however, we should bear in mind that SpaceX has only recovered 18 (by my count) stages at this point.
Quote from: SweetWater on 10/23/2017 09:08 pm however, we should bear in mind that SpaceX has only recovered 18 (by my count) stages at this point. That this comment was made at all is immensely satisfying.
http://global.jaxa.jp/press/2017/10/20171027_h2af37.htmlLaunch of Global Changing Observation Mission - Climate "SHIKISAI" (GCOM-C) and Super Low Altitude Test Satellite TSUBAME" (SLATS) aboard H-IIA Vehicle No. 37October 27, 2017 (JST)Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.National Research and Development AgencyJapan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) are pleased to announce the launch schedule for Global Changing Observation Mission - Climate "SHIKISAI" (GCOM-C) and Super Low Altitude Test Satellite "TSUBAME" (SLATS) by H-IIA launch vehicle No. 37.Scheduled date of Launch : December 23 (Sat.), 2017Launch time : 10:26:22 a.m. through 10:48:22 a.m. (JST)Reserved Launch period : December 24 (Sun.), 2017 through January 31 (Wed.), 2018Launch site : Yoshinobu Launch Complex at the tanegashima Space Center <snip>
Note that as of right now, the start of the launch window for this falls on the exact same minute (!!!) as for the launch of Falcon 9/Iridium NEXT Flight 4 on the opposite side of the Pacific. IF (a very big one) this ultimately happens the two will be <=37 seconds apart, which will be an all time record. I very much doubt both will manage to hold on schedule to that point with 57 days left but.....one never knows for sure when will we need split screens. Technical info on GCOM-C can be found here, and for SLATS here.
So seems that switching to ASDS landing instead of RTLS on this launch was due to the decision to launch using a previously flown booster.However, is it possible that it had more to do with taking advantage of the Titanium grid fins for testing an alternate downrange reentry profile, than the fact that it will now be a Block III booster?
Quote from: WizZifnab on 10/28/2017 02:42 pmSo seems that switching to ASDS landing instead of RTLS on this launch was due to the decision to launch using a previously flown booster.However, is it possible that it had more to do with taking advantage of the Titanium grid fins for testing an alternate downrange reentry profile, than the fact that it will now be a Block III booster?During the post-landing processing they remove the grid fins (based on images we've seen in the garage) and the titanium grid fins are mechanically compatible with the mounts for the Al ones, so there's not really any reason to think that this booster will again have the Ti fins, or that if they wanted to test them on a particular re-entry profile that they couldn't have done so already, either on Iridium 3 or one of the east coast launches.
...I could imagine that the Al grids, being closer together and composed of a smaller grid pattern, might provide slightly different pressures to control the rocket than the Ti fins do...
You'd have to program the FCS software running the entry and landing targeting to the type of fin being used, though, no? Or would you load both sets of response thresholds into the FCS software, and spend a bunch of your processor time selecting between them from menus?Old-fashioned, "how it's always been done" process would be to tailor the FCS for the specific vehicle's hardware config, I imagine. I wonder how SpaceX is doing it?
Revision 2 - Issued October 6, 2017 1. Paragraph (3)(c) changed from "On a flight azimuth of 179.2 degrees" to "On a flight azimuth between 175 and 180 degress
Just noticed something that doesn't appear to have been picked up in the Iridium NEXT flight 3 threads.A few days before the 3rd launch, the FAA issued a minor revision to the launch license (attached):QuoteRevision 2 - Issued October 6, 2017 1. Paragraph (3)(c) changed from "On a flight azimuth of 179.2 degrees" to "On a flight azimuth between 175 and 180 degress
First 2 sats for Launch #4 on their way from AZ factory to VAFB! Only a little more than 6 weeks away - 12/22! (Tracked via Iridium IoT)
Quote (Tracked via Iridium IoT)https://twitter.com/iridiumboss/status/928002624670101504
(Tracked via Iridium IoT)
Launch 4 activities on track for a Dec 22nd launch. Second two of 10 Iridium NEXT sats just left for VAFB - all there by Thanksgiving weekend. First stage and dispenser onsite. 2018 schedule firming up too... Halfway home!
Very honored to have had the opportunity to make these for @IridiumBoss I hope these 4 will be happy at their new home
Those models are... amazing Oliver and friend's website: http://www.buzz-medialabs.de/
There is something sneaky hidden behind the third one
Quote from: stcks on 11/21/2017 11:47 pmThere is something sneaky hidden behind the third one Well spotted, sir!! I’m seeing the same.