Author Topic: Electron - Flight 17 - Owl’s Night Begins - LC-1 - Dec 15 2020 (10:09 UTC)  (Read 20234 times)

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 48174
  • UK
    • Plan 28
  • Liked: 81684
  • Likes Given: 36941
https://twitter.com/rocketlab/status/1331319873285152769

Quote
Counting down to our next mission, a dedicated launch from LC-1 for Japanese SAR company Synspective! 

Learn more: bit.ly/3l1Ujz9

twitter.com/rocketlab/status/1331319876590346240

Quote
This mission has an instantaneous launch opportunity each day of the 14-day launch window.

Lift-off is currently targeted NET 12 December.
🚀UTC | 10:09:30
🚀NZDT | 23:09:30
🚀PT | 02:09:30
🚀ET | 05:09:30

https://twitter.com/rocketlab/status/1331319878989475840

Quote
The mission is named ‘The Owl’s Night Begins’ in a nod to Synspective’s StriX family of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) spacecraft developed to be able to image millimeter-level changes to the Earth’s surface from space. Strix is also the genus of owls.


https://www.rocketlabusa.com/missions/next-mission/

Quote
MISSION OVERVIEW

Rocket Lab's 17th mission is a dedicated launch for Japanese Earth-imaging company Synspective.

The mission is named ‘The Owl’s Night Begins’ in a nod to Synspective’s StriX family of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) spacecraft developed to be able to image millimetre-level changes to the Earth’s surface from space, independent of weather conditions on Earth and at any time of the day or night. Strix is also the genus of owls.

The StriX-α satellite onboard this mission will be the first of a series of spacecraft deployments for Synspective’s planned constellation of more than 30 SAR small satellites to collate data of metropolitan centers across Asia on a daily basis that can be used for urban development planning, construction and infrastructure monitoring, and disaster response.
« Last Edit: 12/14/2020 09:35 pm by input~2 »

Offline TrevorMonty

NB this expendable mission, no recovery attempt. That will be early next year when they've had time to apply upgrades learnt from recovered booster.


Online edzieba

  • Virtual Realist
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6105
  • United Kingdom
  • Liked: 9330
  • Likes Given: 39
NB this expendable mission, no recovery attempt. That will be early next year when they've had time to apply upgrades learnt from recovered booster.
The Rocketlab factory shot from September showed one non-recovery core (In Focus), one recovery core, (Return To Sender), and 3 additional non-recovery cores, distinguishable by the thickened band at the top of the interstate (or lack thereof), along with an additional two unfinished cores with their interstates obscured. I would expect a minimum of 3 non-recovery flights before the next recovery attempt. There are two 'loose' interstages visible on the floor with no 'hump', so maybe even 5 flights before the next recovery attempt.
« Last Edit: 11/25/2020 09:59 am by edzieba »

Offline Ken the Bin

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2755
  • US Pacific Time Zone
    • @kenthebin@spacey.space
  • Liked: 5143
  • Likes Given: 5547
Rocket Lab has updated their Next Mission webpage.  The launch is no longer instantaneous at 10:09 UTC.

Now:
Quote from: Rocket Lab
Daily launch opportunity exists between:
UTC | 09:00 -  10:59
NZT | 22:00 – 23:59
PT | 01:00 – 02:59
ET | 04:00 – 05:59
JST | 18:00 – 19:59

Offline Ken the Bin

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2755
  • US Pacific Time Zone
    • @kenthebin@spacey.space
  • Liked: 5143
  • Likes Given: 5547

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 48174
  • UK
    • Plan 28
  • Liked: 81684
  • Likes Given: 36941
twitter.com/rocketlab/status/1334212120515276801
 
Quote
Payload integration is underway at Launch Complex 1 this week ahead of our next mission, The Owl’s Night Begins.
This SAR satellite for Synspective will be on its way to orbit on Electron in just 9 days! Full mission info: bit.ly/2Vqp1HO

https://twitter.com/rocketlab/status/1334212435381686272

Quote
The Owl’s Night Begins launch window opens December 12th. Let's go to space again!

