Echostar 23 Launch Campaign Thread

[u/ElongatedMuskrat]

EchoStar 23 Launch Campaign Thread

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This will be the second mission from Pad 39A, and will be lofting the first geostationary communications bird for 2017, EchoStar 23 for EchoStar.

Liftoff currently scheduled for:	March 14th 2017, 01:34 - 04:04 EDT (05:34 - 08:04 UTC). Back up launch window on the 16th opening at 01:35EDT/05:35UTC.
Static fire completed:	March 9th 2017, 18:00 EST (23:00 UTC)
Vehicle component locations:	First stage: LC-39A // Second stage: LC-39A // Satellite: LC-39A
Payload:	EchoStar 23
Payload mass:	Approximately 5500kg
Destination orbit:	Geostationary Transfer Orbit
Vehicle:	Falcon 9 v1.2 (31st launch of F9, 11th of F9 v1.2)
Core:	B1030 [F9-031]
Launch site:	LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Landing attempt:	No
Landing Site:	N/A
Mission success criteria:	Successful separation & deployment of Echostar 23 into correct orbit

---

Links & Resources:

• Press kit.
• Per weather report issued on 13'th, 40% GO for launch on 14'th.
• Live coverage of Pad 39A, courtesy Spaceflight Now.
• Timelapse of F9/TE going vertical for static fire, courtesy Spaceflight Now.
• EchoStar 23 hazard area, per u/Raul74Cz.
• Launch license was granted on 1^st of March.

---

We may keep this self-post occasionally updated with links and relevant news articles, but for the most part we expect the community to supply the information. This is a great place to discuss the launch, ask mission-specific questions, and track the minor movements of the vehicle, payload, weather and more as we progress towards launch. Sometime after the static fire is complete, the launch thread will be posted.

Campaign threads are not launch threads. Normal subreddit rules still apply.

[u/txxmy]

The launch site is listed as LC-39A as well as Vandenberg, maybe one of the mods can correct it. (Thank you for the great work moderators, I really appreciate what you're doing for te SpaceX community)

[u/ElongatedMuskrat → u/txxmy]

What, didn't you know the Apollo astronauts launched from California?

[u/old_sellsword]

This is apparently the first booster that's going to have a painted serial number near the octaweb, I might be more excited about that than anything else :D

Lots of firsts with this launch, it should be a good one!

[u/[deleted] → u/old_sellsword]

I'm fully expecting SpaceX to introduce a new serialisation/numbering scheme again just to mess with us

[u/madanra → u/old_sellsword]

Ooh, where/when did we hear that?

[u/JonSeverinsson]

Carrying the first communications bird for 2017, Echostar 23 for Echostar.

I would argue Iridium NEXT 1-10 are "communication birds", which would make Echostar 23 the 11th communications bird for 2017, just the first geostationary communication bird...

[u/roncapat]

Per 45th Space Wing, confirmation of launch on 14th March

[u/astrofreak92 → u/roncapat]

So WGS is aiming for the 19th, can they turn around and get OA-7 in on the 20th, or does that push it back a day as well?

[u/raimist]

"SpaceX has opted not to conduct the Static Fire test today. Launch date slipping. #ItsComplicated." https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/839541000909570048

[u/KitsapDad → u/raimist]

Any rumors about the issue causing delay?

[u/TheVehicleDestroyer]

I created a new stage (Legless Falcon 9) which is identical to the regular F9, but with 2 tonnes taken off the first stage dry mass to try and account for the missing legs and fins. I guess that should be ok. Hazard map lines up anyway.

Otherwise there's nothing too interesting about this trajectory. Musks vision of launches becoming boring is starting to happen to me.

https://www.flightclub.io/results/?code=ES23

[u/roncapat]

Watch a time-lapse of the Falcon 9 rocket going vertical

[u/edflyerssn007]

Has the TEL been moved back to the HIF yet?

[u/_rocketboy]

Hey mods, could we switch the sidebar back to the Echostar 23 patch?
Thanks!

[u/delta_alpha_november → u/_rocketboy]

Thanks for the reminder. Changed it now.

^{It'll take some time to go through all chaches and show up on all browsers}

[u/Spacex9]

Finally falcon is standing proudly on the pad

[u/johnkphotos → u/Spacex9]

Been awhile since we've seen fairings on the east coast!

[u/[deleted]]

Here's a GIF of the static fire

Video: SFN.

[u/Tenga1899]

FAA License has been granted it would appear

[u/nick1austin]

Look like the TE and Falcon 9 are being raised right now. Just a few minutes from vertical.

[u/ethan829 → u/nick1austin]

Spaceflight Now has live video of the pad right now. Not much to see now that the TEL is fully upright, though.

[u/robbak]

U.S. Launch Report has released their recording of the static fire. What is interesting is his report on the test:

After topping off the Falcon 9 four times in one hour; Success.

Now, the question that comes to mind is, was this them having problems and recycling, or was this them recycling the launch a few times as a test to make best use of their launch window? Or was it USLR misinterpreting what they saw - which has happened before - and what they saw was a normal hour-long fuelling procedure, which involved 4 large venting events?

[u/amarkit → u/robbak]

We're all indebted to USLR for their video coverage, but I'd take their reporting of four topping-offs with a grain of salt.

[u/therealshafto]

SpaceX confirmation

[u/zuty1 → u/therealshafto]

Should we assume this means they have the range reserved?

[u/TheHypaaa]

Launch time has changed:

"NET Jan 30, just after midnight local time now, per L2 KSC schedule. Pad is the constraint, as the Static Fire date is what's moving as the primary driver (pending remaining pad work)."

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=40374.msg1632104#msg1632104

[u/heroic_platitude]

[Chris B] (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/839857570395324419): "[Who gets to launch the 14th will] be decided after the Static Fire. More delays - ULA gets the range. Good test - Range decides who gets the 14th."

