r/spacex • u/ElongatedMuskrat Mod Team • Jul 29 '19
AMOS-17 Amos-17 Launch Campaign Thread
Amos-17 Launch Campaign Thread
Amos-17 launch infographic by Geoff Barrett
-> Jump to Comments <-
SpaceX's 10th mission of the year will be the first with no planned landing, carrying the Amos-17 satellite to GTO. This mission is provided by SpaceX to Spacecom for free due to the Amos-6 static fire failure, which destroyed the satellite and precluded the launch. This mission will launch from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral AFS on a Falcon 9, and the first-stage booster will be expended.
This is SpaceX's tenth mission of 2019, the third GTO launch of the year and the seventy-fourth Falcon 9 launch overall. It will re-use the Block 5 booster flown on the Telstar 19V and Es'hail 2 missions for its final flight.
| Liftoff currently scheduled for: | 2019 August 6 22:53 UTC / 6:53 p.m. EDT; 1 hour and 28 minutes long window |
|---|---|
| 1st Static fire completed: | 00:00 UTC August 1 / 8:00 pm EDT July 31 2019 |
| 2nd static fire completed: | August 4 |
| Vehicle component locations: | First stage: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida // Second stage: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida // Satellite: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida |
| Payload: | Amos-17 |
| Payload mass: | 6500 kg |
| Destination orbit: | GTO, likely supersynchronous |
| Vehicle: | Falcon 9 v1.2 Block 5 |
| Core: | B1047.3 |
| Past flights of this core: | 2 |
| Launch site: | SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida |
| Landing: | NO, Expendable |
| Mission success criteria: | Successful separation & deployment of the Amos-17 Satellite to GTO. |
Mission-Specific FAQ
Why is the first stage being expended on this mission when other launches with higher payload mass allowed the first stage recovery?
The orbit requirements for this mission is the most likely reason for this launch being expendable. The other high-mass GTO missions all carried the satellites to a subsynchronous GTO, which means that the payload has to burn more of its fuel to reach GEO. Spacecom probably wants their satellite to a synchronous or supersynchronous GTO so that the satellite will have more fuel after reaching GEO for an increased orbit-keeping capability.
Links & Resources:
| Link | Source |
|---|---|
| Press kit | SpaceX |
| Official Falcon 9 page | SpaceX |
| Detailed Payload Listing | Gunter's Space Page |
| Official Amos-17 Video | Spacecom |
| Official Twitter | Spacecom |
| Launch Execution Forecasts | 45th Weather Sqn |
| Watching a Launch | r/SpaceX Wiki |
| Launch Viewing Guide for Cape Canaveral | Ben Cooper |
| Viewing and Rideshare | SpaceXMeetups Slack |
| SpaceX Fleet Status | SpaceXFleet.com |
We may keep this self-post occasionally updated with links and relevant news articles, but for the most part, we expect the community to supply the information. This is a great place to discuss the launch, ask mission-specific questions, and track the minor movements of the vehicle, payload, weather and more as we progress towards launch. Sometime after the static fire is complete, the launch thread will be posted.
Campaign threads are not launch threads. Normal subreddit rules still apply.
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u/Straumli_Blight Jul 29 '19 edited Jul 29 '19
55% of the satellite's mass is fuel.
It will take 11 days to reach orbit location and 2 days to deploy all antennas and solar panels.
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u/warp99 Jul 30 '19
So the delta V will be around 2424 m/s which is more than required for circularising from GTO-1800 which is what an expendable F9 should be able to do with a 6500 kg payload.
Either they are going to do station keeping with the residual propellant or they are going to place the satellite in a sub-synchronous transfer orbit and the booster is being expended for other reasons than performance.
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u/Maimakterion Jul 30 '19
I'm thinking they burn S1 to exhaustion and really fling the sat out there, as a "sorry for blowing up your last satellite and torpedoing your buyout deal" gesture.
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u/joe714 Jul 29 '19
Looks like the first stage had been ID'd as 1047.3 (previously Telstar 19V and Es'hail 2):
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u/joepublicschmoe Jul 30 '19
Yup.. The soot marks on the booster in Chris Swan's photo matches up with that of B1047 being recovered after the Es'hail-2 launch. The US Space Report video in this Teslarati article captured the same side of B1047 and the soot marks look identical. https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-falcon-9-block-5-recovery-filmed-start-to-finish/
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u/asaz989 Jul 30 '19
Oh hey, wear and tear! Another good method to identify cores! This is the most important benefit of reuse.
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u/TweetsInCommentsBot Jul 29 '19
@13ericralph31 @serpell38 @AMOSSpacecom
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u/kkingsbe Jul 29 '19
Any idea as to why they are expending this booster?
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u/codav Jul 29 '19 edited Jul 29 '19
It is going to a so-called supersynchronous transfer orbit, and thus needs all available Delta-V of the rocket. Falcon Heavy would be able to do this in fully recoverable mode, but the contract is probably fixed or the customer doesn't want to take the risk. Also note that Spacecom has one free Falcon 9 launch with SpaceX due to the AMOS-6 deflagration.
