Author Topic: LIVE: SpaceX Falcon 1 Launch 5 (RazakSat) - July 13/14 (Read 361275 times)

jabe · « **Reply #240 on:** 05/15/2009 11:07 am »

Found launch update here. from Jeff Foust's twittering.
jb

Pittsburgh · « **Reply #241 on:** 05/15/2009 03:33 pm »

Mid-July for Falcon 1?

When was the Falcon 9 supposed to go up?

kevin-rf · « **Reply #242 on:** 05/15/2009 04:17 pm »

Quote from: Pittsburgh on 05/15/2009 03:33 pm

When was the Falcon 9 supposed to go up?

a couple of years ago

butters · « **Reply #243 on:** 05/15/2009 04:38 pm »

So now the official story is definitely that the observed dynamic environment violated predicted specifications.

But I wonder whether the observations were taken from flight 4 or from a more recent ground test of some sort. The spacecraft people don't seem to be reacting as if they've known about this problem for six months.

Nomadd · « **Reply #244 on:** 05/15/2009 06:59 pm »

I'm not sure if I'd consider that "official"
My bet is that there's not complete agreement between the customer and the launcher as the the nature or reality of the problem.
But, you don't get into public arguments with your first (sort of) paying customer.

NUAETIUS · « **Reply #245 on:** 05/15/2009 07:31 pm »

Interesting that SpaceX deleted the Falcon I update when they added the new Dragon update. One of the 1st times I have seen an updated deleted, and not scrolled down.

Conspiracy theories can start now.

William Barton · « **Reply #246 on:** 05/15/2009 07:39 pm »

Quote from: NUAETIUS on 05/15/2009 07:31 pm

Interesting that SpaceX deleted the Falcon I update when they added the new Dragon update. One of the 1st times I have seen an updated deleted, and not scrolled down.

Conspiracy theories can start now.

It's not deleted, it's shifted over to Launch Updates (unless you're referring to one I never saw--the 4/20 update?).

Comga · « **Reply #247 on:** 05/16/2009 10:45 pm »

Although it has been out for five days, I don't see any mention here of the May 11 Aviation Week piece titled "Flight 5 - Take Two".

It quotes "Falcon 1 product manager Brian Bjelde" saying that SpaceX is "working to reschedule the launch in June or July" and "We hope to have a launch date released as soon as we confirm the range".

So sometime in the next ten weeks...

ugordan · « **Reply #248 on:** 05/29/2009 10:17 am »

Gwynne Shotwell confirmed at ISDC the vibration mitigation will be done at the payload adapter interface, if there ever was any uncertainty about that.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #249 on:** 06/01/2009 03:25 pm »

SPACEX AND ATSB ANNOUNCE NEW LAUNCH DATE FOR RAZAKSAT SATELLITE

Hawthorne, CA (June 1, 2009) - Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) and Astronautic Technology (M) Sdn Bhd (ATSB) of Malaysia announce a new launch window has been set for Falcon 1 Flight 5, carrying the RazakSAT satellite to orbit. The launch window opens Monday, July 13th and extends through Tuesday, July 14th, with a daily window to open at 4:00 p.m. (PDT) / 7:00 p.m. (EDT).

The launch was delayed last month after SpaceX identified the potential for an unfavorable interaction between the satellite and the launch vehicle. After further analysis, SpaceX determined the implementation of a simple vibration isolation system would address this concern. SpaceX selected the SoftRide isolation system from CSA Engineering for this purpose, citing the system’s strong flight heritage and established success in addressing vibration concerns.

Falcon 1, a two-stage, liquid oxygen/rocket-grade kerosene vehicle designed from the ground up by SpaceX, will place the RazakSAT satellite, equipped with a high resolution Medium-Sized Aperture Camera (MAC), into a near equatorial orbit.

RazakSAT was designed and built by ATSB, a pioneer and leader in the design and manufacture of satellites in Malaysia. The satellite is expected to provide high resolution images of Malaysia that can be applied to land management, resource development and conservation, forestry and fish migration.

SpaceX's Falcon 1 launch site is located approximately 2500 miles southwest of Hawaii on Omelek Island, part of the Reagan Test Site (RTS) at United States Army Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA) in the Central Pacific. Due to the location of the launch site, the Kwajalein local date at the opening of the launch window will be Tuesday, July 14th.

SpaceX will provide live coverage of the Falcon 1 Flight 5/RazakSAT mission via webcast at www.SpaceX.com . The webcast will begin 20 minutes prior to launch and will include mission briefings, live feeds and launch coverage from the launch site. Post-launch, video footage and photos will be available for download on the Web site.

