Falcon 9 #50: Hispasat 30W-6 (mission thread)

[DocM]

 

Falcon 9 #50  

 

Very large commsat

Operator: Hispasat (Spain)
Sat bus: SSL-1300
Power: 11.5 kW
Transponders: 48 Ku, 6 Ka, 1 Ka BSS. 1 C band
Propulsion: 4x Hall thrusters
Mass: 6,092 kg

Static fire: February 20 
Launch date; February 25
Launch time: 0035 Eastern (0535 GMT)
Pad: LC-40
Core: B1044.1 
Recovery: ?? 

 

[Blue-Vision]

Yeesh, really big one.  That'll be a good one. Not the heaviest they've pushed uphill, but it's a good 'un.

[anthdci]

looks like two expendables in a row then. Unless this is an early block 5 which I doubt.

[DocM]

Block 5 starts with core B1046.1

 

You'll know it when you see it.

[Blue-Vision]

They won't be tossing away any Block-5's ... unless they want to make a statement. I think there will be a "special" mission they'll wanna do that with -- perhaps a super-heavy CRS one with a Cargo Dragon absolutely stuffed to the gills, loaded down as heavy as they can get it ... 

[DocM]

The most likely Block 5 ditching would be an expended Falcon Heavy center core, but that only gains you about 5% in payload mass - about 3,190 kg to LEO and less elsewhere.

[DocM]

 

[DocM]

Hot Damn - Super-Slam!!

 

 

 

[DocM]

 

[anthdci]

how much repair work was needed for OCISLY after FH? Seems like a quick turnaround, I thought it took out 2 engines at least.

[flyingskippy]

Do they mean the pneumatic separation system or do they really pressurize the whole fairing? 

[DocM]

The fairings internal pressure is ambient.

 

The consensus seems to be they're working on the system which pressurizes  the cold gas thrusters used for recovery maneuvering.  

 

Launch: March 1
Window: 0034 Eastern, 0534 UT

The short gap between Falcon 9 and Atlas V GOES-S at 1702 Eastern, 2202 UT is possible because of Falcon 9's Autonomous Flight Safety System (AFSS). 

[Beittil]

 

[DocM]

Quote

If SpaceX still intends to recover the first stage, the earliest the launch could take place is next week.

Or, they could expend it. Lots of that happening with Block 5 so close.

[Blue-Vision]

I was thinking this as well. The ol' "why bother" thing.

[DocM]

Date: March 6 (Tuesday)

Time: 0033 EST (0533 UT)

[DocM]

No recovery tonight: sea state (wave height)

 

 

[DocM]

 

[DocM]

Funky music

[DocM]

Webcast!

[DocM]

Liftoff!!

 

MaxQ

 

MECO

 

S1 sep

[DocM]

 

S2 start

 

Fairing sep

[DocM]

 

SECO 1

[DocM]

Elon's Gulfstream G650 jet is circling the S1 splashdown area.

 

Into the coast before S2 restart and GTO insertion at T+26 min. 

Edited March 6, 2018 by DocM

[DocM]

 

S2 restart for GTO insertion burn.

 

SECO 2