Author Topic: SpaceX Falcon 9 : Formosat-5 : SLC-4E Vandenberg : Aug 24, 2017 : DISCUSSION (Read 312590 times)

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #220 on:** 06/27/2017 10:20 am »

Iridium NEXT-2 article says:

Quote

The next launch from Vandenberg is currently targeting 22 July with the Republic of China’s FORMOSAT-5 spacecraft

But is that just a previously announced NET for which we're awaiting confirmation?

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #221 on:** 06/27/2017 01:13 pm »

Updated it via the L2 schedules. August 24 NET. Former Iridium NEXT-3 slot - which is now in September.

gongora · « **Reply #222 on:** 06/28/2017 03:18 pm »

FCC permit application for mission 1344, which I'm guessing is Formosat-5.

Quote

This STA is necessary to authorize launch vehicle communications for SpaceX Mission 1344, a commercial launch from SLC-4E, Vandenberg Air Force Base.

First Stage Recovery permit application:

Quote

This STA covers the experimental first-stage recovery operation, following a Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base. This request is limited to the brief command uplink from an autonomous droneship to the launch vehicle after landing.

Ship Coordinates: North 31 39 58 West 121 39 43

baltrum · « **Reply #223 on:** 06/28/2017 04:08 pm »

Why would they go for ASDS with such a light satellite (Formosat-5 is around half a ton)?
Are they going to include some other sats?

ZachS09 · « **Reply #224 on:** 06/28/2017 06:37 pm »

Quote from: baltrum on 06/28/2017 04:08 pm

Why would they go for ASDS with such a light satellite (Formosat-5 is around half a ton)?
Are they going to include some other sats?

Because I don't think Falcon 9 is certified to do RTLS flights in Vandenberg yet.

IanThePineapple · « **Reply #225 on:** 06/28/2017 06:43 pm »

Is it possible that they can get certification by August/September?

docmordrid · « **Reply #226 on:** 06/28/2017 08:42 pm »

IIRC, it has to do with a possible failing RTLS aborting into the offshore Vandenberg State Marine Reserve .

Lar · « **Reply #227 on:** 06/28/2017 09:46 pm »

Quote from: docmordrid on 06/28/2017 08:42 pm

IIRC, it has to do with a possible failing RTLS aborting into the offshore Vandenberg State Marine Reserve .

Does that mean no RTLS ever? The marine reserve presumably isn't going anywhere.

gongora · « **Reply #228 on:** 06/30/2017 03:15 am »

Several Taiwanese news sites recently posted similar articles about Formosat-5. They list the launch date as August 25, but I don't know if that is just the UTC time for a late launch on August 24 local time. I won't make a change on the manifest until I get clarity on that issue.

[Taipei Times] First Taiwanese satellite to be launched Aug. 25

Quote

The 450kg Formosat-5 is the first project in which the NSPO was fully responsible for all engineering, including payload, imaging sensors and ground control systems.

The Formosat-5 is to carry the first locally made optical remote sensing instrument equipped with the world’s first space-grade metal oxide semiconductor image sensor, which the organization developed in cooperation with the nation’s electronics and semiconductor industries.

The satellite cost about NT$5.65 billion (US$186 million) to make and is to embark on a five-year observation mission around the globe
...
SpaceX is contractually required to pay 1.25 percent of the contract amount — about NT$700 million — for every month’s delay, Chang said, adding that the company is expected to pay 10 percent in compensation.

So 10% of US$23M contract would be about $2.3M penalty.

Lar · « **Reply #229 on:** 06/30/2017 04:03 am »

I was trying to figure out the contract value... if 1.25% is 700M (or .7B) NT$ then isn't the contract about 56B NT$

Google tells me that 1 New Taiwan Dollar equals 0.033 US Dollar ... I get crazy numbers. but not 23M

Is it possible they have to pay 1.25% of the cost of satellite, not of the launch contract?

gongora · « **Reply #230 on:** 06/30/2017 04:16 am »

Quote from: Lar on 06/30/2017 04:03 am

I was trying to figure out the contract value... if 1.25% is 700M (or .7B) NT$ then isn't the contract about 56B NT$

Google tells me that 1 New Taiwan Dollar equals 0.033 US Dollar ... I get crazy numbers. but not 23M

Is it possible they have to pay 1.25% of the cost of satellite, not of the launch contract?

