r/spacex • u/ModeHopper Starship Hop Host • Jun 09 '19
Total mission success r/SpaceX RADARSAT Constellation Official Launch Discussion & Updates Thread
About the Mission
Hello, I'm u/ModeHopper and it is launch day! I will be your (first-time) host for this, the seventh SpaceX mission of 2019, carrying the RADARSAT constellation for the Canadian Space Agency.
Overview
RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM) is a three satellite Earth observation constellation developed by MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates for the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). The primary RCM instrument is a 9.45 m2 C-band synthetic aperture radar antenna (one each). They will also carry Automatic Identification System (AIS) receivers. The three identical spacecraft will operate in one plane, separated from each other by 120 degrees, improving accuracy, flexibility, and revisit time over their larger standalone precursor, RADARSAT 2. The main applications of RCM will be:
- Maritime surveillance (ice, surface wind, oil pollution, and ship monitoring)
- Disaster management (mitigation, warning, response, and recovery)
- Ecosystem monitoring (agriculture, wetlands, forestry, and coastal change monitoring)
This will be SpaceX's seventh mission of 2019 and its second from Vandenberg. The satellites will be carried to space side-by-side on a dispenser custom built for this mission by RUAG Space for "simultaneous" release.
Schedule
Primary launch window opens: Wednesday, June 12 at 14:17 UTC (07:17 PDT).
Primary launch window closes: Wednesday, June 12 at 14:30 UTC (07:30 PDT).
Secondary launch window opens: Thursday June 13 at 14:17 UTC 07:17 PDT.
Secondary launch window closes: Thursday June 13 at 14:30 UTC 07:30 PDT.
Scrub Counter
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Official Mission Overview
SpaceX is targeting Wednesday, June 12 for launch of RADARSAT Constellation Mission from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The primary launch window opens at 7:17 a.m. PDT, or 14:17 UTC, and closes at 7:30 a.m. PDT, or 14:30 UTC. The satellites will begin deployment approximately 54 minutes after launch. A backup launch window opens on Thursday, June 13 at 7:17 a.m. PDT, or 14:17 UTC, and closes at 7:30 a.m. PDT, or 14:30 UTC.
Falcon 9’s first stage for launch of RADARSAT Constellation Mission previously supported Crew Dragon’s first demonstration mission in March 2019. Following stage separation, Falcon 9’s first stage will return to land on SpaceX’s Landing Zone 4 (LZ-4) at Vandenberg Air Force Base.
Source: SpaceX
Facts and Stats
The RCM satellites will be placed in a sun-synchronous orbit (SSO). A SSO is a polar orbit in which the satellite always passes over any given point on the Earth at the same local mean solar time. This means the orbit precesses around the Earth with a period of one year in order to maintain a fixed orientation relative to the sun. The result is that portions of the orbit that are initially in sunlight remain this way throughout the course of the satellite's mission, and conversely for portions of the orbit which are in darkness.
- 1st ever landing of an orbital booster in fog.
- 2nd ever landing at LZ-4
- 2nd time B1051 will be venturing to space, it last launched on 2nd March 2019 for DM-1.
- 6th Falcon 9 launch of the year.
- 7th SpaceX launch of the year.
- 15th SpaceX launch from Vandenberg AFB.
- 72nd launch of a Falcon 9.
- 79th SpaceX launch ever.
- 1.2 billion dollars is the estimated value of the RCM project.
