Falcon 9: Echostar 23 (mission thread)

[DocM]

Moved to early February.

The delay is due to LC-39A's pad work. Once they close it out and get a firm static fire date the launch should be it +4-5 days.

[Blue-Vision]

So Echostar is an expendable one ... shame. I'd love to see it land and used on a third mission.

[Draggendrop Veteran]

5 hours ago, Unobscured Vision said:

So Echostar is an expendable one ... shame. I'd love to see it land and used on a third mission.

I assume you meant second mission...new core being used but expendable....

 

No legs and no fins.....what a strange concept to grasp now.....and that bad word....expendable........

 

Just like....

 

image link

 

I've been going over a few video's for history.... these two show infrastructure advances...

 

First Shuttle launch Columbia 1981

video is 9:36 min.

 

 

 

 

Shuttle launch: Last launch of Atlantis on CNN

video is 4:14 min.

 

 

 

 

This is going to be a real big deal on this pad...can't wait!    

[Draggendrop Veteran]

 

 

 

 

[Blue-Vision]

Yep, my fault. I'm confusing this with SES-10. Ugh. Too much classwork going on. 

[Draggendrop Veteran]

16 hours ago, Unobscured Vision said:

Yep, my fault. I'm confusing this with SES-10. Ugh. Too much classwork going on. 

The only secret .......Don't let the academic treadmill get you....

 

 

Hang in there....

[DocM]

Enhanced/cropped pic at bottom

 

Launch date/time holding so far.

 

 

[Blue-Vision]

Probably checking the fit and everything for the plumbing. They know how long everything needs to be (and what they need) once the TEL is on-pad, so that's a non-issue -- probably just making sure everything lines up correctly.

 

Good deal. Step 1 of 6.  

[DocM]

NASA TV is going to cover the launch because of the historical significance of LC-39A.

 

With T-0 being just after midnight February 3, coverage will begin late on February 2.

 

Quote

11:30 p.m., Thursday, February 2 - Launch coverage of SpaceX EchoStar 23 from Launch Complex 39A (starts at 11:45 p.m.) (all channels)

 

[Draggendrop Veteran]

Now this is going to be cool....can't wait...

 

 

Just realized that I'll be watching 3 feeds now......

[DocM]

Moved because NASA pulled rank for CRS-10

 

Static fire: TBD

 

Launch: NET Feb 28, 0027–0257 Eastern

[DocM]

[Draggendrop Veteran]

 

 

[DocM]

A 10 day turnaround is....quick. 

[IsItPluggedIn]

So are we still looking at a Tuesday launch? I think i read that there is a static fire on Friday(24th)

[DocM]

The 24th static fire date was for an earlier CRS-10 launch NET so it's likely to move right, but if it does end up this weekend or early next week there'll be more than a few cases of whiplash. They did say they were shooting for a 2 week turnaround.

[PaulRocket]

Will this be the first attempt to recover the fairings?

[DocM]

Yes. They've tested the fairing reaction control system and other bits before, but this is the full up attempt to recover them.

[DocM]

OK, range conflicts nixed launching on Feb. 28th

 

March 1: Atlas V NROL-79
March 8: Delta IV Medium+, WGS-8

 

So,

 

March 12: Falcon 9, Echostar 23
March 13: backup

 

No stage recovery, a heavy GTO bird that in the future will be a candidate for a Falcon Heavy.

 

First attempt at fairing recovery.

[Draggendrop Veteran]

I saw the bookings and had assumed launch fast or wait...we have our answer.

 

[Beittil]

Gah, private launch pad wru... 

[DocM]

Yeah, it'll be a lot easier to get through the GTO and other commercial launches at Boca Chica where they won't have competition for the range.

[Draggendrop Veteran]

This is where we miss 40 and a second crew, could have launched early....hopefully this summer/fall for 40.

 

[DocM]

 

[DocM]

The Delta IV launch of WGS-9 has been delayed to NET March 14 due to a first stage issue. It's unknown if this will impact the Falcon 9 launch of Echostar 23 on the 12th. 

 

The 2 day gap may not allow a range reset, which could go 2 ways: Echostar 23 moving left at least 1 day, or Echostar 23 moving right to after WGS-9 with an appropriate gap.