Author Topic: LIVE: SpaceX Falcon 9 - SES-9 - SLC-40 - March 4, 2016 - UPDATES (Read 399491 times)

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #40 on:** 02/24/2016 12:36 pm »

Awesome feature article for the mission, by William Graham:

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/02/spacex-falcon9-ses-9-launch/

--

And a reminder, again - this is the update only/launch thread. Discussion goes in the discussion thread. Crazy, I know!

Also, ensure you are logged into the forum during the event. If we become swamped, we'll remove "guest" access for a short while to keep the place running smoothly.

Rocket Science · « **Reply #41 on:** 02/24/2016 01:49 pm »

WX update:

http://mobile.globalair.com/airport/airport/weather.aspx?aptcode=XMR&display=currentweather

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #42 on:** 02/24/2016 03:42 pm »

Quote

Matthew Travis ‏@MatthewBTravis 3m3 minutes ago

I've just left #SLC40 after setting cameras for @SpaceX #Falcon9 launch of #SES9

https://twitter.com/MatthewBTravis/status/702532936013369344

Edit: here's another view from @scriptunasphoto, let's hope the clouds improve!

https://twitter.com/scriptunasphoto/status/702526876225556480

kona314 · « **Reply #43 on:** 02/24/2016 04:02 pm »

Latest forecast from the 45th is keeping weather at 60% GO: http://www.patrick.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070716-028.pdf

Ohsin · « **Reply #44 on:** 02/24/2016 05:37 pm »

From SpaceX Flickr

Lee Jay · « **Reply #45 on:** 02/24/2016 05:43 pm »

http://www.patrick.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070716-028.pdf

Vehicle: Falcon 9 SES-9
Issued: 24 Feb 2016 / 1630 UTC (1130 EST)

Synoptic Discussion: The strong surface cold front is currently pushing through the Central Florida, and should be clear of the Space Coast by early afternoon. Some clouds may linger longer than the rain and winds will remain gusty. The main weather threats for launch are gusty surface winds and thick clouds during the launch window. Maximum upper-level winds are from the west at 110 knots near 40,000 feet.

On Thursday, skies will continue to clear as brisk winds bring much colder air to the Space Coast. Winds will decrease near sunset as high pressure builds in. The primary weather concern is strong winds remaining through the launch window. Maximum winds will be westerly at 125 knots near 42,000 feet.

Launch day probability of violating launch weather constraints: 40%
Primary concern(s): Liftoff Winds, Thick Cloud Layer Rule

24-hour delay probability of violating launch weather constraints: 20%
Primary concern(s): Liftoff Winds

jacqmans · « **Reply #46 on:** 02/24/2016 08:05 pm »

SES-9 READY FOR LAUNCH ON FALCON 9 FROM CAPE CANAVERAL

24 Feb 2016

LUXEMBOURG/ CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA, 24 February 2016 -- SES S.A. (NYSE Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) announced today that its SES-9 satellite is ready to be launched tonight on a Falcon 9 rocket from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. The launch window opens today at 6:46:14 pm East Coast time (0:46:14 am on 25 February Central European Time). The spacecraft will be deployed approximately 31 minutes after lift-off. SES-9 will use a chemical bi-propellant thruster to complete major post- launch maneuvers. An electric propulsion system will complete the journey to its orbit at 36,000 kilometers above the Equator. The on-orbit maneuvering throughout the 15 year nominal lifetime of the satellite will be done by electric propulsion.

SES-9 is SES’s largest satellite to serve the Asia-Pacific region. It will provide unrivalled and significant expansion capacity to serve the buoyant and fast-growing video, enterprise, mobility and government sectors across Northeast Asia, South Asia, India, Indonesia and the Philippines. SES-9 will be co-located with another SES satellite, SES-7, at the prime orbital location of 108.2 degrees East, and will replace the NSS-11 spacecraft at that position. SES-9 was built by Boeing Satellite Systems International.

