SpaceX Updates (Thread 8)

[DocM]

Here's a pic of the LC-39A rainbirds. The (huge) tent was up for a few months while they were working on the launch mount. Transporter-Erector is to the right.

 

 

Another flight on the manifest,

 

Peter B. de Selding ‏@pbdes  5m5 minutes ago
Thales: Bangladesh Bangabandhu Ku-/C-band sat CDR OK, payload/platform mating in March. Thales-ordered SpaceX launch Dec 2017 [tight sched].

 

And Gwynne Shotwell confirmed on CBS that they're trying for 20-24 launches in 2017.

[DocM]

Iridium NEXT #2 looks like April-ish, and...

 

Peter B. de Selding ‏@pbdes  53m53 minutes ago
CEO Desch @IridiumComm: TBD but we may be able to cut @SpaceX launch interval to < 60 days as from our 3D launch. https://www.spaceintelreport.com/iridium-next-launch

[IsItPluggedIn]

Are we still looking at Feb 8 for the next launch?

 

[DocM]

That's just a placeholder date. Things get really-real once they put a (used?) booster on the T-E, roll it out to the pad, stand it up and do fit, connection and GSE tests. What with the recent launch and today's holiday it wasn't happening this weekend. Both the Vandy and 39A pads are recently rebuilt for F9 Block 5 and need their A-team.

 

Block 5 is the last major iteration of Falcon 9, with a max thrust after liftoff of 1.9 million lbf and several other upgrades including to the landing legs. Supposedly due by summer, after that about $300+ million/yr of R&D money goes to ITS. 

Edited January 17, 2017 by DocM

[Draggendrop Veteran]

The last place holder for a launch, that I've seen, was for Echostar 23 late January, then I've seen January 26th. All NET, since their is a lot of activity at 39A. Something will have to be fitted for "bug checks" soon, or CRS-10 may also get bumped.

 

Seems this first launch from 39A, and it's starting "headaches", will open the door to a busy season. 

 

 

 

[+John. Subscriber¹]

I still have issues putting the 1st stage into perspective, makes any landing a hell of a lot more incredible when you put it into perspective:

 

 

 

[DocM]

Yup, it's big - and ITS will make it look like a sounding rocket..

[FloatingFatMan]

59 minutes ago, DocM said:

Yup, it's big - and ITS will make it look like a sounding rocket..

I really don't get just where they're going to launch that monster from.  Surely it can't be anywhere within like, 50 miles of a population centre?  The noise it'll make will just be... catastrophic!

 

[DocM]

So far it looks like KSC is first up to bat, and in the mid-2020's (due to orbital factors) Brownsville, Texas (Boca Chica).

 

There's an outside possibility of the upcoming Camden County Spaceport in Georgia, but that's still in the EIS stage and a bit higher in latitude. Also possible would be an eastern locale in Puerto Rico, which lost out to Boca Chica.

[Blue-Vision]

Oh yeah. ITS is gonna be a true beast. It'll make all other rockets, including Saturn V, look like test articles. Seriously, it's like nothing that will have ever been seen before and it'll be a game-changer.  

[DocM]

Reminder: the core number and mission number are offset by 1 because of a core swap last year, therefore Iridium NEXT-1 was Core #29 but Mission #30.

 

Launch is typically ~30 days after shipping. SES-10 shipped last week, so H2 February. This means 2 launches between now and then, if all goes well. Helluva cadence.

 

Mission #31: Echostar 23 (NET January 26, estimated: 0000-0230 EST, 0500-0730 GMT)

 

Mission #32: ISS CRS-10 (NET February 8, estimated: 1355 EST, 1855 GMT).

 

Mission #33: SES-10 (H2 February.) SES says a previously flown core is likely.

 

The FCC application for Mission #33 has gone in

https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/els/reports/STA_Print.cfm?mode=current&application_seq=75607&RequestTimeout=1000

[DocM]

Stage test at McGregor

 

 

[Draggendrop Veteran]

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happy dance!

[Draggendrop Veteran]

Stephen C. Smith at SpaceKSC has a bunch of new images for 39A.....

 

http://spaceksc.blogspot.ca/2017/01/going-up-part-12.html

 

sample...

 

SpaceKSC.com.

 

[Beittil]

Heh, that RSS is getting more and more see-through every time they photograph it

[DocM]

Yup. And look at the size of the crane at 39A. 

 

 

 

[Blue-Vision]

It could be said that it's a shell of it's former self.  Aahh? Aaaahhhh? Thank you, I'll be here all week! Tip your waitstaff! (Hey, ow! You don't have to be so rough, I know where the door is ...)

[+John. Subscriber¹]

12 minutes ago, Unobscured Vision said:

It could be said that it's a shell of it's former self.  Aahh? Aaaahhhh? Thank you, I'll be here all week! Tip your waitstaff! (Hey, ow! You don't have to be so rough, I know where the door is ...)

 

[Draggendrop Veteran]

 

Things are going well enough that I would imagine the proposed 45 day turn around will actually happen.

 

[+John. Subscriber¹]

So given the latest slight slip, the next three launches are now: 

 

NET Jan 30 - B1030 launching Echostar 23

NET Feb 8 - B1031 launching CRS-10

NET Feb 22 - B1021 launching SES 10

[DocM]

For KSC. We don't know about Vandenberg yet. Formosat 5/SHERPA is next there - about 90 birds at once.

Edited January 19, 2017 by DocM

[philcruicks]

Cool photo from the landing here:

Iridium-1 Landing by SpaceX, on Flickr

[DocM]

The LA Port website for this webcam is here:

 

http://www.lawaterfront.org/multimedia.php

 

 

 

[DocM]

Newly posted to the SpaceX fan FB.

 

 

[DocM]

SpaceX core numbering system

 

First stage: 100xx

 

Second stage: 20xx

 

Reuse: the stage gets a "-x" suffix. 

 

CRS-8 was stage 1021, so when it's reflown for SES-10 it'll be as stage 1021-2.