Quote from: tleski on 06/14/2016 05:28 pmpbdes: IRDM CEO Desch: Delay of 1st launch to 12 Sept due to crowded VAFB manifest, not to satellite or SpaceX issues.https://twitter.com/pbdes/status/742769391788556288The thinking is that this will likely be the first re-used first stage. Remember Iridium gets a free flight in the event of a launch failure and light enough payload for RTLS.
pbdes: IRDM CEO Desch: Delay of 1st launch to 12 Sept due to crowded VAFB manifest, not to satellite or SpaceX issues.https://twitter.com/pbdes/status/742769391788556288
Iridium's Matt Desch: We procured 7 new Falcon 9s for our constellation, but would consider using used boosters in future at the right price
Iridium CEO Desch: We've purchased 7 new Falcon 9s, no reusable stages in the mix. We think our Sept launch is next SpaceX launch from VAFB.
I wonder if the three straight successful ASDS launches out of Canaveral have increased their confidence in SpaceX's ability to accurately reach the designated landing point?
Quote from: the_other_Doug on 06/14/2016 06:38 pmI wonder if the three straight successful ASDS launches out of Canaveral have increased their confidence in SpaceX's ability to accurately reach the designated landing point?Only three on target? IIRC, since the addition of grid fins the only time the Falcon hasn't made it back to within 100 feet of its target was CRS-7. A fair number of those "on targets" were crashes, but they were accurate crashes.
SpX-7 never made it even close to OCISLY! It failed because of the second stage.
Peter B. de Selding's write-up of why Iridium launch is delayed to NET than Sep 12:http://spacenews.com/iridiums-spacex-launch-slowed-by-vandenberg-bottleneck/In short, too many other Vandenberg launches ahead of SpaceX in the queue. SpaceX and Iridium were both on track for August.
I asked this on another thread but forgot which..._what_ other Vandenberg launches? AFAICT, only 1 Atlas V 401 launching WorldView in the June-July-August time frame, and it's been delayed to launch in Sept just 3 days after SpaceX-Iridium. Could just those two launches "bottleneck" VAFB for two months?
Quote from: FutureSpaceTourist on 06/15/2016 11:49 amPeter B. de Selding's write-up of why Iridium launch is delayed to NET than Sep 12:http://spacenews.com/iridiums-spacex-launch-slowed-by-vandenberg-bottleneck/In short, too many other Vandenberg launches ahead of SpaceX in the queue. SpaceX and Iridium were both on track for August.I asked this on another thread but forgot which..._what_ other Vandenberg launches? AFAICT, only 1 Atlas V 401 launching WorldView in the June-July-August time frame, and it's been delayed to launch in Sept just 3 days after SpaceX-Iridium. Could just those two launches "bottleneck" VAFB for two months?
Quote from: a_langwich on 06/18/2016 04:01 amQuote from: FutureSpaceTourist on 06/15/2016 11:49 amPeter B. de Selding's write-up of why Iridium launch is delayed to NET than Sep 12:http://spacenews.com/iridiums-spacex-launch-slowed-by-vandenberg-bottleneck/In short, too many other Vandenberg launches ahead of SpaceX in the queue. SpaceX and Iridium were both on track for August.I asked this on another thread but forgot which..._what_ other Vandenberg launches? AFAICT, only 1 Atlas V 401 launching WorldView in the June-July-August time frame, and it's been delayed to launch in Sept just 3 days after SpaceX-Iridium. Could just those two launches "bottleneck" VAFB for two months?Also an Orbital ATK Minotaur launch and a couple of Minuteman III tests are scheduled to be happening out there this year. But I don't know if any of them are planned to be before the SpaceX launch. I've just assumed that the delay is related to a combination of the Range closure for the move and the move to bring AFSS online.
Base is preparing for a several-month span without blastoffs. Joint Space Operations Center is moving into a another facility used by the Western Range.Sourece: http://www.noozhawk.com/article/vandenberg_afb_facing_busy_launch_year_in_20161
Has the topic regarding where Iridium-NEXT F1's first stage will land been discussed already?If not, then my assumption about this matter is that the first stage could try barging on Just Read the Instructions.
http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/07/13/iridium-satellites-rolling-off-assembly-line-in-arizona/It appears that Iridium-NEXT F1 will be the third Falcon 9 from VAFB.
$492M / 9 =$54.7M for each launch with a new rocket