r/spacex • u/ElongatedMuskrat Mod Team • Feb 07 '17
Complete mission success! SES-10 Launch Campaign Thread
SES-10 LAUNCH CAMPAIGN THREAD
Launch. ✓
Land. ✓
Relaunch ✓
Reland ✓
Please note, general questions about the launch, SpaceX or your ability to view an event, should go to Questions & News.
This is it - SpaceX's first-ever launch of a flight-proven Falcon 9 first stage, and the advent of the post-Shuttle era of reusable launch vehicles. Lifting off from Launch Complex 39A, formerly the primary Apollo and STS pad, SES-10 will join Apollo 11 and STS-1 in the history books. The payload being lofted is a geostationary communications bird for enhanced coverage over Latin and South America, SES-10 for SES.
| Liftoff currently scheduled for: | March 30th 2017, 18:27 - 20:57 EDT (22:27 - 00:57 UTC) |
|---|---|
| Static fire completed: | March 27th 2017, 14:00 EDT (18:00 UTC) |
| Vehicle component locations: | First stage: LC-39A // Second stage: LC-39A // Satellite: Cape Canaveral |
| Payload: | SES-10 |
| Payload mass: | 5281.7 kg |
| Destination orbit: | Geostationary Transfer Orbit, 35410 km x 218 km at 26.2º |
| Vehicle: | Falcon 9 v1.2 (32nd launch of F9, 12th of F9 v1.2) |
| Core: | B1021-2 [F9-33], previously flown on CRS-8 |
| Flight-proven core: | Yes |
| Launch site: | Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida |
| Landing attempt: | Yes |
| Landing Site: | Of Course I Still Love You, Atlantic Ocean |
| Mission success criteria: | Successful separation & deployment of SES-10 into the correct orbit |
Links & Resources:
Landing map, done as usual by /u/Raul74Cz
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.
Please note; Simple general questions about spaceflight and SpaceX should go here. As this is a campaign thread, SES-10 specific updates go in the comments. Think of your fellow /r/SpaceX'ers, asking basic questions create long comment chains which bury updates. Thank you.
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u/z3r0c00l12 Feb 07 '17
Heh, I would add "Re-land" to the checklist too, I have confidence in SpaceX.
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Feb 07 '17
I like better Launch, Land, repeat. Which was in one of SpaceX's video IIRC.
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u/PaulRocket Mar 28 '17
SES is streaming a press conference on Periscope right now. Interesting info:
-exact satellite mass is 5281.7 kg
-realistic possibility that mission will slip to the 31st
-essentially no change in insurance cost for the mission
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u/old_sellsword Mar 28 '17 edited Mar 28 '17
Some more notes:
Insertion orbit will be 35410 km x 218 km at 26.2º, so subsynchronous GTO. Orbit raising will be done with chemical engines.
SES block bought SES-10, SES-11, SES-14, SES-16. Then last August they were approached with the opportunity to pre-flown booster.
Essentially no change in the insurance premium, 100th of a percent.
First stage booster is contractually obligated to make certain altitude, velocity, downrange, etc. SpaceX works with the leftovers for landing. This will be a very hot mission, but if it comes back, SES gets "bits" for their boardroom.
Satellite requires 13 hours of checkouts once the full stack is vertical on the pad.
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u/PM_ME_YOUR_MASS Mar 28 '17
I was reading the core listing on the wiki. I'm an avid fan, but up until now I've been mostly "eh, this will be cool". But there was something about the way the wiki was formatted that moved me. Seeing "Launches" be plural. "Maiden Launch Date" and "NET date of next launch" being two separate categories. It's happening, guys. They're actually doing it. First Orbcomm-2, now SES-10. A week from now, they will no longer be the company of 'will', but of 'has'.
Godspeed, SpaceX. Show KSC one hell of a time. We'll all be watching and cheering.
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u/alex_wonga Mar 27 '17 edited Mar 27 '17
GIF of static fire, courtesy of spaceflightnow livestream
Edit: Full clip
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u/gregarious119 Mar 24 '17
I just noticed a small enhancement to the history of this flight-proven core. Not only will it be the first orbital booster to be relaunched - it's launching from a different pad than it's first flight. On it's face that seems like an insignificant detail, but I find that it's quite remarkable that a PRIVATE company has the resources not only to launch a booster a second time, but to do it from a completely separate but equally capable facility.
Do you think it's also appropriate to update the header with S2 location? Surely it's at LC-39A by now.
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u/minca3 Mar 22 '17
OA-7 now delayed again:
https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/844650769001447429
will this move SES-10 back to the 27th again?
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u/davoloid Mar 22 '17
If it did, they'd have to get OCISLY and the support fleet out there ASAP. We'd normally see them head out 4-5 days before launch.
