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#20
by
crandles57
on 31 Dec, 2017 19:34
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#21
by
gongora
on 31 Dec, 2017 21:34
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#22
by
cscott
on 01 Jan, 2018 05:42
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And the answer in general is that L2 info gets "declassified" when it is confirmed with SpaceX and written up in an article.
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#23
by
gongora
on 07 Jan, 2018 01:58
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How would this satellite get from Dulles to the Cape? Would it most likely be flown, and if so would it be on an AN-124? I tried looking for AN-124 flights and found one going Dulles-LAX-Merritt Island on Dec 3-4, and another AN-124 going Dulles-Kingston-Tampa on Dec 24 (which seems less likely). Would these GEO sats ever just get trucked to the launch site from Dulles?
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#24
by
IanThePineapple
on 07 Jan, 2018 02:35
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And the answer in general is that L2 info gets "declassified" when it is confirmed with SpaceX and written up in an article.
This is why I want to get L2, I'm super impatient. I might buy 2 months just to test it out this year
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#25
by
octavo
on 07 Jan, 2018 04:14
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And the answer in general is that L2 info gets "declassified" when it is confirmed with SpaceX and written up in an article.
This is why I want to get L2, I'm super impatient. I might buy 2 months just to test it out this year
It's totally worth it, especially around launch times. In fact, just the renders by lamontagne and others that end up in the articles are worth it. There are plenty that don't make it indy the article, but are still great fanservice.
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#26
by
IanThePineapple
on 07 Jan, 2018 04:31
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And the answer in general is that L2 info gets "declassified" when it is confirmed with SpaceX and written up in an article.
This is why I want to get L2, I'm super impatient. I might buy 2 months just to test it out this year
It's totally worth it, especially around launch times. In fact, just the renders by lamontagne and others that end up in the articles are worth it. There are plenty that don't make it indy the article, but are still great fanservice.
Alright, I need that in my life.
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#27
by
Star One
on 07 Jan, 2018 08:33
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Is this pretty certain now to fly before the FH demo flight?
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#28
by
zubenelgenubi
on 07 Jan, 2018 20:27
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Is this pretty certain now to fly before the FH demo flight?
Expanding on your thought...
The Falcon Heavy Demo launch from LC-39A is, in essence, now NET simultaneous with the SES-16 launch from SLC-40.
How would this satellite get from Dulles to the Cape? Would it most likely be flown, and if so would it be on an AN-124? I tried looking for AN-124 flights and found one going Dulles-LAX-Merritt Island on Dec 3-4, and another AN-124 going Dulles-Kingston-Tampa on Dec 24 (which seems less likely). Would these GEO sats ever just get trucked to the launch site from Dulles?
Apparently, "we" don't know if the satellite has even been delivered to the launch site yet? Would O/ATK or SES announce a successful delivery to the launch provider? Or does Luxembourg want as little publicity as possible?
That appears to be a (the?) critical piece of missing information.
My non-expert opinion:
SES is a paying customer (vs. FH demo which is a test flight with no customer payload aboard). A delay of a few days beyond NET Jan. 29 won't matter much in the "big picture" (How the Solar System Was Won). SES-16 would be given priority in a parallel launch campaigns situation.
So IF the satellite has been delivered and is already being processed for launch;
AND IF Zuma launches tonight, as scheduled;
THEN SES-16 might progress directly through its launch campaign as soon as SLC-40 is cleared for another launch, launching before the Falcon Heavy Demo.
There's my deduction chain. Any flaws?
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#29
by
Star One
on 07 Jan, 2018 20:29
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Is this pretty certain now to fly before the FH demo flight?
Expanding on your thought...
The Falcon Heavy Demo launch from LC-39A is, in essence, now NET simultaneous with the SES-16 launch from SLC-40.
Apparently, "we" don't know if the satellite has even been delivered to the launch site yet? Would O/ATK or SES announce a successful delivery? Or does Luxembourg want as little publicity as possible?
That appears to be a (the?) critical piece of missing information.
My non-expert opinion:
SES is a paying customer (vs. FH demo which is a test flight with no customer payload aboard). A delay of a few days beyond NET Jan. 29 won't matter much in the "big picture" (How the Solar System Was Won). SES-16 would be given priority in a parallel launch campaigns situation.
So IF the satellite has been delivered and is already being processed for launch;
AND IF Zuma launches tonight, as scheduled;
THEN SES-16 might progress directly through its launch campaign as soon as SLC-40 is cleared for another launch, launching before the Falcon Heavy Demo.
There's my deduction chain. Any flaws?
In light of the above I can see the FH demo flight dropping into February.
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#30
by
russianhalo117
on 07 Jan, 2018 20:43
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Is this pretty certain now to fly before the FH demo flight?
Expanding on your thought...
The Falcon Heavy Demo launch from LC-39A is, in essence, now NET simultaneous with the SES-16 launch from SLC-40.
Apparently, "we" don't know if the satellite has even been delivered to the launch site yet? Would O/ATK or SES announce a successful delivery? Or does Luxembourg want as little publicity as possible?
That appears to be a (the?) critical piece of missing information.
My non-expert opinion:
SES is a paying customer (vs. FH demo which is a test flight with no customer payload aboard). A delay of a few days beyond NET Jan. 29 won't matter much in the "big picture" (How the Solar System Was Won). SES-16 would be given priority in a parallel launch campaigns situation.
