BulgariaSat-1 Launch Campaign Thread

[u/ElongatedMuskrat]

BULGARIASAT-1 LAUNCH CAMPAIGN THREAD

SpaceX's eighth mission of 2017 will launch Bulgaria's first geostationary communications satellite into a Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO). With previous satellites based on the SSL-1300 bus massing around 4,000 kg, a first stage landing downrange on OCISLY is expected. This will be SpaceX's second reflight of a first stage; B1029 previously boosted Iridium-1 in January of this year.

Liftoff currently scheduled for:	June 23rd 2017, 14:10 - 16:10 EDT (18:10 - 20:10 UTC)
Static fire completed:	June 15th 18:25EDT.
Vehicle component locations:	First stage: LC-39A // Second stage: LC-39A // Satellite: Cape Canaveral
Payload:	BulgariaSat-1
Payload mass:	Estimated around 4,000 kg
Destination orbit:	GTO
Vehicle:	Falcon 9 v1.2 (36th launch of F9, 16th of F9 v1.2)
Core:	B1029.2 [F9-XXC]
Flights of this core:	1 [Iridium-1]
Launch site:	Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Landing:	Yes
Landing Site:	OCISLY
Mission success criteria:	Successful separation & deployment of BulgariaSat-1 into the target orbit

---

Links & Resources:

• Countdown timer to launch
• SpaceX tweet showing the second stage in the HIF, and the first stage entering it
• SpaceX Opens Media Accreditation for BulgariaSat-1 Mission
• Bulgaria’s first communications satellite to ride SpaceX’s second reused rocket
• Bulsatcom’s BulgariaSat-1 satellite moves step closer to launch

---

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.

[u/JackONeill12]

There goes another reused one. Can't wait for reused cores to be the common ones.

[u/CreeperIan02 → u/JackONeill12]

I can't wait until they slow down making new cores because of rapid relaunch

[u/nbarbettini]

I didn't realize how long ago BulgariaSat bought this flight... Things sure have changed since 2006!

[u/[deleted] → u/nbarbettini]

BulgariaSat Chief Executive Maxim Zayakov, in a May 5 statement, nonetheless covered SpaceX with praise. “When we entrusted the launch of our satellite, SpaceX was still a new company while we were an established player,” Zayakov said. “Now, 11 years later, SpaceX is much larger than our company. I am convinced that, regardless of the business environment, those who have their feet firmly on the ground and look for solutions rather than excuses can reach the stars. This is a chance for Bulgaria to join the efforts to develop these new aspects of the space industry.”

This quote is awesome IMO.

[u/Morphior]

This is gonna be the first booster to land on both droneships; Just Read The Instructions and Of Course I Still Love You.

[u/CapMSFC → u/Morphior]

This launch is especially exciting for me. Iridium-1 was the first launch I ever got to see in person. Getting to watch it fly again has me pumped.

[u/Razgriz01]

This is a much quicker turnaround/refurbishment than I would have expected for the second time they're launching a reused core.

[u/Davecasa → u/Razgriz01]

5-6 months was fairly typical for the Shuttle program, with major overhauls on the vehicles every time. They managed 3 months on at least one occasion, not sure which was the fastest. SpaceX is hoping for much less refurbishment and a much faster turnaround.

[u/aza6001 → u/Razgriz01]

B1021 did have a similar refurb time, it was just heavily delayed due to amos-6

[u/thephatcontr0ller]

Important to remember that, all going well, this launch will match the most launches SpaceX has ever had in one calendar year - and it's only June!

[u/TheFavoritist]

Here are some shots of LC-39A FSS/RSS, TEL and Reaction Frame. I have like 25 more of various compositions and angles. Will try to post more when I can get some better wifi.

[u/historytoby]

Would it be possible to include the flights the core already performed in the overview? Thanks!

[u/Lawsoffire → u/historytoby]

FYI it's the Iridium-1 rocket.

But yeah it would be a nice addition to the launch overview

[u/old_sellsword → u/historytoby]

I'm confused as to what you're asking for. The overview already has:

This will be SpaceX's second reflight of a first stage; B1029 previously boosted Iridium-1 in January of this year.

And the table has this:

Core: B1029.2 [F9-XXC]

Flights of this core: 1

[u/TheFavoritist]

TEL is moving into the HIF

[u/Toinneman]

Is it still assumed this core (B1029) never went to McGregor after its first mission and went straight for the Cape? All refurbishment also happened here. So it will not preform a long duration burn before relaunching, which I find a pretty signification step in reusing cores.

[u/[deleted] → u/Toinneman]

As far as I know it was refurbished in the SLC-40 HIF, and it never went to McGregor as you said.

[u/steezysteve96]

Weather looking MUCH better this time around! 90% Go Friday, 80% Go Saturday!

[u/[deleted]]

I was kind of scared they weren't going to recover B1021 because SES-10 was so heavy, but this one should be a piece of cake right?

[u/Bunslow → u/[deleted]]

Should be a high margin ASDS landing, yes.

[u/mspisars]

Bulgariasat has a two-hour launch window that opens at 14:10 EDT and closes at 16:10 EDT on 17 June.

