NASASpaceFlight.com Forum
SpaceX Vehicles and Missions => SpaceX Falcon Missions Section => Topic started by: Chris Bergin on 03/31/2017 12:15 pm
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UPDATES ONLY Thread for the launch of NROL-76 mission.
NSF Threads for NROL-76 : Discussion (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=40328.0) / Updates (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=42639.0) / L2 March/April 2017 (http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=42387.0) / ASDS (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=66.0) / Party (http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=42585.0)
NSF Articles for NROL-76 :
SpaceX Static Fire spy sat rocket and prepare to test Falcon Heavy core (https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/04/spacex-static-fire-tests-spy-sat-rocket-falcon-heavy-core/)
SpaceX Falcon 9 launches first NRO mission with NROL-76 (https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/04/spacex-falcon-9-first-nro-mission-nrol-76/)
Successful launch on May 1, 2017 at 7:15am EDT (1115 UTC). First stage, core 1032, landed at LZ-1.
Start here for attempt 2:
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=42639.140
Other SpaceX resources on NASASpaceflight:
SpaceX News Articles (Recent) (http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/tag/spacex/) / SpaceX News Articles from 2006 (Including numerous exclusive Elon interviews) (http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=21862.0)
SpaceX Dragon Articles (http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/tag/dragon/) / SpaceX Missions Section (with Launch Manifest and info on past and future missions) (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=55.0)
L2 SpaceX Section (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=60.0)
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Update only thread.
Per L2, Static Fire NET is April 12. Pending 39A shakedown report on pad status/repairs required (been holding up great so far).
Launch date NET is April 16 with the window opening at 7am local, for around two hours.
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Air Force show the Atlas-V as the next launch, so looks like the Falcon is delayed.....
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Yep, we've been waiting for the new date to become documented and now it is via L2 KSC/Cape scheduling.
NET April 30, same window.
Static Fire on April 26.
No reasons given, so likely the payload (which isn't talkative as we're talking about a NROL bird).
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Looks like we have rollback into the HIF for the Strongback and Launch Table, per Instagram.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BS1lppZAYXU/?tagged=spacex (https://www.instagram.com/p/BS1lppZAYXU/?tagged=spacex)
Good progress given 1 1/2 weeks to Static Fire.
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TEL back at the pad: https://www.instagram.com/p/BS37Bc1jxhp/
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http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Apr-2017/0155.html
The launch hazard chart for the region near the launch site reveals that the trajectory will follow the northeast coast
of North America; therefore, the target orbit is a quasi-60 degree LEO, or a Molniya.
http://www.patrick.af.mil/Portals/14/documents/Launch%20Hazard%20Area%20Maps/4-30-2017%20LHA.pdf?ver=2017-04-20-154754-750
Per my earlier posts in this thread, since the return of the Falcon 9's first stage is targeting the launch site, the
payload is either headed for LEO, or is a fairly low in mass and headed for Molniya.
If LEO, I suspect it is a replacement or follow-on to the experimental USA 193, which was launched on NROL-21, and
failed upon reaching its 58.5 deg, 360 km orbit.
If Molniya, then I suspect it is a new generation of SDS Molniya, built on Boeing's BSS-702SP bus.
Molniya SDS seems more likely.
Ted Molczan
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Static Fire is NET Tuesday.
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Next ship leaving port.
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Article for the Static Fire (and FH testing).
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/04/spacex-static-fire-tests-spy-sat-rocket-falcon-heavy-core/
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F9 is vertical ;D
http://original.livestream.com/spaceflightnow
Better link added.
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Test window is now open, for six hours. No sign of venting yet, so may be a while off....but it's rare they fire up as the window opens during a Static Fire test.
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For those staring at the webcast and scanning for venting, L2's latest is a T-0 of 3pm local (7pm UTC), meaning prop load should be soon. They aren't understood to be working issues, just behind on the timeline.
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Venting visible as of around 2:30 PM EDT. From the pad if not from the vehicle. (The view is obstructed.)
- Ed Kyle
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Venting can be seen by the RSS. 9 minutes away from 3pm.
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One more big vent from S2 location.
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STATIC FIRE!!
http://original.livestream.com/spaceflightnow
Next: Quick look data review.
SpaceX usually tweet if that looked good.
Then preps to LRR.
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F9/NROL76: Hot-fire test conducted at ~3:02pm EDT; not as much smoke as usual, but that could be due to wind/direction
https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews/status/856947412505694208 (https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews/status/856947412505694208)
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https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/856950895388401664?s=04
"Static fire test complete. Targeting Falcon 9 launch of NROL-76 on Sunday, April 30."
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Bit higher-res shot
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https://youtu.be/5DZFcWAz53Y (https://youtu.be/5DZFcWAz53Y)
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HR photos in L2
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NROL-76 heading to the 39A HIF tonight. Roadblocks in force.
