Author Topic: SpaceX Falcon Heavy : USSF-44 : KSC LC-39A: 1 Nov 2022 (13:41 UTC) (Read 264033 times)

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #180 on:** 09/25/2022 09:13 pm »

Quote from: Alexphysics on 09/25/2022 02:49 pm

Not sure why all this conversation here when it's all just theories and most of the comments are barely related to the mission itself. Center core is being expended, period.

This moderator wonders the same. Please take discussion regarding expendable vs. ASDS recovery of the Falcon Heavy core to the appropriate discussion thread.

I suspect that one will find it has been thoroughly talked out before.

scr00chy · « **Reply #181 on:** 09/26/2022 10:00 am »

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

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And a Falcon Heavy will launch USSF-44 for the US Space Force from pad 39A in late October TBA.

wannamoonbase · « **Reply #182 on:** 10/03/2022 02:15 pm »

Will there be a LC39A launch between Crew 5 and this flight?

We haven't seen the launch mount conversion between F9 to FH and back in a long time, I wonder if the team wants to give themselves some time for the switch over and check out.

Also, I imagine we will see a static fire for this beast.

I've talked myself into thinking there is no other flight between Crew 5 and our first FH flight in 3.5 years. (Far far too long!)

Alexphysics · « **Reply #183 on:** 10/03/2022 02:27 pm »

As far as I'm aware, there are no plans for other missions from 39A for the rest of the year other than Dragon and Falcon Heavy. Of course, they could always sneak in a Starlink here and there if there are payload delays with these missions but very unlikely.

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #184 on:** 10/05/2022 10:15 pm »

https://twitter.com/stephenclark1/status/1577783609037099009

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A US Space Force spokesperson says the payload issues that caused two years of delays for the USSF-44 mission are now resolved. Launch is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 28.

https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/10/05/after-a-three-year-wait-spacexs-falcon-heavy-could-launch-again-later-this-month/

Rondaz · « **Reply #185 on:** 10/05/2022 11:47 pm »

The Space Force says the two side boosters on SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket for the USSF-44 mission set for launch Oct. 28 will return to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station for onshore landings.

The Falcon Heavy core stage won't be recovered.

https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/1577787716900597760

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #186 on:** 10/06/2022 05:50 pm »

https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1578079979266416640

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SpaceX teams at LC-39A are currently converting the Transporter Erector into the Falcon Heavy configuration.

nsf.live/spacecoast

Rondaz · « **Reply #187 on:** 10/07/2022 12:35 pm »

SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy LAUNCH SCHEDULED "this month" after a three-year wait...

Rondaz · « **Reply #188 on:** 10/07/2022 12:37 pm »

U.S. Space Force TETRA-1 satellite prepared for launch after 15-month integration..

4/21/2020

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., April 21, 2020 – Less than 15 months after contract award, Millennium Space Systems has designed, manufactured, assembled and integrated the U.S. Space Force TETRA-1 satellite. The work was completed 60 percent faster than previous missions, improving the U.S. Space Force’s ability to advance the TETRA-1 technologies more quickly.

TETRA-1 is a microsatellite created for various prototype missions in and around geosynchronous earth orbit. TETRA-1 was the first prototype award under the U.S. Space Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center’s Space Enterprise Consortium Other Transaction Authority (OTA) charter.

“One of our primary goals is to be more agile in the development and deployment of innovative space assets,” said Col. Tim Sejba, director, Innovation and Prototyping, Development Corps, Space and Missile Systems Center, Detachment 1 at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. “By leveraging OTA contracts with programs like TETRA-1, we are expediting the execution of new space development missions. The partnership we’ve developed with Millennium Space Systems allows us to create and field a dynamic pathfinder capability to meet the future space warfighter’s needs.”

Most of the TETRA-1 components were completed by leveraging Millennium’s in-house capabilities, demonstrating that organically developed capabilities are a key enabler for executing programs on a tight schedule. After system integration, the satellite successfully completed its environmental and full functional tests.

“The pace set on TETRA-1 from contract award through readiness to launch represents what Boeing does best for our national security customers,” said Mark Cherry, vice president and general manager, Boeing Phantom Works. “Our lean Millennium team was up to the task, building and delivering a fully tested and verified satellite in record time.”