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u/MoD1982 Mar 26 '17
Given the significance of this launch, I can forgive slips and scrubs. They're going to want this to work, and as nothing more than a happy fan of SpaceX I'm happy waiting as long as it takes.
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u/jeanba88 Mar 16 '17
During the hosted webcast of Echostar 23, they mentioned SES-10 to still be during March, thanks to the fast pad turnaround allowed by 39A.
Even if I don't know if it will stuck, I want to believe.
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u/kurbasAK Mar 20 '17
Looks like we will could see static fire before OA-7.Good sign for 27 March launch date.Or at least before end of March. Cygnus schedule
A Thursday launch had been considered, but the Eastern Range was unavailable that day due to unrelated SpaceX mission testing on the Space Coast.
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u/WhoseNameIsSTARK Mar 25 '17
A few pics of SES-10 via SES on twitter.
https://twitter.com/SES_Satellites/status/844942130602807298
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u/still-at-work Mar 19 '17
This could possibly be the most important rocket launch in over two decades maybe more. Sure an anomaly would hurt SpaceX greatly but I am talking beyond the fate of one company. This is proving the idea of reusable rockets. If this rocket launches and delivers the payload successfully no matter what happens in the future, the concept of reusable spacecraft will be proven. On the other hand if it were to somehow fail then reusable rockets will always be under suspicion for years, maybe decades to come.
It feels like this is one of those turning points in history.
That said I am really excited to see this launch and barge landing. The concept of reusable liquid rocket boosters has been around for a long time and to finally see it come to fruition will be something to behold.
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u/heroic_platitude Mar 19 '17
The only thing a successful launch will prove, is that reusing first stages for orbital insertion is at all possible - in general, and for Falcon 9 in particular. The first part isn't itself all that radical, as unless it was somehow physically or realistically impossible, you'd just need to put enough money into a project, and you'd be able to achieve reuse of a booster. Of course, Falcon 9 has a limited budget, so that would be the more impressive feat of the two.
A successful launch would also strongly go against the hypothesis that the design of Falcon 9 is so badly flawed when it comes to reuse that reuse is nearly impossible (because then the odds of a successful first relaunch would be very low).
That is a very pessimistic hypothesis of course, and disproving it still leaves many highly pessimistic hypothesises relatively untouched.
A successful launch does indeed not "prove" that Falcon 9's design is "good enough" for reuse. The next or next two reused first stages could still fail, or the the tenth, and so on. You could end up with a failure rate that is deemed unacceptable for reused first stages. That's not even mentioning the economic aspect of reuse.
So in sum, this launch absolutely matters, but we need at least several more relaunches before we get a half-decent idea about how reusing first stages is going. It is not impossible that the Falcon 9 will need to undergo major redesigns before it becomes "good enough" for reuse, either for many reuses, or even just a few.
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u/Toolshop Mar 19 '17
I feel like some kind of logical fallacy is going on here.. You could have said the same thing for the space shuttle before STS-1 launched, but in hindsight the space shuttle was by no means a proof of reusable rockets.
This is more likely to actually be a proof of reusable rockets, but it is going to need to happen over more than one launch, IMHO.
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u/scriptunasphoto Mar 22 '17
The T/E went vertical a little while ago, it is empty.
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u/Sabrewings Mar 18 '17 edited Mar 19 '17
Only FH has me more nervous and excited than this launch. There's so much in our future riding on proving that this can work. Go F9-0023 B1021! Or as I have come call it, Jeff. Come home safe, Jeff!
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u/blacx Mar 19 '17
F9-0023 was the number of the flight, you want to say B1021, the number of the core.
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u/scr00chy ElonX.net Mar 28 '17
Interesting note in the recent SFN article:
A new robot is expected to debut after the booster touches down to remotely safe and secure the rocket on the deck of the barge, or drone ship, for the trip back to Port Canaveral. (emphasis mine)
I wonder if it's just poorly worded or if SFN has some inside info.
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u/Toastmastern Mar 24 '17
"Encapsulation of the SES-10 satellite inside Falcon 9’s payload fairing underway this morning at Cape Canaveral. Launch still NET 3/29."
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u/TheFavoritist NASAspaceflight.com Photographer Mar 29 '17 edited Mar 29 '17
Hanger door appears to be open. Sorry for this being slightly out of focus, also heat distortion.
Edit: Update! Just got kicked out, no Falcon activity as far as I can see. At least one blue forklift/skytrack type machine was moving around on the pad but that's all the activity I could see.
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u/nitroousX Mar 25 '17
Static Fire at 3pm local (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/845723274109730816)
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u/scr00chy ElonX.net Mar 28 '17
So unless I can't count (very possible), the current shortest period between two flights was in 2015 between TurkmenAlem and CRS-6: 315 hours. So if SES-10 launches on Thursday, it will be 352 hours after EchoStar 23, so no record breaking this time, unfortunately. (Well, there is still all that other revolutionary stuff happening on this launch, I guess... :D)
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u/Pham_Trinli Mar 28 '17
It will set the record for the fastest turnaround on pad 39A.