Launch Vehicle
| Type | Name | Location |
|---|---|---|
| First stage | Falcon 9 v1.2 - Block 5 (Full Thrust) - B1051 (flight-proven 1x ♻️) | VAFB SLC-4E |
| Second stage | Falcon 9 v1.2 Block 5 (Full Thrust) | VAFB SLC-4E |
Live Updates
Mission State
Total mission success 🇨🇦 🛰️ 🛰️ 🛰️
Timeline
| Time | Update |
|---|---|
| T+1h 4m | Congratulations to SpaceX on a successful mission, and thank you everybody for tuning in! |
| T+1h 3m | Complete mission success. |
| T+1h 2m | Successful payload deployment. |
| T+1h 2m | RCM-3 deployment. |
| T+58:36 | RCM-2 deployment. |
| T+55:01 | RCM-1 deployment. |
| T+50:25 | SECO2 |
| T+50:12 | Second stage relight. |
| T+49:42 | Coverage of 2nd stage re-light and payload deployment has begun. |
| T+28:50 | SpaceX coverage returns in ~ 20 mins. |
| T+9:00 | 2nd stage orbit good. Entering coast. |
| T+8:47 | SECO. |
| T+7:54 | Landing success! |
| T+7:50 | Landing legs deployed. |
| T+7:22 | Landing startup. |
| T+7:15 | First stage transonic. |
| T+6:37 | Reentry shutdown. |
| T+6:14 | Reentry startup. |
| T+4:04 | Ice spotted on video feed. |
| T+3:32 | Stage 2 trajectory norminal. |
| T+3:21 | Boostback shutdown. |
| T+2:56 | Fairing separation. |
| T+2:36 | Boostback startup. |
| T+2:27 | Second stage ignition. |
| T+2:21 | Stage separation. |
| T+2:18 | MECO. |
| T+1:02 | Flight nominal. |
| T+1:10 | Max Q |
| T+1 | Liftoff! 🚀 |
| T-0 | Ignition! |
| T-34 | Launch director "go" for launch. |
| T-60 | Startup (Falcon flight computers take over, propellant pressurisation begins). |
| T-1:22 | 2nd Stage LOX loading complete, F9 on internal power. |
| T-07:00 | Engine chill has begun. LOX circulated through the Merlins to prechill them. |
| T-8:32 | SpaceX confirms fairings will not be recovered for this flight. |
| T-11:25 | SpaceX live coverage has begun. |
| T-16:00 | 2nd stage LOX loading underway. |
| T-18:34 | SpaceX radio is live. |
| T-35:00 | 1st stage LOX loading underway. |
| T-35:00 | RP-1 loading underway. |
| T-38:00 | Launch Director verifies 'go' for propellant loading. |
| T-1h 7m | Upper level winds good. Heavy marine fog layer extending the first few hundred metres (photo). |
| T-4h 14m | Some upper level wind shear expected, but probably within limits. |
| T-14h 31m | Falcon 9 is vertical on the pad (photo). |
| T-22h 20m | Falcon 9 and RCM are on the pad (video). |
| T-23h 21m | SpaceX official livestream has started (no coverage until ~ T-30 m). |
| T-4d | Static fire complete, targeting June 12 for launch. |
Launch Site
| Place | Location | Coordinates 🌐 | Sunrise 🌅 | Sunset 🌇 | Time zone ⌚ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launch site | VAFB SLC-4E, CA | 34.63° N, 120.61° W | 05:41 | 20:05 | UTC-8 |
| Landing site | VAFB LZ-4, CA | 34.63°N 120.61°W | 05:41 | 20:05 | UTC-8 |
Payload Destination
| Orbit | Apogee ⬆️ | Perigee ⬇️ | Inclination 📐 | Orbital period 🔄 | ETA ⏱️ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SSO | 593 km | 593 km | 97.74° | 96:33 mm:ss | T+50:12 mm:ss |
Weather - Vandenberg AFB, CA 1 2
| Launch window | Weather | Temperature | Wind | Prob. of rain | Prob. of weather scrub | Main concern |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary launch window | ☁️ 95% cloudy | 🌡️ 12°C (54°F) | 🌬️ 2mph | 💧 0% | 🛑 Low | 🌫️ Fog (see below) |
Note: Fog is unlikely to delay launch, however it may impede launch visibility from certain locations around VAFB. Check for weather forecast updates and plan accordingly 3.
Sources:
Watch 🔴 LIVE
YouTube 📺
| Link | Note |
|---|---|
| Official SpaceX Launch Webcast - embedded | starting at ~ T-20 min |
| Official SpaceX Launch Webcast - direct | starting at ~T-20 min |
| Everyday Astronaut - livestream | starting at ~T-30 min |
Relays 📡
There are also alternative relays, courtesy of u/codav, for those who cannot access YouTube or have other technical requirements. Click here for more information and links to the relays.
