SpaceX Falcon 9 : X-37B OTV-5 : September 7, 2017 : DISCUSSION

[gongora]

@matthewkantar,

We don't know what kind of secret it might reveal. Keeping it that way is the whole point of the 'no camera' rule!

All of the shuttle military missions were secret because they didn't want people to know which ones were really secret. I'd be willing to bet, like all the NRO missions, flight coverage will end at fairing separation "at the user's request" and we get great coverage of first stage landing! (Has there been definitive word yet on whether this will be RTLS or ASDS?)

RTLS

[Star One]

https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/08/31/falcon-9-rocket-fired-up-for-launch-of-military-mini-shuttle/

This link says that several cubesats will be flown either in the X-37B's paylod bay or in a special adapter on the second stage.

This makes me think that the mission should be given an AFSPC designation rather than keep the OTV-5 name.

The term cubesats may be a polite way to describe acquisition targets for evaluating a new sensor suite
carried by the X-37B. The deployment secrecy may be because the nature of these "cubesats" could
reveal too much about the sensors or the purpose of the system(s) they are being developed for. Or
the "cubesats" themselves may be test beds for new stealth technology to evade X-37B sensors.

Or they might be designed to test technology to observe other satellites in orbit and use the X-37B as a test target.

[Norm38]

Let's hope they don't have scrubs or delays.  On Friday, the day after launch day Hurricane Irma is going to be in the SE Bahamas, on a course that will likely take it up the Florida coast in the days that follow. Models are converging on the more southerly track that isn't turning north as much.

Edit: Friday morning for the Bahamas, so they should still have Friday if needed.

[DOCinCT]

Let's hope they don't have scrubs or delays.  On Friday, the day after launch day Hurricane Irma is going to be in the SE Bahamas, on a course that will likely take it up the Florida coast in the days that follow. Models are converging on the more southerly track that isn't turning north as much.

Edit: Friday morning for the Bahamas, so they should still have Friday if needed.

As NOAA is quick to point out, the effects of a hurricane or tropical storm extend quite a distance out from the point center or track line.

[BeamRider]

Although the X-37B is well within the capabilities of both the Atlas V and F9, I think Spacex launching the USAF's "crown jewel" will overcome a subconscious prejudice in favor of the "big boy" ULA among the space-aware... and then the Spacex booster flies back and lands! Should be a real milestone, real or perhaps only perceived, but like they say "perception is reality". I'll bet Elon is super-uptight on this one!

[woods170]

Although the X-37B is well within the capabilities of both the Atlas V and F9, I think Spacex launching the USAF's "crown jewel" will overcome a subconscious prejudice in favor of the "big boy" ULA among the space-aware... and then the Spacex booster flies back and lands! Should be a real milestone, real or perhaps only perceived, but like they say "perception is reality". I'll bet Elon is super-uptight on this one!

Minor nit: the X-37B is hardly the USAF's "crown jewel". In fact, it is one of the most expendable assets USAF has. X-37B is a "nice to have" platform for experimenting with new technologies. But it is not a platform that is required for day-to-day operational readiness. Unlike for example GPS birds, military comsats, military weather-sats and such.
So, there is not much risk for USAF in launching X-37B on a Falcon 9. They can afford to lose one should anything go catastrophically wrong.

[CapitalistOppressor]

Let's hope they don't have scrubs or delays.  On Friday, the day after launch day Hurricane Irma is going to be in the SE Bahamas, on a course that will likely take it up the Florida coast in the days that follow. Models are converging on the more southerly track that isn't turning north as much.

Edit: Friday morning for the Bahamas, so they should still have Friday if needed.

Lots of poor weather in the forecast before a possible Irma.  Hopefully they get a clear window.   

[Space Ghost 1962]

Although the X-37B is well within the capabilities of both the Atlas V and F9, I think Spacex launching the USAF's "crown jewel" will overcome a subconscious prejudice in favor of the "big boy" ULA among the space-aware... and then the Spacex booster flies back and lands! Should be a real milestone, real or perhaps only perceived, but like they say "perception is reality". I'll bet Elon is super-uptight on this one!

