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

[Star One]

https://twitter.com/brs03/status/981629438470303744?s=20

Any risk of this impacting TESS on the 16th?  And do you think TESS would get priority if so?

https://twitter.com/AttwellAviation/status/981630552003502080?s=20

AFSPC-11 will get priority since its a national security launch.

I'm sure they also take launch constraints into consideration.

I have no idea what are the launch constraints for TESS but if they need to launch on the 16th I would imagine NASA and the AF can work it out.

We don’t know what the launch constraints on AFSPC-11 are, especially when we don’t even know what it is.

[mn]

https://twitter.com/brs03/status/981629438470303744?s=20

Any risk of this impacting TESS on the 16th?  And do you think TESS would get priority if so?

https://twitter.com/AttwellAviation/status/981630552003502080?s=20

AFSPC-11 will get priority since its a national security launch.

I'm sure they also take launch constraints into consideration.

I have no idea what are the launch constraints for TESS but if they need to launch on the 16th I would imagine NASA and the AF can work it out.

We don’t know what the launch constraints on AFSPC-11 are, especially when we don’t even know what it is.

We certainly don't know, I was just making the point of that it's not automatically higher priority just because it's a national security launch.

[RocketLover0119]

Is there a booster landing on this flight?

[shooter6947]

Is there a booster landing on this flight?

I haven't seen anything definitive.  My guess is:

(1) they will try to recover the booster, even tho it's a Block 4, because it will have seen only one use.

(2) it will probably be a downrange landing on the ASDS.  The payload is super-light, but it needs quite a bit of oomph to get out there, more than GTO, so won't have the spare fuel for a RTLS.

Just a guess!  Would love to have more informed data rather than my speculation if someone has it...

[Johnnyhinbos]

This is definitely one of my favorite SpaceX launches. Excited for Tess - and I love the orbital plan...

[yokem55]

Is there a booster landing on this flight?

I haven't seen anything definitive.  My guess is:

(1) they will try to recover the booster, even tho it's a Block 4, because it will have seen only one use.

(2) it will probably be a downrange landing on the ASDS.  The payload is super-light, but it needs quite a bit of oomph to get out there, more than GTO, so won't have the spare fuel for a RTLS.

Just a guess!  Would love to have more informed data rather than my speculation if someone has it...

It has the performance for RTLS per the NLS II performance website. For a C3 of 0 (the target orbit for TESS is a little less than Earth Escape velocity), Falcon 9 Full Thrust can take a payload of 1785 kg and do an RTLS flight.

[Robotbeat]

They still haven't updated that website since Musk asked. Using 2015 figures, I think.

[speedevil]

They still haven't updated that website since Musk asked. Using 2015 figures, I think.

I was joking earlier when I said the fastest way to get at the numbers might be to FOIA them - I assumed they'd be reasonably prompt.
Sigh.
maybe soon.

[deruch]

My guess is that they may only be updated after the next NLS II on-ramp, which I believe happens every summer.

[Ben the Space Brit]

It's quite astounding really that, for a rocket that's only been in service in its more-or-less current configuration for 3 years, we're already seeing it launch very important missions for NASA (TESS, in this case), NRO and the USAF. That's a tribute to SpaceX for the hard work they've done and for the way they've picked themselves up from their two very high-profile failures.

[Michael Baylor]

The @SpaceX #Falcon9 fairing for @NASA_TESS arrived over the weekend to meet #TESS for encapsulation @NASAKennedy. After launch, TESS will find new planets around other stars, called exoplanets, that scientists will study for decades to come.

https://twitter.com/nasa_tess/status/984057626706239488

Looks like Fairing 2.0?

[Raul]

The @SpaceX #Falcon9 fairing for @NASA_TESS arrived over the weekend to meet #TESS for encapsulation @NASAKennedy. After launch, TESS will find new planets around other stars, called exoplanets, that scientists will study for decades to come.

https://twitter.com/nasa_tess/status/984057626706239488

Looks like Fairing 2.0?

It looks. See the number of air scoops in bottom part.

[cppetrie]

I’m inclined to say 2.0 as well based on comparison of other bumps and markings.

[gongora]

The @SpaceX #Falcon9 fairing for @NASA_TESS arrived over the weekend to meet #TESS for encapsulation @NASAKennedy. After launch, TESS will find new planets around other stars, called exoplanets, that scientists will study for decades to come.

https://twitter.com/nasa_tess/status/984057626706239488

Looks like Fairing 2.0?

It does look like 2.0, I'm really surprised NASA didn't opt for the older/proven design.  The original launch date for TESS was only a month after the first Fairing 2.0 flight.

[vaporcobra]

It does look like 2.0, I'm really surprised NASA didn't opt for the older/proven design.  The original launch date for TESS was only a month after the first Fairing 2.0 flight.

Particularly odd considering the "not the first Block 5 flight" clause in the contract. I guess the second flight of Fairing 2.0 is okay, though.

[rtm5]

Is there a booster landing on this flight?

I haven't seen anything definitive.  My guess is:

(1) they will try to recover the booster, even tho it's a Block 4, because it will have seen only one use.

(2) it will probably be a downrange landing on the ASDS.  The payload is super-light, but it needs quite a bit of oomph to get out there, more than GTO, so won't have the spare fuel for a RTLS.

Just a guess!  Would love to have more informed data rather than my speculation if someone has it...

It will be returning to the drone ship OCISLY. If you flip between these 2 apps, you will have launch, landing and booster info: SpaceXNow & SpaceXLaunches.

[Ben the Space Brit]

TESS is tiny. Was there ever a point when it was considered a possible payload for the cancelled Falcon-1e?

[pb2000]

TESS is tiny. Was there ever a point when it was considered a possible payload for the cancelled Falcon-1e?

The F9 is delivering TESS to a 200x 270 000km orbit, just a tiny bit outside the capabilities of falcon 1e.

[whitelancer64]

TESS is tiny. Was there ever a point when it was considered a possible payload for the cancelled Falcon-1e?

Also, the Falcon 1e was cancelled long before the award of the TESS launch contract (in Dec. 2014), it was always going to fly on a Falcon 9.

[lonestriker]

TESS is tiny. Was there ever a point when it was considered a possible payload for the cancelled Falcon-1e?

Also, the Falcon 1e was cancelled long before the award of the TESS launch contract (in Dec. 2014), it was always going to fly on a Falcon 9.

In the TESS video, they said they designed it for a Minotaur and that the Falcon 9 was a "monster" IIRC.  So they designed it for a much smaller rocket and got a F9 in the end.  They would have designed it differently if it were slated for a F9 from the start.