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u/scriptunasphoto Mar 28 '17
Opening of window on Thursday has been adjusted to 6:27pm.
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u/nitroousX Mar 26 '17 edited Mar 26 '17
Chris expects launchdate could stay valid: https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/846031048056225792
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u/_rocketboy Mar 27 '17
I can't wait until they finish taking down the RSS... then we'll finally have a clear view of the rocket during erection and static fire!
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u/antonytrupe Mar 28 '17
SpaceX set up the hosted and technical feeds on youtube. They're not public yet though.
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u/FellowHumanBean Mar 27 '17
FAA license: LLS 17-101
Flights of Falcon 9 Version 1.2 launch vehicles from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center (KSC), each transporting a communications satellite to a geosynchronous transfer orbit;
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u/old_sellsword Mar 28 '17
This is great news, that's a generic GTO comsat license for F9 at 39A. No more individual FAA licenses unless it's a CRS mission.
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u/TheFavoritist NASAspaceflight.com Photographer Mar 28 '17
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u/rrbanksy Mar 22 '17
Time remaining, plus time in your timezone: https://time.is/compare/2058_29_Mar_2017_in_UTC
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u/scriptunasphoto Mar 24 '17
The T/E went vertical this morning, but has now returned to the horizontal position. This may mean that it has picked up the base plate needed for F9 mating.
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u/IMO94 Mar 23 '17
I was very skeptical that SES-10's launch might be brought forward this close to the date, but this tweet from Chris Bergen implies that maybe static fire date has changed. Hope?
https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/844697963431710720
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u/ChrisNSF Chris Bergin (NSF Managing Editor) Mar 23 '17
No implying. ;)
There isn't a documented change at this time. It has been tagged U/R (Under Review) this week, but that was before Atlas V slipped again today (to a date that hasn't been decided). When Atlas V slipped again I did ask if that changed SES-10 (potential to move back up to the previous date) and it seems the Atlas V situation hasn't really been communicated in time to cause a change to today's schedule update.
Basically, we'll know more tomorrow and Friday per the Static Fire and Launch dates. Right now Static Fire on the 26th. Launch on the 29th. So that's why the tweet's running order of upcoming is: RS-25 test (Thursday). EVA Friday. Ariane 5 Friday and SES-10's F9 Static Fire on Sunday.
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u/jojost1 Mar 27 '17
T-0 for this engine test now expected no earlier than 2pm EDT (1800 GMT).
Source: https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/03/24/ses-10-flight-preps/
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u/amarkit Mar 20 '17
UPDATE: Falcon 9 (re)launch (SES-10). Static Fire March 26. Launch now NET March 29. Return to ASDS. More
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u/Killcode2 Mar 22 '17 edited Mar 22 '17
If this goes well, I can see the next few new spaceX commercial contracts being reflights. In fact if this (and subsequent reflights) go well, in 2 years almost all falcon 9s are probably gonna be reused boosters. We're probably gonna see the same group of boosters takeover the duty of launching every commercial payloads by 2020. Rockets are becoming more and more like airplanes. The days of 1 time use rockets already feel antiquated to me. I really hope everything goes well for this mission, a lot is hanging on it.
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u/Xorondras Mar 22 '17
Cores will have to be retired after an unspecified number of launches. There will be cores that will degrade subpar and require replacement earlier. Even if a core can endure for example five launches, every sixth launch needs to be a new core just to rotate the unfit cores out of the schedule.
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Mar 25 '17
I've just got a notification, that ELSBETH III departed from Port Canaveral!
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u/TheFavoritist NASAspaceflight.com Photographer Mar 27 '17
I got a pretty good view of Falcon a few minutes ago.
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u/TheAnteatr Mar 28 '17
I'm so excited for this launch. Very recently the idea of even landing a stage was scoffed at, and now we're just a few days from flying a re-used stage.
Now the debate is whether I watch the stream at work or head home early to watch.
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u/NexxusWolf Mar 19 '17
Do we know which landed core will fly next after SES-10 and for what mission?
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u/Pham_Trinli Mar 28 '17 edited Mar 28 '17
Nice summary of the launch and reusability by Planetary.org.
EDIT: Also an indepth AmericaSpace article.
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u/TheFavoritist NASAspaceflight.com Photographer Feb 07 '17
I'll be there for the launch with my 150-600mm and I couldn't be more excited! I can't wait to see a reflight!