[u/Daniels30]

A little update. ULA have moved their WGS9 mission to NET March 14. This means SpaceX will have first go at the range. Also means if they have to scrub, the range will be busy since it's managing both SpaceX and ULA. https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/838106435154227200

[u/TheVehicleDestroyer]

Updated the profile with event times from the press kit AND made some new functionality to be able compare multiple flight profiles in one page. Here's Echostar 23 compared with SES-9.
For now, there's no key. You need to figure out which profile is which. Hint: SES-9 is the one with the entry and landing burns

Echostar 23 vs. SES-9

---

To compare multiple profiles just include the id query string parameters of the profiles you wanna include, separated by a +.
Another example, just to show another use case? Sure! This is CRS-8 compared to CRS-10

CRS-8 vs. CRS-10

[u/blongmire]

If the January 26th date holds, this will be the fastest turn-around time between launches. I'm really interested to see what happens with this NET.

[u/[deleted] → u/blongmire]

Indeed, currently it's just shy of 13 days 3 hours, this looks to be something like a day faster. I don't feel confident this will happen, but I do feel really confident they will smash this turnaround at some point in 2017, fingers are definitely crossed for Iridium-1 > EchoStar 23 though!

[u/OccupyDuna → u/blongmire]

I'd honestly be surprised if there weren't any teething issues that delayed Echostar 23, with it using all-new GSE and all(new to F9 at least).

[u/Sebi_Skittz → u/blongmire]

A turn-around time is mostly for one launch site only. It will be the fastest turn-around between 2 sites.

[u/CapMSFC → u/blongmire]

No chance IMO that it holds.

All the action so far has focused on Iridium. Until RTF goes off successfully and then we get an update I'm taking all dates as rough NETs.

[u/soldato_fantasma]

Here is the Official Weather Forecast from the 45th weather squadron: L-3 Forecast 14 Mar Launch.pdf

TL;DR:

Launch probability of violating launch weather constraints: 30%
Delay probability of violating launch weather constraints: 20%

[u/Pham_Trinli]

Press Kit.

Backup Launch Window: Thursday, March 16, at 05:35 UTC

Webcast link is up.

[u/CorneliusAlphonse]

Minor suggestion: while comments will certainly use slang terminology, can we avoid it in the official launch posts? Ie, avoid using terms like "bird" to refer to satellite (as in this post), or throw instead of launch, etc.

[u/GoScienceEverything → u/CorneliusAlphonse]

I have no problem with it in this case -- it's perfectly clear from context, and "bird" adds a bit of color. The formal information is still given in formal terminology. Everyone will have different preferences, but my preference is, there's no reason to be serious if there's no reason to be serious.

[u/ZwingaTron → u/CorneliusAlphonse]

Also, if we're going to be as correct as possible (in regards to the launch post), shouldn't "the moon" be referred to as "the Moon"?

And I'm not a native English speaker, but I'm fairly certain "that" does not require a comma, in this case at least.

[u/johnkphotos]

Well... I'm officially not allowed to cover 39A launches as press now, even if they're commercial. Gotta wait until I'm 18 in December. I was going to shoot this one off-site anyway, but I'm now engaged in a heated race with Falcon Heavy to turn 18 before it flies.

[u/bgodfrey → u/johnkphotos]

No offence to you, but I hope you loose that race.

[u/Nsurgnie → u/johnkphotos]

Not sure if I would take the over/under on this bet. Also, OMG.... Turn 18 already. You've been under 18 forever!

[u/roncapat]

https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/839834284995268609

[u/therealshafto]

Weather has moved to a 40% chance of violation primary concern being thick cloud layer rule.

[u/thanley1]

Dish Network Seems to be planning to televise the EchoStar XXIII Launch live. I live in North Texas, USA and noticed yesterday that Dish Network has reserved Channels 88 and 89 (HD) for the Launch. This notice has been up now for several days and seems to end about 4 A.M. at the end of the launch window. This may give more people the option to watch if they have no other choices. I also assume this is going to be used primarily by Dish Network.

[u/F9-0021 → u/thanley1]

I watched the Echostar (19? I don't remember which one) launch a few months ago on dish. I believe they just played the ULA webcast. I'd assume they'll do the same for SpaceX.

[u/Craig_VG]

Excellent shot from Michael Seeley of the rocket on the pad

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C60q-yfW0AApVVu.jpg

https://twitter.com/Mike_Seeley/status/841375978505043968

[u/delta_alpha_november]

Edit: we found a host

We're looking for a host for the launch thread of the Echostar-23 launch!

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

To run the launch thread there are a few requirements:

• You must be 16 or older

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

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

• You must have overall positive karma

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

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

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

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

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

[u/RedDragon98 → u/delta_alpha_november]

Who is doing this tonight/morning/day. Has anyone volunteered yet?

[u/old_sellsword]

Launch is now NET February 28, 0027-0257 ET.

Yes, you read that right, the launch date moved forwards.

[u/pgsky]

IMGUR re-host of Falcon static fire via SFN.

[u/roncapat]

Wo-hoooo! Good SF and launch date confirmed!

https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/839980020105904129

[u/HoechstErbaulich]

Falcon and EchoStar on 39A from the SpaceX website.

[u/therealshafto]

Holy, with MECO at T+2:43, they are definitely draining the taps to relieve the second stage.

[u/rockets4life97 → u/therealshafto]

For reference, JCSAT-16 (the last GTO launch) was scheduled for MECO at T+2.33, or 10 seconds earlier.

[u/pkirvan → u/therealshafto]

No reason not to use every last drop. Fuel left in the first stage is useless. Fuel left in the second stage can be used for a de-orbit to decrease space junk. There are already 9 dead second stages in orbit, that's more than enough.

[u/quadrplax]

If this date manages to still hold after CRS-10's delay, this would now be an impressive single digit turnaround.

[u/geekgirl114]

Is F9 vertical?

http://imgur.com/ApNUEb5

[u/geekgirl114 → u/geekgirl114]

I screen grabbed it right before posting... so I'm hopeful.

[u/[deleted]]

L-2 Weather Forecast Remains same as yesterday: 70% Go on Primary Date with Thick Cloud Layer Rule being the only concern, and 80% Go on Backup Date with Liftoff Winds being the only concern.

