Author Topic: SpaceX Falcon 9 - Iridium NEXT - Jan 14, 2017 (17:54 UTC)- UPDATES (Read 224211 times)

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #41 on:** 01/08/2017 01:21 pm »

Matt Desch ‏@IridiumBoss 28m28 minutes ago
Can now confirm: new launch date Jan 14 at 9:54am pst. Bad weather the cause. Anti-rain dances didn't work - oh well. Cal needs rain?

https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/818093020369289216

--

The range issue - which is another (albeit less than the bad weather) issue - is an Atlas V doing a WDR next week ahead of a NROL mission that's upcoming after the Falcon 9 launch. WDRs need (and thus book) the range.

input~2 · « **Reply #42 on:** 01/10/2017 08:33 am »

EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
CALIFORNIA.
HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 141724Z TO 141838Z,
151719Z TO 151833Z AND 161713Z TO 161827Z JAN
IN AREAS BETWEEN:
A. 32-30N 29-20N AND 119-30W 121-40W.
B. 29-20N 24-40N AND 120-40W 120-20W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 161927Z JAN 17.//

Authority: WESTERN RANGE 080517Z JAN 17.

Date: 100319Z JAN 17
Cancel: 16192700 Jan 17

input~2 · « **Reply #43 on:** 01/10/2017 08:42 am »

SOUTH PACIFIC.
DNC 06, DNC 29.
HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 141946Z TO 142012Z,
151941Z TO 152007Z AND 161935Z TO 162001Z JAN
IN AREA BETWEEN
27-43S 73-06S AND 147-18W 138-54W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 162101Z JAN 17.//

Authority: WESTERN RANGE 080517Z JAN 17.

Date: 100319Z JAN 17
Cancel: 16210100 Jan 17

catdlr · « **Reply #44 on:** 01/11/2017 12:45 am »

Iridium NEXT Slot Swap

IridiumComm

Beittil · « **Reply #45 on:** 01/12/2017 12:48 pm »

Quote

Matt Desch
‏@IridiumBoss

Still a go for IridiumNEXT launch Saturday morning. High media interest: SpaceX & Iridium could be on CBS This Morning, Friday ~7:45am est!

https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/819528034189451264

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #46 on:** 01/12/2017 06:44 pm »

Quote

The #IridiumNEXT payload has been secured to the Falcon 9 rocket. T-2 days #NEXTevolution

https://twitter.com/iridiumcomm/status/819620255123312640

jpo234 · « **Reply #47 on:** 01/13/2017 01:15 pm »

CBS Interview with Gwynne Shotwell:

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #48 on:** 01/13/2017 04:08 pm »

Quote

Iridium’s Desch, in interview, says weather for tomorrow’s Falcon 9 launch at Vandenberg looks OK, gusty winds the only concern.

https://twitter.com/stephenclark1/status/819951416869527552

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #49 on:** 01/13/2017 05:48 pm »

Matt Desch ‏@IridiumBoss 7m7 minutes ago
Beautiful picture of our ride to space tomorrow on the launch pad this morning! #IridiumNEXT #SpaceX

tleski · « **Reply #50 on:** 01/13/2017 05:59 pm »

The Iridium press kit is up on the SpaceX website (also attached here):

http://www.spacex.com/press/2017/01/13/press-kit-iridium-1-mission

JoerTex · « **Reply #51 on:** 01/13/2017 06:55 pm »

The Iridium mission is now on the SpaceX webcast page. Mars with Elon is gone.

NaN · « **Reply #52 on:** 01/13/2017 07:04 pm »

Here are the two webcast links for tomorrow.

TECHNICAL

HOSTED

Ilikeboosterrockets · « **Reply #53 on:** 01/13/2017 08:46 pm »

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/820019798595682304

"Tracking ground wind for tomorrow's launch attempt of 10 @IridiumComm NEXT satellites. Weather overall 60% favorable"

~~I included the source image for the rocket picture. 2048x1364 pixels.~~

Edit: Higher resolution photos available on the SpaceX Flickr page now.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #54 on:** 01/13/2017 09:19 pm »

First 10 Iridium NEXT Satellites Are on the Launch Pad at Vandenberg Air Force Base

What: Iridium Communications, in partnership with SpaceX, is prepared to launch its first ten Iridium NEXT satellites tomorrow, January 14th, on the Falcon 9 rocket. The full payload and rocket have been transported to the launch pad and have completed their launch countdown dress rehearsal and final clearance, otherwise known as a “Launch Readiness Review.” This will be the first of seven Iridium launches on the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

Iridium NEXT is the company’s $3 billion next-generation mobile, global satellite constellation scheduled for completion in 2018. Iridium NEXT represents the evolution of critical communications infrastructure that governments and organizations worldwide rely upon to drive business, enable connectivity, empower disaster relief efforts and more. Iridium NEXT will introduce new services like the AireonSM space-based ADS-B aircraft surveillance and flight tracking network. The Iridium NEXT satellites are manufactured by Thales Alenia Space and assembled at Orbital ATK’s facility in Gilbert, Arizona.

