SpaceX F9: ORBCOMM ORB-2 #1-6


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Next up for Falcon 9 is launching 6 ORBCOMM ORB-2 commsats in one launch.

In November 11 more ORB-2 commsats fly on another Falcon 9.

Peter B. de Selding ?@pbdes

Orbcomm CEO: Our SpaceX launch, of 1st six 2nd-gen sats, sched for April 30, after SpaceX NASA CRS. 11 remaining sats set for SpaceX in Nov.

Peter B. de Selding ?@pbdes

Orbcomm: 17 2nd-gen sats to expnd mkt by 10x. New sats have 6x the receivers of 1st gen and 2x the speed. Add new protocol= 100x cpcty.

Peter B. de Selding ?@pbdes

Orbcomm CEO: 6 new sats launching April on SpaceX shld give us near-trm rev boost of 'couple of million' as coverage hole is filed.

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CRS-3 is on for March 16 and will try a landing at sea. It also has 4 landing legs. Check the reusable launcher and CRS-3 threads for pics of the legs and specifics.

Reusable launcher

https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1150976-spacex-reusable-launcher-grasshopper-thread-2/?view=getnewpost

CRS-3

https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1198113-spacex-dragon-crs-3-iss-mission-thread/?view=getnewpost

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  • 1 month later...

We nave a launch date range.

Payload adapter built by MOOG

Fact sheet w/pics: http://www.orbcomm.com/uploads/files/ORBCOMM_Prepares_for_OG2_Satellite_Launch_3-14-14.pdf

http://www.orbcomm.com/networks/og2-launch

OG2 Mission 1 Update: April 11, 2014

A few weeks ago, Cape Canaveral Air Force Stations Range Safety experienced an issue with a primary launch vehicle tracking radar, which delayed the SpaceX Cargo Resupply Services (CRS) Mission originally scheduled for March 30. Range Safety has resolved that issue and is prepared to support the SpaceX CRS Mission on April 14. Due to the recent delays with the CRS mission, our new target launch window is May 10-15.

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Looking at a May 17-25 launch.

Both F9 stages are at KSC.

I'm thinking this ORBCOMM launch will have a huge propellant margin, so returning to a point closer to KSC for another water landing test should be very possible.

Touching down within sight of the KSC tracking cameras would be PPV worthy :)

From ORBCOMM

OG2 Mission 1 Update: April 18, 2014

Congratulations to SpaceX on a successful CRS launch this afternoon! ORBCOMM's OG2 Mission 1 is next on the SpaceX manifest. Sierra Nevada Corporation has four of our OG2 satellites packed, and they will be shipped to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida tomorrow, Saturday, April 19. The other two OG2 satellites will ship to Cape Canaveral next week in preparation for launch in mid-May. We anticipate setting a specific launch date with SpaceX by the middle of next week and will post that date asap. In the meantime, we are tracking the delivery of our satellites as they travel across the country to the Cape!

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Launch has moved LEFT on the schedule

Only 22 days between CRS-3 and ORBCOMM, so they must be trying to make up the time lost by weather, NASA requested Dragon power upgrades and the KSC radar failure.

45th Space Wing reports -

Launch Vehicle/Mission: Falcon 9 ORBCOMM

Date: May 10, 2014

Launch Window: 9:39-10:33 a.m.

Pad: LC-40

Launch Hazard Area

Airspace Closure Areas

For weather updates visit the 45th Weather Squadron page.

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For those who will be in the KSC area,

Launch Alert

SpaceX Falcon 9 ? May 10, 9:39 am EDT

Experience the memorable sights and sounds of the powerful roaring engines of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as it thrusts into the sky from SLC-40. Learn more about the rocket and the mission carrying a communicaitons satellite.

Closest Public Viewing Area: Apollo/Saturn V Center

Located along the Banana River and only three miles from the launch pad, the Apollo/Saturn V viewing area offers the closest public viewing opportunity in Brevard County. This viewing area features live launch countdown commentary.

Purchase your viewing ticket for $20 plus tax while they are still available.

Viewing tickets are limited. Cost is in addition to general admission.

Annual Passholders only pay for the $20 viewing ticket.

https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/tickets.aspx?utm_source=email-full&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=KSC20140502_LaunchAlert-Falcon9

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Updated launch window (L=Local)

SLC-40 Falcon 9 / ORBCOMM

Static Fire Re-Scheduled: May 8,2014, T-0 1600Z (1200L)

Window 1600Z-2000Z (1200L-1600L)

Launch scheduled: May 10, 2014

Launch window Updated T-0: 0947L-1040L (Range Approved)

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From.ORBCOMM

OG2 Mission 1 Update: May 6, 2014

Things are progressing well at the Cape. SpaceX conducted a flight readiness review yesterday and confirmed they are a ?go? for May 10. Since then, the payload stack has been encapsulated by the fairing, and the entire stack is in the process of being attached to the rocket, which is expected to be completed late today. The next key step is the rocket being rolled out to the launch pad very early Thursday morning for the static test fire scheduled for mid-day Thursday. With a successful static test fire, we are on for a launch at 9:47 am ET on Saturday morning. Management expects to give an update and answer questions on the earnings call scheduled on Thursday, May 8, at 10:30 am ET.