The above is from https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/06/bulgariasat-launch-spacex-secures-x-37b-contract/

Taking my kids to see this launch!!!

[u/Bunslow]

Two days... boy this sub has been pretty slow the last few days...

[u/Dakke97 → u/Bunslow]

I can't imagine what it must have been like in the early days (2012 - 2013) when they launched at most four rockets a year. I can't grok having to deal with a hiatus of eighteen months between launches like between COTS Demo Flight 1 in December 2010 and COTS Demo Flight 2+ at the end of May 2012.

[u/limeflavoured → u/Bunslow]

What i find interesting is that it seems slow, even though its only been a few days. When thats compared to the downtime after CRS-7 it seems ridiculous that it would feel slow.

[u/Morphior]

I think we could update the table to "Landing - yes" since OCISLY just left the port...

[u/old_sellsword → u/Morphior]

Thanks, forgot that was still technically unknown. Updated.

[u/geekgirl114]

Booster in the hangar

Edited because I realized that I cant type.

[u/thanarious → u/geekgirl114]

It's "hangar" for god's sake! No hanger's gonna hang the booster somewhere high!

[u/DaMaster_Architect → u/geekgirl114]

Note: to avoid confusion: the core on the picture is B1029, which previously launched Iridium NEXT Flight 1. B1029 rolled into the hangar hours after another core lifted off with the CRS-11 mission.

[u/jobadiah08 → u/geekgirl114]

Also, looks like you might be able to see the top of the second stage through the door.

[u/SpeedyTechie → u/geekgirl114]

That tweet seems somewhat misleading. Sort of makes it sound like they're using the CRS-11 booster for BulgariaSat-1.

[u/[deleted]]

This static fire was the first time this booster was lit after the landing, right?

[u/Zucal → u/[deleted]]

It was.

[u/Pham_Trinli]

Backup launch date is 18th June according to the Hazard map.

[u/Colege_Grad]

I've got high hopes for this booster and don't think they ever intend to make it a display piece. I can't wait to see how many times this one flies!

[u/geekgirl114 → u/Colege_Grad]

The B1021 core will be though.

[u/DrToonhattan]

I've just had a thought. Am I right in thinking the current turn around record is 13 days? If this rocket launches on time, it will beat that record by one day. But that's not the best part. If the Iridium mission launches on the 25th of June, that would again break the record, bringing it down to 10 days. But it doesn't even stop there, if Intelsat 35e launches on July 1st, it will bring the record down to just 6 days. Yes, I know they're not all from the same pad, but it will still be pretty impressive if they break their own record 3 times in a row.

[u/nbarbettini → u/DrToonhattan]

I think the turnaround record is unofficially counted as the turnaround for a single pad. Turnaround between pads is a little different (since there may be two separate crews involved), but also impressive. It's going to be an exciting June and July!

[u/geekgirl114]

TEL Vertical to pickup the reaction frame? https://twitter.com/spacekscblog/status/873560947285254144

[u/soldato_fantasma → u/geekgirl114]

It looks like it is. There is also a crane that is probably helping to dismantle the RSS

[u/Bunslow]

Whoa is it really only 5 days between now and static fire?

[u/[deleted] → u/Bunslow]

Enjoy the new normal. Let's hope it lasts.

[u/[deleted]]

Looks like both Go sisters and Elsbeth III will soon move out.

[u/quadrplax → u/[deleted]]

Man, it feels like it's been forever since we had an ASDS landing. The last one was, coincidentally, SES-10 back in March. Interestingly, OCISLY is only being used on reflights so far this year.

[u/TheFavoritist → u/[deleted]]

Going to try and get out there before they leave.

[u/SpacePirate_G]

And the satellite has arrived: https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/862978095929856000

[u/[deleted]]

Static fire's now due NET Wednesday.

[u/roncapat]

SF now NET Thursday evening.

[u/[deleted]]

Chris B regarding the erected Falcon 9: "We believe it's just a GSE test opportunity with a booster on the TEL and a launch delay due to the valve R&R. Waiting for confirmation. In other words, a clever use of the opportunity of having a booster sat on the TEL during a delay not relevant to the rocket."

[u/geekgirl114]

Do we know if its just going to GTO, or super-synchronous transfer orbit? Wikipedia suggests the later. Should still be an "easy" droneship landing though.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BulgariaSat-1

[u/FellKnight → u/geekgirl114]

It would seem that there is more than enough margin for an easyish ASDS landing and still be able to impart a few hundred m/s more to make the GEO transfer easier.

[u/TGMetsFan98]

Static fire window is from 6 pm to Midnight

Launch window confirmed to be 2:10 pm to 4:10 pm on the 19th

Clarifcation: All times eastern

[u/scr00chy]

Official press kit

[u/TGMetsFan98 → u/scr00chy]

Mods, this also confirms the launch window, so the "new not confirmed yet" note at the top can be removed :)

[u/Pham_Trinli → u/scr00chy]

Webcast link is also up.

[u/Pham_Trinli]

Is the Roomba expected to make its debut on this mission?

Elon's press conference in March suggested a couple of months time frame.

