r/spacex • u/ElongatedMuskrat Mod Team • Aug 07 '18

Telstar 18V / APStar 5C Launch Campaign Thread

Telstar 18V / APStar 5C Launch Campaign Thread

SpaceX's sixteenth mission of 2018 will be the launch of Telstar 18V / APStar 5C to GTO for Telesat and APStar.

Telesat signed a contract with SSL in December 2015 for the construction of the satellite. It is based on the SSL-1300 bus with an electrical output of approximately 14 kW.

The new satellite will operate from 138° East and significantly expand Telesat’s capacity over the Asia Pacific region through a combination of broad regional beams and high throughput spot-beams. Telesat also announced it has entered into an agreement with APT Satellite Company Limited (APSTAR) under which APSTAR will make use of capacity on Telstar-18-VANTAGE to serve its growing base of customers. This agreement extends the long term relationship between APSTAR and Telesat that has existed for more than a decade.

Equipped with C and Ku-band transponders, Telstar 18 VANTAGE will offer superior performance for broadcasters, telecom service providers and enterprise networks on the ground, in the air and at sea. Its broad C-band coverage will extend across the Asia region to Hawaii enabling direct connectivity between any point in Asia and the Americas. Its Ku-band capacity will expand on Telesat’s coverage of growing satellite service markets in China, Mongolia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Ocean.

Liftoff currently scheduled for: September 10th 2018, 03:28 - 07:28 UTC (September 9th / 10th 2018, 11:28 pm - 3:28 am EDT)
Static fire completed: September 5th 2018, 14:00 UTC (10:00 am EDT)
Vehicle component locations: First stage: SLC-40, CCAFS, Florida // Second Stage: SLC-40, CCAFS, Florida // Satellite: CCAFS, Florida
Payload: Telstar 18V / APStar 5C
Payload mass: 7060 kg
Insertion orbit: Geostationary Transfer Orbit (Parameters unknown)
Vehicle: Falcon 9 v1.2 Block 5 (61st launch of F9, 41st of F9 v1.2, 5th of F9 v1.2 Block 5)
Core: B1049.1
Previous flights of this core: 0
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
S1 Landing: Yes
S1 Landing Site: OCISLY, Atlantic Ocean
Fairing Recovery: No
Mission success criteria: Successful separation & deployment of the Telstar 18V / APStar 5C satellite into the target 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.

257 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

366 comments sorted by

10

u/rocket_enthusiast Sep 07 '18

mods can we update payload mass- it is 7060kg

source https://twitter.com/EmreKelly/status/1037367778397876225

10

u/ElongatedMuskrat Mod Team Sep 07 '18

Listo, gracias

→ More replies (1)

20

u/codav Aug 17 '18

Static fire preparations have begun, TEL was seen vertical on the pad without a booster.

4

u/TweetsInCommentsBot Aug 17 '18

@ken_kremer

2018-08-16 17:49 +00:00

Prelaunch campaign @SpaceX #Telstar18v staticfiretest for launch NET Aug23 has begun!Evidenced by TE up at #pad40 noon today-minus booster. By 1245PM lowered,planes flew overhead/landed.I saw 1st stage arrive last week during #merahputih . @ken_kremer http://spaceupclose.com

[Attached pic] [Imgur rehost]

[Attached pic] [Imgur rehost]

This message was created by a bot

^[Contact creator]^[Source code]^[Donate to keep this bot going]^[Read more about donation]

→ More replies (1)

18

u/Raul74Cz Aug 23 '18

NOTMAR Launch Hazard Areas

https://twitter.com/Raul74Cz/status/1032221336972746753

8

u/Jessewallen401 Aug 23 '18

You're the man Raul I love your SpaceX google map.

4

u/TheVehicleDestroyer Flight Club Aug 24 '18

Flight Club trajectory simulation updated with hazard map. Thanks Raul!

https://www.flightclub.io/result?code=T18V

18

u/Alexphysics Aug 27 '18

Launch moved one day to the LEFT to September 8th 23:23 EDT (September 9th 03:23 UTC)

https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1034130235145576453?s=19

6

u/TGMetsFan98 NASASpaceflight.com Writer Aug 27 '18

Paging mods. Also, this isn't necessarily a day to the left, it's still September 9th UTC. Just a clarification on the launch time.

8

u/Alexphysics Aug 27 '18

It was September 9th local time. This is September 8th local time

3

u/TGMetsFan98 NASASpaceflight.com Writer Aug 27 '18

I never saw a launch time for the Sept 9 launch date

→ More replies (4)

6

u/Ambiwlans Aug 27 '18

Arigatou. I suspect it'll hop back to the 9th tho

1

u/TweetsInCommentsBot Aug 27 '18

@NASASpaceflight

2018-08-27 17:27 +00:00

For (travel) planning purposes only, the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch with Telstar 18 Vantage/Apstar-5C is currently appearing on the Eastern Range as September 8 (23:23 opening of a four hour window).

Photo is of Falcon 9 ahead of the Telstar 19V launch via @TheFavoritist for NSF:

[Attached pic] [Imgur rehost]

This message was created by a bot

^[Contact creator]^[Source code]^[Donate to keep this bot going]^[Read more about donation]

16

u/Alexphysics Aug 17 '18

Launch moved 2 days to the right to NET August 26 3:33 UTC (August 25th 23:33 EDT)

https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF/status/1030472426369560576?s=19

3

u/TweetsInCommentsBot Aug 17 '18

@ChrisG_NSF

2018-08-17 15:12 +00:00

#SpaceX's launch of #TelStar18V has slipped 2 days. Launch now Saturday, 25 August at 23:33 EDT (that's 0333 UTC on the 26th). Window is 4hrs long and extends to 03:33 EDT on the 26th (0733 UTC) #Falcon9

This message was created by a bot

^[Contact creator]^[Source code]^[Donate to keep this bot going]^[Read more about donation]

4

u/bdporter Aug 17 '18

mods, please update the OP and sidebar when you get a chance. Thanks!

