Author Topic: LIVE: SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 - SES-8 - Dec. 3 - THIRD LAUNCH ATTEMPT UPDATES  (Read 172525 times)

Online Chris Bergin

This is an UPDATE ONLY thread for launch coverage of the third attempt to launch of the F9 v1.1 with the SES-8 spacecraft from SLC-40, Cape Canaveral.

Webcast: http://www.spacex.com/webcast/
Window opens at 17:41 local (22:41 UTC)

Specific Articles:

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/10/ses-8-florida-next-falcon-9-v1-1-launch/

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/10/spacex-realign-falcon-9-missions/

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/11/spacex-falcon-9-v1-1-hot-fire-slc-40/

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/11/falcon-9-aiming-thanksgiving-launch-ses-8/

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/11/spacex-falcon-9-v1-1-milestone-ses-8-launch/

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For those who wish to follow this flow as closely as is viable (non-proprietary, etc.), join L2 and click this link:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=60.0 (dedicated L2 SpaceX Section with menu of coverage areas)

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Resources:

SpaceX GENERAL Forum Section:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=45.0 - please use this for general questions NOT specific to this mission.

SpaceX MISSIONS Forum Section:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=55.0 - this section is for everything specific to SpaceX missions.

SpaceX SES-8 General Thread:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=24469.0

SpaceX SES-8 Flow UPDATE Thread:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=32783.0

SpaceX SES-8 Launch Attempt 1 and Scrub Updates:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=33338.0

SpaceX SES-8 Party Thread:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=33079.0

SpaceX SES-8 Viewing Thread (Going to the launch)
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=33075.0

SES-8 Spacecraft thread:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=32990.0

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Additional News Site Resources:

SpaceX News Articles from 2006 (Including numerous exclusive Elon interviews):
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=21862.0

SpaceX News Articles (Recent):
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/tag/spacex/

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L2 Members:

L2 SpaceX Section - now a dedicated full section:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=24469.0

One Stop Shop Update Areas for L2 Level F9 v1.1/SES-8 Updates:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=32768.0 - Flow.
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=33333.0 - Attempt 1 and Scrub Coverage.
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=33366.0 - Attempt 2 Coverage.
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=33397.0 - Attempt 3 Coverage.
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PLEASE NOTE THAT WE EXPECT THE SITE TO BE VERY BUSY ON LAUNCH DAYS FOR SPACEX MISSIONS. WE *MAY* RESTRICT IT TO FORUM MEMBERS ONLY - WITH NO ACCESS TO THE FORUM FOR GUESTS - WHEN THE SITE BECOMES TOO BUSY. READ THIS: http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=31697.0) The new servers have been coping well, so we have not had to implement this yet, but it's impossible to predict demand.

Go SpaceX! Go Falcon 9! Go Upper Stage (twice!) Go SES-8! Third time is a charm!
« Last Edit: 12/02/2013 08:20 pm by Chris Bergin »
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Online rdale

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Clouds skies prevail across the launch pad this morning, I expect the clearing to start by 2-3pm EST. Not knowing the exact criteria, I would think that things will be fine by launch time however USAF is quite pessimistic with a 40% chance of weather violations.

The rest of the week looks near perfect (especially by Florida standards!)

Online Chris Bergin

NOT official, but L2's launch coverage is getting word of no attempt on Monday.

So that will be NET Tuesday, with emphasis on the NET (No Earlier Than).

Wait for an official notice (probably from Elon).
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Online Chris Bergin

Dan Leone ‏@Leone_SN 4m
@SpaceX spokeswoman told me "we're now targeting launch on Tuesday with Wednesday as a back-up day." @NASASpaceflight was first though.

So that's confirmed (nice of him to mention us too).

Will keep this thread as-is and just re-target it for Tuesday.
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Offline WHAP

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Clouds skies prevail across the launch pad this morning, I expect the clearing to start by 2-3pm EST. Not knowing the exact criteria, I would think that things will be fine by launch time however USAF is quite pessimistic with a 40% chance of weather violations.

The rest of the week looks near perfect (especially by Florida standards!)

40% chance of violation is 60% chance that things will be good.  That may be conservative, but still would not have caused anyone concerns for trying today.
ULA employee.  My opinions do not necessarily reflect those of my employer.

Online rdale

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40% chance of violation is 60% chance that things will be good.

The point is I saw little reason to basically call it just barely better than a coin toss.

In any case, today is out, so tomorrow and Wednesday should be 95-100% acceptable.
« Last Edit: 12/02/2013 03:07 pm by rdale »

Online Chris Bergin

And just to tie a bow on Monday:

Elon Musk ‏@elonmusk
All known rocket anomalies resolved. Will spend another day rechecking to be sure. Launch attempt tmrw eve w Wed as backup.
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Online rdale

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@SpaceX: LAUNCH UPDATE: All known rocket anomalies have been resolved. Launch targeted for Tues, w/ Weds as a back-up. Window opens at 5:41pm ET.

Online rdale

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Launch weather at the Cape tonight - not a cloud to be seen and winds gusting to 6 mph :)

I'm going with a 0% chance of weather violations the next two days. USAF still has slight worry about clouds the next two days, but ...

Online Jakusb

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Webcast is showing a countdown again. Now 22h till start of webcast.

Offline shaula1247

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So far so good for the weather.  Countdown clock is still running at 17hr 11 min.

[typo]
« Last Edit: 12/03/2013 03:54 am by shaula1247 »
Selwyn

Online Chris Bergin

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Online ChrisC

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Does the launch window of 1741-1907 ET now include the extra 20 minutes allowed by the customer?
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Online rdale

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Weather still looks perfect... A day like today is evidence that government forecasters can't bring themselves to ever be fully confident in a forecast as they still have a 10% thick cloud chance :)

Offline ww2planes1

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Does the launch window of 1741-1907 ET now include the extra 20 minutes allowed by the customer?

Yes.  That was included in the formal range request.

Online rdale

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SpaceX tweeted official go for launch at 1741 EST / 2241 UTC.

Online Chris Bergin

About 30 mins to RP-1 loading complete. An hour to LOX loading complete - and into topping.
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Online Chris Bergin

T-3 hrs and 15 mins to launch.

Three hours until the launch webcast. I know people are in various timezones, so that's your three hour warning. *Bing* I repeat, this your three hour warning *Bing*.
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Online Chris Bergin

SpaceX notice:

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket is targeted to launch the SES-8 telecommunications satellite today from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The launch window has been extended and will be open from 5:41pm EST – 7:07pm EST (22:41 UTC – 00:07 UTC).
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Online Chris Bergin

Site is incredibly busy, but the servers are fine (we're well over the site record for a snap shot of people online already...discussing it in the party thread if you want to respond to that).

70 mins to the webcast. *Bing*.

Not hearing of any issues in work.
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