🚀UTC | 09:00 -  10:59
🚀NZT | 22:00 – 23:59
🚀PT | 01:00 – 02:59
🚀ET | 04:00 – 05:59
🚀JST | 18:00 – 19:59

Offline otter

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 626
  • Belarus
  • Liked: 581
  • Likes Given: 48

Offline Ken the Bin

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2755
  • US Pacific Time Zone
    • @kenthebin@spacey.space
  • Liked: 5143
  • Likes Given: 5547
Updated Press Kit: https://www.rocketlabusa.com/assets/Uploads/Flight-17-Press-Kit2.pdf

I don't see what's changed.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

  • Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 39218
  • Adelaide, Australia
    • Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive
  • Liked: 32738
  • Likes Given: 8196
Updated Press Kit: https://www.rocketlabusa.com/assets/Uploads/Flight-17-Press-Kit2.pdf

I don't see what's changed.


Page 3, line 2. Changed from "across Asia" to "across the world".
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Ken the Bin

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2755
  • US Pacific Time Zone
    • @kenthebin@spacey.space
  • Liked: 5143
  • Likes Given: 5547
No Rocket Launching notice, but I received these two Space Debris NGA notices:

Quote from: NGA
070139Z DEC 20
HYDROPAC 3615/20(76).
WESTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
DNC 06.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   0700Z TO 1130Z DAILY 12 THRU 25 DEC
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   53-48S 172-18E, 53-48S 173-18E,
   57-00S 172-18E, 57-00S 170-18E.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 251230Z DEC 20.
Quote from: NGA
070151Z DEC 20
HYDROPAC 3616/20(76).
WESTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
NEW ZEALAND
DNC 06.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   0700Z TO 1130Z DAILY 12 THRU 25 DEC
   IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 39-13.20S 177-50.80E, 39-13.20S 177-54.60E,
      39-17.00S 178-00.00E, 39-40.00S 177-50.50E,
      39-40.00S 177-43.00E, 39-14.50S 177-48.50E.
   B. 43-30.00S 175-30.00E, 43-30.00S 177-30.00E,
      47-30.00S 176-30.00E, 47-30.00S 175-00.00E.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 251230Z DEC 20.

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 48174
  • UK
    • Plan 28
  • Liked: 81684
  • Likes Given: 36941
https://twitter.com/rocketlab/status/1336025396089823232

Quote
Payload encapsulation is complete at LC-1 and the StriX-α satellite for Synspective is ready to go to space. 'The Owl's Night Begins' mission is scheduled for lift-off on December 12th UTC.

Offline Yellowstone10

I take it those two small lumps on the fairing are the custom expansion mentioned in the press kit?

I take it those two small lumps on the fairing are the custom expansion mentioned in the press kit?
I believe so, the fairing looks to be otherwise the same diameter.  My bet would be the four corners of the satellite fit into those lumps since in the first image, you can see the lumps are aligned with the satellite's upper edge.
« Last Edit: 12/07/2020 06:49 pm by Jrcraft »
AE/ME
6 Suborbital spaceflight payloads. 14.55 minutes of in-space time.

Offline gongora

  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10205
  • US
  • Liked: 13885
  • Likes Given: 5933
https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/1336756706102001664
Quote
Due to weather over the range this week at LC-1 we are now targeting no earlier than Monday, 14 December UTC for #TheOwlsNightBegins mission.

Target lift-off:
UTC | 09:00 -  10:59
NZT | 22:00 – 23:59
PT | 01:00 – 02:59
ET | 04:00 – 05:59
JST | 18:00 – 19:59

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 48174
  • UK
    • Plan 28
  • Liked: 81684
  • Likes Given: 36941

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 48174
  • UK
    • Plan 28
  • Liked: 81684
  • Likes Given: 36941
https://twitter.com/rocketlab/status/1337329320876904450

Quote
To avoid a solar eclipse that could affect Synspective’s mission, we're now targeting Dec 15 for launch. When customers request a new T-0, we’re happy to oblige. That's the beauty of dedicated launch on Electron, our customers get to choose (and change!) their launch time.

Offline LUGG4S

  • Member
  • Posts: 5
  • Germany
  • Liked: 21
  • Likes Given: 15
Do we know how the solar eclipse could affect the lanch?

Online edzieba

  • Virtual Realist
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6105
  • United Kingdom
  • Liked: 9330
  • Likes Given: 39
A solar eclipse means your solar panels are outputting basically zip. For a solar powered satellite that has just launched and is yet to fully charge its batteries, that could result in total loss of power and low chance of recovery.

