Author Topic: SpaceX FH: STP-2 : LC-39A : June 25, 2019 - DISCUSSION  (Read 459748 times)

Offline gongora

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Re: SpaceX FH: STP-2 : LC-39A : June 25, 2019 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #280 on: 01/30/2019 12:27 pm »
New FCC filing for the Lightsail 2 satellite (0055-EX-ST-2019):
Quote
This STA will be used to provide the communication for a short-term small satellite project. The launch date slipped significantly requiring a new or extended STA. New launch date is NET 30 APRIL 2019
« Last Edit: 01/30/2019 12:39 pm by gongora »

Offline envy887

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Re: SpaceX FH: STP-2 : LC-39A : June 25, 2019 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #281 on: 01/30/2019 05:02 pm »
New FCC filing for the Lightsail 2 satellite (0055-EX-ST-2019):
Quote
This STA will be used to provide the communication for a short-term small satellite project. The launch date slipped significantly requiring a new or extended STA. New launch date is NET 30 APRIL 2019

54 days after the Arabsat NET? That sounds more like the time needed to turn around the boosters.

Offline gongora

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Re: SpaceX FH: STP-2 : LC-39A : June 25, 2019 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #282 on: 01/30/2019 05:05 pm »
We don't have real dates for either of these FH missions.  Comga suggested a week ago on the manifest thread that this mission would be heading for May, and that looks likely.

Offline envy887

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Re: SpaceX FH: STP-2 : LC-39A : June 25, 2019 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #283 on: 01/30/2019 05:08 pm »
Slips are more likely than not. Either way, I'd expect at least about 2 months between the two for booster turnaround.

Online Comga

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Re: SpaceX FH: STP-2 : LC-39A : June 25, 2019 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #284 on: 01/30/2019 06:23 pm »
New FCC filing for the Lightsail 2 satellite (0055-EX-ST-2019):
Quote
This STA will be used to provide the communication for a short-term small satellite project. The launch date slipped significantly requiring a new or extended STA. New launch date is NET 30 APRIL 2019

For what length of time is this valid?
We have confidence that it's not launching BEFORE May. 
The question is how long after the start, or even the end, of May.
What kind of wastrels would dump a perfectly good booster in the ocean after just one use?

Offline gongora

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Re: SpaceX FH: STP-2 : LC-39A : June 25, 2019 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #285 on: 01/30/2019 07:08 pm »
New FCC filing for the Lightsail 2 satellite (0055-EX-ST-2019):
Quote
This STA will be used to provide the communication for a short-term small satellite project. The launch date slipped significantly requiring a new or extended STA. New launch date is NET 30 APRIL 2019

For what length of time is this valid?
We have confidence that it's not launching BEFORE May. 
The question is how long after the start, or even the end, of May.

The initial STA is usually 6 months (and that's what this application has).  If it doesn't launch by then they'll just file another one.  You can also extend them after launch.  Aerospace Corp has been extending the experimental license for a cubesat launched in 2012 that is still active.

edit:  ARMADILLO's grant is Sep. 2018 to Sep. 2019, TBEx grant is Mar. 2018 to Nov. 2019.
« Last Edit: 01/30/2019 07:16 pm by gongora »

Offline vaporcobra

Taiwan's Minister of Science and Technology apparently said this on February 12th.
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2019/02/14/2003709706

Quote
Asked about the launch date of Formosat-7, Lin said that as Taiwan is partnering with the US for the launch, it would need to wait for the US to notify them.

Formosat-7’s six satellites are on standby at the NSPO, and can be packaged and delivered to the US as soon as it receives notice from the US, he said.

The ministry plans to launch Formosat-7 this year.

Also worth noting that there's now a strong chance that STP-2 will run into range issues similar to Flight 1, mainly ULA's request that SpaceX avoid risky Falcon Heavy ops to mitigate potential damage to Atlas V and SBIRS-4 at LC-41. Boeing's Starliner Demo-1 is currently NET late April, Falcon Heavy Flight 3 is probably NET a similar time frame barring some sort of rapid reuse miracle after Flight 2.
« Last Edit: 02/14/2019 12:27 am by vaporcobra »

Offline PM3

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Re: SpaceX FH: STP-2 : LC-39A : June 25, 2019 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #287 on: 02/14/2019 12:37 am »
Starliner Demo-1 is expected for first half of May: https://ria.ru/20190131/1550174772.html
"Never, never be afraid of the truth." -- Jim Bridenstine

Offline vaporcobra

Starliner Demo-1 is expected for first half of May: https://ria.ru/20190131/1550174772.html

Thanks for reminding me. Still safe to assume that Boeing/ULA will be starting launch preparations well in advance, and the fact that Formosat-7 isn't even in the US yet is probably a good sign that STP-2 is NET the absolute end of April, if not May or later. Atlas V and Starliner are probably going to be integrated for weeks before they launch, so it could be a bit of an awkward scheduling situation depending on how the range perceives the risk profile of Falcon Heavy's second flight.
« Last Edit: 02/14/2019 12:58 am by vaporcobra »

Offline virnin

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Re: SpaceX FH: STP-2 : LC-39A : June 25, 2019 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #289 on: 02/15/2019 01:58 am »
Starliner is not a DoD or Government launch.  I don't believe commercial launches can ask for the same risk avoidance as NROL.  Especially between launch sites operated by different government entities.

