DocM Posted June 9, 2017 Share Posted June 9, 2017 (edited) With BulgariaSat-1 on June 17, and IntelSat-5 tracking for July 1, we could see three F9 launches in 2 weeks Iridium NEXT #2 Satellites #11-20 Core: 1036 Static Fire: TBD Launch Date: June 25 (moved left from June 28!) Launch Time: 1324;59 PDT, 1624;59 EDT (2024;59 UTC) Launch Site: Vandenberg AFB SLC-4E, California Payload Mass: 9,600 kg (8,600 sats + 1,000 dispenser) Launch Orbit: 625 km 86.66° Operational Orbit: 778 km 86.4° Stage Landing: ASDS Just Read the Instructions Unobscured Vision and Skiver 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted June 15, 2017 Author Share Posted June 15, 2017 Still on track, and Iridium seems to have caught the reuse bug.... Unobscured Vision 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted June 20, 2017 Author Share Posted June 20, 2017 (edited) Still on track. The 8 Dipper stars reflect the 8 Iridium NEXT missions. SpaceX signed up for 7 of these missions, but ended up with 8 when Russia grounded the Dnepr launcher mission #8 was to fly on. Unobscured Vision 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsItPluggedIn Posted June 20, 2017 Share Posted June 20, 2017 I have read a lot about Iridium and Thales now. What is the deal with the 4 leaf clover? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted June 20, 2017 Author Share Posted June 20, 2017 (edited) A SpaceX tradition. Good luck. The weekend doubleheader is ON!! Both static fires completed. Bulgariasat-1: June 23 (June 24 is the backup) Iridium NEXT #2: June 25 Edited June 20, 2017 by DocM Unobscured Vision 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim K Global Moderator Posted June 20, 2017 Global Moderator Share Posted June 20, 2017 26 minutes ago, IsItPluggedIn said: I have read a lot about Iridium and Thales now. What is the deal with the 4 leaf clover? "Why do all SpaceX's mission patches incorporate a four-leaf clover in the design? Four leaf clovers are considered lucky in many western countries. SpaceX's love for clovers is a tradition that started in the early days of the company. After the first three Falcon 1 launches failed, by chance they put a four-leaf clover on the Falcon 1 Flight 4 patch. That launch was successful, so every subsequent mission has had a clover on it for luck." SpaceX Reddit Unobscured Vision and IsItPluggedIn 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unobscured Vision Posted June 22, 2017 Share Posted June 22, 2017 My smart Blu-Ray player is gonna get a workout this weekend for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted June 24, 2017 Author Share Posted June 24, 2017 (edited) Primary and secondary date weather: 100% No flow issues so far. Unobscured Vision 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unobscured Vision Posted June 24, 2017 Share Posted June 24, 2017 /me rubs hands together Yeah buddy .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulRocket Posted June 24, 2017 Share Posted June 24, 2017 Someone on reddit reported that this core will be the first to feature the new titanium alloy grid fins, can anyone confirm? Could this be the first Block 4 booster? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted June 24, 2017 Author Share Posted June 24, 2017 It's possible, they are in the short list so watch the preflight pics. Trust me; they're worth watching for. We've already seen two Block 4 upper stages, one on NROL-76 where it did a super long coast demonstration. The other was Inmarsat-5 F4, their heaviest GTO launch yet. Unobscured Vision and PaulRocket 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unobscured Vision Posted June 24, 2017 Share Posted June 24, 2017 Nope. Not Block 4. These fins are being tested for ... ehh ... future considerations. Just now, DocM said: We've already seen two Block 4 upper stages, one on NROL-76 where it did a super long coast demonstration. The other was Inmarsat-5 F4, their heaviest GTO launch yet. Yeah, those were some good flights. Very, very noteable. Lots of discussion points. [Yoda: Discussion, yeeees.] PaulRocket 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted June 24, 2017 Author Share Posted June 24, 2017 (edited) Yup, the Block 4 booster will be a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulRocket Posted June 24, 2017 Share Posted June 24, 2017 2 hours ago, DocM said: It's possible, they are in the short list so watch the preflight pics. Trust me; they're worth watching for. We've already seen two Block 4 upper stages, one on NROL-76 where it did a super long coast demonstration. The other was Inmarsat-5 F4, their heaviest GTO launch yet. Nice! I thought two launches on one weekend couldn't get topped but it's always nice to have something new to look forward to. Unobscured Vision 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted June 24, 2017 Author Share Posted June 24, 2017 (edited) SpaceX patch Unobscured Vision 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unobscured Vision Posted June 24, 2017 Share Posted June 24, 2017 I'm really liking the mission patches. Thanks @DocM. DocM 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted June 25, 2017 Author Share Posted June 25, 2017 (edited) Edited June 25, 2017 by DocM Emn1ty, Unobscured Vision and PaulRocket 3 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted June 25, 2017 Author Share Posted June 25, 2017 Close up of the new Ti grid fins profile. The leading edge bumps caused by the horizontal and vertical cutouts serve a similar function as the tubercles on the flipper of a humpback whale: flow control. They should cause different parts of the fin to see transonic flow at different times, minimizing the control loss usually seen in flat grid fins during the hypersonic-->subsonic transition (transonic flow.) Emn1ty 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted June 25, 2017 Author Share Posted June 25, 2017 Funky music Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted June 25, 2017 Author Share Posted June 25, 2017 (edited) JRtI repositioned due to weather - landing may be tight. webcast! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim K Global Moderator Posted June 25, 2017 Global Moderator Share Posted June 25, 2017 That is some thick fog there. Unobscured Vision and DocM 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted June 25, 2017 Author Share Posted June 25, 2017 Strongback Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unobscured Vision Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 Good grief it's foggy ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beittil Posted June 25, 2017 Share Posted June 25, 2017 Guess that means they will swap to onboard really soon after liftoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted June 25, 2017 Author Share Posted June 25, 2017 Welcome to Vandenberg LIFTOFF!! Unobscured Vision 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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