July 08, 2019 CONTRACT RELEASE C19-018NASA Awards Launch Services Contract for Groundbreaking Astrophysics Mission NASA has selected SpaceX of Hawthorne, California, to provide launch services for the agency’s Imaging X-Ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) mission, which will allow astronomers to discover, for the first time, the hidden details of some of the most exotic astronomical objects in our universe. The total cost for NASA to launch IXPE is approximately $50.3 million, which includes the launch service and other mission-related costs.IXPE measures polarized X-rays from objects, such as black holes and neutron stars to better understand these types of cosmic phenomena and extreme environments.The IXPE mission currently is targeted to launch in April 2021 on a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A in Florida. IXPE will fly three space telescopes with sensitive detectors capable of measuring the polarization of cosmic X-rays, allowing scientists to answer fundamental questions about these turbulent environments where gravitational, electric and magnetic fields are at their limits. NASA’s Launch Services Program at Kennedy Space Center in Florida will manage the SpaceX launch service. The IXPE project office is located at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama and is managed by the Explorers Program Office at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington.For more information about NASA programs and missions, visit: http://www.nasa.gov
Updated "FPIP" for SpaceX.It looks like a *gap* in August-September.May be another un-announced launch?
It seems to just be a gap.
It looks like you're trying to spread the launches between the two pads. SLC-40 is the main pad for F9 (except for Commercial Crew).
Aug. 3Falcon 9 • Amos 17Launch time: Approx. 2250 GMT (6:50 p.m. EDT)Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
...QuoteSpace Norway contracts w/ @Inmarsat to launch 2 @northropgrumman-built triple-band satellites to HEO orbit on a @SpaceX Falcon 9 in 2022; @usairforce to provide EHF payload; Inmarsat will use Ka-band & Space Norway X-band for Arctic coverage.
Space Norway contracts w/ @Inmarsat to launch 2 @northropgrumman-built triple-band satellites to HEO orbit on a @SpaceX Falcon 9 in 2022; @usairforce to provide EHF payload; Inmarsat will use Ka-band & Space Norway X-band for Arctic coverage.
Since contract is with Inmarsat - are they utilizing the "orphan" Falcon launch still listed in the manifest?
Inmarsat, which owns a network of satellites for maritime and aeronautical communications, has not executed the Falcon Heavy contract option. Inmarsat’s CEO said in March that one of the company’s future satellites — the Airbus-made Inmarsat 6B spacecraft scheduled for launch in late 2021 — might be a candidate to fill the company’s Falcon Heavy contract option, according to Space News.
Musk has now said effectively 4-6 months for an orbital test of Starship. (Nov 2019-Jan 2020) Is it time to add a placeholder line for a BFR flight for that launch? My suggestion based on tweets plus a bit of realism is to list it as a launch from 39A for 2020, and just include one entry for now since we don't have any real details on actual numbers of orbital test flights, and their internal plans probably aren't nailed down anyway.
Quote from: bulkmail on 07/24/2019 01:17 pmSince contract is with Inmarsat - are they utilizing the "orphan" Falcon launch still listed in the manifest?That contract option is for Falcon Heavy and recently, Spaceflight Now/Space News reported that it might be used for Inmarsat 6B:QuoteInmarsat, which owns a network of satellites for maritime and aeronautical communications, has not executed the Falcon Heavy contract option. Inmarsat’s CEO said in March that one of the company’s future satellites — the Airbus-made Inmarsat 6B spacecraft scheduled for launch in late 2021 — might be a candidate to fill the company’s Falcon Heavy contract option, according to Space News.
A few more missions from SLC-4E to SSOhttps://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/11584376472802713631. November 2020-March 20212. Q1 20223. Q1 2023
https://twitter.com/cathofacker/status/1163472096753836032QuoteAlso gives update on Crew Dragon timeline: Another in-flight abort test is scheduled for October or November, with the Demo-2 crewed flight "hopefully early next year." #AiaaPropEnergyEdit to add: different quote on Demo-2 ...https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1163472275498307586QuoteAt the AIAA Propulsion & Energy Forum this morning, SpaceX’s Hans Koenigsmann says the company is planning an in-flight abort test of Crew Dragon in October or November; “hopefully” do Demo-2 crewed test flight this year. #AIAAPropEnergy
Also gives update on Crew Dragon timeline: Another in-flight abort test is scheduled for October or November, with the Demo-2 crewed flight "hopefully early next year." #AiaaPropEnergy
At the AIAA Propulsion & Energy Forum this morning, SpaceX’s Hans Koenigsmann says the company is planning an in-flight abort test of Crew Dragon in October or November; “hopefully” do Demo-2 crewed test flight this year. #AIAAPropEnergy
Startup telecom satellite operator @OvzonAB moves launch of its 500-kg @Maxar GEO satellite, to @Arianespace @ArianeGroup Ariane 5 from @SpaceX Falcon Heavy; writes down advance payments to @northropgrumman for earlier satellite design.
CEO statementImportant customer agreements and financing of Ovzon 3During the second quarter, we continued to develop the company according to plan. The last bit of funding for Ovzon 3 is in place and Maxar, our satellite provider, has started the project to build the satellite. As for the launch of the satellite, we have recently contracted Arianespace to launch our satellite in 2021 and we have thus left the preliminary agreements we had.