SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 - SES-8 - VIEWING (GOING TO) THE LAUNCH THREAD

[Chris Bergin]

Thread for those going to the launch. A "shuttle-style" viewing thread for recommendations, meet-ups, general rocket watching shenanigans.

Can also be used for posting your own photos of the launch.


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RESOURCE HEADER:

Per L2: NET November 12. Now it's slipped again.

Article:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/10/spacex-realign-falcon-9-missions/

For those who wish to follow this flow as closely as is viable (non-proprietary, etc.), join L2 and click this link:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=32768.0 (dedicated for F9 v1.1 SES-8 mission)

Resources:

SpaceX GENERAL Forum Section:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=45.0 - please use this for general questions NOT specific to this mission.

SpaceX MISSIONS Forum Section:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=55.0 - this section is for everything specific to SpaceX missions.

SpaceX SES-8 General Thread:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=24469.0

SpaceX SES-8 Update Thread:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=32783.0

SpaceX SES-8 Party Thread:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=33079.0

SpaceX SES-8 Viewing Thread (Going to the launch)
You're in it!

SES-8 Spacecraft thread:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=32990.0

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News Site Resources:

SpaceX News Articles from 2006 (Including numerous exclusive Elon interviews):
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=21862.0

SpaceX News Articles (Recent):
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/tag/spacex/

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L2 Members:

L2 SpaceX Section - now a dedicated full section:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=24469.0

One Stop Shop Update Area for L2 Level F9 v1.1/SES-8 Updates:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=32768.0

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PLEASE NOTE THAT WE FULLY EXPECT THE SITE TO BE VERY BUSY ON LAUNCH DAYS FOR SPACEX MISSIONS. WE WILL LIKELY RESTRICT IT TO FORUM MEMBERS ONLY - WITH NO ACCESS TO THE FORUM FOR GUESTS - WHEN THE SITE BECOMES TOO BUSY. READ THIS: http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=31697.0)

[overby]

How far north should this launch be visible from?

[MarekCyzio]

KSC is selling $20 tickets to see the launch from Saturn V viewing area - the distance is pretty much the same as from Playalinda Beach and the view is significantly worse (trees). And Playalinda costs $7 per car.

Option B - the new Exploration tower in Port Canaveral - it has a clear, unobstructed view to the launch pad. $6 + change. By the way - never watch Atlas V launches from there - old Titan buildings are hiding the launch pad.

[ChrisC]

I'm going to be in Florida for this launch.  I'll actually be at KSC Monday afternoon, but have to leave by 3pm to be in Palm Beach by 5:30 or so.  Anyway, I was planning things out on my calendar when I noticed:

This SpaceX launch window opens at 5:37pm.  I'll be looking due north for that.

There is an Iridium flare at 5:38pm.  I'd need to look south-southwest for that.

Huh.

Alas, it'll be dusky at that time, not anywhere near dark, and I'm likely to be unable to see either anyway!

[Comga]

I'm going to be in Florida for this launch.  I'll actually be at KSC Monday afternoon, but have to leave by 3pm to be in Palm Beach by 5:30 or so.  Anyway, I was planning things out on my calendar when I noticed:

This SpaceX launch window opens at 5:37pm.  I'll be looking due north for that.

There is an Iridium flare at 5:38pm.  I'd need to look south-southwest for that.

Huh.

Alas, it'll be dusky at that time, not anywhere near dark, and I'm likely to be unable to see either anyway!

Surely "5:30 or so" equals Launch + (drive time from Cocoa Beach to Palm Beach).

If you are on the centerline it should be possible to see an Iridium flare in broad daylight.  (However, I have never succeeded at this.)  Dusk makes it easy.  Dusk or Dark also make it easy to see the exhaust of the Falcon 9.  People saw the last two Minotaur launches from hundreds of miles.  It's like Rocket Guy said.

[Lars_J]

Surely "5:30 or so" equals Launch + (drive time from Cocoa Beach to Palm Beach).

Perhaps - But keep in mind that the three last F9 launches (CRS1, CRS2, CASSIOPE) all launched on time as soon as the launch window opened. So 7 minutes might be pushing the speed limit.

[Comga]

Surely "5:30 or so" equals Launch + (drive time from Cocoa Beach to Palm Beach).

Perhaps - But keep in mind that the three last F9 launches (CRS1, CRS2, CASSIOPE) all launched on time as soon as the launch window opened.