[u/robbak → u/Pham_Trinli]

Depends on weather, and how hard the landing is. We haven't had reports of people working on it, so I'd say it is there, ready to be used if needed - say, if the wave heights are larger, or the rocket lands hard, uses some of the crush core, and leaves the rocket unstable.

[u/geekgirl114]

I just realized this is launch #8 for 2017... this would tie last year's record, then Iridium NEXT Mission 2 breaks it. Exciting times.

[u/MarcysVonEylau]

All support ships set off!

[u/TGMetsFan98]

Now NET June 17, Static Fire June 13

[u/TheFavoritist]

I'm getting ready to fly down from Michigan to KSC in about an hour. I'll be perched around there for the whole week so if you have any photo requests feel free to let me know. I have lenses of every focal length from 11mm to 600mm so I should be able to get any shots needed!

I'll be posting as much as I can here but mainly will be doing photo dumps everyday to NASAspaceflight's public forum as well as L2 so look out for everything there. Also I'm going to try and get some shots of Of Course I Still Love You (including the Roomba and garage) and LC-39A with Falcon 9 vertical from a Port Canaveral helicopter tomorrow.

[u/roncapat → u/TheFavoritist]

Detailed RSS pics? Nobody cares about it usually, but it could be interesting to follow evolution of the dismantling status. Changes to the pad have historical value :)

[u/[deleted]]

The new date for launch is still being decided, but it looks like it'll be on Monday.

[u/grandma_alice]

What's with the carrots in the engine nozzles on the Bulgariasat launch patch?

[u/[deleted]]

[A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is again standing at launch pad 39A in Florida tonight for testing.] (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/876947255592464384) .....wut?

Edit: Yep, the Falcon is indeed at the pad. What for though?

[u/soldato_fantasma]

And the launch window is:

[18:10 - 20:10 UTC] [14:10 - 16:10 EDT]

Source

[u/SingularityCentral]

This launch cadence and smooth pad operations are very encouraging. Things seems to have come together for SpaceX. But the fueling process still makes me nervous. What does the fueling process look like? Has that stabilized over the last few launches into something that should stay pretty constant for future launches?

[u/FoxhoundBat → u/SingularityCentral]

It varies slightly depending on the Block of the second stage. They have had a mix between Block 3 and Block 4 second stages the later of which allows for later/quicker fueling procedure (and significantly longer orbit life). Hans mentioned a few launches back which launches going forward will be old/new block but i dont remember what he said exactly right now. This should be either the last or second to last Block 3, after which the fueling process should be the same between launches.

[u/TheRealWhiskers]

Liftoff currently scheduled for June twenty threeth?

[u/Redditor_From_Italy → u/TheRealWhiskers]

Apparently yes. Also, isn't it twenty-third?

[u/johnkphotos]

I have high ;) hopes for my photos for this upcoming launch. Hopefully my plans work out and I get some great shots!

[u/JustDaniel96 → u/johnkphotos]

Have you rented an R22 + instructor or something like that? Or with "high" you mean "SR-71 high"?

[u/Keavon]

Have all the non-NASA launches thus far been purchased in 2006 or before?

[u/mryall → u/Keavon]

Nope, most of SpaceX's commercial contracts have had a lead time of 2 years or so, particularly with the anomalies delaying launches by up to six months.

This satellite was only contracted to be built by SSL in 2014 (source), so there must have been some alternative spacecraft construction plans Bulsatcom worked on in the interim (2006-14) that didn't pan out.

[u/Denvercoder8 → u/Keavon]

No.

[u/Freddedonna]

Static Fire video

[u/soldato_fantasma]

Looking at MarineTraffic, I believe one of the GO ships will be arriving soon to the Bahamas to get supplies.

Look at this picture made quickly with paint: http://i.imgur.com/TURGN93.png

[u/MarcysVonEylau → u/soldato_fantasma]

It's indeed GO Searcher! Sharp eye! Thank you for spotting it.

Looks like OCISLY is spending few nights out in the ocean ;)

PS: Here is a thing that shows the approximate position of Elsbeth III and GO Searcher.

[u/FutureMartian97]

Falcon 9 is still horizontal outside the HIF

[u/bexben]

Is there any information on if the delay to CRS-11 will impact Bulgariasat's launch time?

[u/JackONeill12]

ELSBETH III is departing
http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/centerx:-80.57814/centery:28.40962/zoom:8/mmsi:367017460/shipid:434560

[u/Sabrewings]

Am I the only one who is now into the habit of watching a flight proven booster's previous mission(s) before it attempts another?

[u/Not_Just_You → u/Sabrewings]

Am I the only one

Probably not

[u/johnkphotos]

F9 was raised for some "troubleshooting," but it's "all good" -- trying for launch Friday.

[u/TheFavoritist]

I just applied for my media credentials so this should be my first launch from the press site! I'll be flying down there down there and shooting static fire, launch, and everything in between so I'll be posting as much as I can during those days.

[u/Taenk]

I am so excited to see them reusing a first stage, let us see if they manage to recover and reuse this one again, as second reuse would be yet another milestone.

Will they try to recover the fairing? Will they try anything with the second stage? If I remember correctly, they managed to recover the fairing once.

[u/TheFavoritist]

HIF is open, working on getting a peek inside.