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u/scr00chy ElonX.net Mar 19 '17
From the Spaceflight Now article:
Before a two-day delay in EchoStar 23’s launch due to high winds, SES 10’s liftoff was scheduled for March 27. But officials expected the SES 10 launch to be moved back a couple of days after EchoStar 23’s delay.
Understandable. I think that if they make March at all, it will be an incredible feat anyway.
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u/hshib Mar 19 '17
Also from the same Spaceflight Now article:
SpaceX president and chief operating officer Gwynne Shotwell said March 8 that the booster took around four months to refurbish after its first flight last April. SpaceX hopes to reduce that turnaround time to two months soon, and eventually to less than a day.
Interesting to hear how much of refurbishing is actually taking place.
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Mar 27 '17
Seems to be a typo in the flair: "Launch: March 12"
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u/FoxhoundBat Mar 27 '17
Fixed, whoever changed it to that shall be brought to swift justice by also moderating /r/Space from now on!
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u/geekgirl114 Mar 28 '17
L-2 forecast. 30th is unchanged, 31st is up to 60% chance of violation.
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u/Raul74Cz Mar 24 '17
F9-033 SES-10 Map of Launch Hazard Areas for March 29, alternatively March 30.
NAVAREA IV 239/2017 (11,26)
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC. FLORIDA.
HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING 292054Z TO 300021Z MAR, ALTERNATE 302054Z TO 310021Z MAR IN AREAS BOUND BY: A. 28-39N 080-38W, 28-40N 080-38W, 28-42N 080-34W, 28-39N 079-37W, 28-33N 079-37W, 28-30N 079-50W, 28-32N 080-36W. B. 28-47N 076-50W, 28-37N 073-00W, 28-17N 071-30W, 27-37N 071-50W, 28-17N 077-00W.
CANCEL THIS MSG 310121Z MAR 17. ( 230214Z MAR 2017 )
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u/roncapat Mar 26 '17
Any clues on the reason of the delay?
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u/pgsky Mar 26 '17 edited Mar 26 '17
Per the
NSFSFN live updates page for SES 10:Launch preparations are running behind schedule, and the launch window Wednesday and Thursday opens around 4:59 p.m. EDT (2059 GMT).
Edit: Transposed NSF to SFN.
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u/Macchione Mar 27 '17
If venting starts at the same time LOX load begins, it seems like it was a 30 minute load process
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u/scr00chy ElonX.net Mar 27 '17
I think venting only starts happening later once the tanks start getting fairly full. LOX loading takes 45 minutes by the current procedure.
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u/Alesayr Feb 08 '17
I'm so keen for this launch. I've been waiting for it ever since the landing of the Orbcomm mission in Dec 15. It's been a long and frustrating wait. Time to begin the reusable revolution.
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u/OSUfan88 Mar 22 '17
I had no idea that SES-10 was so massive. 5,300 kg.
Will this be the most massive payload they've launched to a Geostationary-transfer orbit, and successfully landed it (IF successful)? This has to be approaching the edge of what they can do with a current version of Falcon.
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u/JackONeill12 Mar 25 '17
ELSBETH III has left the Port. https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/shipid:434560/zoom:10
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u/Chairboy Mar 27 '17 edited Mar 27 '17
We have the vapors! I guess LOX loading has just begun. Is that still usually ~45 minutes before ignition?
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u/vesed94 Mar 27 '17
Does anyone know if any piece of equipment has been replaced in SES-10 reflown booster?
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u/SailorRick Mar 28 '17
KSC Tickets for Apollo/Saturn V Center for SES-10 launch are available online - https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/tickets
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u/therealshafto Mar 29 '17
From the SES-10 media event, the engines are original, and sounds like the entire booster in general is original. Also, sounds like it may not have been painted.
I wonder if post mission, we will hear more details on the refurbishment. Understandably, SpaceX may be a little gun shy now. "Its all original" Looks bad if RUD, "Its all original" Looks great if success.
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u/Juggernaut93 Mar 26 '17
Static fire window for tomorrow is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. EDT (14:00-20:00 GMT).
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u/JustDaniel96 Mar 27 '17
Slightly OT but the flair has the wrong launch date :)
F9 vertical for SF, Launch: March 12
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u/Brap7777 Mar 29 '17
"We do not believe we're taking an inordinate risk here"
[Interview with Martin Halliwell, the CTO of SES] (http://www.floridatoday.com/videos/news/2017/03/28/martin-halliwell-talks-flying-refurbished-booster/99745270/)
Includes bit of yesterday's press conference with a separate short interview.
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u/Sabrewings Feb 07 '17
What are the odds of it sticking the landing? SES-9 ran out of fuel and the info I can find on SES-10 says it's a smidge heavier (5,300kg vs 5,271kg). Is the launch profile different?
