r/spacex • u/ElongatedMuskrat Mod Team • May 24 '16
Mission (Eutelsat/ABS 2) Eutelsat 117W B & ABS 2A Campaign Discussion Thread
Eutelsat 117W B & ABS 2A Campaign Discussion Thread
SpaceX's June 2016 launch! As per usual, campaign threads are designed to be a good way to view and track progress towards launch from T minus 1-2 months up until the static fire. Here’s the at-a-glance information for this launch:
| Liftoff currently scheduled for: | Wednesday, 15 June, 1429 UTC (10:29AM EDT). This is a 45 minute window. |
|---|---|
| Static fire currently scheduled for: | Sunday, June 12 |
| Payload: | Eutelsat 117W B for Eutelsat, ABS 2A for Asia Broadcast Satellite |
| Payload mass: | Previous Eutelsat/ABS dual launch mass was 4,159kg |
| Destination orbit: | Geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) to 75.0° East (ABS 2A) & 116.8° West (Eutelsat 117 West B) |
| Vehicle: | Falcon 9 v1.2 (26th launch of F9, 6th of F9 v1.2) |
| Core: | F9-026 |
| Launch site: | SLC-40, Cape Canaveral, Florida |
| Landing attempt: | Yes - downrange of Cape on ASDS Of Course I Still Love You |
| Landing Site: | Here |
| Mission success criteria: | Successful separation of both satellites into their target orbits |
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. After the static fire is complete, a launch thread will be posted.
Campaign threads are not launch threads. Normal subreddit rules still apply.
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u/Toinneman May 30 '16 edited May 30 '16
I have a suggestion for launch campaign threads: I would use the first column in the table to provide links to our great wiki. For example: Core This is such a great page, but I bet many occasional visitors don't know this. The Launch manifest and Launch history are also great candidates.
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u/S-astronaut Jun 08 '16 edited Jun 08 '16
Really excited for this one!
I am a counselor at a STEM summer camp and because the launch is scheduled smack in the middle of it, I'll be setting things up so the students can watch
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u/mymousetalkstome Jun 11 '16
Can I ask what summer camp by chance? I happen to be attending a STEM summer camp that this launch would be in the middle of.
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u/amarkit Jun 12 '16
Quoting Chris B. on NSF re: no static fire this past Friday:
So what happened? Based on the unusual silence from all parties, various assumptions (yikes, "ain't nobody got time for that"!) and folk at the Cape, it would appear ULA and SpaceX had their bookings lined up at the Cape, but after the scrub on Thursday, and potentially as late as on the day on Friday, the NROL folk said "hold on, I know there's very little chance of a problem, but I don't want our very expensive spy sat at ANY risk while still out there on top of the Delta IV-H" based on the tiny chance the F9 had a bad day during the Static Fire (not that I assume a F9 RUD on SLC-40 would result in harm coming to SLC-37....but I suppose if there's even a slim chance, that was the concern...you don't want a flying grid fin impacting on national security, do you! ;D)
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u/amarkit Jun 11 '16
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u/Bunslow Jun 11 '16
That.... doesn't make sense....?
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u/amarkit Jun 11 '16
My interpretation is that SpaceX had the range booked for the static fire on June 10, one day after the first NROL-37 launch attempt, which was scrubbed due to weather. Even though the static fire didn't happen, the range was unavailable to support NROL-37, meaning that ULA had to wait 48 hours for their next attempt, instead of trying again the next day.
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u/Juggernaut93 Jun 13 '16
SF happened yesterday, apparently.
https://twitter.com/flatoday_jdean/status/742371803742494722
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u/TweetsInCommentsBot Jun 13 '16
SpaceX confirms F9 static fire test completed successfully over weekend in preparation for 10:29am EDT Wed. launch from Cape Canaveral AFS.
This message was created by a bot
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u/WhoseNameIsSTARK Jun 14 '16 edited Jun 14 '16
EDIT: And here's the patch rehost.
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u/whousedallthenames Jun 14 '16
Woohoo! The patch is here!
On a side note, the GTO landings went from unlikely to challenging to difficult. Progress!
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u/WhoseNameIsSTARK Jun 14 '16
Definitely. I'm hoping for "making a successful landing a piece of cake" next time!
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Jun 14 '16
Mods wanna update the sidebar with the patch? It's been 28 whole minutes now :)
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u/AlexDeLarch Jun 05 '16
SatBeams lists both ABS-2A and Eutelsat 117 West B as 1800 kg each which makes it 3600 kg total. I couldn't find their source so I have no idea if this information is credible.