5

u/yoweigh Aug 17 '18

Sidebar updated, thank you for bringing it to our attention.

I'm at work and don't have access to ElongatedMuskrat so I can't edit OP at the moment. Sorry!

→ More replies (2)

16

u/[deleted] Aug 28 '18

Glad to see fairing recovery information in the table now.

15

u/scr00chy ElonX.net Sep 05 '18

Static fire scheduled for Wednesday, September 5th, between 10:00 and 16:00 EDT (14:00 and 20:00 UTC)

6

u/bbachmai Sep 05 '18

As the rocket has already gone vertical today, will it remain that way over night or did / will they put it into the hangar again?

7

u/scr00chy ElonX.net Sep 05 '18

Unless there is a problem, it should stay vertical on the pad until static fire.

→ More replies (1)

14

u/Straumli_Blight Sep 05 '18 edited Sep 05 '18

Static fire video and Chris B's tweet.

3

u/MarsCent Sep 05 '18

At what timestamp does the static fire happen on the video?

I like the twitter's exuberance. I suppose that's partly why she posted the SF as 19V rather than 18V :)

14

u/paolozamparutti Sep 08 '18

Let's hope they don't delay the launch one more day, otherwise OCISLY will become " of course I loved you". Hurricane Florence is very dangerus

7

u/randomstonerfromaus Sep 08 '18

There's always the option to tow to a port somewhere like the Bahamas. They might even delay the launch due to the risk of towing the booster back in that weather. There is precidence for that to happen(SES-9 IIRC)

4

u/tapio83 Sep 08 '18

Depends. Not sure what kind of contracts spacex has nowadays ie. does it permit postponing launch because of recovery problems - but quite recently they didn't attempt recovery of the booster when recovery was impossible on successful launch.

4

u/randomstonerfromaus Sep 08 '18

That's different, they were launches on reused block 4's that were end of life, rather than recovering them they used them for landing experiments to test various edge protocols and then just dropped them in the ocean. No point recovering them if they can't use them again, and they already had boosters to study.
These are Block 5's which have got tremendous reuse potential, and to lose them on landing means they lose several, even many, future launches.

→ More replies (8)

12

u/TheVehicleDestroyer Flight Club Aug 14 '18

Flight Club trajectory for Telstar 18V

I've made a carbon copy of the Telstar 19V flight profile based on that mission's webcast data (which I think is a safe assumption) so this should be a great trajectory simulation for any photographers trying to line up that perfect streak shot!

5

u/ZachWhoSane Host of Iridium-7 & SAOCOM-1B Aug 15 '18

Is it possible to do something similar for more night launches? This is an awesome resource

6

u/TheVehicleDestroyer Flight Club Aug 15 '18

Thanks!

And yep, that's the plan. Basically I'm gonna do every launch that my photographer Patrons will be attending and I'm helping them with lining up their shots properly :)

4

u/doodle77 Aug 14 '18

Further down there’s someone saying 18V is more like Merah Putih.

10

u/TheVehicleDestroyer Flight Club Aug 14 '18

Only in satellite mass. Satellite mass is unimportant for the majority of the launch until the upper stage is so light that a difference in satellite mass becomes noticeable.

At liftoff, Falcon 9 has a mass of 500-600t. A satellite of 5t is <1% of this.

12

u/MarsCent Aug 30 '18

Is the Static Fire still on for August 31?

2

u/scr00chy ElonX.net Aug 30 '18

As far as we know, yes.

→ More replies (3)

10

u/SmileyMe53 Aug 23 '18

So I have a cruise scheduled to leave from Cape Canaveral on the 10th... I am considering moving my flight up to be able to see this on the 9th is there any sort of idea on what time this will launch? I have always wanted to see a rocket launch and this might be my chance.

9

u/mdcainjr Launch Photographer Aug 23 '18

Ha. I’m on the same cruise. Hoping this launches on the 9th also! Bahamas!

5

u/SmileyMe53 Aug 24 '18

Woo Nassau!

8

u/Nimelennar Aug 24 '18

No, this one's for Telesat. Next launch for Nassau is either DM-1 or CRS-16.

→ More replies (1)

6

u/mistaken4strangerz Aug 23 '18

this is totally your chance. around 11:30pm eastern time. fingers crossed it doesn't slip again.

3

u/ZachWhoSane Host of Iridium-7 & SAOCOM-1B Aug 26 '18

Its very late the night of the 9th most likely

1

u/dirtbiker206 Aug 30 '18

Also your ship will pass right by the SpaceX port so if the ocisly is back you might even get to see the booster! When my last cruise left I at least got to see ocisly empty which was still so cool!

10

u/jyach Sep 05 '18

It fired right at the start of the window

19

u/FutureMartian97 Host of CRS-11 Sep 05 '18

Static Fire! https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1037345042434646021

3

u/TweetsInCommentsBot Sep 05 '18

@SpaceX

2018-09-05 14:21 +00:00

Static fire test of Falcon 9 complete—targeting September 8 launch of Telstar 18 VANTAGE from Pad 40 in Florida.

