SpaceX F9 : Nusantara Satu (PSN VI)/GTO-1/SpaceIL : Feb. 21/22, 2019: Discussion

[LouScheffer]

I get an apogee of 69,200 km.  Cutoff at 36423 km/hr, altitude 221 km, in the rotating earth reference frame (since speed was 0 at launch).  So assuming 27 degree inclination, we vector add the Earth's rotational speed to get 10547 m/s in inertial frame.   And if you are going that speed at 221 km, your apogee will be 69,200 km.

[mme]

....

Oh wow, didn’t know they called off Mr. Stevens.

Also it was the "hottest" reentry to date.

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1098767597858779136

[docmordrid]

Forbes is already playing the lunar angle

https://www.forbes.com/sites/elizabethhowell1/2019/02/21/lunar-launch-boosts-spacex-into-new-sphere-of-business/#92d3c5616b63

Lunar Launch Boosts SpaceX Into New Sphere of Business
>

[FinalFrontier]

Per Elon on Twitter this booster will be used for dragon abort test. This was her last full flight.

[ATPTourFan]

Not long. Usually they do some quick clean-up edits and post the fully listed video shortly after close of webcast.

[Alexphysics]

Why were they saying tonight’s landing was going to be the most challenging to date? Once on the drone ship the seas seemed very calm and skies looked clear?

They were talking about reentry and not landing per se. Weather was not cooperating but they have landed boosters on far worse weather conditions. However a hotter reentry environment would explain why they talked about "hottest reentry" ever.

Remember landing =/= reentry

And that's why the entire process is usually called EDL: Entry, Descent and Landing.

[jcm]

I get an apogee of 69,200 km.  Cutoff at 36423 km/hr, altitude 221 km, in the rotating earth reference frame (since speed was 0 at launch).  So assuming 27 degree inclination, we vector add the Earth's rotational speed to get 10547 m/s in inertial frame.   And if you are going that speed at 221 km, your apogee will be 69,200 km.

Confirmed, TLEs show 69036 km apogee.

[catdlr]

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine comments in this press release doesn't even mentioned SpaceX...SAD!. 

[MechE31]

The ablative shield previously known as engine? Another great euphemism, ad-hoc ablative.

I'd worry more about the parts that don't get intentionally and repeatedly lit on fire.

Take away fuel film cooling on the engines and you might be surprised...

[LouScheffer]

I get an apogee of 69,200 km.  Cutoff at 36423 km/hr, altitude 221 km, in the rotating earth reference frame (since speed was 0 at launch).  So assuming 27 degree inclination, we vector add the Earth's rotational speed to get 10547 m/s in inertial frame.   And if you are going that speed at 221 km, your apogee will be 69,200 km.

Confirmed, TLEs show 69036 km apogee.

I get about 1615 m/s deficit to get to GEO.

[haywoodfloyd]

Forbes is already playing the lunar angle

https://www.forbes.com/sites/elizabethhowell1/2019/02/21/lunar-launch-boosts-spacex-into-new-sphere-of-business/#92d3c5616b63

Lunar Launch Boosts SpaceX Into New Sphere of Business
>

Good article but it's too bad that she forgot to include China in the list of countries that have landed on the moon.

[soltasto]

I get an apogee of 69,200 km.  Cutoff at 36423 km/hr, altitude 221 km, in the rotating earth reference frame (since speed was 0 at launch).  So assuming 27 degree inclination, we vector add the Earth's rotational speed to get 10547 m/s in inertial frame.   And if you are going that speed at 221 km, your apogee will be 69,200 km.

Confirmed, TLEs show 69036 km apogee.

I get about 1615 m/s deficit to get to GEO.

I get similar numbers too, in particular:

2019-009A/44048 in 260 x 69036 km x 27.55° -> GTO-1605
2019-009B/44049 in 242 x 68845 km x 27.56° -> GTO-1606
2019-009C/44050 in 256 x 68808 km x 27.60° -> GTO-1606

[Ben the Space Brit]

Just out of interest, if SpaceIL had the money to buy lone payload status, could the Falcon-9 have sent Beresheet on to any kind of lunar transfer orbit without needing further apogee increasing burns?

[Lar]

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine comments in this press release doesn't even mentioned SpaceX...SAD!. 

Maybe no mention because  SpaceX was just the ride? In that case, it's progress? But who knows .

[envy887]

Just out of interest, if SpaceIL had the money to buy lone payload status, could the Falcon-9 have sent Beresheet on to any kind of lunar transfer orbit without needing further apogee increasing burns?

Yes. According to LSP's website, F9 can send 1865 kg to TLI (C3 of -1.1 km²/s²) and still RTLS the booster. Beresheet is only 600 kg.

[ZachS09]

How did Nusantara Satu’s mass change from 4,735 kilograms to 4,100 kilograms?

I thought that the source where I got the first mass reading (Gunter’s Space Page) was right.

[PM3]

How did Nusantara Satu’s mass change from 4,735 kilograms to 4,100 kilograms?

I thought that the source where I got the first mass reading (Gunter’s Space Page) was right.

4.735 kg is about the total payload mass of Nusantara Satu + Beresheet + S5. This number was listed on the PSN website: https://web.archive.org/web/20190114044351/https://psn.co.id/nsatu/

Meanwhile they fixed that.

[gongora]

How did Nusantara Satu’s mass change from 4,735 kilograms to 4,100 kilograms?

I thought that the source where I got the first mass reading (Gunter’s Space Page) was right.

Gunter is not omniscient (although it may seem so at times.)  Sometimes his numbers can be estimates or just outdated, or as has been mentioned in this case maybe the meaning of the initial numbers was unclear.  If you're ever poking around for information and find something recent that contradicts Gunter's info you can send him a link, he's "Skyrocket" on this forum.

[punder]

Some beautiful shots from this launch. Loved the fireworks. Looking forward to landing footage. Good luck to Beresheet!

Is this where I can congratulate SpaceX, SpaceIL, Israel, PSN, USAF, and did I mention SpaceX? 

[mn]

Perhaps we should have separate post launch mission threads for each payload?