Quote from: russianhalo117 on 12/16/2016 10:17 pmthere are 81 satellites of which currently only 70 have an assigned flight.Isn't that 75 now?
there are 81 satellites of which currently only 70 have an assigned flight.
Quote from: gongora on 12/16/2016 10:19 pmQuote from: russianhalo117 on 12/16/2016 10:17 pmthere are 81 satellites of which currently only 70 have an assigned flight.Isn't that 75 now?I think the key word is "assigned." The eighth Iridium flight (five NEXT satellites ridesharing with GRACE-FO) hasn't been officially announced, as far as I know.
Quote from: gongora on 12/16/2016 10:19 pmQuote from: russianhalo117 on 12/16/2016 10:17 pmthere are 81 satellites of which currently only 70 have an assigned flight.Isn't that 75 now?Quote from: old_sellsword on 12/16/2016 10:37 pmQuote from: gongora on 12/16/2016 10:19 pmQuote from: russianhalo117 on 12/16/2016 10:17 pmthere are 81 satellites of which currently only 70 have an assigned flight.Isn't that 75 now?I think the key word is "assigned." The eighth Iridium flight (five NEXT satellites ridesharing with GRACE-FO) hasn't been officially announced, as far as I know.We dont yet know if they are either splitting up Iridium flight 7 to fly the GRACE-FO sats or if the GRACE-FO sats are flying with 5 previously unassigned Iridium sats. Flight 7 target falls perfectly with the target launch period for GRACE-FO.
Quote from: russianhalo117 on 12/16/2016 10:54 pmQuote from: gongora on 12/16/2016 10:19 pmQuote from: russianhalo117 on 12/16/2016 10:17 pmthere are 81 satellites of which currently only 70 have an assigned flight.Isn't that 75 now?Quote from: old_sellsword on 12/16/2016 10:37 pmQuote from: gongora on 12/16/2016 10:19 pmQuote from: russianhalo117 on 12/16/2016 10:17 pmthere are 81 satellites of which currently only 70 have an assigned flight.Isn't that 75 now?I think the key word is "assigned." The eighth Iridium flight (five NEXT satellites ridesharing with GRACE-FO) hasn't been officially announced, as far as I know.We dont yet know if they are either splitting up Iridium flight 7 to fly the GRACE-FO sats or if the GRACE-FO sats are flying with 5 previously unassigned Iridium sats. Flight 7 target falls perfectly with the target launch period for GRACE-FO.PBdeS tweeted that they arranged for another Falcon after they found out they couldn't use Dnepr, which was long after the original 7 flights were bought. He said it's the original 7 flights of Iridium plus the new flight with Iridium and GRACE-FO. He also said the original 7 flights would go first, but depending on how the SpaceX launch manifest works out I wouldn't be surprised if that changed.
(Tweet) @IridiumBoss @spacecom @Falcon9_rocket @VandenbergAFB and has the @faa granted launch clearance?Quote(Reply by Matt Desch [Dec. 16]) No, review process continues. Early January is subject to approval completion.
(Reply by Matt Desch [Dec. 16]) No, review process continues. Early January is subject to approval completion.
(Tweet) @IridiumBoss Can you talk about the rideshare with the @NASA GRACE-FO satellites? Is the contract done? How many @IridiumComm satellites?Quote(Reply by Matt Desch [Dec. 16]) @AleLovesio @NASA @IridiumComm Not ready to talk about that. Hopefully soon...
(Reply by Matt Desch [Dec. 16]) @AleLovesio @NASA @IridiumComm Not ready to talk about that. Hopefully soon...