The way I interpreted it to get sensible numbers is 700M NT$ was the total contract value. Wasn't this a Falcon 1 contract?

Also for the date issue, it's probably August 25th in Taiwan when it launches.

SmallKing · « **Reply #231 on:** 06/30/2017 04:48 am »

Launch time: 02:50(GMT +8?) Aug 25
http://paper.wenweipo.com/2017/06/30/TW1706300002.htm

EDIT: And Formosat-5 will ship to Vandenberg on July 19

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #232 on:** 06/30/2017 04:55 am »

Quote from: SmallKing on 06/30/2017 04:48 am

Launch time: 02:50(GMT +8) Aug 25
http://paper.wenweipo.com/2017/06/30/TW1706300002.htm

EDIT: And Formosat-5 will ship to Vandenberg on July 19

That's 18:50 UTC/11:50 am Pacific August 24.

titusou · « **Reply #233 on:** 07/03/2017 03:40 pm »

First post, and yes I'm from Taiwan

This is Taiwan NSPO official PR annoucement:
https://www.nspo.narl.org.tw/tw2015/info/news.shtml?id=000592&hid=KBW3xMJZ8r

Launch timing as Aug25 02:50 UTC+8 (Taiwan Time).
Therefore, Aug24 18:50 UTC.

Launch profile:

Source: https://www.nspo.narl.org.tw/tw2015/projects/FORMOSAT-5/launch-vehicle.html

Let me know if you need to know more

Titus

IanThePineapple · « **Reply #234 on:** 07/03/2017 04:03 pm »

My space OCD is going nuts, they show F9 1.0 pics, then pics of LC-40, even though they're launching on a F9 FT/B4 from Vandy

It's like "Space X"

dmc6960 · « **Reply #235 on:** 07/03/2017 04:33 pm »

Quote from: IanThePineapple on 07/03/2017 04:03 pm

My space OCD is going nuts, they show F9 1.0 pics, then pics of LC-40, even though they're launching on a F9 FT/B4 from Vandy

It's like "Space X"

Its worse than that, other than the two "liftoff" photos which are Falcon 9 1.0, the other images are from the Falcon 1 days, and originally represented as such.

IanThePineapple · « **Reply #236 on:** 07/03/2017 04:40 pm »

Quote from: dmc6960 on 07/03/2017 04:33 pm

Quote from: IanThePineapple on 07/03/2017 04:03 pm
My space OCD is going nuts, they show F9 1.0 pics, then pics of LC-40, even though they're launching on a F9 FT/B4 from Vandy

It's like "Space X"

Its worse than that, other than the two "liftoff" photos which are Falcon 9 1.0, the other images are from the Falcon 1 days, and originally represented as such.

Oh, I thought those were just poorly-made pics of a Falcon 9.

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #237 on:** 07/03/2017 05:28 pm »

The National Space Organization PR staff needs to study up on NSF, then apply the knowledge gained to their press releases!

ZachS09 · « **Reply #238 on:** 07/03/2017 06:06 pm »

If titusou's "launch profile" is correct, then the ASDS would have to be further south. That's because the MECO time is listed as T+2:32.

Previous Falcon 9 v1.2 launches from Vandenberg, that ended up on the drone ship, shut down the booster at T+2:24.

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #239 on:** 07/03/2017 08:41 pm »

Quote from: ZachS09 on 07/03/2017 06:06 pm

If titusou's "launch profile" is correct, then the ASDS would have to be further south. That's because the MECO time is listed as T+2:32.

Previous Falcon 9 v1.2 launches from Vandenberg, that ended up on the drone ship, shut down the booster at T+2:24.

FORMOSAT 5 is listed as only massing 525 kg, less than 1/10th of the 10x Iridium Next satellites + payload dispenser. I suspect (don't know--NSF experts, correct me if I'm wrong) that could change the launch timeline and trajectory of the first stage, both for boost to MECO and barge recovery.

I suppose we'll learn more on these matters when the Notices to Airmen and Mariners are released.