The European Space Agency (ESA) is still optimistic its Hera mission to survey the Dimorphos asteroid will launch Oct. 7 despite a technical glitch with a SpaceX Falcon 9 during a recent flight that paused operations of the launcher.
That includes encapsulating the spacecraft into the rocket’s payload fairing on Oct. 3.
“We will be ready to launch” on Oct. 7, he said, pending approval from the FAA to allow Falcon 9 launches to resume. “We are basically hoping we get it by Sunday [Oct. 6].”
With NASA’s Europa Clipper mission also set to launch during a mid-October planetary launch window, Carnelli said he and his colleagues will be meeting Friday morning with Dr. Nicola Fox, the associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. They will be coordinating to ensure there is a healthy amount of distance between their two mission launches.“Hera is ready for launch and I heard that Clipper is also ready for launch,” Carnelli said. “So, we just need to get all the pieces of the puzzle in the right place: weather, FAA and all the rest and I think we’re good to go.
At an ESA briefing this morning, Hera project officials say they are proceeding with plans for an Oct. 7 launch on a Falcon 9, including encapsulating the spacecraft in the fairing tomorrow. Getting daily briefings on investigation and "very happy" with progress so far.
The Hera project manager, Ian Carnelli, also said they would be happy to be the return-to-flight mission for the Falcon 9, and don't require SpaceX to perform a launch before it.
020813Z OCT 24NAVAREA IV 1200/24(11,26).WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.FLORIDA.1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING 071447Z TO 071527Z OCT, ALTERNATE 081441Z TO 081521Z, 091436Z TO 091516Z, 101430Z TO 101510Z, 111424Z TO 111504Z, 121418Z TO 121458Z AND 131412Z TO 131452Z OCT IN AREAS BOUND BY: A. 28-39.89N 080-38.31W, 28-38.00N 080-26.00W, 28-31.00N 080-02.00W, 28-23.00N 079-58.00W, 28-29.75N 080-32.68W. B. 26-34.00N 074-16.00W, 26-54.00N 074-07.00W, 26-27.00N 072-34.00W, 25-37.00N 070-02.00W, 25-00.00N 070-17.00W, 25-57.00N 072-53.00W.2. CANCEL THIS MSG 131552Z OCT 24.//
Does anyone have a link to an archive of the briefings described at:https://www.esa.int/Newsroom/Press_Releases/Media_invitation_Hera_pre-launch_media_briefings
ESA continues Hera launch preparations amid Falcon 9 groundingOctober 2, 2024[...]The launch period for Hera runs through Oct. 27, with daily instantaneous launch windows. Carnelli said NASA has requested a 48-hour standdown ahead of the launch of Europa Clipper on a Falcon Heavy at the Kennedy Space Center, currently scheduled for Oct. 10.[...]
This launch cannot take place within the 48 hours before the scheduled launch of Europa Clipper:QuoteESA continues Hera launch preparations amid Falcon 9 groundingOctober 2, 2024[...]The launch period for Hera runs through Oct. 27, with daily instantaneous launch windows. Carnelli said NASA has requested a 48-hour standdown ahead of the launch of Europa Clipper on a Falcon Heavy at the Kennedy Space Center, currently scheduled for Oct. 10.[...]
This launch cannot take place within the 48 hours before the scheduled launch of Europa Clipper:
As of this posting, Hera will be the Falcon 9 return-to-flight.If I recall correctly, NASA LSP launches and all USA-based crewed launches (not commercial cargo to ISS) require ~48 hours spacing between launches using the same model (ex. Falcon 9/Falcon Heavy) to allow post-flight launch vehicle performance analysis.So, no Falcon 9 launches within 48 hours before Falcon Heavy/Europa Clipper.See the Starlink 6-22 launch with respect to Psyche last year.Seeking correction or clarification.
Hera Project Manager Ian Carnelli said that if Hera’s launch slips into the Europa Clipper window, ESA has agreed with NASA to stand down for 48 hours to allow Europa Clipper to proceed. Apart from that, Hera can launch any day between October 7 and 27. It has an instantaneous launch window, so must launch at an exact time each day that shifts a bit earlier as the days progress. If it doesn’t launch by October 27, it will have to wait two years until October 2026 when Earth and Didymos/Dimorphos are correctly aligned again.
Launch webcast:
SPACEX HERA, CAPE CANAVERAL SFS, FLPRIMARY: 10/07/24 1447Z-1527ZBACKUP: 10/08/24 1441Z-1521Z 10/09/24 1436Z-1516Z 10/10/24 1430Z-1510Z 10/11/24 1424Z-1504Z 10/12/24 1418Z-1458Z 10/13/24 1412Z-1452Z
#HeraMission truly is a marvellous wonder 🤩 Absolutely love this spacecraft
Which first stage will be used for this launch? (semi-rhetorical question)Falcon 9 first stages are now cleared for use up to forty times for non-crewed launches, although that number is apparently more restricted for Cargo Dragon or Cygnus than these other payloads.