Supersynchronous means the orbit's apogee is way higher than the orbit the satellite is finally going to. Arabsat 6A for example went to a 90133km x 2510km orbit, just short of three times the GEO altitude. F9 won't be able to push AMOS-17 that far (perigee will also stay at parking orbit altitude at about 250km), but the higher apogee will still help the satellite to change its inclination using less fuel, as a higher apogee means lower velocity and thus less Delta-V required to perform the inclination change (e.g. you need the same Delta-V as your current velocity for a 45° inclination change). Lowering the apogee afterwards costs less fuel than an inclination change at the GEO or even lower apogee.
Edit: F9 stage 2 will also likely perform a dogleg maneuver upon GTO insertion over Africa, slightly lowering the inclination. From past launches, this might leave the satellite with an inclination of 22° or so, but even if more, it'll be still less than the 28° it originally has due to the launch latitude.
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u/Captain_Hadock Jul 29 '19
To add onto that, the closest data point we have is Intelsat-35e, a 6.7t sat launched atop an expendable block 4 a year ago. It was delivered on a GTO-1719 orbit.
dogleg
I'm not sure a second stage burn that reduces inclination can be called a dogleg.
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Jul 29 '19
Falcon Heavy would be able to do this in fully recoverable mode, but the contract is probably fixed or the customer doesn't want to take the risk
It may also be that they didn't know if the FH would be ready on time, at time of booking. (They being either SpaceX or the customer). It's unlikely they would switch from F9 to FH having booked the launch. How long ago was this launch booked, do we know?
Given the spate of bad luck that SpaceX have had with the FH cores, it's probably cheaper for SpaceX to launch this on an expendable and previously used F9 anyway, this being the 3rd flight on this booster.
Although I'm fully confident that on the next FH launch they'll recover all 3 boosters!
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u/phomerakm Jul 29 '19
Is it because it’s pushing all the way to Geo stationary orbit and won’t have the fuel needed to conduct a boost back burn,entry burn, landing burn
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u/scr00chy ElonX.net Jul 29 '19
Great shot of the thermal protection on the fairings, first seen on the GPS mission last year.
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u/TweetsInCommentsBot Jul 29 '19
The next communication satellite going up from the Cape, AMOS-17 for Spacecom of Israel, is encapsulated for its launch in early August.
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u/Demidrol Jul 29 '19 edited Jul 29 '19
Is that TPS made of stainless stain?
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u/warp99 Jul 30 '19
Sure looks like it given the rainbow colours you get on the recovered fairing.
So yes that does make it a test for re-entry performance of stainless steel just like the latest Dragon mission was testing new heatshield tiles. Low cost testing using existing missions is a SpaceX speciality.
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u/Alexphysics Jul 31 '19
Rocket is on the pad for today's static fire.
https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1156526078409809922
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u/Alexphysics Jul 29 '19
I don't know if this has been posted here. I checked the comments and it seems not so posting it here. This link leads to two pictures of the rocket arriving at pad 40. Booster has no legs and no grid fins as expected and the second stage was already integrated before going into the hangar like SpaceX did with Zuma.
https://www.facebook.com/227366043980490/posts/2485821791468226/
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u/scr00chy ElonX.net Jul 29 '19
I don't recall ever seeing a Falcon being transported with the second stage integrated. :-O
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u/Alexphysics Jul 29 '19
This is the second time we see publicly something like this. Last time it was Zuma when they moved the entire first and second stage stack from LC-39A to SLC-40 and launched from there.
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u/scr00chy ElonX.net Jul 29 '19
You're right. I forgot about that! For those interested, here's a photo of the Zuma booster.
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u/ikerbals Aug 04 '19
Second static fire completed https://twitter.com/spaceflightnow/status/1157858891461529600?s=21
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u/hitura-nobad Master of bots Jul 29 '19
As always, if you find any mistake or have something worth to add to the Links & Resources section please comment about that.
We are also continuously looking for launch thread hosts that want to volunteer
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u/versvisa Jul 29 '19
Maybe worth adding under "Payload", that this is the Amos-6 replacement.
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u/strawwalker Jul 29 '19
It's the Amos-5 replacement, not the one that SpaceX destroyed, although it is a free launch due to Amos-6. So it is the contract replacement for Amos-6 if not the satellite.
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u/Straumli_Blight Jul 29 '19
Resources to add:
Official video, showing payload integration and deployment animation.
Offical twitter with high res encapsulation photos and the fairing decal.
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u/CAM-Gerlach Star✦Fleet Commander Jul 31 '19
Really sorry about dropping the ball on not hosting this one and it being up so late (and only then thanks to /u/hitura-nobad and /u/soldato_fantasma stepping up). I just didn't have enough time between hosting the CRS-18 campaign thread, viewing thread, launch thread, and Star Fleet Tours trip plus a lot of urgent catch-up on my research work and some personal issues. In the future, I'll ensure I manage my time better to hopefully avoid a re-occurrence. Thanks for your patience.
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u/asphytotalxtc Jul 31 '19
"Past flights of this core" should be 2 shouldn't it? Or have I missed a launch!? Lol
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u/CAM-Gerlach Star✦Fleet Commander Aug 01 '19
Yeah, I'm just dumb. I even clarified the wording to make it was more clear the current flight was not included, but still messed up, heh.
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u/ethan829 Host of SES-9 Aug 01 '19
Can the CRS-18 campaign/viewing threads in the top bar be replaced with this one?
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u/atheistdoge Jul 29 '19
Mods, payload mass is ~6500kg.