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F9 horizontal again per SFN Livestream.
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And here we have NOTMAR Launch Hazard Area together with Second Stage Debris Area in Map for Mission1363 with NROL-76 payload planned on April 30, alternatively May 01.
https://goo.gl/umnY2Q
https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/pdf/lnms/lnm07172017.pdf
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L-3 Launch forecast
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NRO Verified account @NatReconOfc 1m1 minute ago
#NROL76 Mission Patch depicts Lewis & Clark heading into the great unknown to discover and explore the newly purchased Louisiana Territory.
https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc/status/857619425373167618 (https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc/status/857619425373167618)
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Press Kit
http://www.spacex.com/press/2017/04/27/nrol-76-mission
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Press kit provides the SpaceX patch for this mission:
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Looks like somebody on Reddit leaked the unlisted webcast link. Note it currently says "Launch webcast" and not "hosted" or "technical". EDIT: It's linked from the SpaceX website, not leaked. Still unlisted on youtube, though.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xvs4tJ3qegM
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Looks like somebody on Reddit leaked the unlisted webcast link. Note it currently says "Launch webcast" and not "hosted" or "technical".
If you look at http://www.spacex.com/webcast (http://www.spacex.com/webcast) then you'll see only that one link.
Based on prior experience that means there will only be the one webcast stream.
If I had to guess, it will be of the "hosted" variety.
Recent norms have been that there would be two links [hosted and technical] appearing a couple of days before a scheduled launch.
Carl
Mods: not certain if this qualifies for Updates or if I should have put it in Discussion for NROL-79 - move as appropriate.
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L-2 Launch Weather Forecast. No change from yesterday, I think.
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Only just tweeted but presumably from earlier this week?
#NROL76 will carry a classified payload designed, built and operated by @NatReconOfc. @SpaceX @45thSpaceWing
https://twitter.com/natreconofc/status/858007929252974592 (https://twitter.com/natreconofc/status/858007929252974592)
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Falcon 9 now going vertical per SFN Stream.
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Nearly vertical
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Falcon now fully vertical.
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http://original.livestream.com/spaceflightnow
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Today's forecast attached, no real change:
Launch day probability of violating launch weather constraints: 20%
Primary concern(s): Liftoff Winds, Cumulus Cloud Rule
Delay day probability of violating launch weather constraints: 30%
Primary concern(s): Liftoff Winds, Thick Cloud Layer Rule
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Stephen C. Smith @SpaceKSCBlog 4m4 minutes ago
I spy with my @SpaceX eye ...
https://twitter.com/SpaceKSCBlog/status/858341492615729152 (https://twitter.com/SpaceKSCBlog/status/858341492615729152)
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Hmm, who is spying on who?
#Falcon9 caught vertical on #LC39A at @NASAKennedy today by #DEIMOS2! Good luck @SpaceX & @elonmusk for tomorrow’s launch with #NROL76!
https://twitter.com/deimosimaging/status/858430335146749952 (https://twitter.com/deimosimaging/status/858430335146749952)
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Clearest shots yet
Visiting the @SpaceX Falcon 9 before tomorrow's @NatReconOfc mission. 2-hr Launch window opens at 7AM ET. Booster landing will occur at LZ-1
https://twitter.com/nova_road/status/858448732387454976 (https://twitter.com/nova_road/status/858448732387454976)
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@SpaceX on Twitter
Falcon 9 and NROL-76 vertical on Pad 39-A. Launch window opens tomorrow at 7:00 a.m. EDT, 11:00 UTC.
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William Graham with the launch preview overview - and with his amazing NROL info per his ULA features, so a combination of both of his skills here! Heck of a read:
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/04/spacex-falcon-9-first-nro-mission-nrol-76/
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Launch seems to have been pushed 15 minutes into the window at 11:15 UTC
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Source:
@SpaceX #Falcon9 will launch @NatReconOfc #NROL76 in just under two hours. Shooting for a T-0 of 7:15 a.m.!
https://twitter.com/45thspacewing/status/858611257271824384 (https://twitter.com/45thspacewing/status/858611257271824384)
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I will hopefully have the Launch Director loop soon.... but you know, NRO and all.
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NRO PAO. NRO did not directly contract with SpaceX. They contracted with a private company who secured the contract to launch NROL-76 on a Falcon 9.
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Also, webcast would confirm if this is the first flight of the new Block upgrade Falcon 9.
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We have signs the fueling is underway!
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I will have Launch Director loop in a few minutes -- which will help us confirm where we are with activities.
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Twitter:
SpaceX:
1 hour until Falcon 9 launch of NROL-76. Updated launch window opens at 7:15 a.m. EDT, 11:15 UTC.
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Twitter:
SpaceX:
1 hour until Falcon 9 launch of NROL-76. Updated launch window opens at 7:15 a.m. EDT, 11:15 UTC.
That confirms that fueling began on time at 6:05a this morning.