Offline Davidthefat

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 464
  • Rockets are life.
  • Greater Los Angeles Area, California
  • Liked: 288
  • Likes Given: 71
A solar eclipse means your solar panels are outputting basically zip. For a solar powered satellite that has just launched and is yet to fully charge its batteries, that could result in total loss of power and low chance of recovery.

But unlike a stationary observer on earth, the satellite is zooming by in LEO.

Offline zubenelgenubi

  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 11186
  • Arc to Arcturus, then Spike to Spica
  • Sometimes it feels like Trantor in the time of Hari Seldon
  • Liked: 7405
  • Likes Given: 72501
Quote
To avoid a solar eclipse that could affect Synspective’s mission, we're now targeting Dec 15 for launch.

There is a total solar eclipse that will be visible along the eclipse path on the Earth's surface (and in space directly between Earth and Moon) on December 14.

I >think< they meant the satellite would be in the Moon's shadow at "unexpected" times for during early operations--for a December 14 launch window launch.  One must account for and program in the solar eclipse times.  Otherwise, the satellite wake-up ops could be disrupted when it is in shadow at an unprogrammed-for time.

If a new satellite experiences difficulties on its first orbits, that can result in losing the satellite--"infant mortality."

Difficulty removed by delaying launch one day.
« Last Edit: 12/11/2020 07:20 pm 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 input~2

  • Moderator
  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6810
  • Liked: 1540
  • Likes Given: 567
B6974/20 - TEMPO DANGER AREA NZD094 (SOUTH EAST AUCKLAND OCEANIC FIR) ACT.
REF AIP SUP 55/20. SFC - FL999, 15 DEC 08:30 2020 UNTIL 15 DEC 11:30 2020. CREATED:
11 DEC 07:53 2020

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 48174
  • UK
    • Plan 28
  • Liked: 81684
  • Likes Given: 36941
https://twitter.com/rocketlab/status/1338201531431018496

Quote
L-1 day until Electron lifts off for #TheOwlsNightBegins. For the first time we'll be flying a custom fairing, designed to give Synspective's Strix-α satellite a little extra room on the way to orbit. It's just another way we tailor every mission detail for our customers.

Offline Ken the Bin

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2755
  • US Pacific Time Zone
    • @kenthebin@spacey.space
  • Liked: 5143
  • Likes Given: 5547
Webcast:


Offline FutureSpaceTourist

  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 48174
  • UK
    • Plan 28
  • Liked: 81684
  • Likes Given: 36941
https://twitter.com/rocketlab/status/1338577276691083264

Quote
Welcome to launch day! Crews are moving into position at LC-1 in preparation for #TheOwlsNightBegins, a dedicated mission for Synspective. Let's go to space again!

Target lift-off time:
🚀23:09 NZDT
🚀10:09 UTC
🚀05:09 EST
🚀02:09 PST
🚀19:09 JST

https://www.rocketlabusa.com/missions/next-mission

Offline TrevorMonty

https://twitter.com/Peter_J_Beck/status/1338625622302584832?s=19


This is big plus, if doesn't launch at 23:09 we can go to bed as there isn't any holds.
« Last Edit: 12/15/2020 01:40 am by TrevorMonty »

Offline pb2000

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 671
  • Calgary, AB
  • Liked: 759
  • Likes Given: 237
https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/1338699622324133890
Quote from: Rocket Lab
Electron is vertical on the pad at LC-1 for today's mission.

Webcast will be live around 20 mins before our target lift-off at 10:09 UTC
« Last Edit: 12/15/2020 05:09 am by pb2000 »
Launches attended: Worldview-4 (Atlas V 401), Iridium NEXT Flight 1 (Falcon 9 FT), PAZ+Starlink (Falcon 9 FT), Arabsat-6A (Falcon Heavy)
Pilgrimaged to: Boca Chica (09/19 & 01/22)

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 48174
  • UK
    • Plan 28
  • Liked: 81684
  • Likes Given: 36941
https://twitter.com/rocketlab/status/1338742968799223810

Quote
LOX loading has begun at LC-1 against the backdrop of a beautiful sunset over Mahia. T-3 hours to lift-off.

https://twitter.com/rocketlab/status/1338730070823686149

Quote
Just under four hours to lift-off for today's #TheOwlsNightBegins.  Here are the details for today's dedicated launch to orbit for Synspective.