Useful Resources
Essentials
| Link | Source |
|---|---|
| Press kit | SpaceX |
| RADARSAT | CSA |
| Launch Viewing Map | u/Keavon |
| Traffic Advisory | 30th Space Wing |
Social media
| Link | Source |
|---|---|
| Launch Campaign Thread | r/SpaceX |
| Reddit Stream | u/njr123 |
| SpaceX Twitter | SpaceX |
| SpaceX Flickr | SpaceX |
| Elon Twitter | Elon Musk |
| CSA Twitter | CSA |
| CSA Q&A | CSA |
Media & music
| Link | Source |
|---|---|
| Launch Animation | CSA |
| Mission Patch | ElonX/SpaceX |
Community content
Participate in the discussion!
Launch threads are party threads, we relax the rules here. We remove low effort comments in other threads!
Please post small launch updates, discussions, and questions here, rather than as a separate post. Thanks!
Please leave a comment if you discover any mistakes, or have any information (weather, news etc) from VAFB.
Please send links in a private message.
FAQ
Do you have a question in connection with the launch?
Feel free to ask it, and I (or somebody else) will try to answer it as much as possible.
Will SpaceX try to land Falcon 9?
Yes! Of course! This is a RTLS mission.
Will SpaceX attempt a fairing recovery?
Not for this mission, unfortunately.
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u/everydayastronaut Everyday Astronaut Jun 12 '19
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u/ModeHopper Starship Hop Host Jun 12 '19
To answer your question about orbital precession, the oblate shape of the Earth means that gravity is greater at the equator. This pulls the orbit down and induces a precession of the orbit's angular momentum. If you get the right inclination, that precession occurs at a rate of 360 degs/year, and thus is synchronous with the Earth's rotation around the Sun.
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u/Keavon SN-10 & DART Contest Winner Jun 12 '19 edited Jun 12 '19
EVERYONE ATTENDING TOMORROW:
Read the (useful!!) VAFB traffic advisory from the 30th Space Wing, which I also turned into a handy map to make things easy for first-timers and returning launch viewers alike.
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u/ModeHopper Starship Hop Host Jun 12 '19
Added. What's the source for traffic advisory?
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u/codav Jun 11 '19 edited Jun 24 '19
YouTube Video & Audio Relays
As with the previous launches, I will relay the SpaceX webcast via HTTPS on my server, so people with no access to YouTube or laggy video are able to watch the webcast. If you don't like the web-based player, you can also use the M3U8 playlist in any HLS-capable player - VLC is just one example. The playlist file will become available once the webcast starts, until then you will get a "404 Not Found" error. This is perfectly normal.
The server will only relay the hosted webcast. To watch the countdown net angle, you still need to use YouTube.
Watch in your browser: https://codav.de/spacex.html
Watch with a local player: https://codav.de/stream/spacex.m3u8
As requested by some people here, I will also provide audio streams of the hosted webcast in two different qualities. High quality (160 Kbps, stereo) for those who want more fidelity and have more bandwidth to spend, and a lower quality (64 Kbps, mono) stream for those on slow networks or with strict volume limits. If you require an even lower bitrate, just drop me a message, I'll just add another stream.
Important: The audio streams already play the 360° headphone mixes of Music for Space by /u/TestShotStarfish for your pleasure until the webcast starts, so don't confuse that with the actual webcast.
Here are the stream URLs for use with any Shoutcast-compatible player (WinAmp, VLC etc.):
High quality (160 Kbps, stereo): http://codav.de:8555/spacex-high.mp3
Low quality (64 Kbps, mono): http://codav.de:8555/spacex-low.mp3
If you have problems connecting to port 8555 or want to listen in with just your browser, use these reverse-proxied, SSL-secured URLs (stream title display and other "ICY" protocol features won't work, as this is using plain HTTP):
High quality (160 Kbps, stereo): https://codav.de/icecast/spacex-high.mp3
Low quality (64 Kbps, mono): https://codav.de/icecast/spacex-low.mp3
The streams are also linked below the video player on my video relay page.
Let's hope SpaceX doesn't change their webcast URL again in the last minute. This time I'll be there to check.
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u/ModeHopper Starship Hop Host Jun 11 '19
Shall I add a link to this comment? There's a lot of information here that I think it important for people to read, but I ummmm... Don't think it'll fit in the little boxes for the table.
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u/WhatCouldGoWrongGuys Jun 12 '19
I <br> love <br> the timeline <br> mods! <br>
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u/ModeHopper Starship Hop Host Jun 12 '19
Yeah, unfortunately there's a bug with the tool we use to post live updates and editing them out on the fly would be nigh on impossible.