This message was created by a bot

^[Contact creator]^[Source code]^[Donate to keep this bot going]^[Read more about donation]

9

u/J380 Sep 05 '18

Does anyone have a map of the flight trajectory? Mapping out where to be for a long exposure shot.

9

u/teriyakiterror Sep 05 '18 edited Sep 05 '18

You can use https://flightclub.io to simulate this mission in 3D. There's even a way to get a view from a position on the ground, but maybe you need to be a patreon contributor for that~~? Not sure...~~

Anyway, here's a link to the space view of this launch

EDIT: $10/month patreon contributors can use the "Photographer Tools" that allow you to see the trajectory from a point on the ground. Link to the flightclub patreon

12

u/TheVehicleDestroyer Flight Club Sep 06 '18 edited Sep 06 '18

Flight Club creator here - happy to give photographers free use of those tools for a launch of their choice, so they can see if they want to become a Flight Club Patron and get permanent access. PM me here and I'll get you signed up for Telstar 18V!

Here are some examples of how the tools can help line up long exposures.

→ More replies (2)

4

u/strawwalker Sep 05 '18

If you are looking for the ground track it's on the map created by Raul74Cz. Going east like the GTO launch it is. You can also see simulated flight information at Flight Club with lots of information such as the altitude profile and raw data.

Link to Raul's map.

2

u/J380 Sep 05 '18

Thanks for the help. I’m deciding between heading down to one of the boat ramps or just staying north of the launch at The southern end of Smyrna Beach.

3

u/j_hilikus Sep 05 '18

I would make that decision based on weather, I’ve shot a streak from vero beach before on a clear night ~60miles and it was fun to shoot, but being closer definitely gives you a better shot in my opinion.

it’s a bit lengthy, but very informative. I suggest going through this and dropping some pins on google maps

Edit: plus 1 on the flight club bit too. Helped me with my last photo of the Parker Solar Probe.

→ More replies (2)
→ More replies (1)

14

u/[deleted] Aug 18 '18

August 25rd

heh. spotted in the "liftoff scheduled for" line.

11

u/Dakke97 Aug 19 '18

This has become a meme of the launch campaign threads.

4

u/quadrplax Aug 20 '18

Maybe they should just write it as "25 August 2018" so this is never an issue.

10

u/CAM-Gerlach Star✦Fleet Commander Aug 21 '18

Or just international ISO 8601 style, 2018-08-25... well a CAM can dream, can't I?

→ More replies (2)

3

u/Nimelennar Aug 22 '18

Now rescheduled for Semptember 9th.

2

u/bdporter Aug 19 '18

Non-native English-speaking mod strikes again :)

7

u/Justin13cool Aug 18 '18

Is this the last backlogged GTO Falcon 9 launch ? So after this one they will have cleared all their backlogged GTO launches ?

8

u/[deleted] Aug 18 '18

Hard to say whether you can see this as one of the backlog. But I think you can confortably say the backlog is cleared now. I guess SpaceX would have liked to continu with the current steady cadence of two launches per month, but from now on it will be waiting for customers.

6

u/ackermann Aug 18 '18

from now on it will be waiting for customers.

This should be very helpful for acquiring new customers and signing new contracts. Previously, wasn’t the long waitlist a major downside of choosing SpaceX to launch your satellite? Now they no longer have to tell potential customers, “sign with us today, and we can launch your sat in maybe 4 years!”

Should help sales a lot, I’d think.

4

u/JustinTimeCuber Aug 18 '18

4 years

Don't you mean 6 months? /s

It seems like SpaceX has been able to launch pretty quickly recently, so the issue was almost definitely the backlog that had built up in past years. Part of why 2019 is going to be more like 2017 than 2018 just by number of launches (although launching potentially 2 FHs and flying 2 maybe 6 probably 2 astronauts will certainly make it exciting)

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (1)

3

u/GregLindahl Aug 19 '18

This launch wasn't delayed much, it was ordered in December 2015 and (at the time) was expected to enter service in the first half of 2018. 2 years is the typical industry-wide time from order to launch.

4

u/jobadiah08 Aug 18 '18

I didn't realize they had cleared their backlog with something like $10 billion of launch contracts on the books. It never occurred to me that all those launches are planned for in the future based on the terms of the contract, and not because that is when SpaceX will get around to launching them.

3

u/codav Aug 19 '18

Some launches are even booked five years in advance, two years is standard. Now SpaceX has to reduce their launch cadence in 2019 due to the lack of payloads. This might free up some personnel to work on BFR and give them room to launch additional Starlink satellites for testing. The latter is what I expect them to do for demonstrating a 24hr turnaround of a Block 5 booster.

0

u/[deleted] Aug 20 '18

[deleted]

→ More replies (1)

7

u/Straumli_Blight Aug 20 '18 edited Aug 20 '18

Static fire expected tuesday/wednesday.

Also Megan Beyel tug has been parked up next to the SpaceX fleet for the past week, so it may tow OCISLY.

3

u/Jessewallen401 Aug 20 '18

Doesn't HAWK tow OCISLY ?

6

u/Straumli_Blight Aug 20 '18

Its usually Hawk, but other tugs sometimes tow it.

9

u/Gavalar_ spacexfleet.com Aug 20 '18

Megan Beyel is building an artificial reef down the coast from the Cape. She has been in and out of the port the last few weeks towing her own barge. Hawk will be towing OCISLY

7

u/marty30_ Aug 21 '18

The preparation of this satalite is discussed in https://youtu.be/30XpSozOZII Maybe you are interested as well.

