Payloads Drop Vibration: The crew set up the appropriate support hardware, dispensed the large water drops, and initiated the frequency scans and frequency tests. These tests occurred at several difference frequencies and on different substrates. Inertial Spreading with Vibration and Water Coalescence (Drop Vibration) examines the behavior of big liquid drops whose perimeter of contact, …
NASA and SpaceX “Go” for Dec. 5 Cargo Resupply Launch
NASA and SpaceX managers conducted a Flight Readiness Review (FRR) Monday, Nov. 23, for SpaceX’s 21st Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-21) mission to the International Space Station. To enable additional time to evaluate flight data from Crew-1 and close out certification work ahead of this first flight of the cargo version of Dragon 2, teams are now proceeding …
Advanced Science in Full Gear Today as Cosmonauts Relax
Five Expedition 64 astronauts had their day packed with microgravity research while the two cosmonauts had a light duty day aboard the International Space Station following last week’s spacewalk. All seven crew members started the day measuring their body mass with an instrument that follows Newton’s second law of motion to account for the lack …
Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich Satellite in Earth Orbit, Mission Begins to Map Sea Levels
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, carrying the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite, launched at 9:17 a.m. PST (12:17 p.m. EST) on Nov. 21, 2020, from Space Launch Complex-4 at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) in California. Following launch, the SpaceX Falcon 9 first stage separated and returned to Earth for a vertical landing at VAFB. After …
Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich Solar Arrays Deployed, Signal Acquired
Loud cheering can be heard from the launch control room as the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich solar arrays deploy, a signal is acquired and the satellite operates independently in low-Earth orbit.
Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich Satellite Separates From Second Stage, Traveling on Its Own
The Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite has separated from the Falcon 9 second stage. The satellite’s S-Band transmitter will be switched on and its attitude control system will be activated.
Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich Satellite in Coast Phase
The Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite is in a coast phase until the second stage restarts to put the satellite in the proper trajectory. After the second stage burn, the satellite will separate and fly on its own.
SpaceX Falcon 9 First Stage Returns to Earth for Vertical Landing
The SpaceX Falcon 9 first stage returns to Earth and lands vertical at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Nov. 21, 2020.
Launch and Separation Events
A series of events occur after launch. The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage main engine will cut off, followed by separation from the second stage. The second stage will ignite, followed by payload fairing jettison from the Sentinel-6 satellite. The second stage will cut off and then restart to put the satellite in the …
Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich Satellite Launches!
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich Satellite lifts off from Space Launch Complex-4 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California today, Nov. 21. Launch time was at 9:17 a.m. PST (12:17 p.m. EST).