SpaceX Manifest Updates and Discussion Thread 5

[gongora]

Tweet from Emre Kelly:

Launch schedule updated: SpaceX #CRS13 targeted for 12/17; SpaceX #SES11 later this year, likely 9/17 or 10/17

SES and Echostar have both listed the SES-11 launch as 4Q, so probably October.

[gongora]

I don't recall seeing this Reddit post linked here yet, someone went to a conference where Spaceflight Industries was speaking and got a picture of their upcoming launch schedule.  It has their currently intended dates for the Falcon 9 dedicated missions, as well as rideshares on Falcon, Soyuz, PSLV, Minotaur C, Electron, VEGA.  There are also some notes on SHERPA and SpaceIL, and whether Dream Chaser could fly on a Falcon 9.

r/SpaceX user Swinusoidal: Spaceflight Manifest Shows 7 Dedicated F9 Launches Through 2020 In The Works - 4 SSO, 3 GTO

The dedicated SpaceX flights:
2017-Q4             F9           SSO-A (575km SSO 10:30 LTDN)
2018-Q4             F9           SSO-B (500km SSO 10:30 LTDN)
2018-H2             F9           GTO-1 (200x35786km ~27.5deg)
2018-H2             F9           GTO-2 (200x60000km ~27.5deg)
2019-H2             F9           SSO-C (500km SSO 10:30 LTDN)
2020-H1             F9           GTO-C (200x35786km ~27.5deg)
2020-H1             F9           SSO-D (500km SSO 10:30 LTDN)

We had heard previously that Spaceflight Industries intended to fly at least 4 Falcon 9 missions to various orbits, so the later ones in this list may or may not be under contract yet.

We saw this list from a Spaceflight Inc. presentation back in March.  I looked at the current list of flights on their web site and tried to match up the flights.  Not too surprisingly, they don't all seem to be there.  What they currently have on their web site for SSO/GTO flights from the U.S. are:
SSO Q1-2018 (presumably SSO-A)
GTO Q4-2018 (supersync 60k apogee, they also have a foreign flight to same, so GTO-1 from the list above is missing)
SSO Q4-2018 (500-525k, could be SSO-B)
GTO Q4-2019 (35,786km apogee)

Based on the current contents of their web site, I'm thinking I'll remove the flights we have as GTO-1 and SSO-D from our manifest, move GTO-C to Q4-2019, move SSO-C to 2020?

If anyone sees another Spaceflight presentation at a conference, please share any schedule updates you find.

[gongora]

SpaceX filed an FCC permit application for a launch with ASDS landing from SLC-40, NET 10/14 (these permit dates are very much NET).  The mission number (1373) doesn't match any of the previous permits they've received for flights from LC-39A, so I don't know if this is really a different payload or they used a different mission number to move a payload from LC-39A to SLC-40.

There are a couple permits granted for flights from LC-39A that I assume will move to SLC-40.  Does anyone know if they'd need to file for new permits, or amend the existing permits, and would we actually see any amendments to the existing permits?

[soltasto]

SpaceX filed an FCC permit application for a launch with ASDS landing from SLC-40, NET 10/14 (these permit dates are very much NET).  The mission number (1373) doesn't match any of the previous permits they've received for flights from LC-39A, so I don't know if this is really a different payload or they used a different mission number to move a payload from LC-39A to SLC-40.

There are a couple permits granted for flights from LC-39A that I assume will move to SLC-40.  Does anyone know if they'd need to file for new permits, or amend the existing permits, and would we actually see any amendments to the existing permits?

As far as I know they can amend the permits, but it would probably have to be re-approved.

M1373 could be KoreaSat-5A as October falls into Q4.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

This thread lists the 5th Iridium Next flight as Q1 18, which makes sense to me as ~2 months from the late Nov fourth flight that Iridium has already announced.

However, the Western range schedule in the latest news article still shows an Iridium flight in December:

Article for the Static Fire (and more) by Chris Gebhardt:
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/08/spacex-static-fire-formosat-5-falcon-9-asds-landing/

I assume the article is just quoting the placeholder previously given, in the absence of any announcement yet of the fifth flight's schedule?

[gongora]

This thread lists the 5th Iridium Next flight as Q1 18, which makes sense to me as ~2 months from the late Nov fourth flight that Iridium has already announced.

However, the Western range schedule in the latest news article still shows an Iridium flight in December:

Article for the Static Fire (and more) by Chris Gebhardt:
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/08/spacex-static-fire-formosat-5-falcon-9-asds-landing/

I assume the article is just quoting the placeholder previously given, in the absence of any announcement yet of the fifth flight's schedule?

The article says NET December, which isn't quite the same as showing an Iridium flight in December    For this manifest I'm assuming they will be at least 6 weeks apart, so late November would be followed by January.

[dror]

Does anyone know,
Which one of Spaceflight flights is the one with Space IL, and what is the chance for that to launch on time for the Xprize?

