Author Topic: SpaceX F9 : Iridium NEXT Flight 7 : July 25, 2018 : Vandenberg - UPDATES  (Read 63767 times)

Offline Chris Bergin

UPDATE ONLY THREAD for Flight 7 of the Iridium NEXT missions.

Flight 7 successfully launched July 25, 2018 at 04:39 PDT / 11:39 UTC on a new Falcon 9 B1048 from SLC-4 at Vandenberg.  The first stage successfully landed on the drone ship JRTI.  Fairing recovery attempt was unsuccessful.

   Flight 7 will send all of its satellites into plane 5.

   NSF Threads for Iridium NEXT Flight 7: Discussion / Update
   NSF Articles for Iridium NEXT Flight 7: 
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/?s=Iridium



See the Flight 1 Discussion Thread for more information and links to other Iridium Next threads and articles.

General information for Iridium flights 1-5 & 7-8
   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: 07/25/2018 12:59 pm by gongora »
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Offline Chris Bergin

ridium Release:

Iridium-7 Target Launch Date Announced

MCLEAN, Va. – June 15, 2018 – Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: IRDM) announced today that the seventh Iridium® NEXT mission has been targeted by SpaceX for launch on July 20, 2018, from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The Falcon 9 rocket will launch 10 Iridium NEXT satellites to low Earth orbit (LEO) from Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) in California at approximately 5:12 am PDT (12:12 UTC). An exact instantaneous launch window time will be available closer to the launch date. As the second-to-last launch of the planned Iridium NEXT program, this mission will increase the total number of Iridium NEXT satellites in space to 65.

All 10 satellites for this mission will be deployed to Iridium orbital plane number 5 where they will go into operation immediately following a thorough testing and validation process.  The Iridium network is comprised of six polar orbiting planes, each containing 11 operational crosslinked satellites, for a total of 66 satellites in the active constellation. Once all the satellites from the Iridium-7 mission are operational, plane 5 will be the fourth orbital plane to be comprised entirely of Iridium NEXT satellites.  In total, 81 Iridium NEXT satellites are being built, with 66 in the operational constellation, nine serving as on-orbit spares and six serving as ground spares.

Iridium NEXT is the company's $3 billion, next-generation, mobile, global satellite network scheduled for completion in 2018. Iridium NEXT is replacing the company's first generation global constellation in one of the largest technology upgrades ever completed in space. It represents the evolution of critical communications infrastructure that governments and organizations worldwide rely on to drive business, enable connectivity, empower disaster relief efforts and more.

For more information about Iridium NEXT, please visit www.IridiumNEXT.com
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Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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All 10 Iridium NEXT satellites for launch #7 are at VAFB now, and mating to dispenser is well along - to be completed this weekend. Everything else needed is there as well and being processed - schedule looking good! #Tminus3weeks #donttellVandenbergfogyet.

https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/1012429440805167104

Offline Jakusb

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Offline Chris Bergin

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Offline Chris Bergin

Iridium Announces Updated Dates for Iridium-7 Launch and Second-Quarter 2018 Earnings Call 

MCLEAN, Va. – July 10, 2018 – Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: IRDM) announced today an updated launch date for the seventh Iridium® NEXT launch and as a result, a revised date for its second-quarter 2018 earnings call. The Iridium-7 mission is now targeting July 25, 2018 from Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) in California with an instantaneous launch window of 4:39:26 am PDT (11:39:26 UTC). This updated schedule comes after SpaceX informed Iridium that more time was needed to prepare the rocket for launch.
« Last Edit: 07/10/2018 12:04 pm by Chris Bergin »
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Offline shuttlefan

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Static fire date?

Online Galactic Penguin SST

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1020520790108672000?s=19

SpaceX
@SpaceX
Static fire test of Falcon 9 complete— targeting July 25 launch of Iridium-7 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
Astronomy & spaceflight geek penguin. In a relationship w/ Space Shuttle Discovery. Current Priority: Chasing the Chinese Spaceflight Wonder Egg & A Certain Chinese Mars Rover

Offline Lewis007

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Launch patches
credit: http://spacexpatchlist.space/

Offline Elthiryel

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According to Matt Desch, L-3 weather forecast gives 60% chances of favorable weather during launch. Main concern: ground level winds.

https://twitter.com/iridiumboss/status/1021200622308286464?s=21
Quote
Matt Desch @iridiumboss
This is fun stuff, thanks.  T-3 weather report was for 40% concerns only about ground winds.  Surprising they will still be strong at 4:30am in the morning, but will keep an eye out.  Have anything to calm the winds down??
« Last Edit: 07/23/2018 05:57 am by Elthiryel »
GO for launch, GO for age of reflight

Offline Raul

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Iridium-7 Launch Hazard Areas based on NOTMARs and NOTAMs. Planned B1048 landing at identical position as Iridium-3 mission.

