be performed. TESS will be stationed in a high-Earth elliptical orbit. Delayed from March 20
• April 18, 2018, Proton-Blagovest No. 12L:
  Launch time: 2212 GMT (6:12 p.m. EDT)
  Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
  A Russian government Proton rocket and Breeze M upper stage will launch the Blagovest No. 12L communications satellite to cover Russian territory and provide high-speed Internet, television and radio broadcast, and voice and video conferencing services for Russian domestic and military users. Delayed from Dec. 25, February, March 22 and April 4. Moved forward from April 22.
• April 19/20, 2018, Electron-It’s Business Time:
  Launch time: 0030-0430 GMT on 20th (8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. EDT on 19th/20th)
  Launch site: Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand
  A Rocket Lab Electron rocket will launch on its third flight, which Rocket Lab calls “It’s Business Time,” from a facility on the Mahia Peninsula on New Zealand’s North Island. Two commercial CubeSats for Spire Global’s weather and ship tracking constellation, and one small satellite for GeoOptics’ commercial remote sensing network will be aboard the rocket. A Curie upper stage will place the satellites into the proper orbit.
• April 21, 2018,  Long march 3B-Apstar 6C:
  Launch time: TBD
  Launch site: Xichang, China
  A Chinese Long March 3B rocket will launch the Apstar 6C communications satellite. Apstar 6C will provide commercial video and direct-to-home broadcast, VSAT connectivity, cellular backhaul and mobile broadband services over the Asia-Pacific region for APT Satellite. Delayed from March 15.
• April 25, 2018, Rockot-Sentinel 3B:
  Launch time: 1757 GMT (1:57 p.m. EDT)
  Launch site: Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia
  A Eurockot Rockot vehicle will launch with the Sentinel 3B Earth observation satellite for the European Space Agency and the European Commission. Sentinel 3B carries instruments to measure sea surface topography, sea and land surface temperature, and ocean and land color. Delayed from mid-2017 and November. Delayed from March and April 6.

Gathered, written, and posted by Windermere Sun-Susan Sun Nunamaker
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