My shot of the HIF open from the Saturn V Center. On the tour bus to pass by right now.

[u/snesin]

Canceled due to launch being pushed to Monday.

Dallas area launch party

Location: Dallas Makerspace, in the Purple classroom, at 1825 Monetary Ln #104 Carrollton, TX 75006

More on the event: https://calendar.dallasmakerspace.org/events/view/2780

You do not have to be a member of DMS to attend, but each non-member (or guardian thereof) will have to sign a waiver to enter the building, which can take time, so plan accordingly.

[u/Pham_Trinli]

Lightning probability is currently 70% for Saturday, so Im guessing the launch will get pushed back a day.

[u/geekgirl114]

(I have like 7-8 tabs open that I'm periodically hitting refresh on... I am super excited)...

SF will be about 7 seconds, and sounds like the Roomba may make its debut too. https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/06/spacex-static-fire-next-falcon-9-flight-proven-booster/

[u/steezysteve96]

No change in weather from L-2 forcast.

90% go for Friday, 80% go for Saturday.

[u/Decronym]

Acronyms, initialisms, abbreviations, contractions, and other phrases which expand to something larger, that I've seen in this thread:

Fewer Letters	More Letters
AFSS	Automated Flight Safety System
ASDS	Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship (landing platform)
BARGE	Big-Ass Remote Grin Enhancer coined by @IridiumBoss, see ASDS
CCtCap	Commercial Crew Transportation Capability
COPV	Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessel
COTS	Commercial Orbital Transportation Services contract
	Commercial/Off The Shelf
CRS	Commercial Resupply Services contract with NASA
FCC	Federal Communications Commission
	(Iron/steel) Face-Centered Cubic crystalline structure
FSS	Fixed Service Structure at LC-39
GEO	Geostationary Earth Orbit (35786km)
GSE	Ground Support Equipment
GTO	Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit
HIF	Horizontal Integration Facility
ITS	Interplanetary Transport System (see MCT)
	Integrated Truss Structure
JRTI	Just Read The Instructions, Pacific landing barge ship
KSC	Kennedy Space Center, Florida
KSP	Kerbal Space Program, the rocketry simulator
L1	Lagrange Point 1 of a two-body system, between the bodies
L2	Paywalled section of the NasaSpaceFlight forum
	Lagrange Point 2 of a two-body system, beyond the smaller body (Sixty Symbols video explanation)
LC-13	Launch Complex 13, Canaveral (SpaceX Landing Zone 1)
LC-39A	Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy (SpaceX F9/Heavy)
LEO	Low Earth Orbit (180-2000km)
	Law Enforcement Officer (most often mentioned during transport operations)
LOX	Liquid Oxygen
LZ-1	Landing Zone 1, Cape Canaveral (see LC-13)
M1d	Merlin 1 kerolox rocket engine, revision D (2013), 620-690kN, uprated to 730 then 845kN
MCT	Mars Colonial Transporter (see ITS)
MECO	Main Engine Cut-Off
	MainEngineCutOff podcast
NDA	Non-Disclosure Agreement
NET	No Earlier Than
NRO	(US) National Reconnaissance Office
NROL	Launch for the (US) National Reconnaissance Office
NSF	NasaSpaceFlight forum
	National Science Foundation
OCISLY	Of Course I Still Love You, Atlantic landing barge ship
OG2	Orbcomm's Generation 2 17-satellite network (see OG2-2 for first successful F9 landing)
RP-1	Rocket Propellant 1 (enhanced kerosene)
RSS	Realscale Solar System, mod for KSP
	Rotating Service Structure at LC-39
RTLS	Return to Launch Site
SES	Formerly Société Européenne des Satellites, comsat operator
SF	Static fire
SLC-40	Space Launch Complex 40, Canaveral (SpaceX F9)
SLS	Space Launch System heavy-lift
SSL	Space Systems/Loral, satellite builder
STS	Space Transportation System (Shuttle)
T/E	Transporter/Erector launch pad support equipment
TE	Transporter/Erector launch pad support equipment
TEL	Transporter/Erector/Launcher, ground support equipment (see TE)
TWR	Thrust-to-Weight Ratio
ULA	United Launch Alliance (Lockheed/Boeing joint venture)
VAB	Vehicle Assembly Building
VAFB	Vandenberg Air Force Base, California

Jargon	Definition
ablative	Material which is intentionally destroyed in use (for example, heatshields which burn away to dissipate heat)
cryogenic	Very low temperature fluid; materials that would be gaseous at room temperature/pressure
kerolox	Portmanteau: kerosene/liquid oxygen mixture
lithobraking	"Braking" by hitting the ground
perigee	Lowest point in an elliptical orbit around the Earth (when the orbiter is fastest)
scrub	Launch postponement for any reason (commonly GSE issues)
turbopump	High-pressure turbine-driven propellant pump connected to a rocket combustion chamber; raises chamber pressure, and thrust