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Launch Director loop connection being made now. Should have confirmation of what's going on in the next few minutes.
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https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10155053563945937&id=83300095936
Live video from Florida Today
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NRO PAO. NRO did not directly contract with SpaceX. They contracted with a private company who secured the contract to launch NROL-76 on a Falcon 9.
The SpaceX NROL-76 launch was not contracted to SpaceX directly by the NRO but through Ball Aerospace.
https://twitter.com/nova_road/status/858629314341896192 (https://twitter.com/nova_road/status/858629314341896192)
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T-43 minutes. The Sun is coming up.
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T-40 minutes.
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So far, all is quiet (which is good).
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T-35 minutes. Sky is now blue. Seeing puffs of LOX venting every few minutes.
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Also, the NRO public affairs team is super cool about answering questions. They are stoked to be launching with SpaceX. We're having donuts
https://twitter.com/nova_road/status/858630395860054016 (https://twitter.com/nova_road/status/858630395860054016)
NRO: "we can't talk about the satellite" .... So it's a satellite then.
https://twitter.com/nova_road/status/858631034455326720 (https://twitter.com/nova_road/status/858631034455326720)
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T-31 minutes. Big vent.
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T-30 minutes. Big vent still going.
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On the LD loop. All is quiet. No issues. On track for 715a EDT launch.
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T-25 minutes. Five minutes to start of SpaceX webcast.
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SpaceX has started streaming.
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Pretty cloudy for #NROL76 launch
https://twitter.com/marekcyzio/status/858634321875398656 (https://twitter.com/marekcyzio/status/858634321875398656)
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All still very quiet on the LD loop. Fueling is going well. No issues are being worked.
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T-20 minutes. Another big vent.
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T-18 minutes.
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T-16 minutes.
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T-15mins and COUNTING. Launch Director's loop is still very quiet. No issues.
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T-14 minutes.
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Good morning Falcon 9 and your secretive passenger. Remember, coverage won't be to S/C Sep. SpaceX or NRO will confirm good launch. So no notes of congrats until then. SpaceX or NRO will be the first to say anything. No one else will hear in advance.
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T-12 minutes. Coverage has started!
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Spacecraft is on internal power.
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T-10 minutes.
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T-9mins. All is good to go.
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T-9 minutes. Giving description of vehicle.
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T-8 minutes.
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LZ-1
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Webcast host just said the Falcon 9 was "12 meters in diameter, about 36 feet"...
As someone in pretty much the same timezone (since the webcasts are hosted from Hawthorne), let me remind you that it's 4 in the morning here.
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Engine bleed started.
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T-7 minutes. Engine bleed started.
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SpaceX say all is Go. Topping RP-1 complete.
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Stage 1 fuel "closed out."
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T-6 minutes. All systems are go.
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Vehicle in "Self-alignment"
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Weather is green
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T-5 minutes. Weather is go.
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Vehicle "pressing for strongback" retract sequence.
Strongback retract has started.
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Strongback into retract operations.
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T-4 minutes. Pressing for strongback retract.
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T-3 minutes. TVC checks.
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T-2 minutes. Strongback at 88.5 degrees.
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T-60 seconds!
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Hold hold hold
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Issue with toto? sensor on first stage!
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HOLD
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Hold called at T-52 seconds.
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Heard 24 hour reset.
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Launch is scrubbed!
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Yep, Scrub called. Not going to use the window. 24 hours.
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End of webcast.
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Closing out with live picture. Big vent happening now.
See you same SpaceX-Time and same SpaceX-channel tomorrow!
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Heard "fire-ex ready" after the TOTO sensor hold. Not the best thing to hear 😐
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Standing down today due to a sensor issue; backup launch opportunity tomorrow morning.
https://twitter.com/spacex/status/858642945884303360 (https://twitter.com/spacex/status/858642945884303360)
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Without a payload attached to the second stage, the Falcon 9 launch vehicle weighs 553,600 kilograms, contains 526,950 kilograms of propellant...
What is the source of these (quite precise) figures? Pre-densification, there was an Environmental Impact Report that quites the exact capacities, but as far as I know that was not updated. Also the empty mass of each stage has been the subject of much speculation. If we knew the sum exactly that would be very helpful.
So where did these figures come from?
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Per L2 naughty "out of family" sensor that scrubbed the SpaceX Falcon 9 NROL-76 launch was a TOTO (Temperature Ox Tank Outlet) sensor. They had redundancy, but didn't want to risk losing another one, so the "abundance of caution" was as presented. Important to note, as some people see SpaceX as a bit "gung ho", they are as cautious as required, as proven.
24 hours is the current plan, but the access (depending which TOTO sensor on the first stage) for R&R will determine turnaround.
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Updated launch weather forecast for tomorrow.
LCC wind limit for Falcon 9 is 30kts. So we're predicted to be under that for tomorrow, too.
