Thunderbirds ? I see OPF-1 and OPF-2 😇
Home of the X-37B
The USAF Thunderbirds are flying around KSC in preparation for the Max Power air show.
nsf.live/spacecoast
Well, that explains the SUA I was still tracking...
as I was still keeping an eye on our little friend ;-)
Right, I was still keeping half an eye out for a possible X-37B landing, given the SUA area is active, but the weather at the SLF is crap so I'd say that is a big fat nope !
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Uhm, there is a curious SUA active today over KSC, does anyone know if they are practicing for Max Air Power at the SLF today ?
(to note, not the TFR thats for next week)
Because if not, my X-37B landing spidey senses are up...however the information is VERY circumstantial.
You would think that receiving a 5 year FAA re-entry license for Dream Chaser at Vandenberg would be a good reason for a nice press-release from @SierraSpaceCo but it seems recently they have stopped communicating on the topic, other then yet another CFO change.
Too bad.
Speaking of Vandenberg, now one has to start to wonder which facilities Dream Chaser will use after landing there, and given their "National Security" customer, I looked at several options before 😇
xitter.twitterapi.xyz/DutchSpace/status/2106…
1/2 As this is doing the rounds again...
This reads to me like AI hogwash, however,
as I'm not an expert in the SSA field, don't take my word for it, but both @planet4589 and @Marco_Langbroek couldn't make heads or tails of earlier statements.
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Well that's interesting, the FAA has given Sierra Space a 5 year re-entry license for landing Dreamchaser at Vandenberg.
Although somewhat expected given their new customer is the DoD, this means I get to dig around for information on Vandenberg...again... 😇
Also the "new" image released by Vantor to @thewarzonewire has had its original information redacted, as you can see by boosting the contrast and comparing to the original 2024 image
Meanwhile Vantor has provided some more information:
"Image was taken on May 28, 2024, by the WorldView-3 satellite at a range of just under 56 miles (90 kilometers)"
Source: twz.com/news-features/u-s-in…
Well, it has been awhile, but finally we have a better resolution version of the Chinese X-37B
Source: dia.mil/Portals/110/Images/N…
Assuming for a moment this is an on-orbit image, maybe made by MAXAR @Maxar (see their logo top right) apart from the SAWs on the service module, the wing shape seems wrong for the X-37B
Chinese X-37B ?
Meanwhile Vantor has provided some more information:
"Image was taken on May 28, 2024, by the WorldView-3 satellite at a range of just under 56 miles (90 kilometers)"
Source: twz.com/news-features/u-s-in…
To those that observe, the SAQ Grimeton 17.2 kHz VLF signal will be up starting at 12:30 UTC
Source: alexander.n.se/en/saq-grimet…
Meanwhile, it is that time again...
Patch y0 sh!t !
cert.europa.eu/publications/…
Meanwhile at KSC, I see some familiar Dutch people testing the Artemis III / ESM solar array :) ELM testing on-going
Source: images.nasa.gov/details/KSC-…