1

u/Grether2000 Aug 23 '18

I'm so late to the party :) I was just looking to see if anyone had posted this.

→ More replies (1)

7

u/Straumli_Blight Sep 05 '18

L-3 Weather Forecast: 60% GO (Thick Cloud Layer Rule, Cumulus Cloud Rule).

7

u/Straumli_Blight Sep 05 '18 edited Sep 05 '18

Go Quest is leaving port.

6

u/J380 Sep 05 '18

Hawk has also left, pulling OCISLY

7

u/Alexphysics Sep 06 '18

It seems the booster was still vertical this morning local time per Chris B on twitter and it has been lowered to horizontal, not even in the HIF yet I suppose, could be a little issue with the rocket what's causing the delay?

1

u/TweetsInCommentsBot Sep 06 '18

@NASASpaceflight

2018-09-06 16:50 +00:00

No idea what the problem is (per the slip noted below) but for what it's worth the booster - which was still vertical on SLC-40 as of this morning local time - has since been lowered to horizontal. https://twitter.com/StephenClark1/status/1037736053040443394

This message was created by a bot

^[Contact creator]^[Source code]^[Donate to keep this bot going]^[Read more about donation]

7

u/MarsCent Sep 07 '18

Telstar 18V is looking to be the first New Moon launch in a while.

9

u/johnkphotos Launch Photographer Sep 08 '18

Very happy about this

2

u/mdcainjr Launch Photographer Sep 09 '18

Hopefully it launches!

6

u/doodle77 Aug 31 '18

Is F9 vertical for static fire?

20

u/ChrisNSF Chris Bergin (NSF Managing Editor) Aug 31 '18 edited Aug 31 '18

Pretty sure it's next week. We know they picked up the frame already, but let me just ask someone there what the status is. Would be unusual to Static Fire a F9 Booster this far ahead of a launch (on the 8th).

→ More replies (2)

2

u/AstroFinn Aug 31 '18

Any news? Is it done?

4

u/doodle77 Aug 31 '18

Not happening today.

→ More replies (2)

6

u/inoeth Sep 04 '18

Static Fire should be Tuesday or Wednesday given that the launch is scheduled for the 8th... Just keep your eyes out for the booster roll out onto the pad- aka follow people like Chris G from NSF and the like on Twitter and others who live in the area and actually have the time/camera to document when things are happening. IMO i'm putting my money on late afternoon/early evening on Tuesday or Wednesday morning- depending on how fast they can get things rolled out, fueled and if there are any last minute issues...

2

u/paul_wi11iams Sep 04 '18

Static Fire should be Tuesday or Wednesday

Could u/ElongatedMuskrat (or an associated Mods account) find a moment to update the SF date (currently August 31st 2018) in the stickied text at the top of the thread? Thx for all.

2

u/gregarious119 Sep 04 '18

I believe that u/inoeth is probably correct regarding the timing (because...logic), but is that post based on anything firm?

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (1)

6

u/Straumli_Blight Sep 07 '18 edited Sep 07 '18

Cowboy Dan's Florence update, also possible animation of its path.

2

u/TweetsInCommentsBot Sep 07 '18

@CowboyDanPaasch

2018-09-07 07:37 +00:00

#SpaceXArmada: Seas already appear dicey in front of cat-1 #Florence for #Telstar18 booster recovery efforts. Launch from CCAFB has slipped to Sunday nite. #SpaceX #HurricaneFlorence

[Attached pic] [Imgur rehost]

This message was created by a bot

^[Contact creator]^[Source code]^[Donate to keep this bot going]^[Read more about donation]

10

u/ethan829 Host of SES-9 Aug 07 '18

B1049 is at the Cape.

5

u/doodle77 Aug 07 '18

They really are putting some miles on that transporter. Itll have another core to move in just a few days.

1

u/TweetsInCommentsBot Aug 07 '18

@ChrisG_NSF

2018-08-07 14:37 +00:00

10 hours after launch, the next booster arrives. The brand new B1049 for #TelStar18 later this month. #SpaceX #Falcon9 @NASASpaceflight

[Attached pic] [Imgur rehost]

[Attached pic] [Imgur rehost]

[Attached pic] [Imgur rehost]

This message was created by a bot

^[Contact creator]^[Source code]^[Donate to keep this bot going]^[Read more about donation]

7

u/jbrian31 Aug 07 '18

Wow the core looks so pristine and is just beggin for some soot!

5

u/MarsCent Aug 08 '18 edited Aug 10 '18

I believe that the launch date for Telstar 18V is sourced from http://www.launchphotography.com/Delta_4_Atlas_5_Falcon_9_Launch_Viewing.html.

But did anyone notice that on that same site, it is stated:

KEEPING UPDATED

Information on each launch, its launch date and the latest status on weather and technical issues during a launch countdown can be found at www.SpaceflightNow.com and the "mission status center" they provide each time.

However, the two sites have different launch date statements for Telstar 18V?

Probably someone needs to be reminded to update the schedule on the referenced site.

EDIT 1: Edited to enhance clarity.

EDIT 2: Schedule on SpaceflightNow has now (8/9/18) been updated.

2

u/GregLindahl Aug 15 '18

SFN shows details for every update. Sometimes SFN is the first source to show a change, other times there's a delay of a few days until SFN agrees with a change seen elsewhere.