Minor nit: the X-37B is hardly the USAF's "crown jewel". In fact, it is one of the most expendable assets USAF has. X-37B is a "nice to have" platform for experimenting with new technologies. But it is not a platform that is required for day-to-day operational readiness. Unlike for example GPS birds, military comsats, military weather-sats and such.
So, there is not much risk for USAF in launching X-37B on a Falcon 9. They can afford to lose one should anything go catastrophically wrong.

Indeed.

Which is why it might also be the first AF asset to fly on a reused booster.

(Which would match a program desire to afford a low cost, quick turn/recycle rate.)

[john smith 19]

Indeed.

Which is why it might also be the first AF asset to fly on a reused booster.

(Which would match a program desire to afford a low cost, quick turn/recycle rate.)

That was my point. Usually it's the customer who has the most riding on a launch, but in this case it's SX. Shotwell was very clear that if you're in the US launch services business you need to have a part of the NSS market and it's regular launching of $Bn payloads. 
Likewise any serious mishap  will put the pad conversion plans for the first FH to a NET of 2018. 

OTOH they have kept up a reasonable launch cadence at the Cape so their crews should be very familiar with the procedures, as well as getting pad turnaround time down.

TBH I've always wondered about LV's that launch a couple of times a year. Unless absolutely everything is documented (and Murphy's Law says something always isn't) I find it very hard to believe that a crew can settle into a routine, unless they are running continual simulations, which sounds quite expensive if you're not launching anything.

[SpaceCadet1983]

Minor nit: the X-37B is hardly the USAF's "crown jewel". In fact, it is one of the most expendable assets USAF has. X-37B is a "nice to have" platform for experimenting with new technologies. But it is not a platform that is required for day-to-day operational readiness. Unlike for example GPS birds, military comsats, military weather-sats and such.
So, there is not much risk for USAF in launching X-37B on a Falcon 9. They can afford to lose one should anything go catastrophically wrong.

The X-37B may not be the USAF's "crown jewel," but it's still an important program. SpaceX better not "screw the pooch" during the launch/ascent phase.

[Rebel44]

What is planned launch window for this mission?

[Star One]

What is planned launch window for this mission?

Unknown at this time as no launch time has been published.

[woods170]

Minor nit: the X-37B is hardly the USAF's "crown jewel". In fact, it is one of the most expendable assets USAF has. X-37B is a "nice to have" platform for experimenting with new technologies. But it is not a platform that is required for day-to-day operational readiness. Unlike for example GPS birds, military comsats, military weather-sats and such.
So, there is not much risk for USAF in launching X-37B on a Falcon 9. They can afford to lose one should anything go catastrophically wrong.

The X-37B may not be the USAF's "crown jewel," but it's still an important program. SpaceX better not "screw the pooch" during the launch/ascent phase.

Every launch they perform is important. Not just the government ones.

[DOCinCT]

@flatoday_jdean
Weather 60% "go" for Thurs. launch of Falcon 9, #X37B from KSC; window not specified. #Irma not a factor (yet).

https://twitter.com/flatoday_jdean/status/904724331242115072

With models now showing IRMA on north coast of Cuba by Saturday morning, not a lot of options for delaying a day or two.

[tvg98]

Rumour is that the launch is at 1:23 PM ET, meaning I'll miss it by six hours or so 

[kevin-rf]

Rumour is that the launch is at 1:23 PM ET, meaning I'll miss it by six hours or so 

I thought it was supposed to go 3 2 1

[laika_fr]

GFS model overview :



Irma has a little sister staying at large.

[Perchlorate]

GFS model overview :



Irma has a little sister staying at large.

More probably, a little brother, Jose.  That is, if "Invest 94" attains tropical storm status before "Invest 95".  The next one will be Katia.

[vanoord]

Is there the possibility of a delay based on the potential impact of an impending hurricane on operations to deal with a landed first stage?

I can't imagine SpaceX being particularly keen to have a stage stood upright in the path of extreme winds, so unless they're very confident they can get the stage horizontal (and probably inside) by the time the storm potentially arrives are they likely to delay the launch?

[kenny008]

If they don't feel that they can get the returned stage under cover in time, I guess they could also decide to ditch the first stage at sea. The opportunity to launch the payload and get it out of Florida may outweigh the advantage of delaying the launch and recovering the first stage.