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 48174
  • UK
    • Plan 28
  • Liked: 81684
  • Likes Given: 36941
https://twitter.com/rocketlab/status/1338761450542678016

Quote
Some stunning views from Launch Complex 1 as we countdown to lift-off of #TheOwlsNightBegins in under two hours.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

  • Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 39218
  • Adelaide, Australia
    • Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive
  • Liked: 32738
  • Likes Given: 8196
Webcast has started streaming.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

  • Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 39218
  • Adelaide, Australia
    • Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive
  • Liked: 32738
  • Likes Given: 8196
Webcast has started.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

  • Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 39218
  • Adelaide, Australia
    • Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive
  • Liked: 32738
  • Likes Given: 8196
T-15 minutes. Showing replay of last launch.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

  • Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 39218
  • Adelaide, Australia
    • Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive
  • Liked: 32738
  • Likes Given: 8196
T-12 minutes. Performing poll.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

  • Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 39218
  • Adelaide, Australia
    • Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive
  • Liked: 32738
  • Likes Given: 8196
T-10 minutes.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

  • Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 39218
  • Adelaide, Australia
    • Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive
  • Liked: 32738
  • Likes Given: 8196
T-9 minutes. Showing video.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

  • Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 39218
  • Adelaide, Australia
    • Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive
  • Liked: 32738
  • Likes Given: 8196
T-8 minutes.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

  • Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 39218
  • Adelaide, Australia
    • Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive
  • Liked: 32738
  • Likes Given: 8196
T-7 minutes. Flying custom fairing.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

  • Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 39218
  • Adelaide, Australia
    • Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive
  • Liked: 32738
  • Likes Given: 8196
T-6 minutes. Enable FTS for flight.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

  • Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 39218
  • Adelaide, Australia
    • Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive
  • Liked: 32738
  • Likes Given: 8196
T-5 minutes.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

  • Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 39218
  • Adelaide, Australia
    • Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive
  • Liked: 32738
  • Likes Given: 8196
T-4 minutes. Talking about recovery mission.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

  • Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 39218
  • Adelaide, Australia
    • Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive
  • Liked: 32738
  • Likes Given: 8196
T-3 minutes. Next recovery attempt in new year.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

  • Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 39218
  • Adelaide, Australia
    • Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive
  • Liked: 32738
  • Likes Given: 8196
T-2 minutes. AV batts switched to internal power.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

  • Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 39218
  • Adelaide, Australia
    • Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive
  • Liked: 32738
  • Likes Given: 8196
T-1 minute. Stage 1 and 2 pressurised.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

  • Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 39218
  • Adelaide, Australia
    • Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive
  • Liked: 32738
  • Likes Given: 8196
Liftoff!
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Online Chris Bergin

Support NSF via L2 -- Help improve NSF -- Site Rules/Feedback/Updates
**Not a L2 member? Whitelist this forum in your adblocker to support the site and ensure full functionality.**

Offline Steven Pietrobon

  • Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 39218
  • Adelaide, Australia
    • Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive
  • Liked: 32738
  • Likes Given: 8196
T+1 minute.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

  • Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 39218
  • Adelaide, Australia
    • Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive
  • Liked: 32738
  • Likes Given: 8196
T+2 minutes.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Online Chris Bergin

Support NSF via L2 -- Help improve NSF -- Site Rules/Feedback/Updates
**Not a L2 member? Whitelist this forum in your adblocker to support the site and ensure full functionality.**

Offline Steven Pietrobon

  • Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 39218
  • Adelaide, Australia
    • Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive
  • Liked: 32738
  • Likes Given: 8196
First stage separation.

T+3 minutes.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

  • Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 39218
  • Adelaide, Australia
    • Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive
  • Liked: 32738
  • Likes Given: 8196
Fairing separation (not shown).

T+4 minutes.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

  • Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 39218
  • Adelaide, Australia
    • Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive
  • Liked: 32738
  • Likes Given: 8196
T+5 minutes.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

  • Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 39218
  • Adelaide, Australia
    • Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive
  • Liked: 32738
  • Likes Given: 8196
Hot swap.

T+6 minutes.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

  • Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 39218
  • Adelaide, Australia
    • Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive
  • Liked: 32738
  • Likes Given: 8196
T+7 minutes.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

  • Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 39218
  • Adelaide, Australia
    • Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive
  • Liked: 32738
  • Likes Given: 8196
T+8 minutes.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

  • Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 39218
  • Adelaide, Australia
    • Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive
  • Liked: 32738
  • Likes Given: 8196
SECO.