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#CCAFS Inbound traffic 2moro 3-9:30a.m. will b stopped @ Phillips Parkway, Flight Control Road & NASA Causeway west of the Industrial Area
https://twitter.com/45thspacewing/status/858677131584385024 (https://twitter.com/45thspacewing/status/858677131584385024)
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Hi-res pad photos from SpaceX
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From http://www.spacex.com/webcast:
SpaceX is targeting launch of NROL-76 from historic Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Following scrub of the initial attempt due to a sensor issue, the two hour launch window now opens on Monday, May 1, at 7:00 a.m. EDT, or 11:00 UTC.
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F9 still vertical on the launch pad as of 21:27L.
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https://youtu.be/EzQpkQ1etdA
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T-1 hour 30 minutes. Early morning at KSC.
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If all is on track, fueling will begin @ 5:50am ET (20mins from now) to support launch @ opening of window at 7a.
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A few minutes seem to have been added to the clock.
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William Harwood @cbs_spacenews
F9/NROL76: Launch is again targeted for 7:15am
https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews/status/858978994263384064 (https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews/status/858978994263384064)
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With adjusted launch time to 0715 EDT, fielding ops should now pick up at 0605 EDT.
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OK, now its T-1 hour 30 minutes.
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The fueling poll should be picking up in just a few minutes.
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T-1 hour 20 minutes.
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Fueling poll should be underway at this time.
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T-1 hour 13 minutes. Launch readiness poll should be occurring now.
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6:05a. To make a 7:15a launch target, fueling of RP-1 Kerosene into the Falcon 9 should have just begun.
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T-1 hour 10 minutes. Fuel loading should be starting now.
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Vapors at the Falcon 9. Fueling is UNDERWAY!
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T-1 hour. Seeing some vapour coming off near the launch tower.
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https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/858988280511045638 (https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/858988280511045638)
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Weather here is about the same a yesterday. Ground winds are well within limits. Clouds are about the same.
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T-55 minutes. Dawn at KSC!
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T-50 minutes. Sky is getting brighter.
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Launch Director loop is very quiet right now.
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LOX load has started!
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T-45 minutes. LOX loading should be starting now.
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T-40 minutes.
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All remains quiet on the net.
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T-35mins. All remains on track from a technical standpoint at this time.
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T-35 minutes.
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First big vent for the day!
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T-30 minutes. Still venting.
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LOX load on Stage 2 has started.
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T-25 minutes.
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Well, I can see the sun today... so that's an improvement. Upper level wind data coming in soon.
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T-20 minutes. Vapour coming off second stage and another big vent.
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T-18 minutes.
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Funky music has started.
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T-16 minutes.
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All is still very quiet.
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T-14 minutes. Webcast should be starting in a couple of minutes.
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According to SpaceX PAO here, "we are on track for 7:15am"
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Another beautiful morning here at KSC. Falcon launch set for 7:15am EDT (1115 GMT).
https://twitter.com/stephenclark1/status/858994890608345091 (https://twitter.com/stephenclark1/status/858994890608345091)
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T-12 minutes. Webcast has started.
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Venty...
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T-10mins.
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Webcast is 8secs behind real-time.
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T-10 minutes.
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T-9 minutes.
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Engine Chill "ready"
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LZ-1
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T-7 minutes 47 seconds.
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Engine chill has started.
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T-7 minutes. Engine chill has started.
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Stage 1 fuel load closeout.
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In topping.
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T-6 minutes. Stage 1 fuel closeout.
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Vehicle in self-align.
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T-5mins
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Pressing for strongback retract.
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link to webcast ?
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T-5 minutes. Topping off LOX. Faulty sensor was replaced.
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Still GO on upper level winds
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Strongback cradle released.
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T-4 minutes. Weather is go.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzQpkQ1etdA
(New webcast link for today, in case anybody can't find it)
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Good TVC checks on Upper Stage.
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T-3 minutes. Stage 1 LOX load closeout.
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T-2 minutes.
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Winds aloft are unusually high (still within structural safety bounds). Worrying, but not a showstopper.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/859002489730994176 (https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/859002489730994176)
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Nice big Strongback vent.
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T-1 minute. Falcon 9 is in startup.
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LAUNCH!!
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Liftoff!
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MCC-X
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T+1 minute. Speed in m/s. Yay!
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Good first stage.
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T+2 minutes.
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MECO.
T+3 minutes.
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Wow!
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Wow....first stage tally ho already!
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T+4 minutes.
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T+5 minutes. Past apogee.
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T+6 minutes.
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Wow again. Entry burn.
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Fairing separation was called on webcast a bit after 1st stage separation
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T+7 minutes.
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They will relaunch this first stage
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Touchdown!
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Amazing!!
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On the pad.
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End of coverage. But HOLD congrats until confirmation of good S/C Sep!!
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End of SpaceX coverage.
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End of coverage. But HOLD congrats until confirmation of good S/C Sep!!
