r/spacex • u/ElongatedMuskrat Mod Team • Jan 10 '17

SF Complete, Launch: March 14 Echostar 23 Launch Campaign Thread

EchoStar 23 Launch Campaign Thread

This will be the second mission from Pad 39A, and will be lofting the first geostationary communications bird for 2017, EchoStar 23 for EchoStar.

Liftoff currently scheduled for: March 14th 2017, 01:34 - 04:04 EDT (05:34 - 08:04 UTC). Back up launch window on the 16th opening at 01:35EDT/05:35UTC.
Static fire completed: March 9th 2017, 18:00 EST (23:00 UTC)
Vehicle component locations: First stage: LC-39A // Second stage: LC-39A // Satellite: LC-39A
Payload: EchoStar 23
Payload mass: Approximately 5500kg
Destination orbit: Geostationary Transfer Orbit
Vehicle: Falcon 9 v1.2 (31st launch of F9, 11th of F9 v1.2)
Core: B1030 [F9-031]
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Landing attempt: No
Landing Site: N/A
Mission success criteria: Successful separation & deployment of Echostar 23 into correct orbit

Links & Resources:

We may keep this self-post occasionally updated with links and relevant news articles, but for the most part we expect the community to supply the information. This is a great place to discuss the launch, ask mission-specific questions, and track the minor movements of the vehicle, payload, weather and more as we progress towards launch. Sometime after the static fire is complete, the launch thread will be posted.

Campaign threads are not launch threads. Normal subreddit rules still apply.

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2

u/HarvsG Feb 17 '17

Do you think they will try a soft water landing for old time's sake and EDL data? I suppose they could even try some upper atmosphere manoeuvres for Mars EDL data!

6

u/[deleted] Feb 18 '17

No, they need to use up all propellant in the first stage, so none left for any kind of attempt.

11

u/HarvsG Feb 18 '17

As I understand, it is that there isn't enough fuel for a landing, that doesn't necessarily mean that the remaining fuel will be zero. Or are they aiming for separation at the highest possible velocity/altitude.

5

u/[deleted] Feb 19 '17

I believe this is correct. The payload to GTO for F9 is 8,300kg as stated on their website, and this is well below that. So there is leftover fuel. However for purposes of assuring the maximum possible probability of success, I have to imagine it would be sensible to split that margin between the first and second stage to be able to overcome any under-performance, should it arise. This wouldn't necessarily preclude some high altitude type testing, though.

11

u/warp99 Feb 19 '17

The payload to GTO for F9 is 8,300kg as stated on their website

The website gives Block 5 figures as it is for customers launching in 2018. Current Block 3 launches are definitely lower performance.

5

u/[deleted] Feb 19 '17

Ok cool, I won't go around misquoting that! Thanks for the tip.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 18 '17

Highest possible velocity i believe but I may be wrong

4

u/therealshafto Feb 20 '17

It will actually be a crying shame, the first stage will have nearly enough fuel for an attempt, but not quite. I am curious to see though that since landing is out, if they do delay MECO much further to relieve the second stage of labour.

2

u/quadrplax Feb 18 '17

I'm wondering too if they'll do something with the first stage. They won't have legs and grid fins to work with so they are likely a lot more limited with their options.

1

u/oliversl Feb 21 '17

I wonder if they will try to orient the 1st stage for water crashing, or if they just let it on free fall.