Quote from: cd-slam on 02/20/2019 11:45 amOn topic, what's the source that this will be a Falcon Heavy flight? I don't see any mention of launcher in the SpaceNews article, $99 million seems quite low for a FH.No individual amounts were reported for the three missions that went to SpaceX. Some idi*t took the reported figure of $297 million (for all three missions) and divided it by 3.That's NOT how prices for these launches are negotiated. Not even by Elon et al.Rest assured: the price-tag for the AFSPC-44 launch is more than $99 million.
On topic, what's the source that this will be a Falcon Heavy flight? I don't see any mention of launcher in the SpaceNews article, $99 million seems quite low for a FH.
[Space News] Air Force certified Falcon Heavy for national security launch but more work needed to meet required orbitsQuoteWhat that means is that Falcon Heavy has been certified “for certain orbits,” said Thompson. “It’s not certified for all of our most stressing national security space orbits,” he said. “We continue to work with SpaceX to mature their design and I think that’s going well.”...A spokesman for the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center said the Falcon Heavy is certified for two Phase 1A reference orbits.The two reference orbits are for the missions that Falcon Heavy was awarded by the Air Force under Phase 1A of the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program
What that means is that Falcon Heavy has been certified “for certain orbits,” said Thompson. “It’s not certified for all of our most stressing national security space orbits,” he said. “We continue to work with SpaceX to mature their design and I think that’s going well.”...A spokesman for the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center said the Falcon Heavy is certified for two Phase 1A reference orbits.The two reference orbits are for the missions that Falcon Heavy was awarded by the Air Force under Phase 1A of the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program
Another notable launch in 2020 will be the next flight of Falcon Heavy. That event is not anticipated until the final months of the year under an Air Force mission known as AFSPC-44. The classified spacecraft is expected to be launched atop a brand new rocket, per Air Force requirements.
Later this year, the U.S. Space Force (USSF)-44 will be the first NSS mission using SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy.
US Space Force TETRA-1 satellite prepared for launch after 15-month integrationMillennium Space Systems achieved a 60 percent faster development timeEL SEGUNDO, Calif., April 21, 2020 – Less than 15 months after contract award, Millennium Space Systems has designed, manufactured, assembled and integrated the U.S. Space Force TETRA-1 satellite. The work was completed 60 percent faster than previous missions, improving the U.S. Space Force’s ability to advance the TETRA-1 technologies more quickly.TETRA-1 is a microsatellite created for various prototype missions in and around geosynchronous earth orbit. TETRA-1 was the first prototype award under the U.S. Space Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center’s Space Enterprise Consortium Other Transaction Authority (OTA) charter.“One of our primary goals is to be more agile in the development and deployment of innovative space assets,” said Col. Tim Sejba, director, Innovation and Prototyping, Development Corps, Space and Missile Systems Center, Detachment 1 at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. “By leveraging OTA contracts with programs like TETRA-1, we are expediting the execution of new space development missions. The partnership we’ve developed with Millennium Space Systems allows us to create and field a dynamic pathfinder capability to meet the future space warfighter’s needs.”Most of the TETRA-1 components were completed by leveraging Millennium’s in-house capabilities, demonstrating that organically developed capabilities are a key enabler for executing programs on a tight schedule. After system integration, the satellite successfully completed its environmental and full functional tests.“The pace set on TETRA-1 from contract award through readiness to launch represents what Boeing does best for our national security customers,” said Mark Cherry, vice president and general manager, Boeing Phantom Works. “Our lean Millennium team was up to the task, building and delivering a fully tested and verified satellite in record time.”TETRA-1 is based on Millennium’s proven ALTAIR-class small satellite product line. It is the first of Millennium’s ALTAIR satellites to qualify for operations in the geosynchronous orbit space environment, 22,236 miles (35,786 kilometers) from the Earth’s surface. TETRA-1 is manifested on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket currently scheduled for launch in late 2020.
Since this mission is going to direct GEO, I'm speculating that the center core will have to land at least 1,000 kilometers downrange, meaning its survival probability will be slim again. The last thing SpaceX would want is another destroyed center core because I think they've yet to bring one back in one piece and officially look over the data collected during its EDL profile.
“Based on mission performance requirements, the center core will be expendable and the two side boosters intend to be recovered,” Bongiovi said.
If SpaceX says so, I’d love to see the side boosters land together at the Cape again.But I agree that we’ll wait until later this year.
Quote from: ZachS09 on 04/28/2020 07:16 pmIf SpaceX says so, I’d love to see the side boosters land together at the Cape again.But I agree that we’ll wait until later this year.Dual simultaneous Sea Landings will be cool, too.
If SpaceX says so, I’d love to see the side boosters land together at the Cape again.
The article also confirms all new boosters (which is exactly what we expect unless the USSF makes a policy change for the Phase 1A flights.)
Quote from: envy887 on 02/20/2019 03:30 pmQuote from: abaddon on 02/20/2019 02:24 pmQuote from: envy887 on 02/20/2019 02:23 pmMakes me wonder if the USAF has a certification path for flown boosters, perhaps dependent on STP-2 is successfully reflying the Arabsat boosters.While that's definitely possible, it think it is more likely that all three boosters can be recovered on this flight (which seems reasonable since an Atlas V could have launched it), so it is a new FH that was bid with the boosters being recovered. That'd be my guess, as I think it's still a little early for the USAF to be comfortable with reused boosters on a non-experimental flight.[EDIT] Edited for clarityCan FH do 4 t (2x 2,000 kg) direct to GEO with full recovery? That's a very high energy mission. Even to inclined GEO.Should be similar to a trans mars injection, which is a C3 of ~12 km2/sec2 . The NASA LSP performance query says Falcon Heavy with recovery can do 4865 kg (a bit less than Atlas 551 at 4870 kg). So, they likely can attempt a recovery, but who knows if it will work in practice. Air Force also might want to leave more margin on the upper stage. Guess we will find out late next year. edit: ULA lists Atlas V 551 GEO performance as 3850 kg. This corresponds to a LSP performance query of C3=23.5. The corresponding number for Falcon Heavy recovery is 3440 kg.
Quote from: abaddon on 02/20/2019 02:24 pmQuote from: envy887 on 02/20/2019 02:23 pmMakes me wonder if the USAF has a certification path for flown boosters, perhaps dependent on STP-2 is successfully reflying the Arabsat boosters.While that's definitely possible, it think it is more likely that all three boosters can be recovered on this flight (which seems reasonable since an Atlas V could have launched it), so it is a new FH that was bid with the boosters being recovered. That'd be my guess, as I think it's still a little early for the USAF to be comfortable with reused boosters on a non-experimental flight.[EDIT] Edited for clarityCan FH do 4 t (2x 2,000 kg) direct to GEO with full recovery? That's a very high energy mission. Even to inclined GEO.
Quote from: envy887 on 02/20/2019 02:23 pmMakes me wonder if the USAF has a certification path for flown boosters, perhaps dependent on STP-2 is successfully reflying the Arabsat boosters.While that's definitely possible, it think it is more likely that all three boosters can be recovered on this flight (which seems reasonable since an Atlas V could have launched it), so it is a new FH that was bid with the boosters being recovered. That'd be my guess, as I think it's still a little early for the USAF to be comfortable with reused boosters on a non-experimental flight.[EDIT] Edited for clarity
Makes me wonder if the USAF has a certification path for flown boosters, perhaps dependent on STP-2 is successfully reflying the Arabsat boosters.