Hold the congrats...or post on the other threads. Still waiting for NRO or SpaceX to confirm successful mission.
No one's listening, so I'm locking the thread ;D Will unlock at S/C sep.
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Checking on payload fairing recovery.
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Upper level winds were at 98.6% of structural allowed loads.... and Falcon 9 did PERFECTLY!
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Elon's called it.
Elon MuskVerified account @elonmusk 1m1 minute ago
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Launch and landing of the NRO spy satellite was good. Tough call, as high altitude wind shear was at 98.6% of the theoretical load limit.
Congrats to all involved. Thanks to Chris and Steven - and others - for the coverage!
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Wow!
Ditto.
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Congrats to SpaceX, NRO, NASA, FAA, KSC Ops and of course our dauntless NSF reporters.
The footage of the first stage, from sep, all the way to return to LZ-1 was amazing, so super shout out to the crews on the ground who really improved the optics for this mission...
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Great job NRO, SpaceX and the camera operators, Wow!
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Congrats to SpaceX and a big thanks to NSF!
Unbelievable video of all stages of boostback and landing.
They make it look so easy.
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The best kind of ballet!
Wonderful footage from Earth to Earth, couldn't get my eyes off the screen.
Carry on SpaceX!
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Congrats to SpaceX and the National Reconnaissance Office on the NROL-76 mission as well as returning the first stage booster safely.
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Congrats SpaceX and the NRO on a successful launch!
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Many words could be written, and are being. I will just echo Boss Bergin:
Wow!
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Congrats to all involved.
Amazing footage ...
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I said 'wow' out loud. Such amazing footage.
Congrats to SpaceX as well as their costumer.
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Congrats to SpaceX and everyone else involved on a "boring" launch and an epic landing. Special thanks go to the balky TOTO sensor - yesterday was more cloudy, so we can probably thank the epic views of the booster return on that.
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I say this a lot but, in the end, what else can be said? "And that is how we do that."
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Wow! F9 is a beast, but a nimble one!
The most amazing shoots on the live coverage, I could hardly believe what I was seeing. I'm with Eric Berger:
And *that* is how you do spaceflight in the 21st century.
https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/859005639963627521 (https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/859005639963627521)
Many congratulations to all involved and especially to SpaceX for one amazing feat after another. Just wow!
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Congrats to all at SpaceX for once again making the "impossible" look easy. That S1 video coverage was way better than we (or at least, *I*) deserved to get; there aren't words adequate to describe how amazing it was.
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Elon's called it.
Elon MuskVerified account @elonmusk 1m1 minute ago
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Launch and landing of the NRO spy satellite was good. Tough call, as high altitude wind shear was at 98.6% of the theoretical load limit.
Congrats to all involved. Thanks to Chris and Steven - and others - for the coverage!
I did not know they were also landing the satellite. ;)
Anyways, congratulations on the amazing launch and landing, and thank you, SpaceX and NSF for the coverage and being there in person.
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Congratulations to SpaceX and NRO, and thanks to NSF for excellent coverage. Great launch, and those visuals during the landing burn... just wow...
Note to self: I have to stop drinking red bull just before launch, I don't think my heart can take it..
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Congrats to all the hard working folks from SpaceX and the government that made this a success.
That return footage was spectacular! Wow!!!
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Congrats to SpaceX and NRO for the successful launch and great work from the camera operators to deliver the amazing footage of the S1 return and landing.
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Very impressive webcast coverage of a launch that puts SpaceX in a strong position for future missions of this nature. Clearly improved techniques in use for the flip and boostback as Spacex benefit from experience and their unique post-use knowledge of their launch stage.
And great work on the NSF coverage as usual. Congratulations to all!
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I wonder when SpaceX is going to stop introducing improvements to the footage of their webcasts - live landings, then following the first stage through descent, then 100% uptime tracking cameras? I'm loving all this wonderful footage. Anyways.
Huge congrats to everyone involved in this launch, doing a brilliant job as always. Sounds like there were two tight calls in a row - sensor malfunction yesterday and upper-altitude winds today. Even with all the pressure, there's now a payload in orbit and a first stage upright at LZ-1, so all the constituent teams deserve a serious pat on the back.
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Magnificent!
LOVED watching those thrusters fire so often which was such a surprise to me! :-)
Congrats!
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Amazing S1 return footage. Another launch and another core back. Congrats to SpaceX and NRO. Got to watch that landing footage several more times. That was jaw dropping awesome!
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Wow. Well that's probably in my top five of spaceflight related things I've seen...
I say it all the time and I'll say it again: congrats to all the SpaceX, USAF, and NRO personnel that made this happen.
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Congratulations to SpaceX and NRO for the successful launch and SpaceX for the successful landing! Also thanks to those involved in providing the fantastic landing footage! Now to watch the launch again. :-)
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Congratulations. Again WOW !!!!