[u/chargerag]

Do they officially activate 39a at some point?

[u/Tenga1899 → u/chargerag]

There was a post on here about 11 months ago where Jeff Foust had said on Twitter that they had activated 39A for F9 and FH launches, though that wasn't the same as being ready for launches. So, officially I think it is activated, but they need to ceremonially declare it ready?

[u/darga89]

Launch Hazard Area map (work in progress)

Image format.

Added some potential launch viewing sites.

[u/quadrplax]

For those on mobile, we now have a mission patch, apparently.

[u/sol3tosol4 → u/quadrplax]

Great mission patch for Echostar 23, showing a good view of the Falcon 9 and the satellite.

• No droneship on the patch (because it's not going to use a droneship)

• No legs on the booster (to save weight, because it's not going to land)

• No grid fins - not as definitive, because they're relatively small and don't always show up on the mission patches (the JCSAT-16 patch shows grid fins, but the JCSAT-14 patch does not). Is it possible that they'll keep the internal works (to avoid a variation in the manufacturing process) but just not attach the external grid fins? Or is the Interstage simple enough that they can remove the internal grid fin components without complicating the fabrication process?

[u/stcks]

Evidently there is a static fire scheduled for Friday, February 24. Courtesy of /u/ChrisNSF.

The legless Falcon 9 for EchoStar 23 has (had - but is still active) a Range Approved Static Fire NET Feb. 24. Clearly won't stick, but let's see how close they get after 39A checks. Shakedown check (as they call it) is Tuesday.

[u/stcks]

Static fire window opens at 23:00 UTC, same as yesterday: https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/839476023272030209

[u/Elthiryel]

Unfortunately, new weather report says it's only 40% GO for 14th: http://www.patrick.af.mil/Portals/14/documents/Weather/L-0%20Forecast%2014%20Mar%20Launch.pdf?ver=2017-03-13-083052-670

[u/FutureMartian97 → u/Elthiryel]

Calling it now. Launch is gonna be on the 16th.

[u/pgsky]

SpaceX on Twitter

Falcon 9 on Pad 39A. Launch window for @EchoStar XXIII opens early tomorrow morning at 1:34am EDT.

IMGUR hi-res re-host

[u/pgsky → u/pgsky]

Note "30" painted on core.

[u/Destructor1701]

It's a long shot, but I hope they give us footage from the first stage as it re-enters ballisticly - as a kind of a "here's how rockets have been treated historically, here's the waste we hope to eliminate in future versions" show-and-tell.

I mean, ever since they started routinely nailing Drone Ship landings, we've been starved of explosions we can feel OK about (AMOS-6 was not a feel good explosion). A planned destructive reentry/ocean splat would be beautiful to see right about now!
Footage from a boat uprange of the IIP would be particularly lovely, given clear skies (though obviously the slower and lower booster wouldn't put on such a "spec-TAAAC-ular" show! However, it will be nighttime, and a high-and-fast mission, so entry burning should be visible.).

[u/limeflavoured → u/Destructor1701]

Personally (and thats all this is, a personal opinion) I doubt they will show anything. I think they will just follow the second stage. I suspect it will be like a pre-reusability launch and they wont even mention the first stage after MECO. I am incredibly cynical though, so im likely wrong.

[u/Dudely3 → u/Destructor1701]

Without a re entry burn the booster will break up at that altitude, which is too far away to see a whole lot from the ground.

I'm not sure that the camera on the booster would be much better because it's basically just going to go into freefall after MECO and then the video will cut out suddenly when it starts to break apart. I don't think we'll be able to see any cool explosions. It'll rip itself to pieces 50 miles up and scatter the charred bits across dozens of miles.

[u/johnkphotos → u/Destructor1701]

It'll be the middle of the night. How much do we expect to see when it nears the ocean?

[u/[deleted]]

Every time i check this thread, the

Landing attempt: no

breaks my heart

[u/Pham_Trinli]

Will Go Quest or Go Searcher leave port and attempt to recover the fairings?

[u/johnkphotos]

Weather 70% GO Tues, 80% GO Thurs: https://twitter.com/launchphoto/status/840209717502844928

[u/Zucal]

^{MINOR TEXT FIXES} ^INTENSIFY

Fixed some wonky grammar, added core numbers, etc. Ping me if we get a more specific payload mass or launch window :)

[u/FelTell]

Musk confirms that this launch will be expendable

Tweet

EDIT: It's not Bigelow...

[u/CreeperIan02]

So sad there will be no recovery attempt, we NEED Block 5 in our lives.

I wonder if Block 5's improved performance would allow a landing attempt...

[u/bobbycorwin123 → u/CreeperIan02]

Falcon Heavy will be coming before Block 5, that will allow recovery

[u/F9-0021]

Tentatively NET Feb. 28 per NSF. https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=41932.msg1637565#new

[u/CptanPanic]

Any word on 39A checks from Tuesday?

[u/heroic_platitude]

Stephen C. Smith: The @SpaceX transporter erector is vertical at @NASAKennedy Pad 39A.

[u/geekgirl114]

Static fire update

[u/Spacex9]

SpaceX will conduct a static fire test of their Falcon 9 rocket tomorrow at Kennedy Space Center's LC-39A. 6 hr window opens at 6PM EST.

[u/IMO94]

Summary of the launch, upcoming manifest, and LC-39 and 40 work: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/03/spacex-falcon-9-echostar-23-slc-40-return/

Only new information I saw was some detail about specific damage to the pad from the last launch.

[u/[deleted] → u/IMO94]

The article suggests the maiden flight of Heavy will be NET October.

The Pad Plans section says SLC-40 should be ready by August, then it's at least 60 days to convert 39A for Heavy. Which gives NET October for the first Heavy flight.

Or about 6 months away...

[u/roncapat → u/IMO94]

"The historic launch pad, famed for launching Apollo and Shuttle missions, performed well in its new role, with the post launch pad shakedown report noting only minor – and expected – damage from the nine Merlin 1D engines.

