mastodon.social is one of the many independent Mastodon servers you can use to participate in the fediverse.
The original server operated by the Mastodon gGmbH non-profit

Administered by:

Server stats:

373K
active users

NOTAM issued for PSLV-C60/SpaDEx (Space Docking Experiment).

Enforcement duration 1600-2000 (UTC), 30 December 2024 to 13 January 2025.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SPADEX

Fourth stage (PS4) will be configured as POEM-4 orbital platform to host few payloads from Indian space-startups.

(Contd.) These three are not in gallery but accessible via URL. EXIF data not purged.

isro.gov.in/media_isro/image/i

isro.gov.in/media_isro/image/i

isro.gov.in/media_isro/image/i

ISRO began purging EXIF data as we used to use that to figure out launch campaign process and any oddities in it.

(Contd.) POEM-4 payload details are now available. There are 24 payloads in total including two robotic arms 🦾🦾

isro.gov.in/POEM_4_Payloads_sp

Apparently for first time all four stages were stacked in PIF.

eenadu.net/telugu-news/distric

(Contd.)

PSLV-C60/SpaDeX : Payload fairing encapsulation completed.

(Contd.)

If PSLV-C60/SpaDeX launches as scheduled from FLP, it will be the shortest period between two consecutive orbital launches for ISRO from same pad at 25.25 days after PSLV-C59/PROBA-3 launch on 5 December.

Previous shortest gap was 31.02 days between GSLV-F09/GSAT-9 and GSLV MkIII-D1/GSAT-19 from SLP.

(Contd.)

11 ground stations are supporting PSLV-C60 flight as a rehearsal of Gaganyaan flight.

(Contd.)

Three objects cataloged

62459 ( 24253A )
i=54.99°, A×P=476.32×469.14 km

62460 ( 24253B )
i=54.99°, A×P=476.40×469.26 km

62461 ( 24253C )
i=55.05°, A×P=475.43×356.84 km

Last one should be POEM-4, cataloged before achieving 350 km circular orbit perhaps.

(Contd.)
s2a systems on bsky
"Low elevation pass of the ISRO Space Docking Experiment SpaDeX A and SpaDeX B. Recorded today, 2024-12-31, between 05:27:10 and 05:27:20 UTC from the South American site."

bsky.app/profile/s2a-systems.b

(Contd.) s2a systems on bsky

"Once again ISRO’s SpaDeX A and SpaDeX B, this time at better elevation while flying over Europe. Recorded today, 2024-12-31, between 17:24:44 and 17:25:22 UTC shortly before they enter the Earth's shadow."

bsky.app/profile/s2a-systems.b

On X they noted that the distance between satellites is about 5.7 km

(Contd.) s2a systems on bsky
"Today’s SpaDeX A and SpaDeX B, while flying over Europe. Recorded on 2025-01-01 at 16:53:39 UTC."

Satellites are now ~12 km apart.

bsky.app/profile/s2a-systems.b

(Contd.) s2a systems on bsky

"Today’s SpaDeX A and SpaDeX B, over the Indian Ocean. Recorded from Australia on 2025-01-02 at 15:24:11 UTC."

bsky.app/profile/s2a-systems.b

By scale they appear to be ~8 km apart.

(Contd.)
s2a systems: "This morning's low elevation pass of SpaDeX A and SpaDeX B, over South America. Recorded on 2025-01-03 at 05:29:58 UTC."

bsky.app/profile/s2a-systems.b

Just about 5 km apart now.

(Contd.) Relocatable Robotic Manipulator-Technology Demonstrator (RRM-TD) in action onboard POEM-4.

Source: ISRO on X

(Contd.) s2a systems on bsky

"SpaDeX A and SpaDeX B, recorded this evening, 2025-01-03 at 17:27:31 UTC over Europe. The estimated distance is a bit over 2 km."

bsky.app/profile/s2a-systems.b

ISRO on X

"Life sprouts in space! 🌱 VSSC's CROPS (Compact Research Module for Orbital Plant Studies) experiment onboard PSLV-C60 POEM-4 successfully sprouted cowpea seeds in 4 days. Leaves expected soon."

s2a systems on Bsky

bsky.app/profile/s2a-systems.b

"This morning's low elevation pass of SpaDeX A and SpaDeX B, over South America. Recorded 2025-01-04 at 04:59:29 UTC. The estimated distance between the two spacecraft was about 1.9 km."

@Ohsin they turned around FLP for launch in 15 days?

@pradx Pad turnaround time is 10 days AFAIK.

@pradx From an old thread about PIF.

"Pad occupancy time will reduce to 15 days."

"Campaign duration will reduce to 23 days."

old.reddit.com/r/ISRO/comments

"Pad occupancy of 10 days" per former SHAR Director back in 2019.

youtu.be/dogXGI55CvM?t=1325

@Ohsin pad occupancy time only means the time the launch vehicle will stay on the launch pad right?

So, integration of third and fourth stage in PIF reduces the time the vehicle stays on the launch pad. It only occupies the pad for the time from integration of payloads and payload fairing to launch, for the C60 mission.

I am talking of the time the pad can be used after a launch occurs. So, pad cleanup etc.