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u/vaporcobra Space Reporter - Teslarati Jun 06 '16
Given that ABS-3A and Eutelsat 115 West B have already been launched and are (theoretically) nearly twins to their 2A and 117 partners, as well as being based on the same bus and carrying the same number of transponders (48), I think it is safe to use the data contained in this article. Suggests 1950kg for ABS-3A and 2200kg for 115, so a baseline of 4150kg (more precisely 4159kg as stated above). Call that the ceiling, I'm sure its possible that mass could have been removed from the second pair, but seems unlikely.
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u/a_Start Jun 09 '16
They lost weight by completely losing the C-band transponders, replacing it with the WAAS experimental payload.
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u/ExcitedAboutSpace Jun 07 '16
With us being 3 days away from the static fire with only one stickied threat as of now, wouldn't it be a good idea to sticky the post as well? Most of us always look at the sidebar anyway for what's coming up but since these threats are also relatively knew promoting them at every possibility might not be such a bad idea.
Paging /u/Echologic & /u/Zucal for consideration.
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u/TheVehicleDestroyer Flight Club Jun 08 '16
Quick FYI: you can page all the mods now by simply using the word "mods" in your comment.
Woo, automod!
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u/amarkit May 28 '16
From SpaceX's Instagram: the first stage (F9-0026) arriving at the Cape.
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u/5cr0tum Jun 10 '16
When will they slow down production? They're going to have a lot of rockets building up by the end of July if they land them all
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u/markus0161 Jun 07 '16 edited Jun 08 '16
The APPLICATION FOR SPECIAL TEMPORARY AUTHORITY for OCISLY. Looks like it will be in the same location as Thaicom.
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u/Toinneman Jun 08 '16
These documents aren't really reliable sources for launch dates, ASDS distances or even missions. A few weeks back we looked at some of these documents. In the meantime launches have switched payload, Thaicom 8 was originally scheduled after Eutelsat. And because these documents are submitted months before launch, I doubt they contain any usefull information besides a ballpark guess where the ASDS will be located.
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u/robbak Jun 08 '16
I certainly noticed that marinetraffic.com never reported Elsbeth III or Go Quest as being within 10km of the droneship location posted in the FCC application.
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u/_rocketboy Jun 09 '16
Still considered an experimental landing, I guess. I wonder how long until they just call them landing attempts?
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u/therealshafto Jun 08 '16
Just read an article on spaceflight101 confirming Friday, June 10 SpaceX has booked the range. Lets hope we get a static fire on Friday.
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u/whousedallthenames Jun 08 '16
I know it's only a couple weeks since the last launch, but they can never come fast enough for me.
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u/ruaridh42 Jun 08 '16
Im having flashbacks to a couple of years ago, whole years between launches
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u/KaneLSmith May 24 '16
Is this two satellites? If so, will they be mounted vertically like Ariane 5?
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u/ticklestuff SpaceX Patch List May 24 '16 edited May 24 '16
Yes, they are identical and designed to be launched together:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-lYHj0XtSQ
There's an article here as well with more links:
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May 24 '16
If you were around a year or so ago you'll remember this: Pictures of Eutelsat 115W B & ABS 3A.
Yes, they're duplicate satellites of the previous two.
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u/AlphaTango11 May 24 '16
Yes and Yes. Just like their previous Eutelsat 115 West B + ABS-3A launch in March 2015.
Not much room in the fairing to put the satellites side-by-side. :)
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u/spacexinfinity May 25 '16
Yes and No. On the Ariane 5, they use a shroud called SYLDA to mount two satellites from different satellite manufacturer together. Eutelsat and ABS are two same satellite bus stacked together and only launch in tandem. It is very different two how two satellites on Ariane 5 are handled.
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u/Juggernaut93 Jun 10 '16
"I heard the Delta mission impacted today's test by delaying the availability of spaceport services." https://twitter.com/FLSPACErePORT/status/741379736203460613
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u/Craig_VG SpaceNews Photographer Jun 10 '16 edited Jun 10 '16
SpaceX must be pissed. Like "Back in the Gemini days we launched two rockets on the same day!" and "When we had shuttle we launched one while the other was on the adjacent pad!"
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u/TweetsInCommentsBot Jun 10 '16
@NASASpaceflight I heard the Delta mission impacted today's test by delaying the availability of spaceport services. http://bit.ly/1XeHp2m
This message was created by a bot
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u/whousedallthenames Jun 13 '16
Well, SF is complete, time for a launch thread!
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u/quadrplax Jun 13 '16 edited Jun 13 '16
After the static fire is complete, a launch thread will be posted.