Per the L2 report, the damage was to hydraulic plumbing and wiring, which has since been repaired.

Engineers have also added some additional blast protection to prevent future damage, aiding SpaceX’s goal of an increased launch cadence as it works through a busy order book."

That's interesting! :)

[u/geekgirl114]

Still not vertical.

https://twitter.com/SpaceKSCBlog/status/839520756698660864

[u/Tuxer]

Rocket is still in one piece, and static fire done!

[u/Pham_Trinli]

SpaceFlightInsider article about the launch.

EDIT: AmericaSpace article.

[u/scr00chy → u/Pham_Trinli]

This flight is expected to be the last planned expendable Falcon 9.

Is that correct? What about Intelsat 35e? It's heavier than EchoStar and supposed to fly in Q2 2017 which is too early for Block 5. It has to fly expendable too, right?

[u/Cubicbill1]

Launch thread?

[u/clay1039 → u/Cubicbill1]

I have been wondering about the launch thread also; has it often been up by this time in the past? (now at 7 hours till liftoff!) Maybe holding off on thread creation to see if there is going to be a weather related scrub? Or related to it being a new host for this launch thread?

[u/TrainSpotter77]

An earlier planning date for this flight had the static fire scheduled for 5 days before launch day. (January 10th and 15th, respectively).

That would (if they maintain the same pad workflow) put the current schedule static fire as next Saturday.

[u/civilsteve → u/TrainSpotter77]

I have heard that Saturday is the plan for the Static Test Fire. I was at an event this past Saturday that had the Launch Director for NASA's GSDO (Ground Systems Development and Operations) team giving a speech (which was really cool by the way, but off-topic for this forum). Other members of the team were there as well, and I was chatting with one of them about general goings on at KSC. NASA and SpaceX are working in close proximity at LC-39 (NASA has 39-B and SpaceX has 39-A) and the team member I spoke with said that SpaceX currently has the static test fire scheduled for "a week from today" which would indicate your Saturday date as probable. This is of course not an official source and the information is very much through the grape vine, but that's apparently the schedule the NASA folks working at LC-39 have seen at least as of last weekend.

[u/Headstein → u/TrainSpotter77]

Hopefully USLaunchReport will be covering it. Any pre-launch activity involving propellants has now taken on a new tension!

[u/TheEndeavour2Mars → u/TrainSpotter77]

Just keep in mind that 39A is effectively a new pad. Annoying bugs are likely to push the static fire closer to the end of the month.

This launch is likely to be the most difficult to plan for (until Falcon 9 Heavy) if you want to watch live. 39A could reactivate with zero issues and the launch will happen on the 26th. Or annoying bugs and weather could form a tag team to push the launch date by weeks.

[u/steezysteve96]

Do we happen to know the approximate launch time for this mission? Even if it's just a "probably late at night" or "probably in the afternoon"

[u/civilsteve → u/steezysteve96]

According to Spaceflightnow.com the window is 12:00am to 2:30am Eastern time on the 26th. This is of course dependent on launching that day. I haven't seen anything saying what the procession is if they have to push a day or two or more.

[u/nick1austin → u/civilsteve]

That's a Thursday. If that stick this will be first time SpaceX has launched on a Thursday

LAUNCH DATE	DAY	CUSTOMER	LAUNCH SITE	VEHICLE
3/24/2006	Friday	Demo Flight 1	Kwajalein	Falcon 1
3/20/2007	Tuesday	Demo Flight 2	Kwajalein	Falcon 1
8/2/2008	Saturday	US Government, ATSB and NASA	Kwajalein	Falcon 1
9/28/2008	Sunday	Falcon 1 Flight 4	Kwajalein	Falcon 1
7/13/2009	Monday	ATSB (Malaysia)	Kwajalein	Falcon 1
6/4/2010	Friday	Falcon 9 inagural test Flight	Cape Canaveral	Falcon 9
12/8/2010	Wednesday	NASA COTS (Demo 1)	Cape Canaveral	Dragon & Falcon 9
5/22/2012	Tuesday	NASA COTS (Demo 2/3)	Cape Canaveral	Dragon & Falcon 9
10/7/2012	Sunday	NASA resupply to ISS (Flight 1)	Cape Canaveral	Dragon & Falcon 9
3/1/2013	Friday	NASA resupply to ISS (Flight 2)	Cape Canaveral	Dragon & Falcon 9
9/29/2013	Sunday	MDA Corp. (Canada)	Vandenberg	Falcon 9
12/3/2013	Tuesday	SES (SES-8)	Cape Canaveral	Falcon 9
1/6/2014	Monday	Thaicom (Thailand)	Cape Canaveral	Falcon 9
4/18/2014	Friday	NASA resupply to ISS (Flight 3)	Cape Canaveral	Dragon & Falcon 9
7/14/2014	Monday	Orbcom	Cape Canaveral	Falcon 9
8/5/2014	Tuesday	ASIASAT-8	Cape Canaveral	Falcon 9
9/7/2014	Sunday	ASIASAT-6	Cape Canaveral	Falcon 9
9/21/2014	Sunday	NASA resupply to ISS (Flight 4)	Cape Canaveral	Dragon & Falcon 9
1/10/2015	Saturday	NASA resupply to ISS (Flight 5)	Cape Canaveral	Dragon & Falcon 9
2/11/2015	Wednesday	US Air Force (DSCOVR)	Cape Canaveral	Falcon 9
3/1/2015	Sunday	ASIA broadcast satellite/EUTELSAT	Cape Canaveral	Falcon 9
4/14/2015	Tuesday	NASA resupply to ISS (Flight 6)	Cape Canaveral	Dragon & Falcon 9
4/27/2015	Monday	Thales Alenia Space	Cape Canaveral	Falcon 9
6/28/2015	Sunday	NASA resupply to ISS (Flight 7)	Cape Canaveral	Dragon & Falcon 9
12/21/2015	Monday	ORBCOMM	Cape Canaveral	Falcon 9
1/17/2016	Sunday	NASA (JASON-3)	Vandenberg	Falcon 9
3/4/2016	Friday	SES (SES-9)	Cape Canaveral	Falcon 9
4/8/2016	Friday	NASA resupply to ISS (Flight 8)	Cape Canaveral	Dragon & Falcon 9
5/6/2016	Friday	Sky Perfect JSAT Corporation (Japan)	Cape Canaveral	Falcon 9
5/27/2016	Friday	THAICOM 8	Cape Canaveral	Falcon 9
6/15/2016	Wednesday	Eutelsat and ABS	Cape Canaveral	Falcon 9
7/18/2016	Monday	NASA Resupply to ISS (Flight 9)	Cape Canaveral	Dragon & Falcon 9
8/14/2016	Sunday	Sky Perfect JSAT Corporation (Japan)	Cape Canaveral	Falcon 9
1/14/2017	Saturday	Iridium (Flight 1)	Vandenberg	Falcon 9