T+9 minutes. Third stage separation.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

  • Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 39218
  • Adelaide, Australia
    • Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive
  • Liked: 32738
  • Likes Given: 8196
Video of upcoming separation.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

  • Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 39218
  • Adelaide, Australia
    • Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive
  • Liked: 32738
  • Likes Given: 8196
Wrapping up webcast.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

  • Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 39218
  • Adelaide, Australia
    • Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive
  • Liked: 32738
  • Likes Given: 8196
End of webcast. Upcoming events.

+00:52:28    The Curie engine on the Kick Stage ignites    
+00:54:22    The Curie engine cuts off    
~+00:60:00    Payloads deployed
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline MATTBLAK

  • Elite Veteran & 'J.A.F.A'
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5362
  • 'Space Cadets' Let us; UNITE!! (crickets chirping)
  • New Zealand
  • Liked: 2239
  • Likes Given: 3883
Great, thank you! Not that many night launches from New Zealand.
"Those who can't, Blog".   'Space Cadets' of the World - Let us UNITE!! (crickets chirping)

Offline Steven Pietrobon

  • Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 39218
  • Adelaide, Australia
    • Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive
  • Liked: 32738
  • Likes Given: 8196
Estimate apogee of 543 km and 96 m/s delta-V to go into a circular orbit.

http://www.sworld.com.au/steven/space/speed.zip

SpaceX speed calculator by Steven S. Pietrobon. 4 May 2019.
Enter negative perigee height to exit program.
Enter negative final orbit for geosynchronous orbit.

Enter initial perigee height (km): 203.1
Enter SpaceX speed (km/h): 28587
Enter initial orbit inclination (deg): 97.3

Estimated inertial speed = 7879.9 m/s
Estimated apogee height = 543.3 km

Enter required inclination change (deg): 0
Enter final orbit height (km): 543.3

Burn at   543.3 km: theta1 =  0.00 deg, dv1 =   96.2 m/s
Burn at   543.3 km: theta2 =  0.00 deg, dv2 =    0.0 m/s
dv =   96.2 m/s
« Last Edit: 12/15/2020 09:34 am by Steven Pietrobon »
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

  • Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 39218
  • Adelaide, Australia
    • Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive
  • Liked: 32738
  • Likes Given: 8196
Third stage ignition should be happening about now. Burn is for 114 seconds.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 48174
  • UK
    • Plan 28
  • Liked: 81684
  • Likes Given: 36941
https://twitter.com/rocketlab/status/1338802594257334279

Quote
Payload deployment confirmed. Congratulations Synspective - MISSION SUCCESS! That's now 96 satellites placed on orbit by Electron.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

  • Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 39218
  • Adelaide, Australia
    • Steven Pietrobon's Space Archive
  • Liked: 32738
  • Likes Given: 8196
Congratulations to Rocketlab and Synspective for the successful launch!
« Last Edit: 12/15/2020 10:11 am by Steven Pietrobon »
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Online Chris Bergin

Great work again, and with all the missions, Steven!

Overview article updated:

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2020/12/owls-night-begins-strix%ce%b1-rocket-lab-launch/
Support NSF via L2 -- Help improve NSF -- Site Rules/Feedback/Updates
**Not a L2 member? Whitelist this forum in your adblocker to support the site and ensure full functionality.**

Online OneSpeed

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1588
  • Liked: 4930
  • Likes Given: 2078
Here is a comparison between the Electron 16 and 17 mission telemetry.

A couple of differences are:

1. The booster burn for mission 16 leveled off at about 3g before terminal guidance, whilst mission 17 had a distinct throttle down at the 120s mark.
2. The mission 17 S2 burn throttled back some 20s earlier than for mission 16.

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 48174
  • UK
    • Plan 28
  • Liked: 81684
  • Likes Given: 36941
Chris, something to look forward to on the next Electron launch:

twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1338790455866167298

Quote
Battery hot-swap. Farewell, dead battery - and we thank you.

https://twitter.com/moremorganb/status/1338798342118109185

Quote
Gonna steal this for the next launch

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 48174
  • UK
    • Plan 28
  • Liked: 81684
  • Likes Given: 36941
https://twitter.com/peter_j_beck/status/1338813525557309447

Quote
Perfect final orbit and satellite separation.

https://twitter.com/peter_j_beck/status/1338814945966792704

Quote
As seen from Invercargill at the bottom end of the South Island of New Zealand.

