Author Topic: SpaceX Falcon 9 : NROL-87 : SLC-4E Vandenberg : 2 February 2022 (20:27 UTC)  (Read 70807 times)

Offline AC in NC

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The launch of the NROL-87 mission is scheduled for February 2 at 16:37 UTC.
Five hours, one minute seems to be a long launch window.  Ah, well.
Would it be going too far to suggest that the wording perhaps doesn't delineate a "launch window" as we typically define that?

Offline scr00chy

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The launch of the NROL-87 mission is scheduled for February 2 at 16:37 UTC.
Five hours, one minute seems to be a long launch window.  Ah, well.
Would it be going too far to suggest that the wording perhaps doesn't delineate a "launch window" as we typically define that?

Yeah, I think we've seen cases in the past where these long windows were narrowed down closer to launch.

Offline ATPTourFan

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Especially with NROL missions. They like to keep the actual launch time secret as late as possible.

Offline Ken the Bin

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From this week's USCG District 11 Local Notice to Mariners.  Times are PST (UTC-08:00).

Quote from: USCG
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA-VANDENBERG AFB-HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS

Hazardous operations will be conducted from Vandenberg AFB, CA starting at 8:37am on 02 February, 2022 until 1:38pm on 03 February, 2022.
Hazardous operation areas are bounded by the following coordinates:
34-42-00N 120-41-00W
34-41-00N 120-32-00W
34-31-00N 120-26-00W
34-18-00N 120-30-00W
33-40-00N 120-53-00W
32-10-00N 121-24-00W
31-25-00N 121-27-00W
31-07-00N 121-40-00W
31-09-00N 121-55-00W
31-35-00N 121-52-00W
32-17-00N 121-27-00W
34-29-00N 120-46-00W
Mariners are advised to remain clear of these areas for the duration of operations. For more details or comments contact Vandenberg AFB at 805-606-0002.

Online Alexphysics

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From this week's USCG District 11 Local Notice to Mariners.  Times are PST (UTC-08:00).

Quote from: USCG
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA-VANDENBERG AFB-HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS

Hazardous operations will be conducted from Vandenberg AFB, CA starting at 8:37am on 02 February, 2022 until 1:38pm on 03 February, 2022.
Hazardous operation areas are bounded by the following coordinates:
34-42-00N 120-41-00W
34-41-00N 120-32-00W
34-31-00N 120-26-00W
34-18-00N 120-30-00W
33-40-00N 120-53-00W
32-10-00N 121-24-00W
31-25-00N 121-27-00W
31-07-00N 121-40-00W
31-09-00N 121-55-00W
31-35-00N 121-52-00W
32-17-00N 121-27-00W
34-29-00N 120-46-00W
Mariners are advised to remain clear of these areas for the duration of operations. For more details or comments contact Vandenberg AFB at 805-606-0002.

Well it looks pretty much like what we expected. A flight to sun synchronous orbit, likely for observation and doing some good ole spying heh

Could this launch be the first of the Next Generation Electo-Optical series? The targeted orbit doesn't seem to match with any other existing NRO satellites.
[zubenelgenubi: Added quote.]
« Last Edit: 01/21/2022 03:18 am by zubenelgenubi »

Online gongora

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https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc/status/1484601791211786241
Quote
Pretty symbolic, don’t you think? The #NROL87 launch patch features a wild mountain goat standing proud atop a mountain peak remaining watchfully alert. NRO maintains constant vigilance from above in protecting our nation and its citizens.
#space #spacebound #vigilancefromabove

Offline Conexion Espacial

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In addition, given the two first stages currently in use at Vandenberg, 1051.12 and 1063.4, I suspect that 1063.4 will be used for the NRO launch; as the NRO is an "external" customer, and 1051 will be the first booster used for the twelfth time.

I therefore suspect 1051.12 will be used for the next Vandenberg Starlink launch (if it's in the near future).
I understand that for the NROL-87 mission the B1071 could be used and it would be its first and only launch.
In addition, it was seen that it was going to California 4 weeks ago.
https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1472740560742010883

Why would it be B1071's only launch?
Because for the NROL-87 mission, the booster will not be recovered (regardless of which one is used), the FCC license does not indicate a first stage recovery.
NextSpaceFlight indicates that the Falcon 9 first stage will land in Landing Zone 4.
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Offline Huskymaniac

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Forecast shows clouds and scattered sprinkles.  If they can't launch on the 2nd, is this the type of mission that will have another window on the 3rd or 4th and so on?