About SpaceX

SpaceX is developing a family of launch vehicles and spacecraft intended to increase the reliability and reduce the cost of both manned and unmanned space transportation, ultimately by a factor of ten. With the Falcon 1 and Falcon 9 vehicles, SpaceX offers highly reliable/cost-efficient launch capabilities for spacecraft insertion into any orbital altitude and inclination. Starting in 2010, SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft will provide Earth-to-LEO transport of pressurized and unpressurized cargo, including resupply to the International Space Station (ISS).

Founded in 2002, the SpaceX team now numbers over 700, with corporate headquarters in Hawthorne, California. For more information, please visit the company’s web site at www.spacex.com .

About ATSB®

Astronautic Technology Sdn. Bhd. (ATSB) was established to thrust Malaysia into the orbit of nations with space satellite technology. ATSB focuses on research and development in the area of design and development of space qualified systems employing advanced and innovative technologies.

As the pioneer and leader in the small satellite business in Malaysia, ATSB has recorded numerous achievements within a short span of time. These include the design, development, launch and operation of Malaysia's first micro-satellite, the TiungSAT-1. This hereditary knowledge leads to the design and development of the second micro-satellite, the RazakSAT and also the undertaking of Malaysia's high-technology intensive programmes. For more information, please visit the company's web site at www.atsb.my .

About CSA Engineering

CSA Engineering delivers products and services in vibration suppression, precision motion and noise control. CSA has a 27-year history of meeting customer needs in government programs and commercial products, specializing in aerospace vehicles, structures and components.

A three-time winner of U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) awards, CSA was named the National Small Business Government Contractor for the year 2002. CSA was also acknowledged with the SBIR Tibbetts Award, and has received commendations from Boeing, Lockheed, NASA, Orbital Sciences, TRW and others.

CSA Engineering is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Moog Inc. and is part of Moog's Space and Defense Group. For more information, please visit the company’s web site at www.csaengineering.com .

lbiderman · « **Reply #250 on:** 06/08/2009 12:53 pm »

Let´s hope they can keep it...

madscientist197 · « **Reply #251 on:** 06/09/2009 12:52 am »

At least now they ought to be on top of the vibration issue and have a prepared solution for any further customers.

ugordan · « **Reply #252 on:** 06/09/2009 08:16 am »

Quote from: madscientist197 on 06/09/2009 12:52 am

At least now they ought to be on top of the vibration issue and have a prepared solution for any further customers.

OR they can better characterize the payload environment on the way up so payload manufacturers can design the payload to cope. Alternatively (depending on whose fault this was), make sure the customer understands the already provided environment figures...

Vibration mitigation costs both money and mass margin. AFAIK they won't be able to launch any nanosats because of this change in payload adapter.

NUAETIUS · « **Reply #253 on:** 06/09/2009 01:16 pm »

Quote from: ugordan on 06/09/2009 08:16 am

Vibration mitigation costs both money and mass margin. AFAIK they won't be able to launch any nanosats because of this change in payload adapter.

Where did you see announcement that the nanosats where dropped? Was this announced, or can you explain why the nanosats must have been dropped?

ugordan · « **Reply #254 on:** 06/09/2009 01:25 pm »

Gwynne Shotwell said it at ISDC. Something about the vibration mitigation system being installed at the payload adapter interface so there was no room or deploy mechanism available for nanosats. I might have misunderstood her, but I think that's the gist of it.

osiossim · « **Reply #255 on:** 06/09/2009 01:40 pm »

http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Tuesday/NewsBreak/20090609175056/Article/index_html

Lampyridae · « **Reply #256 on:** 06/10/2009 04:36 am »

Hmmm doesn't tell us anything new really. No indication of whether the problem's been fixed to everyone's satisfaction.

Ben the Space Brit · « **Reply #257 on:** 06/10/2009 09:19 am »

@ Lampyridae,

FWIW - I don't think that Space-X would have issued a revised launch date unless there was at least a provisional 'go' from the customer's experts. I wonder if this is a sort of confidence-building measure on the part of the Malaysian space agency: "Hey! We had smart people verify the engineering! Of course we're ready to go!"

Cretan126 · « **Reply #258 on:** 06/10/2009 04:13 pm »

Quote from: ugordan on 06/09/2009 01:25 pm

Gwynne Shotwell said it at ISDC. Something about the vibration mitigation system being installed at the payload adapter interface so there was no room or deploy mechanism available for nanosats. I might have misunderstood her, but I think that's the gist of it.

The press release says they are using a 'Softride' isolatin system from CSA Engineering. The CSA web site has this brochure that might help explain how they are mitigating the Falcon I vibration issue:

http://www.csaengineering.com/spclnch/CSAEngineering_uniflex.pdf

osiossim · « **Reply #259 on:** 06/22/2009 11:23 am »

Razaksat To Be Launched July 14

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=418740