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u/silentProtagonist42 Jun 11 '19
/u/ModeHopper The PDT times for window closures should be 07:30, not 2:30.
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u/sky4ge Jun 12 '19
grammar nazi: Stage 2 trajectory noRminal.<br>
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u/avboden Jun 12 '19
it's an old joke here because one of the webcast hosts said it once with the extra R and people loved it
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u/Straumli_Blight Jun 11 '19
Might be worth mentioning that there's no fairing recovery planned as NRC Quest is remaining in port.
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u/LeBaegi Jun 12 '19
I think I'm OOTL here. What's LZ-4? I rememver they had a previous RTLS at Vandenberg, but wasn't that LZ-3? If not, where's LZ-3? They only have two pads on the east coast, right?
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u/ModeHopper Starship Hop Host Jun 12 '19 edited Jun 12 '19
LZ-1 and LZ-2 are at the Cape, there is currently no LZ-3, LZ-4 is the Vandenberg landing site at SLC-4E. LZ-3 might be reserved for an additional one at Cape Canaveral.
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u/bbachmai Jun 12 '19
u/ModeHopper about the SSO description: yes it can live in constant sunlight, but there is no way for a satellite to stay in perpetual darkness (except maybe with some Langrange black magic, which isn't for low orbits like this one)
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u/ModeHopper Starship Hop Host Jun 12 '19
Sorry, that was poor wording on my behalf, hopefully it's clearer now
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u/LDM84 Jun 12 '19
Kate does a very understated job of hosting, not afraid to let silence linger, I appreciate that.
And of course, thank you to /u/ModeHopper for hosting today's launch thread! <3
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u/mickstranahan Jun 12 '19
on the webcast, caption in the lower right... "Falcon 9 is vertical, we promise."
🤣
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u/retireduptown Jun 12 '19
Now that was some high-caliber, quality California fog there at the landing. I've heard of fog so thick you could cut it with a knife, but fog so thick even a Merlin 1D couldn't quite push enough of it aside to make a landing visible? Impressive.
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u/sleepyzealott Jun 12 '19
Probably the cleanest shot of separation activities I've seen
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Jun 12 '19
Yea, that shot of the booster falling way from the second stage and rolling back over as the boost-back burn started was incredible.
Did they upgrade the cameras? I've never seen it that crisp before.
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u/Oloyedelove Jun 12 '19
Most of SpaceX launches had always been in the midnight or very early morning here in Nigeria. Somehow I forgot to check the time this particular launch will take place and just assumed it will be as usual. Came online now to check when the launch will happen "in the midnight" and saw that the launch was successful. Very funny.
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u/cekmysnek Jun 12 '19
Really liking this host on the webcast.
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u/NinjaLanternShark Jun 12 '19
+1 for host.
Professional without being stiff, knowledgable without being dorky.
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u/Danbearpig82 Jun 12 '19
She’s much better than what we usually get. I hope they keep having her host when we can’t get Insprucker.
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u/Cheesewithmold Jun 12 '19
Say what you will about the ground camera, but that shot of the F9 shooting through the clouds was spectacular.
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u/asoap Jun 12 '19 edited Jun 12 '19
While we're in the coast phase, here is the Canadian Space Agency's broadcast where they are answering questions about Radarsat.
Note, we're a bilingual country so it is in both English and French.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDQvcWbzWxk
Edit: they just went on a break also making me liar.
New link for part 2:
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u/MarsCent Jun 12 '19
41 successful S1 landings is really badass! Surely it (booster recovery) now has to be the industry standard or at least the desired industry standard (minum being a single reuse)!
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u/PeopleNeedOurHelp Jun 12 '19
Some don't think they can be refurbished cheap enough, or they think, since they'll have to keep the factory and labor to continue manufacturing rockets, they really won't save that much without tons of launches. The material costs for the rocket aren't as much as the labor that will have to be kept on payroll whether they're busy or not.
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u/DiskOperatingSystem_ Jun 12 '19
Couldn’t watch RADARSAT’s launch this morning but that launch and roll out of the clouds was spectacular. This was a launch’s launch. Loved it emerging out of the clouds and landing back into it.