📸 Tania Horton

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 48174
  • UK
    • Plan 28
  • Liked: 81684
  • Likes Given: 36941
https://twitter.com/brendan_gully/status/1338818765769768961

Quote
Major panic getting the camera zoomed in and turned around when we realized the Twilight effect was happening - didn't expect it so long after sunset! @RocketLab

Offline input~2

  • Moderator
  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6810
  • Liked: 1540
  • Likes Given: 567
3 objects have been cataloged

2020-098A/47253 in 489 x 511 km x 97.39°
2020-098B/47254 in 495 x 513 km x 97.37°
2020-098C/47255 in 181 x 497 km x 97.38°

Offline Lewis007

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1661
  • the Netherlands
  • Liked: 549
  • Likes Given: 122
Some Electron #17 launch pics from RocketLab's Flickr site

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 48174
  • UK
    • Plan 28
  • Liked: 81684
  • Likes Given: 36941
https://twitter.com/rocketlab/status/1361896902493495297

Quote
Congratulations to the Synspective team! Proud to have delivered the dedicated ride to orbit for this mission🚀

https://synspective.com/news-press/first-image/

Quote
Press Release
2021, February 16th
Synspective Inc
 
Japanese Space Industry Startup Synspective released the First Image from its Small SAR Satellite “StriX-α”
 
TOKYO-2021, February 16th – Synspective Inc., a SAR satellite data and analytic- solution provider, announced its first success on the first image acquisition from its first own SAR satellite “StriX-α”. This is the first success in Japan that a commercial SAR satellite (100kg class) image has obtained from space.
 
“StriX-α” was launched by Rocket Lab’s Electron, from New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula launch site, on December 15th (JST) and put into the target orbit: at an altitude of 500 km in a Sun Synchronous Orbit (SSO). It has been successfully operated since and the very first imagery was successfully acquired on February 8th.
 
SAR images

Observation date and time:February 8th, 2021, around 12:00 (Japan time)
Observation location:South Florida, USA
 
Future SAR Satellite Constellation

The second demonstration satellite “StriX-β” is scheduled to be launched in 2021. It is aimed to demonstrate “InSAR (Interferometric SAR)” technology in orbit, a special SAR analytics technique to detect millimeter-level displacements on the ground surface.
 
Synspective aims to build a constellation of 6 satellites by 2023 and 30 satellites by the late 2020s. With the constellation of 30 satellites in low Earth orbit , it makes it possible to observe the location of disaster occurring anywhere in the world within the time of two hours (with 6 satellites, it is within 24 hours). Synspective is currently developing an automated process that analyzes the observed data, assesses (understand) the situation of the disastered place at the early stage, and provides a solution. By establishing its constellation, Synspective aims to contribute dramatical improvements in the world’s disaster response efforts.
 
Comment from Dr. Motoyuki Arai, founder and CEO at Synspective

 “For a satellite data solution company, the most difficult but the most crucial milestone is the acquisition of data from an own-built satellite. Thanks to many years of hard work, including the ImPACT program, we have just obtained this great achievement. I would like to express our sincere gratitude to our team and am proud to move forward together.

Now, we are proceeding with preparations for data sales. As launching the “StriX-β” within this year, we are planning to release more solution services using our own data. We will ensure to continue producing results in order to create a more efficient and resilient world.”
 
Comment from Toshihiro Obata, Board Director and General Manager of Satellite System Development Department

“We are very happy that all the efforts of our development team members achieved this successful early demonstration. We continue to give further efforts to improve the quality of image and provide solutions. With partners, we are currently setting up a secure line for our satellite serial productions, by introducing manufacturing and quality control technologies from the non-space industries. We appreciate your further interest in our progress.”

Offline TrevorMonty

RL will launch 3 more  satellites for Synspective.
2 in 2022 and 3rd in 2023.

https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/1468329768458207232?t=_PqsOoP29xYrMR04lyhngQ&s=19

Sent from my SM-G570Y using Tapatalk


Tags:
 

Advertisement NovaTech
Advertisement Northrop Grumman
Advertisement
Advertisement Margaritaville Beach Resort South Padre Island
Advertisement Brady Kenniston
Advertisement NextSpaceflight
Advertisement Nathan Barker Photography
0