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Home 2013 Summary 2012 Spacecrafts 2014 Spacecrafts

. The 212 Spacecrafts launched in 2013:

1)	Kosmos 2482 / Rodnik #5	2)	Kosmos 2483/ Rodnik #6	3)	Kosmos 2484/ Rodnik #7	4)	IGS Radar 4 / IGS 8A
5)	IGS Optical 5 / IGS 8B	6)	STSAT-2C	7)	TDRS 11	8)	Intelsat IS-27
9)	Globalstar M097	10)	Globalstar M093	11)	Globalstar M094	12)	Globalstar M096
13)	Globalstar M078	14)	Globalstar M095	15)	Amazonas 3	16)	Azerspace 1 / Africasat-1a
17)	Progress M-18M / ISS-50P	18)	Landsat 8 / LDCM	19)	SARAL	20)	AAUSAT 3
21)	Sapphire	22)	NEOSSat	23)	STRaND-1	24)	BRITE-A / TUGSAT-1 / BRITE-AUSTRIA
25)	BRITE-U / UniBRITE / CANX-3	26)	Dragon CRS-2	27)	SBIRS GEO-2 (USA 241)	28)	Satmex 8
29)	Soyuz TMA-08M / ISS-34S	30)	Anik G1	31)	Bion M1	32)	OSSI-1
33)	Dove-2	34)	AIST-2	35)	BEESAT-3	36)	SOMP
37)	BEESAT-2	38)	Bell / Phonesat 2.0a	39)	Dove-1	40)	Alexander / PhoneSat v2
41)	CMS / Cygnus Mass Sim	42)	Graham / Phonesat 1.0b	43)	Progress M-19M / ISS-51P	44)	GF-1 / Gaofen 1
45)	NEE-01 Pegaso	46)	Turksat-3USAT	47)	CubeBug-1 / Capitán Beto	48)	Kosmos 2485 / Glonass-M 47
49)	Zhongxing-11 / Chinasat 11	50)	Proba-V	51)	VNREDSAT-1	52)	ESTCube-1
53)	Eutelsat 3D	54)	Navstar 64 (USA 242)	55)	WGS 5 (USA 243)	56)	Soyuz TMA-09M / ISS-35S
57)	SES-6	58)	ATV-4 Albert Einstein	59)	Kosmos 2486 / Persona 2	60)	Shenzhou X
61)	Resurs P1	62)	O3b SC1 / PFM / O3b FM5	63)	O3b SC2 / FM2 / O3b FM4	64)	O3b SC3 / FM4 / O3b FM2
65)	O3b SC4 / FM5 / O3b FM4	66)	Kosmos 2487 / Kondor 1	67)	IRIS	68)	IRNSS-1A
69)	Kosmos /  Glonass-M 48	70)	Kosmos /  Glonass-M 49	71)	Kosmos /  Glonass-M 50	72)	SJ-11-05 / Shi Jian 11-05
73)	MUOS 2	74)	SY-7 / Shiyan 7	75)	CX-3 / Chuangxin 3	76)	SJ-15 / Shi Jian 15
77)	SJ-15 Subsat	78)	Alphasat I / Inmarsat-4A F4	79)	Insat 3D	80)	Progress M-20M / ISS-52P
81)	HTV-4 / Konoutori 4	82)	WGS 6 (USA 244)	83)	Arirang-5 / Kompsat 5	84)	NROL-65 (USA 245)
85)	Eutelsat 25B / Es'hail 1	86)	GSAT-7 / Insat-4F / Rukmini	87)	AMOS 4	88)	YW-17 / Yaogan 17 / Yaogan 17A
89)	YW-17 subsat 1 / Yaogan 17B	90)	YW-17 subsat 2 / Yaogan 17C	91)	LADEE	92)	Gonets-M #4
93)	Gonets-M #5	94)	Gonets-M #6	95)	Sprint A / Hisaki	96)	AEHF 3 (USA 246)
97)	Cygnus Demo	98)	FY-3 3 / Fengyun-3 3	99)	KZ-1 / Kuaizhou 1	100)	Soyuz TMA-10M / ISS-36S
101)	Cassiope	102)	CUSat 1	103)	DANDE	104)	POPACS 1
105)	POPACS 2	106)	POPACS 3	107)	Astra 2E	108)	SJ-16 / Shijian 16
109)	Sirius FM6	110)	YW-18 / Yaogan 18	111)	MOS / Mars Orbiter Spacecraft	112)	Soyuz TMA-11M / ISS-37S
113)	Raduga-1M 3	114)	MAVEN	115)	PicoDragon	116)	Ardusat-1
117)	Ardusat-X	118)	STPSat-3	119)	ORS-3	120)	TJ3Sat
121)	DragonSat	122)	COPPER	123)	ChargerSat 1	124)	SwampSat
125)	Ho'oponopono 2	126)	KySat-2	127)	CAPE 2	128)	Trailblazer
129)	Vermont Lunar Cubesat	130)	honeSat-2.4	131)	NPS-SCAT	132)	Black Knight 1
133)	Firefly	134)	Horus / STARE-B	135)	SENSE-A	136)	SENSE-b
137)	ORSES	138)	ORS Tech 1	139)	ORS Tech 2	140)	Prometheus 1A
141)	Prometheus 1B	142)	Prometheus 2A	143)	Prometheus 2B	144)	Prometheus 3A
145)	Prometheus 3B	146)	Prometheus 4A	147)	Prometheus 4B	148)	YW-19 / Yaogan 19
149)	TechEdSat-3p	150)	AprizeSat-7	151)	SkySat-1	152)	Dubaisat-2
153)	OPTOS	154)	Unisat-5	155)	STSat-3	156)	WNISAT-1
157)	KHUSAT-1	158)	AprizeSat-8	159)	KHUSAT-2	160)	Triton 1
161)	Delfi-3nXt	162)	Dove-3	163)	GOMX-1	164)	Lem
165)	Cubebug-2 / Manolito	166)	NEE-2 / Krysaor	167)	UWE-3	168)	VELOX-P2
169)	First-MOVE	170)	FUNcube-1	171)	HINCube-1	172)	ZACUBE-1 / Tshepiso
173)	BPA-3	174)	Dove-4	175)	ICUBE-1	176)	PUCPSat-1
177)	Pocket-PUCP	178)	HUMSAT-D	179)	QBScout-1	180)	BeakerSat-1 / Eagle-1
181)	$50SAT	182)	WREN	183)	SWARM-1	184)	SWARM-2
185)	SWARM-3	186)	SW-5 / Shiyan Weixing 5	187)	Progress M-21M / ISS-53P	188)	Chang'e 3
189)	Yutu / Jade Rabbit	190)	SES-8	191)	NROL-39 (USA 247)	192)	FIREBIRD A
193)	FIREBIRD b	194)	Aerocube 5A	195)	Aerocube 5b	196)	ALICE
197)	SNAP-3	198)	MCubed-2	199)	CUNYSAT 1	200)	IPEX-CP8
201)	SMDC-ONE C / SMDC-ONE C 2.4	202)	Tacsat-6	203)	SMDC-ONE D / SMDC-ONE 2.3	204)	Inmarsat 5 F1
205)	ZY-1 3 / Ziyuan-1 3 / CBERS 3	206)	Gaia	207)	TKSAT 1 / Tupac Katari 1	208)	Kosmos 2488 / Rodnik #8
209)	Kosmos 2489 / Rodnik #9	210)	Kosmos 2490 / Rodnik #10	211)	Express AM-5	212)	Aist 1
213)	SKRL-756 1	214)	SKRL-756 2

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Kosmos 2482 / Rodnik #5  Spacecraft: Rodnik-S (Strela-3M) 14F132 Chronologies: 2013 payload #1 ; 2013-01A ; 7,259th spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Russian Ministry of Defense Launch: 15 January 2013 at 16h25 UT, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-133/3, by a Rokot. Orbit: 1,472 km x 1,515 km x 82.5°x 115.86 min. Mission: A trio of Rodnik satellites designed to relay messages between military users posted in remote areas. Rodnik is a successor of Strela-3 communications satellites. it is sometimes referred to as Strela-3M. Notes: According to Russian press reports, the launch was only partially successful. Because of a malfunction of the Briz-KM booster stage, the satellites did not reach their nominal orbits and one satellite (Kosmos 2484) was eventually lost. At the same time, Roskosmos insists that the launch was successful. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 673, 684 . 684 ; NSSDC 2013-001A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; RSNF's 15 Jan 13 ; Gunter's Strela-3M ;

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Kosmos 2483 / Rodnik #6 Spacecraft: Rodnik-S (Strela-3M) 14F132 Chronologies: 2013 payload #2 ; 2013-01B ; 7,260th spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Russian Ministry of Defense Launch: 15 January 2013 at 16h25 UT, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-133/3, by a Rokot. Orbit: 1,477 km x 1,502 km x 82.5° x 115.76 min. Mission: A trio of Rodnik satellites designed to relay messages between military users posted in remote areas. Rodnik is a successor of Strela-3 communications satellites. it is sometimes referred to as Strela-3M. Notes: According to Russian press reports, the launch was only partially successful. Because of a malfunction of the Briz-KM booster stage, the satellites did not reach their nominal orbits and one satellite (Kosmos 2484) was eventually lost. At the same time, Roskosmos insists that the launch was successful. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 673, 684 ; NSSDC 2013-001B ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;RSNF's 15 Jan 13 ; Gunter's Strela-3M ;

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Kosmos 2484 / Rodnik #7 Spacecraft: Rodnik-S (Strela-3M) 14F132 Chronologies: 2013 payload #3 ; 2013-01C ; 7,261st spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Russian Ministry of Defense Launch: 15 January 2013 at 16h25 UT, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-133/3, by a Rokot. Orbit: 1,472 km x 1,515 km x 82.5°x 115.86 min. Mission: A trio of Rodnik satellites designed to relay messages between military users posted in remote areas. Rodnik is a successor of Strela-3 communications satellites. it is sometimes referred to as Strela-3M. Notes: According to Russian press reports, the launch was only partially successful. Because of a malfunction of the Briz-KM booster stage, the satellites did not reach their nominal orbits and one satellite (Kosmos 2484) was eventually lost. At the same time, Roskosmos insists that the launch was successful. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 673, 684 ; NSSDC 2013-001C ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;RSNF's 15 Jan 13 ; Gunter's Strela-3M ;

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IGS Radar 4 / IGS 8A Spacecraft: IGS stands for (Information Gathering Satellite Chronologies: 2013 payload #4 ; 2013-02A ; 7,262nd spacecraft. Type: Radar Surveillance Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Japanese Defense Forces Launch: 27 January 2013 at 4h40 UT, from Tanegashima, by a H-2A 202. Orbit: 508 km x 513 km x 97.5° Mission: IGS Radar 4 is a surveillance satellite carrying a synthetic aperture radar. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 673 ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;Gunter's IGS-Radar 3, 4 ;

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IGS Optical 5 / IGS 8B Spacecraft: IGS stands for (Information Gathering Satellite Chronologies: 2013 payload #5 ; 2013-02B ; 7,263rd spacecraft. Type: Photo Surveillance Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Japanese Defense Forces Launch: 27 January 2013 at 4h40 UT, from Tanegashima, by a H-2A 202. Orbit: 512 km x 522 km x 97.5° Mission: IGS Optical 5 is a photo-surveillance satellite. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 673 ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;Gunter's IGS-Optical 5V ;

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STSAT-2C Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #6 ; 2013-03A ; 7,264th spacecraft. Type: Geodesy/Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: KAIST / South Korea Advanced Institute for Space Technology Launch: 30 January 2013 at 7h00 UT, from Naro Space Center, by a KSLV-1 (Naro-1). Orbit: 292 km x 1,511 km x 80.3° Mission: STSAT-2C carries six payloads: the Laser Retro-reflector Array (LRA), which allows the spacecraft to be tracked with centimeter accuracy by satellite laser ranging stations which make up the International Laser Ranging Service (ILRS); a Langmuir probe that is used to determine the electron temperature, electron density, and electric potential of plasma; the Space Radiation Effects Monitor (SREM) that is used for measurements and monitoring of the near-Earth space environment. in addition, the Reaction Wheel Assembly, IR Sensor and Femto second Laser Oscillator (FSO) are carried for the verification of new space technologies. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 674 ; NSSDC 2013-003C ; Spaceflight Now's 26 Oct 12, 29 Nov 12, 2013 Stories  ; China Daily's 26 Oct 12, 26 Oct 12, 22 Nov 12, 29 Nov 12, 29 Nov 12, 24 Jan 13, 30 Jan 13, 31 Jan 13 ; Gunter's STSAT 2C ;

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TDRS 11 Spacecraft: TDRS-K.  TDRS stands for Tracking and Data Relay Satellite.  Chronologies: 2013 payload #7 ; 2013-04A ; 7,265th spacecraft. Type: CommunicationS (Data Relay) Families: Ranks: Sponsor: NASA Launch: 31 January 2013 at 1h48 UT, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's SLC-41, by an Atlas V 401. Orbit: Geostationary Mission: TRRS 11 is a 3,454-kg communications satellite which relayed communications between many U.S. spacecrafts (including the International Space Station as well as NASA and DoD satellites) and ground stations around the world.  It carries two steerable antennae capable of providing S, Ku and Ka band communications for other spacecraft, plus an array of additional S-band transponders to allow communications at a lower data rate with greater numbers of spacecraft. TDRS 11 is the first 3rd-generation spacecraft of the sreies.  It was constructed by Boeing, based on the BSS-601HP satellite bus, and is expected to operate for 15 years. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 674 ; NSSDC 2013-004A ; Spaceflight Now's 18 Dec 12, 2013 Stories : NASA's 2010-2014 NASA News Releases ; Gunter's TDRS 11, L, M ;

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Intelsat IS-27 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #8 ; 2013 1st failure ; 7,266th spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Intelsat Launch: 1st February 2013 at 6h56 UT, from SL Odyssey floating launch platform in the Pacific Ocean, by a Zenit-3SL. Orbit: n/a Mission: Intelsat's IS-27 was a communications satellite carrying Ku and C band transponders, as well as a UHF payload which was to be used by the Italian government. Notes: The Zenit rocket took off from the Odyssey platform, but did not follow the correct trajectory because of a hydraulic pump failure 4 seconds after launch. The propulsion was shut down about 24 seconds after launch, with the vehicle falling in the Pacific 56 seconds after launch. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 674 ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; Intelsat's 1 Feb 13 ;  RSC Energia's 28 Jan 13, 4 Feb 13, 6 Feb 13 ; Gunter's Intelsat 27 ;

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Globalstar M097 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #9 ; 2013-05A ; 7,267th spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Globalstar Launch: 6 February 2013 at 16h04 UT, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-31/6, by a Soyuz-2.1a. Orbit: 918 km x 926 km x 52.0° Mission: Globalstar M0 is part of the second generation of communications satellites designed to provide high-quality global personal mobile communication services.  This Soyuz launch of six Globalsar completes the generation 2 constellation of satellites, which were developed by Thales Alenia Space. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 674 ; NSSDC 2013-005F ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;Gunter's Globalstar-2 ;

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Globalstar M093 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #10 ; 2013-05B ; 7,238th spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Globalstar Launch: 6 February 2013 at 16h04 UT, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-31/6, by a Soyuz-2-1A. Orbit: 918 km x 926 km x 52.0° Mission: Globalstar M0 is part of the second generation of communications satellites designed to provide high-quality global personal mobile communication services.  This Soyuz launch of six Globalsar completes the generation 2 constellation of satellites, which were developed by Thales Alenia Space. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 674 ; NSSDC 2013-005B ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; Gunter's Globalstar-2 ;

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Globalstar M094 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #11 ; 2013-05C ; 7,269th spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Globalstar Launch: 6 February 2013 at 16h04 UT, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-31/6, by a Soyuz-2.1a. Orbit: 918 km x 926 km x 52.0° Mission: Globalstar M0 is part of the second generation of communications satellites designed to provide high-quality global personal mobile communication services.  This Soyuz launch of six Globalsar completes the generation 2 constellation of satellites, which were developed by Thales Alenia Space. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 674 ; NSSDC 2013-005C ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;Gunter's Globalstar-2 ;

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Globalstar M096 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #12 ; 2013-05D ; 7,270th spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Globalstar Launch: 6 February 2013 at 16h04 UT, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-31/6, by a Soyuz-2.1a. Orbit: 918 km x 926 km x 52.0° Mission: Globalstar M0 is part of the second generation of communications satellites designed to provide high-quality global personal mobile communication services.  This Soyuz launch of six Globalsar completes the generation 2 constellation of satellites, which were developed by Thales Alenia Space. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 674 ; NSSDC 2013-005E ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;Gunter's Globalstar-2 ;

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Globalstar M078 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #13 ; 2013-05E ; 7,271st spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Globalstar Launch: 6 February 2013 at 16h04 UT, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-31/6, by a Soyuz-2.1a. Orbit: 918 km x 926 km x 52.0° Mission: Globalstar M078 is part of the second generation of communications satellites designed to provide high-quality global personal mobile communication services.  This Soyuz launch of six Globalsar completes the generation 2 constellation of satellites, which were developed by Thales Alenia Space. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 674 ; NSSDC 2013-005A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;Gunter's Globalstar-2 ;

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Globalstar M095 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #14 ; 2013-05F ; 7,272nd spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Globalstar Launch: 6 February 2013 at 16h04 UT, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-31/6, by a Soyuz-2.1a. Orbit: 918 km x 926 km x 52.0° Mission: Globalstar M0 is part of the second generation of communications satellites designed to provide high-quality global personal mobile communication services.  This Soyuz launch of six Globalsar completes the generation 2 constellation of satellites, which were developed by Thales Alenia Space. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 674 ; NSSDC 2013-005D ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;Gunter's Globalstar-2 ;

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Amazonas 3 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #15 ; 2013-06A ; 7,27rd spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Hispamar Satelites SA, Spain Launch: 7 February 2013 at 21h36 UT, from Kourou Space Center's ELA-3, by an Ariane 5 ECA. Orbit: Geostationary at 61° West longitude. Mission: Amazonas 3 is a 6,265-kg communications satellite featuring 33 Ku-band transponders, 19 C-band transponders and 9 Ka-band spot beams designed to replace and expand on Amazonas 1 over Europe and North and South America. It is based on the Space Systems/Loral 1300 satellite bus.  Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 674 ; NSSDC 2013-006A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;Hispanasat's 14 Jan 13, 7 Feb 13, 7 Feb 13, 20 Feb 13 ; Gunter's Amazonas 3 ;

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Azerspace 1 / Africasat-1a Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #16 ; 2013-06B ; 7,274th spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Azercosmos for the Azerbaijan Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies Launch: 7 February 2013 at 21h36 UT, from Kourou Space Center's ELA-3, by an Ariane 5 ECA. Orbit: Geostationary at  46° East longitude. Mission: Azerspace 1 is a communications satellits which provides services to Azerbaijan, Central Asia, Europe and Africa.  Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 674 ; NSSDC 2013-006B ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; Orbital's 6 Jan 13, 8 Jan 13 ; Gunter's Azerspace/Africasat 1a ;

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Progress M-18M / ISS-50P Spacecraft: Progress M (7K-TGM) No. 418 Chronologies: 2013 payload #17 ; 2013-07A ; 7,275th spacecraft. Type: Cargo delivery to the International Space Station Families: Ranks: 298th Soyuz (7K) spacecraft and 141st Progress. Sponsor: Roscosmos Russian Space Agency Launch: 11 February 2013 at 14h41 UT, from Baykonur Cosmodrome, by a Soyuz-U. Orbit: De-orbited: 26 July 2013. Mission: Progress M-18M is a transport vehicle which delivers more than 2.6 tons of various cargoes to the International Space Station. It carries supplies of propellant, oxygen, air, water, food rations, equipment as well as hardware for scientific research and experiments. The spacecraft also provides further testing of fast five-orbit rendezvous and docking to ISS. The cargo ship docked with the Pirs module at 20h34 UT, on the same day of its launch. Six months later, it undocked from the Pirs module on 25 July 2013 at 20h53 UT and was deorbited over the South Pacific 3 hours later, with debris ocean impact on 26 July at around 0h42 UT. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 675, 683 ; NSSDC 2013-007A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;RSC Energia' 3 Feb 13, 5 Feb 13, 6 Feb 13, 7 Feb 13, 8 Feb 13, 9 Feb 13, 11 Feb 13, 12 Feb 13 ; Gunter's Progress-M 1M - 25M ;

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Landsat 8 / LDCM Spacecraft: LDCM stands for Landsat Data Continuity Mission Chronologies: 2013 payload #18 ; 2013-08A ; 7,276th spacecraft. Type: Earth Remote Sensing Families: Ranks: Sponsor: NASA-Office of Space Science Applications and the U.S. Geological Survey Launch: 11 February 2013 at 18h02 UT, from Vandenberg Aif Force Station's SLC-3E, by an Atlas V 401. Orbit: 660 km x 677 km x 98.3°  Mission: Landsat 8 is a 2,787-kg Earth remote sensing satellite which obtains measurements of the Earth's radiation in the visible, near-infrared, short wave infrared, and thermal infrared. Data and imags are used in agriculture, education, business, science, and government. The satellite's track changes in agricultural output, urban sprawl, water consumption, and other land-use trends. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 675 ; NSSDC 2013-008A ; Spaceflight Now's 4 Dec 12, 20 Dec 12, 2013 Stories; NASA's 2010-2014 NASA News Releases ; Orbital's 11 Jan 13 ; Gunter's Landsat 8 (LDCM) ;

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SARAL Spacecraft: SARAL stands for Satellite with Argos and Altika. Chronologies: 2013 payload #19 ; 2013-09A ; 7,277th spacecraft. Type: Earth?Space Sciences (Altimeter) Families: Ranks: Sponsor: CNES and ISRO / Indian Space Research Organization Launch: 25 February 2013 at 12h31 UT, from Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR's First Launch Pad, by a PSLV-CA. Orbit: 770 km x km 787 km x 98.6° Mission: SARAL is a 407-kg oceanographic satellite for researches on marine meteorology and sea state forecasting, climate monitoring, continental ice studies, environmental monitoring, protection of biodiversity and improvement in maritime security. The satellite is built by ISRO, whereas CNES contributed the ARGOS and ALTIKA payloads. The SARAL mission is complementary to the Jason 2; it fills the gap between Envisat and the Sentinel 3 mission of the European GMES program. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 675 ; NSSDC 2013-009A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; ISRO's 25 Feb 13 ; Gunter's SARAL ;

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AAUSAT 3 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #20 ; 2013-09B ; 7,278th spacecraft. Type: Navigation (marine) Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Aalborg University students Denmark Launch: 25 February 2013 at 12h31 UT, from Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR's First Launch Pad, by a PSLV-CA. Orbit: 770 km x 787 km x 98.6° Mission: AAUSAT 3 is a 0,8-kg cubesat which provides experience for advanced-level students in the design and construction of space technology. It carried two automated identification system (AIS) receivers -one based on SDR principle. The images recorded by the satellite were later transmitted to the ground station located at Aalborg University, from which they were made accessible for the general public. The spacecraft's expected lifetime is a minimum of one month. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 675 ; NSSDC 2013-09B ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;Gunter's AAUSAT 2, 3, 4 ;

