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#300
by
ChrisGebhardt
on 27 Mar, 2019 19:34
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https://apps.fcc.gov/oetcf/els/reports/STA_Print.cfm?mode=current&application_seq=91026
The ASDS and boat locations are right offshore from LZ-1, so this will be a near 3x RTLS. I wonder how visible the center core landing will be at that distance, about 37 km from the Jetty Park Pier.
37 km = 23 miles. I think viewing at that distance might be highly dependent on time of day of the launch. Do we the the distance off shore for the Vandy RTLS that landed on the barge late last year?
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#301
by
Jdeshetler
on 27 Mar, 2019 19:50
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#302
by
Orbiter
on 27 Mar, 2019 23:05
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The only way you'll be able to see the landing on the ASDS is if you're on top of the VAB or on top of the Exploration Tower in Port Canaveral. The entry and landing burns should all be visible from the normal viewing locations though.
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#303
by
Comga
on 28 Mar, 2019 15:14
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At 27 km around a nominally 6378 km radius Earth visiblity will be down to 57 meters above the ocean
If one is on a dock with eyes 3 meters above the waterline, the horizon is 6 km away.
That’s 21 km from the ASDS.
Visibility at 21 km is down to 34 meters.
My guess is that the top of the first stage sitting on the ASDS is ~53 meters above the waterline.
So the top third, 17 meters or so, should be visible from a dock on the shore like Jetty Park.
YMMV
Of course, this is the one I get the official invitation to watch, but without VIP viewing from the OBSS observation deck (I’ve been there!) there won’t be a clear view to the ocean.
edit for Orbiter: From the roof of the VAB one could see the SpaceX logo on the ASDS.
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#304
by
rpapo
on 28 Mar, 2019 21:10
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From the roof of the VAB one could see the SpaceX logo on the ASDS.
Unless you have eyes like a hawk, you'll need binoculars to do that.
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#305
by
Comga
on 28 Mar, 2019 21:50
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From the roof of the VAB one could see the SpaceX logo on the ASDS.
Unless you have eyes like a hawk, you'll need binoculars to do that.
How very literal of you. 😊
It’s not assured that one could a actually resolve the logo through that much atmosphere, even with binoculars, but you would be well above the plane of the ASDS deck.
But the main point remains: from the coast, like the Jetty Park pier, one should be able to see all three boosters all the way down.
Do we have an estimate of the time lag between side and center booster landings?
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#306
by
gongora
on 03 Apr, 2019 19:00
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Not news, but confirms they did a contract mod for the reused boosters.
From written testimony of Lieutenant General David D. Thompson, USAF at recent Senate hearing:
https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/hearings/19-03-27-military-space-operations-policy-and-programs In an effort to lean forward on reusing hardware for launch, SMC and SpaceX
completed a contract modification allowing the reuse of the Falcon Heavy side core boosters for
the Air Force’s Space Test Program-2 mission. This first mission with a re-used booster further
demonstrates our commitment to balance risk with increased responsiveness and flexibility.
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#307
by
rcoppola
on 03 Apr, 2019 19:39
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This continues an excellent trend and I'm super enthused how supportive the AF is being. Certifying these boosters should directly help in having a certification plan in place for pre-flown Falcon 9s to be offered in future contracts.
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#308
by
gongora
on 13 Apr, 2019 20:01
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https://technews.tw/2019/04/08/formosat-7-apr-15th-to-usa/The Formosa Satellites will be transported from the National Space Center to the Huayuan Company next to Taoyuan Airport on the 14th and will be shipped to the United States on the 15th. Previously released by the Space Center must be shipped to the United States 69 days prior to launch, and the estimated launch date may fall in late June.
(h/t to u/hebeguess on reddit for posting this info)
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#309
by
Olaf
on 15 Apr, 2019 11:50
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#310
by
emerrill
on 15 Apr, 2019 14:50
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https://technews.tw/2019/04/08/formosat-7-apr-15th-to-usa/
The Formosa Satellites will be transported from the National Space Center to the Huayuan Company next to Taoyuan Airport on the 14th and will be shipped to the United States on the 15th. Previously released by the Space Center must be shipped to the United States 69 days prior to launch, and the estimated launch date may fall in late June.
(h/t to u/hebeguess on reddit for posting this info)
I'm curious if there is a timeline here were they would push STP-2 til after DM-2. I think it's about a week for FH<->F9 pad changeover, and from what I've read, it sounds like with a FH in the hanger, they can't really stack a second vehicle.
I would assume the DM-2 is a higher priority all around, so I just ponder how far right the STP-2 payload can move before the ordering is swapped.
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#311
by
gongora
on 15 Apr, 2019 14:55
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It's extremely unlikely STP-2 could slip enough for DM-2 to be a concern. The In-Flight Abort Test is what will be closer to STP-2, and I still don't really see a problem. Those are the only two flights from 39A in the next few months. DM-2 is still listed as NET July but I think most of us expect it to launch a bit later than that.
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#312
by
gongora
on 15 Apr, 2019 15:54
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#313
by
scr00chy
on 15 Apr, 2019 16:04
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Taiwanese news reports mention June 22 for launch date, I'd treat that as a NET for now.
Sounds like it's currently slated for around the same time and from the same pad as the inflight abort (
late June). I would think SpaceX would like to get STP-2 out of the way before IFA so that it doesn't have to keep reconfiguring the TE back and forth, but that assumes pretty quick refurbishment process for the Arabsat side boosters. Will be interesting to see how it shakes out.
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#314
by
Orbiter
on 15 Apr, 2019 16:07
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Taiwanese news reports mention June 22 for launch date, I'd treat that as a NET for now.
Sounds like it's currently slated for around the same time and from the same pad as the inflight abort (late June). I would think SpaceX would like to get STP-2 out of the way before IFA so that it doesn't have to keep reconfiguring the TE back and forth, but that assumes pretty quick refurbishment process for the Arabsat side boosters. Will be interesting to see how it shakes out.
I believe it's more likely IFA is in July now.
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#315
by
PM3
on 15 Apr, 2019 17:14
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Air Force says NET 19 June for STP-2.
https://twitter.com/AF_SMC/status/1117836328182267907The returned side cores from the Arabsat 6A mission will require analysis to determine reusability. Pending the condition of the side cores, the target launch date is NET Jun 19.
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#316
by
gongora
on 15 Apr, 2019 17:26
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I'm inclined to believe the Taiwanese date would be more current.
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#317
by
gongora
on 15 Apr, 2019 21:00
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https://twitter.com/StephenClark1/status/11178912343437025302 months out, so take this with a grain of salt. I’ve asked for clarification on the launch date from the Air Force, but from many years working with SMC, the phrasing of this tweet suggests to me STP-2’s launch is no earlier than June 2019. They typically put day before month.
I've had another person suggest the same thing to me.
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#318
by
PM3
on 15 Apr, 2019 21:55
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https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF/status/1117893681439051776And I’ve been informed that the Air Force’s tweet is unintentionally misleading. It’s not “June 19” as stated, it’s “June 2019.” Latest NET actually comes from Formosat and is NET 22 June 2019. Still. Just about two months away! #FalconHeavy #SpaceX #STP2
To be precise: That 22 June date may be Taiwan time, therefore the launch date is NET 21 June UTC.
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#319
by
Lars-J
on 15 Apr, 2019 22:21
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Based on the Arabsat FH center core being lost (toppled over in rough seas), I'm guessing the decision makers for this mission feel pretty good that they insisted on a new-build FH center core.