SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 - ORBCOMM OG2 - Pre-LAUNCH UPDATES

[Chris Bergin]

UPDATE THREAD for SpaceX Falcon 9 ORBCOMM OG-2.

L2's SpaceX Section is providing the latest NETs - currently June 11:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/05/spacex-targets-june-11-falcon-9-orbcomm/

This is an update thread. Please use the below thread for anything that is not an actual update.

FOR F9/ORBCOMM DISCUSSION (NOT UPDATES), Click here:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=33089.0

FOR THE PARTY THREAD:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=34609.0

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 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/

---

L2 Members:

L2 SpaceX Section:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=60.0
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?action=tags&tags=SpaceX
Exclusively acquired pre-launch and Mission Coverage, Presentations, Graphics, Videos, Updates and tons of unreleased hi res photos from the mission...and also a lot less noise than the busy open forum SpaceX sections - which aids the higher quality).

L2 F9/ORBCOMM Update Thread:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=34575.0

[Chris Bergin]

Sierra Nevada Corporation Completes and Delivers Satellites for ORBCOMM Mission 1 Launch

Sparks, Nev., April 30, 2014 – Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) announces the successful completion of the ORBCOMM Generation 2 (OG2) Pre-Ship Review and shipment of six satellites from the company’s Space Systems’ location in Louisville, Colorado. SNC is the prime contractor for this upgraded communication constellation leading all development and integration efforts for the ORBCOMM Mission 1 launch in May.

SNC conducted a thorough OG2 Pre-Ship Review to verify the completion of all functional and environmental testing, validating the performance of all systems and software for the six satellites. Upon completion of the OG2 Pre-Ship Review the satellites were shipped to Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) facilities at Cape Canaveral, Florida. The spacecraft are currently undergoing final testing and fueling in preparation for a May launch aboard a dedicated Falcon 9 launch vehicle.

“SNC is pleased to complete this critical milestone in upgrading ORBCOMM’s global network,” said Pat Remias, SNC’s Space Systems senior director of programs. “Due to their high efficiency and modular design, these satellites have substantially more capacity to service a larger number of subscribers, thus making the network more efficient with fewer satellites than the OG1 satellites that are currently on-orbit. SNC has established a satellite production line in our Louisville facility to integrate and test each vehicle rapidly, with up to six satellites processing simultaneously.”

“Despite the age of the current constellation, ORBCOMM has shown strong growth under the leadership of CEO Marc Eisenberg, recording 15 percent growth in revenue and over 100,000 new subscriber communicators last year over the previous year,” said Mark N. Sirangelo, corporate vice president and head of SNC’s Space Systems. “OG2 will provide the path for continued growth and quality performance for the customer, which are hallmarks for SNC and ORBCOMM. Together with the superb technical team of ORBCOMM, SNC is raising the bar for the next generation of low-Earth orbit satellites.”

The total OG2 constellation is comprised of 17 satellites. The remaining 11 satellites in the constellation are in final integration at SNC’s facility in Louisville, Colorado, and are on track to support the next launch (OG2 Mission 2) scheduled in the fourth quarter of 2014. In addition to developing the satellite buses, SNC has directed the development and integration of the advanced communication payload and is assisting in the key roles of launch planning and launch mission operations for the OG2 constellation, including developing a Satellite Operations Center that will support essential communications with the OG2 satellites prior to launch and during early on-orbit checkout and operations.  SNC is currently housing the first fully functional small satellite production line in the U.S.

For the latest launch information visit: http://www.orbcomm.com/networks/og2-launch.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

The Orbcomm G2 satellites arrived at the Cape starting from April 21:

[Chris Bergin]

Party thread to ensure a clutter free experience is now live:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=34609.0

[Orbiter]

Launch hazard area released.
http://www.patrick.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-140501-061.pdf

[Galactic Penguin SST]

I have checked the weather forecasts - it seems that after the storms passed Florida today sunshine will be the norm next week all the way till next Saturday (May 11), so unless high altitude winds have problems the weather should be clear for launch. 

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Another update:

[Chris Bergin]

Per L2's dedicated updates for this launch, there is new T-0 of 0947-1040L (Range Approved) on May 10.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

How the satellites were stacked on the ESPA adapters:

[averagespacejoe]

According to the newest update on Orbcomm's website for the OG2 launch the static fire test will occur Thursday. With a Falcon 9 roll out that morning.

[input~2]

Navigational warnings:
valid May 10 from 1347 to 1509UTC
alternate May 11 from 1325 to 1447UTC

[Comga]

Maritime restricted areas:
valid May 10 from 1347 to 1509UTC
alternate May 11 from 1325 to 1447UTC

This is different than http://www.patrick.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-140501-061.pdf  and what was plotted by Draga.
What is your source?

[Jakusb]

Maritime restricted areas:
valid May 10 from 1347 to 1509UTC
alternate May 11 from 1325 to 1447UTC

Would that round area indicate a target for soft landing? Or is it meant for something different? It does not seem very close to shore. Or is it in comparison?

[ugordan]

Would that round area indicate a target for soft landing? Or is it meant for something different?

Fairing drop zone?

[Jdeshetler]

Maybe the later circle is for normal first stage drop zone if the reboost didn't go well?

[input~2]

Navigational warning for 2nd stage debris
valid May 10 from 1449 to 1551UTC
alternate May 11 from 1427 to 1529UTC

[input~2]

Maritime restricted areas:
valid May 10 from 1347 to 1509UTC
alternate May 11 from 1325 to 1447UTC

This is different than http://www.patrick.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-140501-061.pdf  and what was plotted by Draga.
What is your source?

Navigational warnings

[frim]

http://www.orbcomm.com/networks/og2-launch

OG2 Mission 1 Update: May 6, 2014
Things are progressing well at the Cape. SpaceX conducted a flight readiness review yesterday and confirmed they are a “go” for May 10. Since then, the payload stack has been encapsulated by the fairing, and the entire stack is in the process of being attached to the rocket, which is expected to be completed late today. The next key step is the rocket being rolled out to the launch pad very early Thursday morning for the static test fire scheduled for mid-day Thursday. With a successful static test fire, we are on for a launch at 9:47 am ET on Saturday morning. Management expects to give an update and answer questions on the earnings call scheduled on Thursday, May 8, at 10:30 am ET.

[MTom]

The two points are about 55 and 145 nm from Cape.

[Darga]

Plotted a bunch of stuff on my google map https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=zp15b_P5ERVk.kbMnkaMngi_w Sources in the area's description.