Stage2 Reentry Debris Area (also identical to the Iridum-3 mission) is active on the second orbit between 13:15 to 13:57 UTC. Next reentry area behind Antarctica (similarly as Iridium-6/GRACE-FO mission) is active a few minutes later between 13:34 to 14:16 UTC.

Offline RocketLover0119

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The tug boat "Pacific freedom" departed port LA yesterday at around 6 pm PT , it was berthed to JRTI yesterday, so it is likely JRTI is out at sea right now, the tug is traveling at all pace of 5 knots.
"The Starship has landed"

Offline ChrisGebhardt

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The tug boat "Pacific freedom" departed port LA yesterday at around 6 pm PT , it was berthed to JRTI yesterday, so it is likely JRTI is out at sea right now, the tug is traveling at all pace of 5 knots.

Confirmed.  JRTI left port last night. 

https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-pacific-recovery-fleet-block-5-debut/

Offline catdlr

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from marinetraffic.com

https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:3439091/mmsi:338358000

MR STEVEN departed from
Port LOS ANGELES
at 2018-07-23 20:27 Local Time (2018-07-24 03:27 UTC)
« Last Edit: 07/24/2018 04:26 am by catdlr »
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Offline Elthiryel

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GO for launch, GO for age of reflight

Offline RocketLover0119

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"The Starship has landed"

Offline RocketLover0119

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« Last Edit: 07/24/2018 11:44 pm by RocketLover0119 »
"The Starship has landed"

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Higher res

Offline Chris Bergin

FEATURE ARTICLE: SpaceX set for seventh Iridium launch and double recovery -

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/07/spacex-seventh-iridium-launch-double-recovery/

- 3,000 word launch preview by William Graham
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Offline RocketLover0119

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"The Starship has landed"

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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First Vandenberg launch! I've placed my four sound-activated cameras around SLC-4E ahead of the #Iridium7 mission tomorrow 4:39 AM PDT (11:39 UTC)
Thanks to @30thSpaceWing / @SpaceX for allowing us to do this.

📸photos.tmahlmann.com/Rockets/SpaceX…
⭐️patreon.com/trevormahlmann

https://twitter.com/trevormahlmann/status/1021937748876222464

Offline ChrisGebhardt

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Clear skies at Vandy right now.

Offline ChrisGebhardt

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T-1hr and COUNTING!  And very foggy now.  Can't see pad.  This changed so quickly.  Very dynamic, so could change again.  No hinderance to continuance of count.


FLIGHT area clear and ready to proceed with terminal count.

Offline ChrisGebhardt

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T-50mins.  All remains on track for start of fueling, at this time.

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Range status.  RANGE IS GREEN!

Offline Steven Pietrobon

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T-38 minutes. Launch Director should be giving go for propellant load.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

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Fueling poll complete.  All stations ready to proceed into fueling.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

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T-35 minutes. Fuel and stage 1 LOX loading should be starting now.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

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T-35mins.

Launch auto has started.

Fueling has BEGUN! 

The Falcon 9 1st stage is being loaded with RP-1 and LOX and the 2nd stage is being loading with RP-1.

Team has received "what to do if need to abort the count is needed" instructions.  Standard.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

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Funky music has started.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline ChrisGebhardt

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All is very quiet on the LD loop, which is 100% GOOD.  Things are proceeding without issue.

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T-16 minutes. Stage 2 LOX loading should be starting now.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

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T-16mins.  LOX load into 2nd stage is starting.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

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Webcast has started. Fogged in, but good to go for launch.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

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T-13 minutes. Bad weather at landing site. High wind shear.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

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T-12 minutes. Only a few SpaceX employees watching at HQ.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

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T-11 minutes. Can just see landing legs in fog.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

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T-10 minutes. High wind shear and choppy seas for fairing recovery.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

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T-9 minutes. Working no issues on vehicle.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

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T-8 minutes. Spacecraft are on internal power.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

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T-7 minutes. Engine chill should be starting now. Only one second window.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline deruch

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Iridium has put together a Spotify playlist that is time synchronized with the countdown/launch.  It can be found by searching "Iridium-7 Launch Soundtrack" on Spotify, listed in the Playlists.  It's timed to begin at T-10:30. 