Offline vaporcobra

Starliner is not a DoD or Government launch.  I don't believe commercial launches can ask for the same risk avoidance as NROL.  Especially between launch sites operated by different government entities.

Demo-1 is explicitly a government launch and is permitted and certified by NASA with NASA funds. The destruction or damage of Demo-1's Starliner and Atlas V could be perceived as a direct threat to NASA's ability to provide the US assured access to the International Space Station and prevent major cost overruns, issues that are both steeped heavily in US politics, agency image, and simple pragmatism.

If the USAF saw SBIRS-4 (a ~$1.7B satellite) as valuable enough to disrupt nearby launch ops, I have no doubt that NASA/ULA/Boeing could easily make the same case for a similar range exception.

Offline woods170

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Re: SpaceX FH: STP-2 : LC-39A : June 25, 2019 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #291 on: 02/15/2019 06:27 am »
Starliner is not a DoD or Government launch.  I don't believe commercial launches can ask for the same risk avoidance as NROL.  Especially between launch sites operated by different government entities.

Demo-1 is explicitly a government launch and is permitted and certified by NASA with NASA funds. The destruction or damage of Demo-1's Starliner and Atlas V could be perceived as a direct threat to NASA's ability to provide the US assured access to the International Space Station and prevent major cost overruns, issues that are both steeped heavily in US politics, agency image, and simple pragmatism.

If the USAF saw SBIRS-4 (a ~$1.7B satellite) as valuable enough to disrupt nearby launch ops, I have no doubt that NASA/ULA/Boeing could easily make the same case for a similar range exception.

Starliner's Demo-1 is actually called OFT (Orbital Flight Test).

Crew Dragon Demo-1 is actually called DM-1 (Demonstration Mission 1).

I suggest you all refer to those test mission by their proper name. Demo-1, technically speaking, applies to neither mission. The fact that the term "Demo-1" incorrectly exists is courtesy of NASA, who managed to get DM-1 wrong, most recently in one of it's blog posts: https://blogs.nasa.gov/commercialcrew/2019/02/06/
« Last Edit: 02/15/2019 06:30 am by woods170 »

Offline yg1968

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Re: SpaceX FH: STP-2 : LC-39A : June 25, 2019 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #292 on: 02/15/2019 11:57 am »
DM is an abbreviation. Demo is short for Demonstration. Neither are official names. The official name is Demonstration Mission 1.  Demo-1 is fine as a shortcut (for SpaceX's uncrewed test flight).
« Last Edit: 02/15/2019 12:31 pm by yg1968 »

Offline gongora

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Re: SpaceX FH: STP-2 : LC-39A : June 25, 2019 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #293 on: 02/15/2019 01:47 pm »
This is the STP-2 thread.  Extended discussions of Commercial Crew Program mission names should move elsewhere.
« Last Edit: 02/15/2019 01:47 pm by gongora »

Offline vaporcobra

Quote
Minister of Science and Technology Chen Liang-gee (陳良基) said Formosat-7 is to be launched using SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket. Relevant bodies will be notified 60 days prior to the launch date once it is confirmed.
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3640857

Reading between the lines, a typical bureaucratic qualification like "notified no fewer than 60 days before launch" would put STP-2 NET late April.

Offline Alexphysics

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Re: SpaceX FH: STP-2 : LC-39A : June 25, 2019 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #295 on: 02/25/2019 01:45 pm »
Launch is now NET June

https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1100042388104466432
Quote
Fox also says the Space Environment Testbed payload, part of the Air Force STP-2 mission, is now scheduled for launch no earlier than June. It will be the second of two Falcon Heavy launches planned for this spring using the same set of boosters.
« Last Edit: 02/25/2019 01:58 pm by gongora »

Offline Norm38

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Re: SpaceX FH: STP-2 : LC-39A : June 25, 2019 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #296 on: 03/08/2019 02:07 am »
This article explains why the center core is new. Risk reduction.
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/03/falcon-heavy-starlink-headline-spacexs-manifest/

Offline ZChris13

A sensible choice, SpaceX haven't had a chance to inspect a Heavy center core post-flight yet. At least, not one that hasn't hit the water at terminal velocity.

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: SpaceX FH: STP-2 : LC-39A : June 25, 2019 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #298 on: 03/26/2019 02:49 pm »
Nicky Fox, head of NASA’s heliophysics division, to National Academy of Sciences committee:

https://twitter.com/stephenclark1/status/1110557020862775301

Quote
Fox says launch of NASA’s SET-1 payload, one of many payloads on the Air Force’s STP-2 launch on Falcon Heavy, is still tracking toward a launch readiness date of no earlier than June. That follows the Falcon Heavy/Arabsat 6A launch in early April.

Offline envy887

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Re: SpaceX FH: STP-2 : LC-39A : June 25, 2019 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #299 on: 03/27/2019 07:10 pm »
https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/els/reports/STA_Print.cfm?mode=current&application_seq=91026

The ASDS and boat locations are right offshore from LZ-1, so this will be a near 3x RTLS. I wonder how visible the center core landing will be at that distance, about 37 km from the Jetty Park Pier.

Tags: Falcon Heavy SpaceX 
 

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