Quote from: FutureSpaceTourist on 04/28/2017 05:29 pmOnly just tweeted but presumably from earlier this week?Quote#NROL76 will carry a classified payload designed, built and operated by @NatReconOfc. @SpaceX @45thSpaceWinghttps://twitter.com/natreconofc/status/858007929252974592Well, so much for it being a BSS702. I think this is looking more and more like a technology demonstrator bound for LEO.
Only just tweeted but presumably from earlier this week?Quote#NROL76 will carry a classified payload designed, built and operated by @NatReconOfc. @SpaceX @45thSpaceWinghttps://twitter.com/natreconofc/status/858007929252974592
#NROL76 will carry a classified payload designed, built and operated by @NatReconOfc. @SpaceX @45thSpaceWing
Falcon 9 launch Sunday with secret sat. I agree with @Marco_Langbroek's analysis here - some kind of USA-193 followon in 51 deg LEO
For the moment, I go for a ~51 degree inclined LEO orbit for NROL-76:https://sattrackcam.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/what-is-nrol-76-and-what-orbit-wil-it.htmlBut I could be completely wrong@SSC_NL
Good eye, Ed.Some of the features formerly on the missing conduit seem to have found a new home on the remaining conduit. Also, the dark square on the interstage is missing:
Quote from: envy887 on 04/30/2017 12:42 amGood eye, Ed.Some of the features formerly on the missing conduit seem to have found a new home on the remaining conduit. Also, the dark square on the interstage is missing:Is this more evidence that this is the first block 4 falcon 9? Second stages have been upgraded in tandem with first stages in past revisions.
Quote from: karki on 04/30/2017 01:03 amQuote from: envy887 on 04/30/2017 12:42 amGood eye, Ed.Some of the features formerly on the missing conduit seem to have found a new home on the remaining conduit. Also, the dark square on the interstage is missing:Is this more evidence that this is the first block 4 falcon 9? Second stages have been upgraded in tandem with first stages in past revisions.* Second stages have been upgraded in tandem with first stages in past major revisions.The Block upgrades don't align with the Version upgrades. Most Block upgrades aren't even noticeable by us, unless someone can spot the difference between 1021 and 1031.
I haven't seen any evidence showing that they aren't aligned.
I... I actually don't know how the blocks line up with the version numbers. Version numbers are pretty much strictly used outside the company and by Elon.
Correction. [SES-10] was a block 1 (crs8) and wont fly again. Block 3 boosters could have multiple flights before being retired....Former coworkers of mine that still work there referred to the CRS8 core as a block 1 when we were talking about it last weekend.
Trying to upgrade parts [on B1021] from block 2 to block 3, failing to install them three times, then giving up and trying (and succeeding with) a method from block 1
The impression [in SpaceX fan communities] of what the blocks are has never been verified as true. But everyone here acts like its a fact. It's just been repeated enough times...
Quote from: envy887 on 04/30/2017 01:30 amI haven't seen any evidence showing that they aren't aligned.I have, there's plenty.Quote from: Spiiice (employee)I... I actually don't know how the blocks line up with the version numbers. Version numbers are pretty much strictly used outside the company and by Elon.
Quote from: Foximus05 (ex-employee)Correction. [SES-10] was a block 1 (crs8) and wont fly again. Block 3 boosters could have multiple flights before being retired....Former coworkers of mine that still work there referred to the CRS8 core as a block 1 when we were talking about it last weekend.
Quote from: DSBromeister (ex-intern)Trying to upgrade parts [on B1021] from block 2 to block 3, failing to install them three times, then giving up and trying (and succeeding with) a method from block 1
Quote from: skiboysteve (employee)The impression [in SpaceX fan communities] of what the blocks are has never been verified as true. But everyone here acts like its a fact. It's just been repeated enough times...
Quote from: envy887 on 04/30/2017 12:42 amGood eye, Ed.Some of the features formerly on the missing conduit seem to have found a new home on the remaining conduit. Also, the dark square on the interstage is missing:No camera's allowed on this flight?
These are the facts that we can consider known about the intended orbit of NROL-76:* the launch hazard area is consistent with a 50 deg inclination* the de-orbit hazard ara is also consistent with a 50 deg inclination* the launch window is not planar (the April 16 launch date also had 11:00 to 13:00UT)* the de-orbit hazard area is valid from 03h38m to 6h15m after launchAll these facts can be considered peculiar. To my knowledge, no NROlaunches have targeted orbits inclined at 50 deg, and all launches,except perhaps missions to GSO, had planar windows.Furthermore, the long time between launch and de-orbit is notcompatible with previous Falcon 9 launches. On recent CRS missions (8,9 and 10), the de-orbit area was valid from about 00h26m to 01h19mafter launch, indicating the second stage was de-orbited before itcompleted a full orbit, with the impact point South West ofAustralia. The Orbcomm OG-2 mission, targeting a 47deg orbit, had asimilar location and time range for the de-orbit area.During the Jason 3 and Iridium NEXT missions, the second stageperformed a circularization burn at 00h55m (Jason 3;1296kmx1321km_at_66deg) and 00h52m (Iridium NEXT; 618kmx627km_at_87deg)after launch. Here, the de-orbit areas were valid between01h06m-02h07m and 01h52m-02h48m after launch, respectively.If NROL-76 targets LEO, why de-orbit the second stage only after about2.5 orbits?I wonder if instead NROL-76 targets some sort of MEO/HEO orbit. If so,it may be expected that perigee is located in the South to allow thesecond stage to be de-orbited off the coast of Africa.
QuoteFalcon 9 launch Sunday with secret sat. I agree with @Marco_Langbroek's analysis here - some kind of USA-193 followon in 51 deg LEOhttps://twitter.com/planet4589/status/858330319899983877QuoteFor the moment, I go for a ~51 degree inclined LEO orbit for NROL-76Looking at the hazard area for the re-entry of the second stage, is this a longer stage life than we normally see for other missions. On Dragon resupply missions the stage seems to re-enter just off the coast of Australia which I assume is during the first orbit. Here the hazard area only seems to work on the 3rd orbit.
For the moment, I go for a ~51 degree inclined LEO orbit for NROL-76