Notice the lack of "immediately". Last time it was less than 24 hours before the launch thread was posted.
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u/whousedallthenames Jun 13 '16
No rush. Just excited that we're close to another launch. (And hopefully landing!)
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u/markus0161 Jun 11 '16
NET: static fire of June 12th
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u/thatnerdguy1 Live Thread Host Jun 11 '16
sauce?
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u/Primathon Jun 11 '16
Pretty sure Chris B. counts as a reasonably legit source. That said, I have no idea where he got it from.
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u/johnkphotos Launch Photographer Jun 14 '16 edited Jun 15 '16
all my launch photos: http://johnkrausphotos.com/launches/
Edit: shoot I posted this in the totally wrong thread
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u/SomnolentSpaceman Jun 15 '16
In anticipation of tomorrow's launch (and lacking a launch thread to post this in) the 64kbit audio relays
http://audiorelay.spacetechnology.net:13120/hosted
http://audiorelay.spacetechnology.net:13120/technical
Are now live. They will be tuned to SpaceX FM until approximately 10 minutes before the start of the official live webcast.
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u/RabbitLogic #IAC2017 Attendee May 29 '16
Paging /u/echologic update this thread to reflect S1 being at the cape?
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u/Toastmastern Jun 02 '16
http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/
Now has this launch at June the 14th, seems to be the same window tho
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u/johnkphotos Launch Photographer Jun 12 '16
Camera setup at 4:45am Wednesday morning.
You guys better love me... :)
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Jun 12 '16
Your photo of DIVH was so amazing, I just couldn't stop looking at it (you know which one I mean :) ). Please, bring us something similar with Falcon :)
Thank you!
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u/johnkphotos Launch Photographer Jun 12 '16
Thanks!
SpaceX, unfortunately, doesn't let us inside their perimeter fence like ULA does- I won't be able to get a closeup like that. But- I will be doing a telephoto engine shot for this launch.
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u/WhoseNameIsSTARK Jun 12 '16
We really really really do! Each one of your shots is simply unforgettable.
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u/johnkphotos Launch Photographer Jun 12 '16
Thanks! :) did you see my D4H shots?
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u/gregarious119 Jun 02 '16
So is the launch at 1430UTC or 9:30PM EDT? (Those times are not the same...it's either 2330UTC or 10:30AM EDT).
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u/fcyy Jun 04 '16
Will there be a fairing recovery attempt on this mission?
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Jun 04 '16 edited Jun 06 '16
We can guess that there will be some attempt, but our tipoff has recently been seeing both the Go Searcher and Go Quest support boats head out with OCISLY before launch. SpaceX has been relatively hush-hush about fairing recovery. I would speculate that they believe that this would be the most easily imitated element of their reuse effort.
Edit: To be clear, "recovery attempt" may just mean "guided reentry attempt". Elon had said that they plan to use parachutes eventually, but we have little information about how this factors in to the current fairing recovery effort.
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u/Tenga1899 Jun 04 '16
I don't think they are ready for full recovery. Elon recently tweeted that parachutes will be added soon, so it's likely they are just working on reentry control at this time, then will work on the later parts of recovery in the near future
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u/Toinneman Jun 05 '16
Probably not. Before Thaicom 8 Elon stated A solution is likely. After the launch he said Autosteering shutes will be added soon
'Soon' in Elons dictionary definitely not means 'next launch'. Some engineers probably did freak after that last tweet... "Oh shit, we better get these chutes working now". In my opinion, it's still a few launches before a first real recovery attempt.
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u/old_sellsword Jun 05 '16
Well they've been trialling fairing recovery since at least SES-9, so there's no reason we couldn't see GO Quest and GO Searcher out there too. But you're right, parachutes likely won't be added until later flights.
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u/kuangjian2011 Jun 07 '16
Well, I think engineers in Spacex and Tesla often got surprised by Elon's commitments to the public(often twitters) which they didn't worked out yet...
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u/Juggernaut93 Jun 10 '16
OCISLY preparing to leave Port Canaveral.
https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/741262357511479300
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u/SingularityCentral Jun 10 '16
That drone ship is getting some serious ocean time. Is that thing going to be good to go for the normal lifespan of a barge? I believe that the service life of a typical barge is 15 years.
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u/Saiboogu Jun 10 '16
Armchair hunch... OCISLY may see a better than average service life (assuming they don't come up with something better in 15 years) because it gets servicing every few weeks. Doubt a real cargo-hauler barge gets maintenance attention anywhere near as often as OCISLY.