Anyone know what the fog situation has been like lately?

Offline Ken the Bin

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Forecast shows clouds and scattered sprinkles.  If they can't launch on the 2nd, is this the type of mission that will have another window on the 3rd or 4th and so on?

Anyone know what the fog situation has been like lately?

The notice from the USCG covers February 2 and February 3.

Online Zed_Noir

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https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc/status/1484601791211786241
Quote
Pretty symbolic, don’t you think? The #NROL87 launch patch features a wild mountain goat standing proud atop a mountain peak remaining watchfully alert. NRO maintains constant vigilance from above in protecting our nation and its citizens.
#space #spacebound #vigilancefromabove

Hmm. Looks too much like the Capella Space company logo in mirror image.  :-\

Offline Newton_V

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Picked up some cool swag recently.  Like the logo.

Offline Newton_V

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This one's better.  Forgot I owned that carving.

Offline zubenelgenubi

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Possible first stages for NROL-87:
1063.4 or 1071.1.
No other plausible stages will be/are known to be available.

My >guess< regarding Static Fire or not would be:
NRO/USSF will pay for a Static Fire, especially so if this payload is the long-awaited first replacement of the KH-11's.

Edit: correction

Edit Jan 26: Successful Static Fire.  Booster ID not revealed.

Edit Jan 28: 1071.1 confirmed.

Edit Feb 2: Successful launch and LZ-4 landing.
« Last Edit: 02/05/2022 03:15 am by zubenelgenubi »
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Possible first stages for Starlink 4-7:
1063.4 or 1071.1.


I'm going to assume you mean NROL-87  ;)
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Offline Jim

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My >guess< regarding Static Fire or not would be:
NRO/USSF will pay for a Static Fire, especially so if this payload is the long-awaited first replacement of the KH-11's.

It can’t be that payload

Offline Yeknom-Ecaps

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Is there an image of the logo with a white background? Thanks.

Offline Conexion Espacial

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Is there an image of the logo with a white background? Thanks.
How about this?
« Last Edit: 01/25/2022 07:03 pm by Conexion Espacial »
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Offline vaporcobra


My >guess< regarding Static Fire or not would be:
NRO/USSF will pay for a Static Fire, especially so if this payload is the long-awaited first replacement of the KH-11's.

It can’t be that payload

Just for context, I believe Jim means it can't be a Keyhole-class satellite unless it's been redesigned to tolerate horizontal integration. But AFAIK, the latest generation - Block V - started launching on Delta IV Heavy in 2019 and again in 2021 and I've heard nothing about plans for a sixth block upgrade.

Offline zubenelgenubi

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My >guess< regarding Static Fire or not would be:
NRO/USSF will pay for a Static Fire, especially so if this payload is the long-awaited first replacement of the KH-11's.
It can’t be that payload
Just for context, I believe Jim means it can't be a Keyhole-class satellite unless it's been redesigned to tolerate horizontal integration. But AFAIK, the latest generation - Block V - started launching on Delta IV Heavy in 2019 and again in 2021 and I've heard nothing about plans for a sixth block upgrade.
I seem to recall mention of a successor to the KH-11's, of a new design--so not a KH-11 block 6.  My recollection could very well be faulty.  PT's post up-thread:
Could this launch be the first of the Next Generation Electo-Optical series? The targeted orbit doesn't seem to match with any other existing NRO satellites.

You are correct to mention possible incompatibility with horizontal launch integration.  Unless accommodating such is a feature designed for?

Can any of our experts speak to this?
« Last Edit: 01/26/2022 02:41 am by zubenelgenubi »
Support your local planetarium! (COVID-panic and forward: Now more than ever.) My current avatar is saying "i wants to go uppies!" Yes, there are God-given rights. Do you wish to gainsay the Declaration of Independence?

Offline Jim

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There still is a west coast Delta IV Heavy left. 
No long Falcon 9 fairings yet.

Tags: nrol logo Mission 
 

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