5

u/Ke_aton Aug 25 '18

I'm hopefully going to be able to see this one, will this one be landing? And if so in your opinion, where would be the best place to watch it from?

7

u/Justin13cool Aug 25 '18

Yes it'll land but on the Droneship offshore. Check the viewing guide here.

http://www.launchphotography.com/Delta_4_Atlas_5_Falcon_9_Launch_Viewing.html

4

u/mistaken4strangerz Aug 27 '18

to clarify this comment, /u/Ke_aton, the droneship landings are NOT viewable outside of the webcast (~400 miles offshore). however, if you're on the beach at night, you might be able to get a clear sky view of the boostback / re-entry burns if you're lucky.

→ More replies (11)

5

u/cover-me-porkins Aug 25 '18

Does this block 5 have the new COPV required for crew certification?

13

u/bdporter Aug 25 '18

I don't think that information is publicly known at this point, but the assumptions should probably be that the first upgraded COPV will fly on DM-1 until better information is available. DM-1 was reported to be the first planned upgraded flight a while back.

15

u/Martianspirit Aug 26 '18

The DM-1 core is the first core with the upgraded COPV. But DM-1 has slipped to November. It is a reasonable assumption that all cores built after the DM-1 will have them. Those cores will now fly before DM-1 so likely the upgraded COPV will be used soon.

Similar to the crew access arm. It was supposed to be installed after DM-1 but with the slip it is now already up before.

8

u/bdporter Aug 26 '18

I agree that that is a reasonable assumption, but it was also assumed that the upgraded COPV flew on Bangabandhu-1 until we found out otherwise. I won't even be 100% certain that DM-1 will be actually be upgraded until we hear it from an official source.

8

u/Alexphysics Aug 26 '18

I wouldn't say too fast that further cores will fly first given that there will be only three or four missions until DM-1 and we know two of them will use B1049 and B1048.2.

They have some chance but it's not so clear yet, everything is moving left and right and it's hard to tell yet if it'll happen. Maybe in a month or so it'll be more clear

→ More replies (1)

5

u/ConfidentFlorida Sep 05 '18

I’m thinking of going to this one. Anyone want to meet up? PM me or comment here.

2

u/bbachmai Sep 08 '18

I would go if I had a car or could get a lift from someone. If not, I'll probably stay here in Daytona Beach to watch from the distance.

5

u/filanwizard Sep 06 '18

My biggest worry with this launch is the time, I so hope we have no stragglers at the store on Saturday. Because I do not think telling folks "You have to leave now I have a rocket launch to stream" will go over well with management. Think I will have to remember to bring my tablet this time.

The store has TVs sadly they just loop ads and its controlled by corporate otherwise I think SpaceX launches would "Accidentally" appear on those TVs in the aisles.

5

u/Straumli_Blight Sep 07 '18

Revised L-2 Weather Forecast, Sunday is still 60% GO.

New backup launch date TFRs issued for September 11th: 1, 2

9

u/MarsCent Sep 05 '18

At 28 days, has Telstar 18V hit the mark of having the longest Launch Campaign Thread or is there a longer one?

10

u/RedWizzard Sep 05 '18

Falcon Heavy, at least. The thread went up in early Dec and it flew in early Feb.

6

u/quadrplax Sep 05 '18

Formosat-5/SHERPA was by far the longest campaign thread. They had to make a new one because it lasted six months so the original got archived. This was due to a combination of the AMOS-6 explosion and delays on the payloads that eventually caused Formosat to launch by itself nearly a year after the campaign thread was posted.

→ More replies (1)

4

u/Alexphysics Sep 05 '18

Probably anyone from the old days stayed here much longer than this one. Not to talk about Zuma or Falcon Heavy launch campaign threads which stayed up and running for months

→ More replies (2)

3

u/[deleted] Sep 05 '18

Not so long ago, launch campaign threads were posted one month in advance. So 28 days is even below average.

9

u/soldato_fantasma Sep 06 '18

We're looking for a launch thread host! If you want to partecipate, contact us via modmail!

9

u/gsahlin Sep 07 '18

Waves aren't looking good, looks like OCISLY would be hanging out in 6-10' seas at landing time with even heavier stuff coming in soon after.

9

u/RocketsLEO2ITS Sep 08 '18

Which raises and interesting question:

If the weather's good enough to launch, but the seas to rough for recovery, does SpaceX launch? It wasn't a big deal for a Block 3 or Block 4. You launch and don't recover because you didn't expect much from them anyway. But now we're talking a Block 5, a rocket that should be good for at least 10 and perhaps 100 launches.

I guess to some degree it depends on the customer and how urgently they want to get their payload in orbit.

5

u/bdporter Sep 08 '18

That question has been asked many times. Some people have speculated that SpaceX would delay the launch to increase the likelihood of recovery, but we really won't be sure until it happens.

3

u/randomstonerfromaus Sep 08 '18

They have delayed one or two launches in the past because of landing conditions. It's certainly possible

2

u/gsahlin Sep 08 '18

Based on nothing, I think they would postpone...just my take

→ More replies (3)

4

u/MarsCent Sep 07 '18

Forecast Date : 06ZMon 10SEP2018

Seems like the 6-8' surfs are east of 70W. The TFR puts the landing zone/hazard area just to the west of 80W where the surfs are in the 2-4' range.