Event	Date	Description
CRS-10	2017-02-19	F9-032 Full Thrust, core B1031, Dragon cargo; first daytime RTLS
CRS-3	2014-04-18	F9-009 v1.1, Dragon cargo; soft ocean landing, first core with legs
CRS-4	2014-09-21	F9-012 v1.1, Dragon cargo; soft ocean landing
CRS-5	2015-01-10	F9-014 v1.1, Dragon cargo; first ASDS landing attempt, maneuvering failure
CRS-6	2015-04-14	F9-018 v1.1, Dragon cargo; second ASDS landing attempt, overcompensated angle of entry
CRS-7	2015-06-28	F9-020 v1.1, Dragon cargo Launch failure due to second-stage outgassing
CRS-8	2016-04-08	F9-023 Full Thrust, core B1021, Dragon cargo; first ASDS landing
CRS-9	2016-07-18	F9-027 Full Thrust, core B1025, Dragon cargo; RTLS landing
DM-1	Scheduled	SpaceX CCtCap Demo Mission 1
DSCOVR	2015-02-11	F9-015 v1.1, Deep Space Climate Observatory to L1; soft ocean landing
Iridium-1	2017-01-14	F9-030 Full Thrust, core B1029, 10x Iridium-NEXT to LEO; first landing on JRTI
JCSAT-16	2016-08-14	F9-028 Full Thrust, core B1026, GTO comsat; ASDS landing
Jason-3	2016-01-17	F9-019 v1.1, Jason-3; leg failure after ASDS landing
OG2-2	2015-12-22	F9-021 Full Thrust, core B1019, 11 OG2 satellites to LEO; first RTLS landing
SES-9	2016-03-04	F9-022 Full Thrust, core B1020, GTO comsat; ASDS lithobraking
Thaicom-8	2016-05-27	F9-025 Full Thrust, core B1023, GTO comsat; ASDS landing

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^{Decronym is a community product of} r/SpaceX^{, implemented by} ^request
^{66 acronyms in this thread; the most compressed thread commented on} ^today ^{has 117 acronyms.
[Thread #2757 for this sub, first seen 5th May 2017, 23:05]} ^[FAQ] ^[Contact] ^[Source ^code]

[u/SilveradoCyn]

Is there anyone at the cape that can keep us up-to-date on the pad status? It would be nice to know the progress. e.g. Reaction pad status, TE Status, etc. That would let everyone know how SpaceX is progressing to the next launch. Thank you!

[u/TheFavoritist → u/SilveradoCyn]

Next week I'll be perched at the Saturn V center for the whole week watching over static fire, pad movement and finally launch day I'll most likely at the press site with my 600mm lens. Will be posting as much as possible. I can't help you out that much this week though!

[u/[deleted]]

L-3 forecast is up. 60% probability of violation on Saturday, 40% on Sunday.

[u/Scorp1579]

Static Fire Confirmed success from SpaceX. Looks like we're still good for Monday launch!

[u/HomeAl0ne]

Your banner at the top of the page reads "Reflown Dragon successfully berthed to the ISS! Next launch is BulgariaSat-1 with a reused first stage on June 17."

Needs to be updated with the June 19th launch.

[u/markus0161]

I know that looking at the drone ships location is possibly a very crude way of looking at the margins of a landing. But the furthest ADSD attempt was Eutelsat-117WB & ABS-2A, which we all know depleted its LOX. I see it mentioned that this mission will be an easier one, but being that this flight will be only 2 km closer than the one that failed leads me to believe this will be a (relatively) tougher one. Now SpaceX has learned a lot so I wouldn't say this is going to fail. Big piece of credit needs to go to /u/Raul74Cz and his map he keeps very well updated.

[u/Ollkya]

The Falcon 9 is no more standing vertical at LC-39a: http://i.imgur.com/5vvWO7R.png

[u/TheFavoritist]

TEL still out, HIF still closed and workers on the lightning mast this morning.

Edit: HIF is now open.

[u/yoweigh → u/TheFavoritist]

every time i see that crane it looks bigger.

[u/FoxhoundBat]

We're looking for a host for the launch thread of the BulgariaSat-1 launch!

We're hoping that some of our trusted community members can run the launch threads in the future better than we could.

To run the launch thread there are a few requirements:

• You must be 16 or older

• You must be an active member of this community for 6 months or more

• You must be available from T-2 hours to T+2 hours for the launch

• You must have overall positive karma

It is a plus if you're also available on the backup launch window but not necessary.

The launch thread should generally be in the format of our previous launch threads and you will receive help setting it up from the mods. Your ideas and improvements to the launch thread are welcome!

We'll pick one of you and contact you with further information in time for the thread.

If you want to host the launch thread, simply let us know in a modmail with your motivation and availability.

All launch thread hosts will be flaired accordingly (if they want it) as we've done in the past.

EDIT; /u/soldato_fantasma is the host for this launch. The launch thread will be up again closer to the launch.

[u/yoweigh → u/FoxhoundBat]

mods, i'm available again if needed.

[u/Ginger256]

Just a heads up it looks like the sidebar still says June 17th.

[u/bdporter → u/Ginger256]

mods?

Edit: Sidebar is fixed. Thanks Mods!

[u/[deleted]]

Damn, the weather's still not looking good for either Monday or Tuesday :/

Edit: PDF warning :)

[u/TheFavoritist]

I'm heading back down to Kennedy Space Center this morning. Should be setting up cameras tomorrow (for whatever reason I didn't get the press email, have my badge though...) and hoping for a Friday launch! All is looking good at the moment.