Interesting idea.
« Last Edit: 07/25/2018 11:36 am by deruch »
Shouldn't reality posts be in "Advanced concepts"?  --Nomadd

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T-6 minutes. Iridium NEXT promo.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

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T-5 minutes.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

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T-4 minutes.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

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T-3 minutes. TVC on upper stage is good.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

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T-2 minutes. Stage 2 LOX load complete.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

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T-1 minute. Falcon 9 is in startup.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

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Luftoff!
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Chris Bergin

Launch!
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T+1 minute.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline deruch

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Actual crickets heard on audio after the rumble of the engines faded out.  :D
« Last Edit: 07/25/2018 12:33 pm by deruch »
Shouldn't reality posts be in "Advanced concepts"?  --Nomadd

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T+2 minutes.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

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Separation.

T+3 minutes.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

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T+4 minutes.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

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T+5 minutes. Coming up on entry burn.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

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T+6 minutes. Entry burn.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

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T+7 minutes.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

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Touchdown!

T+8 minutes.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

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SECO! Good orbit insertion.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Chris Bergin

"We don't have a very good picture but we think we have a first stage on the drone ship".

Falcon 9 doesn't care about Wind Shear. Landed it
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T+10 minutes. Will be back at T+50 minutes. Upcoming events.

00:51:28 2nd stage engine restarts
00:51:37 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-2)
00:56:38 Iridium NEXT satellites begin deployment
01:11:38 Iridium NEXT satellites end deployment
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Quote
Despite challenging weather conditions, Falcon 9 first stage booster landed on Just Read the Instructions.

https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1022088522168029184

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T+20 minutes. Over the Pacific.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Mapperuo

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- Aaron

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Main events of the launch and landing

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T+30 minutes. Heading towards Antarctica.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Quote
Not much to see, but boy was there lots to hear. Despite the fog, #Falcon9 illuminated the night here on Vandenberg AFB in a beautiful orange glow at liftoff. Here's a 2min30s long exposure of what we saw from the press site.

📸 #Iridium7 gallery: photos.tmahlmann.com/Rockets/SpaceX…

https://twitter.com/trevormahlmann/status/1022090176430923776

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Quote
Look at Mr Steven go!

#Iridium7 #SpaceX #Falcon9

https://twitter.com/spacexupdates/status/1022090258995982337

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Troll AOS.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

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Pictures from orbit. Looks like a wire in front of one of the cameras.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

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Some nice shots.

T+40 minutes.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

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T+45 minutes. Over the Southern Ocean.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

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Troll LOS expected.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

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HPK Mauritius AOS.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

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Good shot of the landed first stage.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Chris Bergin

There we go!
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Ignition and nominal orbit insertion!
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Chris Bergin

Mr. Steven didn't catch the fairing. Saw it coming down, but the wind shear was too much.
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Bit of venting from the engine.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Craftyatom

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For posterity: the host confirms that the orange line in one the second-stage camera views is a "gasket" in the camera casing, and presents no issue (besides obscuring the wonderful view).
All aboard the HSF hype train!  Choo Choo!

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T+55 minutes. One minute 38 seconds to first separation.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

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First one is away. Top middle of picture.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

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Second one is away. Out of view.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

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Third sat is away. Also out of view.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

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Dubai AOS. Fourth sat is away.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

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Fifth sat away. Out of view.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

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Number six heads off.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

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Solid oxygen is the white thing at the end of the pipe.

Satellite number seven is away.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

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Number 8 is away. Top left of picture.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

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Ninth satellite has separated.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline chalz

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Apparently the control room are amused by the commentators enthusiasm, in return he thanks them for the camerawork.

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Final spacecraft separation confirmed!
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Chris Bergin

All successfully deployed!

Great work with the coverage everyone, not least Steven!

William Graham's article:
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/07/spacex-seventh-iridium-launch-double-recovery/
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Wrapping up coverage.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

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Next one is Merah Putih with Iridium 8 later in the year. John enjoyed to Spotify list. End of webcast.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Quote
Thank you @SpaceX for another awesome flight!  Glad everyone enjoyed the @Spotify playlist - kudos to my team (particulary JH) for so many great choices.  Most importantly, all 10 satellites have checked in!!!  @marine_layer: we need to talk...

https://twitter.com/iridiumboss/status/1022106329475772416

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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This is Iridium 7 ...

Quote
Otherworldly: the TEL at SLC-4E popping through @Marine_layer. OMG.