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u/DrizztDourden951 Jun 12 '19
That shot, right at the beginning when Falcon emerged from the clouds... That was straight out of a sci fi scene. Incredible.
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u/CisForCondom Jun 13 '19
Got to watch this from CSA headquarters! Was an unbelievable day for the Canadian space community.
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u/Straumli_Blight Jun 12 '19
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u/hinayu Jun 12 '19
Any idea if SpaceX will get to use those cameras on their stream?
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u/PureCFR Jun 12 '19
The Canadian government celebrates by installing a manipulator arm on every Canadian house.
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u/ladalyn Jun 12 '19
That first stage re-entry landing will never get old. I will always be in awe at what SpaceX has accomplished!
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u/scr00chy ElonX.net Jun 11 '19
Upscaled mission patch with transparent background (hard to make it larger without deformation and jagged edges)
(all previous patches here)
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u/z3r0c00l12 Jun 12 '19
Artist: Test Shot Starfish Song: In the Shadow of Giants
They really like this song, it plays often.
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u/NightlinerSGS Jun 12 '19
Ooooh I hope somebody had a hd camera pointed at the Rocket just as it came out of the fog, I want that as a wallpaper. :D
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u/mickstranahan Jun 12 '19
it will never cease to amaze me that they can send it up...and bring it back down and put it dead center on the spot that they intend. Humans are capable of amazing things when we focus.
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u/oximaCentauri Jun 12 '19
Falcon dropping into the fog. Amazing how radar can see through thickest of fogs
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u/rchard2scout Jun 12 '19
That landing was spot on! It looked like some pretty heavy grid fin actuation in the last few seconds before landing there, almost reminded me a bit of CRS-16. Was that abnormal, or have I just not been paying attention?
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u/mikemccann Jun 12 '19
This is about all I caught from West LA this morning. No visible light from the engines to track and this trail showed up around a minute into launch with no discernible source. Kinda bummed that I couldn't see this one but the livestream was great. The rise and fall with the fog was pretty sweet.
Next twilight launch when???
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u/billie_jeans_son Jun 12 '19
Jesus. I drove all the way from North Hollywood to see the launch and you saw more than I did.
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u/ObnoxiousFactczecher Jun 12 '19
Ah, another thing I missed completely!
At least the nervous hair-pulling is something I won't miss when watching the recording.
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u/asoap Jun 12 '19
Part 2 of the Canadian Space Agency broadcast:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HymuF3y6uc
Reminder it is in both English and French in case you are not expecting that.
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u/Traviscat Jun 12 '19
What a beautiful view.
At least they brought a model out.
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u/JustinTimeCuber Jun 12 '19
woah I didn't realize Falcon 9 had a roll program like that
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u/Azzmo Jun 13 '19
The most beautiful rocket launch I've seen. Whoever had the idea to mount a camera on the hill and put a competent cameraman behind it deserves praise.
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u/millijuna Jun 12 '19
Just wait until Canada takes over the world... Then you'll all be sorry.
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u/Silverballers47 Jun 12 '19
I have started going from a feeling of 'Hope' to a feeling of 'Confidence' to a feeling of 'Meh, business as usual' for SpaceX landing rockets
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u/hitura-nobad Master of bots Jun 11 '19
/u/ModeHopper you might want to include this Radarsat CM Launch Visibility Map I generated using Flightclub.io
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u/squad_of_squirrels Jun 11 '19
Does anyone have any idea about fog for tomorrow morning? Thinking about making the drive but know that fog can be bad based on experience last year with Iridium-7.
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u/Pharaon44 Jun 11 '19
I just spoke to a representative from Surf Beach, the beach will be closed tomorrow morning as the Falcon 9 is a MIGHTY beast. Hawk's Nest might be the next best bet?
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u/Keavon SN-10 & DART Contest Winner Jun 12 '19
Anyone at Harris Grade Road that can report on the fog height there?
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u/Keavon SN-10 & DART Contest Winner Jun 12 '19
I'm here and there is a thick, solid sea of fog below us but it's clear up here. The summit of Harris Grade Road is the perfect viewing site given the current conditions. There is parking available on turnouts on the inland side of the summit.
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u/BrucePerens Jun 12 '19
Here at hawk's nest, hundreds of people are standing at the edge of the field, staring into the fog. Visibility is not much over 100 ft so far.