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Sapphire Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #21 ; 2013-09C ; 7,279th spacecraft. Type: Space Surveillance Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Canadian Department of National Defense (DND) Launch: 25 February 2013 at 12h31 UT, from Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR's First Launch Pad, by a PSLV-CA. Orbit: 770 km x 787 km x 98.6° Mission: Sapphire is a space-based electrooptical sensor that provides accurate and timely tracking data on man-made and natural objects in medium to high Earth orbits at orbit altitudes between 6,000 km and 40,000 km. The spacecraft provides space object surveillance and missile early warning and i based on the Surrey SSTL-150 bus and with a 0.15-metre visible-light telescope. It is a key element of the Canadian Space Surveillance System, and is a contributing sensor to the U.S. Space Surveillance Network. The data collected are used to update the U.S. Satellite Catalogue that is used by both NORAD and Canada to provide space situational awareness. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 675 ; NSSDC 2013-090C ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;Gunter's Sapphire ;

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NEOSSat Spacecraft: NEOSSat stands for Near Earth Object Surveillance Satellite. Chronologies: 2013 payload #22 ; 2013-09D ; 7,280th spacecraft. Type: Astronomy/Space Surveillance Families: Ranks: Sponsor: CSA & DRDC / Canadian Space Agency & Defense Research and Development Canada Launch: 25 February 2013 at 12h31 UT, from Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR's First Launch Pad, by a PSLV-CA. Orbit: 770 km x 787 km x 98.6° Mission: NEOSSat is the first follow up mission to the MOST spacecraft, a 60 kilogram satellite designed to measure the age of stars in our galaxy. NEOSSat also marks the first project using Canada's Multi-Mission Microsatellite Bus.  Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 675 ; NSSDC 2013-009D ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;Gunter's NEOSSAT ;

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STRaND-1 Spacecraft: STRAND stands for Surrey Training, Research and Nanosatellite Demonstrator. Chronologies: 2013 payload #23 ; 2013-09E ; 7,281st spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Surrey Satellite and Surrey Space Centre Launch: 25 February 2013 at 12h31 UT, from Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR's First Launch Pad, by a PSLV-CA. Orbit: 770 km x 787 km x 98.6° Mission: STRaND-1 is a [3-kg] cubesat which  carries a Google Nexus One smartphone as its main avionics, and features plasma thrusters and a water-alcohol thruster. STRaND-1 ran into problems and seems to have stopped transmitting.  Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 675, 678 ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; Gunter's  ;

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BRITE-A / TUGSAT-1 / BRITE-AUSTRIA Spacecraft: BRITE stands for BRIght-star Target Explorer. Chronologies: 2013 payload #24 ; 2013-09F ; 7,282nd spacecraft. Type: Astronomy Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Technical University of Graz, Austra Launch: 25 February 2013 at 12h31 UT, from Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR's First Launch Pad, by a PSLV-CA. Orbit: 770 km x 787 km x 98.6° Mission: This 140-kg spacecraft is the first Austrian satellite and its mission is to investigate the brightness oscillations of massive luminous stars by differential photometry. The scientific instrument is an optical camera with a high-resolution CCD to take images from distant stars with magnitude of 3.5.  Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 675 ; NSSDC 2013-009F ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;Gunter's TUGsat 1 ;

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BRITE-U / UniBRITE / CANX-3 Spacecraft: BRITE stands for BRIght-star Target Explorer. Chronologies: 2013 payload #25 ; 2013-09G ; 7,283rd spacecraft. Type: Astronomy Families: Ranks: Sponsor: University of Vienna, Austria Launch: 25 February 2013 at 12h31 UT, from Satish Dhawan Space Centre SHAR's First Launch Pad, by a PSLV-CA. Orbit: 770 km x 787 km x 98.6° Mission: This 14-kg satellite  makes photometric observations of some of the brightest starts in the sky in order to examine these stars for variability. The observations has a precision at least 10 times better than achievable using ground-based observations.  Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 675 ; NSSDC 2013-009G ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;Gunter's UniBRITE (CanX 3A) ;

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Dragon CRS-2 Spacecraft: CRS stands for Commercial Resupply Services. Chronologies: 2013 payload #26 ; 2013-10A ; 7,284th spacecraft. Type: Cargo delivery to the International Space Station Families: Ranks: Sponsor: SpaceX for NASA Launch: 1st March 2013 at 15h10 UT, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's SLC-40, by a Falcon 9. Orbit: Initial: 199 km x 323 km x 51.7° Later: 314 km x 340 km x 51.7° Later: 321 km x 404 km x 51.7° Mission: Fourth orbital mission for a Dragon spacecraft and the second operational mission, carrying a cargo under NASA's Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract. Dragon CRS-2 carries 677 kg of cargo in its pressurized cabin, as well as two 119 kg HRS Grapple Fixtures for the ISS Heat Rejection System and 100 kg of related attach packaging in the `trunk' section.      Following orbital insertion, the solar panel covers were not seen to eject from the side of the Dragon trunk (this is needed to allow the solar arrays to deploy). There were also some thruster problems, some kind of blockage or valve issue in three out of four thruster pods. But SpaceX resolved the issue, deployed the solar panels and later recovered nominal operation from the thruster initialization anomaly. On 3 March 2013, Dragon was captured by the Space Station's SSRMS robotic arm at 10h31 UT and bolted to the nadir port of the Harmony module by 13h56 UT.      On 26 March 2013, the cargo ship returned to Earth.  It was unberthed from the Harmony port at 8h10 UT and released at 10h56 UT. Splashdown around near American Islander) occured at about 16h35 UT.  Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 675, 676, 677 ; NSSDC 2013-010A ; Spaceflight Now's 17 Nov 12, 2013 Stories ; SpaceX's 25 Feb 13, 1 Mar 13, 3 Mar 13 ; NASA's 2010-2014 NASA News Releases ; Gunter's Dragon ;

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SBIRS GEO-2 (USA 241) Spacecraft: SBIRS GEO stands for Space-Based Infra-Red System for GEOsynchronous orbit. Chronologies: 2013 payload #27 ; 2013-11A ; 7,285th spacecraft. Type: Missile Early Warning Families: Ranks: U.S. Department of Defense Sponsor: Launch: 19 March 2013 at 21h21 UT, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's SLC-41, by an Atlas V 401. Orbit: Geostationary  Mission: SBIRS GEO-2 is a ~4.5-ton missile detection satellite which carries a combination of scanning and staring sensors with greater sensitivity than previous satellite types. It provides a wide area view in search of missile launches and natural terrestrial events, while the staring sensor used to observe areas of particular interest with enhanced sensitivity. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 676 ; NSSDC 2013-011A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; Gunter's SBIRS-GEO ;

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Satmex 8 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #28 ; 2013-12A ; 7,286th spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Satelites Mexicanos SA de CV, Mexico Launch: 26 March 2013 at 19h07 UT, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-200/39, by a Proton-M/Briz-M. Orbit: Geostationary  Mission: Satmex 8 is a 5,500 kg communications satellite built by SS/Loral. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 677 ; NSSDC 2013-012A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;Gunter's Satmex 8 ;

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Soyuz TMA-08M / ISS-34S Spacecraft: Soyuz 11F732A47 (7K-STMA) No. 708 Chronologies: 2013 payload #29 ; 2013-13A ; 7,287th spacecraft. Type: Piloted Spaceship Families: Ranks: 299th Soyuz (7K) spacecraft, 140th Soyuz spaceship (116th manned). Sponsor: Roscosmos Russian Space Agency Launch: 25 March 2013 at 20h43 UT, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-1/5, by a Soyuz-FG. Orbit: Recovered: 11 September 2013 at 2h58 UT. Mission: Soyuz TMA-08M is a crew transport spaceship that carriied ISS Expedition 35/36 crew to the International Space Station (Pavel Vinogradov, Chris Cassidy and Alexander Misurkin). The craft docked with the Poisk module on 29 March 2013 at 02h28 UT. Six momtns later, on 10 September 2013, the Soyuz undocked from the Poisk module at 23h35 UT and landed in Kazakhstan on 11 September, after a 168 days, 6 hours and 15 minutes flight. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 677, 685 ; NSSDC 2013-013A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories, ISS Expedition 35 and ISS Expedition 36 ; NASA's ISS Expedition 36, ISS Expedition 35 News and ISS Expedition 36 News ; RSC Energia's 16 Mar 13, 17 Mar 13, 19 Mar 13, 20 Mar 13, 22 Mar 13, 23 Mar 13, 24 Mar 13, 25 Mar 13, 26 Mar 13, 29 Mar 13, 29 Mar 13, 11 Sep 13 ; Gunter's Soyuz-TMA 01M - 16M  ;

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Anik G1 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #30 ; 2013-14A ; 7,288th spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Telesat Canada Launch: 15 April 2013 at 18h36 UT, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-200/39, by a Proton-M/Briz-M. Orbit: Geostationary at 107.3° West longitude. Mission: Anik G1 is a communications satellite which carries 16 transponders operating in the extended Ku-band that are used by Shaw Direct, a provider of direct-to-home satellite TV services in Canada. It also has 12 Ku-band and 24 C-band transponders that replace and expand Telesat’s Anik F1 satellite now serving South America. In addition, it has three X-band channels for government services over the Americas and part of the Pacific Ocean, and one channel in the reverse Direct Broadcast Service band. Built by Space Systems/Loral utilizing the flight-proven LS-1300 platform, Anik G1 is co-located with Anik F1R and has an anticipated service lifetime of 15 years.  Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 677 ; NSSDC 2013-014A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; Telesat's 16 Apr 13, 8 May 13 ; Gunter's Anik G1 ;

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Bion M1 Spacecraft: Bion-M No. 1 / 12KSM no. 1 Chronologies: 2013 payload #31 ; 2013-15A ; 7,289th spacecraft. Type: Life Sciences Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Russia Launch: 19 April 2013 at 10h00 UT, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-31/6, by a Soyuz-2-1A. Orbit: Initial: 252 km x 554 km x 65.0° 21 May 13: 557 km x 581 km x 65.0° Recovered: 19 May 2013 at 3h12 UT. Mission: Bion-M1 is a life sciences satelite which carries mice, gerbils, geckos, and snails as well as the FRAGMENTER and BIOKONT-B microorganism containers, the OMEGAHAB aquarium with fish and algae, the FITO plant containers, some microgravity materials experiments and accelerometers to measure the microgravity level. The craft consists of a Vostok-type pressurized reentry sphere and a Yantar-type service and propulsion module. It landed 82 km North of Orenburg on 19 May 2013, after a 29.7 day flight. Unfortunately, the crew of gerbils perished during the flight due to equipment failure; all of the geckos and half of the mice are reported to be alive.  Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 678 & 679 ; NSSDC 2013-015A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;Gunter's Bion-M 1, 2 ;

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OSSI-1 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #32 ; 2013-15B ; 7,290th spacecraft. Type: Radio-amateur Families: Ranks: Sponsor: South Korea Launch: 19 April 2013 at 10h00 UT, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-31/6, by a Soyuz-2.1a. Orbit: 258 km x 549 km x 64.9° Mission: OSSI-1 is a 0,95-kg satellite which carries a 44 watt LED array to flash Morse Code messages to observers on the ground. Radio hams can reserve messages by sending signals to the satellite then observers can see the messages at the scheduled time in a flashing Morse Code LED pattern. It has a beacon in the 145 MHz band and a data communications transceiver in the 435 MHz band. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 678 ; NSSDC 2013-015B ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;Gunter's OSSI 1 ;

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Dove-2 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #33 ; 2013-15C ; 7,291st spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Cosmogia Inc. (San Francisco) Launch: 19 April 2013 at 10h00 UT, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-31/6, by a Soyuz-2.1a. Orbit: 557 km x 581 km x 65.0° Mission: Dove-2 is a technology demonstration nanosatellite for remote sensing purposes based on the triple CubeSat. It's also a technology demonstration experiment to test the capabilities of a low-cost spacecraft constrained to the 3U cubesat form factor to host a small payload. Dove 2 is licensed to collect images of the Earth.  Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 678 ; NSSDC 2013-015C ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;Gunter's Dove 2 ;

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AIST-2 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #34 ; 2013-15D ; 7,292nd spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Samara Aerospace University students and scientists with TsSKB Progress (Russia) Launch: 19 April 2013 at 10h00 UT, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-31/6, by a Soyuz-2.1a. Orbit: 557 km x 581 km x 65.0° Mission: AIST is a microsatellite to measure the geomagnetic field, test the new small space vehicle bus, test methods to decrease microaccelerations to a minimum level and measure micrometeoroids of natural and artificial origin.  Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 678 ; NSSDC 2013-015D ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;Gunter's Aist 1, 2 ;

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BEESAT-3 Spacecraft: BEESAT stands for Berlin Experimental and Educational Satellite. Chronologies: 2013 payload #35 ; 2013-15E ; 7,293rd spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Technical University of Berlin, Germany Launch: 19 April 2013 at 10h00 UT, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-31/6, by a Soyuz-2.1a. Orbit: 557 km x 581 km x 65.0° Mission: BeeSat-3 is for practical training of students based on a real satellite mission. The secondary objective is the one-year operation of a cubesats which was built and tested within two years by students to evaluate the S-band transmitter HISPICO, the Earth observation camera as an exemplary payload and other technologies.  Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 678 ; NSSDC 2013-015E ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;Gunter's BeeSat 1, 2, 3 ;

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SOMP Spacecraft: SOMP stands for Student's Oxygen Measurement Project. Chronologies: 2013 payload #36 ; 2013-15F ; 7,294th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Techniche Universität Dresden, Germany Launch: 19 April 2013 at 10h00 UT, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-31/6, by a Soyuz-2.1a. Orbit: 557 km x 581 km x 65.0° Mission: SOMP is a student picosat project with two scientific objectives: to measure the concentration of atomic oxygen in the upper atmosphere using an oxygen electrolyte sensor, and testing of flexible thin film solar cells that have never been tested in space before. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 678 ; NSSDC 2013-015F ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;Gunter's SOMP ;

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BEESAT-2 Spacecraft: BEESAT stands for Berlin Experimental and Educational Satellite. Chronologies: 2013 payload #37 ; 2013-15G ; 7,295th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Technical University of Berlin, Germany Launch: 19 April 2013 at 10h00 UT, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-31/6, by a Soyuz-2.1a. Orbit: 557 km x 581 km x 65.0° Mission: BEESAT-2 is a [1-kg]  cubesat which carries a technology experiment using gyros and sensors for precise orientation.  Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 678 ; NSSDC 2013-015G ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;Gunter's BeeSat 1, 2, 3 ;

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Bell / Phonesat 2.0a Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #38 ; 2013-16A ; 7,296th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Cosmogia Inc. / NASA's Ames Research Center Launch: 21 April 2013 at 21h00 UT, from MARS Spaceport's Pad 0A, by an Antares 110. Orbit: Mission: Bell is a  [1-kg]  cubesat produced under a NASA initiative and built round the HTC Nexus One smartphone running Google's Android OS. The phone acts as the spacecraft onboard computer, sensors determine the orientation of the spacecraft and the phone camera is used for Earth observations. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 678 ; NSSDC 2013-016A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; NASA's 21 Apr 13, 22 Apr 13 ; Ortibal's 22 Feb 13, 6 Apr 13, 21 Apr 13 ; Gunter's PhoneSat 1.0 ;

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Dove-1 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #39 ; 2013-16B ; 7,297th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Cosmogia Inc. (San Francisco) Launch: 21 April 2013 at 21h00 UT, from MARS Spaceport's Pad 0A, by an Antares 110. Orbit: Mission: Dove-1 is a 6-kg technology demonstration nanosatellite for remote sensing purposes based on the triple CubeSat. Mission goal is to build a low-cost imaging satellite with non-space, COTS components; to show that a bus constrained to the 3U cubesat form factor can viably host a small camera payload; and demonstrate the ability to design, produce and operate satellites on short schedules and low cost.  Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 678 ; NSSDC 2013-016B ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;Gunter's Dove 1 ;

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Alexander / PhoneSat v2 Spacecraft: Alsk known as PhoneSat 2.0 Beta or PhoneSat v2a Chronologies: 2013 payload #40 ; 2013-16C ; 7,298th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Cosmogia Inc. / NASA's Ames Research Center Launch: 21 April 2013 at 21h00 UT, from MARS Spaceport's Pad 0A, by an Antares 110. Orbit: Mission: Alexander is a [1-kg] technology demonstration satellite designed to demonstrate use of a commercial mobile phone as a spacecraft avionics/computer system. The craft is equipped with a two-way S-band transponder and uses the phone's gyroscopes, along with a GPS receiver, to determine its position and orientation, and a system of reaction wheels and magnetorquer coils for attitude control. it is one of the first three PhoneSat spacecraft. Alexande was built to the single-unit (1U) CubeSat specifiction, and measures 10 centimetres in each dimension. It is based around an off-the-shelf Samsung Electronics Nexus S smartphone which serves in place of an onboard computer. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 678 ; NSSDC 2013-016C ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; NASA's 22 Apr 13 ; Gunter's PhoneSat 2.0, 2.4, 2.5 ;

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CMS / Cygnus Mass Sim Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #41 ; 2013-16D ; 7,299th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Orbital Sciences Corp Launch: 21 April 2013 at 21h00 UT, from MARS Spaceport's Pad 0A, by an Antares 110. Orbit: 22 Sep 13: 407 km x 413 km 23 Sep 13: 417 km x 421 km 27 Sep 13: 399 km x 413 km Mission: The CMS is a 3,800-kg dummy payload representing the mass properties of the Cygnus-PCM spacecraft on the maiden flight of the Antares-110 rocket (A-One mission).  On the mass simulator, two ISIPod cubesat dispensers are mounted to deploy four cubesats flown as piggy-back payloads. The cubesats were ejected before the mass simulator was separated from the second stage. The CMS carries instrumentation to measure the launch vehicle environment (vibration, acoustic and thermal). Notes: First flight of the Orbital Sciences Corp's Antares launch vehicle - Antares A-ONE mission - with a first-stage using two Kuznetsov NK-33 engines refurbised and modified.  The first stage core is built at Yuzhmash in the Ukraine, and the completed first stage is integrated by Orbital at its Wallops Island facility.      The Antares is launched from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS), operated by the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority on part of NASA's Wallops Flight Facility (WFF) at Wallops Island, Virginia. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 678, 687, ; NSSDC 2013-016D ; Spaceflight Now's Stories; NASA's 2010-2014 NASA News Releases ; Gunter's Cygnus Mass Simulator (A-One) ;

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Graham / Phonesat 1.0b Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #42 ; 2013-16E ; 7,300th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Cosmogia Inc. / NASA's Ames Research Center Launch: 21 April 2013 at 21h00 UT, from MARS Spaceport's Pad 0A, by an Antares 110. Orbit: Mission: Graham is a [1-kg] cubesat produced under a NASA initiative and built round the HTC Nexus One smartphone running Google's Android OS. The phone acts as the spacecraft onboard computer, sensors determine the orientation of the spacecraft and the phone camera is used for Earth observations. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 678 ; NSSDC 2013-016E ; Spaceflight Now's Stories; NASA's 22 Apr 13 ; Gunter's PhoneSat 1.0 ;

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Progress M-19M / ISS-51P Spacecraft: Progress M (7K-TGM) No. 419 Chronologies: 2013 payload #43 ; 2013-17A ; 7,301st spacecraft. Type: Cargo delivery to the International Space Station Families: Ranks: 300th Soyuz (7K) spacecraft and 142nd Progress. Sponsor: Roscosmos Russian Space Agency Launch: 24 April 2013 at 10h12 UT, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-1/5, by a Soyuz-U. Orbit: Initial: 184 km x 213 km x 51.6° Later: 293 km x 353 km x 51.6° De-orbited: 19 June 2013. Mission: Progress M-19M is a cargo ship that delivers 2.6 tons of goods to the International Space Station.  Due to the failure of the deployment of one of the spacecraft's Kurs antenna, a software patch was sent up from Russian controllers. The craft docked on 26 April 2013 at 12h25 UT to the back port of the Zvezda Service Module.  Two months later, on 11 June 2013, the Progress undocked from Zvezda at 13h58 UT, making room for ATV-4, and entered an orbit for Radar-Progress ionospheric experiments.  The craft was finally deorbited over the Pacific Ocean on 19 June 2013 around 12h52 UT, with debris impacting the ocean. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 678, 680, 681 ; NSSDC2013-017A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;RSC Energia's 16 Apr 13, 18 Apr 13, 19 Apr 13, 19 Apr 13, 21 Apr 13  22 Apr 13, 24 Apr 13, 25 Apr 13 ; Gunter's Progress-M 1M - 25M  ;

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GF-1 / Gaofen 1 Spacecraft: Gao Fen means "high resolution" Chronologies: 2013 payload #44 ; 2013-18A ; 7,302nd spacecraft. Type: Earth Remote Sensing Families: Ranks: Sponsor: China Launch: 26 April 2013 at 4h13 UT, from Jiuquan Launch Center, by a Chang Zheng 2D. Orbit: 630 km x 653 km x ~90° Mission: Gao Fen 1 is a high-resolution remote sensing satellite, possibly for cartography. It operates as part of a system to combine data from satellites in orbit with data from sensors flown within the atmosphere by aircraft. Note: See “Fabulous views captured by satellite” which are probably taken by Chinese Earth remote sensing satellites. (Source: Xinhua, 19 December 2013) Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 678 ; NSSDC 2013-018A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; China Daily's 29 Mar 13, 6 Jun 13, 31 Dec 13 ; Xinhua's 26 Apr 13, 27 Apr 13, 6 Jun 13, 10 Apr 14, 25 Aug 14, 26 Aug 14 ; Gunter's GF 1, 6 ;

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NEE-01 Pegaso Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #45 ; 2013-18B ; 7,303rd spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Ecuadorian space agency EXA Launch: 26 April 2013 at 4h13 UT, from Jiuquan Launch Center, by a Chang Zheng 2D. Orbit: Mission: NEE 01 Pegaso is a 1-kg cubesat to conduct technological demonstration and education such as test of real time video transmission and multiple technologies. NEE 01 Pegaso transmitted the first videos from orbit on 16 May 2013. On 22 May 2013, it was hit by a piece of debris from soviet upper stage; the hit caused the satellite to lose attitude, but it was still transmitting. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 678 ; NSSDC 2013-018B ; Spaceflight Now's Stories; Xinhua's 26 Apr 13, 24 May 13,  24 May 13, 22 Nov 13 ; Gunter's NEE 01 Pegaso ;

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Turksat-3USAT Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #46 ; 2013-18C ; 7,304th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Istanbul Technical University (ITÜ), Turkey Launch: 26 April 2013 at 4h13 UT, from Jiuquan Launch Center, by a Chang Zheng 2D. Orbit: Mission: TurkSat-3USat is a 4-kg communications cubesat built as a follow-up project to ITÜ-pSat 1. Spacecraft's payload is a VHF/UHF transponder to be used for voice communications. Additionally, a small camera is included. A deorbiting system is also designed to deorbit the satellite following its end-of-life to comply with the current CubeSat standard and United Nations regulations.  Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 678 ; NSSDC 2013-018C ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;Gunter's TurkSat-3USat ;