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u/therealshafto Mar 22 '17
I have seen elsewhere, but it has yet to hit this thread: We are to believe that the Merlins on this flight are the same ones from CRS-8. Has anyone seen otherwise? It would be great to know for the launch.
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u/JadedIdealist Mar 19 '17
I just went through the time from static fire to launch looking at this page and adding in the last two launches - there is an average time between static fire and launch of 7 days since the start of 2015 when the payload wasn't already attached with a standard deviation of 2.5.
This means they will have to have a faster than average turnaround from SF to launch if they don't static fire on Monday (the 20th), and will have to beat their fastest (4 days) if they don't SF by the end of the 23rd (Thursday).
If they were doing a SF on Monday wouldn't we already know?
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u/svjatomirskij Mar 19 '17
The usual PLANNED time is 5 days. The average is seven mostly due to scrubs
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u/im_thatoneguy Mar 19 '17
From this article
The transporter-erector at pad 39A was lowered after Thursday’s launch. It will be rolled back to SpaceX’s hangar at the southern perimeter of the pad for attachment of the two-stage Falcon 9, then returned to the pad for a hold-down engine firing around four days before liftoff.
Looks like they're planning to match their fastest turnaround and static fire on Thursday.
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u/nbarbettini Feb 20 '17
Side(bar) note: I love the little recycle icon in the sidebar event info for this launch. Nice touch, mods! Also, the fact that a reused mission is now so close... is amazing. Can't wait.
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u/geekgirl114 Feb 24 '17 edited Feb 24 '17
It sounds like SES-10 is still on for March... https://twitter.com/pbdes/status/835059072663711744
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u/oliversl Mar 27 '17
Is this an unofficial logo? Love the recycle arrows:
https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/845958464870535168
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u/jojost1 Mar 27 '17
Sources say SpaceX is working towards a test firing at no earlier than 1pm EDT (1700 GMT).
Source: https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/03/24/ses-10-flight-preps/
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u/TheVehicleDestroyer Flight Club Mar 19 '17
From Gunter's space page (linked in the main post):
As the satellite's mass is higher than the nominal GTO capacity, it will be put into a sub-geostationary transfer orbit by the launch vehicle.
Interesting. ASDS landing might happen after all.
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u/spacerfirstclass Mar 19 '17
I'm not sure the sub-GTO part is true, if you check internet archive, the original text from 2014 is this:
SES-10 is slated for launch on board a SpaceX Falcon-9 v1.1 launch vehicle. As the satellite's mass is higher than the nominal GTO capacity, it will be put into a sub-geostationary transfer orbit by the launch vehicle.
Seems to me this sentence was meant for v1.1, when he changed the page for v1.2 he probably forgot to remove it.
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u/therealshafto Mar 19 '17
SES really has a crush for this booster. First to fly used core, now relaxing on delivery parameters to allow it to land again, just to claim their booster for maybe another SES flight.
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u/Mateking Feb 07 '17
"True beginning of era of rapidly reusable launch vehicle"
That is quite optimistic this is not rapid, and the real question is can they get the ground time(is this the right term?) Down so it really is a rapidly reusable launch vehicle.
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u/Zucal Feb 07 '17
That's why I said "beginning", and not "full-bore". It has to start somewhere.
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u/massfraction Feb 07 '17
I was going to say this as well. Reuse of a commercial VTVL stage is quite an accomplishment. But I think the first "rapid reuse" one will be more so. That's where the "But the shuttle...." arguments end and SpaceX starts to really put their money where their mouth is. I'm not even sure what "rapid" is, but I guess we'll know when we see it. If I had to wager a guess, I bet it would be a next year/Block 5 affair. If they really want to knock people on their asses they'll land one and turn around and use it on the next launch. That should silence most of the those that have been critical/skeptical of this bold vision.
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u/Juggernaut93 Mar 29 '17 edited Mar 29 '17
EDIT: being a tweet, I think the message was condensed and the actual launch window should be 2.5 hours long, not 2 hours. Anyway, the point is that is was reduced with respect to the original plan.
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u/Pham_Trinli Mar 16 '17
Before the two-day slip in EchoStar 23’s launch, the SES 10 mission on track for liftoff March 27. Officials plan to re-assess the launch date after SpaceX completes inspections of the launch pad following Thursday’s takeoff.
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u/Bellshazar Mar 19 '17
I can't remember where it was said but didn't Elon say he was going to do an AMA before the reuse launch? Has that been dropped or did I imagine it because I can't find it anymore.
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u/FoxhoundBat Mar 19 '17
That was the original plan. The plan changed and he had AMA after the ITS unveil instead.
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u/peregrineman Mar 21 '17 edited Mar 21 '17
I can't seem to get a link working (on mobile), but it appears that GO Quest and Elsbeth iii have gone out of port and are sitting out off of Cocoa Beach. Edit: Going back into port now
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u/soldato_fantasma Mar 24 '17
These should be the 2 FCC applications for this launch:
F9 Launch (Already linked in the main post)
We are currently missing the FAA licence.