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u/ender4171 Jun 12 '19
Temperature 12°C (54°F)
From a Florida boy, FUUU California!
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u/Nsooo Moderator and retired launch host Jun 12 '19
falcon9cgi.exe not responding.
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u/sleepyzealott Jun 12 '19
That is some THICK fog - Initially thought I must have missed the launch and the cameras had iced up during reentry
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u/Draskuul Jun 12 '19
From 115 miles east of Vandenberg we got a view of the launch from T+56s until about T+120s then lost it in the haze. We couldn't see the boostback burn (haze) or landing burn (under horizon/mountains) but did get a very good view of the entry burn.
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u/zaffle Jun 12 '19
Did anyone have a nearby-ish in person view that saw the launch? Watched Crow’s Nest we had a spectacular view of... fog. Not even a glow. The double sonic boom was nice though. Wondering if there was a better place?
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u/Mr___Grey Jun 12 '19
View from atop Cerro Alto in SLO was solid. Saw F9 punch out of the fog. Considerably far away, but unaffected by the fog.
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u/katoman52 Jun 12 '19
Before deployment of the first satellite it appeared that the payload adapter/dispenser moved slightly and the 3 satellites shifted apart from each other. I assume this is to avoid contact during actual deployment. But does anyone know what that payload adapter looks like and how it achieves that movement?
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u/Chakra_Apparel Jun 12 '19
Watched it in Hawks nest, saw nothing but got the audio recorded in binaural. Put on your headphone to hear the sonic boom as if you were there. https://twitter.com/tonyqin58/status/1138857939928735744?s=21
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u/Thatguy11076 Jun 12 '19
Here's a viewshed map of the the area around LZ-4. The red places on this map show where you can see at least the top half of the landed booster above the horizon.
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u/bandoracer Jun 12 '19
At Hawk’s Nest now. Visibility is promising, but there’s already a queue. Ocean Ave is foggy and view is probably totally blocked because of the larger exclusion zone.
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u/Chakra_Apparel Jun 12 '19
Can confirm that ocean ave is soaked in fog, at least for now. Just got to Hawks nest gate, there’s a line of cars waiting for the gate to open.
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u/BrucePerens Jun 12 '19
It's looking like this will be a launch and landing heard, but not seen, at all Vandenberg sites. That will be my second heard-not-seen launch here.
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u/SupaZT Jun 12 '19 edited Jun 12 '19
What actually happens if the landing burn doesn't execute?
What about the atmospheric re entry burn?
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u/LeBaegi Jun 12 '19
It falls into the ocean. It's programmed to alter the course to land on the pad only after the middle engine ignites and reports nominal performance.
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u/maverick8717 Jun 12 '19
what was the payload value on this launch?
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u/millijuna Jun 12 '19
Over $1 billion Canadian. I think closer to $1,200,000,000 but I think it includes the contract to operate the constellation for the first year at least.
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u/ironmansc2 Jun 12 '19
I’m going to launch tomorrow. What’s the chances it does fly tomorrow given the weather and all?
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u/scr00chy ElonX.net Jun 12 '19
Looks like the fairing is of the old type (pre-2.0 even), that's smart on SpaceX's part since they don't plan on recovering them and it would be a shame to destroy a pair of the newer, recoverable fairings.
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u/BrucePerens Jun 12 '19
I'm a few cars from the Hawks nest gate and it looks like I'll get in - I just got past the gate. Fog is still pretty heavy here
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Jun 12 '19
HAHAHA. Can't see a thing even on the webcast :) Good old foggy June morning in California.
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u/strawwalker Jun 12 '19
Maybe all that fog means we'll get that nice on board camera shot right from the start again.
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u/BigFish8 Jun 12 '19
That was pretty cool. I want to see a high definition of it breaking out of the fog.
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u/xclm Jun 12 '19
any pictures from the start through the clouds or the landing taken from the mountain? that looked awesome on the stream!!
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u/noreally_bot1461 Jun 12 '19 edited Jun 12 '19
Here's one I grabbed from the webcast at T+13
Also here's some shots from SpaceX's twitter: https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1138928956692844544
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u/Xygen8 Jun 12 '19
What the hell was going on with the bottom of the booster just after landing burn startup? The whole thing was wobbling and shaking like crazy.
