Spaceflight News: Falcon 9 Deorbit Issue, Artemis II Delay, Vulcan Rocket & Jupiter Science

Falcon 9 Deorbit Incident and FAA Investigation

• 🚀 A Falcon 9 second stage failed to de-orbit on the Starlink Group 1732 mission, marking the second such incident in roughly a year.
• ⚠️ SpaceX stated the second stage experienced an "off-nominal condition" during preparation for the de-orbit burn, leading to its passivation and eventual re-entry.
• 🛰️ The US Space Force cataloged the stage in a low orbit, resulting in re-entry less than 12 hours after launch.
• 🔍 This event prompted an FAA mishap investigation, though SpaceX has since been cleared to return to flight after identifying preventative measures, including the Merlin vacuum engine's failure to ignite.
• 📍 SpaceX is consolidating Dragon missions to Launch Complex 40 and utilizing Launch Complex 39A primarily for Falcon Heavy and Starship missions.

Artemis II Mission Delayed Due to Hydrogen Leaks

• 🌕 NASA's Artemis II mission to the Moon has been delayed until March due to issues encountered during a critical wet dress rehearsal.
• 💧 The delay was caused by hydrogen leaks detected during the propellant load sequence, a recurring problem similar to those seen during the Artemis I campaign.
• 🛠️ Teams employed techniques learned from Artemis I to manage the leaks, which are related to the contraction of interfaces as they cool.
• ⏳ The recurring leaks and issues with closing hatches prevented the completion of the terminal count, leading NASA to postpone the launch attempt.
• 🧑‍🚀 The crew, previously in quarantine, has been released and will return two weeks before the rescheduled launch.

Engine Testing and Reusable Rocket Developments

• ⚡ Astra is advancing Rocket 4 development with engine thrust chamber testing and successful firing of xenon-powered spacecraft thrusters.
• ⛽ Stoke Space tested its Zenith engine, a methane-powered full-flow staged combustion engine, focusing on fuel pump suction performance for its reusable Nova rocket.
• 🇮🇳 ISRO is developing a methane-powered engine, successfully firing a subscale thrust chamber built with additive manufacturing.
• 💡 The Exploration Company, under ESA's thrust initiative, is testing a novel resonance igniter that uses acoustic waves for ignition, ideal for reusable engines.
• 🌊 The Exploration Company also completed splashdown tests for its reusable capsule, Nyx.

Private Missions to the ISS and European Launch Efforts

• 🛰️ NASA has awarded Axiom Space its fifth private mission to the International Space Station, targeting January 2027.
• 🚀 Axiom will purchase services from NASA, while NASA will buy cargo space on Axiom's return flights.
• 🤝 Axiom is partnering with Voyager Technologies, a competitor in the space station business, for payload integration.
• 🇪🇺 PLD Space is making progress on its Mora 5 rocket, with its qualification model verified for reusability and undergoing wet dress rehearsals.
• ⚙️ ESAR Aerospace is expanding its testing facilities in Sweden to support the production and acceptance testing of its Spectrum rocket engines and stages.

Jupiter's Size and Space Traffic Update

• 🪐 New data from NASA's Juno spacecraft indicates that Jupiter is smaller and flatter than previously believed.
• 📡 Scientists used radio occultations from Juno to refine measurements of Jupiter's dimensions, finding it approximately 8 km narrower and 24 km flatter.
• 📊 The space traffic report notes a quiet week with three launches, but highlights January as the most active month ever for launches, with SpaceX leading provider.
• 🚀 Upcoming launches include SpaceX's Crew 12 mission, ULA's Vulcan rocket, and the first launch of Amazon's satellites on an Ariane 6 rocket.
• 🇨🇳 China is preparing for several launches, including a potential suborbital launch of its Mengzhou spacecraft for an in-flight abort test.