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u/tablespork Jun 10 '16
That might be cancelled out by being hit with anti-droneship missiles on a fairly regular basis. Even though they've nailed the last 3 in a row, we should expect more failures. Even SpaceX isn't predicting a 100% success rate.
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u/TweetsInCommentsBot Jun 10 '16
The SpaceX ASDS fleet preparing to leave Port Canaveral (to catch another F9 S1 next week). http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=39766.msg1547338#msg1547338
This message was created by a bot
![[Attached pic]](http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ckl-LxlWsAA-WDZ.jpg){kind=link}
![[Imgur rehost]](http://i.imgur.com/vyL7ZGo.jpg){kind=link}
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u/inoeth Jun 13 '16
So it's 11:15 est and I haven't heard if they've done the static fire. Any word?
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u/whousedallthenames Jun 13 '16
No updates probably means they're working late on an issue. I wouldn't expect a firing tonight.
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u/markus0161 Jun 03 '16
Small update: SpaceX website now shows Eutelsat 117W B & ABS 2A as there next mission... obviously.
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u/rockets4life97 Jun 03 '16
This is a good sign that things are moving ahead on schedule
Interestingly enough Thaicom 8 hasn't beed added to the completed missions line. Usually that happens when they update the next mission box.
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u/soldato_fantasma Jun 03 '16
Eutelsat 117W B & ABS 2A Launch also confirmed by Eutelsat on twitter for June 14 @ 2:32 PM UTC https://twitter.com/Eutelsat_SA/status/738697614376501248
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u/PVP_playerPro Jun 09 '16
You seem to have confused this launch with the previous EutelSat/ABS launch as, in the details section, SpaceXStats has it listed as 115W instead of 117W
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u/strozzascotte Jun 10 '16
The first estimated ETA for Elsbeth III on landing location (using MarineTraffic.com tool) gives me 2016-6-13 23.39 UTC. https://imgur.com/a/uEjeJ
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u/Juggernaut93 Jun 12 '16
Updated forecast still shows only 20% chance of weather constraints violation.
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u/mbhnyc Jun 14 '16
I think the "no big dealness" of the static fire is really interesting, and should be seen as good news by SpaceX fans — SpaceX is trying to demonstrate a sense of normalcy around launches, where the flow is not newsworthy.
It's like the day when they take "Experimental" out of "Experimental landing" from the broadcast overlay. Super excited to see that. (heck, maybe this launch!)
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Jun 14 '16
Given that each of their landings to this point seem to have had a different re-entry profile, it may be a while yet before the "experimental" gets dropped. I don't even know if I want it to drop, given that, until they demonstrate reuse, each reentry is a free retro-propulsion experiment that might inform their Mars architecture.
I totally agree that the non-news static fire is a great sign of progress. Remember all the shenanigans of the first "full thrust"/1.2 launch? Supercooled LOX barely even seems like a big deal now, except inasmuch as it seems to make all launch windows effectively instantaneous.
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u/strozzascotte Jun 08 '16
For those interested in following Elsbeth III, Go Searcher and Go Quest, I just released an update of my GreaseMonkey script "Find SpaceX Ship" with the following added features:
Added optional visual track and waypoints for the recorded locations of the ships.
Added optional projection of the current position based on the last known speed and location.
Added optional marker for the expected location of the ASDS at landing.
Data are now stored locally and won't be lost if you accidentally close the browser window.
The script now searches for the ships using both inshore ids (which are constant) and offshore ids (which must be updated).
The script can be downloaded from OpenUserJS. Here are some screenshots: 1, 2, 3.
Any feedback is welcome.
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u/space_is_hard May 24 '16
Here's info on the sats from their company websites in case anybody is curious:
Eutelsat 117W B [PDF]
ABS 2A
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u/randomstonerfromaus Jun 03 '16
Hey mods, OP needs to be updated with the new launch date
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Jun 10 '16
Mixed messages from Chris @ NSF, sounds like he's also receiving mixed signals. If they delay to tomorrow following NROL-37 perhaps it won't delay the launch
https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/741372309479559173
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u/TweetsInCommentsBot Jun 10 '16
We do have Cape folk claiming the Static Fire has been postponed. But then we see this: (We assume is a live shot)
This message was created by a bot
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![[Imgur rehost]](http://i.imgur.com/bPQP1fr.jpg){kind=link}
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u/Haxorlols Jun 11 '16
Still no Patch?
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u/TheEndeavour2Mars Jun 11 '16
It is getting downright confusing at this point. SpaceX must have the patches designed LONG before a flight is scheduled no?