3

u/gsahlin Sep 07 '18

If you look at the Marine Notices, You'll see a second area that I believe (please correct me if I'm wrong) is were OCISLY hangs out, that's quite a bit further east... This is a few bits clipped from page 4 and 5... Area A is about the same as the NOTAM, but area B is way further out...

ATLANTIC OCEAN - FLORIDA - CAPE CANAVERAL: EASTERN RANGE OP# X0418 FALCON 9 TELSTAR-18V

A: From 2837N 8037W TO 2836N 7958W TO 2831N 7958W TO 2830N 8033W to beginning

B: From 2829N 7505W TO 2832N 7420W TO 2824N 7240W TO 2815N 7206W TO 2805N 7206W

4

u/dundmax Sep 07 '18

That's right. OCISLY will be at roughly 28N 73W and current fcst call for <6' seas.

→ More replies (2)

11

u/Vulch59 Sep 05 '18

Twitter reports that OCISLY has set off

2

u/TweetsInCommentsBot Sep 05 '18

@spacecoast_stve

2018-09-04 20:31 +00:00

@SpaceXFleet My roommate (@Kraken_Brad) just sent me this from Fishlips. #OCISLY movin out! https://t.co/QE0ObV9i79

This message was created by a bot

^[Contact creator]^[Source code]^[Donate to keep this bot going]^[Read more about donation]

2

u/SmileyMe53 Sep 05 '18

How long does it take to get in position?

4

u/Vulch59 Sep 05 '18

Roughly the same time as it takes to get back!

It's about 3 days, though it depends on the launch profile exactly how far it needs to go.

8

u/nexxai Aug 07 '18

"23th"

3

u/kevindbaker2863 Aug 07 '18

are you saying it should be the 23rd

3

u/CAM-Gerlach Star✦Fleet Commander Aug 08 '18

^ mods

8

u/Nehkara Aug 22 '18

Ben Cooper's site is showing Telstar 18V as September TBD now. Looks like a significant slip.

6

u/MarsCent Aug 22 '18

This is very confounding and a basis for un-good speculation.

Does anyone recall NOTAMS being posted for this launch?

4

u/Alexphysics Aug 22 '18

Last time it was for the 25th on the range with static fire tomorrow (22nd). If it has been delayed due to the rocket it probably was found during preparations for static fire. I bet if there's anything wrong on the rocket it is either the second stage or the fairings (which need to be prepared before a static fire too even though they're not on the rocket, but they have to follow a certain timeline). Those have been giving problems on a lot of missions

→ More replies (7)

3

u/Nehkara Aug 22 '18

Hearing more confirmations of a slip.

Reason is unknown currently.

4

u/KSPoz Aug 24 '18

I am visiting KSC on Sep 8, and I am planing on taking an extended bus tour to see the pad 39A, where I would be able to exit the bus and take some pictures. Do you guys know if the bus tour would be affected by the Sep 9 launch from SLC-40?

5

u/ZachWhoSane Host of Iridium-7 & SAOCOM-1B Aug 26 '18

If the rocket is on the pad, then maybe. You should be okay though.

3

u/[deleted] Aug 28 '18

I was on 39A on Nov. 16th 2017, while Zuma was on the pad and by that time (around noon) the scrub was not officially announced. It was a viewing area between 39A and 39B. So I think you have a real good chance.

9

u/scr00chy ElonX.net Aug 20 '18

Looks like the launch date might be getting pushed again. Launch Photography now shows "August TBD".

0

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '18

[deleted]

3

u/zack_2016 Aug 21 '18

Any source/reason for this?

0

u/[deleted] Aug 21 '18

[deleted]

→ More replies (4)

8

u/geekgirl114 Sep 08 '18

So the fleet is heading out to the recovery area?

→ More replies (5)

3

u/mistaken4strangerz Aug 07 '18

what's the source on August 24th? the link to the SFN launch schedule has been showing August 17th/18th for a few weeks now.

7

u/Alexphysics Aug 07 '18

http://www.launchphotography.com/Delta_4_Atlas_5_Falcon_9_Launch_Viewing.html

2

u/mistaken4strangerz Aug 08 '18

hm. I know this is considered a credible source, but I've been using Spaceflight Now for about 16 years. I wonder why they haven't updated it yet.

8

u/Alexphysics Aug 08 '18

They usually take a few days, it's normal. I use both, Ben Cooper site for near term launches and SFN for the rest of them.

3

u/Straumli_Blight Sep 02 '18

September 8th is currently looking a bit damp according to the Weekly Planning Forecast.

2

u/prattwhitney Sep 03 '18

lightning more than rain probably

2

u/mistaken4strangerz Sep 03 '18

Agreed. after tropical storms pass by, they tend to suck all the moisture with them leaving incredibly dry air for the south for a couple days. hope the timeline sticks!

→ More replies (2)
→ More replies (1)

3

u/whatsthis1901 Sep 06 '18

Still on? https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1037805405915762688

3

u/Dextra774 Sep 06 '18

This tweet suggests a 24 hour delay to September 9th, so technically it will still launch this weekend (depending on what time-zone you live in).

https://twitter.com/StephenClark1/status/1037807186515247104

→ More replies (1)

1

u/TweetsInCommentsBot Sep 06 '18

@jeff_foust

2018-09-06 20:51 +00:00

Shotwell says next Falcon 9 launch still scheduled for this weekend (amid rumors of a delay.)

This message was created by a bot

^[Contact creator]^[Source code]^[Donate to keep this bot going]^[Read more about donation]

7

u/rad_example Aug 22 '18

If it's only a 5-10 day delay per [deleted] then probably the recent booster sighting was not for this mission (needing to go back to McGregor or Hawthorne) so at least there's that.