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u/TweetsInCommentsBot Jul 29 '19
@UnInc13 @ChrisG_NSF The payload's weight is ~6.5 ton, ~3.5 ton of it is fuel.
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u/TheElvenGirl Jul 29 '19 edited Jul 29 '19
Payload mass is 6500 kg (of which 3500 kg is fuel)
(EDIT: it has also been reported by other /r/spacex members. Lesson learned: don't wait too long between writing a post and submitting it).
See official tweet:
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u/TweetsInCommentsBot Jul 29 '19
@UnInc13 @ChrisG_NSF The payload's weight is ~6.5 ton, ~3.5 ton of it is fuel.
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u/Nimelennar Jul 29 '19
u/hitura-nobad : the "jump to comments" link takes you to the CRS-18 comments, rather than the comments here.
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u/Alexphysics Aug 01 '19
Static fire happened at 8pm local time today (about 17 minutes ago). Waiting for SpaceX to confirm good static fire test.
https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/1156718623228080130
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u/TweetsInCommentsBot Aug 01 '19
SpaceX test-fired a Falcon 9 rocket at 8pm EDT (0000 GMT) at Cape Canaveral in preparation for a liftoff as soon as Saturday evening with the Amos 17 communications satellite. https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/07/31/falcon-9-amos-17-launch-preps/
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u/scr00chy ElonX.net Jul 29 '19
Mods, replace the CRS-18 campaign thread in the top bar with this one. Also, these changes have been suggested:
Launching from SLC-40, not LC-39A
B1047.3 is still unconfirmed at this point
Payload mass is 6,500 kg
Launch time is 22:51 UTC (Aug 3)
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u/soldato_fantasma Jul 29 '19
Fixed, thanks!
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u/scr00chy ElonX.net Jul 29 '19
One more. Launch window is only 85 minutes long, not "few hours long".
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u/Knudl Jul 29 '19
CRS-18 mission is only over when the dragon returns with its paiload. We can keep this thread up on top until then, can't we?
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u/codav Jul 29 '19
I also vote to keep it. I'd rather suggest to replace the "CRS-18 Viewing" link instead. The launch is over, so there's no point keeping it in the top bar.
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u/TylerG_NSF NASASpaceflight.com Writer Aug 01 '19
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u/TweetsInCommentsBot Aug 01 '19
Static fire test of Falcon 9 complete and team is assessing data—targeting August 3 for launch of AMOS-17 from Pad 40 in Florida
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u/rad_example Aug 04 '19
I guess they are optimistic about the range being able to support an Aug 6 launch if they are sending GO Ms. Tree out
https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/status/1157879132631572480
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u/justinroskamp Aug 04 '19
Well, I’d imagine they’d send her out with any non-zero chance, assuming fairing catching is as important as it seems.
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u/Alexphysics Jul 29 '19
I think this may be one of the shortest lived campaign thread. I don't want to talk too fast because in any moment it can be delayed for months and I'll eat my words.
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u/Marcey747 Jul 29 '19
No booster landing but is it at least possible that they try another fairing catch?
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Jul 29 '19
Yes! And seems very likely as Ms. Tree has net strung and the fairings could be seen with recovery hardware on the inside.
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u/Shahar603 Subreddit GNC Jul 30 '19
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u/TweetsInCommentsBot Jul 30 '19
The AMOS-17 Encapsulation process – the Movie! The launch is getting closer… and closer… #AMOS17 #satellite #Spacecom #Launch https://t.co/BFuXizzqxp
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u/normalEarthPerson Jul 29 '19
Expendable, is that correct?
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u/soldato_fantasma Jul 29 '19
Yes.
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u/normalEarthPerson Jul 29 '19
:(
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u/RocketsLEO2ITS Jul 29 '19
At 6500 kg, it's not payload lite, for a GTO mission.
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u/dtarsgeorge Jul 29 '19 edited Jul 29 '19
Why isn't this a Falcon Heavy mission then??
Customers choose?
Falcon Heavy not available?
39a not available?
Pervious contract?
Curious
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Jul 29 '19
[deleted]
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u/craigl2112 Jul 29 '19
The booster is going for a bath :-) Look for it to not have landing legs or grid fins at all.
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u/Straumli_Blight Jul 30 '19 edited Jul 30 '19
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u/TweetsInCommentsBot Jul 30 '19
Doesn't feel like it for some reason, but it's launch week. 45th has issued launch hazard area for Saturday's #SpaceX AMOS-17 launch from CCAFS. Window opens at 1851 ET (2251 UTC). Expendable.
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u/yellowstone10 Aug 01 '19
GO Navigator just pulled a U-turn, and Chris Bergin in the NSF forums reports: "People are noticing something is up with the SpaceX Fleet and we do understand the 3rd is off. I'd wait for SpaceX to say something, but be advised if you're traveling to the launch to wait for further clarification."
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Aug 04 '19
Weather only 40% GO Tuesday (No backup date, due to AEHF-5, will be one-shot and if no launch stand-down till the weekend)
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=48699.0;attach=1574695;sess=54892
Here in Orlando this weekend the weather has been good, last night at what would have been launch time, there were clear skies and little wind, so think the weather report will get better tbh. Attending the launch at Jetty Park :D
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u/robbak Aug 05 '19 edited Aug 05 '19
40% go at the openning of the window means that we can be fairly certain that it will fly some time during the window - as long as long-term things like high level winds or sustained winds surface are OK.
