Author Topic: SpaceX Falcon 9 : TESS : April 18, 2018 : Discussion  (Read 192145 times)

Offline speedevil

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 : TESS : NET April 16, 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #40 on: 12/25/2016 06:38 pm »


This is a SETI video on TESS.



It includes immediately after this at 26 minutes or so a short discussion of the launcher, along with some shots of TESS structural fit testing on a F9 mockup. And a ridiculous to-scale in the fairing image.
At about 1:01, there is a discussion of the original designs, and the plans for launching on the orbital sciences Taurus/Minotaur-C which has a maximum payload to LEO of 1350kg but by the time the vehicle got picked, it was too late to optimise.
F9 was the lowest bidder..

Other notable facts - it ends up in its final 14 day orbit which is metastable, and the anticipation is that they need 50 or so grams of fuel a year to do desaturations. It has 20kg of fuel remaining of the 40kg initial hydrazine, and no other consumables.

"Launch around the end of 2017, maybe a bit later" - which is consistent with above in thread.
(odd - for some reason the thread title was accidentally changed)
« Last Edit: 12/26/2016 05:15 am by speedevil »

Offline Star One

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 : TESS : NET April 16, 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #41 on: 01/02/2017 08:22 pm »
Quote
Jeff Foust – ‏@jeff_foust
At #ExoPAG mtg, NASA’s Martin Still says TESS exoplanet mission on track, but Dec. launch on F9 could slip due to SpaceX schedule issues.

https://mobile.twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/816015605748867073

Offline Star One

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 : TESS : NET April 16, 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #42 on: 01/05/2017 08:44 pm »
Quote
Jeff Foust –  ‏@jeff_foust

Hertz’s chart of missions shows a Dec 2017 launch date for TESS. But hearing launch schedule issues will delay it to early 2018. #AAS229

https://mobile.twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/817090471377780736

Offline rockets4life97

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 : TESS : NET April 16, 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #43 on: 01/05/2017 10:08 pm »
This shouldn't be surprising since TESS is like number 30 something on SpaceX's launch manifest...

Online gongora

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 : TESS : NET April 16, 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #44 on: 01/06/2017 06:07 pm »
Tweet from NASA_TESS
Quote
After review of the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle certification schedule & anomaly recovery @NASA_TESS launch date has moved to NET 3/20/18

No surprise there, middle of the previously stated December to June window.

Online gongora

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 : TESS : NET April 16, 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #45 on: 03/28/2017 06:00 pm »
Tweet from Jeff Foust:
Quote
Hertz adds TESS launch on a Falcon 9 slipped from December 2017 to March 2018 because of NASA launch vehicle certification delays.

Offline Comga

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 : TESS : NET April 16, 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #46 on: 03/28/2017 09:26 pm »
Tweet from Jeff Foust:
Quote
Hertz adds TESS launch on a Falcon 9 slipped from December 2017 to March 2018 because of NASA launch vehicle certification delays.

There are now about five posts in a row giving the same delay but with evolving reasons:
"... F9 could slip due to SpaceX schedule issues."
"After review of the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle certification schedule & anomaly recovery @NASA_TESS launch date has moved .."
"...because of NASA launch vehicle certification delays."
What kind of wastrels would dump a perfectly good booster in the ocean after just one use?

Online Norm38

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 : TESS : NET April 16, 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #47 on: 03/29/2017 02:13 pm »
And a ridiculous to-scale in the fairing image.

Based on the small size of this payload, I assume this is RTLS? Has that been announced?

Offline whitelancer64

And a ridiculous to-scale in the fairing image.

Based on the small size of this payload, I assume this is RTLS? Has that been announced?

TESS is 350 kg - so yes. Very RTLS.
"One bit of advice: it is important to view knowledge as sort of a semantic tree -- make sure you understand the fundamental principles, ie the trunk and big branches, before you get into the leaves/details or there is nothing for them to hang on to." - Elon Musk
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Offline Tomness

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 : TESS : NET April 16, 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #49 on: 03/29/2017 04:11 pm »
And a ridiculous to-scale in the fairing image.

Based on the small size of this payload, I assume this is RTLS? Has that been announced?

TESS is 350 kg - so yes. Very RTLS.

Good candate for a falcon 1 type veh or ride share

Offline pb2000

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 : TESS : NET April 16, 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #50 on: 03/29/2017 04:38 pm »
And a ridiculous to-scale in the fairing image.

Based on the small size of this payload, I assume this is RTLS? Has that been announced?

TESS is 350 kg - so yes. Very RTLS.

Good candate for a falcon 1 type veh or ride share

The final orbit is a bit unique, which may not be very useful to other spacecraft.
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Offline Comga

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 : TESS : NET April 16, 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #51 on: 03/29/2017 06:20 pm »
And a ridiculous to-scale in the fairing image.