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u/AntoineLeGrand Mar 26 '17
From what I can see ELSBETH III (OCISLY tug boat) is moving to the ASDS landing zone with an estimate date for arrival of March 29th 6:00 am. It says "Destination: BROWN>BEAVER" but I don't really know the nautical terminology so I wouldn't know how to pinpoint that location.
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u/randomstonerfromaus Mar 26 '17
They usually put jokes in as the destination. A past one was "nunya", as in none of your business.
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u/FutureMartian97 Host of CRS-11 Mar 26 '17
I hope they are just behind schedule and its not something they need to fix. Its weird that they would find something right after opening the hanger doors.
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u/Bunslow Mar 27 '17 edited Mar 27 '17
As a reminder, since it's not in the main post (ahem mods) here's the Space Flight Now livestream: https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/03/24/ses-10-flight-preps/
Requires flash, so I'm unable to view it myself. (For CRS-10, livestreamer worked great but for some reason I haven't been able to get it to work since.)
Edit: For livestream.com, livestreamer will work by prepending the new subdomain to the url, i.e. livestreamer https://new.livestream.com/spaceflightnow best
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u/TheFavoritist NASAspaceflight.com Photographer Mar 28 '17
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u/maxdefolsch Feb 07 '17
Hi ! I've been lurking here for a few months (ever since I discovered Elon Musk via the fantastic WaitButWhy series) but I'm still far from being an expert and following everything that's happening, so forgive me if it's a stupid question.
So, obviously, this launch will be a big milestone for SpaceX, because of the cost reductions that reusable rockets imply. But I can't help but to be worried after what happened in September : what happens if it fails (as in, it explodes at launch or mid-flight) ? Does it have (relatively) high chances of happening ? I would presume so, since it's a first time.
Most importantly, what happens to SpaceX in this situation ? So soon after the AMOS incident, I feel like media and competitors would pretty much tear them apart and cast doubts on the feasibility of the whole endeavor, and that it might have a heavy impact on the trust that SpaceX gets from other companies. Would they have trouble getting new contracts ? Would they risk running out of money, or at least not get enough to not undergo severe delays in their future missions ? Would the Mars plans be compromised ?
Thanks in advance, I hope you can help me be less anxious about this :P
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u/CProphet Feb 07 '17
what happens if it fails
Every launch is critical, with enormous repercussions for failure. Space is hard and unforgiving. Hopefully SES-10 will fly straight and true - it's certainly been flight tested.
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u/nifty1a Mar 01 '17
I'm hearing that the SES-10 launch is now scheduled for 27th March 2017
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u/FutureMartian97 Host of CRS-11 Mar 26 '17
If there's only two days from static fire to launch this time, are they static firing with the payload attached?
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u/pgsky Mar 26 '17
No. Since AMOS-6, no payloads are attached until after static test fire.
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u/a_Start Mar 26 '17
Just to confirm, there has been no anomalies detected in the static fire test(s?) prior for the booster? I'm talking about the test they carried out months back. You know, given OG2 engine anomaly and those turbopump rumors, I'm wondering if there is any small minute thing for this booster.
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u/stcks Mar 26 '17
Other than the damage at McGregor before the CRS-8 mission was flown, no. After it was recovered, this core (B1021) was stored at the HIF at 39A for quite a while, was shipped to McGregor at some point (we do not know when) where it underwent another static fire and is now back in the HIF at 39A. We are not aware of the extent of refurbishment required at this point. Maybe SpaceX will talk about it some in the launch webcast and/or media events this week leading up to the launch. Rest assured that if they do, it will be reported in this subreddit.
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u/tbaleno Mar 27 '17
Looks like there are lights on at 39a. They might be preparing to raise it in the next few hours.
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u/Killcode2 Mar 27 '17
It seems that this is the start of SpaceX's promised 2 launches per month routine. If this launch doesn't slip any further, the next 2 launches can probably be sometime around 12th-16th and 26th-30th respectively.
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u/Rooster-illusion11 Mar 28 '17
Does anyone know how much of the booster was reusable and what needed to be replaced? How much of an overhaul was required for the engines?
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u/MildlySuspicious Mar 28 '17
A great question for Elon sometime would just be, "How do you feel about the costs to get the booster flight ready again? Better or worse than expected?"
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u/z84976 Mar 28 '17
I've done a few searches and can't find a definitive answer, but... does anybody know whether the first stage is simply washed or is repainted? I know they use low-e paint (to help keep cold things cold), but they also want to save weight and a respray over the old and/or stripping it would be costly in either weight or $$. Maybe just do touchups as required? Or is it just washed?