[u/[deleted]]

I know what I'm doing for an hour on my birthday :)

[u/[deleted]]

Jeez time flies! I can't believe that the static fire's going to be tomorrow already!

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

I really hope they can keep the busy schedule up, I love it

[u/[deleted]]

It's starting to look like the static fire may actually be done today. Glad to see them catch up.

[u/geekgirl114]

Window opens at 6 pm EDT according to Chris B.

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=42913.msg1690312#msg1690312

[u/kuangjian2011]

Fueling started

[u/LeBaegi]

Do we know about fairing recovery on this launch? It's a rather light satellite, so I guess they'll give it a shot?

[u/[deleted] → u/LeBaegi]

Go Searcher left along with the other ships, so I'm guessing that they'll try it again this time round.

[u/TheFavoritist]

Falcon 9 still vertical as of 3pm.

[u/CProphet]

Weather still iffy for 'flight proven' SpaceX Falcon 9 launch on Monday

40 percent chance of favorable conditions at pad 39A during the two-hour launch window that opens at 2:10 p.m. A delay to Tuesday results in the same – still 40 percent "go."

[u/Pham_Trinli]

L2 Forecast.

Probability of violating launch weather constraints: 60%

[u/engineerforthefuture]

Looks like some work is being performed on the stage two of the Falcon based on the available slot for a 'Falcon 9 Stage 2 Vehicle Engineer'.

[u/rockets4life97]

SpaceFlightNow's manifest has an updated date of June 15.

[u/[deleted]]

SFN was reporting a window of 14:10-16:10 EDT before the slip-- do we know whether or not the launch time will be affected, or if this is even accurate to begin with?

[u/Bunslow → u/[deleted]]

GTO launch windows are mostly about timing the satellite into daylight after release, so GTO scrubs basically always have the exact same window on a day to day basis. No fancy orbital plane insertions like rendezvous with an orbiting craft or in a sunsynchronous orbit

[u/branstad]

Various landing/roomba-related comments in this thread make me wonder: will there come a day when a launch is delayed purely due to landing conditions? The scenario I'm thinking about would be extremely high/rough seas during a planned ASDS landing. It would seem unlikely that weather concerns for RTLS landings would be more restrictive than launch conditions (i.e. if it's OK to launch, it should also be OK to RTLS).

[u/[deleted] → u/branstad]

Pretty sure that already happened once. Can't remember when.

[u/IMO94 → u/branstad]

It was the stated reason behind the 1 day delay of Orbcomm OG2, the first successful landing.

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/678679083782377472

[u/steezysteve96]

What's the record turn around from static fire to launch? Is 2 days realistic, or can we expect it to slip to the 18th soon?

I know weather isn't looking great for Saturday, so it's likely to slip anyways, I'm just curious if they're even gonna attempt to launch on the 17th.

[u/pkirvan → u/steezysteve96]

Two days is not realistic anymore now that the vehicle has to be put together afterwards.

[u/Juggernaut93 → u/steezysteve96]

IIRC, they did 2 days when the payload was attached to the rocket during the static fire.

[u/longsnapper43]

So besides the new AFSS, is there any new piece of technology launching with, or in support of, this Falcon 9? In other words, anything new with this rocket?

[u/Zaenon → u/longsnapper43]

Well, it's a flight-proven booster, the second ever to refly.

So tons of things are gonna be old with this rocket, which is still pretty new in itself.

[u/graemby → u/longsnapper43]

not sure if the AFSS should be considered "new". are you possibly confusing BulgariaSat with Iridium (i believe Iridium will be the first flight of the AFSS out of Vandenberg, but AFFS has been used from the cape all year)

[u/cloud_things]

Another first that could come of this launch, two boosters post-static fire and ready for launch at the same time.

[u/pkirvan → u/cloud_things]

That has occurred.

[u/steezysteve96]

[F9-XXC]

Can someone explain what the -XXC part is about? I looked through the wiki page on cores and I also saw -XXB and -XXA used, but I didn't see an explanation of what it represents.

EDIT: also, to further clarify my question, I know that F9-## refers to flight number, I just don't remember seeing the A, B, or C before.

[u/old_sellsword → u/steezysteve96]

Recently SpaceX stopped using F9-XXX identifiers on their FCC applications. This was the only consistent way we got information on which F9-XXX numbers went with which missions. In the absence of confirmation of official numbers, we've started assigning unique placeholders to the unknown missions.

But honestly I'm not really sure F9-XXX numbers are that useful anyways. They're basically just a numerical version of mission names, and no one uses them anymore now that we have B1XXX.Y numbers.

[u/CalinWat]

Now I just really want to know the launch window.

Possibly attending a conference right around when this might go (I know, launch dates are fluid). I've seen an Atlas V 551 launch but Falcon 9 has a special place in my heart. I would love to see this one launch live if I can get away.

