IsItPluggedIn Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 http://www.thaicom.net/SAT_THCOM6.aspx Platform: Star 2.3 three-axis stabilized satellites Orbital position: 78.5 degrees East Life Expectancy: About 15 years Transponder Capacity: 18 C-band: 12 x 36MHz, 6 x 72MHz (24 TPEs*)8 Ku-band: 6 x 36MHz, 2 x 54MHz (9 TPEs*) Manufacturer: Orbital Sciences Corporation U.S.A. Launcher: FALCON 9 Space Exploration Technologies, U.S.A Launch Date Mid of 2013 They may want to update their website with launch details. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted January 2, 2014 Author Share Posted January 2, 2014 This cropped up in just the last few hours due to the Flight Readiness Review. Orbital is targeting their delayed (from Dec 17) ORB-1 Cygnus mission for Jan 7, but the long range weather forecast for Wallops (Virginia) has rain on Jan. 6 and freezing temperatures on Jan 7, so the weather gods could bite them. So long as the weather holds in Florida this might give SpaceX the room they need to use the Bermuda ground station on the 6th. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beittil Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 So why wont they try as planned tomorrow then? What does this launch from the cape have to do with one 4 days later from MARS? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsItPluggedIn Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 So why wont they try as planned tomorrow then? What does this launch from the cape have to do with one 4 days later from MARS? I believe as Doc said "They have to do some work on the cargo fairing" then the reschedule is conflicting with the orbital launch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted January 3, 2014 Author Share Posted January 3, 2014 So why wont they try as planned tomorrow then? What does this launch from the cape have to do with one 4 days later from MARS?1) because the fairing work may take >1-2 days and after that a mini-flight readiness review will need to be done on Saturday or Sunday, and 2) because the Bermuda ground station takes a bit of time to be reconfigured between launches. Not everyone uses the same telemetry channels, the flight track will be different etc. IF SpaceX can get Jan. 6 and Orbitals launch is pushed later it lessens the Bermuda issue. There are plenty of permutations, including the weather at Wallops which is looking bad for their Jan 7-8th dates. With dates for both up in the air things are definitely iffy, but we may know more by tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beittil Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 Yeah I missed the earlier comment about the fairing issues, ow well... I hope they get these sort of childhood issues sorted out this year as they go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted January 3, 2014 Author Share Posted January 3, 2014 Fairing issues are not exclusive to newer launchers or companies. Ex's: Orbital Sciences, who has been around since 1982, lost 3 missions due to fairing issues a few years ago before it was finally sorted out. NASA lost Mariner 3 when a the fairing literally imploded. Etc. etc. etc. The real trick is to find the problem before launch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beittil Posted January 3, 2014 Share Posted January 3, 2014 Antares slipped a day to the 8th. Guess that gives SpaceX an extra shot early next week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted January 4, 2014 Author Share Posted January 4, 2014 45th Space Wing - The Eastern Range has approved a launch date of 6 Jan 14 with a window of 5:06 - 7:08 p.m. EST with a backup date of 7 Jan 14 window of 5:07 - 7:08 p.m. EST.NOTAM: (notice to airmen, emphasis mine) A0007/14 [...] - QWMLW EROP X0240 THE FOLLOWING AIRSPACE IN USE FOR A MISSILE LAUNCH/SPLASH DOWN. DURING THESE TIMES KZMA ARTCC/OAC, KZNY ARTCC/OAC AND TJZS ARTCC/OAC WILL NOT APPROVE IFR FLIGHT WITHIN 45NM OF THE AFFECTED OCEANIC STATIONARY AIRSPACE RESERVATIONS WEST OF 5000W AND 50NM EAST OF 5000W OR WITHIN AFFECTED WARNING AREA AIRSPACE. 1401061906 -1401062006 W497A WEST OF 8000W. SFC-FL050. 1401062006 - 1401062206 W497A SFC-FL180. 1401062136 - 1401070036 R2933,R2934, SFC-UNL. 1401062206 - 1401070036 THAT PORTION OF W497A/B DEFINED BY, 1. FROM 2846N 8037W TO 2848N 8025W TO 2822N 7700W TO 2813N 7700W 2804N 7703W TO 2828N 8041W TO BEGINNING. SURFACE TO UNLIMITED. 2. FROM 2807N 7400W TO 2813N 7236W TO 2740N 7001W TO 2728N 6929W TO 2712N 6929W TO 2708N 7001W TO 2723N 7257W TO 2743N 7400W TO BEGININNG. END PART 1 OF 6 PARTS. 