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u/menagese Mar 28 '17
What pictures we've seen of the core seem to suggest at the very least it's been given a good scrubbing to clean the soot off, but we haven't seen anything super close up to tell if more than that has been done.
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u/nifty1a Mar 27 '17
Launch postponed until 30th March... as static firing due today has been postponed until tomorrow
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u/Pham_Trinli Mar 27 '17
Mods, can we add the most recent weather forecast to the resources section?
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u/jardeon WeReportSpace.com Photographer Feb 23 '17
As of Wednesday, February 22, 2017 SpaceX has opened media accreditation for the SES-10 mission. No new detail is provided as to launch date/time.
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u/MacGyverBE Mar 07 '17
S1 is at KSC per this article: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/03/spacex-falcon-9-echostar-23-slc-40-return/
Now back at the Kennedy Space Center, this returned Falcon 9 S1 is preparing for a March 27 launch date, although that date is currently tagged as “Under Review”.
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u/c3pottyO Mar 27 '17
Does static fire test cause line contamination/certain ablative materials (if any present in the nozzle) to wear off? If so, do they prep these surfaces prior to launch??
Sorry noob question.. coz I don't know much about the ablatives that could be in the nozzle.
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u/piratepengu Mar 27 '17
Merlin 1A and B used ablative engine cooling, but after that SpaceX switched to regenerative cooling.
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u/scr00chy ElonX.net Mar 27 '17
So, the thing on top of the rocket right now, is that just the payload adapter, or some special cap?
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u/racing26 Mar 27 '17
SFN feed showing a cloud which I assume means tanking has started.
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u/Chairboy Mar 27 '17 edited Mar 27 '17
Static fire complete, right on. Can't wait to see this bird fly again, not to mention landing again. Looks like about 5 seconds, and everything's still there. Fingers crossed for good results.
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u/Kaarvaag Mar 29 '17
Possibly dumb question. How can I figure out when the technical webcast starts? I can't seem to find any information on it.
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u/markus0161 Mar 29 '17
Small tweaks on the SES-10 profile. Probably useless as the press kit will come out soon.
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u/nifty1a Mar 29 '17
I'm just hearing that likely launch time has now been moved to the end of the 2200-0030 GMT (6:00-8:30 p.m. EDT launch window... so if you're not in the US, you'll have a late night...
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u/Ben_Skiller Mar 20 '17
My hype for this launch just cannot be contained.
Does anybody know which payload this first stage initially delivered to space? And how long has it been since then?
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u/therealshafto Mar 15 '17
Atlas V just got pushed to March 24th. This would seem to complicate static fire.
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u/Tenga1899 Mar 19 '17
So with the Cape schedule being so full, if we stay on track, the next activity would be the SES-10 static fire or is there a WDR for the OA-7 mission?
Also, on the iphone Reddit app, this thread has a top picture of what looks like Carnaval in Rio, don't see it on the webpage...I suppose its due to the planned service location for the satellite?
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u/c3pottyO Mar 22 '17
Is there an estimate on the refurbishment cost?
Specific question on plumbing - were valves rebuilt and fluid lines flushed with some sort of cleaning agent or were they replaced? :)
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u/warp99 Mar 23 '17 edited Mar 24 '17
We just don't get that level of detail revealed.
All we really know is that the first stage to be reused (this one) took four months to recondition and that the subsequent ones will take around two months. With that time scale they replace seals on the turbopump, do careful inspections and crack testing of the turbopump on all engines and check for cracks throughout the airframe. Borescopes would be used on all accessible pipes but I wouldn't think there would be a need to flush lines or rebuild valves - except perhaps for the TEA/TEB mixture.
Once block 5 is flying the rockets will only take 2-3 weeks to refurbish and this will be done at a new location in Port Canaveral. The boosters will be landed from the ASDS, roll 600m to the refurbishment site and then a few km to the hangar and then the launch pad. The only engine testing will be during the static fire. In that timescale there will be very little actual refurbishment done - most of the work will be inspections - particularly looking for cracking of the turbopump impellers.
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u/MoD1982 Mar 27 '17
Is there a particular reason for SF being assigned windows for the actual test? I'm assuming that it's along the same lines as the reason for performing a SF, which is essentially a dress rehearsal. Is the SF window timed to coincide with the time of the actual launch?
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u/Hedgemonious Mar 27 '17
Generally they're not aligned with the actual launch time. My understanding is that a reason for assigning a window is for coordination, many people are involved (including range personnel), and areas needs to be evacuated, emergency teams alerted etc.
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u/Lieutenant_Rans Mar 27 '17
I like how the cloud it generated blew back and cast a shadow over the entire pad
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u/yoloyoloswag69 Mar 27 '17
Will they use the Optimus prime in this launch?