(Tweet) @IridiumBoss What do you think about the whole re-usability race with you being involved directly, waste of time? Or future of spaceflight?Quote(Reply by Matt Desch [Dec. 16]) @BrandongTurner It's the future. We're just a little ahead of it now, so are using all new rockets. Anything to lower cost to space = good
(Reply by Matt Desch [Dec. 16]) @BrandongTurner It's the future. We're just a little ahead of it now, so are using all new rockets. Anything to lower cost to space = good
(Tweet) @IridiumBoss Sorry one other question, Will your satellites be placed directly into a 780X780km orbit?Quote(Reply by Matt Desch [Nov. 17]) @WeatherPicsLive No, into a transfer orbit below, and then moved up one by one into position for a slot swap with existing sat to replace.(Tweet) @IridiumBoss Will the orbit insertion be direct or will it require a stage 2 restart? That's my last Q. Quote(Reply by Matt Desch [Nov. 18]) @WeatherPicsLive Direct
(Reply by Matt Desch [Nov. 17]) @WeatherPicsLive No, into a transfer orbit below, and then moved up one by one into position for a slot swap with existing sat to replace.
(Reply by Matt Desch [Nov. 18]) @WeatherPicsLive Direct
Quote from: russianhalo117 on 12/16/2016 10:54 pmQuote from: old_sellsword on 12/16/2016 10:37 pmQuote from: gongora on 12/16/2016 10:19 pmQuote from: russianhalo117 on 12/16/2016 10:17 pmthere are 81 satellites of which currently only 70 have an assigned flight.Isn't that 75 now?I think the key word is "assigned." The eighth Iridium flight (five NEXT satellites ridesharing with GRACE-FO) hasn't been officially announced, as far as I know.We dont yet know if they are either splitting up Iridium flight 7 to fly the GRACE-FO sats or if the GRACE-FO sats are flying with 5 previously unassigned Iridium sats. Flight 7 target falls perfectly with the target launch period for GRACE-FO.PBdeS tweeted that they arranged for another Falcon after they found out they couldn't use Dnepr, which was long after the original 7 flights were bought. He said it's the original 7 flights of Iridium plus the new flight with Iridium and GRACE-FO. He also said the original 7 flights would go first, but depending on how the SpaceX launch manifest works out I wouldn't be surprised if that changed.
Quote from: old_sellsword on 12/16/2016 10:37 pmQuote from: gongora on 12/16/2016 10:19 pmQuote from: russianhalo117 on 12/16/2016 10:17 pmthere are 81 satellites of which currently only 70 have an assigned flight.Isn't that 75 now?I think the key word is "assigned." The eighth Iridium flight (five NEXT satellites ridesharing with GRACE-FO) hasn't been officially announced, as far as I know.We dont yet know if they are either splitting up Iridium flight 7 to fly the GRACE-FO sats or if the GRACE-FO sats are flying with 5 previously unassigned Iridium sats. Flight 7 target falls perfectly with the target launch period for GRACE-FO.
Quote from: Ronsmytheiii on 12/16/2016 08:46 pmPicture of Iridium,s booster at Vandenberg https://mobile.twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/809869365046808576Is it me or do the legs look a bit different? Maybe it's the angle.
Picture of Iridium,s booster at Vandenberg https://mobile.twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/809869365046808576
There's a NET January 7 placeholder (L2)....again pending FAA, processing flow, good static fire and LRR.
Would the LOX used in this RTF be "super-chilled" , or would they used "nomal" LOX (if the mass of the satellites and the foreseen orbit allow that).
Falcon 9 can only (far as we know) use Super-chilled. Also all the ground support equipment would have to be swapped out to support "regular" LOX.
Quote from: kevinof on 12/22/2016 09:08 amFalcon 9 can only (far as we know) use Super-chilled. Also all the ground support equipment would have to be swapped out to support "regular" LOX.Not true in both cases
Jim,Do we know for a fact that it can still use both (regular and super!) without changes? Quote from: Jim on 12/22/2016 12:43 pmQuote from: kevinof on 12/22/2016 09:08 amFalcon 9 can only (far as we know) use Super-chilled. Also all the ground support equipment would have to be swapped out to support "regular" LOX.Not true in both cases
I wonder whether they got any price consideration due to the delays in launching the constellation so far?
Pop over to https://www.faa.gov/data_research/commercial_space_data/licenses/ and you can review all of the currently active launch licenses. https://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/commercial_space_transportation/ describes the licensing process.Interesting that SpaceX has/had a specific license for 6 launches in 2016, while LM has a license to launch all the Atlases they want until 2021.