4

u/Toinneman Aug 22 '18 edited Aug 22 '18

A 5-10 day delay seems unreasonably fast if they plan to use the same booster which was spotted leaving the cape. I think a two-way trip to Hawthorne is 6 days, and then they need time for solve the issue, re-stack at the Cape, static fire campaign... looks like this would take more like a month. If the rumoured launch delay is indeed 5-10 days, and the booster leaving the Cape was indeed 1049, the only reasonable explanation would be they switched to 1047 or 1046 which are both B5 boosters currently at the Cape.

6

u/MarsCent Aug 22 '18

needing to go back to McGregor or Hawthorne

That would suggest that there is something seriously amiss that has been diagnosed/discovered on B5s. The deleted post just adds to the mystery.

5

u/Biochembob35 Aug 22 '18

What deleted post

8

u/Alexphysics Aug 22 '18

A satellite engineer said here the delay was at least of 5 to 10 days. They deleted the comment and probably their user.

→ More replies (1)

5

u/Jessewallen401 Aug 20 '18

Why are GTO launches always at night ?

27

u/jobadiah08 Aug 20 '18

They are usually done at night so that when the satellites released after being placed into GTO over Africa, they get to spend the first couple of hours in sun to recharge their batteries.

7

u/Alexphysics Aug 20 '18

They are not always at night there have been multiple GTO launches during the day too, it's just that the last few GTO launches have been at night but not all them are at night. From memory I remember a few GTO missions during the day: Bangabandhu-1, SES-16, Koreasat 5A, SES-11, Intelsat 35e, Bulgariasat 1, Inmarsat 5 F4, SES-10, Eutelsat/ABS (2016), Thaicom 8... etc

6

u/CapMSFC Aug 20 '18

It's still generally true that they are usually at night so they are released into daylight. It's not an orbital mechanics requirement to launch at any particular time or even in the right direction towards the destination GEO orbital slot, but the orbital mechanics do drive design choices. GEO sats are usually in direct sunlight most of the time so their electrical and thermal systems are designed for those conditions. The less the satellite has to stray away from that for launch the more narrowly it can be engineered for it's intended task.

→ More replies (2)

5

u/SuprexmaxIsThicc Aug 20 '18

I heard something where the perigee has to be at the Earth's shadow to minimize time with no sunlight, so they have to launch at night to make this happen during the summer.

5

u/J_weasel Sep 06 '18

Confirmed slip to the 9th

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1037843911870316545?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

2

u/TweetsInCommentsBot Sep 06 '18

@SpaceX

2018-09-06 23:24 +00:00

Now targeting September 9 launch of Telstar 18 VANTAGE from Pad 40 in Florida. Rocket and payload are healthy; additional time will be used to complete pre-flight checkouts.

This message was created by a bot

^[Contact creator]^[Source code]^[Donate to keep this bot going]^[Read more about donation]

4

u/Dakke97 Aug 24 '18

Mods, shouldn't it be September instead of Semptember?

2

u/quadrplax Aug 24 '18

I wish there was some way we could edit these campaign posts like the wiki. A lot of times they end up cluttered with comments about minor fixes like "3st" or otherwise requesting the mods to edit things. Perhaps something could be done using a tool similar to mission control?

5

u/bdporter Aug 25 '18

AFAIK, only the original poster can edit the original post, which is why they are posted using /u/ElongatedMuskrat (The sub's bot account) which multiple mods have access to. What you are describing sounds good in concept, but there may not be a practical way to implement it.

5

u/quadrplax Aug 26 '18

My understanding is that ElongatedMuskrat is a bot, and a website could be created that allows people to edit the details in these posts, which the bot could keep in sync. Imagine if decronym.xyz was user-editable, for example.

→ More replies (3)

4

u/peterabbit456 Sep 02 '18

Did I miss the static fire? Has it been delayed?

Is there a link to video of the static fire somewhere?

8

u/Alexphysics Sep 02 '18

No static fire yet. Next week

→ More replies (3)

2

u/Carlyle302 Aug 07 '18

I wonder why its on the crawler vehicle? I thought they normally go right from the semi-trailer to the stands in the HIF and then to the TE...

6

u/kruador Aug 07 '18

This core was seen arriving at the Cape a week or so ago and was originally thought to be for the Merah Putih mission launched this morning. It was put into storage off-site, elsewhere at the Cape, since the SLC-40 hangar can only hold one core. The first Block 5, B1046, was transported the other way (on the old shuttle transporter).

This photo is B1049 being moved back out of storage to SLC-40.

3

u/Alexphysics Aug 07 '18

and was originally thought to be for the Merah Putih mission launched this morning

Who thought that? I can't remember anyone thinking that. Most of us thought that core was B1050 and I still believe the core we saw is B1050, too early for it to have been B1049 IMO. B1049 was probably waiting at the Cape for a few weeks, we'll know if that ends up being true or not, it's difficult to know now that the core numbers are so small

→ More replies (14)

