SpaceX F9 : NROL-108 : KSC LC-39A : 19 December 2020 (14:00 UTC)

[Jansen]

L-2 launch weather forecast is 70% GO, slight improvement from yesterday and better recovery conditions.

[Raul]

Visualization of Launch Hazard Areas for Mission 1512 NROL-108 from KSC LC-39A according issued NOTMAR and NOTAM messages, valid for Dec 17, alternatively Dec 18.
RTLS LZ-1 landing for booster 1059.5.
Planned Stage2 debris reentry in Eastern Pacific in window corresponds to the first orbit.
Rough estimation of groundtrack and fairing recovery position approximately 328km downrange.

[Mat-FoundInSpace]

The ring patch for NROL-108 is from the 45th Space Wing

[Jansen]

https://twitter.com/SpaceXFleet/status/1339025875023638529

[zubenelgenubi]

We're one day and a few hours from the NET launch date and time.  The launch vehicle has not yet appeared on the pad.

That could mean the LV will roll out of the HIF just in time to begin pad preparations, and that there will be no Static Fire.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

L-1 launch weather forecast still 70% GO

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/emrekelly/status/1339221785057894400

Falcon 9 / NROL-108 is rolling out to pad 39A in advance of Thursday's planned 0900 to 1200 ET liftoff. Nice photobomb courtesy of a KSC crawler.

[Jansen]

With ~22 hours to the launch window, I’m guessing no static fire.

[LandingZone-1]

NRO Press Kit:
https://www.nro.gov/Portals/65/documents/news/Press%20Kits/Press%20Kit_Launch_NROL-108.pdf?ver=Cumz3gYzVWCzkBs-ekY3iQ%3d%3d

[zubenelgenubi: Attached file.  You never know when links will be changed, or documents removed from the source web site.]

[Jansen]

https://twitter.com/therealjonvh/status/1339297875646406657

[Jansen]

https://twitter.com/SpaceXFleet/status/1339314253115822085

[Jansen]

https://twitter.com/Zshauladventure/status/1339310609976922119


Great pic of the fairing! Note the CCAFS portion as SLC-40 was the intended launch site.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spacecoast_stve/status/1339340500113960960

Although Falcon 9 was horizontal during remote setup, it is now vertical ahead of tomorrow's #NROL108 mission. We got a nice treat getting to watch from one of the setup spots.

I've uploaded a bunch of photos to the NSF L2 forum for members to peruse.

nasaspaceflight.com/l2/

[FutureSpaceTourist]

[Jansen]

SpaceX is targeting Thursday, December 17 for launch of the NROL-108 mission, which will launch from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. The three-hour launch window opens at 9:00 a.m. EST, or 14:00 UTC, and a backup launch opportunity is available on Friday, December 18 with a three-hour launch window opening at 9:00 a.m. EST, or 14:00 UTC.

Falcon 9’s first stage booster previously supported launch of SpaceX’s 19th and 20th cargo resupply missions to the International Space Station, a Starlink mission, and the SAOCOM 1B mission. Following stage separation, SpaceX will land Falcon 9’s first stage on Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

[Jansen]

Official NROL-108 SpaceX patch

[vaporcobra]

SpaceX's official prelaunch photo.

[Jansen]

LAUNCH AND LANDING

All Times Are Approximate

HR/MIN/SEC   EVENT
00:01:12   Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
00:02:18   1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO)
00:02:22   1st and 2nd stages separate
00:02:30   2nd stage engine starts
00:02:35   Boostback burn
00:02:41   Fairing deployment
00:06:23   1st stage entry burn begins
00:08:15   1st stage landing

[soltasto]

Captured "Press Kit" with OCR

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1339395026216833027

Targeting Thursday, December 17 for Falcon 9 launch of NROL-108 for @NatReconOfc. The three-hour launch window opens at 9:00 a.m. EST, and weather is 70% favorable → spacex.com/launches