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CubeBug-1 / Capitán Beto Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #47 ; 2013-18D ; 7,305th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Argentinian Ministry of Science, Technology and Productive Innovation, INVAP S.E., Satellogic S.A., and Radio Club Bariloche. Launch: 26 April 2013 at 4h13 UT, from Jiuquan Launch Center, by a Chang Zheng 2D. Orbit: Mission: CubeBug-1 is a 2-kg cubesat, the first technology demonstration mission for a new cubesat platform design (mechanics, hardware and software) intended to be released as Open Source and Open Hardware for its use in Amateur projects, university projects and research labs. As payload on this first mission, some custom designed components were tested: an ARM based on-board computer, a nano-reaction wheel with its driver circuit and a low resolution camera, all based on COTS components. After the technology demonstration part of the mission is over, the satellite will enter a mode that will include services to the Amateur radio community, including a Digipeater and science data downloads from the payload. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 678 ; NSSDC 2013-018D ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;Gunter's CubeBug 1, 2 ;

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Kosmos 2485 Spacecraft: Glonass-M No. 47 Chronologies: 2013 payload #48 ; 2013-19A ; 7,306th spacecraft. Type: Navigation Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Russian Ministry of Defense Launch: 26 April 2013 at 5h23 UT, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-43/4, by a Soyuz-2.1b/Fregat-M. Orbit: 19,330 km x 19,640 km Mission: Glonass No. 47 is a 1,415-kg navigation satellite, part of the 24 operational satellite constellation of the GLONASS system that provides navigation signals to Russian military and civilian users. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 678 ; NSSDC 2013-019A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; RSNF's 26 Apr 13, 26 Apr 13 ; Gunter's Uragan-M ;

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Zhongxing-11 / Chinasat 11 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #49 ; 2013-20A ; 7,307th spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: China Satcom Launch: 1st May 2013 at 16h06 UT, from Xichang Launch Center, by a Chang Zheng 3BE. Orbit: Geostationary at  98° East longitude. Mission: Zhongxing-11 is a 5-ton communications satellite fitted with three receiver antennas and two transmission antennas. It uses high-power fixed and mobile beams with transponder switching capability. It provides Direct-to-Home, data transmission, digital broadband multimedia and streaming media transmission. The satellite is based on the DFH-4 bus that can facilitate powerful communications payloads for a number of applications. It has a design life of 15 years. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 679 ; NSSDC 2013-020A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; China Daily's 1 May 13 ;  Xinhua's 2 May 13, 2 May 13, 2 May 13 ; Gunter's ZX 11 (ChinaSat 11) ;

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Proba-V Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #50 ; 2013-21A ; 7,308th spacecraft. Type: Earth Remote Sensing Families: Ranks: Sponsor: ESA / European Space Agency  Launch:7 7 May 2013 at 2h06 UT, from Kourou Space Center's ELV, by a Vega. Orbit: 787 km x 828 km x 98.7° Mission: Proba-V is a 158-kg satellite that support applications such as land use, worldwide vegetation classification, crop monitoring, famine prediction, food security, disaster monitoring and biosphere studies. It carries the Vegetation sensor previously used on French SPOT remote sensing satellites. It was built by Qinetiq Space (formerly Verhaert) in Belgium. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 679 ; NSSDC 2013-021A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;Gunter's PROBA V ;

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VNREDSAT-1 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #51 ; 2013-21B ; 7,309th spacecraft. Type: Earth Remote Sensing Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Vietnamese Academy of Science and Technology. Launch: 7 May 2013 at 2h06 UT, from Kourou Space Center's ELV, by a Vega. Orbit:  669 km x 673 km x 98.1° Mission: VNREDSAT-1 is a 115-kg Earth observation satellite for high-resolution photographs of natural resources, the environment and disasters.  Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 679; NSSDC2013-021B ; Spaceflight Now'sStories, 7 May 13; Gunter's VNREDSat 1a ;

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ESTCube-1 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #52 ; 2013-21C ; 7,310th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Estonian Student Satellite Program Launch: 7 May 2013 at 2h06 UT, from Kourou Space Center's ELV, by a Vega. Orbit:  669 km x 673 km x 98.1° Mission: ESTCube-1 is a 1-kg cubesat that deployed a 10-meter long tether to measure/study effects on it of the solar wind with a view to future use as a solar sail. While emphasis was placed on educating students during creation of ESTCube-1, it does have a scientific purpose. On board the satellite is an electric solar wind sail (e-sail). During an ESTCube-1 flight, 10 meters of 20–50 micrometer thick e-sail wire was deployed from the satellite.  Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 679 ; NSSDC 2013-021C ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; Gunter's ESTCube 1 ;

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Eutelsat 3D Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #53 ; 2013-22A ; 7,311th spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Eutelsat Launch: 14 May 2013 at 16h01 UT, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-200/39, by a Proton-M/Briz-M. Orbit: Geostationary at 3° and 7° East longitude. Mission: Eutelsat 3D is a 5,470-kg communications satellite with Ku-band and Ka-band transponders for video, data, telecom and broadband services for Europe, Africa and Asia. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 679 ; NSSDC 2013-022A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;Eutelsat's 16 Apr 13, 15 May 13, 19 Jun 13 ; Gunter's Eutelsat W... ;

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Navstar 64 (USA 242) Spacecraft: Navstar SVN-66 / GPS 2F-4 / Vega Chronologies: 2013 payload #84 ; 2013-23A ; 7,312th spacecraft. Type: Navigation Families: Ranks: Sponsor: U.S. Department of Defense Launch: 15 May 2013 at 21h38 UT, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Base's SLC-41, by an Atlas V 401. Orbit: 20,449 km x 20,471 km x 55°  Mission: This 68th Navstar is a 1,630-kg navigation satellite, part of the Global Positioning System.  It operates in slot 2 of plane C of the GPS constellation, replacing the 17-year-old Navstar 40, which will be kept operational as a backup satellite. The craft was built by Boeing with a design life of 15 years.  It also carries sensors to detect nuclear explosions as part of an early warning system. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 679&680 ; NSSDC 2013-023A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories; Gunter's GPS-2F (Navstar-2F) ;

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WGS 5 (USA 243) Spacecraft: WGS stands for Wideband Gapfiller Satellite Chronologies: 2013 payload #55 ; 2013-24A ; 7,313th spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: U.S. Department of Defense Launch: 25 May 2013 at 0h27 UT, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Staton's SLC-37B, by a Delta 4M+(5,4). Orbit: Geostationary  Mission: WGS provides flexible, high-capacity communications for American warfighters. It provides worldwide flexible, high data rate and long haul communications for marines, soldiers, sailors, airmen, the White House Communication Agency, the U.S. State Department, international partners, and other special users.  Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 680 ; NSSDC 2013-024A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; Gunter's WGS 1 to 10 ;

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Soyuz TMA-09M / ISS-35S Spacecraft: Soyuz 11F732A47 (7K-STMA) No. 709 Chronologies: 2013 payload #56 ; 2013-25A ; 7,314th spacecraft. Type: Piloted Spaceship Families: Ranks: 301st Soyuz (7K) spacecraft, 141st Soyuz spaceship (117th manned). Sponsor: Roscosmos Russian Space Agency Launch: 28 May 2013 at 20h31 UT, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-1, by a Soyuz-FG. Orbit: Initial: 194 km x 227 km x 51.7° aT iss:  408 km x 421 km x 51.7° Recovered: 11 November 2013 at 1h49 UT. Mission: Soyuz TMA-09M is a crew transport spaceship that carriied ISS Expedition 36/37 crew to the International Space Station (Fyodor Yurchikhin, Luca Parmitano and Karen Nyberg). It docked with the Rassvet module on 29 may 2013 at 2h10 UT, 5 hours and 39 minutes after launch. Six momths later, the craft undocked from the Zvezda module on 10 November 2013 at 23h26 UT and landed in Kazakhstan on 11 November, after a 166 days, 5 hours and 18 minutes flight. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 680, 688 & 689 ; NSSDC 2013-025A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories, ISS Expedition 36 and ISS Expedition 37 ; NASA's ISS Expedition 37, ISS Expedition 36 News and ISS Expedition 37 News  ; RSC Energia's 25 Dec 12, 16 May 13, 17 May 13, 19 May 13, 20 May 13, 24 May 13, 24 May 13, 25 May 13, 26 May 13, 29 May 13, 29 May 13, 10 Nov 13, 11 Nov 13, ; Gunter's Soyuz-TMA 01M - 16M ;

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SES-6 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #57 ; 2013-26A ; 7,315th spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: SES / Société Européenne des Satellites Launch: 3 June 2013 at 9h18 UT, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-200/39, by a Proton-M/Briz-M. Orbit: Geostationary Mission: SES-6 is a 6.140-kg communications satellite with 43 C-Band and 48 Ku-Band equivalent transponders. It offers 50 percent more C-Band capacity between the Americas and Europe. In addition, it offers a substantial upgrade to Ku-Band capacity over Brazil, South cone, the Andean region, North America, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, while also supporting mobile maritime and aeronautical services across the Atlantic.  Built on the Eurostar-3000 bus, Ii has a design life of 15 years. Procured by SES Satellite Leasing of the Isle of Man, it is operated by SES World Skies of the Hague, also a subsidiary of the Luxembourg-based SES conglomerate. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 680 ; NSSDC 2013-026A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories; SES's 16 Mar 11, 7 May 13, 31 May 13, 4 Jun 13, 29 Jul 13 ; Gunter's SES 6 ;

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ATV-4 Albert Einstein Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #58 ; 2013-27A ; 7,316th spacecraft. Type: Cargo delivery to the International Space Station Families: Ranks: Sponsor: ESA / European Space Agency Launch: 5 June 2013 at 21h52 UT, from Kourou Space Center's ELA-3, by an Ariane 5 ES. Orbit: De-orbited: 2 November 2013. Mission: ATV-4 is a 19,870-kg ressuply ship launched the International Space Station.  It docked with ISS on 15 June 2013 at 14h07 UT.  Four months later, it undocked from the Zvezda module on 28 October 2013 at 8h55 UT, and was deorbited over the Pacific on 2 November 2013, with loss of signal was at 12h04 UT. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 680, 681 & 688 ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;RSC Energia's 15 Jun 13 ; Gunter's ATV 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ;

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Kosmos 2486 Spacecraft: Persona No. 2 Chronologies: 2013 payload #59 ; 2013-28A ; 7,317th spacecraft. Type: Photo Surveillance Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Russian Ministry of Defense Launch: 7 June 2013 at 18h37 UT, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-43/4, by a Soyuz-2.1b. Orbit: Initial: 187 km x 703 km x 98.3° x 93.48 min. 10 Jun 13: 703 km x 721 km 11 Jun 13: 714 km x 732 km Mission: Second launch of a new generation imaging reconnaissance satellite with projected operational lifetime of seven years. (See video of the launch on this page.) Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 680 ; NSSDC 2013-028A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;RSNF's 7 Jun 13 ; Gunter's Persona ;

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Shenzhou X Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #60 ; 2013-29A ; 7,318th spacecraft. Type: Piloted Spaceship Families: Ranks: Sponsor: China Launch: 11 June 2013 at 9h38 UT, from Jiuquan Launch Center, by a Chang Zheng 2F. Orbit: Initial: 198 km x 310 km Later: 260 km x 313 km Recovered: 26 june 2013 at 0h07 UT. Mission: Shenzhou X is a 7.8-ton piloted spaceship which carries three Chinese astronaut to the Tiangong 1 orbital module (Nie Haisheng, Zhang Xiaoguang and Wang Yaping). The transport craft docked with the orbital module on 13 June 2013 at 5h11 UT. On 23 June, the crew carried out a redocking exercise: they undocked their craft at 0h26 UT and redocked it at 2h00 UT. On 24 June, they undocked again for the final time, made a flyaround of the Tiangong-1 and then returned to Earth. Shenzhou X landed in China on 26 June 2013, after a 14 days, 14 hours and 29 minuntes flight. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 680, 681 ; NSSDC 2013-029A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; China Daily's 10 Nov 12, 28 Feb 13, 1 Mar 13, 8 Mar 13, 1 Apr 13, 1 Apr 13, 5 Apr 13, 2 May 13, 3 Jun 13, 4 Jun 13, 10 Jun 13, 10 Jun 13, 10 Jun 13, 10 Jun 13, 10 Jun 13, 12 Jun 13, 11 Jun 13, 13 Jun 13, 13 Jun 13, 13 Jun 13, 14 Jun 13, 14 Jun 13, 14 Jun 13, 14 Jun 13, 14 Jun 13, 14 Jun 13, 14 Jun 13, 15 Jun 13, 17 Jun 13, 20 Jun 13, 20 Jun 13, 20 Jun 13', 20 Jun 13, 21 Jun 13, 21 Jun 13, 23 Jun 13, 25 Jun 13, 26 Jun 13, 26 Jun 13, 26 Jun 13, 26 Jun 13, 27 Jun 13 ; Gunter's SZ 8, 9, 10 ;

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Resurs P1 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #61 ; 2013-30A ; 7,319th spacecraft. Type: Earth Remote Sensing Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Russia’s Ministries of Agriculture and Fishing, Meteorology, Transportation, Emergencies, Natural Resources and Defence. Launch: 25 June 2013 at 17h28 UT, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-31/6, by a Soyuz-1B. Orbit: Initial: 250 km x 451 km x 97.3° 29 Jun 13: 458 km x 472 km Mission: Resurs-P No. 1 is an Earth remote sensing satellite which carries an hyperspectral imaging camera, a wide-angle camera and a high-resolution camera. The Resur-F seies is the successor of the Resurs-DK 1 satellite. Built by TsSKB-Progress of Samara, and based on the Yantar' spy satellites, the satellite carries a Geoton-L1 telescope with a 1-meter resolution  multispectral imager and a 25-metre resolution hyperspectral imager. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 681 ; NSSDC 2013-030A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;Gunter's Resurs-P ;

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O3b SC1 / PFM / O3b FM5 Spacecraft: O3B stands for “the other 3 billion” (of people) and PFM for Proto Flight Model. Chronologies: 2013 payload #62 ; 2013-31A ; 7,320th spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: O3b Networks, Ltd Launch: 25 June 2013 at 19h27 UT, from Kourou Space Center's ELS, by a Soyuz-2-1b (ST-B, VS05). Orbit: 7,820 km x 7, 840 km x 0.05° Mission: O3b-1 is a communications satellite with Ka-band transponders to provide broadband internet capacity to the developing world. O3b is named after “the other 3 billion” of people in the world without connectivity.  Built by Thales Alenia/Roma using a similar design to Globalstar, the satellite combine the global reach of satellite with the speed of a fiber-optic network providing billions of consumers and businesses in nearly 180 countries with low cost, high speed, low latency Internet and mobile connectivity. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 681 ; NSSDC 2013-031A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;O3b's 24 Jun 13, 25 Jun 13, 8 Jul 13, 30 Jul 13 ; Gunter's O3B ; Wikipedia;

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O3b SC2 / FM2 / O3b FM4 Spacecraft: O3B stands for “the other 3 billion” (of people) and FM for Flight Model. Chronologies: 2013 payload #63 ; 2013-31B ; 7,321st spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: O3b Networks, Ltd Launch: 25 June 2013 at 19h27 UT, from Kourou Space Center's ELS, by a Soyuz-2-1b (ST-B, VS05). Orbit: 7,820 km x 7, 840 km x 0.05° Mission: O3b-1 is a communications satellite with Ka-band transponders to provide broadband internet capacity to the developing world. O3b is named after “the other 3 billion” of people in the world without connectivity.  Built by Thales Alenia/Roma using a similar design to Globalstar, the satellite combine the global reach of satellite with the speed of a fiber-optic network providing billions of consumers and businesses in nearly 180 countries with low cost, high speed, low latency Internet and mobile connectivity. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 681 ; NSSDC 2013-031B ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;O3b's 24 Jun 13, 25 Jun 13, 8 Jul 13, 30 Jul 13 ; Gunter's O3B ; Wikipedia;

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O3b SC3 / FM4 / O3b FM2 Spacecraft: O3B stands for “the other 3 billion” (of people) and FM for Flight Model. Chronologies: 2013 payload #64 ; 2013-31C ; 7,322nd spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: O3b Networks, Ltd Launch: 25 June 2013 at 19h27 UT, from Kourou Space Center's ELS, by a Soyuz-2-1b (ST-B, VS05). Orbit: 7,820 km x 7, 840 km x 0.05° Mission: O3b-1 is a communications satellite with Ka-band transponders to provide broadband internet capacity to the developing world. O3b is named after “the other 3 billion” of people in the world without connectivity.  Built by Thales Alenia/Roma using a similar design to Globalstar, the satellite combine the global reach of satellite with the speed of a fiber-optic network providing billions of consumers and businesses in nearly 180 countries with low cost, high speed, low latency Internet and mobile connectivity. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 681 ; NSSDC 2013-031C ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;O3b's 24 Jun 13, 25 Jun 13, 8 Jul 13, 30 Jul 13 ; Gunter's O3B ; Wikipedia;

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O3b SC4 / FM5 / O3b FM4 Spacecraft: O3B stands for “the other 3 billion” (of people) and FM for Flight Model. Chronologies: 2013 payload #65 ; 2013-31D ; 7,323rd spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: O3b Networks, Ltd Launch: 25 June 2013 at 19h27 UT, from Kourou Space Center's ELS, by a Soyuz-2-1b (ST-B, VS05). Orbit: 7,820 km x 7, 840 km x 0.05° Mission: O3b-1 is a communications satellite with Ka-band transponders to provide broadband internet capacity to the developing world. O3b is named after “the other 3 billion” of people in the world without connectivity.  Built by Thales Alenia/Roma using a similar design to Globalstar, the satellite combine the global reach of satellite with the speed of a fiber-optic network providing billions of consumers and businesses in nearly 180 countries with low cost, high speed, low latency Internet and mobile connectivity. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 681 ; NSSDC 2013-031D ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;O3b's 24 Jun 13, 25 Jun 13, 8 Jul 13, 30 Jul 13 ; Gunter's O3B ; Wikipedia;

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Kosmos 2487 Spacecraft: Kondor No. 1 (no. 202) / 14F133 Chronologies: 2013 payload #66 ; 2013-32A ; 7,324th spacecraft. Type: Surveillance (Radar) Families: Ranks: Russian Ministry of Defense Sponsor: Launch: 27 June 2013 at 16h53 UT, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-175, by a Strela. Orbit: 454 km x 545 km x 74.9° x 94.6 min. 496 km x 501 km x 74.7°  Mission: Kosmos 2487 is a 1,110-kg surveillance satellite (unclear whether it is the radar or optical imaging version of Kondor). built by NPO Mashinostroenie, the Kondor system is planned to use optical and radar satellites with masses of around 1000 kg, and reports indicate that this payload carries an S-band radar. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 681 ; NSSDC 2013-032A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;RSNF's 27 Jun 13 ; Gunter's Kondor 1 ;

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IRIS Spacecraft: IRIS stands for Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph. Chronologies: 2013 payload #67 ; 2013-33A ; 7,325th spacecraft. Type: Earth/Space Sciences Families: Ranks: Sponsor: NASA Launch: 28 June 2013 at 2h27 UT, from L1011, Vandenberg, by a Pegasus XL. Orbit: 616 km x 663 km x 97.9° Mission: IRIS is a 200-km Solar observatory, intended to advance Sun-Earth connection studies by tracing the flow of energy and plasma into the corona and heliosphere for which no suitable observations exist. IRIS obtains high-resolution UV spectra and images of the Sun's chromosphere, specifically on the non-thermal energy that creates the corona and the solar wind.  Notes: The spacecraft was launched from a Pegasus XL flying out of Vandenberg AFB in California. The rocket was deployed from an Orbital L-1101 carrier aircraft flying over the Pacific Ocean at an altitude of 12 km, roughly 150 kilometers northwest of Vandenberg. The rock Notes: The Lockheed L-1011 aircraft took off from Vandenberg Air Force Base on 28 June 2013 at 1h31 UT and flew out to the standard drop location at 123.0° West and 36.0° North over the Pacific. The Pegasus XL vehicle was dropped at 2h27:46 UT and the first stage ignited 5 seconds later.  Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 681 ; NSSDC 2013-033A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; NASA's 2010-2014 NASA News Releases ; Orbital's 27 Jun 13, 27 Jun 13 ; Gunter's IRIS (SMES 12) ;

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IRNSS-1A Spacecraft: IRNSS stands for Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System. Chronologies: 2013 payload #68 ; 2013-34A ; 7,326th spacecraft. Type: Navigation Families: Ranks: Sponsor: India Launch: 1 July 2013 at 18h11 UT, from Satish Dhawan Space Centre's LP1, by a PSLV-XL. Orbit: Geostationary but incined at 27.0°, orbiting over the 52 to 58° East longitudes. Mission: IRNSS-1A is the first 614-kg navigation satellite of a new system which is scheduled to provide location information to civilians and government users alike, with a position accuracy of 20 meters or better. Seven satellites will make up IRNSS, including three in geostationary orbit and four in inclined geosynchronous orbit. It will provide additional utility to users within 1,500 kilometers of the Indian mainland. It's expected to come online by 2016.  The IRNSS-1A satellite is based on the Insat I1K bus and carryign L-band and S-band navigation signals. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 681, 683 ; NSSDC 2013-034A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; ISRO's 1 Jun 13, 2 Jul 13 ;  Gunter's IRNSS ;

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Kosmos  Spacecraft: Glonass-M No. 48 Chronologies: 2013 payload #69 ; 2013 Failure ; 7,327th spacecraft. Type: Navigation Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Russian Defense Ministry Launch: 2 July 2013 at 2h38 UT, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-81/24, by a Proton-M/DM-03. Orbit: n/a Mission: The Proton launcher, which failed (see below), was carrying three Uragan-M (Glonass-M) navigation satellites. Notes: On 2 July 2013, only a few seconds after lift-off, the Proton-M launcher became unstable in pitch and then began swinging to one side and then the other. By 17 seconds, it was flying horizontally and then heading downwards. The payload section disintegrated at about 24 seconds and broke off due to aerodynamic forces seconds before the rocket impacted the ground and exploded some 32 seconds after lift-off. The Proton crashed some 2 km from the blockhouse and near the Rokot/Strela silos at area 175.  No-one was injured in the accident. (See video of the spectcular failure on this page.)      Preliminary investigations suggested that the launch occurred 0.4 second early, when the engines were not yet at full thrust. But later reports claim instead that the problem was with angular velocity sensors being installed upside-down, fooling the rocket's flight control system and causing the unstable flight.      On 15 May 2014, ITAR-TASS summzarized: “The last Proton launch failure occurred on [July] 2, 2013, when a minute after the liftoff, the space vehicle with three Russian Glonass-M navigation satellites fell within the territory of the Baikonur cosmodrome, 2.5 km away from the launch complex. About 600 tonnes of propellant components were in the rocket at the moment. Most burned up in an explosion. There were no casualties and no damage on the ground. The loss of the satellites was estimated at 4.4 billion rbls ($126.5 mln). The launch was not insured. The failure was caused by incorrect installation of equipment during the assembly work in November 2011. After the accident, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev issued a reprimand to Roscosmos head Vladimir Popovkin, who was removed from office later.” Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 682 ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;RSNF's 2 Jul 13 ; Russian Space Web' 2 Jul 13 RSC Energis's 2 Jul 13 ; ITAR-TASS' 15 May 14, 30 Dec 14 ; Gunter's Uragan-M ;

