Author Topic: SpaceX F9 : Iridium NEXT Flight 8 : Jan. 11, 2019 : Vandenberg - UPDATES  (Read 56830 times)

Offline Chris Bergin

UPDATE THREAD for Flight 8 of the Iridium NEXT missions.

Flight 8 successfully launched on January 11, 2019 at 07:31am PST (1531 UTC) on Falcon 9 with booster 1049.2 (previously used for the Telstar 18V mission) from SLC-4 at Vandenberg.  The first stage is landed successfully on the drone ship JRTI.

   Flight 8 will launch into plane 3.  One satellite will be drifted to plane 4.

   NSF Threads for Iridium NEXT Flight 8: Discussion / Updates
   NSF Articles for Iridium NEXT Flight 8:



See the Flight 1 Discussion Thread for more information and links to other Iridium Next threads and articles.

General information for Iridium flights 1-5 & 7-8
   Payload Mass: 8600kg for 10 satellites + 1000kg for dispenser = 9600kg
   Launch orbit: 625km, 86.66 degrees
   Operational orbit: 778km, 86.4 degrees

81 Satellites will be built for Iridium NEXT, with 66 being needed for a fully operational constellation.  All of the satellites will carry ADS-B aviation tracking hosted payloads for Aireon, and 60 of the satellites will carry AIS maritime tracking hosted payloads for exactEarth.



Other SpaceX resources on NASASpaceflight:
   SpaceX News Articles (Recent)  /   SpaceX News Articles from 2006 (Including numerous exclusive Elon interviews)
   SpaceX Dragon Articles  /  SpaceX Missions Section (with Launch Manifest and info on past and future missions)
   L2 SpaceX Section
« Last Edit: 01/13/2019 06:51 pm by gongora »
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Offline Chris Bergin

Static Fire test is NET Friday.
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Offline ChrisGebhardt

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Will be interviewing Matt Desch tomorrow (Friday, 4 January) at 10:00 EST (1500 UTC).  If you have questions, PM me.

Offline ChrisGebhardt

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For those with L2 access, full audio of the interview with Matt Desch is here: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=47097.msg1896710#msg1896710

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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https://twitter.com/iridiumcomm/status/1081230964121104384

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It's T-minus 4 days to launch & we're excited to share the #GrandFinale official #Iridium8 patch! Keep an eye out on Tuesday, during the launch, to gain insight on the hidden meaning found within the design! Iridium8 takes flight at 7:48 AM PST (15:48 UTC) on January 8th!
« Last Edit: 01/04/2019 04:12 pm by FutureSpaceTourist »

Offline jacqmans

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Jacques :-)

Offline RocketLover0119

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"The Starship has landed"


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Missed this yesterday:

https://twitter.com/iridiumboss/status/1081535081678815232

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Still looks good for our 8th launch on the 8th of January!

Offline Chris Bergin

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Online FutureSpaceTourist

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Hopefully not much of a slip as JRTI has departed port:

https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1082021129047470080

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Droneship Departure! Just Read The Instructions is being towed out of LA ahead of the upcoming Iridium 8 mission! The droneship is heading 244km downrange to the blue marker. Map via @Raul74Cz

Offline Chris Bergin

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Offline Chris Bergin

Iridium:

"I am reaching out to let you know SpaceX successfully completed the static fire test early this morning for the eighth and final Iridium NEXT launch.  This means that the launch is no longer scheduled for January 8th. We are working with SpaceX and Vandenberg Air Force Base to determine the next best launch opportunity and will provide another update as soon as any new information is made available. "
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Online FutureSpaceTourist

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Just to confirm:

https://twitter.com/iridiumboss/status/1082067740322492416

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Government shutdown isn't a factor to when we launch from what I understand.

Offline Raul

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Iridium-8 Launch Hazard Areas based on NOTMAR, supplemented by NOTAMs valid now for 9th of January (alternatively Jan 10). Planned B1049.2 landing at identical droneship position as Iridium-3 or Iridium-7 mission.

Stage2 Reentry Debris Area beyond Antarctica is active on the second orbit.

Offline RocketLover0119

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West coast fleet have turned around and are heading back, looks like won't be a short 1-2 day slip...

https://twitter.com/SpaceXFleet/status/1082376504246452224
"The Starship has landed"

Offline gongora

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https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/1082445401003765760
https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/1082446210672123904

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I know a lot of you are waiting for an update on the Iridium-8 launch.  SpaceX is still working through some issues on the rocket, and says we're NET Friday, with backup Saturday.  They're finalizing range approval for those dates, so perhaps why they haven't announced yet. (1)

Weather is iffy here on Friday, so I'm heading home tomorrow and may have to watch my first Iridium launch by webcast with all of you.  SpaceX is focused a successful and safe launch.  Side benefit: my character is growing, as patience builds character (so they tell me)... (2)
« Last Edit: 01/08/2019 12:22 am by gongora »

Offline Jdeshetler

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« Last Edit: 01/08/2019 06:47 am by Jdeshetler »

Online Elthiryel

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GO for launch, GO for age of reflight

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/1083382523118448640

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Heading westbound at 26,000 to the Iridium-8 launch! Actually, heading to Chicago where a friend with a faster plane will get us to CA. F9 rolling out this morning; will visit this afternoon when vertical. I think we may just launch these things tomorrow morning! 🚀🛰🍀

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