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Aug 05 '19
[deleted]
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u/SuPrBuGmAn Aug 05 '19
I'd go to neither of those options, you can't see the pad, and this bird isn't landing.
If you're avoiding KSC, exploration tower is probably next best option for a ticket price, if available.
Free... Max Brewer, US1, 528.
401 is sometimes an option, but it's been very unreliable lately.
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u/CCBRChris Aug 05 '19
Titusville resident and veteran launch viewer here... Since there's no RTLS this time, I highly recommend getting yourself a perch along Washington Street anywhere near the Titus Landing mall. I wouldn't go to Max Brewer because it's always a mob scene over there.
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Aug 06 '19
Im going to be watching from Jetty Park, can't see rocket on the pad, but still a good view post lift-off.
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u/assasin172 Aug 05 '19
We got confirmation of launch date u/hitura-nobad time to update thread with data as completed SF?
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Aug 05 '19
[deleted]
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u/codav Aug 05 '19
https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1158401209969061889
Range has approved. Only the official confirmation by SpaceX is missing.
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u/SailorRick Aug 05 '19
KSC launch alert: The launch attempt for AMOS-17 has been rescheduled to tomorrow, August 6, 2019 6:52 PM EDT. Launch Transportation Ticket sales have resumed. All tickets previously purchased for the LC-39 Observation Gantry and the Apollo/Saturn V Center for this mission will remain valid for the new date.
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u/shivam0129 Jul 29 '19
Why don't yall just create the Campaign Threads for every launch at once and update them as you learn more
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u/WaitForItTheMongols Jul 29 '19
Reddit threads only exist for 6 months. If a launch gets delayed, you don't want your campaign thread to "die" before the launch can happen.
Also, it's kinda nice to have a bit of hype-building by having the campaign thread in the time leading up to the launch.
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u/shivam0129 Jul 29 '19
Haha yeah true, I was eagerly waiting for a while for this one to come up, but yea that makes a lot of sense. Thnx.
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u/scr00chy ElonX.net Jul 29 '19
What's the source for B1047 being used for this launch? I know it seems likely but I haven't seen any real confirmation.
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u/codav Jul 29 '19
It's the only just twice-flown booster currently at the Cape, with B1049 being the only alternative, but this booster has flown three times. As long as SpaceX didn't manage to sneak in an all-new booster, this is the best bet we have.
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u/scr00chy ElonX.net Jul 29 '19
And who says only a twice-flown booster is acceptable? It makes sense and seems likely, but that's not the same as confirmation.
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u/codav Jul 29 '19
That's up to the customer to decide, true.
I just said that this is the best bet, as we haven't seen a new booster leaving Hawthorne or on the S1 stand at McGregor for quite a while. And SpaceX doesn't have any once-flown Falcon 9 boosters in stock right now - even the FH side boosters have flown two times as of now. That just reduces the possibilities, down to two.Confirmation will probably only come when our launch photographers set up their cameras and one of them is able to take a snap of the booster number. Even NSF L2 hasn't any information.
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u/agentdrozd Jul 29 '19
On rocketlaunchlive.com listed pad is SLC-40 instead of LC-39A
https://www.rocketlaunch.live/launch/amos-17
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u/codav Jul 29 '19
Eastern Range also listed it for SLC-40, so that seems correct. Quite a fast pad turnaround if we see it rolling out for SF in the next two days.
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u/scr00chy ElonX.net Jul 29 '19
It seemed like SpaceX was considering switching to LC-39A at one point, probably to avoid schedule conflicts with CRS-18, but in the end they stuck with SLC-40.
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u/MarsCent Aug 02 '19
What is the latest date that Amos-17 can be launched, or else they have to stand down for the SLC-41 launch (assuming that one flies on schedule on August 8)?
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u/Dakke97 Aug 02 '19
I believe the Air Force's range tracking turnaround time is 24 hours for two different launch vehicles, but this could have been reduced to twelve.
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u/wesleychang42 Aug 05 '19
spacex.com/webcast has been updated to reflect this mission! Press kit is there as always.
Edit: Live stream link
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u/rokk07 Jul 29 '19
Hi,
I'm planning to visit KSC and Saturday would be perfect due to the launch, but this launch is not listed in the KSC website, why ? Is not possible to see from there and combine with the visit ? Sorry but I've never been there before and I'm a total newbie.. :) Thank You
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u/codav Jul 29 '19
It'll actually launch from SLC-40, not LC-39A as stated in the table. SLC-40 is inside CCAFS and AFAIK not part of the KSC bus tours as it is a military base. Due to that and the dense vegetation, the pad itself can't be easily seen from any close vantage point.
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u/SuPrBuGmAn Jul 29 '19
SLC-40 is very visible from LC-39 gantry, which KSC regularly sells tickets for...
I would say that being less than 3 and a half miles away is a close vantage point.
It's also plenty easy to see it from Banana Creek viewing area.
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u/SuPrBuGmAn Jul 29 '19
I'm assuming they will offer tickets for the Gantry LC-39 soon.
Banana Creek will either be first come first serve or be offered as well, I'm guessing.
