Author Topic: SpaceX Falcon 9 : Iridium NEXT Flight 4 : December 22/23, 2017 - UPDATES  (Read 100238 times)

Offline tleski

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Congratulations to SpaceX and everybody involved! What a great launch and great coverage on NSF!
Incredible experience watching two launches from both ends of Pacific at the same time.

Offline speedevil

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There are enough videos of high enough quality, some including the ground, that it should in principle be possible to accurately solve the trajectories of all things involved.
So many great videos.

Offline ketivab

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According to vesselfinder.com, Mr. Steven and NRC Quest have arrived to San Pedro.

Offline jeffchan

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Congrats to SpaceX, and thanks for also lighting up the Phoenix sky!

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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According to vesselfinder.com, Mr. Steven and NRC Quest have arrived to San Pedro.

No evidence of a recovered fairing, see fairing reuse thread for latest info.

Offline Elmar Moelzer

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Congrats to SpaceX, another routine launch!

Offline JimO

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Offline Llian Rhydderch

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Congratulations to all. Great launch with stunning videos.  Thanks for all the work of so very many to design, build, fly this rocket, and the many many citizen journalists who captured so much stunning video footage which they've now freely shared with the world!   8)
Re arguments from authority on NSF:  "no one is exempt from error, and errors of authority are usually the worst kind.  Taking your word for things without question is no different than a bracket design not being tested because the designer was an old hand."
"You would actually save yourself time and effort if you were to use evidence and logic to make your points instead of wrapping yourself in the royal mantle of authority.  The approach only works on sheep, not inquisitive, intelligent people."

Online catdlr

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and a video provided by the 30th Space Wing, Vandenberg AFB

SpaceX Falcon 9 Iridium-4 Launch

30th Space Wing, Vandenberg AFB
Published on Dec 26, 2017


Team Vandenberg supported the successful launch of the fourth Iridium mission on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex-4 here Friday, Dec. 22, at 5:27 p.m. PST.

Col. Michael S. Hough, 30th Space Wing commander, was the space launch
commander.

"What a way to end the year with the fifth Falcon 9 launch carrying the
fourth set of Iridium satellites. This mission proves that Team V provides
assured access to space and we do it safely and securely," said Hough. "It
goes without saying that we can't accomplish this without great mission
partners like SpaceX."

source: https://www.dvidshub.net/video/576834/spacex-falcon-9-iridium-4-launch




Tony De La Rosa, ...I'm no Feline Dealer!! I move mountains.  but I'm better known for "I think it's highly sexual." Japanese to English Translation.

Offline Chris Bergin



Media Alert
 

Fourth Set of Iridium® NEXT Satellites Arrive in Orbit and Provide Telemetry

MCLEAN, Va. - December 27, 2017 – Iridium Communications announced today that the fourth set of 10 Iridium NEXT satellites, launched Friday by SpaceX, are functioning nominally and have begun the testing and validation process. Not only did this fourth launch mark the midway point of the Iridium NEXT launch campaign, it is also the first Iridium NEXT launch to use a flight-proven Falcon 9 rocket.

“Since Friday’s deployment, the team has only positive news to report,” said Scott Smith, chief operating officer at Iridium. “Similar to the first three launches, our team at the Satellite Network Operations Center immediately began running initial diagnostics as soon as the newly deployed satellites were captured by our network, just minutes after they were deployed.  This testing process has been running smoothly and will continue for several weeks, after which nine of the new satellites will begin their individual ascents to an operational orbit, replacing original vehicles. We’ll also be sending the tenth satellite to an adjacent orbital plane where it will go into service by Summer 2018.”

The Iridium constellation is comprised of six polar orbiting planes, each containing 11 operational crosslinked satellites, for a total of 66 satellites in the active constellation.  This unique architecture creates a web of coverage around the earth, enabling Iridium to provide real-time communications over the oceans and from even the most remote locations.  Four additional Iridium NEXT launches are scheduled for the first half of 2018, bringing Iridium’s total to 75 new satellites in orbit, including nine spares.

For more information about Iridium NEXT, please visit www.IridiumNEXT.com
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Online FutureSpaceTourist

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The first two Iridium NEXT satellites, SV131 and SV134, from the 10 launched on December 22nd were put in service today through our "slot swap" process.  Everything going very smoothly - other 8 will be put in service over next several weeks! #GoIridium!

https://twitter.com/iridiumboss/status/951866064211709958

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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Want to know what it's like to watch a SpaceX launch in person? My team put this together to celebrate our recent fourth launch in December - and what a spectacular show it was! Can't wait to do it again - Iridium-5 next after PAZ launch (2/10) at VAFB

https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/954020538489466880


Online FutureSpaceTourist

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SNOC Report: All 9 #IridiumNEXT SVs from the #Iridium4 launch assigned to orbital plane 2 have been ascended to mission and are now actively providing service. This brings a total of 32 Iridium NEXT satellites in to service, nearly half of the full constellation.

https://twitter.com/iridiumcomm/status/960564683043491840

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