TETRA-1 is based on Millennium’s proven ALTAIR-class small satellite product line. It is the first of Millennium’s ALTAIR satellites to qualify for operations in the geosynchronous orbit space environment, 22,236 miles (35,786 kilometers) from the Earth’s surface. TETRA-1 is manifested on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket currently scheduled for launch in late 2020.

https://www.millennium-space.com/media/u-s-space-force-tetra-1-satellite-prepared-for-launch-after-15-month-integration

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #189 on:** 10/07/2022 06:50 pm »

https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1578457460871790592

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Falcon Heavy time is nigh. 🚀🚀🚀

Rondaz · « **Reply #190 on:** 10/10/2022 03:13 pm »

B1066 is a Falcon Heavy center core that will fly NET October 28th as part of the USSF-44 mission. It's new and it being expended will allow the second stage have enough performance to push that mission's payloads into GEO. Will look more or less like this..

https://twitter.com/Alexphysics13/status/1579444262940602368

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #191 on:** 10/13/2022 07:22 pm »

https://twitter.com/gregscott_photo/status/1580636456371953669

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Falcon Heavy launch date has changed. New date for launch is Oct 31st at 6:44am EDT from pad 39A at #NASA. #SpaceX 📸

leetdan · « **Reply #192 on:** 10/13/2022 08:40 pm »

That's 49 minutes before local sunrise, hopefully we get some great visuals with this one!

jimothytones · « **Reply #193 on:** 10/14/2022 03:29 pm »

Woukd anyone with a better grasp of orbital dynamics than mine care to comment on whether this launch window will be subject to precession if the launch date slips to the right? and if it is, will it get earlier or later?

Alexphysics · « **Reply #194 on:** 10/14/2022 04:42 pm »

Quote from: FutureSpaceTourist on 10/13/2022 07:22 pm

https://twitter.com/gregscott_photo/status/1580636456371953669

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Falcon Heavy launch date has changed. New date for launch is Oct 31st at 6:44am EDT from pad 39A at #NASA. #SpaceX 📸

This time of day is wrong. Launch is not planned for that time.

Comga · « **Reply #195 on:** 10/14/2022 08:34 pm »

Quote from: jimothytones on 10/14/2022 03:29 pm

Woukd anyone with a better grasp of orbital dynamics than mine care to comment on whether this launch window will be subject to precession if the launch date slips to the right? and if it is, will it get earlier or later?

This is a launch to Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) and on to Geosynchronous Orbit, so there is no precession.
Rather it is fixed to the solar time of day.

If it launches around dawn, then the equator crossing will be around solar noon.
That becomes the perigee of the GTO, whose apogee, and GEO injection, would be around solar midnight.
Given that we are 23 days from the equinox, the angle between the equator and the ecliptic, is about 40% the Earth's inclination of 23.5 degrees, or abut 9 degree.
That would likely put the circularization burn, occuring around solar nidnight, in eclipse, within the edge of the shadow of the Earth.
That would be an odd choice.
However, small changes could bring it out of eclipse.

Launching around sunset would tend to put the circularization burn around solar noon.
(It was my understanding that this was standard procedure.)
Launching around midnight would tend to put that burn above the sunset line.
Or have I made a mistake here?
Are there other considerations like ground coverage?

crandles57 · « **Reply #196 on:** 10/14/2022 10:08 pm »

https://www.launchphotography.com/Launch_Viewing_Guide.html (13 Oct version)
suggests "late October, in the late morning EDT"

This suggest Oct 28th
https://twitter.com/thesheetztweetz/status/1581013857849331712

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SpaceX is preparing for its first Falcon Heavy launch in three years – the USSF-44 mission, planned for Oct. 28 – and fans of the monster rocket aren't the ones excited:

Space Force Col. Douglas Pentecost:

“We’re getting close to launch day, and we’re totally pumped!"

Edit: This 28th date was based on Oct 5 article so out of date

JAFO · « **Reply #197 on:** 10/16/2022 08:54 pm »

Quote from: Alexphysics on 10/14/2022 04:42 pm

Quote from: FutureSpaceTourist on 10/13/2022 07:22 pm
https://twitter.com/gregscott_photo/status/1580636456371953669

Quote
Falcon Heavy launch date has changed. New date for launch is Oct 31st at 6:44am EDT from pad 39A at #NASA. #SpaceX 📸

This time of day is wrong. Launch is not planned for that time.

Boogers. I have to be in Melbourne Oct 31, get into MCO Oct 30. I was hoping for a small slip.

Brian45 · « **Reply #198 on:** 10/16/2022 09:06 pm »

OK, that's confusing. The comment says Oct 31, 6:44 AM. Then the follow up comment says the time is wrong.
I'm planning on visiting and watching this launch/landing, but I'm getting the vibe that no one really knows when this is currently scheduled. I'll keep checking back for further info.

RocketLover0119 · « **Reply #199 on:** 10/16/2022 09:19 pm »

Quote from: Brian45 on 10/16/2022 09:06 pm

OK, that's confusing. The comment says Oct 31, 6:44 AM. Then the follow up comment says the time is wrong.
I'm planning on visiting and watching this launch/landing, but I'm getting the vibe that no one really knows when this is currently scheduled. I'll keep checking back for further info.

No one knows, and anyone claiming to is wrong.