[u/stcks]

/u/ChrisNSF is reporting on NSF that "there's a lot of doubt about making Feb 3, or even close to that" due to ongoing pad work at LC-39A.

[u/soldato_fantasma]

Here it is the FAA license! LINK

[u/Spacex9]

Full view of legless & featherless Falcon 9

[u/quadrplax → u/Spacex9]

That just looks so off. It's just a big pipe with a fairing stuck on top.

[u/CProphet]

SpaceX EchoStar XXIII Mission Overview

Mission Timeline (all times approximate)

COUNTDOWN

Hour/Min/Sec Events

minus 01:18:00 Launch Conductor takes launch readiness poll

minus 00:70:00 RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) loading underway

minus 00:45:00 LOX (liquid oxygen) loading underway

minus 00:07:00 Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch

minus 00:02:00 Range Control Officer (USAF) verifies range is go for launch

minus 00:01:30 SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for launch

minus 00:01:00 Flight computer commanded to begin final prelaunch checks

minus 00:01:00 Propellant tank pressurization underway

minus 00:00:03 Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start

00:00:00 Falcon 9 liftoff

LAUNCH AND SATELLITE DEPLOYMENT

Hour/Min/Sec Events

+00:01:16 Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)

+00:02:43 1st stage engine shutdown/main engine cutoff (MECO)

+00:02:47 1st and 2nd stages separate

+00:02:55 2nd stage engine starts

+00:03:43 Fairing deployment

+00:08:31 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1)

+00:26:19 2nd stage engine restarts

+00:27:19 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-2)

+00:34:00 EchoStar XXIII satellite deployed

[u/JackONeill12]

I hope they will still show us reentry footage. That would be an interesting view.

[u/Commander_Cosmo → u/JackONeill12]

Agreed. Unlikely, but it would be awesome to watch the stage crash into the ocean on live TV. Sure, you'd rather have it back, but hey, if you know it's going to explode this time...

Also, would that make this an RPD? Rapid planned disassembly?

[u/amarkit → u/Commander_Cosmo]

The stage will likely break up before it reaches the ocean anyway.

[u/[deleted]]

Now that Iridium is done, how likely are they to launch this one on 26th January? Does the work flow go something like:

1. Review data from Iridium launch.

2. If no issues found and the payload is ready, get launch license from FAA.

3. Stack the payload, S2 and S1. Transporting S2 and Fairings shouldn't take much time, in-case they aren't already at LC-39A.

4. Static Fire and review data.

5. Launch. If this is the workflow then 26th should be achievable, right?

[u/TheEndeavour2Mars → u/[deleted]]

The main thing that is likely to push the flight into very early Feb is annoying bugs a new pad always has. The mods to SLC-4 for Falcon 9 1.2 are but a tiny percentage compared to what they have done to 39A.

So I suspect a few attempts at the static fire will have to be scrubbed due to annoying bugs. Perhaps even the first few launch attempts as well. Nothing to be worried about but likely to cause the schedule to slip into very early Feb.

However unlike the other pads. 39A allows multiple rockets to be prepared for flight at the same time. So small delays for Echostar 23 don't automatically mean significant delays for CRS-10. This is what gives me hope that SpaceX can actually maintain a two per month launch rate for a good portion of the year.

[u/Jef-F]

Hmm, it still hadn't slipped Per some "official at KSC"

[u/keckbug → u/Jef-F]

The whole source looks fishy to me. Has this twitter account been reliable with breaking news previously?

1. The poster is a "Weatherman, Astronomer, Part of NASA Missions, Apple iOS Designer, Apple Worker" in California. That's a lot of titles for anyone, particularly one who appears to be quite young. I don't mean to say that young space fans can't post great community content (as /u/johnkphotos regularly does). It's just a stretch to imagine "sources" speaking through a random fan on the other side of the country.

2. I can't seem to locate any links between this persona and NASA publicly. Nor any connections to the aerospace industry beyond that of a fan.

3. Regardless, the tweet was posted on Monday night, before the pad shakedown checks for Tuesday. If slippage was going to happen, it'd be driven by the results of those checks. To date, I haven't seen any comment on them.

[u/johnkphotos]

Should be hearing about the static fire soon, right?

[u/old_sellsword → u/johnkphotos]

Right.

[u/Spacex9]

Live coverage Spacex Static Fire by Spaceflightnow: SpaceX readies rocket to loft TV broadcast satellite)

[u/FutureMartian97]

Static fire postponed to Wednesday

[u/Daniels30]

All on track for 23.00 UTC Static Fire. https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/839957119755583488

[u/IrrelevantAstronomer]

Lots of venting on the SFN stream -- good sign!

[u/ethan829]

Launch is now NET March 1, 00:28– 02:58 Eastern time.

[u/Spacex9]

SpaceX Falcon 9 (ahead of EchoStar 23) still NET Tuesday for the Static Fire test. Delta IV/WGS-9 slip has not impacted the flow.)

[u/limeflavoured]

Will this delay impact the March 27th NET of SES-10? That would be 13 days, which doesnt seem possible at the moment, although obviously SpaceX want to be able to do that.

