SpaceX Falcon 9 : Intelsat 35e : July 5, 2017 : DISCUSSION

[gongora]

Does anyone know where Intelsat 35e is being processed, and where BulgariaSat-1 was processed?  Previous fast turnarounds both involved CRS missions, and it was suggested that allowed the quick turnaround because different facilities are used for processing.  If one of these payloads was/is being processed at AstroTech, for example, that might enable the quick turnaround, where if SpaceX was processing both at the same facility, that would prevent it.

SpaceX has two payload processing facilities at CCAFS (one is at pad 40).

[Jim]

Does anyone know where Intelsat 35e is being processed, and where BulgariaSat-1 was processed?  Previous fast turnarounds both involved CRS missions, and it was suggested that allowed the quick turnaround because different facilities are used for processing.  If one of these payloads was/is being processed at AstroTech, for example, that might enable the quick turnaround, where if SpaceX was processing both at the same facility, that would prevent it.

SpaceX has two payload processing facilities at CCAFS (one is at pad 40).

actually 3 if you call the refurbished east bay of the SMAB a separate facility.

[abaddon]

actually 3 if you call the refurbished east bay of the SMAB a separate facility.

That's where Dragon is processed?

[Tomness]

Does anyone know where Intelsat 35e is being processed, and where BulgariaSat-1 was processed?  Previous fast turnarounds both involved CRS missions, and it was suggested that allowed the quick turnaround because different facilities are used for processing.  If one of these payloads was/is being processed at AstroTech, for example, that might enable the quick turnaround, where if SpaceX was processing both at the same facility, that would prevent it.

SpaceX has two payload processing facilities at CCAFS (one is at pad 40).

actually 3 if you call the refurbished east bay of the SMAB a separate facility.

Two bays at smab & 1 at LC-40, they are building a dragon processing facility at Landing Complex 1(LC-13)?

[ZachF]

That launch cadence though....

[Lar]

SpaceX has no reason to slow down production.  The blocks have been planned in advance, and Block 4 production should be well under way by now.  Gwynne said it was hard ramping up from a half dozen cores a year to 20, and I believe her.  They have to ramp up production of tanks, engines, composite parts (fairings and interstages), flight computers, etc.  They just aren't able yet to produce enough rockets to really clear out the backlog of payloads.  They'll get there (as long as there aren't any more accidents soon.)

Strongly agree with this. I can't seem them slowing down after clawing their way to this production rate. Momentum is a hard thing to retain and an easy thing to lose.

I rather would think they'll start using 3s for expendable missions. We have not yet seen a reused core deliberately expended..

But wait, what does this have to do with Intelsat 35e?

[intrepidpursuit]

SpaceX has no reason to slow down production.  The blocks have been planned in advance, and Block 4 production should be well under way by now.  Gwynne said it was hard ramping up from a half dozen cores a year to 20, and I believe her.  They have to ramp up production of tanks, engines, composite parts (fairings and interstages), flight computers, etc.  They just aren't able yet to produce enough rockets to really clear out the backlog of payloads.  They'll get there (as long as there aren't any more accidents soon.)

Strongly agree with this. I can't seem them slowing down after clawing their way to this production rate. Momentum is a hard thing to retain and an easy thing to lose.

I rather would think they'll start using 3s for expendable missions. We have not yet seen a reused core deliberately expended..

But wait, what does this have to do with Intelsat 35e?

Gwynne said it takes a little more than a year to build a Falcon 9, so if a Block 5 is flying before the end of the year, it is already in production, meaning they already know how many Block 3 and Block 4 vehicles they will have. She also said will build more than 20 this year, which I assume means they will complete more than 20.

I'm sure that part of the push for finding customers for reuse now is to determine the build rate for Block 5 first stages. I'm sure for now it is just "as fast as we can" based on the manifest and upcoming CC tests that will require them.

What this has to do with Intelsat is that it seems likely it will be the last Block 3 based on the statement that Block 4 will be flying very soon. It would make sense that a block change would result in a blip in production rate. Although I guess that applies more to the next launch than this one...

[FlightSpare]

Hopefully there aren't too many Block 3s in stock, because the advent of Block 4s and 5s will push the 3s into a smaller and smaller niche. Why fly a Block 3 expendable when a Block 4 or 5 can fly reusable, and why fly a Block 3 ASDS when a Block 4 or 5 can RTLS on the same flight (or also ASDS, and be cheaper/faster to refurbish)? A warehouse full of Block 3s will soon become a rapidly depreciating asset.

Maybe 3s will fly expendable missions when the Drone Ship isn't available for Block 4/5 ASDS (already carrying one back to port, high flight rate), or "easy" CRS missions (which Block 3 can RTLS with margin), or other light LEO payloads. How many more viable/"future proof" flight profiles are there for Block 3?

[hkultala]

Hopefully there aren't too many Block 3s in stock, because the advent of Block 4s and 5s will push the 3s into a smaller and smaller niche. Why fly a Block 3 expendable when a Block 4 or 5 can fly reusable, and why fly a Block 3 ASDS when a Block 4 or 5 can RTLS on the same flight (or also ASDS, and be cheaper/faster to refurbish)? A warehouse full of Block 3s will soon become a rapidly depreciating asset.

1) Because there are payloads where even block 3 has enough payload with RTLS. This should include all CRS flights. And they can upgrade their block 3 stages into block 3 + titanium fin configuration.

2) Because customer may want to use a brand new rocket

3) Because for high energy missions, expendable block 3 will very probably have higher payload than block 4 barge, and barge block 3 will very probably have higher payload than block 4 RTLS

[StuffOfInterest]

If this launch goes off on July 2nd, and considering that the last launch from LC-39A was on June 23rd, where will that place this launch on the list for fast turnaround of the pad?  Nine days seems very fast.

Interestingly, after this launch, it looks like there is over a month wait until the next one.  Was there a holdup in boosters or payloads for such a long break?

[smoliarm]

...

Interestingly, after this launch, it looks like there is over a month wait until the next one.  Was there a holdup in boosters or payloads for such a long break?

There will be scheduled Eastern Range maintenance after the holidays. IIRC, it will take three weeks. No launches when the Range is down.
After that there is ULA launch (TDRS, Aug 3).

[spacenut]

Has this mission been rescheduled?  Is July 2nd still on?

[Chris Bergin]

Has this mission been rescheduled?  Is July 2nd still on?

Yes, but always subject to change.

[deruch]

Has this mission been rescheduled?  Is July 2nd still on?

Yes, but always subject to change.

The SpaceX ground crew must absolutely love LC-39A.

[Semmel]

There will be scheduled Eastern Range maintenance after the holidays. IIRC, it will take three weeks. No launches when the Range is down.

That explains the rush. Thank you!

(I say that a lot lately, somehow the fog clears a lot these days..)

[Wolfram66]

I wish NSF would do an in-depth story on exactly what is done during "Scheduled Range down time". Is it strictly range systems [electronics: Radar, FTS, telemetry...] or is it infrastructure: LOX, RP-1, LH, LHe transfer lines, water systems... etc. Just trying to wrap my head around what takes 3 weeks and can redundant parallel systems be brought on line rather than just shutting down the whole range.

thanks in advance

[IanThePineapple]

I wonder if they'll do any FH or Crew Dragon prep during the range downtime.

[cscott]

Probably they'll tear down some bits of the rotating service structure?

[IanThePineapple]

Probably they'll tear down some bits of the rotating service structure?

Probably

[Herb Schaltegger]

Preps for FH and Range downtime aren't really on-topic for this thread.