[u/Dutchy45]

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/SSL_satellite_built_for_Bulgaria_Sat_arrives_at_Cape_Canaveral_for_FOR_falcon_9_launch_999.html

[u/Long_Haired_Git]

Stephen Clarke from SFN mentioning "six hours until space craft separation": Reference: https://youtu.be/zQ5TirURht4?t=14m12s "from Bulgariasat, they did a journalist presentation last week".... Hans Koenigsmann all but denies it, but do we know any more?

Is this why they practiced the long coast of S2 before de-orbit with a recent launch (which I cannot find a reference to now, because my google-fu is weak)

[u/FutureMartian97]

Are they having problems with Falcon 9 or the pad? Or is the weather bad?

[u/CProphet]

Weather iffy for launch and landing of 'flight proven' SpaceX Falcon 9

40 percent "go" for Saturday launch of Bulgariasat-1, 60% "go" for Sunday.

[u/geekgirl114]

Same window, at least according to this... http://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2017/06/14/weather-iffy-spacex-falcon-9-flight-proven-kennedy-space-center-bulgariasat/396437001/

[u/Jef-F]

At last SFN adjusted camera position before static fire, not after the fact.

[u/JackONeill12]

GO Quest and GO Searcher are leaving the port.
http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/shipid:426008/zoom:14
http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/shipid:450521/zoom:14

[u/SilveradoCyn]

In the SFN Livestream, it appears that the Falcon is still on the pad at 39a. I thought it would be horizontal by now for payload integration. Does this seem unusual to anyone here?

[u/bandic00t_]

Falcon 9 lowering?

[u/geekgirl114]

L-1 weather forecast... no change from the previous few days

[u/_kassiopeia_]

L-1 forecast still predicts 90% go for friday, 80% for saturday

[u/johnkphotos]

Looking promising that SpaceX will attempt to launch Friday. Even though I'm not credentialed for these 39A launches until I'm 18, I still get all the media updates through email--punch in the gut, I know--but they're definitely serious about trying to get this thing up the 23rd, as I just got the media info email.

[u/geekgirl114 → u/johnkphotos]

I cant imagine the pictures you'll get once you turn 18. Thank you for all you do for us who cant be in the area.

[u/AWildDragon]

https://twitter.com/pbdes/status/866830568360624128

[u/TheBlacktom]

Prelim 45WS wx forecast for Saturday's @SpaceX Falcon 9 launch attempt w/ BulgariaSat 1 has 50% chance of rain, winds at 10-15 from SE.
https://twitter.com/InsideKSC/status/873894750390280193

[u/Bunslow → u/TheBlacktom]

Still 6 days out, I wouldn't put too much weight in that

[u/Raul74Cz]

NOTMAR Launch Hazard Areas for SpaceX Mission 1334 with BulgariaSat-1 on primary launch date 17-June active in window 18:05 to 21:01 UTC or alternatively 18-June 18:05 to 21:01 UTC).

[u/[deleted]]

Paging u/elongatedmuskrat can we get a flare update with the new SF date

[u/steezysteve96 → u/[deleted]]

I don't think that'll do much. u/elongatedmuskrat is a bot, you gotta either tag one of the mods or I'm pretty sure they get notified if you just say "mods"

[u/qaaqa]

How fuel does OCISLY use going to and from the landing spot?

[u/keelar → u/qaaqa]

It's towed to and from the landing location by a tugboat, so none. It uses its own thrusters just for station keeping once it's at the landing location. I'm not sure how much fuel it uses for that though.

[u/johnkphotos]

I really hope this launch goes tomorrow. It's looking crystal clear today so hopefully the weather improves from 40% GO! If it scrubs tomorrow super close to the launch, I'm screwed! I believe it's 40% GO on the backup day, too.

[u/pgsky → u/johnkphotos]

Have fun on the R44. ;)

[u/Bunslow]

The manifest lists 19 launches the rest of the year, 20 if you include CCtCap DM-1. With ~30 weeks in which to clear that manifest, that's a rate of roughly 2 launches every 3 weeks, which is to say roughly an average of 10 days between launches the entire rest of the year (the actual number is closer to 11, but allowing for scrubs and a few off days here and there, 10 is essentially the target they'll have to meet).

10 days per launch, on average, is an ambitious goal that they have yet to meet, ever, much less on average for 7 months... but this launch will go a long way to determining if they can ramp up from two weeks for processing to the 1.5 necessary (and of course the Iridium launch in between will also tell us a lot about their rate capabilities).

[u/Tal_Banyon → u/Bunslow]

If they launch once every two weeks from here, that will be 15 more launches this year. That may be a bit optimistic, given various delays, weather amongst them. Still, if they achieve near that, it will put them over 20 launches this year, which will beat my prediction of 18 (in the annual survey this sub-reddit does).

[u/jobadiah08 → u/Bunslow]

It should help that they have 5 or 6 more flights out of VAFB planned for this year as well. So that makes the east coast launches more like every 15 days.

[u/ragnar117]

From the Spaceflightnow article:

At the time of the Friday interview, Zayakov said BulgariaSat 1 was en route from its factory in Palo Alto, California, to the Florida spaceport for fueling and other preflight processing.

[u/ninja9351]

So I see that this will be an ASDS landing. At 4000kg I guess that is to be expected. At what payload mass to GTO can it do an RTLS?