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Kosmos Spacecraft: Glonass-M No. 49 Chronologies: 2013 payload #70 ; 2013 Failure ; 7,328th spacecraft. Type: Navitation Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Russian Defense Ministry Launch: 2 July 2013 at 2h38 UT, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-81/24, by a Proton-M/DM-03. Orbit: n/a Mission: The Proton launcher, which failed, was carrying three Uragan-M (Glonass-M) navigation satellites. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 682 ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; RSNF's 2 Jul 13 ; Russian Space Web' 2 Jul 13 ; ITAR-TASS' 15 May 14, 30 Dec 14 ; Gunter's Uragan-M ;

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Kosmos Spacecraft: Glonass-M No. 50 Chronologies: 2013 payload #71 ; 2013-F04 ; 7,329th spacecraft. Type: Navigation Families: Ranks: Russian Defense Ministry Sponsor: Launch: 2 July 2013 at 2h38 UT, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-81/24, by a Proton-M/DM-03. Orbit: n/a Mission: The Proton launcher, which failed, was carrying three Uragan-M (Glonass-M) navigation satellites. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 682 ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;RSNF's 2 Jul 13 ; Russian Space Web' 2 Jul 13 ; ITAR-TASS' 15 May 14, 30 Dec 14 ; Gunter's Uragan-M ;

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SJ-11-05 / Shi Jian 11-05 Spacecraft: “Shijian shiyi hao 05 xing” Chronologies: 2013 payload #72 ; 2013-35A ; 7,330th spacecraft. Type: Missile Early Warning Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Chinese People's Liberation Army Launch: 15 July 2013 at 9h27 UT, from Jiuquan Launch Center, by a Chang Zheng 2C. Orbit: 680 km  x 703 km x 98.1° Mission: Shi Jian 11 is the 5th in a series of what are suspected to be infrared-telescope-equipped missile early warning satellites, It replaces the SJ-11-04  which was lost in a launch failure. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 682 ; NSSDC 2013-035A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; China Daily's 15 Jul 13, 16 Jul 13 ; Xinhua's 15 Jul 13, 15 Jul 13, ; Gunter's SJ 11 ;

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MUOS 2 Spacecraft: MUOS stands for Mobile User Objective System. Chronologies: 2013 payload #73 ; 2013-36A ; 7,331st spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: U.S. Naval Research Laboratory  Launch: 19 July 2013 at 13h00 UT, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's SLC-41, by an Atlas V 551. Orbit: Geostationary  Mission: MUOS 2 is a 6,700-kg next-generation narrow-band tactical satellite communications system designed to significantly improve ground communications for U.S. forces on the move. It serves a dual-provider of both voice traffic currently routed by the Navy's existing generation, albeit aging, Ultra High Frequency Follow-On spacecraft, but it also creates a new era of mobile communications built around 3G cellular technology to relay narrowband tactical information such as calls, data messaging, file transfers and email on rates of up to 384 Kilobits per second.  Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 683 ; NSSDC 2013-036A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories; Gunter's MUOS 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ;

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SY-7 / Shiyan 7 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #74 ; 2013-37A ; 7,332nd spacecraft. Type: Surveillance Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Chinese People's Liberation Army Launch: 19 July 2013 at 23h37 UT, from Taiyuan Launch Center, by a Chang Zheng 4C. Orbit: 666 km x 673 km x 98.1° Mission: Shiyan-7 is equipped with a system for testing a manipulator arm to capture other space objects. after maneuvering close to Chuangxin-3 on 6 and 9 August 2012, SY-7 has completed an unexpected rendezvous with Shi Jian 7 satellite launched in 2005. The mission of target satellite SJ-7 is mysterious; it undergoes occasional orbital maneuvers, lasting a few days, of up to 10 km in height, interspersed with long periods of quiescent decay. Notes: “In what was one of the most secretive Chinese missions in recent years, a Long March 4C launched three military satellites. Chinese media refer to the new mission as launching three technological satellites: namely the Chuang Xin-3, the Shiyan Weixing-7 and the Shijian-15.” Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 683 , 684 ; NSSDC 2013-037A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; China Daily's 20 Jul 13 ; Xinhua's 20 Jul 13 ; Gunter's SY 7 ;

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CX-3 / Chuangxin 3 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #75 ; 2013-37B ; 7,333rd spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Chinese Academy of Sciences? Launch: 19 July 2013 at 23h37 UT, from Taiyuan Launch Center, by a Chang Zheng 4C. Orbit: 666 km x 673 km x 98.1° Mission: CX-3 small satellite is thought to have been built by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and may be carrying technology experiments and/or serve as a target for the SY-7 robotic arm tests.  Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 683 , 684 ; NSSDC 2013-037B ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; China Daily's 20 Jul 13 ; Xinhua's 20 Jul 13 ; Gunter's SY 7 ;

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SJ-15 / Shi Jian 15 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #76 ; 2013-37C ; 7,334th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Chinese People's Liberation Army Launch: 19 July 2013 at 23h37 UT, from Taiyuan Launch Center, by a Chang Zheng 4C. Orbit: 666 km x 673 km x 98.1° Mission: Technology satellite, precise mission unknown at present. SJ-15 satellite is thought to be carrying out observations of space debris.  Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 683 , 684 ; NSSDC 2013-037c;Spaceflight Now's Stories ; China Daily's20 Jul 13 ; Xinhua's 20 Jul 13 ; Gunter's SY 7 ;

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SJ-15 Subsat Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #77 ; 2013-37J ; 7,335th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Chinese People's Liberation Army Launch: Launch onboard SJ-15 on 19 July 2013 at 23h37 UT, from Taiyuan Launch Center, by a Chang Zheng 4C and release avound 15 October 2013. Orbit: Mission: SJ-15 released a new object with which it is stationkeeping within 2 km.  This could be a target subsatellite, possibly passive, for experiments with proximity operations. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 688 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ;

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Alphasat I / Inmarsat-4A F4 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #78 ; 2013-38A ; 7,336th spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Inmarsat Launch: 28 July 2013 at 19h54 UT, from Kourou Space Center's ELA-3, by an Ariane 5 ECA. Orbit: Geostationary at 25° East longitude. Mission: Alphasat 1 is a 6650-kg communications satellite which is carrying a mobile communications payload in L-band that augments Inmarsat’s Broadband Global Area Network service for communications across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. The satellite has a 12-metre aperture aerial reflector. It also carries technology demonstration payloads for the European Space Agency.  Alphasat is a major joint project between the ESA and Inmarsat; it is intended to demonstrate advanced technologies for ESA, including a laser communications system and radio communications links in Q and V band, while carrying a useful `extended L-band' payload to add to Inmarsat's satellite broadband capacity. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 683 ; NSSDC 2013-038A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; Inmarsat's 25 Jul 13, 1 Aug 13 : Gunter's Alphasat (Inmarsat-4A F4) ;

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Insat 3D Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #79 ; 2013-38B ; 7,337th spacecraft. Type: Meteorology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: ISRO / Indian Space Research Organization  Launch: 28 July 2013 at 19h54 UT, from Kourou Space Center's ELA-3, by an Ariane 5 ECA. Orbit: Geostationary Mission: Insat 3D is a  2,090-kg meteorological satellite configured wiht a 6 Channel Imager, 19 Channel Sounder along with Data Relay Transponder and Satellite Aided Search & Rescue payloads. In addition to a 6-channel imager and a 19-channel sounder,  Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 683 ; NSSDC 2013-038B ; Spaceflight Now's Stories; ISRO's 26 Jul 13, 28 Jul 13, 1 Aug 13 ; Gunter's Insat 3D ;

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Progress M-20M / ISS-52P Spacecraft: Progress M (7K-TGM) No. 420 Chronologies: 2013 payload #80 ; 2013-39A ; 7,338th spacecraft. Type: Cargo delivery to the International Space Station Families: Ranks: 302nd Soyuz (7K) spacecraft and 143rd Progress. Sponsor: Roscosmos Russian Space Agency Launch: 27 July 2013 at 20h45 UT, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-31, by a Soyuz-U. Orbit: Initial: 189 km x 218 km x 51.6 At ISS: 413 km x 419 km  Deorbited 11 February 2014. Mission: Progress M-20M is a 7,250-kg cargo ship which delivers more than 2.4 tons of various cargoes to the International Space Station. It carries propellant, water, oxygen, air, food rations (including fresh products), hardware for scientific research and experiments, extra hardware, sanitary equipment, medical supplies and parcels for ISS crew members. The craft docked with the Pirs module 5 hours and 41 minutes after launch. Progress M-20M undocked from the Pirs module on 3 February 2014 at 16h21 UT AND was deorbited on 11 February, following a week of indepedent operations, with impact in the South Pacifc at 15h55 UT. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 683, 693, 694 ; NSSDC2013-039A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;RSC Energia's 17 Jul 13, 19 Jul 13, 22 Jul 13, 23 Jul 13, 24 Jul 13, 25 Jul 13, 28 Jul 13, 28 Jul 13 ; Gunter's Progress-M 1M - 25M  ;

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HTV-4 / Konoutori 4 Spacecraft: HTV stands for H-II Transfer Vehicle Chronologies: 2013 payload #81 ; 2013-40A ; 7,339th spacecraft. Type: Cargo delivery to the International Space Station Families: Ranks: Sponsor: JAXA / Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency  Launch: 3 August 2013 at 19h48 UT, from Tanegashima's LP2, by a H-IIB. Orbit: De-orbited: 7 September 2013. Mission: HTV 4 is a 16.5-ton cargo spacecraft for delivering resupply to the International Space Station. It delivers about 5.4 tons of supplies to ISS, including newly developed Freezer-Refrigerator of Stirling Cycle (FROST) and experiment samples to be conducted on the Japanese Kibo Experiment Module. In addition, HTV-4 delivers unpressurized Orbital Replacement Units (ORUs), the Unpressurized Logistics Carrier (ULC), which is one of the features of HTV, thus contributing to the maintenance and operation of the ISS.       The cargo craft reached ISS on 9 August 2013 and the Canadarm-2 robot arm captured it at 11h22 UT. The module was berthed on the Harmony node at 15h28 UT. One month later, HTV 4 was unberthed from Harmony on 4 September 2013 at 12h07 UT and released by the Canadarm at 16h20 UT.  It finally reentered Earth atmosphere on 7 September and burnup over the South Pacific at around 6h37 UT. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 684, 685 ; NSSDC 2013-040A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;Gunter's HTV (Kounotori) ;

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WGS 6 (USA 244) Spacecraft: WGS stands for Wideband Global SATCOM Chronologies: 2013 payload #82 ; 2013-41A ; 7,340th spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: U.S. Department of Defense Launch: 8 August 2013 at 0h29 UT, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Statio's SLC-37, by a Delta 4M+(5,4). Orbit: Geostationary Mission: WGS 6 is a 5,987-kg X/Ka-band communications satellite for high-capacity services for U.S. troops in the field. It enables more robust and flexible execution of command and control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 684 ; NSSDC 2013-041A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;Gunter's WGS 1 to 10 ;

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Arirang-5 / Kompsat 5 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #83 ; 2013-42A ; 7,341st spacecraft. Type: Earth Remote Sensing Families: Ranks: Sponsor: South Korea's Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Launch: 22 August 2013 at 14h39 UT, from Yasniy Cosmodrome's LC-370/13, by a Dnepr. Orbit: 552 km x 553 km x 97.6° Mission: Arirang-5 / Kompsat 5 is a 1,400-kg Earth observation satellite using a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) to provide imagery for geographic information applications and to monitor environmental disasters. It provides high-resolution images of 1 meter resolution, standard mode images of 3 meters resolution and wide0swath mode images of 20 meters resolution. The spacecraft executes all weather and all day observations of the Korean peninsula during its five-year mission. As a secondary mission, it generates atmospheric sounding profile and supports radio occultation science. KOMPSAT-5 is part of the Korean National Development Plan of MEST (Ministry of Education, Science and Technology) which started in 2005. The project is being developed and managed by KARI (Korea Aerospace Research Institute). Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 684;NSSDC2013-042A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;RSVN's 22 Aug 13 ; Gunter's KOMPSat 5 (Arirang 5) ;

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NROL-65 (USA 245) Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #84 ; 2013-43A ; 7,342nd spacecraft. Type: Photo Surveillance Families: Ranks: Sponsor: U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)  Launch: 28 August 2013 at 18h03 UT, from Vandenberg Air Force Base's SLC-6, by a Delta 4H. Orbit: Initial 254 km x 999 km x 97.9° 30 Aug 13: 259 km x 1002 km  Mission: The payload is thought to be an imaging spy satellite of the EIS/Enhanced CRYSTAL.  Details of this mission are classified. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 685 ; NSSDC 2013-043A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;Gunter's KH-11 / Kennen / Crystal ;

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Eutelsat 25B / Es'hail 1 Spacecraft: Es'hail means Canopus (the star Alpha Car Chronologies: 2013 payload #85 ; 2013-44A ; 7,343rd spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Eutelsat and Es'hailsat Launch: 29 August 2013 at 20h30 UT, from Kourou Space Center's ELA-3, by an Ariane 5 ECA. Orbit: Geostationary at 25.5° East longitude. Mission: Eutelsat 25B is a 6,310-kg communications satellite that provides an expanded mission and superior coverage across the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia to follow on from the Eutelsat 25C. The spacecraft’s multi-mission architecture enables Es'hailSat and Eutelsat to respond to demand for the fastest-growing applications in the Middle East and North Africa, including professional video exchange, enterprise communications and government services.  The craft is jointly owned by Eutelsat SA of Paris and Es'hailsat. Es'hailsat is a spinoff of ictQATAR, the Qatari Supreme Council of Information and Communications Technology. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 685 ; NSSDC 2013-044A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; Eutelsat's 29 Jul 13, 30 Aug 13, 10 Sep 13, 4 Oct 13, 29 Oct 13 ; Gunter's Eutelsat 25B / Es'hail 1 ;

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GSAT-7 / Insat-4F / Rukmini Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #86 ; 2013-44B ; 7,344th spacecraft. Type: Communications (military) Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Indian Space Research Organization for Indian Defense Forces Launch: 29 August 2013 at 20h30 UT, from Kourou Space Center's ELA-3, by an Ariane 5 ECA. Orbit: Geostationary  Mission: GSAT-7 is a 2,625-kg communications satellite which carries UHF, C-band and Ku-band transponders. It is the first ISRO satellite that provides services to the Indian defence forces; it is used exclusively by the Navy to shore up secure, real-time communications among its warships, submarines, aircraft and land systems.  GSAT-7 / INSAT-4F is said to significantly improve the country’s maritime security and intelligence gathering in a wide swathe on the eastern and western flanks of the Indian Ocean region. The craft is the last of ISRO’s fourth-generation GSAT satellites. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 685 ; NSSDC 2013-044B ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; ISRO's 30 Aug 13, 3 Sep 13, 18 Sep 13 ; China Daily's 28 Aug 13 ; Gunter's GSat 7, 7A (Insat 4F) ;

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AMOS 4 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #87 ; 2013-45A ; 7,345th spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Spacecom, Tel Aviv, Israel Launch: 31 August 2013 at 20h05 UT, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-45, by a Zenit-3M. Orbit: Geostationary at 65° East longitude. Mission: AMOS 4 is a 4,250-kg communications satellite to provide direct-to-home television broadcasting, multimedia, broadband Internet and mobile communications services for 12 years. The craft extends Spaceom's coverage footprint to Russia and Asia, along with improving service in the Middle East and Europe with Ku-band and Ka-band transponders. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 685, 686 ; NSSDC 2013-045A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; China Daily's 1 Sep 13 ; RSC Energia's 22 Aug 13, 24 Aug 13, 28 Auig 13, 29 Aug 13, 1 Sep 13, ; Gunter's AMOS 4 ;

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YW-17 / Yaogan 17 / Yaogan 17A Spacecraft: “yaogan weixing shiqi hao” (Resource Satellite No. 17) Chronologies: 2013 payload #88 ; 2013-46A ; 7,346th spacecraft. Type: Signal Intelligence Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Chinese People's Liberation Army Launch: 1st September 2013 at 19h16 UT, from Jiuquan Launch Center's LC-603, by a Chang Zheng 4C. Orbit: 1,083 km x 1,116 km x 63.4°  Mission: The Yaogan Weixing Satellite Fleet consists of remote sensing spacecraft that either carry optical, Synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) or electronic intelligence payloads. According to Chinese Officials, the Yaogan Satellite Constellation is used for scientific experiments, land survey, crop yield assessment, and disaster monitoring. However, it is believed that the satellite system serves military purposes. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 685 ; NSSDC 2013-046A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; (Note: no report of the launch in China Daily or by the Xinhua News Agency) ; Gunter's Yaogan 9, 16, 17 ;

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YW-17 subsat 1 / Yaogan 17B Spacecraft: “yaogan weixing shiqi hao” (Resource Satellite No. 17) Chronologies: 2013 payload #89 ; 2013-46B ; 7,347th spacecraft. Type: Signal Intelligence Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Chinese People's Liberation Army Launch: 1st September 2013 at 19h16 UT, from Jiuquan Launch Center's LC-603, by a Chang Zheng 4C. Orbit: 1,083 km x 1,116 km x 63.4° Mission: The satellites are believed to operate like the old US PARCAE/NOSS system, in which a group of loosely formation-flying spacecraft locate radio emitters using the difference in time of arrival of the radio signals at the different satellites. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 685 ; NSSDC 2013-046B ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;Gunter's Yaogan 9, 16, 17 ;

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YW-17 subsat 2 / Yaogan 17C Spacecraft: “yaogan weixing shiqi hao” (Resource Satellite No. 17) Chronologies: 2013 payload #90 ; 2013-46C ; 7,348th spacecraft. Type: Signal Intelligence Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Chinese People's Liberation Army Launch: 1st September 2013 at 19h16 UT, from Jiuquan Launch Center's LC-603, by a Chang Zheng 4C. Orbit: 1,083 km x 1,116 km x 63.4° Mission: The satellites are believed to operate like the old US PARCAE/NOSS system, in which a group of loosely formation-flying spacecraft locate radio emitters using the difference in time of arrival of the radio signals at the different satellites. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 685 ; NSSDC 2013-046C ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;Gunter'sYaogan 9, 16, 17 ;

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LADEE Spacecraft: LADEE stands for Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer Chronologies: 2013 payload #91 ; 2013-47A ; 7,349th spacecraft. Type: Planetary Probe (Moon) Families: Ranks: Sponsor: NASA's Ames Research Center Launch: 7 September 2013 at 3h27 UT, from Wallops Island Flight Facility's LA-0B, by a Minotaur V. Orbit: 2,059 km x 289,461 km x 33.9° (Earth orbit) 2,063 km x 325,450 km x 35.4 °(Earth orbit) 1,352 km x 373,000 km x 38.2° (Earth orbit) 1,460 km x 375,352 km x 38.6°  (Earth orbit)  6 Oct 13: 269 km x 15772 km x 157° x 24 hr. (Lunar orbit) 9 Oct 13: 227 km x 2,200 km (Lunar orbit) 12 Oct 13: 235 km x 250 km (Lunar orbit) Impact on the Moon: 18 April 2014 at between 4h30 and 5h22 UT. Mission: LADEE is a 383-kg Lunar probe designed to characterize the tenuous lunar atmosphere and dust environment from orbit. Scientific objectives of the mission are: determine the global density, composition and time variability of the fragile lunar atmosphere; and determine the size, charge and spatial distribution of electrostatically transported dust grains, and assess their likely effects on lunar exploration and lunar-based astronomy. Further objectives are to determine if the Apollo astronaut sightings of diffuse emission they saw above the surface were Na glow or dust, and document the dust impactor environment (size-frequency) to help guide design engineering for outpost and future robotic missions. The lunar craft carries a Neutral Mass Spectrometer, an Ultraviolet/Visible Spectrometer and a Lunar Dust Experiment (LDEX). There is also a technology demonstration: the Lunar Laser Communications Demonstration (LLCD). The spacecraft is basically a 1.85 metre-diameter cylinder with a height of 2.37 metres. Total mass is approximately 383 kg, which includes 135 kg of fuel. Mission costs is approximately $263 million.      On 6 October 2013, LADEE entered the lunar gravitational sphere of influence at 18h02 UT. The orbit insertion burn placed the probe in a selenocentric orbit.      LADEE impacted the lunar farside on 18 April 2014 between 4h30 and 5h22 UT, possibly on the East rim of the crater Sundman V at 12° Norht and 93° West, north of Mare Orientale. Notes: Despite the Explorer in the name, the mission is the first of the new Lunar Quest series rather than part of the long standing Explorer program. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 685, 686, 687, 688, 696 ; NSSDC 2013-047A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories , 2014 Stories ; NASA's 2010-2014 NASA News Releases ; Gunter's LADEE ;

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Gonets-M #4 Spacecraft: Gonets-M No. 14 Chronologies: 2013 payload #92 ; 2013-48A ; 7,350th spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Russian Ministry of Defense Launch: 11 September 2013 at 23h23 UT, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-133/3, by a Rokot. Orbit: 1,494 km x 1,510 km x 82.5° Mission: One of the three Gonets-M low orbit communications satellites. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 686 ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;RSVN's 12 Sep 13 ; China Daily's 12 Sep 13 ; Gunter's Gonets-M ;

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Gonets-M #5 Spacecraft: Gonets-M No. 16 Chronologies: 2013 payload #93 ; 2013-48B ; 7,351st spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Russian Ministry of Defense Launch: 11 September 2013 at 23h23 UT, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-133/3, by a Rokot. Orbit: 1,494 km x 1,510 km x 82.5° Mission: One of the three Gonets-M low orbit communications satellites. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 686 ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;RSVN's 12 Sep 13 ; China Daily's 12 Sep 13 ; Gunter's Gonets-M;

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Gonets-M #6 Spacecraft: Gonets-M No. 17 Chronologies: 2013 payload #94 ; 2013-48C ; 7,352nd spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Russian Ministry of Defense Launch: 11 September 2013 at 23h23 UT, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-133/3, by a Rokot. Orbit: 1,494 km x 1,510 km x 82.5° Mission: One of the three Gonets-M low orbit communications satellites. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 686 ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; RSVN's 12 Sep 13 ; China Daily's 12 Sep 13 ; Gunter's Gonets-M ;

