SpaceX Falcon 9 : BulgariaSat-1 : June 23, 2017 : DISCUSSION

[abaddon]

BulgariaSat was persuaded by SpaceX to use a reused booster even before SES-10 was launched.

Presumably this is the second customer that was mentioned when we already knew about SES.

[mn]

It's amazing that BulgariaSat was inspired by the success of SES-10 to reuse one of the Falcon 9 boosters.

BulgariaSat was persuaded by SpaceX to use a reused booster even before SES-10 was launched.

By using a reused booster, they jump to the front of the launch queue! Reusability does indeed increase availability and provide much flexibility schedulewise, which is one of the benefits the Air Force looking at.

It's one thing to tell a customer that if you choose a flight proven booster you get to fly earlier, but telling a customer that if you don't accept a flight proven booster your already significantly delayed launch will get delayed even further because others will get pushed in front of you. I don't know if that will fly.

[cppetrie]

It's amazing that BulgariaSat was inspired by the success of SES-10 to reuse one of the Falcon 9 boosters.

BulgariaSat was persuaded by SpaceX to use a reused booster even before SES-10 was launched.

By using a reused booster, they jump to the front of the launch queue! Reusability does indeed increase availability and provide much flexibility schedulewise, which is one of the benefits the Air Force looking at.

It's one thing to tell a customer that if you choose a flight proven booster you get to fly earlier, but telling a customer that if you don't accept a flight proven booster your already significantly delayed launch will get delayed even further because others will get pushed in front of you. I don't know if that will fly.

I doubt they said they'd delay them more if they didn't take a proven core. I think they simply said, "You can wait until a new core is made, and you're 10th in line. Or you can take a flight-proven booster, and we can slot you in at 4 in the launch order because there's space for that. Which would you prefer?"
BulgariaSat chose the latter. Seems perfectly reasonable in my mind.

[gongora]

Before the AMOS-6 accident BulgariaSat was in that big blob of "end of 2016" launches, we really don't know what order those were going to launch.  If the decision to reuse a booster had any effect on the schedule at all, I doubt it was much more than a month.

[mn]

It's amazing that BulgariaSat was inspired by the success of SES-10 to reuse one of the Falcon 9 boosters.

BulgariaSat was persuaded by SpaceX to use a reused booster even before SES-10 was launched.

By using a reused booster, they jump to the front of the launch queue! Reusability does indeed increase availability and provide much flexibility schedulewise, which is one of the benefits the Air Force looking at.

It's one thing to tell a customer that if you choose a flight proven booster you get to fly earlier, but telling a customer that if you don't accept a flight proven booster your already significantly delayed launch will get delayed even further because others will get pushed in front of you. I don't know if that will fly.

I doubt they said they'd delay them more if they didn't take a proven core. I think they simply said, "You can wait until a new core is made, and you're 10th in line. Or you can take a flight-proven booster, and we can slot you in at 4 in the launch order because there's space for that. Which would you prefer?"
BulgariaSat chose the latter. Seems perfectly reasonable in my mind.

Yes definitely if they can squeeze a launch into what would have otherwise been a gap and nobody else is delayed any more than they would have been otherwise, that would be the best scenario.

And as gongora noted, we have no insight into the launch order and timing, I was just adding another perspective to the discussion.

[Lars-J]

It would seem like SpaceX must already adjusting their production like to produce more upper stages than boosters. That balance should shift even more dramatically for block 5 production.

[Earendil]

One more reason not to miss this launch (other than being a Bulgarian and being a subscriber of the sat operator in question)

I am glad Bulsatcom has forward thinking management..

[wardy89]

So am i correct in thinking that booster 1029 will take the honour of becoming the first rocket to have launched from both coasts? 

[KaiFarrimond]

So am i correct in thinking that booster 1029 will take the honour of becoming the first rocket to have launched from both coasts?

It sure will!

[rockets4life97]

I'm thinking this booster gets at least 3 flights.

[Herb Schaltegger]

It's amazing that BulgariaSat was inspired by the success of SES-10 to reuse one of the Falcon 9 boosters.

BulgariaSat was persuaded by SpaceX to use a reused booster even before SES-10 was launched.

By using a reused booster, they jump to the front of the launch queue! Reusability does indeed increase availability and provide much flexibility schedulewise, which is one of the benefits the Air Force looking at.

Is this a statement of fact or your supposition?

[king1999]

It's amazing that BulgariaSat was inspired by the success of SES-10 to reuse one of the Falcon 9 boosters.

BulgariaSat was persuaded by SpaceX to use a reused booster even before SES-10 was launched.

By using a reused booster, they jump to the front of the launch queue! Reusability does indeed increase availability and provide much flexibility schedulewise, which is one of the benefits the Air Force looking at.

Is this a statement of fact or your supposition?

The first sentence was my supposition. The second one was based on some recent AF statements.

[abaddon]

It's amazing that BulgariaSat was inspired by the success of SES-10 to reuse one of the Falcon 9 boosters.

BulgariaSat was persuaded by SpaceX to use a reused booster even before SES-10 was launched.

By using a reused booster, they jump to the front of the launch queue! Reusability does indeed increase availability and provide much flexibility schedulewise, which is one of the benefits the Air Force looking at.

Is this a statement of fact or your supposition?

From the linked SFN article:

BulgariaSat did not disclose whether it received any discount for switching from a new Falcon 9 rocket to a previously-flown vehicle. Industry sources previously said BulgariaSat 1 recently moved ahead of other payloads in the Falcon 9 manifest, perhaps in exchange for an agreement to launch on a reused booster.

Still not a statement of fact, but it is evidence of a queue adjustment for some reason.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Added launch window for next Ariane 5 & the penultimate Delta 2 launch. Also: Falcon 9/BulgariaSat 1 set for June 15 https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/

https://twitter.com/stephenclark1/status/861638979799658496

[AncientU]

Shouldn't BulgariaSat be the first Roomba Rumba, too?
It is next ASDS landing on east Coast...

[tvg98]

Shouldn't BulgariaSat be the first Roomba Rumba, too?
It is next ASDS landing on east Coast...

Despite the fact that it will be used when OCISLY is unstable due to high seas, they'll have to test it eventually so I guess this is a good mission to try it. That being said, it would be unfortunate if they accidentally dropped their second ever booster (that was also recovered once before) into the drink.....we'll see what happens.   

[darkenfast]

"Roomba Rumba" - another space term enters the language!

[macpacheco]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BulgariaSat-1

Estimates the payload launch mass at around 4000Kg, which means an ASDS landing is very likely even if a somewhat super sync or reduced inclination target orbit is planned.
Like the cookie monster said... Goooooood !
Perhaps such a modest launch mass with a Block V could be done even with RTLS. Thoughts ?

[Flying Beaver]

Afternoon window, June 15th. Per SFN
https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/05/10/satellite-for-broadband-on-the-go-next-in-rapid-fire-spacex-launch-campaign/

[deruch]

...  BulgariaSat-1 satellite ...  will be launched aboard a space-proven Falcon 9 vehicle provided by SpaceX....

Not just flight-proven, but space-proven now too!  Well, I guess it has been above the Karman Line, so ok.  But, come on SSL, get the terminology right.