Did you miss my joke?
Google  Maps says the drive time between a generic point in Cocoa Beach and another generic point in Palm Beach is 2 hrs 9 min without considering traffic.   Launch window opeining is 3:38? 
3:38 + 2:09 = 5:30 + (acceptable tardiness for watching a really cool launch)
I would hope

[Lars_J]

Surely "5:30 or so" equals Launch + (drive time from Cocoa Beach to Palm Beach).

Perhaps - But keep in mind that the three last F9 launches (CRS1, CRS2, CASSIOPE) all launched on time as soon as the launch window opened.

Did you miss my joke?
Google  Maps says the drive time between a generic point in Cocoa Beach and another generic point in Palm Beach is 2 hrs 9 min without considering traffic.   Launch window opeining is 3:38? 
3:38 + 2:09 = 5:30 + (acceptable tardiness for watching a really cool launch)
I would hope

Joke - Didn't you see smiley? As for you time... I think your calculations are off. He has to be in Palm Beach by 5:30. The launch window opens at 5:37. Am I missing something?

Anyway, a dusk launch ought to be viewable from quite far away.

[ChrisC]

Thanks guys for the good news about the likely viewability. 

Regarding the timing, Lars_J has it

[TrevorMonty]

How long after the launch will we know if mission has be successful ie satellite released in GTO.

[Jim]

How long after the launch will we know if mission has be successful ie satellite released in GTO.

It will be release a couple of minutes after the second burn.  The launch vehicle mission duration will short.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

How long after the launch will we know if mission has be successful ie satellite released in GTO.

It will be release a couple of minutes after the second burn.  The launch vehicle mission duration will short.

Maybe 30-45 minutes from previous experience of GTO launches from the Cape (Atlas II/III/V, Delta IV etc.).

[ugordan]

How long after the launch will we know if mission has be successful ie satellite released in GTO.

http://new.livestream.com/spacex/SES8

"If all goes as planned, the SES-8 satellite will be deployed into its geosynchronous transfer orbit approximately 33 minutes after liftoff."

[WHAP]

How long after the launch will we know if mission has be successful ie satellite released in GTO.

Depends on when SpaceX decides to let us know.  If they provide that orbital information in their webcast, it will be at separation, assuming we know all of the expected orbital parameters.  If not, then it would be whenever someone issues a press release. 

[TrevorMonty]

Thanks ugordan.

[Comga]

How long after the launch will we know if mission has be successful ie satellite released in GTO.

It will be release a couple of minutes after the second burn.  The launch vehicle mission duration will short.

The orbital mechanics of it is that the second burn occurs optimally when the satellite crosses the equator.  For a due east launch that's one quarter of an orbit.  Rough numbers are 90 minutes for a low altitude orbit, so a quarter of that is ~23 minutes.  Because it takes about eight minutes to get to orbit you can add half that, and then add the half of the second burn duration that occurs after the equator crossing.  If the duration of the second burn was 10 minutes there would be a short pause before the announced 33 minutes from launch to satellite release.

[ugordan]

If the duration of the second burn was 10 minutes there would be a short pause before the announced 33 minutes from launch to satellite release.

MVac is a high thrust engine and the GTO burn cannot last for 10 minutes because by the time it reaches LEO the stage's already fairly empty and accelerations are high, even with throttling.

[Jason1701]

If the duration of the second burn was 10 minutes there would be a short pause before the announced 33 minutes from launch to satellite release.

MVac is a high thrust engine and the GTO burn cannot last for 10 minutes because by the time it reaches LEO the stage's already fairly empty and accelerations are high, even with throttling.

The burn will last for 1 minute, according to the press guide (on L2).

[Comga]

If the duration of the second burn was less than 10 minutes there would be a short pause before the announced 33 minutes from launch to satellite release.

MVac is a high thrust engine and the GTO burn cannot last for 10 minutes because by the time it reaches LEO the stage's already fairly empty and accelerations are high, even with throttling.

The burn will last for 1 minute, according to the press guide (on L2).

You guys!  OK! I added the "less than" above as a small part of the discussion of the orbital mechanics.  The point was the link between a quarter of an orbit and the time to satellite release.

With your every so gracefully given help, the estimate of flight time to SECO-2 is 23+4+1=~28 minutes, leaving ~5 minutes until spacecraft release.  How does that line up with the listing of the fully engineered flight?