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Sprint A / Hisaki Spacecraft: SPRINT-A stands for Spectroscopic Planet Observatory for Recognition of Interaction of Atmosphere.  Chronologies: 2013 payload #95 ; 2013-49A ; 7,353rd spacecraft. Type: Astronomy Families: Ranks: Sponsor: JAXA / Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Launch: 14 September 2013 at 5h00 UT, from Uchinoura, by an Epsilon. Orbit: 952 km x 1,155 km x 29.7° Mission: SPRINT-A is a 340-kg space telescope that remotely observes Venus, Mars, Jupiter and other planets from Earth orbit. By monitoring the planets with extreme ultraviolet rays, it observes the plasma region defused from Jupiter's Io to study how energy is provided. It also investigates the mechanism of how the atmosphere of some Earth-type planets, such as Venus and Mars, has escaped to space.  SPRINT A instruments consista of an EUV spectrometer and a guiding camera which maintains the pointing accuracy of the mission. Notes: This was the mainden flight of Epsilon, Japan's new solid fuel launch vehicle.  The rocket uses the H-2A's solid rocket booster SRB-A3 as its first stage. Second stage uses the M-34c solid motor, which is an improved version of the third stage of the old ISAS M-V rocket. Third stage is the KM-V2b, derived from the KM-V2 kick motor used as the insertion stage for the Hayabusa probe in 2003. Final stage is a new liquid propulsion Post-Boost System (PBS). Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 686 ; NSSDC 2013-049A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;Gunter's SPRINT A ;

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AEHF 3 (USA 246) Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #96 ; 2013-50A ; 7,354th spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: U.S. Department of Defense Launch: 18 September 2013 at 8h10 UT, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's SLC-41, by an Atlas V 531. Orbit: Geostationary Mission: AEHF is 6,168-kg communications satelites that provides “survivable, global, secure, protected, and jam-resistant” (!) communications for high-priority military ground, sea and air assets to the U.S., Canada, Great Britain, and the Netherlands. The AEHF system is the follow-on to the Milstar system. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 686 ; NSSDC 2013-050A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;Gunter's AEHF 1 to 6 ;

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Cygnus Demo Spacecraft: Cygnus #1 is also named SS G. David Low after the late astronaut and Orbital employee. Chronologies: 2013 payload #97 ; 2013-51A ; 7,355th spacecraft. Type: Cargo delivery to the International Space Station Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Orbital Sciences Corp for NASA Launch: 18 September 2013 at 14h58 UT, from Mid Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS)'s LA0A, by an Antares 110. Orbit: Initial: 261 km x 277 km x 51.6° Later: 274 km x 384 km De-orbited: 22 October 2013 at 18h16 UT. Mission: Cygnus is a 4,127-kg cargo spacecraft which deliver 700 kg of goods to the International Space Station. This was the maiden flight of this cargo spacecraft that will be used for delivery services under a NASA Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) agreement. The pressurized cargo vessel is based the on the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) carried as Shuttle cargo. Following rendezvous maneuvers with ISS, the Cygnus craft was docked on the Harmony module after being captured by the Remote Manipulator arm. After the transfer of supplies to the station, it was filled up with trash and released to burn up in the Earth's atmosphere on reentry.      On 22 September 2013, the first attempt at rendezvous with ISS was cancelled due to a software problem in the GPS navigation system. Cygnus passed ISS at a distance of 4 km at 8h45 UT.  On 29 September, it completed its rendezvous with ISS, the SSRMS arm captured the cargocraft at 11h00 UT. One month laer, Cygnus was unberthed from Harmony on 22 October at 10h04 UT and was released by the SSRMS at 11h31 UT.  It then  reentered and burnt up at 18h16 UT over the South Pacific. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 686, 688 ; NSSDC 2013-051A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; Orbital's 15 Sep 13, 17 Sep 13, 18 Sep 13, 29 Sep 13, 23 Oct 13 ; NASA's 27 Aug 23, 14 Sep 13, 18 Sep 13, 29 Sep 13, 29 Sep 13, 29 Sep 13, 22 Oct 13 ; NASA's 2010-2014 NASA News Releases ; Gunter's Cygnus-PCM ;

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FY-3 3 / Fengyun-3 3 Spacecraft: “di san ke fengyun san hao” Chronologies: 2013 payload #98 ; 2013-52A ; 7,356th spacecraft. Type: Meteorology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: China Meteorological Administration and the National Satellite Meteorological Center Launch: 23 September 2013 at 3h07 UT, from Taiyuan Launch Center's LC-9, by a Chang Zheng 4C. Orbit: 801 km x 815 km x 98.8° Mission: Fenguyn-3 3 is a 2.2-ton meteorological satellite which provide all-weather, multispectral and 3D observation of global atmosphere and geophysical factors to insure stable operation of polar-orbit meteorological satellites.  The craft also provides better observation data for monitoring disasters, environment and addressing climate change. Fengyun-3C has been put into operation on 10 June 2014, and replaced FY-3A to observe in a morning orbit with FY-2B in an afternoon orbit. The FY-3 series represents the second generation of Chinese polar-orbiting meteorological satellites. It provides global air temperature, humidity profiles and meteorological parameters such as cloud and surface radiation required in producing weather forecasts, especially in making medium numerical forecasting. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 687 ; NSSDC 2013-052A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; China Daily's 23 Sep 13, 23 Sep 13, 23 Sep 13 ; Xinhua's 23 Sep 13, 23 Sep 13, 6 May 14, 13 Jun 14 ; Gunter's FY 3A, 3B, 3C ;

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KZ-1 / Kuaizhou 1 Spacecraft: Kuaizhou means "fast vessel" and might best be translated as "Clipper" or "Swift Boat". Chronologies: 2013 payload #99 ; 2013-53A ; 7,357th spacecraft. Type: Earth Remote Sensing Families: Ranks: Sponsor: China's State Remote Sensing Center. Launch: 25 September 2013 at 4h37 UT, from Jiuquan Launch Center, by a Kuaizhou. Orbit: Initial: 275 km x 293 km ------------ Raised on 29 Sep 13: 299 km x 306 km Decreased to: 279 km x 288 km Raised on 7 Oct 13: 279 km x 288 km Restore on 1 Nov 13: 290 km x 317 km Raised on 19 Nov 13: 287 km x 322 km Mission: Kuaizhou 1 is reportedly a satellite for natural disaster monitoring, used to monitor natural disasters and provide disaster-relief information for its user, the National Remote Sensing Center of China, a public institution. under the Ministry of Science and Technology. Notes: This was the mainden flight of a new Chinese rocket, Kuaizhou, a small quick-response launch vehicle. The solid-fuel vehicle is thought to be built by CASIC in collaboration with the Harbin Institute of Technology and may be a derivative of the DF-21 family, like the failed KT-1 launch vehicle of 2002-2003. Development of the rocket began in 2010. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 687, 689  ; NSSDC 2013-053A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories; Xinhua's 25 Sep 13 ; Gunter's Kuaizhou 1 ;

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Soyuz TMA-10M / ISS-36S Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #100 ; 2013-54A ; 7,356th spacecraft. Type: Piloted Spaceship Families: Ranks: 303rd Soyuz (7K) spacecraft, 142nd Soyuz spaceship (118th manned). Sponsor: Roscosmos Russian Space Agency Launch: 25 September 2013 at 20h58 UT, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-1, by a Soyuz-FG. Orbit: Docked to the Internal Space Station Recovery: 11 March 2014 at 3h24 UT. Mission: Soyuz TMA-10M is a crew transport spaceship that carriied ISS Expedition 37/38 crew to the International Space Station (Oleg Kotov, Sergei Ryazansky and Michael Hopkins). It docked on the Poisk module of on 26 September 2013 at 2h45 UT, three minutes ahead of schedule and  5 hours and 46 minutes after launch.            On 11 March 2014, Soyuz TMA-10M undocked from ISS at 0h02 TU and touched down southeast of Dzhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, at about 3h24 TU, after 166 days, 6 hours and 26 minutes in space.. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 687, 695 ; NSSDC 2013-054A ; Spaceflight Now's 2013 Stories, 2014 Stories, ISS Expedition 37 and ISS Expedition 38 ; NASA's ISS Expedition 38, ISS Expedition 37 and SS Expedition 38 ; RSC Energia's 13 Sep 13, 14 Sep 13, 16 Sep 13, 17 Sep 13, 19 Sep 13, 20 Sep 13, 21 Sep 13, 22 Sep 13, 23 Sep 13, 26 Sep 13, 26 Sep 13, 11 Mar 14 ; ITAR-TASS' 11 Mar 14, 11 Mar 14, 11 Mar 14, 11 Mar 14 ; Gunter's Soyuz-TMA 01M - 16M  ;

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Cassiope Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #101 ; 2013-55A ; 7,359th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: CSA / Canadian Space Agency Launch: 29 September 2013 at 16h00 UT, from Vandenberg Air Force Base's SLC-4E, by a Falcon 9 v1.1. Orbit: 325 km x 1,485 x 81.0° Mission: CASSIOPE is a 500-kg data-relay satellite which carries the experimental Cascade payload to demonstrate the world's first commercial space-based digital courier service. When proven, future operational missions will provide a large-scale data transfer service to remote commercial, civil and military clients anywhere in the world. Similar to the operations of a traditional courier company, Cascade will pick-up a parcel at close of business day, and deliver it to geographically dispersed destinations before work starts the next day. The difference is that the service will utilize a small satellite and the packages will be very large digital data files. As the satellite comes overhead, the data is transmitted at 1.2 gigabits per second, 12 times faster than the operating speed of most office LANs. The satellite is built by MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA Ltd.) using a Bristol Aerospace spacecraft bus. Notes: First launch of the Falcon 9 v1.1, a significant upgrade of the Falcon 9 rocket. This rocket's stage 2 is thought to be stretched 2.5-metre long compared to the original version, with an additional 15,000 kg of propellant carried, lengthening the burn time from 346 seconds to 375 seconds. The new Merlin 1D-vac engine has a large increase in thrust, 801 kN compared to 342 kN for the older Merlin 1C. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 687, 688 ; NSSDC 2013-055a ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; SpaceX's 14 Oct 13 ; Gunter's CASSIOPE 1 ;

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CUSat 1 Spacecraft: CUSat stands for Cornell University Satellite  Chronologies: 2013 payload #102 ; 2013-55B ; 7,360th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Cornell University Launch: 29 September 2013 at 16h00 UT, from Vandenberg Air Force Base's SLC-4E, by a Falcon 9 v1.1. Orbit: 324 km x 1,482 x 81.0° Mission: CUSAT 1 is a 40.8-kg demonstration satellite. Originally, this experment consists of two identical satellites that would separate on orbit in a target/inspector configuration. They would have use microthrust to navigate within ten meters of each other. The inspector satellite would have use cameras to gather imagery of the target satellite. The mission was modified after one of the segments was damaged during testing. It now consists of a single satellite with multiple antennas that transmit data to each other. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 687, 688 ; NSSDC 2013-055B;Wikipedia ; Cornell University's CUSat ; Gunter's CUSat (Nanosat 4) ;

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DANDE Spacecraft: DANDE stands for Drag and Atmospheric Neutral Density Explorer Chronologies: 2013 payload #103 ; 2013-55C ; 7,361st spacecraft. Type: Earth/Space Sciences Families: Ranks: Sponsor: University of Colorado at Boulder Launch: 29 September 2013 at 16h00 UT, from Vandenberg Air Force Base's SLC-4E, by a Falcon 9 v1.1. Orbit: 325 km x 1,485 x 81.0° Mission: DANDE is a 38-kg satellite which makes in-situ measurements of the neutral atmosphere at altitudes of 200-350 km. It is the first spacecraft to be specifically designed to measure winds, drag, and number densities simultaneously. These measurements will reduce the uncertainty in drag-deduced density values especially during storms when in-track winds can contribute significantly to spacecraft drag. The spacecraft is expected to be operational for about 1.5 year. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 687, 688 ; NSSDC 2013-055C;Gunter's DANDE (Nanosat 5) ;

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POPACS 1 Spacecraft: POPACS stands for Polar Orbiting Passive Atmospheric Calibration Sphere. Chronologies: 2013 payload #104 ; 2013-55D ; 7,362nd spacecraft. Type: Earth/Space Sciences (Upper atmosphere studies) Families: Ranks: Sponsor: U.S. Universities Launch: 29 September 2013 at 16h00 UT, from Vandenberg Air Force Base's SLC-4E, by a Falcon 9 v1.1. Orbit: 324 km x 1,480 x 81.0° Mission: POPACS 1 is one of the three 10-cm diameter spherical satellites that were used to measure variations in the upper atmosphere in auroral regions. They were developped and funded by a group including Morehead State University of Kentucky, the University of Arkansas, Montana State University and Drexel University of Philadelphia. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 687, 688 ; NSSDC 2013-055D;Gunter's POPACS ;

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POPACS 2 Spacecraft: POPACS stands for Polar Orbiting Passive Atmospheric Calibration Sphere. Chronologies: 2013 payload #105 ; 2013-55E ; 7,363rd spacecraft. Type: Earth/Space Sciences (Upper atmosphere studies) Families: Ranks: Sponsor: U.S. Universities Launch: 29 September 2013 at 16h00 UT, from Vandenberg Air Force Base's SLC-4E, by a Falcon 9 v1.1. Orbit: 323 km x 1,482 x 81.0° Mission: POPACS 2 is one of the three 10-cm diameter spherical satellites that were used to measure variations in the upper atmosphere in auroral regions. They were developped and funded by a group including Morehead State University of Kentucky, the University of Arkansas, Montana State University and Drexel University of Philadelphia. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 687, 688 ; NSSDC 2013-055E ; Gunter's POPACS ;

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POPACS 3 Spacecraft: POPACS stands for Polar Orbiting Passive Atmospheric Calibration Sphere. Chronologies: 2013 payload #106 ; 2013-55F ; 7,364th spacecraft. Type: Earth/Space Sciences (Upper atmosphere studies) Families: Ranks: Sponsor: U.S. Universities Launch: 29 September 2013 at 16h00 UT, from Vandenberg Air Force Base's SLC-4E, by a Falcon 9 v1.1. Orbit: 324 km x 1,481 x 81.0° Mission: POPACS 3 is one of the three 10-cm diameter spherical satellites that were used to measure variations in the upper atmosphere in auroral regions. They were developped and funded by a group including Morehead State University of Kentucky, the University of Arkansas, Montana State University and Drexel University of Philadelphia. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 687, 688 ; NSSDC 2013-055F;Gunter's POPACS ;

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Astra 2E Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #107 ; 2013-56A ; 7,365th spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: SES / Société Européenne des Satellites Sponsor: Launch: 29 September 2013 at 21h38 UT, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-200/39, by a Proton-M/Briz-M. Orbit: Geostationary at 28.2°East longiude. Mission: Astre 3E is a communictions satellite that provides digital TV, digital radio and multimedia services to the UK and Republic of Ireland, as replacement of Astra 2A, Astra 2D and Astra 1N satellites. Along with Astra 2F, it will deliver programming to almost 13 million satellite homes, over 3 million cable homes, and 700,000 IPTV homes in the UK and Ireland.  This comsat will also deliver broadcast and VSAT services in Europe, Middle East and Africa in Ku-band and Ka-band capacity. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 687; NSSDC2013-056A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;SES's 13 Apr 11, 17 Jun 13, 27 Sep 13, 30 Sep 13, 31 Jan 14 ; China Daily's 5 Aug 13, 30 Sep 13 ; Gunter's Astra 2E, 2F, 2G, 5B ;

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SJ-16 / Shijian 16 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #108 ; 2013-57A ; 7,366th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: China Launch: 25 October 2013 at 3h50 UT, from Jiuquan Launch Center, by a Chang Zheng 4B. Orbit: 600 km x 616 km x 75.0° Mission: Mission described as being for "space environment exploration and technological experiments". The inclination is a new one for China, and this is a new profile for the series. The mission of SJ-16 is unknown; the SJ ('practice') series satellites carry a mix of technology development and military payloads. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 688 ; NSSDC 2013-057A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories; Xinhua's 25 Oct 13, 25 Oct 13 ; Gunter's SJ 16 ;

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Sirius FM6 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #109 ; 2013-58A ; 7,367th spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Sirius-XM Launch: 25 October 2013 at 18h08 UT, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-200/39, by a Proton-M/Briz-M. Orbit: Geostationary Mission: Sirius FM-6 is a 6,003-kg communications satellite which delivers commercial-free music and premier sports, news, talk, entertainment and Latin programming, traffic and weather to more than 25 million subscribers. it also helps in the delivery of traffic and other data service information to markets across North America for vehicles with navigational systems. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 688 ; NSSDC 2013-058A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; SiriuxXM's 2 Dec 13 ;  ILS's 27 Oct 13 ; Gunter's Sirius FM6 (Radiosat 6) ;

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YW-18 / Yaogan 18 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #110 ; 2013-59A ; 7,368th spacecraft. Type: Radar Surveillance Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Chinese People's Liberation Army Launch: 29 October 2013 at 2h50 UT, from Taiyuan Launch Center, by a Chang Zheng 2C. Orbit: 492 km x 510 km x 97.6 Mission: Mission described as being "used to conduct scientific experiments, carry out land surveys, monitor crop yields and aid in preventing and reducing natural disasters".  This satellite appears to be the third in a series that began with Yaogan VI and Yaogan 13. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 688; NSSDC2013-059A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; Xinhua's 29 Oct 13 ; Gunter's Yaogan 6, 13, 18 (JB-7?) ;

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MOS / Mars Orbiter Spacecraft Spacecraft: “ISRO officials seem to be using the name 'Mars Orbiter Spacecraft' for the vehicle (as opposed to the mission), although the press kit uses 'Mars Orbiter Satellite'. Parts of the Indian press media are also using the nickname 'Mangalyaan' but this is never used by ISRO, so we consider this name incorrect, although the correct name is admittedly boring. 'Mars Orbiter Mission' (MOM) is also used widely for the spacecraft.” (JSR 689) Chronologies: 2013 payload #111 ; 2013-60A ; 7,369th spacecraft. Type: Planetary Probe (Mars) Families: Ranks: Sponsor: ISRO / Indian Space Research Organization  Launch: 5 November 2013 at 9h08 UT, from Satish Dhawan Space Center, by a PSLV-XL. Orbit: Initial: 251 km x 23,892 km x 19.4° (Earth orbit) 7 Nov 13: 259 km x 28,726 km  (Earth orbit) 15 Nov 13: 853 km x 194,683 km x 19.4° (Earth orbit) 30 Nov 13:  Heliocentric orbit (0.98 x 1.45 AU) (toward MarsO 24 Sep 14: Mars orbital insertion (Mars orbit) Mission: The Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), or spacecraft (MOS) is a 1,340-kg plantetary probe designed to study Mars from orbit. The scientific objectives are to explore Mars' surface features, morphology, mineralogy and atmosphere. The spacecraft is equipped with five scientific instruments and will nominally spend 6 to 10 months orbiting and making measurements at Mars. The spacecraft is based on a modified IRS/INSAT/Chandrayaan-1 bus. The main body is a roughly 1.5-meter cube. Total mass is 1,340 kg, of which 852 kg is fuel. The science payload has a total mass of 15 kg and comprises the Mars Color Camera, the Lyman Alpha Photometer, the Thermal Imaging Spectrometer, the Mars Exospheric Neutral Composition Analyzer, and the Methane Sensor for Mars.       After a successful lauch on 5 November 2013, that placed 'MOS in Earth orbit, the probe leaved Earth orbit and head for Mars on 1st December 2013. After a 300-day cruise, an orbital insertion burn on 24 September 2014 will put the spacecraft in an elliptical 76.7-hour Mars orbit, 366 x 80,000 km with an inclination of 150 degrees. The nominal mission is planned for 6-10 months at Mars. The total cost of the mission is about US$70 million. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 689, 690, 702 ; NSSDC2013-060A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; ISRO's 22 Oct 13, 7 Nov 13, 11 Nov 13, 1 Dec 13,  11 Feb 14;  China Daily's 12 Sep 13 ; Xinhua's 8 Mar 14, 9 Apr 14, ; Gunter's Mars Orbiter Mission  ;

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Soyuz TMA-11M / ISS-37S Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #112 ; 2013-61A ; 7,370th spacecraft. Type: Piloted Spaceship Families: Ranks: 304th Soyuz (7K) spacecraft, 143rd Soyuz spaceship (119th manned). Sponsor: Roscosmos Russian Space Agency Launch: 7 November 2013 at 4h14 UT, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-1, by a Soyuz-FG. Orbit: Docked to the International Space Station Recovery: 14 May 2014 at 1h58 UT. Mission: Soyuz TMA-11M is a crew transport spaceship that carriied ISS Expedition 37/38 crew to the International Space Station (Mikhail Tyurin, Richard Mastracchio and Koichi Wakata). The spaceship docked with the Rassvet module on 7 November 2013 at 10h27 UT.       After a six-month flight, Soyuz TMA-11M undocked from the Rassvet module on 13 May 2014 at 22h36 UT. It lands in Kazakhstan on 14 May at 01h58:30 UT, completing a 187 days, 21 hours and 44 minutes spaceflight (including a 187 days, 6 hours and 42 minutes stay onboard the Space Station). Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 689 & 697 ; NSSDC 2013-061A ; Spaceflight Now's 2013 Stories and 2014 Stories, ISS Expedtion 38 and ISS Expedtion 39 ; NASA's ISS Expedition 39, ISS Expeition 38 News and SS Expeition 39 News ; RSC Energia's 26 Oct 13, 28 Oct 13, 30 Oct 13, 30 Oct 13, 1 Nov 13, 3 Nov 13, 3 Nov 13, 4 Nov 13,  5 Nov 13, 7 Nov 13, 7 Nov 13, ; ITAR-TASS, 13 May 14 ; Gunter's Soyuz-TMA 01M - 16M  ;

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Raduga-1M 3 Spacecraft: Globus-1M  Chronologies: 2013 payload #113 ; 2013-62A ; 7,371st spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Russian Defense Ministry Launch: 11 November 2013 at 23h46 UT, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-81/24, by a Proton-M/Briz-M. Orbit: Geostationary Mission: Raduga-1M is a commmunications satellite specifically for Russian government and military users. The craft is based on the earlier Raduga/Gran but with increased capacity and increased resistance to the effects of radiation. One service provided by the comsat is tactical battlefield communications and the satellite can also be used with small communications terminals in remote areas. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 689 ; NSSDC 2013-062A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;RSVN's 12 Nov 13  Gunter's Raduga-1M (Globus-M) ;