So IF the satellite has been delivered and is already being processed for launch;
AND IF Zuma launches tonight, as scheduled;
THEN SES-16 might progress directly through its launch campaign as soon as SLC-40 is cleared for another launch, launching before the Falcon Heavy Demo.
There's my deduction chain. Any flaws?
In light of the above I can see the FH demo flight dropping into February.
In theory with AFTS and no need to fully reconfigure as is the case for a switch to a ULA launcher, they could both launch same day.
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#31
by
zubenelgenubi
on 07 Jan, 2018 20:59
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Is this pretty certain now to fly before the FH demo flight?
Expanding on your thought...
The Falcon Heavy Demo launch from LC-39A is, in essence, now NET simultaneous with the SES-16 launch from SLC-40.
Apparently, "we" don't know if the satellite has even been delivered to the launch site yet? Would O/ATK or SES announce a successful delivery? Or does Luxembourg want as little publicity as possible?
That appears to be a (the?) critical piece of missing information.
My non-expert opinion:
SES is a paying customer (vs. FH demo which is a test flight with no customer payload aboard). A delay of a few days beyond NET Jan. 29 won't matter much in the "big picture" (How the Solar System Was Won). SES-16 would be given priority in a parallel launch campaigns situation.
So IF the satellite has been delivered and is already being processed for launch;
AND IF Zuma launches tonight, as scheduled;
THEN SES-16 might progress directly through its launch campaign as soon as SLC-40 is cleared for another launch, launching before the Falcon Heavy Demo.
There's my deduction chain. Any flaws?
In light of the above I can see the FH demo flight dropping into February.
In theory with AFTS and no need to fully reconfigure as is the case for a switch to a ULA launcher, they could both launch same day.
Good point re: hardware and the range.
What about SpaceX personnel? Are there enough trained staff, at this juncture, to execute two simultaneous, but staggered, countdowns at launch complexes several miles apart?
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#32
by
Star One
on 07 Jan, 2018 21:45
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Is this pretty certain now to fly before the FH demo flight?
Expanding on your thought...
The Falcon Heavy Demo launch from LC-39A is, in essence, now NET simultaneous with the SES-16 launch from SLC-40.
Apparently, "we" don't know if the satellite has even been delivered to the launch site yet? Would O/ATK or SES announce a successful delivery? Or does Luxembourg want as little publicity as possible?
That appears to be a (the?) critical piece of missing information.
My non-expert opinion:
SES is a paying customer (vs. FH demo which is a test flight with no customer payload aboard). A delay of a few days beyond NET Jan. 29 won't matter much in the "big picture" (How the Solar System Was Won). SES-16 would be given priority in a parallel launch campaigns situation.
So IF the satellite has been delivered and is already being processed for launch;
AND IF Zuma launches tonight, as scheduled;
THEN SES-16 might progress directly through its launch campaign as soon as SLC-40 is cleared for another launch, launching before the Falcon Heavy Demo.
There's my deduction chain. Any flaws?
In light of the above I can see the FH demo flight dropping into February.
In theory with AFTS and no need to fully reconfigure as is the case for a switch to a ULA launcher, they could both launch same day.
Good point re: hardware and the range.
What about SpaceX personnel? Are there enough trained staff, at this juncture, to execute two simultaneous, but staggered, countdowns at launch complexes several miles apart?
Hasn’t it been said elsewhere this is not something the company would require of its staff. Especially if thought for a demo flight.
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#33
by
kdhilliard
on 07 Jan, 2018 22:05
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In theory with AFTS and no need to fully reconfigure as is the case for a switch to a ULA launcher, they could both launch same day.
AFTS might allow two in one day, but ASDS won't. Both launches are scheduled for at-sea booster landing, aren't they?
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#34
by
pb2000
on 07 Jan, 2018 22:19
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In theory with AFTS and no need to fully reconfigure as is the case for a switch to a ULA launcher, they could both launch same day.
AFTS might allow two in one day, but ASDS won't. Both launches are scheduled for at-sea booster landing, aren't they?
Depnds on what booster it ends up with. They'll want the center core of FH back for examination, but if SES/GovSat ends up with a block 3, SpaceX may not want it back and ditch it.
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#35
by
zubenelgenubi
on 07 Jan, 2018 23:24
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Seeking confirmation re: ASDS. There is currently one each per coast/range, correct?
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#36
by
Jarnis
on 08 Jan, 2018 00:57
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Seeking confirmation re: ASDS. There is currently one each per coast/range, correct?
Yes.
Also note that all FH dates are very notional until they have a good static fire in the books. Not a given that it'll all work out on the first try, considering it is a new vehicle.
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#37
by
russianhalo117
on 08 Jan, 2018 01:07
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Seeking confirmation re: ASDS. There is currently one each per coast/range, correct?
Keep in mind that SpaceX may grow the ASDS fleet to increase its launch rate from Florida. This launch will probably play roulette with FH for a launch slot unless they ditch GS-1's booster.
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#38
by
speedevil
on 08 Jan, 2018 05:49
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AFTS might allow two in one day, but ASDS won't. Both launches are scheduled for at-sea booster landing, aren't they?
Depnds on what booster it ends up with. They'll want the center core of FH back for examination, but if SES/GovSat ends up with a block 3, SpaceX may not want it back and ditch it.
If they really would like it back, I wonder if they think with the recent good aiming they've seen, if the probability of missing by more than a handful of meters is >50%.
Because if it's not, landing two on one ASDS is sort-of-possible.
(assuming the trajectories match so the ASDS can be in one place)
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#39
by
RocketLover0119
on 08 Jan, 2018 20:09
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