Full gallery: photos.tmahlmann.com/Rockets/SpaceX…

https://twitter.com/trevormahlmann/status/1022132347125133312

Offline Targeteer

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43569   OBJECT A   2018-061A      TBA   96.95   86.69   625   600      
43570   OBJECT B   2018-061B      TBA   96.97   86.68   623   604      
43571   OBJECT C   2018-061C      TBA   96.96   86.68   622   604      
43572   OBJECT D   2018-061D   TBA   97.01   86.66   625   607      
43573   OBJECT E   2018-061E      TBA   96.97   86.66   620   607      
43574   OBJECT F   2018-061F    TBA   96.97   86.69   626   601      
43575   OBJECT G   2018-061G   TBA   96.95   86.68   622   603      
43576   OBJECT H   2018-061H   TBA   96.96   86.68   624   602      
43577   OBJECT J   2018-061J      TBA   96.99   86.67   622   607
43578   OBJECT K   2018-061K   TBA   96.97   86.67   623   604
Best quote heard during an inspection, "I was unaware that I was the only one who was aware."

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Fog was so bad almost no photos tweeted of F9 in flight taken from launch site. Do have these fab aerial shots though:

Quote
A #Falcon9 Block 5 pokes out of the Vandenberg fog bank this morning.  @SpaceX successfully delivered another 10 satellites on this #Iridium7 mission!

https://twitter.com/birdsnspace/status/1022183694138658817

Quote
Different rocket, different pad, but a very similar appearance to May's Atlas InSight launch.

https://twitter.com/birdsnspace/status/1022183695782825984

Offline RocketLover0119

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Looks like Mr. Steven will arrive in the next couple of hours in Port, traveling at a speed of 20 knots, ETA set for 10:30 am Pacific time
"The Starship has landed"

Offline RocketLover0119

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Mr. Steven is in Port now, anyone in the area to see any fairings?
"The Starship has landed"

Offline RocketLover0119

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"The Starship has landed"

Online AnalogMan

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Here's a slightly adjusted version of the above photo.

Offline RocketLover0119

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Been tracking the West coast convoy trek back today, have not moved towards port, just straight upwards from the recovery site, minutes ago Pacific freedom stopped moving and NRC Quest did a loop, not sure if something is up?

EDIT: Now moving towards port at 4 knots, not sure what the stoppage was for.
« Last Edit: 07/26/2018 11:39 pm by RocketLover0119 »
"The Starship has landed"

Offline docmordrid

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Press Telegram...

Adjusted pics from the story

« Last Edit: 07/27/2018 01:33 am by docmordrid »
DM

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Tweeted about 15 hours ago:

Quote
Might not be able to completely keep up, but our Ops team is doing simultaneous platform checkout on all 10 sats and everything is looking good.  SV155 will complete first and start ascent to storage orbit tomorrow afternoon.  SV158 should be on Saturday, then SV156 on Sunday.

https://twitter.com/iridiumboss/status/1022507850625679360

Offline RocketLover0119

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JRTI and B1048 should be arriving in Port in the next few hours, should be coming over the horizon soon.
"The Starship has landed"

Offline RocketLover0119

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Slowing down, going to take longer than I had thought....

https://mobile.twitter.com/SpaceXUpdates/status/1022844268262699011
"The Starship has landed"

Offline RocketLover0119

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Slowing down, going to take longer than I had thought....

https://mobile.twitter.com/SpaceXUpdates/status/1022844268262699011

So close, yet so far.
"The Starship has landed"

Offline RocketLover0119

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B1047 aboard JRTI are set to arrive in the next 1-2 hours, prob will go into a holding pattern while crews get onto JRTI and do transfers.
"The Starship has landed"

Offline RocketLover0119

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Booster is back!
"The Starship has landed"

Offline RocketLover0119

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« Last Edit: 07/27/2018 09:33 pm by RocketLover0119 »
"The Starship has landed"

Offline ngilmore

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No visible crane motion yet that would indicate putting the cap on for lifting.
« Last Edit: 07/27/2018 11:09 pm by ngilmore »

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Nice close-up from Pauline Acalin:

Quote
Heading home now, but here is one more shot of the Iridium-7 booster and those teeth on JRTI. #spacex

https://twitter.com/w00ki33/status/1022965659536261120

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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A couple of photos from SpaceX