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MAVEN Spacecraft: MAVEN stands for Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution. Chronologies: 2013 payload #114 ; 2013-63A ; 7,372nd spacecraft. Type: Planetary Probe (Mars) Families: Ranks: Sponsor: NASA Launch: 18 November 2013 at 18h28 UT, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's SLC-41, by an Atlas V 401. Orbit: Heliocentric orbit toward Mars. Mission: MAVEN is a planetary proble designed to study Mars' upper atmosphere and ionosphere, and interactions with the solar wind, specifically to determine the loss of volatile compounds to space through time and how it has affected the history of Mars' atmosphere and climate. It has four primary scientific objectives: (1) Determine the role that loss of volatiles from the Mars atmosphere to space has played through time; (2) determine the current state of the upper atmosphere, ionosphere, and interactions with the solar wind; (3) determine the current rates of escape of neutral gases and ions to space and the processes controlling them; and (4) determine the ratios of stable isotopes that will tell Mars' history of loss through time.      The spacecraft consists of a cubic primary central structure (2.3 x 2.3 m and 2 m high) with two solar panel "wings". A payload of eight instruments is mounted on the spacecraft: Magnetometer, Neutral Gas and Ion Mass Spectrometer, Langmuir Probe and Waves, Imaging Ultraviolet Spectrometer, Solar Wind Electron Analyzer, Solar Wind Ion Analyzer, Solar Energetic Particles, and a SupraThermal And Thermal Ion Composition.      ON 22 September 2014, MAVEN began a 33-minute burn At 1h38 UT to brake into a Martian orbit ot some 380 km x 44,600 km x 75 degrees. At Mars, the probe will go into a 4.5 hour science orbit with an inclination of 75 degrees and a periapsis of 150 km. The nominal science mission will last 1 year and will include 5 "deep-dip" maneuvers during which the periapsis will be lowered to 125 km for 5-day periods. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 689, 702 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; NASA's 2010-2014 NASA News Releases ; Gunter's MAVEN (Mars Scout 2) ;

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PicoDragon Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #115 ; 1998-067DA ; 7,373rd spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Vietnam Launch: Launched onboard HTV-4 on 3 August 2013 at 19h48 UT and deployed from ISS on 19 November 2013 at 12h18 UT. Orbit: Mission: PicoDragion is a cubesat for Vietnam. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 689; NSSDC 2013-0 ;; Gunter's PicoDragon  ;

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Ardusat-1 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #116 ; 1998-067DB ; 7,374th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: NanoSatisfi (USA) Launch: Launched onboard HTV-4 on 3 August 2013 at 19h48 UT and deployed from ISS on 19 November 2013 at 12h18 UT. Orbit: Mission: Ardusat-1 is a cubesat to demonstrate spaceborne Arduino processors for an American company. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 689 ; Gunter's ArduSat 1, X ;

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Ardusat-X Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #117 ; 1998-067DC ; 7,375th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: NanoSatisfi (USA) Launch: Launched onboard HTV-4 on 3 August 2013 at 19h48 UT and deployed from ISS on 19 November 2013 at 12h18 UT. Orbit: Mission: Ardusat-X is a cubesat to demonstrate space-borne Arduino processors for an American company. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 689 ; Gunter's ArduSat 1, X ;

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STPSat-3 Spacecraft: STS stands dor Space Test Program's . Chronologies: 2013 payload #118 ; 2013-64A ; 7,376th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: U.S. Air Force Space Test Program  Launch: 20 November 2013 at 1h15 UT, from Wallops Island's LA-0B, by a Minotaur I. Orbit: 497 km x 507 km x 40.5° Mission: STPSat-3 carries technology and space weather experiments, including an important Total Solar Irradiance sensor, TCTE, to provide data lost when the Glory launch failed. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 689 ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; Ball's STP-SIV ; Orbital's 13 Nov 13, 18 Nov 13, NASA's 20 Nov 13 ;  19 Nov 13 ; Gunter's ;

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ORS-3 Spacecraft: ORS stands for Operationally Responsive Space (a USAF office). Chronologies: 2013 payload #119 ; 2013-64 ; 7,377th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: U.S. Operationally Responsive Space Office (DoD) Launch: 20 November 2013 at 1h15 UT, from Wallops Island's LA-0B, by a Minotaur I. Orbit: 497 km x 507 km x 40.5° Mission: The ORS-3 mission carries the STPSat-3 research satellite and two CubeStack wafers which eject a total of 28 cubesats. The ORS-3 Minotaur final stage carries an experimental launch tracking system and a drag device to reduce the amount of time it spends in orbit.  Counting the final stage as a payload (since it carries active experiments) this total of 30 payloads more than doubles the existing record for active payloads on a single launch. All of the satellites on the launch are U.S. satellites (led by organizations from 13 different U.S. states), so this also sets a record for the number of satellites from a single country orbited on a single launch. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 689 ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; Orbital Science's ORS-3 ; Gunter's ORS 3 ;

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TJ3Sat Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #120 ; 2013-64 ; 7,378th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Thomas Jefferson High School, Virginia Launch: 20 November 2013 at 1h15 UT, from Wallops Island's LA-0B, by a Minotaur I. Orbit: 497 km x 507 km x 40.5° Mission: TJ3Sat is a [1-kg] cubesat which provides educational resources to other K-12 education institutions to foster interest in aerospace through the successful design and flight of a CubeSat. It is joint project between the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology and industry partners to design and build a CubeSat to increase interest in aerospace technology. TJ3Sat is the first satellite in history built by high school students and is the culmination of 7 years of work by more than 50 students.  Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 689 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 19 Nov 13 ; Thomas Jefferson High SchoolTJ3Sat ; Orbital's 13 Nov 13 ; Gunter's TJ3Sat ;

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DragonSat Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #121 ; 2013-64 ; 7,379th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Drexel University and U.S. Naval Academy Launch: 20 November 2013 at 1h15 UT, from Wallops Island's LA-0B, by a Minotaur I. Orbit: 497 km x 507 km x 40.5° Mission: Dragonsat is a [1-kg] Cubesat which takes pictures of aurora to observe the radiation dissipation intensity during the solar events, and which performs technology demonstration of gravity-gradient-boom deployment mechanism in space. The craft was designed and built by students of the Drexel University and the U.S. Naval Academy. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 689 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 19 Nov 13 ; Gunter's DragonSat 1 ;

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COPPER Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #122 ; 2013-64 ; 7,380th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Saint Louis University Launch: 20 November 2013 at 1h15 UT, from Wallops Island's LA-0B, by a Minotaur I. Orbit: 497 km x 507 km x 40.5° Mission: COPPER is a 1-kg cubesat designed to test the effectiveness of a commercial infrared camera for in-space navigation and object detection, as well as to observe Earth in the infrared spectrum. The satellite was designed, built, tested and operated by students at Saint Louis University. The project is the result of more than three years of work by more than 50 undergraduate and graduate students, with most majoring in aerospace, mechanical, electrical and computer engineering. Students will operate COPPER for 12 months. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 689; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 19 Nov 13 ; Gunter's COPPER (SLU 01) ;

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ChargerSat 1 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #123 ; 2013-64 ; 7,381st spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: University of Alabama Sponsor: Launch: 20 November 2013 at 1h15 UT, from Wallops Island's LA-0B, by a Minotaur I. Orbit: 497 km x 507 km x 40.5° Mission: ChargerSat-1 is a 1 kg cubesat design to demonstrate the full capabilities of all systems needed for satellite operations. It demonstrates three key technologies: a gravity gradient stabilization system which passively stabilize the spacecraft; four deployable solar panels which double the power input to the spacecraft; the deployable solar panels were shape to gain pattern of a nadir facing monopole antenna, allowing horizon to horizon communications. Mission Objectives for the satellite: improve communications for picosatellite operations; demonstrate passive nadir axis stabilization for picosatellite attitude control; and improve solar power collection for picosatellite operations.  ChargerSat-1 is University of Alabamat at Huntsville's first entirely student built CubeSat.  Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 689; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's ; 19 Nov 13 ; UAH's ChargerSat-1 ; Gunter's ChargerSat 1 ;

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SwampSat Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #124 ; 2013-64 ; 7,382nd spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: University of Florida-Gainesville Launch: 20 November 2013 at 1h15 UT, from Wallops Island's LA-0B, by a Minotaur I. Orbit: 497 km x 507 km x 40.5° Mission: SwampSat is a 1-kg cubesat to test an onboard miniaturized flight attitude stabilization system developed by University of Florida engineers that is the first of its kind.   It is the first satellite designed and built by UF’s Space Systems Group.  Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 689 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 19 Nov 13 ; University of Florida's News ; Gunter's SwampSat ;

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Ho'oponopono 2 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #125 ; 2013-64 ; 7,383rd spacecraft. Type: Radar Calibration Families: Ranks: Sponsor: University of Hawaii-Manoa Launch: 20 November 2013 at 1h15 UT, from Wallops Island's LA-0B, by a Minotaur I. Orbit: 497 km x 507 km x 40.5° Mission: Ho'oponopono 2 is a 3U cubesat for radar calibration (a 0.1 x 0.1 x 0,3-metre cube box). Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 689 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 19 Nov 13 ; Gunter's Ho‘oponopono 2, 3 ;

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KySat-2 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #126 ; 2013-64 ; 7,384th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Kentucky Space Launch: 20 November 2013 at 1h15 UT, from Wallops Island's LA-0B, by a MinotaurI. Orbit: 497 km x 507 km x 40.5° Mission: KySat-2 is a 1U Cubesat (a 0.1-metre cube box). Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 689 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 19 Nov 13 ; Gunter's KySat 2 ;

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CAPE 2 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #127 ; 2013-64 ; 7,385th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: University of Louisiana-Lafayette Launch: 20 November 2013 at 1h15 UT, from Wallops Island's LA-0B, by a Minotaur I. Orbit: 497 km x 507 km x 40.5° Mission: CAPE 2 is a 1U Cubesat (a 0.1-metre cube box). Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 689 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 19 Nov 13 ; Gunter's CAPE 2 ;

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Trailblazer Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #128 ; 2013-64 ; 7,386th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: University of New Mexico-Albequerque Launch: 20 November 2013 at 1h15 UT, from Wallops Island's LA-0B, by a Minotaur I. Orbit: 497 km x 507 km x 40.5° Mission: Trailblazer is a 1U Cubesat (a 0.1-metre cube box). Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 689 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 19 Nov 13 ; Gunter's Trailblazer 1 (SPA-1 Trailblazer) ;

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Vermont Lunar Cubesat Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #129 ; 2013-64 ; 7,387th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Vermont Technical College Launch: 20 November 2013 at 1h15 UT, from Wallops Island's LA-0B, by a Minotaur I. Orbit: 497 km x 507 km x 40.5° Mission: The Vermont Lunar Cubesat is a 1U Cubesat for testing equipment for a proposed future lunar mission Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 689 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 19 Nov 13 ; Gunter's Vermont Lunar Cubesat ;

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PhoneSat-2.4 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #130 ; 2013-64 ; 7,388th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: NASA-Ames Launch: 20 November 2013 at 1h15 UT, from Wallops Island's LA-0B, by a MinotaurI. Orbit: 497 km x 507 km x 40.5° Mission: PhoneSat-2.4 is a 1U Cubesat based on a Nexus/Android cellphone Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 689 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 19 Nov 13 ; Gunter's PhoneSat 2.0, 2.4, 2.5 ;

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NPS-SCAT Spacecraft: NPS stands for Navy Postgraduate School. Chronologies: 2013 payload #131 ; 2013-64 ; 7,389th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: U.S. Navy Postgraduate School Launch: 20 November 2013 at 1h15 UT, from Wallops Island's LA-0B, by a Minotaur I. Orbit: 497 km x 507 km x 40.5° Mission: NPS-SCAT is a 1U cubesat with a solar cell exposure experiment. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 689; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 19 Nov 13 ; Gunter's NPS-SCAT ;

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Black Knight 1 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #132 ; 2013-64 ; 7,390th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: U.S. Military Academy at West Point Launch: 20 November 2013 at 1h15 UT, from Wallops Island's LA-0B, by a Minotaur I. Orbit: 497 km x 507 km x 40.5° Mission: Black Knight 1 is a 1U cubesat. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 689 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 19 Nov 13 ; Gunter's Black Knight 1 ;

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Firefly Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #133 ; 2013-64 ; 7,391st spacecraft. Type: Science Families: Ranks: Sponsor: National Science Foundation Launch: 20 November 2013 at 1h15 UT, from Wallops Island's LA-0B, by a Minotaur I. Orbit: 497 km x 507 km x 40.5° Mission: Firefly is a 3U science cubesat to study terrestrial gamma-ray flashes.  It was built by the Hawk Institute for Space Sciences in collaboration with Siena College. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 689 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 19 Nov 13 ; Gunter's Firefly ;

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Horus / STARE-B Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #134 ; 2013-64 ; 7,392nd spacecraft. Type: Space Surveillance Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Launch: 20 November 2013 at 1h15 UT, from Wallops Island's LA-0B, by a Minotaur I. Orbit: 497 km x 507 km x 40.5° Mission: Horus is a 3U cubesat experiment for space debris monitoring. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 689 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 19 Nov 13 ; Gunter's STARE A, B, C (Re, Horus) ;

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SENSE-A Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #135 ; 2013-64 ; 7,393rd spacecraft. Type: Ionosphere Families: Ranks: Sponsor: USAF Space and Missile Center Launch: 20 November 2013 at 1h15 UT, from Wallops Island's LA-0B, by a Minotaur I. Orbit: 497 km x 507 km x 40.5° Mission: SENSE-A is a 3U cubesat for ionospheric monitoring. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 689 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 19 Nov 13 ; Gunter's SENSE 1, 2 ;

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SENSE-B Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #136 ; 2013-64 ; 7,394th spacecraft. Type: Ionosphere Families: Ranks: Sponsor: USAF Space and Missile Center Launch: 20 November 2013 at 1h15 UT, from Wallops Island's LA-0B, by a Minotaur I. Orbit: 497 km x 507 km x 40.5° Mission: SENSE-A is a 3U cubesat for ionospheric monitoring. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 689 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 19 Nov 13 ; Gunter's SENSE 1, 2 ;

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ORSES Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #137 ; 2013-64 ; 7,395th spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: USAF Operationally Responsive Space office and U.S. Space and Missile Defense Command. Sponsor: Launch: 20 November 2013 at 1h15 UT, from Wallops Island's LA-0B, by a Minotaur I. Orbit: 497 km x 507 km x 40.5° Mission: ORSES is a 3U cubesat ORS Enabler Satellite, a tactical communications satellite. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 689 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 19 Nov 13 ; Gunter's ORSES ;

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ORS Tech 1 Spacecraft: ORS stands for Operationally Responsive Space (a USAF office). Chronologies: 2013 payload #138 ; 2013-64 ; 7,396th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: USAF Operationally Responsive Space office Launch: 20 November 2013 at 1h15 UT, from Wallops Island's LA-0B, by a Minotaur I. Orbit: 497 km x 507 km x 40.5° Mission: ORS Tech 2 is 3U cubesat technology demonstration satellite. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 689 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 19 Nov 13 ; Gunter's ORS Tech 1, 2 (MBD 1, 2) ;

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ORS Tech 2 Spacecraft: ORS stands for Operationally Responsive Space (a USAF office). Chronologies: 2013 payload #139 ; 2013-64 ; 7,397th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: USAF Operationally Responsive Space office Launch: 20 November 2013 at 1h15 UT, from Wallops Island's LA-0B, by a Minotaur I. Orbit: 497 km x 507 km x 40.5° Mission: ORS Tech 2 is 3U cubesat technology demonstration satellite. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 689 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 19 Nov 13 ; Gunter's ORS Tech 1, 2 (MBD 1, 2) ;

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Prometheus 1A Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #140 ; 2013-64 ; 7,398th spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: U.S. Southern Command (SOCOM) Launch: 20 November 2013 at 1h15 UT, from Wallops Island's LA-0B, by a Minotaur I. Orbit: 497 km x 507 km x 40.5° Mission: This is one of eigth Prometheus low-orbit tactical communications satellites, each being a 1.5U cubesat developed by Los Alamos Nabional Laboratory. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 689 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 19 Nov 13 ; Gunter's Prometheus ;

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Prometheus 1B Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #141 ; 2013-64 ; 7,399th spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: U.S. Southern Command (SOCOM) Launch: 20 November 2013 at 1h15 UT, from Wallops Island's LA-0B, by a Minotaur I. Orbit: 497 km x 507 km x 40.5° Mission: This is one of eigth Prometheus low-orbit tactical communications satellites, each being a 1.5U cubesat developed by Los Alamos Nabional Laboratory. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 689 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 19 Nov 13 ; Gunter's Prometheus ;

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Prometheus 2A Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #142 ; 2013-64 ; 7,400th spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: U.S. Southern Command (SOCOM) Launch: 20 November 2013 at 1h15 UT, from Wallops Island's LA-0B, by a Minotaur I. Orbit: 497 km x 507 km x 40.5° Mission: This is one of eigth Prometheus low-orbit tactical communications satellites, each being a 1.5U cubesat developed by Los Alamos Nabional Laboratory. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 689 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 19 Nov 13 ; Gunter's Prometheus ;

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Prometheus 2B Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #143 ; 2013-64 ; 7,414st spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: U.S. Southern Command (SOCOM) Launch: 20 November 2013 at 1h15 UT, from Wallops Island's LA-0B, by a Minotaur I. Orbit: 497 km x 507 km x 40.5° Mission: This is one of eigth Prometheus low-orbit tactical communications satellites, each being a 1.5U cubesat developed by Los Alamos Nabional Laboratory. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 689 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 19 Nov 13 ; Gunter's Prometheus ;

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Prometheus 3A Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #144 ; 2013-64 ; 7,402nd spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: U.S. Southern Command (SOCOM) Launch: 20 November 2013 at 1h15 UT, from Wallops Island's LA-0B, by a Minotaur I. Orbit: 497 km x 507 km x 40.5° Mission: This is one of eigth Prometheus low-orbit tactical communications satellites, each being a 1.5U cubesat developed by Los Alamos Nabional Laboratory. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 689 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 19 Nov 13 ; Gunter's Prometheus ;

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Prometheus 3B Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #145 ; 2013-64 ; 7,403rd spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: U.S. Southern Command (SOCOM) Launch: 20 November 2013 at 1h15 UT, from Wallops Island's LA-0B, by a Minotaur I. Orbit: 497 km x 507 km x 40.5° Mission: This is one of eigth Prometheus low-orbit tactical communications satellites, each being a 1.5U cubesat developed by Los Alamos Nabional Laboratory. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 689 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 19 Nov 13 ; Gunter's Prometheus ;

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Prometheus 4A Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #146 ; 2013-64 ; 7,404th spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: U.S. Southern Command (SOCOM) Launch: 20 November 2013 at 1h15 UT, from Wallops Island's LA-0B, by a Minotaur I. Orbit: 497 km x 507 km x 40.5° Mission: This is one of eigth Prometheus low-orbit tactical communications satellites, each being a 1.5U cubesat developed by Los Alamos Nabional Laboratory. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 689 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 19 Nov 13 ; Gunter's Prometheus ;

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Prometheus 4B Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #147 ; 2013-64 ; 7,405th spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: U.S. Southern Command (SOCOM) Launch: 20 November 2013 at 1h15 UT, from Wallops Island's LA-0B, by a Minotaur I. Orbit: 497 km x 507 km x 40.5° Mission: This is one of eigth Prometheus low-orbit tactical communications satellites, each being a 1.5U cubesat developed by Los Alamos Nabional Laboratory. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 689 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 19 Nov 13 ; Gunter's Prometheus ;

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YW-19 / Yaogan 19 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #148 ; 2013-65A ; 7,406th spacecraft. Type: Surveillance Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Chinese People's Liberation Army Launch: 20 November 2013 at 3h31 UT, from Taiyuan Launch Center, by a Chang Zheng 4C. Orbit: 1201 km x 1207 km x 100.5  Mission: Yaogan 19 is thought to be an imaging satellite similar to Yaogan 8. It is described as being used for remote sensing but mission, which is probably military or government photo-reconnaissance. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 690 ; NSSDC 2013-065A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; Xinhua's 20 Nov 13, 20 Nov 13 ; Gunter's Yaogan 8, 15, 19 ;

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TechEdSat-3p Spacecraft: TechEdSat-3p  stands for Technical and Educational Satellite Chronologies: 2013 payload #149 ; 2013 ; 7,407th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: San Jose State University and University of Idaho students Launch: Launched onboard HTV-4 on 3 August 2013 and deployed from ISS on 20 November 2013 at 758 UT. Orbit: Mission: TechEdSat-3p is a [3-kg] CubeSat technology mission to demonstrates two new technologies. The first is a passive deorbiting system that uses a uniquely designed drag device (Exo-Brake) to perform a rapid de-orbit and re-entry. The second demonstrates the use of an Iridium modem combined with a GPS receiver to communicate accurate positional and de-orbit information. Eventually, these will be combined to provide controlled sample return capability from the ISS or other orbiting platforms.  The craft is built by students from The San Jose State University and The University of Idaho in partnership with NASA Ames Research Center.  Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 690 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; TechEdSat-3p ; Gunter's TechEdSat 3 ;

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AprizeSat-7 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #150 ; 2013-66A ; 7,408th spacecraft. Type: Communictions Families: Ranks: Sponsor: SpaceQuest (Argentina) Launch: 21 November 2013 at 7h10 UT, from Yasniy Cosmodrome, by a Dnepr. Orbit: Mission: Aprizesat-7 is a 14-kg communications satellite for data collection from small fixed and mobile ground stations. Notes: This Dnepr launch carried a record 33 satellites. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 690 ; NSSDC 2013-066A ; Spaceflight Now's 21 Nov 13 ; NSNF's 21 Nov 13 ; Gunter's AprizeSat / exactView ;

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SkySat-1 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #151 ; 2013-66C ; 7,409th spacecraft. Type: Earth Remote Sensing Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Skybox Imaging IUSA) Launch: 21 November 2013 at 7h10 UT, from Yasniy Cosmodrome, by a Dnepr. Orbit: Mission: SkySat-1 is a 90-kg commercial remote sensing satellite which collects high resolution panchromatic and multispectral images of the Earth. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 690; NSSDC2013-066C ; Spaceflight Now's 21 Nov 13, 2014 Stories;Gunter's SkySat 1, 2 ;

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Dubaisat-2 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #152 ; 2013-66D ; 7,410th spacecraft. Type: Earth Remose Sensing Families: Ranks: Sponsor: United Arab Emirates Launch: 21 November 2013 at 7h10 UT, from Yasniy Cosmodrome, by a Dnepr. Orbit: Mission: Dubaisat-2 is a 300-kg observation satellite to obtain images for commercial users in the United Arab Emirates. The craft was built by the Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology for the Satrec Initiative, a satellite manufacturing company in South Korea.  Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 690 ; NSSDC 2016-066D ; Spaceflight Now's 21 Nov 13 ; Gunter's DubaiSat 2 ;

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OPTOS Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #153 ; 2013-66E ; 7,411th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: INTA / (Instituto Nacional de Tecnica Aerospacial Spain Launch: 21 November 2013 at 7h10 UT, from Yasniy Cosmodrome, by a Dnepr. Orbit: Mission: OPTOS is a 3U satellite. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 690 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 21 Nov 13 ; Gunter's OPTOS ;

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Unisat-5 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #154 ; 2013-66F ; 7,412th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: University of Roma “La Sapienza”, Italy Launch: 21 November 2013 at 7h10 UT, from Yasniy Cosmodrome, by a Dnepr. Orbit: Mission: Unisat-5 is a 19-kg technological satellite which carries eight tiny satellites, includes the GlioSat biomedical experiment to investigate the effects of microgravity and ionizing radiation on cell behaviour, and a digital Earth-imaging system. Unisat also contains a Cubesat deployer MRFOD (Morehead-Roma FemtoSat Orbital Deployer) - a student-built technology demonstrator for deploying satellites containing Eagle 1, Eagle 2, Wren and QBScout 1, PEPPOD CubeSat deployment system containing Dove 4, and a second PEPPOD containing iCube 1, HUMSAT-D and PUCPSat-1/Pocket PUCP. The small satellites currently remain within Unisat 5. This satelite was built by university students and researchers for GAUSS (Group of Astrodynamics of the University of Roma “La Sapienza”).  Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 690 ; NSSDC 2013-066F ; Spaceflight Now's 21 Nov 13 ; Gunter's UniSat 5, 6, 7 ;

