SpaceX F9 : Bangabandhu-1 : KSC 39A : May 11, 2018 : Discussion

[gongora]

Tweet from Peter Guggenbach:

Excited about an upcoming launch. The central tube (the main structure) for the #Bangabandhu Satellite-1 has been produced and delivered by RUAG in #Linköping. The #satellite is due for launch tomorrow

[Boost]

Why is the RP-1 loaded later than usual on block 5 ? -35min vs -1h10min for TESS or CRS-14 for instance.

[ZachS09]

Why is the RP-1 loaded later than usual on block 5 ? -35min vs -1h10min for TESS or CRS-14 for instance.

Because reverting back to the old "load-and-go" procedure gives the F9 better performance.

[JWC]

It has been mentioned that the 2nd stage is also block 5.  What upgrades are on the 2nd stage that makes it different from block 4?

[rockets4life97]

It has been mentioned that the 2nd stage is also block 5.  What upgrades are on the 2nd stage that makes it different from block 4?

COPVs for starters.

[Thor7]

Prees kit for Bangabandhu-1:

http://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/bangabandhupresskit5918.pdf

[gongora]

It has been mentioned that the 2nd stage is also block 5.  What upgrades are on the 2nd stage that makes it different from block 4?

It should have a new Block 5 engine (changes to the turbopump).

[WindyCity]

I think the webcast's a bit confuzzled. It's showing 'Live in 10 hours: 10 May 9:12' (British Summer Time). What's 12 hours between friends?

I wrote Chris B. about it. He says he has no idea why the time's, I love your word, confuzzled. Confused and fuzzy.

[Ultrafamicom]

Just to confirm, both stages are indeed block 5.

So will this include a thrust increase of M1D Vac to some 1000kN?

The thrust of M1DVac currently available on SpaceX's website seems not matching the sea-level version. In v1.1 era it is 11% more powerful (720kN vs. 800kN), but now only a 2% increase.

[envy887]

Just to confirm, both stages are indeed block 5.

So will this include a thrust increase of M1D Vac to some 1000kN?

The thrust of M1DVac currently available on SpaceX's website seems not matching the sea-level version. In v1.1 era it is 11% more powerful (720kN vs. 800kN), but now only a 2% increase.

No, the MVac doesn't have a thrust increase with Block 5 AFAIK.

[russianhalo117]

Just to confirm, both stages are indeed block 5.

So will this include a thrust increase of M1D Vac to some 1000kN?

The thrust of M1DVac currently available on SpaceX's website seems not matching the sea-level version. In v1.1 era it is 11% more powerful (720kN vs. 800kN), but now only a 2% increase.

No, the MVac doesn't have a thrust increase with Block 5 AFAIK.

SpaceX Website currently shows Thrust in Vacuum (http://www.spacex.com/falcon9):
First stage operating under normal flight at 8,227kN
Second stage operating under normal flight at 934kN

[Ultrafamicom]

Just to confirm, both stages are indeed block 5.

So will this include a thrust increase of M1D Vac to some 1000kN?

The thrust of M1DVac currently available on SpaceX's website seems not matching the sea-level version. In v1.1 era it is 11% more powerful (720kN vs. 800kN), but now only a 2% increase.

No, the MVac doesn't have a thrust increase with Block 5 AFAIK.

The total S2 burn time of Bungabandgu-1 is 18sec (Or 4.5%)shorter than that of Koreasat-5A, which should have a similar throttle profile.

Can this indicate a thrust upgrade?

[niwax]

Just to confirm, both stages are indeed block 5.

So will this include a thrust increase of M1D Vac to some 1000kN?

The thrust of M1DVac currently available on SpaceX's website seems not matching the sea-level version. In v1.1 era it is 11% more powerful (720kN vs. 800kN), but now only a 2% increase.

No, the MVac doesn't have a thrust increase with Block 5 AFAIK.

The total S2 burn time of Bungabandgu-1 is 18sec (Or 4.5%)shorter than that of Koreasat-5A, which should have a similar throttle profile.

Can this indicate a thrust upgrade?

Or a larger kick from the first stage, which has been upgraded

[Tomness]

(Snip)

A Falcon 9 rocket will deliver Bangabandhu Satellite-1 to a geostationary transfer orbit (GTO).

Does anybody know what the GTO Insertion will be?  Regular GTO-1800, GTO-1500, Super synchronous GTO, I would imagine with this sat weighing 3500 kg Block V could do GTO-1500 and still do droneship landing with out dicey landing.

[rpapo]

Are my eyes deceiving me, or does the Falcon look a shade grayer compared to what we've seen in the past?  It looks darker in hue than the TEL, at least to me.

[Cheapchips]

I thought they were planning to use a new more robust paintjob on B5, so maybe it's a tad darker due to that (if not just an illusion)?

[LouScheffer]

Does anybody know what the GTO Insertion will be?  Regular GTO-1800, GTO-1500, Super synchronous GTO, I would imagine with this sat weighing 3500 kg Block V could do GTO-1500 and still do droneship landing with out dicey landing.

KoreaSat was about the same mass, and used a 1:07 second stage burn, from parking orbit, to get to a super-synchronous orbit with about 1617 m/s to go.

This launch has the second stage burn listed at 0:59, or 8 seconds shorter.  At the end of the burn, it's accelerating at about 5G, so that would be 400 m/s less, (which translates to something like 260 m/s difference in the to-go figure). 

So I think there are two possibilities - second stage performance is largely unchanged, and this is GTO-1800, or second stage performance is higher, and the target is super-synchronous.

My vote would be unchanged performance and GTO-1800.  GTO injection is not fighting gravity losses, so higher thrust is not very helpful.  However, reliability is super critical, with only one engine.  Therefore I'd suspect they used the Block 5 improvements to increase the margin on the second stage, not the performance.

[Lars-J]

Are my eyes deceiving me, or does the Falcon look a shade grayer compared to what we've seen in the past?  It looks darker in hue than the TEL, at least to me.

Looks more like a camera exposure differences.

Anyway - as others have noted, it is amusing how the F9 now looks like the first fit-test F9 (not flight ready) that was erected on pad 40 nine years ago.

[Norm38]

Man, that original version sure does look short and stubby now doesn't it?

[intelati]

Man, that original version sure does look short and stubby now doesn't it?

Yeah, there's something majestic about the highly slim and stretched F9.

Every time I see a Atlas or Delta launch, they seem so short and fat.