Alicia Siegel (9:25)

Yes, we include links to all the original sources for further reading in our show Notes. We also like to add a few additional stories for you to read up on today. We've included a Reuters exclusive article on Japan's Axle Space who say they're seeking a listing and a Space Systems Command update on the Oracle M Hot Fire test.

Maria Varmazas (9:43)

And remember that all of those links can also be found on our website, which you can find@spare.n2k.com just click on today's episode title for more. Hey T Minus Crew. Tune in tomorrow for T Minus Deep Space, our show for extended interviews, special editions and deep dives with some of the most influential professionals in the space industry. And tomorrow we have Charles Slatkin talking about the legacy of visionary Dr. Robert H. Goddard. Check it out. While you're enjoying the lovely Mother's Day weekend here in the United States or calling your mom and wishing her a good one, this is your timely reminder folks. You don't want to miss.

Dave (10:37)

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Maria Varmazas (11:29)

Our friends at NSF have the weekly Space Traffic Report for you. Now Foreign.

Alice Carruth (11:36)

I'm Alicia Siegel for NSF and this is your weekly space Traffic report for T minus Space. This was a really rare week with only two launches, both of them being Starlink missions by SpaceX. The first one lifted off on May 4 at 8:54 UTC from Launch Complex 39A in Florida, carrying 29 Starlink V2 mini satellites into low earth orbit. That was a record number of Starlink V2 mini satellites launched in a single Falcon 9 mission, mostly thanks to upgrades to the satellites to red while maintaining or improving their capabilities. According to SpaceX, these so called optimized V2 mini satellites would have a mass of approximately 575 kg. This means that with 29 of them on board, the total payload mass was shy of 17 metric tons for this mission. While that's a lot of mass, it's still not the most mass that Falcon 9 has launched in a single flight. That record currently sits at about 17.4 metric tons, so who knows, perhaps future small tweaks may allow SpaceX to even fit in an extra satellite or two. The first ST this mission, B1078, was flying for 20th time, becoming the 11th booster to reach 20 flights. It then successfully landed on SpaceX's drone ship, a shortfall of gravitas to be reused on a later mission. The other launch of the week was from Space Launch Complex 40 on May 7 at 1:17 UTC, carrying 28 Starlink V2 mini satellites into low earth orbit. The first stage for this mission was flying for a seventh time and it successfully landed on SpaceX's drone ship. Just read the instructions. Those two launches add 57 new Starlink satellites to the total launched by SpaceX, which is now at 8,488. Of those, 1,112 have re entered and 6,616 have moved into their operational orbit. Going into next week we may see a lot more action with SpaceX planning up to five Starlink launches and one of them might even be happening. As this episode is being edited, there are also two potential launches from China as well, and although this past week we had hoped to see the second flight of the Changjung 12, it looks as though that's been delay for the moment. At the end of next week we may also see Gilmour Space try to launch its Eris rocket from Australia. The company finally had its launch license approved by the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority and is awaiting final approval from the Australian Space Agency. Pending that final sign off, Gilmour's targeting the first launch attempt of ERIS no earlier than May 15, so we'll keep a close eye on that for next week's episode. Next week we may also have an unusual return to Earth. All the way back In March of 1972, the Soviet Union launched the Venera 8 mission to the planet Venus. Just a few days after that launch, the country launched another mission, which is believed to have been another Venera probe. However, the upper stage that should have sent the probe to Venus shut down early during the burn to escape Earth's gravity and left the spacecraft in a highly elliptical orbit around the Earth. Over time, due to atmospheric drag when flying closer to Earth, that orbit has been degrading, and that means that this probe may come back down sometime next week. Right now, based on the latest estimations and tracking of the object's trajectory, it appears that it may re enter sometime in the morning of May 10th. Knowing exactly when it might finally re enter is hard to predict because it depends on the exact mass and size of the spacecraft, the drag that it creates, and even the orientation of the spacecraft. It's very common that as uncontrolled objects encounter slightly thicker air, they may start to tumble, which changes the amount of area presented to the atmosphere and therefore the amount of drag, which then in turn changes how much it slows down and therefore for when it might re enter. So it's not a surprise that for now, many of these predictions have really long time windows, even when very close to that reentry. That also means that we won't know the exact reentry location until it actually happens. The probe includes a descent capsule that was meant to land on Venus, so there's a good chance that it might survive reentry. But without a parachute it may also impact the ground at terminal velocity and we certainly don't want to be underneath that. I'm Alicia Segal for NSF and that's your weekly space traffic report. Now back to T minus space.

Maria Varmazas (15:55)

We'll be right back.

Dave (16:02)

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Maria Varmazas (16:49)

Welcome back. A quick update from ESA now on the re entry of the Cosmos 482, a 53 year old piece of space debray launched by the USSR that was originally Venus bound and well, didn't really make it far past launch. We are now in the window of time where Cosmos is due to make its return home, shall we say. And lots of people have been trying to track where and when exactly that might be happening as the uncertainty of aforementioned event decreases the closer to the actual event that we get. And ESA says we now have a concrete window as of time of this recording. The latest estimate is May 10, 06:26 UTC + or -4.35 hours. So if you're listening to this show right after it drops Friday evening, it may be happening imminently. And if you're listening Saturday or later, no judgment, it has already happened. As for where it's going to happen, or happened between 52 degrees north and south of the equator is the current prediction, which is just about the entire inhabited section of our planet, so not a lot to go on there. Chances are always statistically that it will re enter over water for example. If it happens to come back to Earth exactly at 6:26 UTC, it will land in the Bay of Bengal, a smidge closer to India's southeastern coast. Now given rising geopolitical tensions in that region right now, let's hope if a flaming fireball of space debris does appear, it doesn't cause any undue alarm and just gives us some spectacular photos and videos to peacefully enjoy. Nonetheless, if you are curious to track Cosmos 482 on its fiery return home in your tracker of Choice, use NORAD ID 6073.

Host Name (18:39)

That'S it for TMINS for May 9, 2025, brought to you by N2K CyberWire. For additional resources from today's report, check out our show notes@space.m2k.com we'd love to.

Maria Varmazas (18:50)

Know what you think of this podcast.

Host Name (18:51)

Your feedback ensures we deliver the insights that keep you a step ahead in this rapidly changing space industry of ours. If you like the show, please share a rating and review in your podcast app. Please also fill out the survey in the Show Note or send an email to space2k.com we're privileged that N2K CyberWire is part of the daily routine of the most influential leaders and operators in the public and private sector. From the Fortune 500 to many of the world's preeminent intelligence and law enforcement agencies, N2K makes it easy for companies to optimize your biggest investments your people. We make you smarter about your teams while making your teams smarter. Learn how@n2k.com N2K's senior producer is Alice Carruth.

Maria Varmazas (19:31)

Our producer is Liz Stokes. We are mixed by Elliot Peltzman and Trey Hester with original music by Elliot Peltzman. Our executive producer is Jennifer Ibin. Peter Kilby is our publisher and I am your host, Maria Varmazes. Thanks for listening. Have a wonderful weekend and a wonderful Mother's Day.

Alice Carruth (19:56)

T minus.