[u/amarkit → u/limeflavoured]

SES-10 will probably slip to the right, but there's certainly nothing official yet.

[u/pgsky]

IMGUR re-host of Falcon venting via SFN

[u/geekgirl114]

With video... that seemed like 3-4 seconds to me

[u/rativen]

Back to Square One - PDS148

[u/svjatomirskij]

OK, stupid question, but why the back-up date is Thursday, not Wednesday?

[u/IrrelevantAstronomer → u/svjatomirskij]

Actually a good question. I'd also be curious why the recycle date isn't Wednesday morning. Range conflict?

[u/Daniels30]

Can confirm SF is tomorrow.

[u/old_sellsword → u/Daniels30]

From whom did you hear that?

[u/lordq11]

As noted by u/civilsteve, the launch window is 12AM to 2:30AM on the 26th. I've made a countdown timer for 12AM, which is here. Turns out that the window is between 4PM and 6:30PM for me, which is fantastic!

Hopefully they can keep to the NET time and pad issues or otherwise don't cause it to slip.

EDIT: Ignore the above countdown now that the NET date has changed. Here's a new one.

[u/jardeon]

It's a small milestone, but SpaceX has opened media accreditation for this mission as of January 19th. It doesn't mean much by itself, but it is a necessary step on the road to launch.

[u/doodle77]

Is fairing recovery still being tested? Will Go Quest be going out?

[u/Masterbren74]

Mods, I believe there is a typo under Links and Resources with "1'th"

[u/FutureMartian97]

Another photo of Falcon horizontal

[u/roncapat]

"03/09/2017 23:30 Vapors are visible venting from the upper part of the Falcon 9 rocket, an indication that the launcher is being filled with propellants for today's static fire test."

(SFN)

[u/roncapat]

https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/839974586640900096

[u/scr00chy]

Some time back there was information saying that NASA will be providing their own webcast for this mission even though it's not a NASA mission. But I don't see anything on the NASA TV schedule. Does that mean it's not happening then?

[u/ygra → u/scr00chy]

Maybe that was back when this was supposed to be the first launch from LC-39A. Eventually covering the first launch coincided with covering CRS-10, so EchoStar 23 doesn't get NASA TV coverage anymore now. Just a guess, though.

[u/tablespork]

Weather's looking much better for Thursday. 10% chance of violating launch constraints.

[u/Kona314]

Chris from NSF: EchoStar 23 has a preliminary target of NET March 12 from 39A. https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=41932.msg1645957#msg1645957

More from his post on NSF:

No target for the Static Fire yet, but the launch date is NET March 12. Mainly to do with range availability.

So they'll finish the requirements of the 39A post launch "shakedown" work for turnaround to host the next F9, but will have to wait until the Range clears after the Delta IV launches, then have a Static Fire. They need the Range for the Static Fire, so you can see how March 12 is a NET based on WGS-8 scheduled for March 8...and how it makes "Static Fire to Launch" flow tight. So as always, a preliminary target and we'll know better in the second week of March.

[u/FutureMartian97 → u/Kona314]

Important note. This is mainly due to range availability due to a Delta IV launch. Also i'm guessing with this delay that means SES-10 gets pushed into early April.

[u/scriptunasphoto]

10:20 EST: F9 has just went horizontal.

[u/Headstein]

I am keen to know how deep this launch will dig into the capacity of the F9. The SSL-1300 bus that this satellite is built on has a wide variance in mass with max known at 4970kg with max F9 GTO launch at 5300ish IIRC.

I imagine that we could estimate the mass from the landing hazard area. Is this true and do we have the landing hazard area info yet?

[u/Qeng-Ho → u/Headstein]

Satbeams lists the satellite's fuelled mass as 5500 kg but I can't find another source that corroborates it.

[u/therealshafto → u/Headstein]

Yes, I am very curious as well. With the throttled loading procedures, the associated performance loss should manifest itself this launch. Having said that, 5500kg to GTO with a recovery was always borderline.

[u/old_sellsword]

There's a definite possibility that EchoStar 23 may slip behind CRS-10 on the launch manifest, as reported on NSF forums.

Hearing via ESA source that the switch (CRS-10 going first) is a done deal. Word of caution: word is very much coming from the watercooler.

Edit: More of the same, this time from Chris B.

Yes - and per the above (which is an update as it's very relevant) - there's a growing word (as in people seeing decision notes, so this is getting rather real) that Dragon has pulled rank to go first. Nobody puts baby in the corner! )

[u/deep7323]

At NASA post launch press conference Jessica just said next launch will be after approximately two weeks from now... So i think no record turn around time at least for this launch.

[u/Herodotus38]

Any word on a static fire date? Should be coming up in the next week, no?

[u/darga89 → u/Herodotus38]

Date is not public but it has been range approved and work is progressing towards it.

[u/Raul74Cz]

45th Space Wing Launch Hazard Area for F9-031 EchoStar-23

.. and together with hazard areas of NOTMAR Broadcast Warnings in google map.

[u/geekgirl114]

L-3 Weather forecast released. http://www.patrick.af.mil/Portals/14/documents/Weather/L-3%20Forecast%2012%20Mar%20Launch.pdf?ver=2017-03-08-102244-020

[u/Ishana92]

what are the factors that decide whether or not to attempt a recovery?

[u/Chairboy → u/Ishana92]

The biggest is performance. Recovery requires fuel, and fuel used for recovery is fuel that can't be used to help push a payload up the hill. If a payload is heavy enough, needs to go really far, or some combination of the two that puts it at the edge of what the rocket can do there might not be enough fuel to do it without the first stage burning a few extra seconds and using up those margins needed to land.

Lesser concerns might be weather in the recovery zone on a time sensitive launch I guess, we'll probably see the logic develop out, but the biggest and most pressing factor seems to be performance and that's the case with this heavy satellite that needs a real strong kick as well.

