SpaceX Falcon 9 : TESS : April 18, 2018 : Discussion

[wolfpack]

Thanks, all. Sounds like no bus tour, then. I’ll keep my eye out on the Visitors Center website for launch viewing opportunities. My son will love it if I can actually make it happen.

Any ideas on the window for TESS?

[gongora]

Thanks, all. Sounds like no bus tour, then. I’ll keep my eye out on the Visitors Center website for launch viewing opportunities. My son will love it if I can actually make it happen.

Any ideas on the window for TESS?

Apparently at some point I saw 8:00 pm, but I can't remember where or if that was for this launch date.

[gongora]

SpaceflightNow is showing 7:58pm EDT.

[jpo234]

https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/963882459946520577

NASA's budget states that the #Falcon9 Full Thrust received Category 2 certification in January 2018. Category 2 certification allows Falcon 9 to launch medium risk NASA payloads. This certification is needed for the #SpaceX @NASA_TESS launch, which is currently NET March 20th.

[jacqmans]

February 14, 2018
MEDIA ADVISORY M02-18

NASA Invites Media to View TESS Spacecraft

Media are invited to view the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) on Tuesday, Feb. 20, at the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility (PHSF) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

TESS is the next step in the search for planets outside of the solar system orbiting other nearby, bright stars. The mission will find these planets (e.g., "exoplanets") that periodically block part of the light from stars while transiting across the star. The media event is an opportunity to photograph the spacecraft and interview project and program team members.

This event is open only to U.S. citizens who possess a government-issued photo identification, such as a driver's license, and proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate. Two forms of government-issued identification are required, including one with a photograph, such as a driver’s license and passport.

To apply for media credentials, go to https://media.ksc.nasa.gov. Media interested in attending this event must also RSVP via email at [email protected]. The deadline for submitting credentials and to RSVP is no later than noon on Friday, Feb. 16.

Due to space restrictions, only two representatives from each media organization will be allowed to participate, and no more than 30 participants may sign up for the viewing opportunity.

As details for this event are finalized, more information will be provided about access to the PHSF, along with arrival and event times to registered media.

TESS is targeted to launch this spring on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force (CCAFS) Station in Florida.

TESS is a NASA Astrophysics Explorer mission led and operated by MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and managed by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Dr. George Ricker of MIT’s Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research serves as principal investigator for the mission. Additional partners include Orbital ATK, NASA’s Ames Research Center, the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and the Space Telescope Science Institute. More than a dozen universities, research institutes and observatories worldwide are participants in the mission. NASA’s Launch Services Program is responsible for launch management. SpaceX of Hawthorne, California, is the provider of the Falcon 9 launch service.

[Hankelow8]

February 14, 2018
MEDIA ADVISORY M02-18

NASA Invites Media to View TESS Spacecraft

Media are invited to view the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) on Tuesday, Feb. 20, at the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility (PHSF) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

TESS is the next step in the search for planets outside of the solar system orbiting other nearby, bright stars. The mission will find these planets (e.g., "exoplanets") that periodically block part of the light from stars while transiting across the star. The media event is an opportunity to photograph the spacecraft and interview project and program team members.

This event is open only to U.S. citizens who possess a government-issued photo identification, such as a driver's license, and proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate. Two forms of government-issued identification are required, including one with a photograph, such as a driver’s license and passport.

To apply for media credentials, go to https://media.ksc.nasa.gov. Media interested in attending this event must also RSVP via email at [email protected]. The deadline for submitting credentials and to RSVP is no later than noon on Friday, Feb. 16.

Due to space restrictions, only two representatives from each media organization will be allowed to participate, and no more than 30 participants may sign up for the viewing opportunity.

As details for this event are finalized, more information will be provided about access to the PHSF, along with arrival and event times to registered media.

TESS is targeted to launch this spring on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force (CCAFS) Station in Florida.

TESS is a NASA Astrophysics Explorer mission led and operated by MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and managed by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Dr. George Ricker of MIT’s Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research serves as principal investigator for the mission. Additional partners include Orbital ATK, NASA’s Ames Research Center, the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and the Space Telescope Science Institute. More than a dozen universities, research institutes and observatories worldwide are participants in the mission. NASA’s Launch Services Program is responsible for launch management. SpaceX of Hawthorne, California, is the provider of the Falcon 9 launch service.

