Author Topic: LIVE: SpaceX Falcon 9 - SES-9 - SLC-40 - March 4, 2016 - UPDATES (Read 405699 times)

Chris Bergin · « **on:** 01/18/2016 01:09 pm »

UPDATE ONLY thread for Falcon 9 launch with SES-9. There won't be many posts in this thread until closer to the launch, but it provides a one stop status page with less than a month to go for a mission.

Target is Feb, after the Atlas V launch from SLC-40 at the Cape.

SES-9 DISCUSSION THREAD:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=34077.0

SES-9 Party Thread:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=39347.0

Additional Resources:

SpaceX News Articles from 2006 (Including numerous exclusive Elon interviews):
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=21862.0

SpaceX News Articles (Recent):
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/tag/spacex/

Dragon Articles:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/tag/dragon/

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SpaceX GENERAL Forum Section:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=45.0 - please use this for general questions NOT specific to this mission.

SpaceX MISSIONS Forum Section:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=55.0 - this section is for everything specific to SpaceX missions.

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L2 Members:

L2 SpaceX Section - A dedicated full section:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=55.0

L2 SES-9 Coverage
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=39345.0

nisse · « **Reply #1 on:** 01/19/2016 06:42 am »

Thanks Chris for the thread.

The spacecraft arrived to Florida on 10 December 2015
http://www.ses.com/6859799/news/2015/21833272

SES-9 has its own page.
http://www.ses.com/ses-9

SES-9 video presentation.

SES Twitter could perhaps also be useful
https://twitter.com/SES_Satellites

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #2 on:** 01/27/2016 07:20 pm »

Good enough to go in the update thread (but please copy to the other SES-9 threads):

There's industry level talk in L2 that points to this launch **possibly** moving to at least the second half of Feb. Totally unofficial, and it's always subject to change, but by now we should have info on "readiness days" for the Cape pads (which we get) and that provides a clue to milestones such as the Static Fire date. So the talk of it not being early Feb sounds like it has legs (no pun intended).

Of course, when I say "moving" to the right, there isn't an official launch date at this time (placeholder was Feb 6), so we'll see where this plays out. SpaceX don't provide running commentary on launch date targets, nor should they. Officially the path is after the Atlas V launch (which has also slipped a bit too - but that's not the impact on SES-9), but I wanted to pass on this info, regardless of it being unofficial, in case anyone has their browser open on BuyMeAPlaneTicketToNextSpaceXLaunch.com and was about to hit "purchase".

When we know more I'll pass it on.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #3 on:** 01/31/2016 08:45 pm »

Lots of people asking, so I need to post a really useless "we don't know realigned status" yet, which could mean there actually isn't any realigned status at this time.

We don't know how long (or short) the move to the right of Feb 6 this may become and for what confirmed/specific reasons (that's going to be SpaceX proprietary unless they go on record - usually via a tweet from Elon).

Because SpaceX isn't talking about it, that leaves the alternate route of the company's customers passing info they've been told down their respective lines and - per the rule of more and more people "knowing" - that's when the outside (certainly not just us) get to hear things. However, there's currently a wide variance on the potential launch date realignment too, so not much use per providing an update.

The moment we see a confirmed or documented realignment of the flow to launch, I'll be posting it in this thread. I know how a lot of people make travel plans to see a launch, so I always try and turn such info around ASAP, as opposed to "give me an hour to write an article, then you'll know".

Also, I suspect SES may make a statement first. I know SpaceX tend to give the customer right of passage per providing milestones (like Orbcomm with the Static Fire, etc).

Bottom line is we're going to have to be patient and respect there's clever people in Hawthorne doing what they do to get Falcon 9's on to the pad and launching (and landing) and we'll know soon enough when need to pack the servers in ice ahead of the internet craziness that is launch day.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #4 on:** 02/01/2016 11:58 am »

SpaceNews with the same situation. No one knows, not even SES - and SpaceX isn't talking about it.

http://spacenews.com/delays-in-spacex-falcon-9-upgrade-schedule-raises-concerns/

Prober · « **Reply #5 on:** 02/01/2016 05:36 pm »

Look for some information leakage prior to the
2015 Full Year Results Announcement scheduled 26 February 2016

http://www.ses.com/3929417/financial-calendar

Edit: add pdf on SES-9 & 10

Kryten · « **Reply #6 on:** 02/03/2016 06:04 pm »

Quote

Jeff Foust ‏@jeff_foust 2m2 minutes ago
Shotwell said after her talk SpaceX planning to launch SES-9 in next couple of weeks, then do launches every few weeks thereafter this year.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #7 on:** 02/07/2016 06:12 pm »

Status (just for those watching the one stop update thread).