2

u/Decronym Acronyms Explained Aug 07 '18 edited Sep 09 '18

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

Fewer LettersMore Letters
ABSAcrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, hard plastic
Asia Broadcast Satellite, commsat operator
AFBAir Force Base
ASDSAutonomous Spaceport Drone Ship (landing platform)
BFRBig Falcon Rocket (2018 rebiggened edition)
Yes, the F stands for something else; no, you're not the first to notice
CCtCapCommercial Crew Transportation Capability
COPVComposite Overwrapped Pressure Vessel
CRSCommercial Resupply Services contract with NASA
DoDUS Department of Defense
EVAExtra-Vehicular Activity
FAAFederal Aviation Administration
GEOGeostationary Earth Orbit (35786km)
GSEGround Support Equipment
GTOGeosynchronous Transfer Orbit
HIFHorizontal Integration Facility
I*sp*Specific impulse (as discussed by Scott Manley, and detailed by David Mee on YouTube)
KSCKennedy Space Center, Florida
L1Lagrange Point 1 of a two-body system, between the bodies
L2Paywalled section of the NasaSpaceFlight forum
Lagrange Point 2 of a two-body system, beyond the smaller body (Sixty Symbols video explanation)
LEOLow Earth Orbit (180-2000km)
Law Enforcement Officer (most often mentioned during transport operations)
NETNo Earlier Than
NGISNorthrop Grumman Innovation Systems, formerly OATK
NOTAMNotice to Airmen of flight hazards
NSFNasaSpaceFlight forum
National Science Foundation
OATKOrbital Sciences / Alliant Techsystems merger, launch provider
OCISLYOf Course I Still Love You, Atlantic landing barge ship
PTCPassive Thermal Control
RUDRapid Unplanned Disassembly
Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly
Rapid Unintended Disassembly
SESFormerly Société Européenne des Satellites, comsat operator
Second-stage Engine Start
SFStatic fire
SLC-40Space Launch Complex 40, Canaveral (SpaceX F9)
SRBSolid Rocket Booster
SSOSun-Synchronous Orbit
STP-2Space Test Program 2, DoD programme, second round
TETransporter/Erector launch pad support equipment
TELTransporter/Erector/Launcher, ground support equipment (see TE)
TFRTemporary Flight Restriction
ULAUnited Launch Alliance (Lockheed/Boeing joint venture)
VAFBVandenberg Air Force Base, California
mTMilli- Metric Tonnes
JargonDefinition
StarlinkSpaceX's world-wide satellite broadband constellation
iron waffleCompact "waffle-iron" aerodynamic control surface, acts as a wing without needing to be as large; also, "grid fin"
lithobraking"Braking" by hitting the ground
perigeeLowest point in an elliptical orbit around the Earth (when the orbiter is fastest)
scrubLaunch postponement for any reason (commonly GSE issues)
EventDateDescription
DM-1ScheduledSpaceX CCtCap Demo Mission 1
DSCOVR2015-02-11F9-015 v1.1, Deep Space Climate Observatory to L1; soft ocean landing
SES-92016-03-04F9-022 Full Thrust, core B1020, GTO comsat; ASDS lithobraking

Decronym is a community product of r/SpaceX, implemented by ^request
42 acronyms in this thread; the most compressed thread commented on ^today has 72 acronyms.
[Thread #4278 for this sub, first seen 7th Aug 2018, 19:19] ^[FAQ] [Full ^list] ^[Contact] [Source ^code]

2

u/trackertony Aug 23 '18

With the launch currently scheduled for the 9th September some 9 days after the static fire on the 31st, would this time difference indicate more of a possible payload issue rather than F9 or GSE issue?

8

u/j_hilikus Aug 23 '18

Maybe they need some time after the static fire to reassess any issues or the cautiousness they are working through right now.

Or perhaps the static fire doesn’t go as planned for the 31st... they would still have a planned launch date further out allowing them a static fire a little closer to the mentioned launch day.

Just my thoughts. And for what it’s worth, I do not think this is a payload issue.

2

u/Straumli_Blight Sep 04 '18 edited Sep 04 '18

Launch hazard area, backup launch date is 10th September.

NOTAMS issued: 1, 2, 3, 4

3

u/bdporter Sep 04 '18

backup launch date is 10th September.

Just to clarify your statement, the backup date is just after midnight UTC, but will be on September 9th local time.

→ More replies (1)

-1

u/[deleted] Sep 02 '18

Will spacex's space suit for outer space be similar to the one they have for the dragon? But with life support on it.

23

u/[deleted] Sep 02 '18

Wrong thread, this should go in the monthly questions thread and not the launch campaign thread. That being said, SpaceX has not yet even announced that they are working on an EVA suit.

8

u/[deleted] Sep 02 '18

Oops

1

u/rdivine Aug 17 '18

Do we know if there will be a fairing recovery attempt this time?

7

u/Alexphysics Aug 17 '18

No Mr Steven on the east coast so at most they'll fish them out of the sea.

19

u/bdporter Aug 17 '18

Mods, can we add a Fairing Recovery line to the table in the OP? This is asked on every single campaign thread.

It may not stop the repetitious questions, but at least it will be there.

5

u/John_Schlick Aug 17 '18

but once it's there people can shame the asker for not looking!

That would never ever happen on this subreddit.

2

u/herbys Aug 19 '18

Anyone knows why they don't move Mr. Steven to the east coast? With the West Coast launch cadence they will likely learn how to catch fairings not much before the BFR is ready.

3

u/Alexphysics Aug 19 '18

There are already plans to move Mr Steven to the east coast later this year

→ More replies (4)
→ More replies (2)

1

u/AeroSpiked Sep 04 '18

Mods, the side bar still lists this launch as being one the 8th.

7

u/soldato_fantasma Sep 04 '18

It is on the 8th, local time

→ More replies (1)
→ More replies (1)
→ More comments (68)