Author Topic: SpaceX F9 : O3b mPower 5/6 : CCSFS SLC-40 : 12 November 2023 (21:08 UTC) (Read 61890 times)

GewoonLukas_ · « **Reply #20 on:** 08/03/2023 07:36 am »

Ben Cooper (Updated August 3rd):

Quote

A Falcon 9 will launch the mPOWER-C mission for SES from pad 40 on August TBD, in the evening EDT.

https://www.launchphotography.com/Launch_Viewing_Guide.html

GewoonLukas_ · « **Reply #21 on:** 08/03/2023 03:59 pm »

Quote

SES: Occasional trip-off of power modules on first 4 O3b mPower satellites could delay next launches
August 3, 2023

Satellite fleet operator SES said it said is a minor glitch in the performance of the first four O3b mPower medium-Earth-orbit broadband satellites that could delay the launch of the third and fourth pair of mPower satellites, scheduled this year with SpaceX.

SES Interim Chief Executive Ruy Pinto said the issue — sporadic trip-offs of some of the satellites’ power modules — can be quickly recovered “without impact on the performance of the mPower payloads.”

[Paywalled from here]

Sam Ho · « **Reply #22 on:** 08/04/2023 03:08 am »

Source for the reports of the O3b mPower satellite delay is the 2023 H1 earnings call.

Described as having sporadic switch-off of some power modules. Modules can be reset successfully, but they would like to understand the issue. Launch expected to happen by the end of Q3, and service for customers by the end of the year. Analogous to having circuit breakers pop unexpectedly. Not worried right now.

https://www.ses.com/company/investors/financial-results

Also coverage of the same on SpaceNews:
O3b mPower faces delays as SES investigates electrical issue
https://spacenews.com/next-o3b-mpower-launch-delayed-as-ses-investigates-electrical-issue/

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #23 on:** 08/11/2023 11:45 am »

NextSpaceflight, updated August 11:
Launch NET September 2023

I assume that the next substantial news we read will be that the satellites have been delivered to the Cape. (unless launch is delayed into Q4)

GewoonLukas_ · « **Reply #24 on:** 08/13/2023 10:13 pm »

NextSpaceflight (Updated August 13th)
Launch NET August 27th, 2023
https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/6943

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #25 on:** 08/13/2023 10:29 pm »

Quote from: GewoonLukas_ on 08/13/2023 10:13 pm

NextSpaceflight (Updated August 13th)
Launch NET August 27th, 2023
https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/6943

Satellites' delivery must be imminent, or occurred over the weekend. Press release tomorrow (Monday) or soon thereafter? 14 days to NET date.

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #26 on:** 08/14/2023 11:57 pm »

Unchanged from August 3 update:

Quote from: Salo on 08/13/2023 06:58 pm

https://www.launchphotography.com/Launch_Viewing_Guide.html
Quote
UPDATED AUGUST 13, 2023

FALCON 9
<snip>
A Falcon 9 will launch the mPOWER-C mission for SES from pad 40 on August TBD, in the evening EDT.

August 14 update:

Quote

A Falcon 9 will launch the mPOWER-C mission for SES from pad 40 on August TBD, in the late afternoon EDT.

gongora · « **Reply #27 on:** 08/15/2023 03:07 am »

Quote

to permit the applicant to operate one, one-way, all-cargo charter flight, using its AN-124-100 aircraft, carrying outsized cargo on behalf of the Boeing Company (Boeing), from Los Angeles, California, to Melbourne or Titusville/Cape Canaveral, Florida, during the period August 16-31, 2023. The applicant states that the flight will carry two O3b commercial satellites in an outsized 5M satellite shipping container, plus ancillary containers, pallets, parts, and equipment.

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #28 on:** 08/16/2023 02:54 am »

Which first stage will be used for this launch (semi-rhetorical question)?

The May 16 press briefing revealed Falcon 9 first stages are now cleared for use up to twenty times for Starlink launches. The limit for all the other not-HSF payloads is currently fifteen launches.

1064.4 and 1065.4 are reserved as the Falcon Heavy side boosters for Psyche.

1072.1 is reserved for Cygnus NG-20.

1076.7 and 1073.10 may undergo modifications to become Falcon Heavy side boosters for a future launch, but are apparently still available for "single-stick" launches at the current time.

Available first stages, with UTC date of most recent recovery:
1073.10 Jun 12
1080.3 Jul 1
1076.7 Jul 24
1062.15 Jul 28 (?)
1077.7 Aug 3
1078.5 Aug 7 (maybe)

Edited
Edit August 22: Launch delayed NET October.

rocketenthusiast · « **Reply #29 on:** 08/16/2023 03:13 pm »

I would guess that B1080 or b1073 will fly starlink and this would fly on the other. its also possible that this flyies on 58 but the probability is low

ZachS09 · « **Reply #30 on:** 08/16/2023 04:01 pm »

Quote from: rocketenthusiast on 08/16/2023 03:13 pm

I would guess that B1080 or b1073 will fly starlink and this would fly on the other. its also possible that this flyies on 58 but the probability is low

IIRC, SpaceX said that boosters that have flown past the 15-flight point will only be used for Starlink missions.