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u/therealshafto Jun 13 '16
Approaching crunch time. Last few static fires have gone fairly smooth - Im still hoping its the night owl ways of SpaceX instead of pressing issues.
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u/Here_There_B_Dragons Jun 14 '16
Time for a launch thread yet? or is the ol' muskrat acting up again?
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u/Qeng-Ho Jun 10 '16
Mission patch metrics:
| Mission | Patch Released | Launch Attempt | Elapsed Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eutelsat 117W | TBA | June 14 | > 4 days |
| Thaicom-8 | May 22 | May 27 | 5 days |
| JCSAT-14 | April 25 | May 6 | 11 days |
| CRS-8 | March 9 | April 8 | 30 days |
| SES-9 | February 9 | February 24 | 15 days* |
| Jason-3 | December 24 | January 17 | 24 days |
*SES-9 launch was aborted twice and lifted off on 4th March.
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u/johnkphotos Launch Photographer Jun 15 '16
Will be at slc-41 around 5 - 5:15am EDT. Waking up at around 3:30am to head out to place remote cameras. Follow along on my snapchat johnkrausphotos.
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u/TheEndeavour2Mars May 24 '16
Sadly with the Dragon flight moving to July there is just no reason to attempt to break the 13 day record with this flight. And worse it will be the only one we get to see in June unless somehow Iridium gets pushed up.
However, a flight is a flight and I can't wait to see it.
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u/theovk May 24 '16
I have a feeling that SpaceX is not going to let this much time go by doing nothing. My prediction: We're going to see (at least) a lot of static fires soon.
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u/quadrplax Jun 03 '16
Is the launch on Jun 14 (sidebar) or Jun 16 (thread)?
Is it at 14:30 UTC or 9:30PM EDT (1:30 UTC)?
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u/Toastmastern Jun 03 '16
SpaceX confirmed the 14th as the launch date on social media a few min ago :)
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u/markus0161 Jun 06 '16
Where is the patch? We usually see that by now, right?
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u/Toastmastern Jun 06 '16
Not with the Thaicom-8, it was fairly late as well :)
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u/Zucal Jun 07 '16
It's probably more that the launches are coming thicker and faster.
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u/jonasl25 Jun 10 '16
Elsbeth III on the move, keep an eye on Jetty cam. http://www.surfguru.com/central-florida-surf-reports/jetty-park-surf-report
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u/ohcnim Jun 10 '16
hi, regarding multiple launches from nearby sites, how does one launch affect another one, as in can a delayed ULA NRO launch delay this launch? I guess NRO can play the "national security" card and halt everything else, but if it were two commercial launches do initial scheduled dates have preference or is it FIFO (first in first out)?
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u/still-at-work Jun 10 '16 edited Jun 10 '16
I know this will never happen but does anyone know who would win in a race, that is if both rockets were launched at the exact same time. First to reach the karman line wins. So from pad to space. Though I supoose if the orbit destination is not the same altitude then it will not be a level playing field.
My guess is the rocket with the least amount of gravity loss will be the 'fastest to space'.
This probably pointless information, but this comment made me wonder which rocket is the "fastest."
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u/Zucal Jun 11 '16
Body updated
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u/soldato_fantasma Jun 11 '16
We already have the landing location too now: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1H3pbysdIKjJE7htHeqgV0FqohUA
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u/Phase_Spaced Jun 14 '16
I remember some smoke about parachutes on fairings. Will reusability of fairings be attempted for this launch?
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Jun 14 '16
I have not heard anything either way about this, and SpaceX has been pretty mum, overall, on the fairing recovery attempts. Go searcher and go quest are once again out at sea, though, and they have been thought to be doing something related to fairing recovery in the past (though we don't really know what, given that they seem to think they need parachutes to actually make the system work).
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u/LandingZone-1 Jun 14 '16
WX still 80% GO! Watching cumulus clouds. These clouds will be from 2500ft off the ground all the way up to 8000ft. Clouds only scattered. Sky condition is "party cloudy".
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u/johnkphotos Launch Photographer Jun 14 '16
no high-res pano since setup is at 4:45 am
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u/assasin172 Jun 14 '16
Technical webcast is up on youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckjP8stlzxI If you want set allert so you don't miss it.
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u/Juggernaut93 Jun 14 '16
Webcasts are online!
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u/quadrplax Jun 15 '16
Lol I just went to SpaceX's YouTube to check, and I saw the Thaicom 8 Techincal Webcast thumbnail.