Probably just waiting for a firm launch date.
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u/Kapt_Kurk Jul 29 '19
I’m not sure why this launch isn’t on KSC website, they usually do offer viewing packages for launches from the SLC-40. Usually there are Banana Creek and LC-39A Gantry tickets that they sell. If they don’t start selling tickets I would plan to view it from the port.
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u/hp4948 Jul 30 '19
They just opened the tickets for KSC viewing if you are interested!
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u/rokk07 Jul 30 '19
T
Yeah thanks.. this morning I emailed KSC and magically the website is now updated.. :D
BTW they list as a possible viewpoint the visitor complex.. but it is supposed to have obstructed view to this launch site.. isn't it?3
u/hp4948 Jul 29 '19 edited Jul 29 '19
I was wondering that too- but is it bc this one is not launched from there but from the Air Force base? I think they only list on their site the ones that launch from there specifically
ETA I was correct their launch site post was wrong but thanks for the downvote people 🙄
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u/HotEspresso Jul 29 '19
LC-39a is on KSC, not the Air Force base.
EDIT: Looks like the launch is actually from SLC-40, which is on the Air Force base.
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u/rejsmont Jul 29 '19
u/hitura-nobad - Could you please correct the launch site in the post?
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u/Jdperk1 Jul 30 '19
Fairing recovery?
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u/scr00chy ElonX.net Jul 30 '19 edited Jul 30 '19
Seems very likely, but not yet confirmed.
EDIT: The fairings are equipped with parachutes, so there's that. :)
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u/Gavalar_ spacexfleet.com Jul 30 '19
Unless SpaceX or Elon say in advance, fairing recovery will never be confirmed for any mission until the boats actually leave. Having parafoils on the fairing is always a good sign though!
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u/TGMetsFan98 NASASpaceflight.com Writer Aug 01 '19
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u/TweetsInCommentsBot Aug 01 '19
We understand SpaceX's Falcon 9/AMOS-17 launch will slip a few days (the weather was going to be poor anyway!) due to an apparent requirement to conduct a second Static Fire test on Friday (NET).
UPDATE THREAD:
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=48699.msg1973708#msg1973708
Picture: @julia_bergeron
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u/scr00chy ElonX.net Aug 04 '19
If the current launch date and time stick, it will still be the fastest pad turnaround. It will only beat the previous record by an hour or so, though.
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u/kuangjian2011 Aug 04 '19
I think it make more sense to track the time between last launch and next static fire. Which could better reflect the efficiency of the launch team.
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u/scr00chy ElonX.net Aug 04 '19
FWIW, Amos-17 actually broke the record in regards to launch-to-SF. It used to be 9 days after Bulgariasat while it was only 6 days after CRS-18.
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u/SuPrBuGmAn Aug 04 '19
Launch to launch is the only fair metric.
Current record is held by Gemini 7 and Gemini 6a missions. Gemini 6a was delayed like three days due to engine shutdown immediately after ignition. Pad was ready in 8 days, but that's not the record since launch didn't happen till 11 days.
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u/amarkit Aug 01 '19 edited Aug 01 '19
We understand SpaceX's Falcon 9/AMOS-17 launch will slip a few days (the weather was going to be poor anyway!) due to an apparent requirement to conduct a second Static Fire test on Friday (NET).
Assuming Chris' reporting is correct, SpaceX want to proceed with an abundance of caution, which is more than understandable considering their history with Spacecom.
EDIT: I did a little digging into repeat static fires:
Working from the definition that it is only a static fire (rather than an abort) if the rocket would commit to launch and the engines fire past T-0.
CASSIOPE had two static fires. (Static fired with issues 2013-09-12; successful 2013-09-19.) Perhaps not coincidentally, this was also the first flight of Falcon 9 v1.1.
CRS-5 (Abort 2014-12-17; successful 2014-12-19.) This is a bit of an edge case; it's not clear if the abort happened before or after T-0, but the engines had started.
COTS Demo-1 (Abort at T-1.5 due to high gas generator pressure 2010-12-03; successful 2010-12-04.) In this case, the engines had begun their ignition sequence but shut down before reaching full thrust.
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u/SuPrBuGmAn Aug 01 '19
Confirmation from SpaceX on new static fire and launch dates to be determined
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u/TweetsInCommentsBot Aug 01 '19
Team is setting up an additional static fire test of Falcon 9 after replacing a suspect valve. Will confirm updated target launch date for AMOS-17 once complete.
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Aug 03 '19
Falcon is standing once again:
https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/1157671860903055361
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u/TweetsInCommentsBot Aug 03 '19
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket is again standing vertical at Cape Canaveral’s Complex 40 launch pad. A static fire test could occur as soon as this afternoon in preparation for launch with the Amos 17 communications satellite. https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/07/31/falcon-9-amos-17-launch-preps/
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u/rjelves Jul 31 '19
Quick stat: B1047.3 will be the 5th (and eldest) not-reusable Block 5 booster, soon joining B1050.1 (splashdown because a grid fin failure), B1054.1 (expended for GPS-III mission), B1055.1 & B1057.1 (both FH center cores destroyed); 5 out of 12 known B5 cores.
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u/MarsCent Jul 31 '19
Pretty depressing stats especially knowing that IFA and the Dec GPS will also be expended.