Watch the launch live: www.spacex.com/webcast

More information on the launch and the spacecraft:
SES factsheet: www.ses.com/ses-9-factsheet
SpaceX factsheet: www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/spacex_ses9_press_kit_final.pdf

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #47 on:** 02/24/2016 09:37 pm »

Just over 50 minutes to the webcast.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #48 on:** 02/24/2016 10:10 pm »

All on track. Will be heading into fueling soon. Bill Harwood is a space journalism God, thus why I'm adding his tweets here:

William Harwood ‏@cbs_spacenews 2m2 minutes ago
F9/SES9: High ground winds could be an issue, but cloud cover appears to be thinning out

William Harwood ‏@cbs_spacenews 3m3 minutes ago
F9/SES9: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the SES-9 comsat is set for launch at 6:46:14pm EST; the window closes at 8:23pm

tleski · « **Reply #49 on:** 02/24/2016 10:13 pm »

scrub

SpaceflightNow: SCRUB. #Falcon9 launch with the SES 9 communications satellite delayed until Thursday night https://t.co/oG7a96xEwk https://t.co/dg48LXBcnf

NovaSilisko · « **Reply #50 on:** 02/24/2016 10:14 pm »

SFN and Jeff Foust are reporting a scrub on twitter?

CorvusCorax · « **Reply #51 on:** 02/24/2016 10:16 pm »

confirmed by spacex twitter

Team opting to hold launch for today. Looking to try again tomorrow; window also opens at 6:46pm ET. Rocket and spacecraft remain healthy.

The_Ronin · « **Reply #52 on:** 02/24/2016 10:16 pm »

SpaceX twitter confirms

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #53 on:** 02/24/2016 10:16 pm »

That's pre-prop loading.

SpaceX Statement:

Team opting to hold launch for today. Looking to try again tomorrow; window also opens at 6:46pm ET. Rocket and spacecraft remain healthy.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #54 on:** 02/24/2016 11:48 pm »

And the specific reason:

SpaceX:

"Out of an abundance of caution, the team opted to hold launch for today to ensure liquid oxygen temperatures are as cold as possible in an effort to maximize performance of the vehicle. SpaceX is now targeting tomorrow, Thursday Feb. 25, at 6:46pm ET for launch of SES-9"

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #55 on:** 02/25/2016 09:57 am »

The 45th updated their weather forecast last night and now say less than 5% chance of launch rule violations today (liftoff winds being the only concern)

Edit: my bad, xtc is correct - it's still 20% today and < 5% tomorrow if there's a further 24 hour delay.

xtc · « **Reply #56 on:** 02/25/2016 03:10 pm »

Quote from: FutureSpaceTourist on 02/25/2016 09:57 am

The 45th updated their weather forecast last night and now say less than 5% chance of launch rule violations today (liftoff winds being the only concern)

That's for a 24 hour delay of today's mission. The pdf was updated after the scrub yesterday, and today's forecast has remained at 20% violation chance since the original forecast.

Lee Jay · « **Reply #57 on:** 02/25/2016 04:04 pm »

Since some people have had trouble reading pdf's in the past, especially with mobile devices, I'll post the weather text here.

http://www.patrick.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070716-028.pdf

Vehicle: Falcon 9 SES-9
Issued: 24 Feb 2016 / 2330 UTC (1830 EST)

Synoptic Discussion: Clouds will diminish and winds will turn more northerly as the through the night as cold air filters into Central Florida. On Thursday sunny skies will prevail as brisk ground winds bring much colder air to the Space Coast. Winds will decrease near sunset as high pressure builds in making the primary weather concern strong ground winds remaining through the launch window. Maximum winds will be westerly at 125 knots near 42,000 feet. On Friday high pressure continues to work its way east keeping skies virtually clear and further diminishing ground winds. Maximum upper-level winds will be from the west at 115 knots at 35,000 feet.

Launch day probability of violating launch weather constraints: 20%
Primary concern(s): Liftoff Winds

24-hour delay probability of violating launch weather constraints: <5%
Primary concern(s): Liftoff Winds

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #58 on:** 02/25/2016 06:17 pm »

Realigned for launch day attempt 2.

To clarify (based on what the guys at the sharp end have been saying - L2) High winds were a problem for both fly out and onboard LOX temps for overall performance. So that's the synergy with winds and performance.

This second attempt has lower winds expected and lower ambient temps - which helps both of the above.

As always, this is update only. Discussion Thread for....err discussion

docmordrid · « **Reply #59 on:** 02/25/2016 08:34 pm »

@SpaceX
Weather for today's launch attempt at 80% go, though upper level winds and ground level winds remain watch items. https://t.co/PM0vnDGuq3