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STSat-3 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #155 ; 2013-66G ; 7,413th spacecraft. Type: Astronomy & Earth REmote Sensing Families: Ranks: Sponsor: KAIST of South Koreal Launch: 21 November 2013 at 7h10 UT, from Yasniy Cosmodrome, by a Dnepr. Orbit: Mission: STSat-3 is a 170-kg science satellite carrying two principal sensors: a multi-purpose infrared imaging system) for astronomy, providing infrared imagery of the galaxy and of the cosmic background, and a compact imaging spectrometer to provide infrared imagery for Earth environmental monitoring, land classification research, and monitoring of water quality. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 690 ; NSSDC 2013-066G ; Spaceflight Now's 21 Nov 13 ; Gunter's STSAT 3 ;

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WNISAT-1 Spacecraft: WNISAT stands for Weather News Inc. Satellite  Chronologies: 2013 payload #156 ; 2013-66H ; 7,414th spacecraft. Type: Meteorology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Weathernews and Axelspace (Japan) Launch: 21 November 2013 at 7h10 UT, from Yasniy Cosmodrome, by a Dnepr. Orbit: Mission: WNISAT 1 is a 10-kg cube) nanosatellite for north arctic routes and atmosphere monitoring.  The 30-cm cube spacecraft is monitoring the Northern sea routes and of the CO2 content of the atmosphere. The project is started from the commercial objects between Weathernews and Axelspace.  Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 690 ; NSSDC 2013-066H ; Spaceflight Now's 21 Nov 13 ; Gunter's WNISAT ;

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KHUSAT-1 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #157 ; 2013-66J ; 7,415th spacecraft. Type: Science Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Kyung Hee University,South Korea Launch: 21 November 2013 at 7h10 UT, from Yasniy Cosmodrome, by a Dnepr. Orbit: Mission: KHUSAT-2 is a 3U cubesat to join the CINEMA constellation. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 690 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 21 Nov 13 ; Gunter's CINEMA 1, 2, 3, 4 ;

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AprizeSat-8 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #158 ; 2013-66K ; 7,416th spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: SpaceQuest (Argentina) Launch: 21 November 2013 at 7h10 UT, from Yasniy Cosmodrome, by a Dnepr. Orbit: Mission: Aprizesat-7 is a 14-kg communications satellite for data collection from small fixed and mobile ground stations. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 690 ; NSSDC 2013-066K ; Spaceflight Now's 21 Nov 13 ; Gunter's AprizeSat / exactView ;

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KHUSAT-2 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #159 ; 2013-66L ; 7,417th spacecraft. Type: Science Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea Launch: 21 November 2013 at 7h10 UT, from Yasniy Cosmodrome, by a Dnepr. Orbit: Mission: KHUSAT-2 is a 3U cubesat to join the CINEMA constellation. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 690 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 21 Nov 13 ; Gunter's CINEMA 1, 2, 3, 4 ;

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Triton 1 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #160 ; 2013-66M ; 7,418th spacecraft. Type: Communications/AIG Families: Ranks: Sponsor: ISIS b.v., Netherlands Launch: 21 November 2013 at 7h10 UT, from Yasniy Cosmodrome, by a Dnepr. Orbit: Mission: Triton is a 3U cubesat with a radio science mission which aims to test an experimental advanced AIS (Automatic Identification System) receiver. Telemetry decoding software will be made available which will allow radio amateur operators to listen to periodic downlink broadcasts containing housekeeping telemetry, payload telemetry as well as received AIS messages. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 690; NSSDC2013-066M ; Spaceflight Now's 21 Nov 13 ; Gunter's Triton 1, 2 ;

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Delfi-3nXt Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #161 ; 2013-68N ; 7,419th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Delft Universito of Technology Launch: 21 November 2013 at 7h10 UT, from Yasniy Cosmodrome, by a Dnepr. Orbit: Mission: Delfi-3Xt is a 3U cubesat. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 690 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 21 Nov 13 ; Gunter's Delfi-n3Xt ;

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Dove-3 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #162 ; 2013-66P ; 7,450th spacecraft. Type: Imaging Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Planet Labs Launch: 21 November 2013 at 7h10 UT, from Yasniy Cosmodrome, by a Dnepr. Orbit: Mission: DOVE-3 is a 5,2-kg 3U Cubesat. With Dove 4 on the same launch vehicle, it mark the start of a constellation of Earth imaging satellites operated by California-based Planet Labs. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 690 ; NSSDC 2016-066P ; Spaceflight Now's 21 Nov 13 ; Gunter's Dove 3, 4 ;

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GOMX-1 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #163 ; 2013-66Q ; 7,421st spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: GOMSpace, Aalborg, Denmark. Launch: 21 November 2013 at 7h10 UT, from Yasniy Cosmodrome, by a Dnepr. Orbit: Mission: GOMX-1 is a 6-kg student built amateur radio 2U CubeSat. The mission is being flown under the auspices of a Government research grant covering space related radio research. The objective of the satellite is to qualify a number of subsystems and provide extensive in-flight data. GOMX-1 features a payload capable of tracking from space trans-oceanic flights by reception of the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) signal emitted by the aircraft. The ADS-B signal is in use today for air traffic control in areas covered by terrestrial based receivers, but is currently not of use over the oceans due to its limited range. The GomX-1 satellite with its sensitive Software Defined Radio (SDR) payload will be the first demonstration that the ADS-B signals can be received from space and utilized to provide increased global situational awareness for key stakeholders in air traffic control. The mission will also test the use of the open source Cubesat Space Protocol for a complete mission including the space link. More than 15 students at Aalborg University have been actively involved in the development of this payload as part of their semester projects.  Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 690 ; NSSDC 2013-066Q ; Spaceflight Now's 21 Nov 13 ; Gunter's GOMX 1 ? GATOSS ;

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Lem Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #164 ; 2013-66R ; 7,422nd spacecraft. Type: Astronomy Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Polish Academy of Sciences Launch: 21 November 2013 at 7h10 UT, from Yasniy Cosmodrome, by a Dnepr. Orbit: Mission: Lem is a 6-kg nanosatellite carrying the BRITE-PL astronomical photometry payload. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 690 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 21 Nov 13 ; LEM ; Gunter's BRITE-PL, PL2 (CanX 3C, 3D / Lem, Heweliusz) ;

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Cubebug-2 / Manolito Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #165 ; 2013-66 ; 7,423rd spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Argentina Launch: 21 November 2013 at 7h10 UT, from Yasniy Cosmodrome, by a Dnepr. Orbit: Mission: Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 690 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 21 Nov 13 ; Gunter's CubeBug 1, 2 (Capitán Beto, Manolito) ;

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NEE-2 / Krysaor Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #166 ; 2013-66 ; 7,424th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Ecuadorian Space Agency Launch: 21 November 2013 at 7h10 UT, from Yasniy Cosmodrome, by a Dnepr. Orbit: Mission: Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 690 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 21 Nov 13 ; Xinhua's 22 Nov 13 ; Gunter's NEE 02 Krysaor ;

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UWE-3 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #167 ; 2013-66 ; 7,425th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: University Wurzburg Launch: 21 November 2013 at 7h10 UT, from Yasniy Cosmodrome, by a Dnepr. Orbit: Mission: Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 690 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 21 Nov 13 ; Gunter's UWE 1, 2, 3 ;

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VELOX-P2 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #168 ; 2013-66 ; 7,426th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Singapore's Nanyang Technical University Launch: 21 November 2013 at 7h10 UT, from Yasniy Cosmodrome, by a Dnepr. Orbit: Mission: Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 690 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 21 Nov 13 ; Gunter's VELOX-P 1, 2 ;

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First-MOVE Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #169 ; 2013-66 ; 7,427th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Technical University of Munich Launch: 21 November 2013 at 7h10 UT, from Yasniy Cosmodrome, by a Dnepr. Orbit: Mission: Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 690; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 21 Nov 13 ; Gunter's First-MOVE ;

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FUNcube-1 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #170 ; 2013-66 ; 7,428th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: AMSAT-UK Launch: 21 November 2013 at 7h10 UT, from Yasniy Cosmodrome, by a Dnepr. Orbit: Mission: Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 690 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 21 Nov 13 ; Gunter's FUNcube 1 (AO 73, OSCAR 73) ;

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HINCube-1 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #171 ; 2013-66 ; 7,429th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Narvik University College Launch: 21 November 2013 at 7h10 UT, from Yasniy Cosmodrome, by a Dnepr. Orbit: Mission: Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 690 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 21 Nov 13 ; Gunter's HiNCube ;

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ZACUBE-1 / Tshepiso Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #172 ; 2013-66 ; 7,430th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: South Africa's Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) Launch: 21 November 2013 at 7h10 UT, from Yasniy Cosmodrome, by a Dnepr. Orbit: Mission: Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 690 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 21 Nov 13 ; China Daily's 6 Oct 13 ; Gunter's ZACUBE 1 (TshepisoSat, ZA 003) ;

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BPA-3 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #173 ; 2013-66 ; 7,431st spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Launch: 21 November 2013 at 7h10 UT, from Yasniy Cosmodrome, by a Dnepr. Orbit: Mission: Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 690 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 21 Nov 13 ; Gunter's BPA 1, 2, 3 ;

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Dove-4 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #174 ; 2013-66 ; 7,432nd spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: PlanetLabs Launch: 21 November 2013 at 7h10 UT, from Yasniy Cosmodrome, by a Dnepr. Orbit: Mission: Dove-4 is a 34 Earth imaging satellite. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 690 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 21 Nov 13 ; Gunter's Dove 3, 4 ;

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ICUBE-1 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #175 ; 2013-66 ; 7,433rd spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Institute of Space Technology, Islamabad Launch: 21 November 2013 at 7h10 UT, from Yasniy Cosmodrome, by a Dnepr. Orbit: Mission: Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 690 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 21 Nov 13 ; Gunter's ICube 1 ;

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PUCPSat-1 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #176 ; 2013-66 ; 7,434th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Pontifica Universidad Catolica del Peru, Lima Sponsor: Launch: 21 November 2013 at 7h10 UT, from Yasniy Cosmodrome, by a Dnepr. Orbit: Mission: Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 690 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 21 Nov 13 ; Gunter's PUCP-Sat 1 ;

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Pocket-PUCP Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #177 ; 2013-66 ; 7,435th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Launch: 21 November 2013 at 7h10 UT, from Yasniy Cosmodrome, by a Dnepr. Orbit: Mission: Pocket-PUCP is a 1P size, 0.15 kg, 5 x 5 x 5-cm cubesat. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 690 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 21 Nov 13 ; Gunter's Pocket-PUCP ;

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HUMSAT-D Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #178 ; 2013-66 ; 7,436th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: University of Vigo, Spain Launch: 21 November 2013 at 7h10 UT, from Yasniy Cosmodrome, by a Dnepr. Orbit: Mission: Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 690 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 21 Nov 13 ; Gunter's HumSat-D ;

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QBScout-1 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #179 ; 2013-66 ; 7,437th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: University of Maryland, Baltimore. Launch: 21 November 2013 at 7h10 UT, from Yasniy Cosmodrome, by a Dnepr. Orbit: Mission: QubeScout-S1 is a 2.5P PocketQubes. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 690 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 21 Nov 13 ; Gunter's QubeScout S1 ;

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BeakerSat-1 / Eagle-1 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #180 ; 2013-66 ; 7,438th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Morehead State Univ. Launch: 21 November 2013 at 7h10 UT, from Yasniy Cosmodrome, by a Dnepr. Orbit: Mission: BeakerSat-1 is a 2.5P PocketQubes. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 690 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 21 Nov 13; Gunter's Beakersat 1 (Eagle 1, SWEsat) ;

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$50SAT Spacecraft: Also naomed Eagle-2, 50DollarSat Chronologies: 2013 payload #181 ; 2013-66 ; 7,339th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Morehead State University Launch: 21 November 2013 at 7h10 UT, from Yasniy Cosmodrome, by a Dnepr. Orbit: Mission: $50Sat is a 1P size, 0.15 kg 5 x 5 x 5-cm cubes Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 690 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 21 Nov 13 ; Gunter's $50SAT (Eagle 2) ;

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WREN Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #182 ; 2013-66 ; 7,440th spacecraft. Type: Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: StaDoKo (spinoff company of the University Aachen) Launch: 21 November 2013 at 7h10 UT, from Yasniy Cosmodrome, by a Dnepr. Orbit: Mission: WREN is a 1P size, 0.15 kg 5 x 5 x 5-cm cubesat. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 690 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 21 Nov 13 ; Gunter's Wren ;

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SWARM-1 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #183 ; 2013-67A ; 7,441st spacecraft. Type: Science Families: Ranks: Sponsor: ESA / European Space Agency Launch: 22 November 2013 at 12h02 UT, from Plesetsk, by a Rokot. Orbit: 490 km, near Polar orbit. Mission: SWARM-1. 2 and 3 are three identical 473-kg satellites that are trapezoidal in shpate with a long boom.  Each satellite is 9.1 meters long (including a 4-metre deployable boom), 1.5 metre wide and 0.85 metre high  The boom trails at the back. Apart from deployment of the boom, the satellite has no moving parts, to ensures that there are no vibrations that could influence the measurements made by the accelerometer. Nominal life of the constallation is four years.      For four years, the Swarm constellation will monitor Earth’s magnetic field, from the depth of our planet’s core to the heights of its upper atmosphere. These satellites will give us unprecedented insights into the complex workings of the magnetic shield that protects our biosphere from charged particles and cosmic radiation. They will perform precise measurements to evaluate its current weakening and understand how it contributes to global change.  The lower pair will fly in formation side by side, about 150 km (10 seconds) apart at the equator and at an initial altitude of 460 km, while the upper satellite will rise to a higher orbit, at 530 km.  Source: Jonathan Space Report No.  ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; ESA's SWARM ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;NSNF's 22 Nov 13 ; Gunter's Swarm A, B, C (Earth Explorer 5) ;

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SWARM-2 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #184 ; 2013-67B ; 7,442nd spacecraft. Type: Science Families: Ranks: Sponsor: ESA / European Space Agency Launch: 22 November 2013 at 12h02 UT, from Plesetsk, by a Rokot. Orbit: 490 km, near Polar orbit. Mission: SWARM-1. 2 and 3 are three identical 473-kg satellites that are trapezoidal in shpate with a long boom.  Each satellite is 9.1 meters long (including a 4-metre deployable boom), 1.5 metre wide and 0.85 metre high  The boom trails at the back. Apart from deployment of the boom, the satellite has no moving parts, to ensures that there are no vibrations that could influence the measurements made by the accelerometer. Nominal life of the constallation is four years.      For four years, the Swarm constellation will monitor Earth’s magnetic field, from the depth of our planet’s core to the heights of its upper atmosphere. These satellites will give us unprecedented insights into the complex workings of the magnetic shield that protects our biosphere from charged particles and cosmic radiation. They will perform precise measurements to evaluate its current weakening and understand how it contributes to global change.  The lower pair will fly in formation side by side, about 150 km (10 seconds) apart at the equator and at an initial altitude of 460 km, while the upper satellite will rise to a higher orbit, at 530 km.  Source: Jonathan Space Report No.  ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; ESA's SWARM ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;NSNF's 22 Nov 13 ; Gunter's Swarm A, B, C (Earth Explorer 5) ;

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SWARM-3 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #185 ; 2013-67C ; 7,443rd spacecraft. Type: Science Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Launch: 22 November 2013 at 12h02 UT, from Plesetsk, by a Rokot. Orbit: Mission: SWARM-1. 2 and 3 are three identical 473-kg satellites that are trapezoidal in shpate with a long boom.  Each satellite is 9.1 meters long (including a 4-metre deployable boom), 1.5 metre wide and 0.85 metre high  The boom trails at the back. Apart from deployment of the boom, the satellite has no moving parts, to ensures that there are no vibrations that could influence the measurements made by the accelerometer. Nominal life of the constallation is four years.      For four years, the Swarm constellation will monitor Earth’s magnetic field, from the depth of our planet’s core to the heights of its upper atmosphere. These satellites will give us unprecedented insights into the complex workings of the magnetic shield that protects our biosphere from charged particles and cosmic radiation. They will perform precise measurements to evaluate its current weakening and understand how it contributes to global change.  The lower pair will fly in formation side by side, about 150 km (10 seconds) apart at the equator and at an initial altitude of 460 km, while the upper satellite will rise to a higher orbit, at 530 km.  Source: Jonathan Space Report No.  ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; ESA's SWARM ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;NSNF's 22 Nov 13 ; Gunter's Swarm A, B, C (Earth Explorer 5) ;

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SW-5 / Shiyan Weixing 5 Spacecraft: Also called “Shiyan wu hao weixing” for Experiment Satellite No 5. Chronologies: 2013 payload #186 ; 2013-68A ; 7,444th spacecraft. Type: Science & Technology Families: Ranks: Sponsor: China Launch: 25 November 2013 at 2h12 UT, from Jiuquan Launch Center, by a Chang Zheng 2D. Orbit: 739 km x 754 km x 97.8° Mission: Shiyan 5 is a technological satellite. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 690 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; Xinhua's 25 Nov 13, 25 Nov 13 ; Gunter's SY 5 ;

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Progress M-21M / ISS-53P Spacecraft: Progress M (7K-TGM) No. 421 Chronologies: 2013 payload #187 ; 2013-69A ; 7,445th spacecraft. Type: Cargo delivery to the International Space Station Families: Ranks: 305th Soyuz (7K) spacecraft and 144th Progress. Sponsor: Roscosmos Russian Space Agency Launch: 25 November 2013 at 20h53 UT, from Baykonur Cosmodrome's LC-31, by a Soyuz-U. Orbit: Docked to ISS. Deorbited: 9 June 2014 Mission: Progress M-21M is a cargo transport ship that devliers tons of goods to the International Spae Station. It made a 1.5 km flyby of ISS on 27 November 2013 at 21h50 UT to test the new Kurs-NA rendezvous system.  It then made a re-rendezvous on 29 November 2013 but a glitch forced a switch to manual TORU control for the last 60-metre to docking with the Zvezda module at 22h30 UT. On 9 June 2014, Progress M-21M was undocked from ISS at 13h30 UT. Thrusters were switched on to deorbit the craft at about 16h34 UT and the unburned fragments were sunk in the Pacific Ocean by 17h23 UT. (The destruction area is referred to as the “spaceship cemetery” and is located not far from the Christmas Island.) Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 690, 698 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;RSC Energia's 17 Nov 13, 20 nov 13, 21 Nov 13, 22 Nov 13, 23 Nov 13, 26 Nov 13, 28 Nov 13 ; ITAR-TASS' 23 Apr 14, 9 June 14 ; Gunter's Progress-M 1M - 25M  ;

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Chang'e 3 Spacecraft: Chang’e is a mythological goddess that went to the Moon with a rabbit named Yutu. Chronologies: 2013 payload #188 ; 2013-70A ; 7,446th spacecraft. Type: Lunar Probe (Lander) Families: Ranks: Sponsor: China Launch: 1st December 2013 at 16h30 UT, from Xichang Launch Center, by a Chang Zheng 3B. Orbit: Initial: 210 km x 389,109 km x 28.5°IEarh orbit)  6 Dec 13: 100 km circular orbit around the Moon. On the lunar surface since 14 December 2013. Source: Xinhua Mission: Chang'e 3 is a 3,800-kg lunar lander that has a descent engine and landing legs. It carries a variety of lunar surface experiments, including the Yutu rover. It is the first Chinese lunar probe schedule to land on the Moon and is China's most ambitious planetary mission to date.      Chang'e 3 landed about 43 km south of crater Laplace F in the Mare Imbrium (19.51° West and 44.12° North), on 14 December 2013 at 13h11 UT, Thus, (Note: The original planned landing site was in Sinus Iridum (Bay of Rainbows) but the Chinese decided to land one orbit early, with the probe flying a little further east over Mare Imbrium (Sea of Rains).) China became the third country ever to carry out such a rover mission after the United States and former Soviet Union. (This was the first lunar soft landing since the USSR's Luna 24 in 1976.) The Chang'e-3 lander conducted in-situ exploration at the landing site for one year. Notes: Wreckage of the Chang’e 3 launcher fell in a village in Suining county, Hunan province, damaging two houses. No casualties were caused, according to official sources. The resident of one of the houses was compensated $1,750, and the other received $850 after authorities assessed the damage.       The launching of the lunar probe had forced the Suining county authorities to relocate 160,000 residents before the rocket blasted off. and more than 20,000 residents living near the Xichang Satellite Launch Center were relocated to an auditorium at a primary school. Yu Menglun, a rocket scientist, told that China's rockets are able to maintain a fixed region for the dropping of wreckage.  "Normally we select the scarcely populated areas. The scope of the region is in general 50 to 70 kilometers long and 30 km wide," he said.      But Chinese experts believe the country needs an insurance plan to cover property losses, or even deaths or injuries, after space launches. "Compared with the cost of the whole space mission, damages caused to third parties are a tiny amount," said Zhang Jianheng, deputy general manager with the China Aerospace Science and Technology Cooperation.  (See China Daily's report.)      By mid-December 2014, Chinese media reported that Chang'e-3 has finished all its scheduled tasks after 13 lunar day and night cycles since its soft landing  and will continue to carry out additional tasks. During its year on the Moon's surface, which included 13 dormancies on lunar nights and awakenings on lunar days, the lunar probe carried out more than 30 radio surveys, says Cui Yan, chief designer of the Chang'e-3 lunar program. "But given its good condition, we plan to conduct further experiments to accumulate more technical experience for China's deep space exploration," says Cui. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 690, 691 ; NSSDC2013-070A ; Spaceflight Now's 9 Jan 12, 2013 Stories, 2014 Stories ; China Daily's 11 Nov 12, 6 Mar 12, 13 Mar 12, 4 Sep 13, 26 Nov 13, 26 Nov 13, 26 Nov 13, 27 Nov 13, 27 Nov 13, 29 Nov 13, 30 Nov 13, 1 Dec 13, 2 Dec 13, 2 Dec 13, 3 Dec 13, 3 Dec 13, 3 Dec 12, 4 Dec 13, 6 Dec 13, 6 Dec 13, 9 Dec 13, 11 Dec 13, 15 Dec 14 ; Xinhua's 2 Mar 11, 2 Apr 11, 21 Sep 11, 29 Dec 11, 13 Mar 12, 31 Jul 12, 28 Aug 13, 28 Aug 13, 4 Sep 13, 12 Sep 13, 13 Sep 13, 27 Oct 13, 27 Oct 13, 27 Oct 13, 28 Oct 13, 26 Nov 13, 26 Nov 13, 26 Nov 13, 27 Nov 13, 29 Nov 13, 29 Nov 13, 29 Nov 13, 30 Nov 13, 1 Dec 13, 1 Dec 13, 1 Dec 13, 1 Dec 13, 1 Dec 13, 1 Dec 13, 1 Dec 13, 1 Dec 13, 2 Dec 13, 2 Dec 13, 2 Dec 13, 2 Dec 13, 2 Dec 13, 2 Dec 13, 3 Dec 13, 5 Dec 13, 6 Dec 13, 11 Dec 13, 14 Dec 13, 14 Dec 13, 14 Dec 13, 14 Dec 13, 14 Dec 13, 14 Dec 13, 14 Dec 13, 14 Dec 13, 14 Dec 13, 14 Dec 13, 15 Dec 13, 15 Dec 13, 15 Dec 13, 16 Dec 13, 16 Dec 13, 16 Dec 13, 16 Dec 13, 17 Dec 13, 18 Dec 13, 21 Dec 13, 24 Dec 13, 11 Jan 14, 11 Jan 14, 12 Jan 14, 17 Jan 14, 25 Jan 14, 23 Feb 14, ; Gunter's Chang'e 3 (CE 3) / Yutu ;

