Was planning to drive down this past weekend, now unsure. May wait for the first RTLS Iridium. Would be nice if they can get to it before heavy-fog season arrives.
Quote from: dglow on 01/10/2017 07:03 pmWas planning to drive down this past weekend, now unsure. May wait for the first RTLS Iridium. Would be nice if they can get to it before heavy-fog season arrives.Pretty sure you're going to be waiting a long time for that. The FAA clearance for launching all (well 7) of the Iridium launches gives license to land the first stage at "The Iridium landing zone" which is out to sea OR just in the ocean, no land landing mentioned. The landing would have to be on an ASDS, and the barge (ship) currently on the West Coast is JRTI (Just Read the Instructions).
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.CALIFORNIA.HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS.1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 141724Z TO 141838Z, 151719Z TO 151833Z AND 161713Z TO 161827Z JANIN AREAS BETWEEN:A. 32-30N 29-20N AND 119-30W 121-40W.B. 29-20N 24-40N AND 120-40W 120-20W.2. CANCEL THIS MSG 161927Z JAN 17.//Authority: WESTERN RANGE 080517Z JAN 17.Date: 100319Z JAN 17Cancel: 16192700 Jan 17
What is the narrow hazard zone immediately to the south? Fairings? And the hazard area is huge I guess it includes certain failure modes.
Authorization: SpaceX is authorized to conduct seven flights of launch vehicles:(a) Using a Falcon 9 Version 1.2 launch vehicle;(b) From Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB), California;(c) On a flight azimuth of 179.2 degrees;(d) Using a traditional command destruct Flight Termination System;(e) Landing the Falcon 9 Version 1.2 first stage either on a droneship or in the ocean;(f) Transporting to low Earth orbit ten Iridium Next payloads on each flight; and(g) According to the launch vehicle, launch vehicle systems, and safety management program represented in the SpaceX application as of the date of this order, and any amendments to the license application approved by the FAA, in writing.
Formosat-5 is the Next Vandenberg launch and it could be RTLS if the USAF gives clearance.
I assume that the Northern/larger hazard area is for the ASDS landing. What is the narrow hazard zone immediately to the south? Fairings? And the hazard area is huge I guess it includes certain failure modes.
Quote from: Brovane on 01/11/2017 01:53 pmFormosat-5 is the Next Vandenberg launch and it could be RTLS if the USAF gives clearance. They'll need a license for that launch first.
Quote from: mme on 01/11/2017 05:31 pmI assume that the Northern/larger hazard area is for the ASDS landing. What is the narrow hazard zone immediately to the south? Fairings? And the hazard area is huge I guess it includes certain failure modes.It might not be fair to characterize all the dispersion as occurring only in failure mode cases. As regards the larger (presumably ASDS) zone, returning stage flight through a box that big might be the result of uncertainties about the boostback burn. Sepculating about the long thin (presumably fairing) zone, it could indicate SpaceX does not believe the fairing descent will be purely ballistic in nature, i.e. aerodynamics might play a part.
Matt Desch @IridiumBoss 7m7 minutes agoBeautiful picture of our ride to space tomorrow on the launch pad this morning! #IridiumNEXT #SpaceX
Quote from: Chris Bergin on 01/13/2017 05:48 pmMatt Desch @IridiumBoss 7m7 minutes agoBeautiful picture of our ride to space tomorrow on the launch pad this morning! #IridiumNEXT #SpaceXActually, note 2 Falcons in this shot. One F9 and one F3
Press kit seems to say that this one will load up prop way slower than before.T-70min for RP-1 load start, T-45min for LOX load start.Interesting. Permanent change, something special for Vandy (this is first Full Thrust out of Vandy after all) or...?