If we are just a few weeks away from SES-9, we will be seeing a Static Fire date on the a Cape/KSC schedule (L2) this coming week. That should also provide a launch date NET (or at least a planning date).

That will result in an article, but as noted - when we know, you'll know as we can appreciate people are planning around going to the launch. So I'll update in here and then write it up.

DanseMacabre · « **Reply #8 on:** 02/08/2016 07:21 am »

Press release from SES via BusinessWire: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160208005441/en/

Select Quotes:

Quote

In order to minimise the impact of moving the launch from late last year, SpaceX is supporting a mission modification. The changed mission will reduce the time needed for SES-9 to reach its orbital slot, keeping the Operational Service Date (OSD) in the third quarter of 2016, as previously foreseen.

Quote

LUXEMBOURG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SES S.A. (NYSE Paris:SESG) (LuxX:SESG) announced today that it is targeting a 24 February 2016 launch date (with a backup date of the 25th) for its new satellite, SES-9. This date was mutually set by SES and the launch operator for SES-9, SpaceX

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Chris Note: That is the press release. It will be on various links, but we only need the above one.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #9 on:** 02/08/2016 07:16 pm »

Article to mark the Feb 24 date.
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/02/spacex-prepares-ses-9-mission-dragons-return/

IntoTheVoid · « **Reply #10 on:** 02/09/2016 01:14 pm »

SFN reporting 6:46pm EST launch window.

Quote

The Falcon 9’s launch window Feb. 24 opens at 6:46 p.m. EST (2346 GMT).

http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/02/09/ses-says-spacex-will-launch-its-satellite-in-late-february/

science_business · « **Reply #11 on:** 02/10/2016 01:01 am »

http://spacenews.com/ses-applauds-spacexs-willingness-to-sacrifice-falcon-9-first-stage-recovery-for-main-satelilte-mission/

jacqmans · « **Reply #12 on:** 02/12/2016 08:28 am »

Johnnyhinbos · « **Reply #13 on:** 02/14/2016 12:12 pm »

Air Force 45th Space Wing has green lighted the SES-9 mission. Window starting at 6:46pm EST on the 24th.

http://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2016/02/13/spacex-aims-for-drone-ship-landing-falcon9-ses9-launch-cape-canaveral-air-force-station/80339842/

jacqmans · « **Reply #14 on:** 02/15/2016 01:13 pm »

Raul · « **Reply #15 on:** 02/17/2016 06:38 am »

F9-022 SES-9 Hazard areas
https://goo.gl/VQKBXz

SES-9 barge position 662km downrange
FCC APPLICATION: https://goo.gl/up13ae

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #16 on:** 02/18/2016 02:17 pm »

The L2 Cape schedule has shown Saturday as the static fire date (always subject to change, but that's the plan), so if anyone's out for a Saturday stroll within eye/camera shot of SLC-40...look out for a F9 on the pad.

DatUser14 · « **Reply #17 on:** 02/20/2016 12:15 pm »

I think this is a relevant update for all the people who only read the cohesive updates thread, if not remove it.

As noted in the ASDS thread, OCISLY left port yesterday under tow of Elsbeth III.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #18 on:** 02/20/2016 01:23 pm »

ASDS is certainly relevant as an update. Further updates are - and continue to be - in the latest ASDS thread:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=36326.5980 - Heh, 1.25 million views for just that thread? Blimey!

Anyhoo:

Today is still the first Static Fire opportunity. We'll know if they are going for it in stages, starting with activity at the SLC-40 HIF, followed by rollout, followed by venting and then the "cloud" of the Merlin 1Ds firing up. These firings are usually followed via visual observations as SpaceX only tweet it's happened a few hours after the event.

Caveats as per usual - but worth noting for new people:

They don't have to go for it today (be it weather, or a delay in the flow, etc.)

Firing the engines does not automatically mean the Static Fire is in the bag. Has to be full power, for the full static fire duration (couple of seconds). They have recycled the test before after firing, for example.

Data review and LRR follow.

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Update 2: Not happening today.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #19 on:** 02/20/2016 05:30 pm »

Updated status: Static Fire aiming for Monday. Launch Wednesday.