Chang'e 3 lander (left) and Yutu rover (right). (images: Xinhua News Agency) Arrival on the Moon of the Chang'e 3 lander. (All images: Xinhua News Agency)

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Yutu / Jade Rabbit Spacecraft: In ancient Chinese mythology, Yutu, which means jade rabbit, was the white pet rabbit of the lunar goddess Chang'e. Chronologies: 2013 payload #189 ; n/a ; 7,447th spacecraft. Type: Lunar Probe (Rover) Families: Ranks: Sponsor: China Launch: 1st December 2013 at 16h30 UT, from Xichang Launch Center, by a Chang Zheng 3B. Orbit: On the lunar surface. Source: Xinhua Mission: Yutu, or Jade Rabbit, is a 140-kg six-wheeled lunar roving vehicle, China's first Moon rover, It was carried on the lunar surface onbard Chang’e 3 lander on 14 December 2013 at 13h11 UT. Seven hours later, it drove down ramps from the lander and touched the lunar surface at 20:35 UT. The rover is 1.5 metre long with its two wings folded, 1 metre in width and 1.1 metre in height, It is controlled by the command by radio from Earth. Yutu's mission is to survey the Moon's geological structure and surface substances and look for natural resources for three months. (Yutu is the sixth wheeled vehicle on the Moon following the two Lunokhods and the three Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicles.)      The rover was designed to roam the lunar surface for at least three months but problems emerged before the rover entered its second dormancy, on 25 January 2014 as the lunar night fell. Chinese authorities report that “mechanic control abnormality occurred due to the "omplicated lunar surface”, giving no details about the problems.      Cninese experts had feared that Yutu might never function again, but the rover "woke up" on 12 February 2014, two days behind schedule.  And during it’s third lunar day operations, equivalent to two weeks on Earth, the rover only carried out fixed point observations. It’s radar, panorama camera and infrared imaging equipment are functioning normally, but the control issues that have troubled the rover since January persist.      In July 2014, the Xinhua news agency reports that Yutu might have been damaged by knocking against rocks on the lunar surface “that is more complicated than expected.”  The rover, which was reported still operating, suffered a “mechanical control abnormality” in January 2014.  Zhang Yuhua, deputy chief designer of the lunar probe, said the landing site proved to be much more rugged than expected. Data from foreign researchers projected that there would be four stones, each above 20 cm, on average every 100 square meters, but the quantity and size of the stones that Yutu has encountered has far exceeded this expectation, Zhang said. “Experts said the rover was 'wounded' by colliding with stones while moving,” she said. Zhang said Yutu is much stronger than expected since it was designed to roam the moon for three months but managed to survive seven lunar nights so far. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 690, 691 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's 2013 Stories, 2014 Stories ; China Daily's 25 Sep 13, ; Xinhua's 2 Mar 11, 25 Sep 13, 25 Sep 13, 27 Oct 13, 2 Nov 13, 28 Nov 13, 27 Nov 13, 28 Nov 13,  2 Dec 13, 5 Dec 13, 14 Dec 13, 14 Dec 13, 15 Dec 13, 15 Dec 13, 16 Dec 13, 16 Dec 13, 16 Dec 13, 16 Dec 13, 17 Dec 13,  20 Dec 13, 21 Dec 13, 22 Dec 13, 22 Dec 13, 23 Dec 13, 24 Dec 13, 12 Jan 14, 15 Jan 14, 25 Jan 14, 26 Jan 14, 13 Feb 14, 13 Feb 14, 13 Feb 14, 23 Feb 14, 23 Feb 14, 14 Mar 14, 15 Mar 14, ; Gunter Chang'e 3 (CE 3) / Yutu's ;

Yutu rover on the Moon, (Images:Xinhua News Agency)

Lunar panorame photographed by Chang'e 3 ( Source: Xinhua)

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SES-8 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #190 ; 2013-71A ; 7,448th spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: SES World Skies Launch: 3 December 2013 at 22h41 UT, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's SLC-40, by a Falcon 9 v1.1. Orbit: Geostationary at 95°East longitude. Mission: SES-8 is a 3,200-kg communications satellite which features 33 Ku-band transponders to support markets in South Asia and Indo-China, as well as to provide expansion capacity for Direct to Home (DTH), Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) and government applications. The spacecraft was manufactured by Orbital Sciences and is designed for an anticipated service life of 15 years. With this launch, 148 OSC-built satellites have been completed and delivered to commercial, civil government and national security customers during the last 30 years. SES-8 is the 31th OSC commercial geosynchronous communications spacecraft. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 691 ; NSSDC 2013-071A ; Spaceflight Now's 17 Nov 12, 2013 Stories, 2014 Stories ; SES 3 Dec 13 ; OSC's 4 Dec 13, 2014 Stories ; SpaceX's 3 Dec 13 ; SpaceX's 25 Nov 13, ; Gunter's SES 8 ;

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NROL-39 (USA 247) Spacecraft: Totaz 3? Chronologies: 2013 payload #191 ; 2013-72A ; 7,449th spacecraft. Type: Radar Surveillance Families: Ranks: Sponsor: U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO)  Launch: 6 December 2013 at 7h14 UT, from Vandenberg Air Force Base's SLC-3E, by an Atlas V 501.  Orbit: INitial: 1075 km x 1089 km x 123° Then: 467 km x 883 km x 120.5° Mission: NRO L-39 mission appears to have carried the third TOPAZ radar satellite. Source: Jonathan Space Report No.  ; NSSDC2013-072A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories;Gunter's Topaz 1 to 5 (FIA-Radar 1 to 5) ;

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FIREBIRD A Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #192 ; 2013-72B ; 7,450th spacecraft. Type: Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Montana Space Grant Consortium Launch: 6 December 2013 at 7h14 UT, from Vandenberg Air Force Base's SLC-3E, by an Atlas V 501. Orbit: Mission: FIREBIRD A is one of the two 1.5U cubesats that studies electron microbursts in the magnetosphere. Source: Jonathan Space Report No.  ; NSSDC2013-072B ; Spaceflight Now'sStories;Gunter's FIREBIRD A, B, C, D ;

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FIREBIRD B Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #193 ; 2013-72C ; 7,451st spacecraft. Type: Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Montana Space Grant Consortium Launch: 6 December 2013 at 7h14 UT, from Vandenberg Air Force Base's SLC-3E, by an Atlas V 501.  Orbit: Mission: FIREBIRD B is one of the two 1.5U cubesats that studies electron microbursts in the magnetosphere. Source: Jonathan Space Report No.  ; NSSDC2013-072C ; Spaceflight Now'sStories;Gunter's FIREBIRD A, B, C, D ;

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Aerocube 5A Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #194 ; 2013-72D ; 7,452nd spacecraft. Type: Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Aerospace Corporation Launch: 6 December 2013 at 7h14 UT, from Vandenberg Air Force Base's SLC-3E, by an Atlas V 501.  Orbit: Mission: Aerocube 5a is a 1.5U technology cubesats. Source: Jonathan Space Report No.  ; NSSDC2013-072D ; Spaceflight Now'sStories;Gunter's AeroCube 5 ;

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Aerocube 5B Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #195 ; 2013-72E ; 7,453rd spacecraft. Type: Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Aerospace Corporation Launch: 6 December 2013 at 7h14 UT, from Vandenberg Air Force Base's SLC-3E, by an Atlas V 501.  Orbit: Mission: Aerocube 5a is a 1.5U technology cubesats. Source: Jonathan Space Report No.  ; NSSDC2013-072E ; Spaceflight Now'sStories;Gunter's AeroCube 5 ;

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ALICE Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #196 ; 2013-72F ; 7,454th spacecraft. Type: Families: Ranks: Sponsor: U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology Launch: 6 December 2013 at 7h14 UT, from Vandenberg Air Force Base's SLC-3E, by an Atlas V 501.  Orbit: Mission: ALICE is a 1U cubesat carrying technology experiments. Source: Jonathan Space Report No.  ; NSSDC2013-072F ; Spaceflight Now'sStories;Gunter's ALICE ;

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SNAP-3 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #197 ; 2013-72G ; 7,455th spacecraft. Type: Families: Ranks: Sponsor: SMDC Nanosatellite Program Launch: 6 December 2013 at 7h14 UT, from Vandenberg Air Force Base's SLC-3E, by an Atlas V 501.  Orbit: Mission: SNAP is a 3U cubesat with an unknown mission Source: Jonathan Space Report No.  ; NSSDC2013-0 72G ; Spaceflight Now'sStories; Gunter's SNAP ;

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MCubed-2 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #198 ; 2013-72H ; 7,456th spacecraft. Type: Families: Ranks: Sponsor: University of Michigan Launch: 6 December 2013 at 7h14 UT, from Vandenberg Air Force Base's SLC-3E, by an Atlas V 501.  Orbit: Mission: MCUBED-2 is a 1U cubesa with technology experiments including a low resolution imager. Source: Jonathan Space Report No.  ; NSSDC2013-072H ; Spaceflight Now'sStories;Gunter's M-Cubed/COVE ;

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CUNYSAT 1 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #199 ; 2013-72J ; 7,457th spacecraft. Type: Families: Ranks: Sponsor: City University of New York's Medgar Evers College Launch: 6 December 2013 at 7h14 UT, from Vandenberg Air Force Base's SLC-3E, by an Atlas V 501.  Orbit: Mission: CUNYSAT is a 1U cubesat with a GPS ionospheric receiver. Source: Jonathan Space Report No.  ; NSSDC2013-072J ; Spaceflight Now'sStories;Gunter's CUNYSAT 1 ;

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IPEX-CP8 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #200 ; 2013-72K ; 7,458th spacecraft. Type: Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Cal Poly Launch: 6 December 2013 at 7h14 UT, from Vandenberg Air Force Base's SLC-3E, by an Atlas V 501.  Orbit: Mission: IPEX-CP8 is a 1U cubesat that tests systems and algorithms for JPL. Source: Jonathan Space Report No.  ; NSSDC2013-072K; Spaceflight Now'sStories;Gunter's IPEX (CP 8) ;

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SMDC-ONE C / SMDC-ONE C 2.4 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #201 ; 2013-72L ; 7,459th spacecraft. Type: Families: Ranks: Sponsor: U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command Launch: 6 December 2013 at 7h14 UT, from Vandenberg Air Force Base's SLC-3E, by an Atlas V 501. Orbit: Mission: SMDC-ONE C is a 3U cubesat communications satellites. Source: Jonathan Space Report No.  ; NSSDC2013-072N ; Spaceflight Now'sStories;Gunter's SMDC-ONE ;

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Tacsat-6 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #202 ; 2013-72M ; 7,460th spacecraft. Type: Families: Ranks: Sponsor: SMDC Launch: 6 December 2013 at 7h14 UT, from Vandenberg Air Force Base's SLC-3E, by an Atlas V 501.  Orbit: Mission: Tacsat-6 is a 3U cubesat with an unknown mission, probably tactical communications or imaging. Source: Jonathan Space Report No.  ; NSSDC2013-072M ; Spaceflight Now'sStories;Gunter's TacSat 6 ;

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SMDC-ONE D / SMDC-ONE 2.3 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #203 ; 2013-72N ; 7,461st spacecraft. Type: Families: Ranks: Sponsor: U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command Launch: 6 December 2013 at 7h14 UT, from Vandenberg Air Force Base's SLC-3E, by an Atlas V 501.  Orbit: Mission: SMDC-ONE D is a 3U cubesat communications satellites.  Source: Jonathan Space Report No.  ; NSSDC2013-072L ; Spaceflight Now'sStories ; Gunter's SMDC-ONE ;

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Inmarsat 5 F1 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #204 ; 2013-73A ; 7,462nd spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Inmarsat Launch: 8 December 2013 at 12h12 UT, from Baikinour Cosmodrome, by a Proton-M/Breeze-M . Orbit: Geostationary Mission: Inmarsat 5 F1 is a 6.090-kg communications satellites for high bandwidth, high capacity, mobile broadband services. Based on the Boeing 702HP series satellite bus, it is the first of four satellites for Inmarsat's Global Xpress mobile broadband communications service, which is a  $1.6 billion initiative to expand access to high-speed broadband satellite communications services. The spacecraft has a designed for a 15-year design life, Notes: This launch marks the: • 392nd Proton rocket launch since 1965  •84th International Launch Services Proton since 1996 •70th Proton M using a Breeze M upper stage since 2001  Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 691 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's Stories & Mission Status Center ;  Inmarsat's 2 Dec 13, 9 Dec 13, 31 Jan 14, 7 Mar 14 ; Gunter's Inmarsat-5 F1, 2, 3, 4 ;

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ZY-1 3 / Ziyuan-1 3 / CBERS 3 Spacecraft: CBERS stands for China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite Chronologies: 2013 payload #205 ; 2013 fail; 7,463rd spacecraft. Type: Earth Remote Sensing Families: Ranks: Sponsor: China Center for Resources Satellite Data and Application and Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE) Launch: 9 December 2013 at 3h26 UT, from Taiyuan Launch Center, by a Chang Zheng 4B. Orbit: N/a Mission: Ziyuan-1 3, or CBERS 3, was a 1,980-kg Earth remote sensing satellite that was part of the China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite Program. It was developed by the China Academy of Space Technology and had a design life of 3 years. The satellite carried four instruments, including a panchromatic imager and a wide-field imaging camera. It was the fourth of the CBERS  series. The rocket failure is the first time the  Chang Zheng-4B has encountered a setback, following 19 successful launches. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 691 ; Spaceflight Now's Stories; China Daily's 9 Dec 13 & 10 Dec 13, 13 Dec 13 ; Xinhua's 28 Nov 02, 9 Dec 13, 10 Dec 13, 10 Feb 14, 10 Apr 14 ; Gunter's CBERS 3, 4 / ZY-1 03, 04 ;

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Gaia Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #206 ; 2013-74A ; 7,464th spacecraft. Type: Astronomy Families: Ranks: Sponsor: ESA / European Space Agency Launch: 19 Decemb 2013 at 9h12 UT, from Kourou Space Center's ELS, by a Soyuz-2.1b/Frega (ST-B, VS06). Orbit: Initial 344 km x 962,690 km x 15.0 14 January 2014: positioned at Lagrenge 2 point (263,000 kmx 707,000 km x 370,000 km) Mission: Gaia is a 2,034-kg astronomical observatory that is scanning the Milky Way galaxy to obtain location fixes and motion estimates, giving scientists an unprecedented snapshot of the positions, movement and characteristics of stars. The problem of accurate stellar distances has been a limiting factor in astrophysics, with big uncertainties leading to uncertain masses, luminosities and other physical properties for all but the nearest stars.  Astronomers will use the Gaia catalog, when it is available early next decade, to plot the galaxy's structure, history and evolution. Gaia also promises to discover supernovas, asteroids and planets around other stars. Thi is a $1.2 billion mission that will last at least five yeasr and will create an atlas of our galaxy. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 692, 693 ; NSSDC 2013-074A ; Spaceflight Now's 2013 Stories, 2014 Stories ; ESA's 19 Dec 13, 15 Jan 14, ; Gunter's Gaia ;

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TKSAT 1 / Tupac Katari 1 Spacecraft: The satellite is named Tupac Katari in homage to an 18th century indigenous hero who fought Bolivia's Spanish colonizers. Chronologies: 2013 payload #207 ; 2013-75A ; 7,465th spacecraft. Type: Comunications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Bolivia Launch: 20 December 2013 at 16h42 UT, from Xichang Launch Center, by a Chang Zheng 3BE. Orbit: Geostationary at 87.2° West longitude Mission: Tupac Katari 1 is a 5.2-ton communications satellite for broadcasting, education and medical services for Bolivia. It is Bolivia's first communications satellite. It was built by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) with a designed lifespan of 15 years.  Bolivian President Juan Evo Morales Ayma was present at the launch, the first time a foreign head of state has witnessed a satellite launch in China. Notes: Debris from the carrier rocket fell on Zhangxi and Quxi villages, and on Jian city, in East China's Jiangxi province, following the successful launch. “Nothing was hit by the falling debris and no one was injured,” report Chinese sources.  (See photos of debris in China Daily’s report.) Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 692 ; NSSDC 2013-075A ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; Xinhua's 21 Dec 13, 27 Dec 13, 2 Apr 14 ; China Daily's 21 Dec 13, 22 Dec 13 ; Gunter's Túpac Katari 1 (TKSat 1) ;

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Kosmos 2488 / Rodnik #8 Spacecraft: Rodnik S Chronologies: 2013 payload #208 ; 2013-76A ; 7,466th spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Russian Ministry of Defense Launch: 25 December 2013 at 0h31 UT, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-133/3, by a Rokot. Orbit: 1,480 km x 1,509 km x 82.5° Mission: One of the three Rodnik low-orbit communications satellites for the Russian military. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 692 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; RSNF's 25 Dec 13 ; Xinhua's 25 Dec 13 ; Gunter's Strela-3M / Rodnik-S Strela-3M (Rodnik-S) ;

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Kosmos 2489 / Rodnik #9 Spacecraft: Rodnik Chronologies: 2013 payload #209 ; 2013-76B ; 7,467th spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Russian Ministry of Defense Launch: 25 December 2013 at 0h31 UT, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-133/3, by a Rokot. Orbit: 1,480 km x 1,509 km x 82.5° Mission: One of the three Rodnik low-orbit communications satellites for the Russian military. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 692 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; RSNF's 25 Dec 13 ; Xinhua's 25 Dec 13 ; Gunter's Strela-3M / Rodnik-S Strela-3M (Rodnik-S) ;

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Kosmos 2490 / Rodnik #10 Spacecraft: Rodnik Chronologies: 2013 payload #210 ; 2013-76C ; 7,468th spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Russian Ministry of Defense Launch: 25 December 2013 at 0h31 UT, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-133/3, by a Rokot. Orbit: 1,480 km x 1,509 km x 82.5° Mission: One of the three Rodnik low-orbit communications satellites for the Russian military. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 692 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; RSNF's 25 Dec 13 ; Xinhua's 25 Dec 13 ; Gunter's Strela-3M / Rodnik-S Strela-3M (Rodnik-S) ;

“Kosmos 2491” ? Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2014 payload # ? ; 2014-76E ; ????? spacecraft. Type: Technology? Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Russian Ministry of Defense Launch: 25 December 2013 at 0h31 UT, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-133/3, by a Rokot. Orbit: Mission: “Bob Christy (zarya.info) has discovered a so-far-unreleased UN registration document from Russia. This document reports that the Dec 2013 Rokot launch, which placed three Rodnik/Strela class communications satellites in orbit as Kosmos-2488/2489/2490, also placed a fourth payload in orbit, Kosmos-2491.  This fourth Russian Ministry of Defense payload was not previously announced. It probably corresponds to the object tracked as 2013-076E, SSN 39497, which has a 0.4 sq m radar cross section. Two previous Strela class launches on Rokot have carried small additional Yubilyeniy scientific payloads of similar RCS; it seems likely that the mystery payload is comparable, and may repreresent a Russian military small satellite testbed. We may have to wait for further launches in the series for a pattern to become clear.” Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 697 ;

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Express AM-5 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #211 ; 2013-77A ; 7,469th spacecraft. Type: Communications Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Russian Satellite Communications Co. Launch: 26 Decemer 2013 at 10h50 UT, from Baikonur Cosmodrome, by a Proton-M/Briz-M . Orbit: Geostationary at 140° East longitude. Mission: Express AM5 is a 3.4-ton communications satellites which carries 40 Ku-band, 30 C-band, 12 Ka-band and two L-band transponders to provide governmental communications, digital television and radio broadcasting services, as well as multimedia and other services for 15 years.  The comsat is covering Russia's Far East, Southeast Asia and Australia. It was designed by Russia's Reshetnev Information Satellite Systenms for the Russian Satellite Communications Co., the country's state civil satellite operator. It was the first satellite built around the heavy-class Express 2000 platform. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 692 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; Xinhua's 26 Dec 13 , ITAR-TASS' 22 April 14 ; Gunter's Ekspress-AM 5 ;

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Aist 1 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #212 ; 2013-78C ; 7,470th spacecraft. Type: Science Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Russia Launch: 28 December 2013 at 12h30 UT, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-43/4, by a Soyuz-2-1V/Volga. Orbit: 599 km x 625 km x 82.4° Mission: Note: First launch of a new rocket, the Soyuz-2-1V, which is a lighter version of the famous R-7 Semiorka.  It is in fact a major redesign, abandoning the four side-mounted conical strapon boosters that were the R-7 family's trademark since the ICBM and Sputnik launches in 1957. The core stage's lower section has been slightly enlarged in diameter and a new propulsion system is used: the main engine is the NK-33A based on the NK-33 first developed (but never used) for the N-1 moon rocket in the 1970s. The Soyuz-2-1V second stage is the same Blok-I stage as the existing Soyuz-2-1B. This first flight carries the optional Volga third stage, a low-thrust orbit positioning bus derived from a spy satellite propulsion system. Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 692, 695 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; Xinhua's 28 Dec 13 ; Gunter's Aist 1, 2 ;

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SKRL-756 1 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #213 ; 2013-78A ; 7,471st spacecraft. Type: Radar Calibration Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Russian Defense Ministry Launch: 28 December 2013 at 12h30 UT, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-43/4, by a Soyuz-2-1V/Volga. Orbit: 599 km x 625 km x 82.4° Mission: Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 692, 695 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; Xinhua's 28 Dec 13 ; Gunter's SKRL-756 1, 2 ;

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SKRL-756 2 Spacecraft: Chronologies: 2013 payload #214 ; 2013-78B ; 7,472nd spacecraft. Type: Radar Calibration Families: Ranks: Sponsor: Russian Defense Ministry Launch: 28 December 2013 at 12h30 UT, from Plesetsk Cosmodrome's LC-43/4, by a Soyuz-2-1V/Volga. Orbit: 599 km x 625 km x 82.4° Mission: Source: Jonathan Space Report No. 692, 695 ; NSSDC 2013-0 ; Spaceflight Now's Stories ; Xinhua's 28 Dec 13 ; Gunter's SKRL-756 1, 2 ;

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© Claude Lafleur, 2013-14 Mes sites web: claudelafleur.qc.ca