Author Topic: SpaceX Falcon 9 : Iridium NEXT Flight 2 (June 25, 2017) : UPDATES  (Read 116431 times)

Offline gongora

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UPDATES ONLY THREAD for Flight 2 of the Iridium NEXT missions.

Flight 2: June 25 at 13:24:59 PDT (20:24:59 UTC) on Falcon 9 from SLC-4E at Vandenberg.  Landing of first stage (1036) on ASDS is expected.

   Flight 2 will launch 10 satellites into Iridium plane 3.  Five of those satellites will then be drifted to planes 2 and 4.

   NSF Threads for Iridium NEXT Flight 2: Discussion / Updates / L2 Coverage May-June
   NSF Articles for Iridium NEXT Flight 2:  SpaceX testing Vandy Falcon 9 amid schedule realignment
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/06/spacex-falcon-9-iridium-next-2-launch/

Flight 1 was a successful launch and first stage offshore landing, January 14, 2017 (9:54 PST/17:54 UTC) on Falcon 9 from SLC-4E at Vandenberg.  See the Flight 1 Discussion Thread for more information and links to other Flight 1 threads and articles.

General information for Iridium flights 1-7
   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: 06/27/2017 10:37 pm by gongora »

Offline Targeteer

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Vandenberg 30th SW Facebook page

Launch Scheduled- Falcon 9 Iridium 2

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Team Vandenberg is scheduled to launch the Iridium NEXT satellite on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex-4 here Sunday, June 25, at 1:25 p.m. PDT.

This will be the first launch for Col. Michael S. Hough, 30th Space Wing commander, who took command on June 9th.

"I'm excited my first launch opportunity is in partnership with SpaceX," said Hough. "And being a part of putting Iridium NEXT in orbit to meet the growing demand for global mobile communication is icing on the cake. As a side, this will also be our first launch with the Autonomous Flight Safety System, which is expected to help decrease launch costs and improve turnaround times between launches."

The Autonomous Flight Safety System debuted on its maiden flight from Kennedy Space Center on a Falcon 9 rocket earlier this year, leveraging software developed at the 30th Space Wing.

This is the second of eight planned Iridium NEXT launches. Each launch will contribute to replacing the world’s largest commercial satellite network and the only network that covers 100 percent of the earth. Iridium NEXT will enable new capabilities like Aireon’s real-time, global aircraft surveillance and tracking service, and Iridium Certus, the Company’s next-generation communications platform that will bring broadband speeds to even the world’s most remote locations.

For questions about SpaceX, please contact John Taylor, communications director, SpaceX, at 310.363.6703 or [email protected].

For more information about the Iridium NEXT satellite, visit: www.iridium.com
« Last Edit: 06/14/2017 08:38 pm by Targeteer »
Best quote heard during an inspection, "I was unaware that I was the only one who was aware."

Offline Chris Bergin

Static Fire is June 20. Two individual launch teams, so possible to keep to the schedule, even if SpaceX launches BulgariaSat-1 the same day (based on the new back up date to the new NET 19th target).  :o
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Online FutureSpaceTourist

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L2 sats fueled and ready. SpaceX prepping for static fire next week. BulgariaSat-1 now Monday, with us following 5 days later on Saturday!

https://twitter.com/iridiumboss/status/875390696601137152

Quote
Mental error - make that 6 days later on Sunday.  Wasn't making news with a schedule change! :)

https://twitter.com/iridiumboss/status/875392073180082176

Offline NX-0

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Like Ernie Banks used to say...let's fly two!

Offline jacqmans

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Iridium Corporate‏@IridiumComm · 15 jun. 


Excited to share the official #IridiumNEXT 2nd launch patch!

Jacques :-)

Offline jacqmans

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All photos: Iridium Corp.
Jacques :-)

Offline Chris Bergin

Eight hours until expected T-0 for this static fire (1:30pm local)....of course, static fires can be conducted at any time within a long window.
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Offline Chris Bergin

Knocked together an article for the Static Fire. Didn't want to repeat the "what the static fire is about", so trying to change it up each time. This one is more a round up of the near term fun:

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/06/spacex-vandy-falcon-9-schedule-realignment/
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Online FutureSpaceTourist

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All 10 #IridiumNEXT SVs are locked & loaded, in prep for launch on 6/25!  @SpaceX @Thales_Alenia_S @AireonLLC @OrbitalATK #Iridium-2

https://twitter.com/iridiumcomm/status/877237391383252993

Offline Chris Bergin

Still shooting for today. Window lasts until 5pm local.
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Offline Chris Bergin

Until 30 minutes if the latest T-0 holds.
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Offline Chris Bergin

Static Fire via L2....but as always, wait for SpaceX to tweet the confirmation of a good test via quick look review.
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Offline Raul

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So, here we have NOTMAR Iridium-2 Launch Hazard Areas with planned ASDS position and Stage2 debris area.

Offline Chris Bergin

Confirmation:

Static fire test of Falcon 9 at Vandenberg AFB complete—launch of 10 @IridiumComm NEXT satellites slated for Sunday, June 25.

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/877291820962594816
« Last Edit: 06/20/2017 10:30 pm by Chris Bergin »
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Online FutureSpaceTourist

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30th Space Wing (Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.)
L-2 Day Planning Forecast

Western Range Operation Forecast
W7295
Issued: 23 Jun 17 / 0800L (1500Z)
Valid: 25 Jun 17 / 1325L (2025Z)
Vehicle/Payload: Falcon 9/Iridium-2
Location: VAFB SLC-4

T-0 Forecast: The subtropical ridge will be the dominant feature on Sunday with the marine layer influence strong over the range. Cooling overnight and sustained northwesterly flow will allow the marine layer to move in over the range and linger on the coastal areas, bringing low shallow stratus and fog through the count. By T-0, the marine layer will have broken out, the stratus will be clearing out and visibility restrictions lifted. Winds will be onshore through the count with T-0 winds out of the northwest at 10 - 15 knots. Temperatures will range from 63 - 68F and max upper-level winds will be from the west at 50 knots from 34,000 to 36,000 feet. The overall POV will be 0% with no constraints of concern.

24 Hour Scrub Forecast: High pressure will continue to influence the range on Monday. The marine layer will again move in overnight, bringing low stratus and reduction to visibility through the count and a burn-off by T-0. Winds will increase slightly to 12 - 15 with knots by T-0 out of the northwest with a slightly enhanced gradient. Temperatures will rise to 65 - 70F and max upper-level winds will increase, with winds out of the west-southwest at 55 knots from 34,000 to 36,000 feet. The overall POV will remain at 0% with no constraints of concern.

Significant Clouds: Stratus
Coverage: 4/8 ths
Bases: 300 ft
Tops: 900 ft
Visibility: 7 Miles
Weather: None
Wind: 310 - 340 at 10 - 15 knots
Temperature: 63 - 68° F
Overall probability of violating weather constraints: 0%
Area of concern: None
Overall probability of violating weather constraints for 24 Hour Delay: 0%
Area of concern: None
Next Forecast Issuance: 24/0900L
QC: TB

 :D

Edit: attached summary now posted online
« Last Edit: 06/23/2017 04:41 pm by FutureSpaceTourist »

Offline eweilow

Webcast link for this mission:



Presskit also uploaded to spacex.com: http://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/iridium2presskit.pdf

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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SpaceX patch from the press kit.

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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Updated weather forecast summary attached. Still 100% GO.

Offline Raul

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Iridium-2 vertical with newly-designed titanium grid fins.
« Last Edit: 06/24/2017 09:53 pm by Raul »

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