SpaceX Falcon 9 - Iridium NEXT Flight 1 DISCUSSION (Jan. 14 2017)

[whitelancer64]

Out of curiosity (not that I think SpaceX would), what is the penalty for launching a rocket without an FAA launch license?

[Ben the Space Brit]

Out of curiosity (not that I think SpaceX would), what is the penalty for launching a rocket without an FAA launch license?

Enormous fines, criminal charges against all involved including lengthy jail sentences (launching a huge vehicle filled with explosive and/or toxic fuels into crowded airspace would probably be treated as an act of domestic terrorism) and probably the closure of the company.

[rockets4life97]

It seems unlikely that the Air Force range would allow them to launch with out an FAA license. So, probably at this point not even possible from their current launch pads.

[mn]

Out of curiosity (not that I think SpaceX would), what is the penalty for launching a rocket without an FAA launch license?

They can try to pull an Uber and claim they don't need a licence

[Comga]

Weather not looking good for the 8th at Vandenberg
https://www.google.com/search?q=vandenberg+afb+weather+&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

Jan 8 - 50% chance of rain
Jan 9 - 80% chance of rain
Jan 10 - 10% chance of rain

Now
Jan 9   - 50% chance of rain in the morning
Jan 10 - 40% chance of rain in the afternoon
Jan 11 - 40% chance of rain in the morning
Jan 12 - 20% chance of rain and cloudy

https://weather.com/weather/tenday/l/USCA0629:1:US Lompoc/Vandenberg AFB

[MarekCyzio]

"The FAA has not yet issued a license to SpaceX for a launch in January," the Federal Aviation Administration said on Thursday. "The FAA continues to work closely with SpaceX as they conduct the investigation and prepare for future Falcon 9 launches."

http://money.cnn.com/2017/01/05/news/elon-musk-spacex-launch/

Doesn't sound like something a federal agency would say days or hours before issuing license.

[Joaosg]

"The FAA has not yet issued a license to SpaceX for a launch in January," the Federal Aviation Administration said on Thursday. "The FAA continues to work closely with SpaceX as they conduct the investigation and prepare for future Falcon 9 launches."

http://money.cnn.com/2017/01/05/news/elon-musk-spacex-launch/

Doesn't sound like something a federal agency would say days or hours before issuing license.

They just did 

https://twitter.com/lorengrush/status/817414249643438080

Just got this statement from the FAA. A launch license for SpaceX's Iridium NEXT launch has been granted:

[vanoord]

License is for seven launches of Falcon 9 Version 1.2 for Iridium.

Interesting that it says 1.2 rather than FT (although F9 > v1.1 > FT would only confuse); and that it presumably precludes any significant upgrade to F9 this year - given the talk of 'Block 5' and potentially a 'Fuller Thrust' between now and then.

[envy887]

License is for seven launches of Falcon 9 Version 1.2 for Iridium.

Interesting that it says 1.2 rather than FT (although F9 > v1.1 > FT would only confuse); and that it presumably precludes any significant upgrade to F9 this year - given the talk of 'Block 5' and potentially a 'Fuller Thrust' between now and then.

IIRC the licenses for F9 FT have always used the version 1.2 nomenclature, and SpaceX doesn't consider the coming upgrades a different version.

[old_sellsword]

License is for seven launches of Falcon 9 Version 1.2 for Iridium.

Interesting that it says 1.2 rather than FT (although F9 > v1.1 > FT would only confuse); and that it presumably precludes any significant upgrade to F9 this year - given the talk of 'Block 5' and potentially a 'Fuller Thrust' between now and then.

IIRC the licenses for F9 FT have always used the version 1.2 nomenclature, and SpaceX doesn't consider the coming upgrades a different version.

They don't publicly refer to them as different versions, but they undoubtedly have internal designations (Block #s).

[Tea Party Space Czar]

Out of curiosity (not that I think SpaceX would), what is the penalty for launching a rocket without an FAA launch license?

It would never happen.  Congress would completely become unhinged. 

Great people at the FAA.  Dr. George Nield and Jared Stout are true professionals.  If someone doesn't get a license there are solid reasons for it.

Some fly by night backyard rocketeer might try doing something without a license but you would never see any legitimate firm operate without one.

[atsf90east]

I noticed that the license says "Landing of the Falcon 9 Version 1.2 first stage either on a droneship or in the ocean", which means unless they get a license modification for the later missions that none of the seven launches covered under this license will be allowed to land the first stages back at SLC-4W at Vandenberg.

[Ben the Space Brit]

Is the landing site at Vandy even complete yet?

[gongora]

I noticed that the license says "Landing of the Falcon 9 Version 1.2 first stage either on a droneship or in the ocean", which means unless they get a license modification for the later missions that none of the seven launches covered under this license will be allowed to land the first stages back at SLC-4W at Vandenberg.

Licenses get amended all the time.  We also still don't know how much margin they really have on these launches, they are higher than Dragon and possibly heavier (we don't have very reliable mass numbers for Dragon).

[vanoord]

@IridiumComm:

Iridium is excited to share we're planned to launch on Monday, Jan 9 at 10:22am PST weather permitting. bit.ly/2iZ7mCE #IridiumNEXT

Tuesday then? 

[mheney]

Here is the link the the license:

https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/licenses_permits/media/SpaceX%20LLS%2017-096%20License%20and%20Orders_01_06_2017.pdf

Interesting.  The license LLS 17-096B (Flight) in paragraph 3(e) authorizes

"Landing the Falcon 9 Version 1,2 first stage either on a droneship or in the ocean"

So, no FAA approval for RTLS landings at VAFB yet.

[gongora]

A couple other details from the license:
Launch azimuth 179.2 degrees
Still "Using a traditional command destruct Flight Termination System"
 

[MarekCyzio]

A couple other details from the license:
Launch azimuth 179.2 degrees
Still "Using a traditional command destruct Flight Termination System"

Local company in Melbourne, FL area is working on automated flight termination system for USAF, it's not ready yet.

[AS_501]

Getting back to the static firing, anyone know if this F9 was more heavily instrumented than usual?

[spacekid]

Out of curiosity (not that I think SpaceX would), what is the penalty for launching a rocket without an FAA launch license?

They can try to pull an Uber and claim they don't need a licence

The launch is taking place on a US AF Base. I suspect the US Gov would have ways of stopping them before a launch would take place.