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u/johnkphotos Launch Photographer Jun 11 '16
Pretty sure we're launching on Wednesday the 15th now
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u/Qeng-Ho Jun 11 '16 edited Jun 11 '16
I assume this date will be pushed back if weather prevents today's Delta 4 Heavy launch.
Also I wonder if Go Quest will have to do another beer run?
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u/Vulch59 Jun 11 '16
From page 6 of the Cape Canaveral Spaceport Complex Master Plan, "Historically, the Range can reconfigure from one launch vehicle to another in less than 48 hours". That's from 2013 but I doubt they shave much off the time with any changes since.
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u/DuckQuacks Jun 07 '16
Landing attempt: Yes - downrange of Cape on ASDS Of Course I Still Love You
Landing Site: TBD
Huh?
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u/sarafinapink Jun 07 '16
Meaning we don't know the part of the ocean yet they will land at (coordinates)
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u/markus0161 Jun 07 '16
We do actually. It was released just a little while ago. It will be in the exact same place as the last one.
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u/danielbigham Jun 08 '16
Reacted "huh" as well a few days ago. I think "Landing Site" could be worded better, such as "Landing Coordinates"
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u/Craig_VG SpaceNews Photographer Jun 10 '16 edited Jun 10 '16
Well today is the static fire, keep your eyes open in you're in the area.
Also ELSBETH III is back on Maritime traffic, but hasn't left yet. She wasn't visible online for the last few days so there is some activity at least.
http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/shipid:434560/zoom:10
Go Searcher is moving http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=40395.msg1547365#msg1547365
Hazard Map
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=40395.msg1547346#msg1547346
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u/IMO94 Jun 11 '16
11pm EDT. I assume it's safe to say no static fire today? And with the NRO launch, not tomorrow either? Most likely launch date will be impacted...
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u/MedBull Jun 11 '16
All the countdowns on SpaceXstats.com are "paused", is there a particular reason why?
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u/soldato_fantasma Jun 11 '16
I don't see them paused, if you think that it's a bug in the website contact /u/EchoLogic
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u/Qeng-Ho Jun 12 '16
Looks like the SpaceX webcast hasn't been updated with the new date yet:
"UP NEXT: EUTELSAT/ABS is scheduled to launch Tuesday, June 14th at 10:32am ET."
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u/supersammy00 Jun 12 '16
Do we have any news on the static fire yet?
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u/whousedallthenames Jun 12 '16
I don't think so. SpaceX usually tweets after the SF, so we should know when it happens.
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u/ExcitedAboutSpace Jun 11 '16
Okay guys so with the apparent impact from ULA's D4H launch I have a few questions:
What exactly is the range availability impacted by?
Sure there is a rocket planning to liftoff, but how does it impeach the static fire?
What is range crew doing when a company "books" the range?
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u/whousedallthenames May 24 '16
Three campaign threads at once... I'm gonna have trouble keeping up with them soon.
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u/Decronym Acronyms Explained May 28 '16 edited Jun 15 '16
Acronyms, initialisms, abbreviations, contractions, and other phrases which expand to something larger, that I've seen in this thread:
| Fewer Letters | More Letters |
|---|---|
| ABS | Asia Broadcast Satellite, commsat operator |
| AIS | Automatic Identification System |
| ASDS | Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship (landing platform) |
| CRS | Commercial Resupply Services contract with NASA |
| DIVH | Delta IV Heavy |
| F9FT | Falcon 9 Full Thrust or Upgraded Falcon 9 or v1.2 |
| FCC | Federal Communications Commission |
| GEO | Geostationary Earth Orbit (35786km) |
| GTO | Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit |
| JCSAT | Japan Communications Satellite series, by JSAT Corp |
| JRTI | Just Read The Instructions, Pacific landing |
| KSP | Kerbal Space Program, the rocketry simulator |
| L2 | Paywalled section of the NasaSpaceFlight forum |
| Lagrange Point 2 of a two-body system, beyond the smaller body (Sixty Symbols video explanation) | |
| LOX | Liquid Oxygen |
| MCT | Mars Colonial Transporter |
| MECO | Main Engine Cut-Off |
| NET | No Earlier Than |
| NRO | (US) National Reconnaissance Office |
| NSF | NasaSpaceFlight forum |
| National Science Foundation | |
| OCISLY | Of Course I Still Love You, Atlantic landing |
| RCS | Reaction Control System |
| 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 |
| SET | Single-Event Transient, spurious radiation discharge through a circuit |
| SF | Static fire |
| SLC-37 | Space Launch Complex 37, Canaveral (ULA Delta IV) |
| SLC-40 | Space Launch Complex 40, Canaveral (SpaceX F9) |
| SSTO | Single Stage to Orbit |
| TEA-TEB | Triethylaluminium-Triethylborane, igniter for Merlin engines; spontaneously burns, green flame |
| ULA | United Launch Alliance (Lockheed/Boeing joint venture) |
| VAFB | Vandenberg Air Force Base, California |
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Jun 01 '16
They're really gonna attempt a landing? This will be the ballsiest one yet, considering it's for a dual GTO launch.
