The asteroid defense mission #Hera is the 23rd and last launch of this Falcon 9 first stage. Interestingly, this stage has already launched our environmental satellite #EnMAP into space. 🛰️ 🚀Now at the launchpad of the #HeraMission : Walther Pelzer, head of the @DLR_SpaceAgency .
Quote from: StraumliBlight on 09/20/2024 07:40 pmThe Hera Launch Kit says "The spacecraft will leave Earth with an escape velocity of 5.6 km/s." and its launch mass is 1081 kg.An escape velocity of 5.6 km/s is a C3 of (5.6 km/s)^2 = 31.36 km^2/s^2. The NASA LSP performance calculator (https://elvperf.ksc.nasa.gov/Pages/Query.aspx) doesn't show Falcon ASDS performance for that C3 but extrapolating the performance plot near 0 km^2/s^2 it looks like Falcon ASDS would launch roughly 0-800 kg. So it makes sense that they're using Falcon expendable.
The Hera Launch Kit says "The spacecraft will leave Earth with an escape velocity of 5.6 km/s." and its launch mass is 1081 kg.
Yesss!The @SpaceX #Falcon9 with #HeraMission on top at Space Launch Complex 40.Fingers crossed! 🌧️ 🚀 #Hera
Rain, rain go away! It’s launch day! Erik Masure, President, Redwire Space Europe, checks in from Kennedy Space Center with one last look at the Falcon 9 rocket that will launch the Hera mission 🚀Learn more about the Redwire Tech onboard ESA’s first planetary defense mission: https://redwirespace.com/missions/Hera/ #Heramission
L-1.5 hours until the #HeraMission launch!The Flight Dynamics team at ESA mission control has calculated the precise trajectory that they expect Hera to be on after it separates from its launcher later today. This information will help Goldstone station establish contact with the spacecraft as soon as possible.
#HeraMission L-2 hour weather check: we are currently GO for launch, but there will be additional weather checks prior to lift-off.
F9/Hera: Now inside 1 hour to launch; ESA project manager Ian Carnelli says on X: "all systems GO! Weather improving"
Propellant load has begun for today’s Falcon 9 launch of the @ESA Hera mission from Florida. Weather is currently 60% favorable for liftoff at 10:52 a.m. ET
T-20 minute vent.