Now I wanna see that on a FH launch, with 2 boosters RTLS and the center core landing on ASDS !
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New shot from SpaceX overnight.
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Congratulations SpaceX, NRO, and Ball Aerospace on your beautiful launch! Wonderful.
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Congratulations to SpaceX on another successful launch and landing! That video of MECO/SEP was amazing!
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That was one boring launch. ;)
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Congrats to SpaceX!!!! What an amazing show!!!!
And of course to NRO for having another eye in the sky. I guess whatever they wanted to see from SpaceX in that first NRO launch, SpaceX definitely has delivered :)
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Beautiful. Congrats to the team at SpaceX. Anyone taking bets on how long before the orbit and general purpose of the bird is deciphered?
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Congratulations to all involved. That was a beautiful launch and the coverage of S1 returning was incredible.
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Congratulations! Amazing footage from stage separation all the way to landing. 8)
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Congratulations to the camera operator who gave us the most impressive video yet of a launch and landing.
A side congratulations for whatever weather deity made the skies that clear for the camera operator.
And of course, congratulations to all involved with the operation. It is getting to be old hat but still very impressive.
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Congrats, I guess. Missed it commuting to work. Replays? :P
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Congrats to SpaceX for the successful mission and for giving us this epic footage! Lets hope they have enough tracking cameras for the Falcon Heavy mission ;D
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That's definitely not getting old yet, that was truly amazing, cinematic. Congrats to SpaceX once again, what they're making routine is astonishing.
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I normally try to keep my exhilaration at seeing a launch internal to my brain so as to not disturb the rest of the house and remove the last remaining doubts that I am certifiably crazy .... But this time I couldn't contain myself and was cheering loudly as the return unfolded. Congrats to all involved! Simply awesome to watch.
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Congratulations to SpaceX, NRO, USAF, the range, FAA, and definitely the tracking camera guy! Nice and smooth on the countdown and an incredibly routine landing! ;D
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Congratulations to all concerned and the outstanding landing coverage.
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Amazing new camera angles today. :)
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Congratulations to all.
I cannot remember how many wows I uttered aloud after MECO, but as others have written, it was truly amazing footage, showing just how special what SpaceX are doing really is.
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Typical SpaceX. Just look how lame their first stage is, it just cuts tail and runs after letting go of the second stage. Must be afraid of the ocean or something. Pffft.
Congrats!
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Congrats to all, well done! Better than a cup of coffee to wake up to! :)
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Congrats to all involved! Awesome launch!
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Beautiful sunrise liftoff of Falcon 9.
https://twitter.com/launchphoto/status/859025644260397056 (https://twitter.com/launchphoto/status/859025644260397056)
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Gorgeous, truly gorgeous. Most magnificent launch/landing footage I've seen. Being able to watch MECO, separation, and boostback ignition from the same tracking camera more than makes up for not having an interstage or upper stage camera. Congrats!
Also, a big thanks to SpaceX for giving us telemetry on the way up AND the way down. People are going to be analyzing the hell out of the EDL telemetry for ages.
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The best morning TV show ever!
Congratulations to all involved!
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Congrats to all, and thanks again for the awesome coverage of events by NSF's intrepid team of citizen journalist reporters!
What SpaceX has done here is really quite an entrepreneurial and engineering accomplishment. Notably, all of the reusable technology development was done by private market incentives!
It was the entrepreneurial vision and very large private investment of Elon Musk, as well as the execution of 100s of people at SpaceX over years, that developed this this reusable technology over the past 7+years, that are now beginning to make this all look routine.
Silicon Valley software iterative and incremental development culture applied to the rocket launch industry!
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"...the execution of 100s of people at SpaceX "
I had heard that this approach was used in North Korea to encourage hard work among the survivors, but I didn't expect it to be used in the USA as well. Still, these days, who knows?
edit/Lar: (party thread people, use it!)
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Wow...great visuals!
Congrats to SpaceX for a successful launch and landing!
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"...the execution of 100s of people at SpaceX "
I had heard that this approach was used in North Korea to encourage hard work among the survivors, but I didn't expect it to be used in the USA as well. Still, these days, who knows?
Haha, I lol'ed... :-)
Amazing footage indeed. Would have loved a closer ground-to-booster view on landing but that's my only quibble.
Congrats to the NRO on being able to snoop even more on all of us
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Great way to start the month! Congratulations to SpaceX and the NRO. Best tracking camera footage ever.
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Missed the launch live, but what a spectacular replay. Congratulations to SpaceX, the range, Ball aerospace, and the NRO on a successful launch.
That brief view (darn the clouds!) of the stage oriented roughly vertically on the camera frame looked very cinematic due to the relative motions of the stage and camera. Really quite spectacular.
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Congratulations to all involved for a successful mission.
It was awesome to see both launch and landing in person.
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Lucky you, Rebel44!