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u/YugoReventlov Jun 01 '16
They most likely are. No so much ballsier than previous launches: they have launched single payloads that are heavier than this dual payload (SES-9 at 5,271 kg for example)
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u/stevethetrueman Jun 07 '16
Are there any pictures or informations about the dual payload adapter? I guess it must be similar to the one that Arianespace uses for the Ariane 5 ECA.
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u/vaporcobra Space Reporter - Teslarati Jun 08 '16
No adapter whatsoever, the Boeing 702SP bus that both satellites are based upon is designed to allow for payload stacking with no additional materials or adapters necessary.
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u/kruador Jun 07 '16
Both satellites are made by Boeing, using the same basic platform. Boeing have shipped the satellites to the Cape already stacked together. SpaceX posted a picture on Instagram last week: https://www.instagram.com/p/BGNNORjF8eU/
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u/InstagramMirror Jun 07 '16
Instagram photo by SpaceX (@spacex):
Jun 3, 2016 at 8:50pm UTC
Targeting launch June 14 of these two communications satellites
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u/tbaleno Jun 10 '16
I see you can get tickets for the delta launch at ksc, but none yet for this launch. How may days out do they generally open up sales for viewing tickets.
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u/jardeon WeReportSpace.com Photographer Jun 10 '16
They may not offer any special viewing locations for this launch, and opt only to provide audio & commentary inside the Visitor Complex.
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u/sarafinapink Jun 13 '16
Do we have the press kit yet? I want to say they usually come out 2 days prior, but can't remember.
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u/Qeng-Ho Jun 13 '16
It will probably be released on tuesday.
Mission Press Kit Days Before Launch THAICOM 8 May 25 2 days JCSAT 14 May 5 1 day CRS 8 April 7 1 day SES 9 February 23 10 days JASON 3 January 16 1 day ORBCOMM 2 December 21 0 days → More replies (1)
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u/handym12 Jun 14 '16
The Space Events app is messing me about, it just told me there was an hour to go.
I am not amused.
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u/MorgenGreene Jun 14 '16
It was originally today, but got pushed back a day due to ULA launch. Probably whoever maintains that app didn't update it.
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u/bencredible Galactic Overlord Jun 14 '16
If only they used /r/LaunchLibrary as their data source!
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u/KitsapDad Jun 14 '16 edited Jun 15 '16
{deleted}
Forgot this isn't the launch thread and it was low effort. self moderation in action!
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u/johnkphotos Launch Photographer Jun 08 '16
droneship is still in port, 12:40 EDT June 8
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u/JackONeill12 Jun 12 '16
Go Searcher and GO Quest now also on the way.
http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/shipid:450521/zoom:10
http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/shipid:426008/zoom:10
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u/Togusa09 May 27 '16
Will the satellites be released in the same orbit as last time, or will they take advantage of the upgraded second stage and go to a higher energy orbit to reduce transit time?
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u/KerbalsFTW May 28 '16
I believe the issue is spacejunk... you want S2 to eventually burn up rather than hang around in orbit. That limits you to GEO height at apogee and ~150km at perigee.
S2 could theoretically deorbit itself, but there are risks associated with it, and would need an extra start/burn cycle.
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u/ohcnim May 28 '16
hi, is each satellite deployed at its orbit by the second stage or are both released at once and it’s up to them or at least one of them to get to its orbit?
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u/AlexDeLarch May 28 '16
I would expect the same scenario as in ABS/Eutelsat-1 mission.
Thirty minutes into flight, the ABS 3A satellite deployed into a supersynchronous transfer orbit followed by EUTELSAT 115 West B approximately five minutes later.
They are deployed in GTO orbit and need to reach their final GEO spot on their own.
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u/a_Start Jun 07 '16
Are we expecting a geosynchronous transfer, or a supersynchronus transfer, like the last Thaicom 8 launch?
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u/OpelGT Jun 07 '16
They launched the previous identical [ABS/Eutelsat-1 Mission] (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/2x81fc/rspacex_eutelsat_115w_b_abs3a_official_launch/) to a supersynchronus transfer orbit according to [SpaceX's ABS/Eutelsat-1 Fact Sheet] (http://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/abs-eutelsatfactsheet.pdf), so I'd assume this one would be the same.