When: Launch is Scheduled for, January 14th at 09:54:39 a.m. PST / 17:54:39 UTC

Who: Iridium Communications and SpaceX

Where: Vandenberg Air Force Base, California – SpaceX launch site
A live feed of the launch will be available starting twenty minutes prior to launch at: http://www.spacex.com/webcast

jacqmans · « **Reply #55 on:** 01/13/2017 09:58 pm »

FALCON 9 SCHEDULED TO LAUNCH FROM VANDENBERG

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Team Vandenberg is scheduled to launch 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.

As of Jan. 13, 12:39 p.m., FAA has removed the final conditions and authorized SpaceX to launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base.

Col. J. Christopher Moss, 30th Space Wing Commander, will be the launch decision authority.

"Vandenberg looks forward to the inaugural launch of Iridium NEXT and the return to flight for SpaceX," said Moss. "This is an exciting mission and we have worked closely with our mission partners at SpaceX to ensure a safe and successful launch."

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.

For questions about the booster please contact John Taylor, SpaceX director of marketing communications, at 202-649-2632.

For more information about the Iridium NEXT satellite, visit: www.iridium.com

Note To Editors:
Media planning to put remote cameras in place Friday, Jan. 13, should RSVP to Lt. William Collette at [email protected] no later than Friday, Jan. 13, at 2:30 p.m. The media escort will depart the Vandenberg Visitor Control Center main gate parking lot Friday, Jan. 13, at 3:00 p.m.

Media planning to cover the launch must RSVP to Lt. William Collette at [email protected] no later than Friday, Jan. 13, at 4:00 p.m. The media escort will depart the Vandenberg main base gate parking lot Saturday, Jan. 14, at 8:45 a.m.

Submit all RSVPs by 4:00 p.m., Friday, Jan. 13. Any names not on the RSVP list will not be allowed on base.

Contact information for 30th Space Wing Public Affairs

Commercial: (805) 606-3595
FAX: (805) 606-4571
DSN: (312) 276-3595

30 Space Wing Public Affairs
867 Washington Ave, Bldg. 12000
Vandenberg AFB, CA 93437

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #56 on:** 01/13/2017 10:25 pm »

Feature Article by William Graham!
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/01/spacex-return-to-flight-iridium-next-launch/

daveglo · « **Reply #57 on:** 01/14/2017 02:25 pm »

Launch weather forecast details from the 30th Space Wing at VAFB, posted yesterday:

LAUNCH WEATHER REPORT: High pressure will begin to build into the region Friday with generally fair weather expected leading up to Saturday’s launch attempt. High pressure will be the dominant feature through the count with lingering stratus from patchy fog overnight expected around 900 feet. Cooling overnight coupled with offshore flow will enhance winds early in the count that will taper off slightly as the morning progresses. This will result in northerly winds at 12 ‐ 18 knots with isolated 20 knot gusts possible by T‐0. Temperatures will range from 49 ‐ 54F and max upper‐level winds will e from the north at 90 knots from 30,000 to 34,000 feet. The overall POV will be 40% with Ground Winds being the only constraint of concern.

http://www.vandenberg.af.mil/Portals/18/documents/13%20Jan%20-%20Launch%20Weather.pdf?ver=2017-01-13-174947-383

Current weather appears favorable, winds are light at 6 at the moment, the sun has just risen.

ZachS09 · « **Reply #58 on:** 01/14/2017 02:54 pm »

L-2 hours and counting. The time now is 15:54:39 UTC, or 7:54:39 AM local time in Vandenberg Air Force Base. In less than an hour, the Falcon 9 will begin its fueling process, but there are some minor steps beforehand.

ZachS09 · « **Reply #59 on:** 01/14/2017 03:09 pm »

Now checking the Flight Termination System, which is used to detonate the Falcon 9 in the event of a catastrophic failure.