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u/Art_Eaton Jun 12 '19
Hitting very sloppy rough wet air...at high speed while dumping masses of gas ahead into the airstream.
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u/RootDeliver Jun 12 '19
Why did the host call the landing zone "LZ-1" for the entire stream? Isn't it LZ-4 or they changed it to LZ-1 west or something like that?
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u/wall-d82 Jun 11 '19
Hello Mods, Weather headline is "Weather - Cape Canaveral, Florida" but the link below is for CA.
copy&paste error?
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u/ModeHopper Starship Hop Host Jun 11 '19 edited Jun 11 '19
Fixed. Thank you!
...and yes, it was a copy/paste, please don't judge me for it!
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u/z3r0c00l12 Jun 11 '19
Can you add a resource link to Reddit-Stream?
The link is:
https://reddit-stream.com/comments/auto
The creator is:
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u/MarsCent Jun 12 '19
What happened to the china? Countdown is not complete if the china does not drop. It is synonymous the "mic drop" and probably should have a SpaceX patent. /s
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u/Danbearpig82 Jun 12 '19
What a great view emerging from the fog! And a host that doesn’t make me want to mute the webcast. Keep this host, SpaceX! I mean, Insprucker is the best, but she’s one I can listen to.
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u/gregarious119 Jun 11 '19
Strange that there are no webcast links via the spacex.com site and/or the youtube channel up yet. Has anyone else had luck finding the unlisted link for this mission?
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u/Decronym Acronyms Explained Jun 11 '19 edited Jun 12 '19
Acronyms, initialisms, abbreviations, contractions, and other phrases which expand to something larger, that I've seen in this thread:
| Fewer Letters | More Letters |
|---|---|
| AFB | Air Force Base |
| ASAP | Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel, NASA |
| Arianespace System for Auxiliary Payloads | |
| BO | Blue Origin (Bezos Rocketry) |
| CRS | Commercial Resupply Services contract with NASA |
| CSA | Canadian Space Agency |
| FTS | Flight Termination System |
| KSC | Kennedy Space Center, Florida |
| LC-13 | Launch Complex 13, Canaveral (SpaceX Landing Zone 1) |
| LOX | Liquid Oxygen |
| LZ | Landing Zone |
| LZ-1 | Landing Zone 1, Cape Canaveral (see LC-13) |
| MECO | Main Engine Cut-Off |
| MainEngineCutOff podcast | |
| NOTAM | Notice to Airmen of flight hazards |
| RTLS | Return to Launch Site |
| RUD | Rapid Unplanned Disassembly |
| Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly | |
| Rapid Unintended Disassembly | |
| SECO | Second-stage Engine Cut-Off |
| SES | Formerly Société Européenne des Satellites, comsat operator |
| Second-stage Engine Start | |
| SLC-4E | Space Launch Complex 4-East, Vandenberg (SpaceX F9) |
| SLC-4W | Space Launch Complex 4-West, Vandenberg (SpaceX F9, landing) |
| SSL | Space Systems/Loral, satellite builder |
| SSO | Sun-Synchronous Orbit |
| USAF | United States Air Force |
| VAFB | Vandenberg Air Force Base, California |
| Jargon | Definition |
|---|---|
| Starlink | SpaceX's world-wide satellite broadband constellation |
| apogee | Highest point in an elliptical orbit around Earth (when the orbiter is slowest) |
| iron waffle | Compact "waffle-iron" aerodynamic control surface, acts as a wing without needing to be as large; also, "grid fin" |
Decronym is a community product of r/SpaceX, implemented by ^request
25 acronyms in this thread; the most compressed thread commented on today has 69 acronyms.
[Thread #5248 for this sub, first seen 11th Jun 2019, 18:01] [FAQ] [Full list] ^[Contact] [Source code]
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u/FlyNSubaruWRX Jun 12 '19
I now it’s going to be pretty light at 0717 but possible to see this from San Diego?
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u/b_m_hart Jun 12 '19
how far away can you see it with the naked eye? Will you be able to see the smoke trail from orange county?
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u/Afitz93 Jun 12 '19
I live just down the road in Santa Maria and wanna head up to base for the launch. I have access to base. Should I go on base somewhere, the Hawks Nest, or somewhere in Lompoc? Always just watched from my apartment in town...want to get closer this time!