06 JAN 19:06 2014 UNTIL 07 JAN 00:36 2014. CREATED: 03 JAN 20:04 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted January 6, 2014 Author Share Posted January 6, 2014 Press kit: http://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/spacex_thaicom6_presskit.pdf Events Vehicle is powered on Commence loading liquid oxygen (LOX) Commence loading RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) LOX and RP-1 loading complete Falcon 9 terminal count autosequence started SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for launch Range Control Officer (USAF) verifies range is go for launch Command flight computer to begin final prelaunch checks. Turn on pad deck and Niagara water Pressurize propellant tanks Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start Falcon 9 liftoff Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket) 1st stage engine shutdown/main engine cutoff (MECO) 1st and 2nd stages separation 2nd stage engine start Fairing separation 2nd stage engine cutoff-1 (SECO-1) 2nd stage engine restart 2nd stage engine cutoff-2 (SECO-2) THAICOM 6 satellite deployed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beittil Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 Well, 11:06pm for me... lot better than just a few minutes shy of midnight :) Hopefully no aborts & resets today... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted January 6, 2014 Author Share Posted January 6, 2014 Vehicle powered up RP-1 fuel load completed LOX loading Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted January 6, 2014 Author Share Posted January 6, 2014 Tanked up. Targeting a super-synchronous transfer orbit of 295 km x 90,000 km with a 22.5? orbital inclination. The Thaicom-6 satellites internal propulsion will circularize this into geostationary orbit slot over SE Asia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted January 6, 2014 Author Share Posted January 6, 2014 T-4:00 and looking good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted January 6, 2014 Author Share Posted January 6, 2014 Liftoff!! On time!! All nominal MECO - STAGING BEAUTIFUL!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted January 6, 2014 Author Share Posted January 6, 2014 SECO-1, IN FIRST ORBIT. Waiting for 2nd stage restart & super-synchronous orbit insertion. Webcast done. No word yet on first stage relights etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beittil Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 Man that was beautiful! Despite several slips in the schedule it is at least very good that this time they could actually go and do it in the first shot without any aborts and resets :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted January 6, 2014 Author Share Posted January 6, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted January 6, 2014 Author Share Posted January 6, 2014 Orbcomm went off on time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beittil Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 SpaceX ?@SpaceX1m Falcon 9 has successfully deployed THAICOM 6 into its target orbit Expand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted January 6, 2014 Author Share Posted January 6, 2014 @SpaceX: Falcon 9 has successfully deployed THAICOM 6 into its target orbit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beittil Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 Orbital Sciences ?@OrbitalSciences1m Control team reports signal acquired from #Thaicom6 and vehicle is healthy and performing well early in the mission. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted January 6, 2014 Author Share Posted January 6, 2014 Hope for some words soon about the first stage recovery tests. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarK0Y Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 busy schedule of commercial activities for 2014 vs. to R&D controversial reusability -- seems he must concentrate all resources to meet routine tasks. he has two choices: 1. to become solid, but not superior player. 2. to sink self with hazardous reusability. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsItPluggedIn Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 busy schedule of commercial activities for 2014 vs. to R&D controversial reusability -- seems he must concentrate all resources to meet routine tasks. he has two choices: 1. to become solid, but not superior player. 2. to sink self with hazardous reusability. So Sark0y is your only reason to hate SpaceX that they are trying the reusable road or do you have other issues with them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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