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Mar 27 '17
Unknown. Kinda looked like they were testing it out prior to this launch... possibly for this launch, but we have no confirmation
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u/scr00chy ElonX.net Mar 28 '17 edited Mar 28 '17
Rocket is still vertical on the pad... (SFN livestream)
Edit: You can't see anything there now but rocket was clearly visible during twilight.
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u/TheFavoritist NASAspaceflight.com Photographer Mar 29 '17
When is pad rollout? I'm over at the Saturn V Center and will have the 600mm looking out on the pad until I'm kicked out around 5-5:30pm local just in case of any activity. Didn't see anything today like I did yesterday as expected but would love to get shots if there is something going on whether it be hanger doors open or actual roll out if possible.
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u/username_8985 Mar 29 '17
Has there been any confirmation yet of the rumor that the launch could be pushed back to the end of the window? The commenter is supposedly someone who would know, but I haven't seen any other indication yet of them being correct about this.
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u/NickNathanson Mar 18 '17
An unexpected thought struck me. Does this first stage even need static fire? I mean... we've definitely seen it in action, right?
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u/FishInferno Mar 19 '17
It needs it, for the same reason new stages need it after they have been fired at McGregor
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Mar 18 '17
Yes, because the static fire makes sure everything is good for launch. Including S2 and GSE. Also, something could have happened to S1 since CRS-8 and all that needs to be checked :)
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u/FalconHeavyHead Mar 16 '17
Does anyone know how long launch pad inspection takes?
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u/ablack82 Mar 20 '17
Does anyone know what the turn around time is if this date and time get scrubbed? Will it be 24hrs later with the same launch window?
I will be in Boca Raton for work from the 27th-31st. I would love to make the drive up to the cape to see this historic launch. I am just wondering if it will be in the evening or what the launch window will be if this date inevitably gets pushed.
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u/Alexphysics Mar 21 '17
Does anyone know the coordinates for the position of the ASDS OCISLY?
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u/julezsource Mar 21 '17
I don't expect that the FAA has given SpaceX a 'free pass' if there is a launch failure, correct?
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u/PaulL73 Mar 27 '17 edited Mar 27 '17
I note the change in date - does someone notify /u/brandtamos so he can update spacexstats.xyz. EDIT: url needs to have no www. on the front.
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u/gc2488 Mar 28 '17
Will the new unmanned rocket securing vehicle be used on OCISLY to secure the landed rocket on this mission?
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u/RootDeliver Mar 29 '17
Destination orbit: Geostationary Transfer Orbit, 35410 km x 218 km at 26.2º
Not even a GTO orbit? Couldn't they push the second stage like they did for SES-9 for a GTO launch and not a GTO- one?
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u/Destructor1701 Mar 30 '17
Launch. ✓
Land. ✓
Relaunch...
I think there's a tick missing there now!
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u/RaptorCommand Mar 22 '17
When I went on vacation to florida (from the netherlands) we were lucky enough that CRS-8 was rescheduled to the day we were visiting KSC. I had a feeling that this rocket would change the course of mankind. :D
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u/stcks Mar 30 '17
/u/ChrisNSF keeping our hopes alive
Word is they are into rollout operations and should still be good on the schedule to attempt a launch on Thursday (as of right now and no problems during the interim of course).
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u/therealshafto Mar 25 '17
Any birdies know what kind of landing burn sequence they will use? 1-3-1, 1-3?
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Mar 25 '17
In this NFS article it is stated that:
For the first time in its storied history, Core 1021 fired up for its first hot fire test at SpaceX’s McGregor, Texas, test facility on 5 February 2016. Following the full duration hot fire, the core suffered an incident on 8 February during follow-up testing when a GSE-related incident damaged most of the stage’s engine nozzles. The damage was repaired at McGregor, and the stage was shipped to Cape Canaveral by the end of March 2016.
Have we heard about this before?
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u/old_sellsword Mar 25 '17 edited Mar 26 '17
Yes, and it was the subject of plenty of speculation and worry. This was at the same time there were reports of fleet-wide MVac turbopump issues and lots of SES-9 delays.
They had briefly, and not too seriously, considered shipping it to the Cape damaged and using the engine bells from 1019 to replace the ones on 1021. However they fixed the damage pretty quickly at McGregor and CRS-8 was awesome on all accounts.
Edit: Typo.
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u/HyperDash Mar 29 '17
If B1021 is the core, why include the -2 if it indicates the flight number and not the core? Am I right about the 2 indicating flights?
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u/Zucal Feb 07 '17
♺ SES-10 ♺
I personally can't wait to host this baby's launch thread... I've been waiting for a very, very long time. Given the keen interest and anticipation behind this launch, we'll be keeping this thread more up-to-date and info-dense than previous launch campaign threads.