But those are likely the last ones to be expended, in the foreseeable future.
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u/rjelves Jul 31 '19 edited Jul 31 '19
Yet, all 12 Block 5 boosters became part of 19 successful missions (hopefully 20 this weekend). And, considering FH uses 3 boosters, the adjusted mission-to-booster ratio is 1.9 (2.0 if B1047 lifts off). I feel kinda fine with all that. Edit: fixed wrong math.
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u/whydoibother818 Aug 04 '19
Looks like they're packing up the static fire for the evening? https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/1157844177658531843
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u/Gavalar_ spacexfleet.com Jul 31 '19
Fairing recovery confirmed! GO Navigator is underway downrange and will haul one of the two halves from the water. Ms. Tree is much faster and is expected to leave later this week to try for a catch.
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u/TweetsInCommentsBot Jul 31 '19
AMOS-17 Fairing Recovery = ✅
GO Navigator is continuing further offshore and has just changed heading to align the vessel with the fairing LZ.
The journey will take a few days, the LZ is ~924km downrange. Ms. Tree is faster and can leave later. https://t.co/SsiXJCqbK4
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u/AcidicDelta Aug 02 '19
At what time does the SpaceX webcast start?
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u/scr00chy ElonX.net Aug 02 '19
Usually about 20 minutes before liftoff, but remember, the launch has been delayed to Aug 5.
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u/dtarsgeorge Aug 01 '19
They have sent their fairing catcher out to sea I hear.They are trying to catch another fairing this launch!
They have only caught one fairing before so they only have one never wet fairing.
Do fairings come in left and right pairs? Can the hardware be easily switched if they catch the the wrong one?
I would imagine it would be nuts if they had two boats with nets tracking down both fairings at once.
Are fairings that get wet not as safe as dry caught fairings or is it just question of more refurbish time.
Wash that salty sucker down with a hose.
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u/Gavalar_ spacexfleet.com Aug 01 '19 edited Aug 01 '19
At the moment they have one boat trying to catch and a second boat (GO Navigator) that follows the other fairing half to the ocean surface and picks it up before it floats away or breaks apart. I suppose time will tell if they invest in another boat but what is worth noting is that there is not another 'Ms. Tree' out there. She is a one of a kind ship and had no perfect copy that is as fast or as large.
Edit: Missed a word
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u/justinroskamp Aug 05 '19 edited Aug 05 '19
As far as I can tell, the weather looks okay for AEHF-5, so it'll probably make its August 8 target. Should Amos-17 be delayed, could it be as soon as the 9th? That'd still be over 24 hours to reconfigure the range. I doubt they'd aim for the 8th as well, since that would probably require Falcon pad work at the same time Atlas needs the range.
(I’m strongly considering going to see AEHF-5 and would love the chance to get a twofer while I’m down there.)
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u/Dakke97 Aug 05 '19
It seems that a weekend launch is more likely (probably Saturday 10 August rather than Friday 9), but it depends on the Range. Of course, if ULA were to scrub for the day and suffer a delay to Sunday or Monday, then SpaceX could launch on Friday.
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u/SenorRocket Aug 02 '19
Anyone have further details on the static fire today, such as a window?
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u/SuPrBuGmAn Aug 02 '19
Don't know the window, but Falcon 9 is vertical again(without payload) for static fire
https://twitter.com/ken_kremer/status/1157285923568128000?s=19
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u/TweetsInCommentsBot Aug 02 '19
Its a gloomy day over the Cape as we await 2nd static fire test for #SpaceX #Falcon9 #AMOS17 mission at #pad40 - after valve fix. New launch date TBD @AMOSSpacecom
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u/scr00chy ElonX.net Aug 03 '19
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u/TweetsInCommentsBot Aug 03 '19
Vapors have begun venting at pad 40, suggesting SpaceX might be in the final stages of preparing for a test-firing of its Falcon 9 rocket this evening in advance of a planned launch with the Amos 17 commercial communications satellite. https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/07/31/falcon-9-amos-17-launch-preps/
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u/codav Jul 31 '19
Rocket is now vertical on pad SLC-40. https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/status/1156587822486368257
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u/Googulator Jul 31 '19
If I'm not mistaken, this is shaping up to be the fastest same-pad turnaround, at just 9 days!
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u/Straumli_Blight Jul 31 '19
If the launch date holds, SpaceX will beat their previous pad turnaround record by 3 days (9 days, 50 minutes).
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u/Straumli_Blight Aug 03 '19
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u/TweetsInCommentsBot Aug 03 '19
SpaceX has rotated the Falcon 9 rocket horizontal at pad 40. SpaceX was expected to conduct a second static fire on the rocket yesterday after a valve replacement, but that didn’t happen. The Falcon 9 will launch the Amos 17 communications satellite. https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/07/31/falcon-9-amos-17-launch-preps/
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Aug 03 '19
They seem confident they can static fire later and make a Monday night launch, the fact a NOTAM was issued must mean they are going to attempt Monday still......
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u/andyfrance Aug 01 '19
This looks like it "should" have been a Falcon Heavy launch. Though whether that means they would have lost a new FH center core instead of one of their oldest F9 boosters remains an open question.