How the world has changed, only allowing US media to view Tess spacecraft.

I remember back in the Apollo days I had a press pass for my car and could drive around unhindered apart from all pads which were active even when I was not a US citizen.

[Elthiryel]

It clearly states that TESS is going to launch from SLC-40, not LC-39A (as it was presumed).

[cscott]

It clearly states that TESS is going to launch from SLC-40, not LC-39A (as it was presumed).

And AIUI the "US citizens only" restriction is typical for launches from SLC-40, since Cape Canaveral is an active Air Force base. Launches from LC-39A are a little less restricted.

[gongora]

It clearly states that TESS is going to launch from SLC-40, not LC-39A (as it was presumed).

And AIUI the "US citizens only" restriction is typical for launches from SLC-40, since Cape Canaveral is an active Air Force base. Launches from LC-39A are a little less restricted.

The restrictions are for the spacecraft viewing event, not the launch.  I'm sticking with LC-39A for the launch site until I see something a little more definitive than that press invitation.

[gongora]

Ok, I saw something a little more definitive.  Apparently it switched from 39A to 40.

[deruch]

How the world has changed, only allowing US media to view Tess spacecraft.

I remember back in the Apollo days I had a press pass for my car and could drive around unhindered apart from all pads which were active even when I was not a US citizen.

And AIUI the "US citizens only" restriction is typical for launches from SLC-40, since Cape Canaveral is an active Air Force base. Launches from LC-39A are a little less restricted.

I assume the restriction against non US-citizen members of the media is only due to the short time limits.  There are only 6 days between when they sent the invite to the event (February 14th --> 20th).  To accommodate foreign nationals, they require more time to run all the backgrounds and be able to coordinate with the facilities to ensure no ITAR violations, etc.  Usually for these type events where foreign nationals are allowed, they are required to submit their documentation ~10 days prior to the event.

[gongora]

According to NASA website TESS is now NET 2018-04-16.

The mission is scheduled to launch no earlier than April 16, 2018, and no later than June 2018.

https://www.nasa.gov/content/about-tess

[Bubbinski]

Any reason why TESS slipped? Good thing I haven’t bought launch tickets yet. (The slip actually makes my trip work out better from a PTO standpoint so I’m not too bummed).

[vaporcobra]

Any reason why TESS slipped? Good thing I haven’t bought launch tickets yet. (The slip actually makes my trip work out better from a PTO standpoint so I’m not too bummed).

With major science payloads, I'd estimate a 90% chance that it was related to the spacecraft. Probably just slight delays in final integration, testing, shipment, etc.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

NASA reports F9 launch of TESS planet-hunting mission has slipped from March 20 to NET April 16. SpaceX requested more time for hardware readiness and to meet NASA launch service mission requirements.

https://twitter.com/flatoday_jdean/status/964245886464380929

[pb2000]

NASA reports F9 launch of TESS planet-hunting mission has slipped from March 20 to NET April 16. SpaceX requested more time for hardware readiness and to meet NASA launch service mission requirements.

https://twitter.com/flatoday_jdean/status/964245886464380929

[fake discussion]
NASA Commercial crew: Hey SpaceX, can you make some changes to your rocket for commercial crew please?
SpaceX: Yeah sure.
NASA TESS: Those changes could be unsafe, we don't want to be the fly until the rocket is proven safe.
Spacex: ....?
[/fake discussion]

[gongora]

The commercial crew changes are on block 5, TESS is using block 4.

[Star One]

The commercial crew changes are on block 5, TESS is using block 4.

Thanks for that confirmation, mind you I thought that was fairly well known. But obviously not judging by the post above yours.

[envy887]

The commercial crew changes are on block 5, TESS is using block 4.

Didn't LSP request to remain on the older version? Just like Jason 3 was the last v1.1 instead of the already flying v1.2?

[woods170]

The commercial crew changes are on block 5, TESS is using block 4.

Emphasis mine.

That is partially incorrect. The changes required by NASA were more than just the re-designed turbopump and COPV 2.0. Vehicle health monitoring was another one and SpaceX has begun implementing the changes for this as early as Block 3, in conjunction with the run-up to the introduction of AFTS on Block 4. Same goes for certain aspects of vehicle software.