Author Topic: SpaceX Falcon 9 : GPS III-3 : Cape Canaveral : June 30, 2020 (Read 142101 times)

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #140 on:** 06/29/2020 06:48 am »

https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1277375404379160583

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OCISLY droneship will arrive at Port Canaveral just after dawn tomorrow.

JRTI and crew ship GO Quest will meet at the GPS LZ tomorrow morning.

Ms. Tree and Ms. Chief moved ~60 km north last night. This was them repositioning between the Starlink and GPS fairing recovery areas.

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #141 on:** 06/29/2020 01:18 pm »

L-1 launch weather forecast still 60% GO

the_other_Doug · « **Reply #142 on:** 06/29/2020 06:24 pm »

Quick question, as I'm not understanding it...

The fairing catchers just redeployed to the new LZ. Why didn't JRtI just come back to port, since the order swap of the flights occurred well before it got on station? OCISLY could have been redeployed to catch the GPS III booster, I would have thought.

Is the drone ship somehow specialized prior to flight that it can catch that one booster only, and can't be pressed into service to catch a different one? Or did it have to do with the number of days at sea by the associated crews, that you wouldn't leave them at sea for the extra few days it would take to wait for the new next-up launch?

I guess it just didn't make sense to me that, if you have two flights coming up back-to-back and you swap their launch orders, you'd have to keep each booster landing on its originally intended drone ship...?

...and yes, I know the fairing catchers were redeployed because there isn't a second set of them ready and waiting for service. The only choices for fairing catch were to redeploy the only existing set of ships equipped for the task, or skip the fairing catch attempts on one of the two upcoming flights, which I think they'll need to do anyway if they fly only a few days apart.

Do y'all think that, if there were four fairing catchers and not two, the set that were sent out to get the Starlink fairings would have been called back in, and the second set of ships sent out? The equivalent of what they've done with the drone ships? Like I say, the logic is escaping me.

gongora · « **Reply #143 on:** 06/29/2020 06:27 pm »

JRTI was upgraded for better station keeping, it may be the preferred ASDS now when both are available.

scr00chy · « **Reply #144 on:** 06/29/2020 06:48 pm »

Quote from: the_other_Doug on 06/29/2020 06:24 pm

Or did it have to do with the number of days at sea by the associated crews, that you wouldn't leave them at sea for the extra few days it would take to wait for the new next-up launch?

That would be my guess. The OCISLY crew had been at sea for quite long even before the launch got pushed till after GPS.

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #145 on:** 06/29/2020 07:48 pm »

Launch hazard and airspace closure areas

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #146 on:** 06/29/2020 11:07 pm »

https://twitter.com/lockheedmartin/status/1277711306599141377

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🚀 It's almost launch time — the next #GPSIII satellite blasts off at 3:55 PM ET June 30 for @SpaceForceDoD. Tune in here LIVE: lmt.co/3ibxwR7.

AndrewRG10 · « **Reply #147 on:** 06/30/2020 03:17 am »

Is that the paint scheme we saw on CRS-18 to help with long coasts and fuel? I wonder if it's another test for the FH flight next year or if the Space Force loves it and wants them to always use it on missions with long coasts.

RocketLover0119 · « **Reply #148 on:** 06/30/2020 03:19 am »

Webcast link, and mission details/timeline.

Spacex.com/launches

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #149 on:** 06/30/2020 03:42 am »

https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1277809612478050304

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Falcon 9 and GPS III Space Vehicle 03 vertical on SLC-40 ahead of tomorrow’s launch for the @SpaceForceDoD. The 15-minute window opens at 3:55 p.m. EDT, and weather is looking 60% favorable → spacex.com/launches

AndyH · « **Reply #150 on:** 06/30/2020 04:43 am »

SpaceX Livestream link is up:

jacqmans · « **Reply #151 on:** 06/30/2020 07:00 am »

The payload fairing with GPS III SV 03 encapsulated inside is mated with the Falcon 9 rocket ahead of its scheduled June 30 launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force station, Fla. GPS III SV03 will be the third USSF mission launch, the second National Security Space mission to be launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, and the first NSSL mission where a launch service provider will be attempting to recover the booster.

(Photo courtesy of SpaceX)

jacqmans · « **Reply #152 on:** 06/30/2020 07:29 am »

SMC and SpaceX poised for third GPS III Falcon 9 launch

SMC Public Affairs / Published June 29, 2020

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla. --
The U.S. Space Force’s newest Global Positioning System (GPS) III satellite, Space Vehicle 03 (SV03) rolled out to Cape Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex-40 launch pad a during the overnight hours on June 27 and 28.

The Lockheed Martin-built GPS III SV03 is scheduled to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. GPS III SV03 will be the third USSF mission launch, the second National Security Space launch (NSSL) mission to be launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, and the first NSSL mission where a launch service provider will be attempting to recover the booster. The launch window opens at 3:55 p.m. EDT and will remain open for 15 minutes. A live-feed will begin 20 minutes prior to the launch, concluding approximately 45 minutes afterward. A simulcast of the broadcast can be viewed at www.spacex.com.

“The NSSL program’s number one priority is to achieve mission success on each and every National Security Space launch,” said Col. Robert Bongiovi, Launch Enterprise director. “We also strive to procure affordable launch services that maintain assured access to space for the Nation. Our goal with GPS III SV03 was to maintain our mission assurance record, while exploring unique cost saving opportunities like recovering a booster to deliver the capabilities our warfighters demand.”

“The GPS III program brings a new standard of excellence for the entire space community. Our production team and contract partners have developed an indispensable tool that is available to military and civil users around the world.” said Cordell DeLaPena, program executive officer for SMC’s Space Production Corps. “Our team will continue to advance the launch campaign for the remaining space vehicles and I anticipate the successful launch of SV03 on the Falcon 9.”

Originally scheduled to launch on April 29, the GPS III-3 mission took a 60-day tactical pause in order to implement new health and safety measures to protect launch and operations crew during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This pause allowed SMC to design and implement these measures in collaboration with contractor and launch provider partners as well as medical professionals. The tactical pause resulted in no impact to the readiness and availability of the GPS constellation, which remains in strong health. There were minimal impacts to cost and schedule due to the pause.

GPS III SV03 will be launched to augment the current GPS constellation comprised of 31 operational spacecraft. GPS satellites operate in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) at an altitude of approximately 20,200 km (12,550 miles) in six orbital planes. Each satellite circles the earth twice per day.

GPS is the premier space-based provider of positioning, navigation, and timing services for more than four billion users worldwide. This latest generation of GPS satellite boasts a 15-year design life -- 25 percent longer than the last generation of GPS satellites on-orbit. GPS III brings new capabilities to users such as the new L1C civilian signal, which opens the window for future interoperability with international satellite navigation systems.

“Our space systems division is filled with exceptional, highly talented team members focused on delivering the next generation of GPS satellites. They are extremely motivated and resourceful, and had to overcome numerous challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic to successfully get us into a position where we can safely launch. I couldn’t have asked for a better team,” said Col. Edward Byrne, MEO Space Systems Division chief. “SV03 is set to join the first two GPS III satellites as we continue our journey to modernize the constellation.”

GPS III satellite signals are more accurate and more powerful than previous generations, providing improved performance for civilian and military users. SV03 will add another military code (M-Code) capable satellite as the team continues to modernize the GPS fleet. M-Code will provide more accurate military signals with improved anti-jamming capabilities for the warfighter. Full M-Code capability is set to rollout with the GPS OCX Block 2 ground segment.

https://www.losangeles.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2241956/smc-and-spacex-poised-for-third-gps-iii-falcon-9-launch/