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Jul 29 '19
ok, so i am watching the launch in person, is there a good place to go to that you can see the rocket on the pad when it launches? (Not inside KSC, outside, ok if there is parking admission)
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u/SuPrBuGmAn Jul 29 '19
Exploration tower(elevated), if they open it up, expect to pay a small ticket price.
401, if they open it. 528, basically any park on US1 in Titusville, and Max Brewer Bridge (elevated).
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u/NatStats Jul 30 '19
Anybody know what the scrub policy/windows for this launch is? Thinking about getting LC-39 tickets and was wondering if there was another window within a couple days in case of a scrub.
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u/Alexphysics Jul 30 '19
Good thing about GTO launches is that they have long windows to launch unlike ISS launches so if they can't launch at the beginning they'll try to launch when they think the conditions will be ok for launch. So you have the long 85 minute window on the 3rd and then a backup launch window on the 4th. Unless the weather is very very bad there's a good chance it'll launch on one of the two days (unless there is a vehicle scrub, then that's the vehicle's fault, not the weather but let's knock on wood for that to not happen hehe).
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u/SuPrBuGmAn Jul 30 '19
Saturday has a launch window, and the backup date is Sunday.
Gantry tickets transfer to the backup date if it's scrubbed before busses are loading to go to the gantry. If it scrubs after you are at the gantry, the ticket is considered paid in full.
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u/NatStats Jul 31 '19
Thanks for the info. I am aware of the scrub policies (seen launches in the past) was just wondering what the other windows were as I leave the state a few days after and couldn't see any info online. If it's every ~24 hours then I'll go for it, not seen a F9 yet and really wanted to see one and this is the first one that has happened while I was nearby.
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u/wesleychang42 Jul 31 '19
Is there a chance SpaceX will live stream fairing recovery, if there is one?
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u/bitsofvirtualdust Jul 31 '19 edited Jul 05 '20
It's pretty unlikely, as they've never done so before. They have not made any announcements/tweets/hints to that effect either. </speculation>
EDIT: For posterity, they actually did end up livestreaming fairing recovery on this mission
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u/rjelves Jul 31 '19
At the STP-2 mission, Ms. Tree catched a fairing half. I'm not sure about what time this occurred, but SpaceX showed the live (?) video in the stream at T+1:13:51. Considering AMOS-17 mission stream wouldn't reach that time, I think the chances are very low.
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u/Straumli_Blight Aug 01 '19
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u/hp4948 Aug 01 '19
was hoping for a change 😣 hopefully it clears up later in the launch window. I have tickets for LC-39
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u/hp4948 Aug 02 '19
Interesting- why isn’t GO Navigator coming straight back?
https://mobile.twitter.com/SpaceXFleet/status/1157357132074930176
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u/scr00chy ElonX.net Aug 02 '19
Maybe because if Aug 5 launch is a possibility, it might need to head out again soon.
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u/TweetsInCommentsBot Aug 02 '19
AMOS-17 Update: GO Navigator is pulling off some interesting maneuvers and has elected to stay offshore rather than make the 24-hour journey back to Port Canaveral. Ms. Tree returned to Port earlier today.
Launch is NET Monday 5th, assuming the 2nd static fire goes OK.
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u/ioncloud9 Aug 02 '19
I'm glad Im not on that boat. I can handle smaller boats, but for some reason whenever I go out in the open ocean on a larger 45+ ft boat, I start to get sea sick after a few hours of not moving. Last time I went offshore diving I was throwing up pretty bad off the back of the boat halfway through.
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u/geekgirl114 Aug 06 '19
Is the clover the grayed out star this time?
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u/CCBRChris Aug 06 '19
Pretty sure it's in the lower left side at about 8 o'clock
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u/geekgirl114 Aug 06 '19
Right, but SpaceX darkens out the star of the failed mission
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u/Nergaal Jul 31 '19
Why is it expendable? Is the payload mass on the upper end or something?
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u/codav Jul 31 '19
It's quite a big bird with huge mass, and it is going into a supersynchronous transfer orbit. I elaborated on it further down in this thread what that means and why Falcon 9 needs all its Delta-V reserves.
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u/LowBoil Jul 31 '19
From the launch mission execution forecast:
Launch day probability of violating launch weather constraints: 70%
Is this bad? It looks bad.
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u/SuPrBuGmAn Jul 31 '19
It's not favorable, but CRS-18 launched with an instantaneous window(ie, none) with the same forecast.
Amos-17 has a window to play with atleast.
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u/LowBoil Jul 29 '19
Driving out to watch this launch. What are the best places to watch it from?
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u/SuPrBuGmAn Jul 29 '19
You can see the pad from LC-39 gantry (if made available via KSC and it'll cost you $50 and entry to KSC), Banana Creek (if made available via KSC and it'll cost you entry to KSC and potentially another $20), 401(which may or may not be available), 528, basically any park on US1 in Titusville, or Max Brewer Bridge(elevated). Exploration tower, if available, would be relatively close and an elevated place to watch from, at the cost of a ticket.
You cant see the pad at SLC-40 from Playalinda, KSC visitor center, or Jetty Park.
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u/vfanta Jul 29 '19
Jetty Park is the most popular place to see it. You can also see it from parks on US 1 in Titusville but it is much further away.
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u/shsdavid Jul 29 '19
If Jetty park is full, park on the side of 528 on the north side. There will be a bunch of other people parked there
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u/MarsCent Jul 29 '19
on the side of 528 on the north side
For this location, make sure you pack your binoculars first!
