Author Topic: SpaceX Falcon 9 - Iridium NEXT - Jan 14, 2017 (17:54 UTC)- UPDATES (Read 224196 times)

Lee Jay · « **Reply #200 on:** 01/14/2017 05:34 pm »

Roughly T+52:30 for S2 restart.

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #201 on:** 01/14/2017 05:36 pm »

T+40 minutes. The world has rotated 180 degrees. The stage is now heading to the top left of the picture. South Africa is to the left.

ZachS09 · « **Reply #202 on:** 01/14/2017 05:37 pm »

Not sure if the second stage is performing a barbecue roll maneuver or not. It has RCS jets, so it could be possible.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #203 on:** 01/14/2017 05:38 pm »

Into penguin territory.

envy887 · « **Reply #204 on:** 01/14/2017 05:39 pm »

S2 is feet wet over the Indian Ocean.

ZachS09 · « **Reply #205 on:** 01/14/2017 05:39 pm »

The venting and running water noises have stopped on the Technical Webcast. Obviously very quiet on the Countdown Net.

You know, something's telling me that they've been doing less callouts for the Full Thrust config than the v1.1 config. I mean, the altitude, downrange distance, and velocity are not read out loud.

ZachS09 · « **Reply #206 on:** 01/14/2017 05:41 pm »

Troll LOS expected.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #207 on:** 01/14/2017 05:41 pm »

A bit premature, but still....

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
From: 30th Space Wing Public Affairs, www.vandenberg.af.mil

FALCON 9 LAUNCH SUCCESS

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - Team Vandenberg supported the
successful launch of the Iridium NEXT satellite on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket
from Space Launch Complex-4 here Saturday, Jan. 14, at 9:54 a.m. PST.

Col. J. Christopher Moss, 30th Space Wing Commander, was the Launch Decision
Authority.

"Team Vandenberg takes pride in supporting the launch of Iridium NEXT and
SpaceX's return to flight," said Moss. "Today's launch is a testament to the
professionalism and commitment to mission assurance, public safety, and
mission success on the Western Range."

Iridium NEXT will replace the world's largest commercial satellite network
of low-earth orbit satellites in what will be one of the largest "tech
upgrades" in history. Iridium has partnered with Thales Alenia Space for the
manufacturing, assembly and testing of 81 Iridium NEXT satellites, at least
70 of which will be launched by SpaceX. The process of replacing the
satellites one-by-one in a constellation of this size and scale has never
been completed before.

- 30 -

Contact information for 30th Space Wing Public Affairs

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #208 on:** 01/14/2017 05:42 pm »

T+45 minutes. We've now left Antarctica. Africa is to the bottom left with Madagascar above it. We should be in darkness. I can still hear very quiet venting on the Technical webcast.

ZachS09 · « **Reply #209 on:** 01/14/2017 05:42 pm »

Under five minutes to the second stage restart.

Make sure to hold your applause until the 10th and final satellite is deployed.

ZachS09 · « **Reply #210 on:** 01/14/2017 05:44 pm »

South Africa AOS.

ZachS09 · « **Reply #211 on:** 01/14/2017 05:45 pm »

Vehicle remains on a precise trajectory.

Altitude 619 kilometers, velocity 7409 meters per second.

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #212 on:** 01/14/2017 05:46 pm »

T+50 minutes. Mauritius AOS. Two minutes 31 seconds to engine start. Burn is only three seconds.

ZachS09 · « **Reply #213 on:** 01/14/2017 05:46 pm »

T+51 minutes. There are two rocketcams looking at the M-Vac engine, positioned 180 degrees apart, and one more looking forward at the payloads.

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #214 on:** 01/14/2017 05:47 pm »

1 minute to engine start.

ZachS09 · « **Reply #215 on:** 01/14/2017 05:47 pm »

T+52 minutes. Standing by for the second stage restart. This last burn will have a duration of only 3 seconds.

Altitude 626 kilometers, velocity 7402 meters per second.

ZachS09 · « **Reply #216 on:** 01/14/2017 05:47 pm »

And there's second stage restart and SECO-2. Both events looked good. Powered flight is complete.

ZachS09 · « **Reply #217 on:** 01/14/2017 05:48 pm »

Starting at 59 minutes, 16 seconds and ending at 74 minutes, 16 seconds; the Iridium-NEXT satellites will be deployed from the second stage. It's a 15-minute process in which each satellite will be released every 90 seconds.

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #218 on:** 01/14/2017 05:48 pm »

MVAC ignition and shutdown!

ZachS09 · « **Reply #219 on:** 01/14/2017 05:48 pm »

The second stage's Burn 2 was nominal.