Author Topic: LIVE: SpaceX Falcon 9 FT - ORBCOMM-2 - SLC-40 - Dec 21, 2015 - UPDATES (Read 382311 times)

ugordan · « **Reply #640 on:** 01/08/2016 06:43 PM »

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January 8, 2016

Here is an update on the status of ORBCOMM’s 11 OG2 satellites. SpaceX put us within a fraction of a degree in inclination and 5 kilometers in altitude of the intended orbit. Credit to SpaceX on a second nearly flawless launch! The satellites separated from the Falcon 9 launch vehicle seamlessly, and the solar panels and antennas deployed as expected. Within just over an hour after launch, all 11 satellites established connectivity at ORBCOMM’s Gateway Earth Stations around the world.

We have made significant progress on our launch operations over the past couple of weeks. Our joint effort with Sierra Nevada Corporation to perform In-Orbit Testing (IOT) on the OG2 satellites is going very well, which is a testament to the hard work and dedication of both teams. The IOT team completed the satellite bus testing at the end of December, which was ahead of schedule, and we are already more than half way done with the initial payload testing. We have begun propulsion maneuvers to separate the satellites into their orbital planes; they are currently about 4,000 miles apart when measured from “tip to tail” (from the front satellite to the back satellite). Next, we will focus on communications testing.

Overall, the satellites are operating as expected, and we are extremely pleased with the milestones we have achieved for this mission to date. At the current pace, we expect to provide nearly full commercial service for M2M messaging and AIS services to our customers by the end of the first quarter.

http://blog.orbcomm.com/orbcomm-og2-mission-2-launch-update/

Eagandale4114 · « **Reply #641 on:** 01/12/2016 05:09 PM »

Launch and landing video feature

Ohsin · « **Reply #642 on:** 01/13/2016 03:00 PM »

Can't confirm if this one was indeed taken on its way to SLC-40 but it is a new image of recovered stage. Posted 20hrs ago.

Thanks to Instagram user sunrisesurfer2

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#falcon9 on the way for another #staticfire test on Thursday after a successful landing after last launch.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BAc5TtDBM8e/

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #643 on:** 01/14/2016 02:30 PM »

As noted in the OG2 discussion thread, in the future we'll have a dedicated thread tracking returned cores. Let's continue to chat in the discussion thread and continue to only use this one for actual updates....such as:

Mid-afternoon is the target for the firing today (remember, Static Fires are fluid targets anyway, but mid-afternoon ish is what I'm told).

terryy · « **Reply #644 on:** 01/14/2016 11:36 PM »

Found these pictures on Instagram of the returned Falcon 9 first stage upright at SLC-40:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BAgKlpqThVv/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BAfiYwJgmn4/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BAfh61ugmm9/

MarekCyzio · « **Reply #645 on:** 01/15/2016 03:45 PM »

Weather is getting really ugly, lightning strike inside CCAFS:

rdale · « **Reply #646 on:** 01/15/2016 03:52 PM »

No lightning inside CCAFS as of now = the closest strikes have been east of Daytona. Strong winds likely with the line as it comes through.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #647 on:** 01/15/2016 10:48 PM »

There will be an attempt shortly. If you're in the area over the next hour or so, point your eyes and ears in the direction of SLC-40. Yesterday's scrub wasn't the rocket's fault. A scrub is a scrub, but it's worth noting this returned core hasn't done anything wrong, per one of the goals of this test (the goal of eventual reuse/re-fly - not that this stage is going to re-fly).

Toastmastern · « **Reply #648 on:** 01/16/2016 12:20 AM »

Complete according to someone at Jason-3 conferance, even Hans didn't know

Hope the one yelling had a clue at least

ugordan · « **Reply #649 on:** 01/16/2016 12:20 AM »

Hans Koenigsmann during Jason-3 briefing just now said that the static fire was performed.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #650 on:** 01/16/2016 12:22 AM »

Quote from: ugordan on 01/16/2016 12:20 AM

Hans Koenigsmann during Jason-3 briefing just now said that the static fire was performed.

They were looking at a 8pm Eastern T-0, so it fits! I'm not on the webcast, I assume he specifically said the returned OG2 core?

Toastmastern · « **Reply #651 on:** 01/16/2016 12:24 AM »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 01/16/2016 12:22 AM

Quote from: ugordan on 01/16/2016 12:20 AM
Hans Koenigsmann during Jason-3 briefing just now said that the static fire was performed.

They were looking at a 8pm Eastern T-0, so it fits! I'm not on the webcast, I assume he specifically said the returned OG2 core?

He got a question regarding the stage-1 and said that it was put through a static fire but that he didn't know the status. I guess some other SpaceX guy in the back did cause someone yelled that it went well

ugordan · « **Reply #652 on:** 01/16/2016 12:24 AM »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 01/16/2016 12:22 AM

They were looking at a 8pm Eastern T-0, so it fits! I'm not on the webcast, I assume he specifically said the returned OG2 core?

Yes. He didn't know the current status himself, but someone in the room told him it had just been completed and "went very well".

yg1968 · « **Reply #653 on:** 01/16/2016 12:25 AM »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 01/16/2016 12:22 AM

Quote from: ugordan on 01/16/2016 12:20 AM
Hans Koenigsmann during Jason-3 briefing just now said that the static fire was performed.

They were looking at a 8pm Eastern T-0, so it fits! I'm not on the webcast, I assume he specifically said the returned OG2 core?

Yes they asked for an update on the static fire of the recovered first stage. But it was a guy in the audience that said that.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #654 on:** 01/16/2016 12:27 AM »

Brilliant!

Article in work!

RAN · « **Reply #655 on:** 01/16/2016 12:40 AM »

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/688173528017850368

"Conducted hold-down firing of returned Falcon rocket. Data looks good overall, but engine 9 showed thrust fluctuations."

Rebel44 · « **Reply #656 on:** 01/16/2016 12:49 AM »

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/688175650570547202

Elon Musk ‏@elonmusk · 2m2 minutes ago
Maybe some debris ingestion. Engine data looks ok. Will borescope tonight. This is one of the outer engines.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #657 on:** 01/16/2016 01:03 AM »

Short article

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/01/spacex-fire-up-falcon-9-first-stage-slc-40/

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #658 on:** 01/16/2016 09:18 PM »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 01/16/2016 01:03 AM

Short article

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/01/spacex-fire-up-falcon-9-first-stage-slc-40/

An addition to the article based on hands on data observation passed on to us, and mass confusion and a lot of flapping about a non-official video.....the static fire burn was just shy of two seconds.

ugordan · « **Reply #659 on:** 01/18/2016 06:28 PM »

The stage is back at LC-39A. Credit to @SpaceKSCBlog