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They are mounted on two ESPA (EELV Secondary Payload Adapter) rings made by Moog Industries.

Each ESPA ring holds 4 satellites, so on one there's 4 OG2's, and on the other is 2 OG2's and 2 mass simulators (for balance.) These rings get vertically stacked atop the F9 second stage and encased in a payload fairing (PLF).

After the PLF is jettisoned the second stage continues to burn until it's in orbit, then the engine shuts down. After a bit the second stage engine re-starts and does a circularization burn to make the orbit as perfect as possible, the engine shuts down, then it commands the ESPAs to begin deploying the OG2 satellites. Once that's completed the second stage turns 180?, the engine restarts a final time, it re-enters and burns up off SW Australia.

This fall F9 flies the ORBCOMM #2 mission, during which it will launch 11 more OG2 satellites. 3 ESPA rings on that one.

More pretty pictures: http://www.orbcomm.com/uploads/files/ORBCOMM_Prepares_for_OG2_Satellite_Launch_3-14-14.pdf

OG2_Mission_1_Photos_6-2.jpg

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The ORBCOMM OG2 satellites do have propulsion and will be the first of a new constellation, with about 30 more launching as their older sats go out of service. It's a massive upgrade critical to ORBCOMM.

Like GPS, these sats are so numerous in each of several orbits, plus spares in case one of the primary sats in any orbit fail, so a few are always visible from almost anywhere. This allows the commercial message service packets they convey to be reliably relayed to ORBCOMMs numerous ground stations around the world.

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F9 is vertical, prepping for a wet dress rehersal (propellant loading & practice countdown) and a static fire (3 sec engine start with F9 clamped to the pad) tests. The gathered data will determine launch readiness for Saturday.

The target launch orbit is 615 x 750 km, then an upper stage restart will circularize it to 715x715 km. The target orbital inclination is 47?.

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Static fire moved to tomorrow (Friday May 9) because of a minor ground equipment issue and the ranges 5/40's going home by the time it was resolved.

Nothing about a launch slip to Sunday, so right now we're looking at a static fire, launch readiness review and a launch within about 24 hours. Sporty.

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Static fire scrubbed again - still the ground support equipment issue. Hearing rumors of a bad propellant connector.

Launching May 10 or May 11 are out, and there's a preliminary NET May 12 but that depends on the timing of repairs.

If not then they may have to wait a week because of a Delta IV launch.

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From: SpaceX Media Relations

Date: May 9, 2014 at 12:03 PM

Subject: SpaceX ORBCOMM Launch Update

A static fire test in advance of SpaceX?s ORBCOMM OG2 Mission 1 was scrubbed this morning during fueling. Both the Falcon 9 rocket and ORBCOMM satellites are in good condition but as a result of schedule constraints, launch will be postponed past this weekend with the next opportunity most likely in late May. Today?s pad visit will also be rescheduled. Additional information will be provided as available via www.spacex.com

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Now that the lousy KSC area weather is improving the Atlas V, Delta IV and Falcon 9 launches can commence.

Everyone stock up on JOLT

SLC-40 Falcon 9 / ORBCOMM

Launch: May 27 2014

Launch window: 0327-0421 Local

Yup, the landing attempt will be at night. Should be visible for a considerable distance.

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Any info on what caused the launch to be scrubbed? Word on Twitter says a component had to be sent back to California for testing.

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@pbdes

Industry official: SpaceX May 9 Falcon 9 static fire problem caused by component now returned to Calif for tests. No new Orbcomm launch date

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Something in the cold helium tank pressurization circuit, which is in the LOX tank.

Some have speculated it was a composite overwrapped pressure vessel, of which there are several, that failed during LOX loading - but it could just as easily (and more likely) been a fitting or gasket. Nothing that hasn't happened in about every other liquid launcher.

S**t happens - the important thing is to catch it before the launch clamps release. In SpaceX's case they have an extraordinary number of sensors everywhere, AND freakin' video cameras inside their tanks, in the interstage, in the fairing and pointed at the S2 engine.

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It is pretty amazing what all they have incorporated into the F9. For this launch do they plan on sending in a different second stage or repairing the one they originally had and sending it back?

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Unknown if they just pulled the part or replaced the stage, and they had at least 2 tested sets of stages in storage at KSC so they could do it rapidly. It also sounded like S1 not S2, though this is unconfirmed.

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