Author Topic: SpaceX Falcon 9 - NROL-76 - May 1, 2017 - DISCUSSION  (Read 384476 times)

Offline Galactic Penguin SST

IIRC, the NRO launch isn't a commercial launch.

It wasn't purchased through the Air Force
Is that the same for NROL-66 and 111?
Astronomy & spaceflight geek penguin. In a relationship w/ Space Shuttle Discovery. Current Priority: Chasing the Chinese Spaceflight Wonder Egg & A Certain Chinese Mars Rover

Offline Skyrocket

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 - NROL-76 - May 1, 2017 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #61 on: 03/22/2017 12:26 pm »
IIRC, the NRO launch isn't a commercial launch.

It wasn't purchased through the Air Force
Is that the same for NROL-66 and 111?

NROL-111 was purchased via USAF (http://www.losangeles.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1025162/air-force-awards-nrol-111-mission-contract)

For NROL-66 i need to look up the sources, but i am pretty sure, that it was purchased via USAF.
« Last Edit: 03/22/2017 12:29 pm by Skyrocket »

Offline deruch

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 - NROL-76 - May 1, 2017 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #62 on: 03/22/2017 08:50 pm »
IIRC, the NRO launch isn't a commercial launch.

It wasn't purchased through the Air Force
Does NRO always use Air Force procurement for their (NSS) launches?  I thought that while they usually do, they can pretty much do whatever they want (i.e. buy the launch on their own).
Shouldn't reality posts be in "Advanced concepts"?  --Nomadd

Offline Skyrocket

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 - NROL-76 - May 1, 2017 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #63 on: 03/22/2017 10:28 pm »
IIRC, the NRO launch isn't a commercial launch.

It wasn't purchased through the Air Force
Does NRO always use Air Force procurement for their (NSS) launches?  I thought that while they usually do, they can pretty much do whatever they want (i.e. buy the launch on their own).

No - at least the NEMESIS SIGINT sats were not launched via Air Force procurements. At the time, it was not known, which agency was behind these launches, but leaked documents had meanwhile shown the identity of these payloads (at least for PAN, CLIO is a conjecture based on the manufacturer and orbital behavior) and the user.

Offline Chris Bergin

We'll start an update thread this week, but per SpaceX Opens Media Accreditation for NROL-76 Mission e-mail, they are only going with "The launch is targeted for no earlier than April." right now.
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Offline jacqmans

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 - NROL-76 - May 1, 2017 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #65 on: 03/27/2017 05:35 pm »

SpaceX Opens Media Accreditation for NROL-76 Mission
 
Media Contact: John Taylor
[email protected]
310.363.6703
 
HAWTHORNE, Calif. - March 27, 2017. Media accreditation is now open for SpaceX's NROL-76 mission from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The launch is targeted for no earlier than April.
 
Members of the media who are U.S. citizens or Permanent Resident Aliens (green card holders) and are interested in covering the launch must fill out this media accreditation form by 5:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, March 28.
 
Requesting accreditation is not required of media who hold current annual press credentials issued by Kennedy Space Center, but it is appreciated for planning purposes.
                                                                                                                                         
For launches from LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center decides which media are credentialed to cover launches, not SpaceX. Please keep in mind, simply making the request in a timely fashion does not guarantee the request will be granted. Please be sure to provide all the information included on the SpaceX form.
 
More details on pre-launch media activities will be made available at a later date closer to launch.
« Last Edit: 03/27/2017 05:36 pm by jacqmans »
Jacques :-)

Offline ChrisGebhardt

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 - NROL-76 - May 1, 2017 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #66 on: 03/28/2017 04:18 pm »
SpaceX confirms this will be an LZ-1 landing.

Webcast will cut off launch coverage as usual for NRO missions (like we see with ULA), but will continue for booster landing coverage.
« Last Edit: 03/28/2017 04:19 pm by ChrisGebhardt »

Offline Flying Beaver

SpaceX confirms this will be an LZ-1 landing.

Ooooooo...

LEO imaging sat perhaps (<8000 or so kg?). Really cool to get another LZ-1 landing so soon. Might look into going to this one...
Watched B1019 land in person 21/12/2015.

Offline Galactic Penguin SST

Any signs of an NRO mission patch for this one?  ;)

Asking for this again since I still can't find a related patch for this one, not even on eBay.  :-X
Astronomy & spaceflight geek penguin. In a relationship w/ Space Shuttle Discovery. Current Priority: Chasing the Chinese Spaceflight Wonder Egg & A Certain Chinese Mars Rover

Offline tleski

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 - NROL-76 - May 1, 2017 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #69 on: 03/28/2017 07:40 pm »
Patches were always made available only after successful completion of the mission. For example, no patches for CRS-7 or Amos-6 are available. I would expect the patch design to be published in their press kit if they have any for this launch unless it leaks before that.

Offline manoweb

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 - NROL-76 - May 1, 2017 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #70 on: 03/28/2017 07:45 pm »
LEO imaging sat perhaps (<8000 or so kg?).

Are non-polar orbit imaging satellites very common?

Offline Jim

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 - NROL-76 - May 1, 2017 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #71 on: 03/28/2017 07:58 pm »
Any signs of an NRO mission patch for this one?  ;)

Asking for this again since I still can't find a related patch for this one, not even on eBay.  :-X

too early

Offline Jim

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 - NROL-76 - May 1, 2017 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #72 on: 03/28/2017 07:59 pm »

LEO imaging sat perhaps (<8000 or so kg?).

No, not from the east coast

Offline Jim

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 - NROL-76 - May 1, 2017 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #73 on: 03/28/2017 07:59 pm »
Patches were always made available only after successful completion of the mission. For example, no patches for CRS-7 or Amos-6 are available. I would expect the patch design to be published in their press kit if they have any for this launch unless it leaks before that.

NRO has its own patches

Offline Newton_V

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 - NROL-76 - May 1, 2017 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #74 on: 03/28/2017 08:08 pm »
Asking for this again since I still can't find a related patch for this one, not even on eBay.  :-X

I'm surprised they're not out.  The L-42 and L-47 patches have been out for awhile.

Offline Star One

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 - NROL-76 - May 1, 2017 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #75 on: 03/28/2017 08:14 pm »

LEO imaging sat perhaps (<8000 or so kg?).

No, not from the east coast

Suspect this could be a special one off payload. Perhaps a technology demonstrator hence why Space X were able to bid on it.
« Last Edit: 03/28/2017 08:15 pm by Star One »

Offline Jim

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 - NROL-76 - May 1, 2017 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #76 on: 03/28/2017 08:20 pm »

LEO imaging sat perhaps (<8000 or so kg?).

No, not from the east coast

Suspect this could be a special one off payload. Perhaps a technology demonstrator hence why Space X were able to bid on it.

That doesn't affect to the mission requirements.

Offline Newton_V

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 - NROL-76 - May 1, 2017 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #77 on: 03/28/2017 08:20 pm »
hence why Space X were able to bid on it.

It was sole sourced.

Offline Star One

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 - NROL-76 - May 1, 2017 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #78 on: 03/28/2017 08:45 pm »
hence why Space X were able to bid on it.

It was sole sourced.

Doesn't change the idea that it's a tech demonstrator.

Offline Newton_V

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 - NROL-76 - May 1, 2017 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #79 on: 03/28/2017 08:55 pm »
hence why Space X were able to bid on it.

It was sole sourced.

Doesn't change the idea that it's a tech demonstrator.

I was commenting on the bid part.  That's why I removed everything but the bid part.

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