[crandles57]

            CCAFS SLC-40: Damaged by vehicle explosion (no launches until around August 2017)

Should this be updated to 'around October 2017' or something similar perhaps even 'Next launch NET October 14, 2017', if flight permit for SES-11 from SLC-40 has been granted with that date and all earlier flight are not from that pad?

Any news on how this pad work is coming along / when it will finish? Will LC39A work start immediately after Sept 7th ish launch of X-37B or are they going to wait for fully operational status or even a launch?

[crandles57]

Does anyone know,
Which one of Spaceflight flights is the one with Space IL, and what is the chance for that to launch on time for the Xprize?

Not seen anything since:
http://spacenews.com/spaceflight-to-launch-terra-bella-satellites-on-falcon-9-mission/
and
https://qz.com/962696/spaceil-the-israeli-team-competing-for-the-google-lunar-xprize-wont-make-it-to-the-starting-line/

Based on those, it appears to be a 'Spaceflight Industries' flight but not the Sun Synch Express flight and that won't be until 2018. So the chances look extremely slim unless the Xprize deadline is extended.

[gongora]

            CCAFS SLC-40: Damaged by vehicle explosion (no launches until around August 2017)

Should this be updated to 'around October 2017' or something similar perhaps even 'Next launch NET October 14, 2017', if flight permit for SES-11 from SLC-40 has been granted with that date and all earlier flight are not from that pad?

Any news on how this pad work is coming along / when it will finish? Will LC39A work start immediately after Sept 7th ish launch of X-37B or are they going to wait for fully operational status or even a launch?

'Around October 2017' works    We really don't know for sure yet that the next east coast flight after OTV-5 will be SES-11 in October from SLC-40, but most of the info we've seen lately points in that direction (SES and Echostar statements showing SES-11 in Q4, no info yet that anything else will fly after OTV-5 and before SES-11, expectations that SLC-40 will be ready in the next month or two.)  I also don't really know what flight that 'NET October 14th' FCC permit application is for.  Maybe SES-11 won't be the next launch, or SLC-40 will hit a snag, or something else will come up that makes our assumptions invalid.

We're assuming SpaceX will have a pretty good idea about the state of SLC-40 by the time OTV-5 launches.  If they're confident it's close, and the next flight really isn't until October, then I'd expect them to start work on LC-39A.  For news about the pads just keep an eye on the launch site threads:
   Rebuilding SLC-40
   Pad 39A - Transition to SpaceX Falcon Heavy debut - Thread 3

Does anyone know,
Which one of Spaceflight flights is the one with Space IL, and what is the chance for that to launch on time for the Xprize?

The information crandles57 posted above is really all we know, and based on that I'm not even sure Space IL will be on a SpaceX flight.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

The document cited below has CRS-15 as 6/6/18:

Just stumbled across the Office of Safety & Mission Assurance's long-term planning schedule for Safety & Mission Success Reviews which shows tentative launch date for GRACE-FO of 2018-03-21.  That date was current based on an ELV milestone schedule from August 2nd.  I won't be too surprised if this date doesn't hold since it's still quite a ways out, especially since then they'd have a bunch of very high profile launches currently scheduled for that month: DM-1, TESS, GRACE-FO.  TESS has a harder deadline for launch and DM-1 is vital for their crew schedules.

Link to SMSR .pdf

[gongora]

Also, there's only ONE Delta IV Canaveral launch currently scheduled between now and Solar Probe Plus on July 31, 2018--GPS III-1.

SPP is flying before GPS.

I'm guessing this means we shouldn't count on GPS III-2 launching in May 

[russianhalo117]

Also, there's only ONE Delta IV Canaveral launch currently scheduled between now and Solar Probe Plus on July 31, 2018--GPS III-1.

SPP is flying before GPS.

I'm guessing this means we shouldn't count on GPS III-2 launching in May 

Sat is ready and like its sibling just waiting on Ground segment to be ready to support which is the hold up.

[deruch]

The document cited below has CRS-15 as 6/6/18:

Just stumbled across the Office of Safety & Mission Assurance's long-term planning schedule for Safety & Mission Success Reviews which shows tentative launch date for GRACE-FO of 2018-03-21.  That date was current based on an ELV milestone schedule from August 2nd.  I won't be too surprised if this date doesn't hold since it's still quite a ways out, especially since then they'd have a bunch of very high profile launches currently scheduled for that month: DM-1, TESS, GRACE-FO.  TESS has a harder deadline for launch and DM-1 is vital for their crew schedules.

Link to SMSR .pdf

You should ignore the CRS dates from those documents, because they are suuuuper fluid.  Since it was published, they have likely shifted right at least 2 months. 

[FutureSpaceTourist]

You should ignore the CRS dates from those documents, because they are suuuuper fluid.  Since it was published, they have likely shifted right at least 2 months.