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Quote
Iridium-7’s Falcon 9 is now being moved to land! I’ll be live streaming recovery on Instagram if you want to follow along. instagram.com/neonheatdisease

https://twitter.com/thejackbeyer/status/1023303668412497921
« Last Edit: 07/28/2018 09:23 pm by FutureSpaceTourist »

Offline RocketLover0119

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Quote
Iridium-7’s Falcon 9 is now being moved to land! I’ll be live streaming recovery on Instagram if you want to follow along. instagram.com/neonheatdisease

https://twitter.com/thejackbeyer/status/1023303668412497921

Note the fact the special cap like the one being used in Canaveral rn not on top, looks like these legs will be removed.
"The Starship has landed"

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Quote
Recovered booster 1048’s single-piece cast titanium grid fins. They were able to maneuver the vehicle through stormy winds at sea, landing it safely on Just Read the Instructions following Iridium-7 launch. #spacex #iridium7 #falcon9

https://twitter.com/w00ki33/status/1023584076328972288

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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This headline is accurate, some examples attached:

Quote
SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket’s drone ship return captured in stunning detail

By Eric Ralph
Posted on July 29, 2018

Teslarati photographer Pauline Acalin has captured SpaceX’s first Falcon 9 Block 5 booster recovery in the best detail yet seen of the rocket upgrade, well-worn after its first successful launch of Iridium NEXT-7, July 25.

https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-falcon-9-block-5-rocket-droneship-photo-gallery/

Edit to add: I suggest follow-up discussion is best in the block 5 thread, rather than Iridium 7.
« Last Edit: 07/29/2018 10:18 pm by FutureSpaceTourist »

Offline Chris Bergin

Iridium release:

Seventh Set of Iridium® NEXT Satellites are Performing Well During Pre-Operational Testing

MCLEAN, Va. – July 30, 2018 – Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:IRDM) announced today that the 10 Iridium NEXT satellites launched on Wednesday, July 25th, by SpaceX are functioning nominally and have begun the testing and validation process. The launch brought the total number of Iridium NEXT satellites in orbit to 65, leaving just one more launch of 10 satellites to complete the Iridium NEXT launch program.

“It’s incredible that we only have one more Iridium NEXT launch to go,” said Scott Smith, chief operating officer at Iridium. “Since Wednesday’s launch, the team is focused on settling these 10 new satellites into their designated slots, all in plane five.  Once we are done with this batch, plane five will be comprised of all Iridium NEXT satellites, and we will be ready and waiting for the final launch of this historic program.”

The Iridium constellation is comprised of six polar orbiting planes, each containing 11 operational crosslinked satellites, for a total of 66 satellites in the active constellation.  This unique architecture creates a web of coverage around the earth, enabling Iridium to provide real-time communications over the oceans and from even the most remote locations.  One more Iridium NEXT launch is scheduled for 2018, which will bring Iridium’s total number of new satellites in orbit to 75, including nine spares. A total of 81 satellites are being built, including 66 operational, nine on-orbit spares and six ground spares.

For more information about Iridium NEXT, please visit www.IridiumNEXT.com.
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Offline RocketLover0119

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At the end of teslarati's newest article, there is a pic of B1048, legless, up next will be horizontal and transport.

https://www.teslarati.com/new-spacex-falcon-9-booster-cape-canaveral-florida/
« Last Edit: 08/01/2018 08:41 pm by RocketLover0119 »
"The Starship has landed"

Offline RocketLover0119

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Pictures from Reddit user Spacexman_spiff of the legless, finless B1048, and a pic of the recovered fairing halve from the launch.

https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/93savn/spacex_san_pedro_operations_august_1st/
"The Starship has landed"

Offline RocketLover0119

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Interesting, yesterday the booster went horizontal some, then lifted back up and placed back on its mount

https://mobile.twitter.com/w00ki33/status/1025117693500739584
https://mobile.twitter.com/w00ki33/status/1025164733756801024
"The Starship has landed"

Offline Helodriver

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The Falcon sleeps tonight.

Legs and fins removed, in the truck transport cradle, partially wrapped in white plastic.

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Video posted a few days ago by a Iridium, including some behind the scenes footage:

« Last Edit: 08/13/2018 06:35 pm by FutureSpaceTourist »

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Quote
Launch 7 satellite activities complete: 59 of 66 satellites in our constellation are now Iridium NEXT vehicles - 89.4% complete!  4 of 6 planes are all NEXT, with the 5th plane complete in a few weeks when SV153 drifts into position.  Launch 8 is NET November now - can't wait!

https://twitter.com/iridiumboss/status/1035609461405241349

Tags: updates 
 

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