B1058 has flown 16 times as of today.

GewoonLukas_ · « **Reply #31 on:** 08/17/2023 06:01 am »

NextSpaceflight (Updated August 17th)
Launch NET 27 August 2023, 21:04 UTC
https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/6943

GewoonLukas_ · « **Reply #32 on:** 08/22/2023 06:43 am »

Delayed again...more issues?

NextSpaceflight (Updated August 21/22)
Launch NET October / Q4 2023
https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/6943

spacenuance · « **Reply #33 on:** 09/14/2023 02:25 am »

https://spacenews.com/ses-qa-leveling-up-multi-orbit-connectivity/ [Sept 13]

SES CEO confirms they are still aiming to ship the next 2 O3b sats by end of September for launch in October. They've made a few changes to these satellites to help prevent the power issues they are experiencing with the first 4, but from reading through the CEO's response, it doesnt sound like they have the exact cause pinned down yet, these are just changes they hope will help to a certain extent.

Quote

Q: A big source of current investment is O3b mPower. Where are you in resolving the technical glitch you recently disclosed there?

A: We have been working really hard with Boeing and we have a way better understanding of this phenomena than we had two months ago. This gives us the confidence that we can provide the level of service that our customers expect, and that we expect from O3b mPower.

With a mix of operational [changes and] updates to the software, we can live with this phenomenon. It doesn’t impact the lifetime of those satellites as far as we know.

The current plan is that we are on target to launch the next two (O3b satellites) in October. <snip>

Q: What changes did you make to the two upcoming satellites?

A: They are good things to do in terms of shielding and cabling. We don’t expect them to be a silver bullet for the phenomena we have observed, but they’re sensible things to do.

Of course, launching them gives Boeing and us time to go from: Now we understand what is happening to can I just prevent it from happening altogether on the following five satellites?

Q: Are they packed up and ready for the launchpad?

A: They’re not packed up yet, but if we’re going to meet a launch in October we’re going to have to ship them by the end of September.

[zubenelgenubi: edit/add]

rocketenthusiast · « **Reply #34 on:** 09/14/2023 02:48 am »

Werent the satellites already shipped to the cape? did they return them to the manufacturer?

GewoonLukas_ · « **Reply #35 on:** 09/14/2023 05:57 am »

Quote from: rocketenthusiast on 09/14/2023 02:48 am

Werent the satellites already shipped to the cape? did they return them to the manufacturer?

They were planning to, but it never happened

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #36 on:** 09/24/2023 05:43 pm »

Cross-post:

Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 09/24/2023 05:40 pm

Ben Cooper's Launch Photography Viewing Guide, updated September 24:
Quote
[Last listed launch]
A Falcon 9 will launch the O3b mPOWER-5&6 satellites for SES from pad 40 on October.

GewoonLukas_ · « **Reply #37 on:** 09/24/2023 10:02 pm »

NextSpaceflight (Updated September 24th)
Launch NET October 22nd, 2023
https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/6943

GewoonLukas_ · « **Reply #38 on:** 10/09/2023 05:54 am »

Delayed again...

NextSpaceflight (Updated October 9th)
Launch NET December 2023
https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/6943

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #39 on:** 10/09/2023 06:24 am »

Cross-post:

Quote from: spacenuance on 10/05/2023 03:30 am

Quote from: gongora on 10/05/2023 03:15 am
2033-EX-ST-2023 Mission 1823 from LC-40 at CCAFS or LC-39A at KSC
NET late November [NET Nov 25]
ASDS North 28 16 11 West 73 35 6

Quote
This application extends information from grant 0932-EX-ST-2023.

Quote from: Josh_from_Canada on 08/19/2023 09:41 pm
Non Starlink missions with FCC applications

Cape:

0932-EX-ST-2023 Mission 1823, OSD: May 25th, ASDS recovery (O3b mPOWER-c)

This is an extension to the 3rd O3b mPOWER mission FCC grant (assignment is not confirmed but very likely as speculated by others). Seems SpaceX thinks this may not launch until December.

Also, the original FCC license application:

Quote from: gongora on 04/26/2023 01:14 am

0932-EX-ST-2023 Mission 1823
NET late May [NET May 25], launching east from Florida
ASDS North 28 16 11 West 73 35 6

Might this extension merely be like insurance?

Also, NET December could = NET Q4 in NextSF jargon = NET November/December?

Quote from: GewoonLukas_ on 10/09/2023 05:54 am

Delayed again...

NextSpaceflight (Updated October 9th)
Launch NET December 2023
https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/6943