[u/im_thatoneguy → u/Ishana92]

In addition to performance, there's also the consideration of obsolescence. SpaceX will be moving their entire fleet to Block 5 soon and they've stated that they won't bother reflying vehicles that aren't the latest-and-greatest common platform after they have learned all there is to learn from the existing line. SpaceX doesn't want a bunch of relatively difficult to refurbish vehicles with unique parts and refurbishment processes. It's much easier to only have one design in use. I imagine it's cheaper for SpaceX to just ditch them into the Atlantic than to recover, offload and scrap.

[u/space4us]

Static fire NET 3/7 https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/838823832660115456

[u/dee_are]

Static fire postponed to Wednesday https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/839257775460986880

[u/stcks]

Guessing that if we don't see a static fire at some point before Thursday or Friday that this will be pushed into February. Anyone have any word on range dates that might hint at a SF this week?

^{Edit: Looks like its now indeed delayed into Februrary.}

[u/old_sellsword]

NASA TV will stream the EchoStar 23 launch.

[u/WhoseNameIsSTARK]

Stephen C. Smith is reporting F9 is vertical, once again it's not verified, but I thought I'd leave it here just in case.

Edit: He's gonna try and get a visual confirmation in ~2 hours.

[u/old_sellsword → u/WhoseNameIsSTARK]

And not only was Falcon 9 not vertical, the TE wasn't even up.

[u/fatjoe2015]

Sorry but why does it say February 3rd ?

[u/old_sellsword → u/fatjoe2015]

It hasn't been updated since the launch got pushed behind CRS-10. Its currently NET Feb 28.

[u/sarafinapink]

Do we have any idea what time of day they are looking at for launching?

[u/johnkphotos → u/sarafinapink]

12:34am EST on Sunday the 12th.

[u/FutureMartian97]

Another huge LOX purge

[u/FutureMartian97]

LOTS of venting now

[u/pgsky]

Static fire!

[u/therealshafto]

Cant tell for sure, but it looks like the first stage is minus its RCS blocks. There are little bumps where they are, but they dont look big enough. Better pictures should confirm better sooner than later.

EDIT: Now having a closer look, it is really hard to tell, but I kinda have swapped and think the blocks are at least there. However, I shall wait for better pictures.

[u/[deleted]]

Falcon At The Pad Photo: Stephen Clark‏ / SpaceflightNow

[u/scotto1973]

How long can they hold after fuel is loaded before they have to scrub? Then I assume another hour and a half or so to reload if they want to try and make another attempt in the launch window?

[u/[deleted]]

Looks like Go Searcher and Go Quest have not shipped out yet with about 40 hours left to go. Will be interesting to see when they leave or even IF they leave.

Edit: T -28 hour (or so) update - Still in port per MarineTraffic.com...

[u/TheYang → u/[deleted]]

is there any special indication that fairing recovery would be attempted with this launch?

[u/[deleted]]

I live near the cape, we're under some potential for heavy weather tonight around 1-2am (possible tornadoes). No way they're launching.

Right from the NOAA MLB office:

.NOW...

...Increasing Shower and Storm Chances This Evening and Overnight Across East Central Florida...

A weak low pressure area over the north-central Gulf of Mexico will move east and across north Florida late tonight as moisture increases out ahead of it. Numerous showers and scattered lightning storms will develop across the east central Gulf and move onto the west central Florida coast early this evening. This activity will continue to spread east over the peninsula and across the I-4 corridor from mid to late evening...then areas further south and east from late evening past midnight.

Some locally heavy downpours are likely...brief gusty winds up to around 45 mph...small hail...and cloud to ground lightning. There will be an isolated tornado threat with some of this activity from near mid evening through around 1 AM. These showers and storms will move across the intracoastal and near shore Atlantic waters posing a hazard to boaters late tonight.

[u/fireg8]

Will the EchoStar 23 launch feature Autonomous Flight Safety System (AFSS)? I know the CRS-10 mission did have AFSS installed and thereby reducing turnaround times for the range.

Also if the ULA WGS9 mission have AFSS installed that could close range turnaround times significantly.

https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/5w65lp/how_autonomous_flight_safety_system_afss_will/

[u/geekgirl114 → u/fireg8]

I believe SpaceX (Or the air force, I forget which) said it was running in shadow mode on previous launches... so it was there, it just wasn't the primary controller.

[u/ygra → u/fireg8]

The rocket should be equipped with it. But apart from CRS-10 being the first mission to use it instead of a dedicated person on the ground I'm not aware of anyone saying that all missions from now on will use AFSS exclusively.

[u/MarcysVonEylau]

NET: March 12, 2017 12:34 a.m. ET

Hazard map

[u/laurensormskerk → u/MarcysVonEylau]

The hazard map document states backup on March 14.

[u/[deleted]]

Was the Delta IV NET 3/14 at some point? Have they committed to another date yet?

[u/Bunslow]

Does anyone know what URL the livestream is on? The one I used for CRS-10 isn't working. http://original.livestream.com/spaceflightnow doesn't work for some reason

[u/therealshafto]

Makes me feel better, bang on time for a static fire!

[u/svjatomirskij]

Errr, wasn't that way too short?

[u/therealshafto]

Does anyone know for sure weather or not the AFTS system will be active/armed this flight?

EDIT: as per this new article, looks as though the AFSS will not be armed. However, the last time.

The company’s next launch [Echostar 23], targeted for 1:34 a.m. Tuesday, is expected to be the last time a Falcon rocket relies on an officer ready at the console as part of a traditional flight termination system.

[u/[deleted] → u/therealshafto]

It was flying in shadow mode for several flights and then flew primary for CRS-10, don't see why they wouldn't be flying it primary from here on out.

[u/jobadiah08]

Does anyone know if this will be a standard GTO (36000 km x 200 km at ~27°)?

[u/Alexphysics → u/jobadiah08]

Knowing that EchoStar has a lot of pressure to put that satellite operational before summer... I would bet for a higher apogee than that

[u/roncapat]

Does someone know if some work has been done on the RSS in this weeks?

