Falcon Heavy: ArabSat-6A (mission)

[DocM 16,588]

Falcon Heavy #2

 

The first Falcon Heavy Block 5 - enhanced re-use, greater performance, etc.

 

Launch date: NET April 7
Launch time: 1836 Eastern (2236 UT)
Pad: LC-39A,
Stage landings: Landing Zone-1, Landing Zone-2, ASDS Of Course I Still Love You

 

Orbit: GEO (direct injection to geostationary)
Mass: :    ~6,000 kg (3,520 kg dry)

 

USAF is qualifying FH for a the direct to GEO injection of national security satellites.

 

USAF is also looking to reuse these boosters for FH STP-2 to qualify stage re-use, a very big deal.

 

[DocM 16,588]

 

[DocM 16,588]

Center booster: B1055.1
Side boosters: B1052.1 & B1053.1
Recovery: LZ-1, ASDS Of Course I Still Love You

 

Static Fire: March 31
Launch: April 7 
Window: 1836-2035 EDT (2236-0035 UTC)
Sunset: 1944 EDT

[anthdci 218]

39 minutes ago, DocM said:

Center booster: B1055.1
Side boosters: B1052.1 & B1053.1
Recovery: LZ-1, ASDS Of Course I Still Love You

 

Static Fire: March 31
Launch: April 7 
Window: 1836-2035 EDT (2236-0035 UTC)
Sunset: 1944 EDT

😀😀😀 that's sooner than I thought. 

[DocM 16,588]

And the FH USAF STP-2 launch could come in July, reusing these side boosters to qualify reusability for military launches.

[anthdci 218]

Just now, DocM said:

And the FH USAF STP-2 launch could come in July, reusing these side boosters to qualify reusability for military launches.

why not the centre?

[DocM 16,588]

Getting another center core into the reuse queue.

 

They plan on moving most heavy comm  satellites to FH and do direct insertion to geostationary orbit, which speeds the start of service and lengthens the satellite's lifetime per fuel unit.

 

This is a formerly military service on Delta 4 Heavy ($350-600m) being offered to commercial customers at an affordable price.

Edited March 27 by DocM

[anthdci 218]

On 3/27/2019 at 3:35 PM, DocM said:

Center booster: B1055.1
Side boosters: B1052.1 & B1053.1
Recovery: LZ-1, ASDS Of Course I Still Love You

 

Static Fire: March 31
Launch: April 7 
Window: 1836-2035 EDT (2236-0035 UTC)
Sunset: 1944 EDT

static fire delayed?

[DocM 16,588]

Static fire is Tuesday, April 2nd.

[DocM 16,588]

 

 

 

[DocM 16,588]

 

[bguy_1986 356]

Slipped again:

 

[anthdci 218]

she's vertical for static fire, minus payload so a rollback going to be needed.

[anthdci 218]

more pictures

 

[DocM 16,588]

The cladding is not a decoration.

[DocM 16,588]

 

 

 

[Jim K 13,662]

They just did the static fire.  Assuming Tues/Wed for launch (barring any abnormalities with the static fire) ... 

 

 

[DocM 16,588]

 

[DocM 16,588]

 

[DocM 16,588]

 

[DocM 16,588]

Ahrooo?

 

 

Translation: 5,621,788 lbf of thrust 😵 

Edited April 6 by DocM

[DocM 16,588]

 

[Beittil 582]

I love how on the background they were also busy with the single stick as of FH wasn't keeping them busy enough. 

 

Guess that other one is for the in-flight abort? 

[Jim K 13,662]

 

51 minutes ago, Beittil said:

I love how on the background they were also busy with the single stick as of FH wasn't keeping them busy enough. 

 

Guess that other one is for the in-flight abort? 

Don't think so.  B1048 (3 flights) is going to be used for the inflight abort ... that core in the background looks too "clean"

 

This is 1048 after its February Nusantara Satu mission 

 

Source: WeReportSpace

 

Obviously I could be wrong. 

[Jim K 13,662]

20 hours ago, Beittil said:

I love how on the background they were also busy with the single stick as of FH wasn't keeping them busy enough. 

 

Guess that other one is for the in-flight abort? 

SpaceX identified the background booster...

 

 

So that would be B1051 which is slated to launch RADARSAT in May.