Incredible tracking footage. Awesome. Congrats to SpaceX and everyone involved.
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Congrats SpaceX for another satisfied customer and another 1st stage back on the ground.
My favorite shot from the flight. The turn n burn!
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Close-up of rocket stage separation, fast flip, boostback burn in a ring of fire and then landing burn
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTjVdLVB1bO/
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Congratulations to SpaceX, NRO, Ball Aerospace, the Range and all person involved. I find it more than ironic that the NRO launch gave us the best public views ever of the Falcon 9 launch. Those optics were amazing. Being able to watch the separation and first stage maneuvering from the side on real time was priceless.
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Enjoy the "grid-fin goodness"! 8)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98VK0tXJTik
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Congrats to all teams involved, and special thanks to NSF for the replays and commentary!
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Congratulations, unbelievable footage, oh will this ever get old? (no way, SpaceX will keep on making it even more amazing).
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Just caught up with the NSF coverage, thanks to Chris, Steven, et al. Congrats to SpaceX and their partners on keeping the cadence up.
I was at the in-laws for this one so whilst I couldn't stay glued to the laptop, I did persuade them to stick the webcast on the big telly. First one they had watched. Think I picked a good one :D
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WOW!
Once again, SpaceX makes it look spectacular!! What will they do next time to make a launch look this beautiful!!
Congrats to all involved! What a show!
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As someone who would pick up a sandwich and drive to the local airport during lunch and watch planes take off and land, I can say that I will never tire of watching rockets do the same. Just amazing. Congrats to all involved. Launches may become routine, but they will always be amazing.
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Most hearty congratulations to all involved
To NRO: It is your "party". Thanks for inviting us to it.
To SpaceX: Gorgeous launch and landing. Another bulls eye, and astounding onboard video
To Ball Aerospace: Wonder what it was you built, but it flew nicely
To the Range: Well done.
To the camera operators: Spectacular tracking Loved seeing all those RCS firings, and the view of the braking burn!
To NSF: Great coverage (Steve!)
So worth it to be up in the early early morning. Great show
32 days from the last launch. Now about hitting the alluded to pace of every other week.....
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Congrats SpaceX, Your Flights Never get Old ;)
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I have confirmation that one-half of the fairing was recovered via parachute. My message said it was recovered from the water, intact.
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Big congratulations to everyone involved! and thanks for the great show with the first stage coming down!
//Toastmastern
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SpaceX launch photos
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So worth it to be up in the early early morning.
Lunch Launch for me :-)
Beautiful! To see the flip like this was really special, as was the extreme closeup during landing burn, which really drove home how big this thing actually is!
Congratulations once again, SpaceX! Well done!
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https://youtu.be/hmgeBsTVgq0 (https://youtu.be/hmgeBsTVgq0)
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Congratulations to everyone involved in this fabulous launch including all the great coverage!
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Seems like every launch is the best ever and this was no exception. Seeing the live ground camera coverage of the S1 separation followed immediately by those N2 jets flipping the sage around (seemed almost to be too quick -- I was on the edge of my seat!!!). But of course those SX engineers know all about this stuff (now) and they had it perfectly timed. The live video of flipping the S1 was superb!!! Then to be able to watch the boost back burn and the whole return flight all the way back to sticking the landing in the center of the bulls eye.
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All I can say is... It can't get any better than this... but I'll tune in again next launch and find out how it somehow always does. Wow.
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Here is stabilized shot of Stage 1 turning around. (Download large mov. file for best result)
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Best footage yet. Just fantasic. Congratz SpaceX and all involved.
Final payload orbit confirmed at -.---**- <Transmission lost> :)
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Congrats SpaceX!
Loved how you could see the stage flying nose first at a steep AoA to extend the glide back to the landing site.
It also appeared that the engine shutdown are primarily responsible for the dirt on the stage. Smoky!
Too bad the onboard camera got a bit smudgy just before the final landing burn.
My four year old loved watching this with me.
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SpaceX Landing Photos
https://www.flickr.com/photos/spacex/33578359423/in/photostream/
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The payload has now been catalogued as USA 276.
USSTRATCOM has catalogued the following objects from NROL-76.
2017-022A 42689 USA 276
2017-022B 42690 FALCON 9 R/B
http://satobs.org/seesat/May-2017/0010.html
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Congratulations to Mr. E. Musk, your vision is a dream.
As for the camera operators that taped the 1st stage coming back, I believe they are robotic ones, that can track the stage automatically or with minimal human input.
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Don't think this has been posted, NRO press release attached confirming successful launch.
Release includes:
“Thanks to the SpaceX team for the great ride, and for the terrific teamwork and commitment they demonstrated throughout. They were an integral part of our government/industry team for this mission, and proved themselves to be a great partner,” said Betty Sapp, Director of the National Reconnaissance Office
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Congratulations to SpaceX for once again making it look easy. Unfortunately I was at work during the launch, but fortunately that job was teaching physics, so I figured this was relevant enough, and put it on the projector.
