Author Topic: LIVE: SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 - SES-8 - Dec. 3 - THIRD LAUNCH ATTEMPT UPDATES (Read 174236 times)

Chris Bergin · « **on:** 12/02/2013 02:15 am »

This is an UPDATE ONLY thread for launch coverage of the third attempt to launch of the F9 v1.1 with the SES-8 spacecraft from SLC-40, Cape Canaveral.

Webcast: http://www.spacex.com/webcast/
Window opens at 17:41 local (22:41 UTC)

Specific Articles:

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/10/ses-8-florida-next-falcon-9-v1-1-launch/

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

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/11/spacex-falcon-9-v1-1-hot-fire-slc-40/

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/11/falcon-9-aiming-thanksgiving-launch-ses-8/

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/11/spacex-falcon-9-v1-1-milestone-ses-8-launch/

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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?board=60.0 (dedicated L2 SpaceX Section with menu of coverage areas)

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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 Flow UPDATE Thread:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=32783.0

SpaceX SES-8 Launch Attempt 1 and Scrub Updates:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=33338.0

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

SpaceX SES-8 Viewing Thread (Going to the launch)
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=33075.0

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

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Additional 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 Areas for L2 Level F9 v1.1/SES-8 Updates:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=32768.0 - Flow.
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=33333.0 - Attempt 1 and Scrub Coverage.
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=33366.0 - Attempt 2 Coverage.
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=33397.0 - Attempt 3 Coverage.
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PLEASE NOTE THAT WE EXPECT THE SITE TO BE VERY BUSY ON LAUNCH DAYS FOR SPACEX MISSIONS. WE *MAY* 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) The new servers have been coping well, so we have not had to implement this yet, but it's impossible to predict demand.

Go SpaceX! Go Falcon 9! Go Upper Stage (twice!) Go SES-8! Third time is a charm!

rdale · « **Reply #1 on:** 12/02/2013 01:38 pm »

Clouds skies prevail across the launch pad this morning, I expect the clearing to start by 2-3pm EST. Not knowing the exact criteria, I would think that things will be fine by launch time however USAF is quite pessimistic with a 40% chance of weather violations.

The rest of the week looks near perfect (especially by Florida standards!)

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #2 on:** 12/02/2013 02:25 pm »

NOT official, but L2's launch coverage is getting word of no attempt on Monday.

So that will be NET Tuesday, with emphasis on the NET (No Earlier Than).

Wait for an official notice (probably from Elon).

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #3 on:** 12/02/2013 02:38 pm »

Dan Leone ‏@Leone_SN 4m
@SpaceX spokeswoman told me "we're now targeting launch on Tuesday with Wednesday as a back-up day." @NASASpaceflight was first though.

So that's confirmed (nice of him to mention us too).

Will keep this thread as-is and just re-target it for Tuesday.

WHAP · « **Reply #4 on:** 12/02/2013 02:58 pm »

Quote from: rdale on 12/02/2013 01:38 pm

Clouds skies prevail across the launch pad this morning, I expect the clearing to start by 2-3pm EST. Not knowing the exact criteria, I would think that things will be fine by launch time however USAF is quite pessimistic with a 40% chance of weather violations.

The rest of the week looks near perfect (especially by Florida standards!)

40% chance of violation is 60% chance that things will be good. That may be conservative, but still would not have caused anyone concerns for trying today.

rdale · « **Reply #5 on:** 12/02/2013 03:01 pm »

Quote from: WHAP on 12/02/2013 02:58 pm

40% chance of violation is 60% chance that things will be good.

The point is I saw little reason to basically call it just barely better than a coin toss.

In any case, today is out, so tomorrow and Wednesday should be 95-100% acceptable.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #6 on:** 12/02/2013 03:06 pm »

And just to tie a bow on Monday:

Elon Musk ‏@elonmusk
All known rocket anomalies resolved. Will spend another day rechecking to be sure. Launch attempt tmrw eve w Wed as backup.

rdale · « **Reply #7 on:** 12/02/2013 07:29 pm »

@SpaceX: LAUNCH UPDATE: All known rocket anomalies have been resolved. Launch targeted for Tues, w/ Weds as a back-up. Window opens at 5:41pm ET.

rdale · « **Reply #8 on:** 12/02/2013 10:43 pm »

Launch weather at the Cape tonight - not a cloud to be seen and winds gusting to 6 mph

I'm going with a 0% chance of weather violations the next two days. USAF still has slight worry about clouds the next two days, but ...

Jakusb · « **Reply #9 on:** 12/02/2013 11:00 pm »

Webcast is showing a countdown again. Now 22h till start of webcast.

shaula1247 · « **Reply #10 on:** 12/03/2013 03:50 am »

So far so good for the weather. Countdown clock is still running at 17hr 11 min.

[typo]

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #11 on:** 12/03/2013 04:38 am »

William's baseline article is updated for the Tuesday attempt:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/12/spacex-falcon-9-v1-1-milestone-ses-8-launch/

ChrisC · « **Reply #12 on:** 12/03/2013 02:38 pm »

Does the launch window of 1741-1907 ET now include the extra 20 minutes allowed by the customer?

rdale · « **Reply #13 on:** 12/03/2013 02:52 pm »

Weather still looks perfect... A day like today is evidence that government forecasters can't bring themselves to ever be fully confident in a forecast as they still have a 10% thick cloud chance

ww2planes1 · « **Reply #14 on:** 12/03/2013 02:58 pm »

Quote from: ChrisC on 12/03/2013 02:38 pm

Does the launch window of 1741-1907 ET now include the extra 20 minutes allowed by the customer?

Yes. That was included in the formal range request.

rdale · « **Reply #15 on:** 12/03/2013 05:06 pm »

SpaceX tweeted official go for launch at 1741 EST / 2241 UTC.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #16 on:** 12/03/2013 05:59 pm »

About 30 mins to RP-1 loading complete. An hour to LOX loading complete - and into topping.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #17 on:** 12/03/2013 06:26 pm »

T-3 hrs and 15 mins to launch.

Three hours until the launch webcast. I know people are in various timezones, so that's your three hour warning. *Bing* I repeat, this your three hour warning *Bing*.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #18 on:** 12/03/2013 07:25 pm »

SpaceX notice:

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket is targeted to launch the SES-8 telecommunications satellite today from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The launch window has been extended and will be open from 5:41pm EST – 7:07pm EST (22:41 UTC – 00:07 UTC).

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #19 on:** 12/03/2013 08:15 pm »

Site is incredibly busy, but the servers are fine (we're well over the site record for a snap shot of people online already...discussing it in the party thread if you want to respond to that).

70 mins to the webcast. *Bing*.

Not hearing of any issues in work.