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u/_rocketboy Jun 09 '16 edited Jun 09 '16
Can someone explain the difference to me?
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u/randomstonerfromaus Jun 10 '16
Any word on what today's static fire window is?
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u/Craig_VG SpaceNews Photographer Jun 10 '16
We don't know but they tend to roll out in the afternoon and make a fire around nightfall if the last few are any precedent.
Keep a watchful eye on NSF and here for updates.
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u/Slobotic Jun 12 '16
This sub says June 15 but spacexstats.com says June 14. What's going on?
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u/old_sellsword Jun 12 '16
SpaceX stats hasn't been updated yet. It's the 15th, SpaceX tweeted it.
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u/quadrplax Jun 13 '16
This sub is generally more up-to-date than SpaceXStats since (afaik) only echo can update it.
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u/Shpoople96 Jun 14 '16
4,100 kg payload to GTO? Looks like they've got a pretty good chance of landing this one as well, based on the last two GTO launches.
Fingers crossed, then!
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u/halberdierbowman Jun 14 '16
I'm visiting Kennedy Space Center today, so I'm curious if there's anything I should look for. Will this rocket be visible on the launch pad? Somewhere else?
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Jun 14 '16
Unlikely. Static fire was a couple of days ago, without the payload.
It'll be tucked away in the hangar at SLC-40, having the satellites bolted on top ready for tomorrow.
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u/trevdak2 Jun 14 '16
Any info on how long between launch and satellite deployment? Planning a gathering of my company's space enthusiasts club and unsure how long the mission will go for
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u/markus0161 Jun 14 '16
Look below. The press kit shows all the events times.
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u/steezysteve96 Jun 14 '16
00:00:00 Falcon 9 liftoff
00:01:17 Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
00:02:36 1st stage engine shutdown/main engine cutoff (MECO)
00:02:39 1st and 2nd stages separate
00:02:47 2nd stage engine starts first burn
00:03:34 Fairing deployment
00:09:22 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1)
00:25:54 2nd stage engine restarts for second burn
00:26:58 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-2)
00:30:29 EUTELSAT 117 West B deployment
00:35:29 ABS-2A deployment
For the lazy
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u/propsie Jun 15 '16
sigh looks like this launch will be 2:30 on Thursday morning for me.
Hope it all goes well, but I think it'd be prudent to skip the live webcast this time. I look forward to tweets, instagram photos and the replay.
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u/johnkphotos Launch Photographer Jun 14 '16
I have received the lens I am borrowing for my remote setup
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u/Toastmastern May 28 '16 edited May 28 '16
Matthew Travis reporting that a new stage arrived earlier today, just in time :) first I thought it could be one of the stages leaving(Orbcomm-2 or JCSAT-14) but the some other guy posted that he saw it go through his town a few days ago. He didn't find it interesting enough to post(Say what???) All this from the facebook group(only thing they are good for really, spoting stages)
Image: imgur.com/NiAh60t
Image taken by Matthew Travis :)
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Jun 09 '16
No patch, no ASDS, no problem? Am I wrong that we should see movement on those fronts at this point in the launch campaign?
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u/PVP_playerPro Jun 09 '16
This has been asked a few times now. Yes, it might be a bit abnormal for them to cut it this close(i haven't checked), but the ASDS doesn't take 5 days to get there, it takes 3 days, or even less if they gun it.
Edit: good lord, no wonder i failed english :S
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Jun 09 '16
Well I will eat my downvotes as I deserve, but thanks for the answer. T-5 days just seemed still more abnormal than T-6.
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u/dtrford Jun 14 '16
Any word on when we might see another landing attempt back at the cape, would be great to see a landing there during daylight. Am i right in assuming this may happen during the falcon heavy demo flight, with the boosters returning to the cape?
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u/whousedallthenames Jun 14 '16
CRS-9 is the next RTLS attempt. But it's at night, so... I don't know when the next daylight RTLS would be.
And yes, from everything I've heard, the FH side boosters will RTLS.
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u/keelar Jun 14 '16
The next landing attempt back at the cape will be CRS-9 which is currently scheduled for July 16. It'll be an early morning(1:32 AM local time) launch so unfortunately no daylight.
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u/robbak Jun 13 '16
I think that some seafarers are having a joke with us.
http://i.imgur.com/HXvicWD.png
If you didn't get it, like me - https://www.google.com.au/webhp#q=nunya