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More SpaceX launch photos.
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Congratulations from the USAF Chief of Staff:
Glad I could see this in person. Congrats to all involved! @NatReconOfc @SpaceX @45thSpaceWing @NASAKennedy @AFSpace patrick.af.mil/News/Article-D…
https://twitter.com/gendavegoldfein/status/859065684671815684 (https://twitter.com/gendavegoldfein/status/859065684671815684)
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Congrats to all the teams involved !
The footage of the separation, boostback and reentry from the ground was just breathtaking !
How can a landing become boring if you continue to provide stuff like that ?!?
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Incredible! That looked more sc-fi than an actual sci-fi movie!
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Elon posted an instagram video containing a few new angles (and better views of other angles) :o
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTjVdLVB1bO/
(Mp4 video attached)
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We've come a long way from reconstructing the landing footage of CRS-3, haven't we? :)
Congratulations to SpaceX on their first DoD flight and for a spectacular depiction of how our robot overlords will soon invade us. I, for one, welcome more simulations.
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Post launch article, looking to the next launches - includes an "Easter Egg" on a demo conducted after NROL-76 release.
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/05/spacex-launch-cadence-new-goals/
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Tweet from Jonathan McDowell (https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/867225945727434752)
Congrats to Leo Barhorst for locating the secret NRO sat launched by SpaceX on May 1 in a 400 km, 50 deg orbit (http://satobs.org )
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Btw. Seesat archive http://www.satobs.org/seesat/May-2017/index.html
Leo Barhorst's announcement: http://www.satobs.org/seesat/May-2017/0108.html
Ted Molczan's derived TLE: http://www.satobs.org/seesat/May-2017/0112.html
The following elements are derived from Leo Barhorst's observations of early 2017 May 24 UTC:
USA 276 398 X 401 km
1 42689U 17022A 17144.06548369 .00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 02
2 42689 49.9572 164.5366 0001907 186.7642 173.3300 15.56136012 06
Arc 20170524.02-0524.08 WRMS resid 0.044 totl 0.009 xtrk
The arc is short, so this solution is approximate, but it should be adequate to reacquire the object tonight and
tomorrow.
Ted Molczan
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And what does this tell us as regards Mr Molczan's prior predictions?
This is the UPDATES thread. Take your question to the DISCUSSION (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=40328.0) thread please. Thank you.
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Interesting article on how Ted Molczan & Leo Barhorst tracked down NROL-76 and resulting additional thoughts on it's purpose from SFN:
https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/05/24/observers-spot-top-secret-satellite-launched-by-spacex-earlier-this-month/
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Marco Langbroek has an excellent write-up on his blog.
https://sattrackcam.blogspot.nl/2017/05/observing-usa-276-odd-nrol-76-payload.html
Several items are most likely worth discussing in the discussion thread.
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https://www.insaonline.org/insa-announces-2018-achievement-award-recipients/
SMSgt Timothy G. Favreau, USAF
Operations Superintendent
National Reconnaissance Office
SMSgt Favreau has demonstrated tremendous leadership and team building in support of both launch operations and emergency readiness at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS).
As day-of-launch payload recovery director, Sergeant Favreau was instrumental to the inaugural NRO SpaceX Falcon 9 mission and the first East Coast landing of the X-37B Space Plane. He trained dozens of personnel in preparation for the X-37B landing and was integral to the Kennedy Space Center Emergency Operations Center during the successful landing. Additionally, Sergeant Favreau’s training and guidance to personnel from five government agencies facilitated day-of-launch operations for a $1 billion-plus intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance mission. He and his 36-member team resolved numerous tasks flawlessly, ensuring a critical intelligence space asset reached orbit in a timely manner.
Sergeant Favreau also led the preparation, evacuation, and recovery effort related to Hurricane Matthew and subsequent severe weather events to impact CCAFS. Leading a team of 27 government and contractor personnel, Sergeant Favreau’s efforts resulted in the successful safeguarding of over $1 billion in satellite assets and the safety of 300 NRO CCAFS personnel and family members.
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https://www.insaonline.org/insa-announces-2018-achievement-award-recipients/
SMSgt Timothy G. Favreau, USAF
Operations Superintendent
National Reconnaissance Office
Sergeant Favreau’s training and guidance to personnel from five government agencies facilitated day-of-launch operations for a $1 billion-plus intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance mission. He and his 36-member team resolved numerous tasks flawlessly, ensuring a critical intelligence space asset reached orbit in a timely manner.
Congratulations to SMSgt Favreau on his well deserved award.
NROL 76 was a textbook launch and it is welcome news to hear the spacecraft is currently in orbit and operational. The pricetag for these reconnaissance satellites is staggering. It is good to find lower cost solutions, such as SpaceX provides, to defray at least some of the impact to taxpayers.