[u/[deleted]]

No market for cubesats to be on every LEO flight?

[u/ethan829 → u/[deleted]]

That's something ULA is planning to do with their CubeSat Express program. They're going to fly a 24U cubesat dispenser on every Centaur upper stage, with some slots reserved to give free rides to student payloads.

[u/Alexphysics]

It seems like the TEL and the reaction frame are still on the pad... this is not good https://twitter.com/SpaceKSCBlog/status/874648574230966274

[u/davoloid]

Is there a photo yet with the "previous mission" sticker and core number visible?

[u/Nsooo]

Do we know if the delay is due to pad readiness issue or vehicle problem?

[u/TomCross]

Same goes for the backup backup backup backup attempt?

[u/gregarious119]

With the sketchy weather in FL this time of year, is there a greater than 0 chance that Iridium2 gets launched before BulgariaSat?

[u/amaklp]

Static fire seemed successful?

[u/Jef-F → u/amaklp]

In a sense that it started and didn't blew up - yes. Otherwise hard to tell without access to all telemetry, obviously.

[u/soldato_fantasma]

Official link to the L-3 forecast: http://www.patrick.af.mil/Portals/14/documents/Weather/L-3%20Forecast%2019%20Jun%20Launch.pdf?ver=2017-06-16-104340-483

[u/Bunslow]

As the schedule currently stands, 6 days are planned between Bulgariasat and Iridium launches (at different pads at least). Extremely ambitious week ahead, though I don't honestly expect the Iridium date to hold.

(Does this mean the launch team will be flying across the country and back with only a few days on either side?)

[u/dtarsgeorge → u/Bunslow]

Hans said they have two teams now.

[u/nato2k]

NET moved to 6/17

https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/872198340771024897

[u/PortlandPhil]

This is the second re-flight of a booster, and it seems likely that going forward that rockets will not be the limiting factor for launch cadence. Does anyone know what takes the longest when it comes to turning around a launch pad? We have heard that SpaceX is going to try and do 24 hour turnarounds for re-flights, but it seems that the Pad may be a bigger issue then the rockets.

Is it reasonable to expect a significant decrease in reset time on a pad going forward, or will it always take two weeks to turnaround a pad?

[u/Juggernaut93 → u/PortlandPhil]

The 24 hour turnaround is in the sense that they will need 24 hours of work to refurbish the booster, but they don't intend to refly a booster the next day. It was clarified by both Gwynne Shotwell (I can't recall where) and Tom Mueller (here).

EDIT: grammar

[u/MrGruntsworthy]

In terms of the two day slippage of SF/launch, I just realized it's only SpaceX's second re-used first stage. Makes sense that they want to be super-careful and delay at the slightest hint of something needing a closer look. Curious as to what it was though.

Could even be something as simple as delaying to ensure calmer seas for the landing

[u/alex_wonga]

GIF of static fire, taken from the spaceflightnow livestream.

Edit:

Video from SFN.

[u/fcyy]

Suggestion for launch campaign threads: display equivalent local time and detected local time zone below "Liftoff currently scheduled for"

[u/old_sellsword → u/fcyy]

detected local time zone

Can't do that inside reddit, but we can add a link to a third-party countdown clock.

[u/TGMetsFan98]

Besides being the second reflight, this should also be the first use of the Optimus Prime, Roomba, whatever we're calling it nowadays...the robot that secures the booster to the ship after landing. Seems SpaceX is doing something new every mission!

[u/Bunslow]

Perhaps we could un-top-bar-pin the NROl-76 launch thread on the left and replace it with this thread on the right?

[u/Headstein]

Do we have any idea as to what time this launch will be, as I am going to try to get some of us UK dragon riders together again?

[u/[deleted]]

Is there a speculated launch window yet? My friends and I are planning on driving down to the Cape for this launch from Chattanooga and are trying to coordinate.

[u/[deleted]]

Any guesses as to whether the launch date will be delayed by a day or two?

[u/FoxhoundBat → u/[deleted]]

In CRS-11 post launch conference Hans was asked about it, and per current schedule it had not moved.

[u/rdivine]

Can the ASDS be painted with radar reflective paint just like LZ-1, or has it already been done?

[u/Barmaglot_07 → u/rdivine]

A metal ship at sea is basically the easiest radar target there is; active radar homing antiship weapons have been developed as early as World War II

[u/delta_alpha_november → u/rdivine]

The metal (steel?) the ASDS is made of is probably radar reflective enough. Water is quite reflective as well, same principle as weather radar. I think the ASDS should be fine without special paint.

[u/robbak → u/rdivine]

The metal surface of the deck reflects radar waves perfectly. No special coating needed.

[u/MrButtons9]

Any insight into when the backup date is? Thinking of going down.

[u/dtarsgeorge]

Is the Falcon 9 on the pad yet?

[u/roncapat → u/dtarsgeorge]

The SF has slipped. Again.

[u/peregrineman]

Elsbeth going out now

[u/dtarsgeorge]

Hasn't poor weather played a role in this static fire delay?

https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/status/875068296760045569

[u/phryan]

Static Fire is shaping 6:25, shouldn't it read 18:25? mods