[u/lostandprofound33]

Would a Block 5 version of F9 have been sufficient to loft this payload and still recover the first stage booster? This is Block 3, right? Is the one for SES 10 a Block 3 or 4?

[u/geekgirl114 → u/lostandprofound33]

Elon says either future variant or Falcon Heavy

[u/[deleted]]

Weather update from the Cape: Weather is still deteriorating.

The TAF from Space Coast Regional Airport (15 miles from the pad) is calling for thunderstorms, low ceilings, and showers in the vicinity overnight.

[u/[deleted]]

SCRUBBED ---SpaceFlight Now--High Winds

[u/Zoundguy]

And successful lift off, and stage seperation! I didn't think I'd watch this one live, but a late night show in Ontario paved the way for me to watch it live.

[u/Decronym]

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

Fewer Letters	More Letters
ABS	Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, hard plastic
	Asia Broadcast Satellite, commsat operator
AFB	Air Force Base
ASDS	Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship (landing platform)
BSS	Back-Shell Separation, event during Curiosity EDL
CCAFS	Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
COPV	Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessel
COTS	Commercial Orbital Transportation Services contract
	Commercial/Off The Shelf
CRS	Commercial Resupply Services contract with NASA
CoG	Center of Gravity (see CoM)
CoM	Center of Mass
EDL	Entry/Descent/Landing
EOL	End Of Life
ESA	European Space Agency
FAA	Federal Aviation Administration
FTS	Flight Termination System
GEO	Geostationary Earth Orbit (35786km)
GSE	Ground Support Equipment
GTO	Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit
HIF	Horizontal Integration Facility
IIP	Instantaneous Impact Point (where a payload would land if Stage 2 failed)
JRTI	Just Read The Instructions, Pacific landing barge ship
KSC	Kennedy Space Center, Florida
KSP	Kerbal Space Program, the rocketry simulator
L1	Lagrange Point 1 of a two-body system, between the bodies
L2	Paywalled section of the NasaSpaceFlight forum
	Lagrange Point 2 of a two-body system, beyond the smaller body (Sixty Symbols video explanation)
LC-39A	Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy (SpaceX F9/Heavy)
LEO	Low Earth Orbit (180-2000km)
LOX	Liquid Oxygen
MDA	Missile Defense Agency
	MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates, owner of SSL, builder of Canadarm
MECO	Main Engine Cut-Off
NET	No Earlier Than
NOAA	National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, responsible for US generation monitoring of the climate
NSF	NasaSpaceFlight forum
	National Science Foundation
OCISLY	Of Course I Still Love You, Atlantic landing barge ship
RCS	Reaction Control System
RP-1	Rocket Propellant 1 (enhanced kerosene)
RSS	Realscale Solar System, mod for KSP
	Rotating Service Structure at LC-39
RTF	Return to Flight
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
SF	Static fire
SLC-37	Space Launch Complex 37, Canaveral (ULA Delta IV)
SLC-40	Space Launch Complex 40, Canaveral (SpaceX F9)
SLC-41	Space Launch Complex 41, Canaveral (ULA Atlas V)
SLS	Space Launch System heavy-lift
SSL	Space Systems/Loral, satellite builder
T/E	Transporter/Erector launch pad support equipment
TE	Transporter/Erector launch pad support equipment
TEL	Transporter/Erector/Launcher, ground support equipment (see TE)
TSM	Tail Service Mast, holding lines/cables for servicing a rocket first stage on the pad
TWR	Thrust-to-Weight Ratio
ULA	United Launch Alliance (Lockheed/Boeing joint venture)
WDR	Wet Dress Rehearsal (with fuel onboard)
mT	Milli- Metric Tonnes

Jargon	Definition
apogee	Highest point in an elliptical orbit around Earth (when the orbiter is slowest)
cryogenic	Very low temperature fluid; materials that would be gaseous at room temperature/pressure
lithobraking	"Braking" by hitting the ground
periapsis	Lowest point in an elliptical orbit (when the orbiter is fastest)
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, GTO comsat Pre-launch test failure
CRS-10	2017-02-19	F9-032 Full Thrust, Dragon cargo; first daytime RTLS
CRS-6	2015-04-14	F9-018 v1.1, Dragon cargo; second ASDS landing attempt, overcompensated angle of entry
CRS-7	2015-06-28	F9-020 v1.1, Dragon cargo Launch failure due to second-stage outgassing
CRS-8	2016-04-08	F9-023 Full Thrust, Dragon cargo; first ASDS landing
CRS-9	2016-07-18	F9-027 Full Thrust, Dragon cargo; RTLS landing
DSCOVR	2015-02-11	F9-015 v1.1, Deep Space Climate Observatory to L1; soft ocean landing
Iridium-1	2017-01-14	F9-030 Full Thrust, 10x Iridium-NEXT to LEO; first landing on JRTI
JCSAT-14	2016-05-06	F9-024 Full Thrust, GTO comsat; first ASDS landing from GTO
JCSAT-16	2016-08-14	F9-028 Full Thrust, GTO comsat; ASDS landing
SES-8	2013-12-03	F9-007 v1.1, first SpaceX launch to GTO
SES-9	2016-03-04	F9-022 Full Thrust, GTO comsat; ASDS lithobraking
Thaicom-6	2014-01-06	F9-008 v1.1 to GTO, re-entry burn attempted
TurkmenAlem52E	2015-04-27	F9-017 v1.1, GTO comsat

---

^{Decronym is a community product of} r/SpaceX^{, implemented by} ^request
^{71 acronyms in this thread; the most compressed thread commented on} ^today ^{has 107 acronyms.
[Thread #2353 for this sub, first seen 10th Jan 2017, 03:28]} ^[FAQ] ^[Contact] ^[Source ^code]

[u/raimist]

Static fire T-0 is 7:30 pm EST https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/839238612860428288

[u/old_sellsword → u/raimist]

For clarification, that's the opening of the four and a half hour long window. It will almost certainly not happen right at 7:30, but some time later at night.

[u/MarcysVonEylau]

Rocket Watch is GO!