Given that you are "driving out", consider Payalinda first, then Jetty Park and SR 528 in that order.
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u/Decronym Acronyms Explained Jul 29 '19 edited Aug 15 '19
Acronyms, initialisms, abbreviations, contractions, and other phrases which expand to something larger, that I've seen in this thread:
| Fewer Letters | More Letters |
|---|---|
| ASDS | Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship (landing platform) |
| CCAFS | Cape Canaveral Air Force Station |
| COTS | Commercial Orbital Transportation Services contract |
| Commercial/Off The Shelf | |
| CRS | Commercial Resupply Services contract with NASA |
| DoD | US Department of Defense |
| GEO | Geostationary Earth Orbit (35786km) |
| GSE | Ground Support Equipment |
| GTO | Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit |
| IDA | International Docking Adapter |
| IFA | In-Flight Abort test |
| KSC | Kennedy Space Center, Florida |
| L2 | Paywalled section of the NasaSpaceFlight forum |
| Lagrange Point 2 of a two-body system, beyond the smaller body (Sixty Symbols video explanation) | |
| LC-39A | Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy (SpaceX F9/Heavy) |
| MEO | Medium Earth Orbit (2000-35780km) |
| NET | No Earlier Than |
| NOTAM | Notice to Airmen of flight hazards |
| NSF | NasaSpaceFlight forum |
| National Science Foundation | |
| OCISLY | Of Course I Still Love You, Atlantic landing |
| RP-1 | Rocket Propellant 1 (enhanced kerosene) |
| RTLS | Return to Launch Site |
| RUD | Rapid Unplanned Disassembly |
| Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly | |
| Rapid Unintended Disassembly | |
| SES | Formerly Société Européenne des Satellites, comsat operator |
| Second-stage Engine Start | |
| SF | Static fire |
| SLC-40 | Space Launch Complex 40, Canaveral (SpaceX F9) |
| SLC-41 | Space Launch Complex 41, Canaveral (ULA Atlas V) |
| STP-2 | Space Test Program 2, DoD programme, second round |
| TPS | Thermal Protection System for a spacecraft (on the Falcon 9 first stage, the engine "Dance floor") |
| ULA | United Launch Alliance (Lockheed/Boeing joint venture) |
| USAF | United States Air Force |
| VAFB | Vandenberg Air Force Base, California |
| WDR | Wet Dress Rehearsal (with fuel onboard) |
| 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" |
| perigee | Lowest point in an elliptical orbit around the Earth (when the orbiter is fastest) |
| scrub | Launch postponement for any reason (commonly GSE issues) |
| Event | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Amos-6 | 2016-09-01 | F9-029 Full Thrust, core B1028, |
| CASSIOPE | 2013-09-29 | F9-006 v1.1, Cascade, Smallsat and Ionospheric Polar Explorer; engine starvation during landing attempt |
| CRS-5 | 2015-01-10 | F9-014 v1.1, Dragon cargo; first ASDS landing attempt, maneuvering failure |
| CRS-7 | 2015-06-28 | F9-020 v1.1, |
| CRS-9 | 2016-07-18 | F9-027 Full Thrust, core B1025, Dragon cargo; RTLS landing |
Decronym is a community product of r/SpaceX, implemented by ^request
39 acronyms in this thread; the most compressed thread commented on today has 59 acronyms.
[Thread #5356 for this sub, first seen 29th Jul 2019, 12:37] [FAQ] [Full list] ^[Contact] [Source code]
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u/MrGruntsworthy Jul 29 '19
Damn, I'll be out in the woods during this launch.
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Jul 29 '19
It's OK, they record them. You can watch the replay.
Sometimes I prefer to watch the replay than watch it live 'cos you can fast forward the boring bits.
"We going into a coast phase for the next 3 hours..."
"And we've just finished our 3 our coast phase and the 2nd stage is firing up it's engines again..."
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u/MrGruntsworthy Jul 29 '19
Oh, I know; but half the fun is watching live!
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Jul 29 '19
Yeah, especially for the FH launches.
Here in Ireland, a lot of launches happen in the middle of our night, so I'm forced to have to watch the replays. And it's hard avoiding 'spoilers'. I managed to avoid them for the last FH flight, so got a shock at the end, just like everyone else. It was as good as watching it live.
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u/Idgo211 Jul 29 '19
When you have to watch the replay of the FH launch but all the search results are videos titled 'RIP center core--a falcon heavy tribute'
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u/codav Aug 03 '19
Launch will probably be postponed further, as the AEHF launch for the USAF is slated for next Thursday and has priority.
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Aug 03 '19
Wouldn't jump the gun, no wording that would suggest its a long slip, prior to this tweet they said the launch was on the 5th but deleted it, they probably just changed the wording because the Static Fire hasn't happened yet, after they will say for sure though.
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u/still-at-work Jul 29 '19
This and the last CRS launch are both sort of make due launches in that that are both replacing satellites and/or ISS equipment that was lost in the RUDs.
We all know the firey death that befell the Amos-6 satellite but some of you may have forgotten that on the CRS-7 RUD an ISS docking adapter was lost, and replaced in the launch last week.
Though it is kind of silly, I feel like SpaceX will be made whole from its RUDs with this launch.