Based on the small size of this payload, I assume this is RTLS? Has that been announced?

TESS is 350 kg - so yes. Very RTLS.

Good candate for a falcon 1 type veh or ride share

Better is the enemy of good enough.
What kind of wastrels would dump a perfectly good booster in the ocean after just one use?

Offline Skyrocket

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 : TESS : NET April 16, 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #52 on: 03/29/2017 08:17 pm »
And a ridiculous to-scale in the fairing image.

Based on the small size of this payload, I assume this is RTLS? Has that been announced?

TESS is 350 kg - so yes. Very RTLS.

Good candate for a falcon 1 type veh or ride share

Just for the record - the alternatives considered were Athena-2c or Taurus-3210, both with additional Star-37FM, an Antares with kick-motor or the unmodified, but somewhat oversized Falcon-9.

Online abaddon

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 : TESS : NET April 16, 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #53 on: 03/29/2017 09:07 pm »
Just for the record - the alternatives considered were Athena-2c or Taurus-3210, both with additional Star-37FM, an Antares with kick-motor or the unmodified, but somewhat oversized Falcon-9.
Interesting, I did not know Antares was certified to carry a Class B (I think?) payload.  Or was anticipated to be certified to do that.

Offline Skyrocket

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 : TESS : NET April 16, 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #54 on: 03/29/2017 10:05 pm »
Just for the record - the alternatives considered were Athena-2c or Taurus-3210, both with additional Star-37FM, an Antares with kick-motor or the unmodified, but somewhat oversized Falcon-9.
Interesting, I did not know Antares was certified to carry a Class B (I think?) payload.  Or was anticipated to be certified to do that.
AFAIK, Antares was anticipated to be certified to do that.

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 : TESS : NET April 16, 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #55 on: 03/31/2017 05:48 pm »
Quote
A look inside the @NASA_TESS spacecraft @OrbitalATK; @NASA's next #exoplanet hunter!

https://twitter.com/nasa_tess/status/847866169709166592

Online Zed_Noir

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 : TESS : NET April 16, 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #56 on: 04/01/2017 10:17 am »
....
Just for the record - the alternatives considered were Athena-2c or Taurus-3210, both with additional Star-37FM, an Antares with kick-motor or the unmodified, but somewhat oversized Falcon-9.

Out of the launch alternatives, the Falcon 9 was the low bid for the TESS mission. No wonder LockMart shelf the Athena. Since it appears to be non-competitive. Think it will get worst for the small sat launch providers, now that the "flight proven"  Falcon 9 enters the picture.

Online gongora

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 : TESS : NET April 16, 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #57 on: 05/19/2017 05:54 pm »
From the recent GAO overview of NASA projects (pdf file) that has been mentioned in a couple other threads:

Quote
Cost and Schedule Status
The TESS project delayed its launch readiness date by 7 months from August 2017 to March 2018 due to launch vehicle and instrument-related delays, but it still plans to launch before its committed launch date and within its cost baseline. ...

Launch
According to NASA officials, several launch vehicle related issues led to the delay in TESS’s planned launch date. First, SpaceX required additional time to certify its upgraded Falcon 9 through NASA’s Launch Services Program since it will be the first time that NASA will use this version of the vehicle. The certification process includes criteria, such as having six successful launches. In addition, SpaceX needed time to investigate and resolve an anomaly that caused a September 2016 launch mishap. NASA has renegotiated its launch contract with SpaceX to account for these delays. SpaceX continues to upgrade the Falcon 9 and, as part of the negotiation process, NASA gained the right not to be the first launch on the planned Block 5 version of the vehicle.

PROJECT OFFICE COMMENTS
In commenting on a draft of this assessment, TESS project officials said they are on track to meet their March 2018 launch date, and are holding a significant amount of schedule reserves

Hopefully Block 5 will be flying before TESS anyway.  I assume it can fly on Block 5 if that version of the rocket has some successful launches by then.

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 : TESS : NET April 16, 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #58 on: 06/27/2017 03:15 pm »
Quote
The spacecraft team @OrbitalATK checks out the installation of one of the two solar arrays that will provide power to @NASA's @NASA_TESS.

https://twitter.com/nasa_tess/status/879707138720882689

Offline Kesarion

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 : TESS : NET April 16, 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #59 on: 07/27/2017 01:58 pm »
http://spacenews.com/cameras-on-nasa-exoplanet-spacecraft-slightly-out-of-focus/

Quote
The TESS team thinks there will be a 10 percent cut in terms of the number of planets that they expect to be able to detect.
Quote
Despite the reduction, Boss said TESS scientists believe they will still be able to meet the mission’s primary science requirements, and thus there is no need to fix the cameras.

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