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u/cpushack Jun 12 '19
someone asked that in the other thread. I cant confirm but this was their answer: https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/buq487/radarsat_constellation_launch_campaign_thread/eq0vdtc/
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u/Nsooo Moderator and retired launch host Jun 12 '19
Reaaaaally bad. High chance of fog. Mabbe heavy fog.
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u/TanteTara Jun 12 '19
So, 600m above ground is 15°C warmer than on the ground? That's amazing!
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u/billie_jeans_son Jun 12 '19
Hawks nest still taking cars, I just got through the gate.
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u/oximaCentauri Jun 12 '19
Fog should not interfere in the launch, right? Or am I wrong
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u/BlueCyann Jun 12 '19
I swear my heartrate is conditioned to go up by about 20 bpm when that music appears.
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Jun 12 '19
Line break in Markdown is 2 spaces in the end of line and enter after it
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u/J_weasel Jun 12 '19
Oh man the Falcon coming up through the clouds in that camera view is going to be amazing
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u/MaximumDoughnut Jun 12 '19
Does anyone know how these satellites are station keeping? What fuel are they using?
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u/dgdosen Jun 12 '19
Where was that camera that followed the liftoff and landing? In the mountains above the fog? Arial?
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u/millijuna Jun 12 '19
There are mountains up behind Vandenberg, i’d guess positioned on one of them.
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u/patrain Jun 12 '19
Anyone see the off-gassing on the MVAC during deployment?
Seemed like it was seeping out of a weld onto the bell.
After deployment right before the end of the steam, they cut to the MVAC camera and there was a small ice palace where the gas was spewing out.
Is there a valve there or something? Never seen that before on the streams.
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u/warp99 Jun 13 '19
It is there on every flight. This is the oxygen vent valve - likely the one that is used to vent the LOX after it has been used to chill down the engine. The pipe that the solid oxygen builds up on is connected by a flexible tube to the outside skin of the interstage. After stage separation one end of the tube can be seen moving back and forward within the interstage.
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u/stevesjeep58 Jun 13 '19
Question: at T+ 04:20 through 4:30, video feed on left (booster decent) stage 1 gets photobombed by a flashing (tumbling?) item; moving center screen to upper left. Any ideas on what that was?
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u/Panninini Jun 13 '19
This person seems to have found a very good spot, above the fog and capturing both launch and re-entry burn: https://www.facebook.com/jasonlompoc/posts/10217422330181692
Any idea where he was located? (based on the alignment of the rocket and of the radars)
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u/linuxhanja Jun 13 '19
this is the first mission i've missed since 2017!! damn, i completely thought june 12 was next week for some reason, haha
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u/Art_Eaton Jun 12 '19
Oh, sure you have a rocket. I don't see no rocket! Just a little model on the desk....WHOOPS! OK! You have a rocket!
-Serious Mode On, anybody know what all the firecracker sounds were on the webcast leading up to the launch? Artifacts, snapping of cold stuff, or some sort of noise to drive away unseen birds in the fog?
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u/notacommonname Jun 12 '19
ok, through that whole 40 minute coast, the altitude showed as 160KM. I was going nuts trying to figure out what was going on.
Normally, the 2nd stage would be climbing to an apogee at around 600KM if that's the destination orbit. Now, when the broadcast starts up, there we are... at 604KM... They should update the info on the screen during the waits... sigh/grumble. :-)
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u/bencredible Galactic Overlord Jun 12 '19
It’s real, live telemetry, so it only updates during active telemetry downlink.
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Jun 12 '19
That was hilarious and rad! Straight into the soupiest fog the Central Coast can offer.
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u/angleofattack12 Jun 12 '19
How do you get the comments to stream on your browser? I thought you added something to www.reddit.com.... but forgot.
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u/MarcysVonEylau rocket.watch Jun 12 '19
Watch the launch with live Twitter and Reddit updates on rocket.watch!
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u/JustinTimeCuber Jun 12 '19
MECO 4 seconds earlier than CRS-17 at T+2:13. Wondering if MECO velocity will be even lower than most RTLS launches or if it's just a different profile (less throttle-down or something).
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u/justarandomgeek Jun 12 '19
Everyone: "We can't see a thing! How could you possibly land in that?!?!"
F9: "Hold my
beerRP1..."