Fair enough, but at the time I posted this thread had CRS-15 as NET Mar 18 so I thought it worth a mention.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

SES switches SpaceX and Arianespace launches to mitigate cost of satellite failure
by Peter B. de Selding | Aug 28, 2017

PARIS — Satellite fleet operator SES, which this year has suffered both predictable satellite-launch delays and unpredictable satellite failures, on Aug. 28 said it would move a satellite from launch-service provider SpaceX to Arianespace to minimize revenue losses.
As a result, the SES-14 satellite will launch aboard an Ariane 5 ECA rocket early in Q1 of next year rather than a less-clear Q1 launch date offered by SpaceX. SpaceX instead will launch the heavier SES-12 satellite, up to now slated for an Ariane 5, on a Falcon 9 vehicle in Q1 2018.

[...]

https://www.spaceintelreport.com/ses-switches-spacex-arianespace-launches-mitigate-cost-satellite-failure/

[gongora]

[The Jakarta Post] Telkom to replace troubled satellite in August 2018

State-owned telecommunications company PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom Indonesia) plans to launch its Telkom 4 satellite in a year’s time to replace the troubled Telkom 1.

“We have signed a contract to launch the Telkom 4 satellite. It will be launched from the United States in August 2018,” said PT Telkom president director Alex J. Sinaga during a press conference with Communications and Information Minister Rudiantara in Jakarta on Wednesday.

[gongora]

Does anyone know,
Which one of Spaceflight flights is the one with Space IL, and what is the chance for that to launch on time for the Xprize?

Guess they are still with SpaceX, maybe on the Spaceflight GTO rideshare?

[Space.com] Calling the Moon: Startup to Put Cellphone Tower on the Moon

PT Scientists has a launch contract for late 2018 with Space X as a secondary payload on the Falcon 9 rocket. Becker said the company believes it will be the first private entity to reach the surface of the moon, suggesting that none of the Google Lunar X Prize participants are likely to meet the December 2017 deadline for the competition. (PT Scientists itself withdrew from the Google Lunar X Prize earlier this year due to the time constraints of the competition.)

The Falcon 9 will carry the team's spacecraft, Alina, to the geostationary transfer orbit, a highly elliptical Earth orbit whose highest point is 26,000 miles (42,000 kilometers). From there, Alina will continue on its own to the moon.

[gongora]

Tweet from Jeff Foust:

Kacific announces that it’s selected SpaceX to launch its Boeing-built Kacific-1 broadband satellite on a Falcon 9 in 2019.

Kacific selects SpaceX to provide launch service

Kacific Broadband Satellites Group (Kacific) has selected SpaceX as the launch provider for its Kacific-1 satellite, which is being built by The Boeing Company.

Kacific-1 will be launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9, a two-stage orbit-class rocket designed from the ground-up for maximum reliability and reusability.

“SpaceX has a breadth of vision that appeals to us,” says Christian Patouraux, Kacific CEO. “The company is committed to changing the way people think about space and the possibilities it represents. Signing with SpaceX as our launch service provider is a major step towards delivering our own vision. We look forward to seeing Kacific-1 atop a Falcon 9 Rocket in 2019.”

“SpaceX is proud to partner with Kacific on the milestone launch of the company’s first satellite, Kacific-1.” said Gwynne Shotwell, President and COO of SpaceX. “We appreciate their confidence in our proven capabilities and look forward to delivering their satellite to orbit.”

In February 2017 Kacific placed an order with The Boeing Company for the Kacific-1 satellite. Based on the reliable 702 satellite platform, Kacific-1 is designed to deliver high speed broadband via 56 narrow Ka-band beams, with the most powerful signal level ever achieved in a commercial satellite in the South East Asia and Pacific regions.

About Kacific

The Kacific Broadband Satellites Group is a satellite operator developing a high-speed broadband offering for underserved, remote and rural markets with disseminated pockets of population. It addresses the gap in supply with specifically designed satellites using the latest multi-beam and high throughput space communications and ground technology transmitting over the Ka Band.

Using cost-effective technology and a lean business model Kacific aims to provide better broadband quality at significantly less than current retail prices, fostering greater internet usage and fuelling economic growth and improvements in service delivery across covered regions, with its first deployment focusing on South East Asia and the Pacific. 

Kacific’s headquarters are in Singapore with main operations out of Vanuatu.

For more information, visit www.kacific.com

Kacific-1/JCSat-18 on Gunter's Space Page
Boeing press release for satellite order
Kacific press release for satellite order
SpaceNews story on satellite order

[gongora]

SpaceX has added a number of new missions on their manifest page (http://www.spacex.com/missions):

* an Eutelsat
* SXM-7 for Sirius-XM
* SXM-8 for Sirius-XM
* an not named satellite from SSL
* a satellite for TELKOM INDONESIA (likely Telkom-4)

Added the SiriusXM flights to the manifest