"Speak of the devil.."  From the SpaceX press kit (Thanks Chris!)
Hour:Min Events
0:01 Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
0:03 1st stage engine shutdown/main engine cutoff (MECO)
0:03 1st and 2nd stages separation
0:03 2nd stage engine start
0:04 Fairing separation
0:08 2nd stage engine cutoff-1 (SECO-1)
0:27 2nd stage engine restart
0:28 2nd stage engine cutoff-2 (SECO-2)
0:33 SES-8 satellite deployed

SECO-2 occurs 28 minutes after launch.   
Sometimes you can get back-of-the-envelope calculations to work out!

[TrevorMonty]

That question started a good debate!

[Orbiter]

I'm not sure if it was noted -- SES-8 will be a night launch.

Sunset at 5:26pm, launch window opens at 5:37pm.

Twilight and Dusk launches are always the spectacular ones.

[mlindner]

I'm not sure if it was noted -- SES-8 will be a night launch.

Sunset at 5:26pm, launch window opens at 5:37pm.

Twilight and Dusk launches are always the spectacular ones.

Going to look awesome, plume will shoot into the sunlight as it goes up.

[ugordan]

Going to look awesome, plume will shoot into the sunlight as it goes up.

Or into clouds...

[Antares]

Alas, it'll be dusky at that time, not anywhere near dark, and I'm likely to be unable to see either anyway!

I saw STS-109 from WPB in predawn twilight.  It shouldn't be hard to see F9-8 from there.  The sun should illuminate the plume pretty well.

[Lars_J]

Alas, it'll be dusky at that time, not anywhere near dark, and I'm likely to be unable to see either anyway!

I saw STS-109 from WPB in predawn twilight.  It shouldn't be hard to see F9-8 from there.  The sun should illuminate the plume pretty well.

Although since it is lacking SRBs, the plume won't be as visible. But I have read that upper stage ignition for dusk launches can sometimes be spectacular.

[ChrisC]

Or into clouds...

Speaking of which, as rain comes down in Melbourne ... Do we have a forecast for launch conditions at T-0, and a predict for chance of weather violation?

[Avron]

Or into clouds...

Speaking of which, as rain comes down in Melbourne ... Do we have a forecast for launch conditions at T-0, and a predict for chance of weather violation?

80% good..

[ugordan]

http://www.patrick.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070716-028.pdf

[Norm38]

Or into clouds...

Speaking of which, as rain comes down in Melbourne ... Do we have a forecast for launch conditions at T-0, and a predict for chance of weather violation?

I'm a fan of the intellicast infrared loops when trying to do extrapolations.
There's a flow across the gulf but most of the moisture is pushing up into the lower Mississippi valley.
A blob of clouds in the eastern gulf is being shorn apart, with little coming in behind it.
It may just be some high thin clouds at launch time tomorrow.  No sign of anything more than that.
http://www.intellicast.com/Global/Satellite/Infrared.aspx?region=hiusa&animate=true

[rocketfan42]

View of F9 now up on LC40 from my 5th floor hotel room at Ron Jon's Cape Caribe Resort (next to Jetty Park). ~10 miles away.  Very windy here now.  This photo was 0830 EST.

[Avron]

View of F9 now up on LC40 from my 5th floor hotel room at Ron Jon's Cape Caribe Resort (next to Jetty Park). ~10 miles away.  Very windy here now.  This photo was 0830 EST.

what lens are you using?

I hope you are considering the causeways ..

Elon Musk ‏@elonmusk
Launch can be viewed live from Cape causeways or via http://SpaceX.com  webcast around 5:30 local time on Monday

[rdale]

Weather still looks very good for today, although my optimism wouldn't be quite the same if this was a shuttle launch and RTLS conditions were a factor

[Elvis in Space]

View of F9 now up on LC40 from my 5th floor hotel room at Ron Jon's Cape Caribe Resort (next to Jetty Park). ~10 miles away.  Very windy here now.  This photo was 0830 EST.

what lens are you using?

I hope you are considering the causeways ..

Elon Musk ‏@elonmusk
Launch can be viewed live from Cape causeways or via http://SpaceX.com  webcast around 5:30 local time on Monday

The EXIF data on the photo says it was taken with a Nikon Coolpix P100 - a relatively modest point and shoot camera. Being able to get such a photo through the early morning beach front haze of central Florida tells you just how good a view he really has. A digital SLR with 300-500mm lens on there would probably look pretty good.

[Antares]

Weather still looks very good for today, although my optimism wouldn't be quite the same if this was a shuttle launch and RTLS conditions were a factor

Which makes one wonder if there will be weather constraints for F9 first stage boost-back that could affect launch availability.