SpaceX Falcon 9 : X-37B OTV-5 : September 7, 2017 : DISCUSSION

[Zed_Noir]

Is there the possibility of a delay based on the potential impact of an impending hurricane on operations to deal with a landed first stage?

I can't imagine SpaceX being particularly keen to have a stage stood upright in the path of extreme winds, so unless they're very confident they can get the stage horizontal (and probably inside) by the time the storm potentially arrives are they likely to delay the launch?

If SpaceX cannot get the ASDS back to port Canaveral before Irma's arrival. Maybe they might just sail eastward to Bermuda to ride out the storm.

edit: oops forget it is RTLS.    Thanks for the reminder @StuffOfInterest

[StuffOfInterest]

If SpaceX cannot get the ASDS back to port Canaveral before Irma's arrival. Maybe they might just sail eastward to Bermuda to ride out the storm.

This launch is RTLS, so ASDS doesn't play into the storm equation.

[MarekCyzio]

I was in KSC VC Sunday and one of bus drivers asked about X-37B launch said "we won't cover it as it is at night". Not sure how reliable this information is, I have serious doubts, but passing it anyway.

Regarding Hurricane Irma. If today's models hold, CCAFS should experience tropical storm winds Sunday afternoon and hurricane force winds Sunday night. Even if launch happens late Thursday night, SPaceX should be able to get S1 horizontal before Irma arrives.

[vanoord]

If they don't feel that they can get the returned stage under cover in time, I guess they could also decide to ditch the first stage at sea. The opportunity to launch the payload and get it out of Florida may outweigh the advantage of delaying the launch and recovering the first stage.

Indeed - although dropping a block 3 core into the sea is a different matter to disposing of a block 4 core.

While they seem to have (what could almost be described as) a surplus of refurbish-able block 3 cores, this is (apparently) the second block 4 core; and it's worth more to SpaceX for both its future use and whatever they learn from the changes made to it.

[spacenut]

What time (Eastern) is the launch?  I haven't found it anywhere yet.

[old_sellsword]

What time (Eastern) is the launch?  I haven't found it anywhere yet.

We don't know yet.

[rcoppola]

If Irma hit CCAFS/KSC as a Cat 5, getting that stage horizontal would be the very least of their concerns. Anybody know what the HIF at 39A was built to handle wrt weather events?

[Alter Sachse]

What time (Eastern) is the launch?  I haven't found it anywhere yet.

We don't know yet.

04:00 UTC ?
http://spacexstats.xyz/missions/x-37b-otv-5

[ZachS09]

http://www.launchphotography.com/Delta_4_Atlas_5_Falcon_9_Launch_Viewing.html

"The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral will launch the fifth X-37B OTV mission for
the US Air Force from Pad 39A on September 7, in the mid-late morning EDT. The launch time will
be released closer to launch."

[old_sellsword]

What time (Eastern) is the launch?  I haven't found it anywhere yet.

We don't know yet.

04:00 UTC ?
http://spacexstats.xyz/missions/x-37b-otv-5

That's a placeholder for 00:00 local time on September 7th.

[MarekCyzio]

If Irma hit CCAFS/KSC as a Cat 5, getting that stage horizontal would be the very least of their concerns. Anybody know what the HIF at 39A was built to handle wrt weather events?

From what I heard all hangars are designed to withstand CAT 3 sustained winds. You would need a concrete bunker to handle CAT 5. The hangar at LC-39A survived last year's Matthew with no damage so it definitely can handle some strong winds.

[gongora]

http://www.launchphotography.com/Delta_4_Atlas_5_Falcon_9_Launch_Viewing.html

"The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral will launch the fifth X-37B OTV mission for
the US Air Force from Pad 39A on September 7, in the mid-late morning EDT. The launch time will
be released closer to launch."

The launch weather forecast mentions the morning portion being better weather, so that would fit with the window opening before noon.

[Kabloona]

If Irma hit CCAFS/KSC as a Cat 5, getting that stage horizontal would be the very least of their concerns. Anybody know what the HIF at 39A was built to handle wrt weather events?

From what I heard all hangars are designed to withstand CAT 3 sustained winds. You would need a concrete bunker to handle CAT 5. The hangar at LC-39A survived last year's Matthew with no damage so it definitely can handle some strong winds.

For reference, the highest wind speed gust recorded at the Cape during Matthew was 107 mph:

http://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2016/10/12/nws-melbourne-releases-stats-matthew/91978498/

[leetdan]

That's a placeholder for 00:00 local time on September 7th.

This probably explains the 'launching at night' rumor from a tour guide posted earlier.

[ChrisGebhardt]

Is there the possibility of a delay based on the potential impact of an impending hurricane on operations to deal with a landed first stage?

The first stage is not the question here.  What all agencies with launches pending from the Cape as a Hurricane approaches CCAFS/KSC do is be in constant contact with the 45th weather squadron.  CCAFS/KSC will likely go into HURCON conditioning soon.  That kick starts a series of formal preparations to prepare for the arrival of a Hurricane.

HURCON warnings explained here: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/10/ksccape-hurcon-alert-matthew/

What the main consideration here will be is "what's the last day we can attempt to launch that, if we scrub that day, we still have enough time to get the F9 back into the HIF and let all the workers get home to safely prepare for the storm's arrival."  That will be the driving factor for launch decisions leading up to Irma's anticipated arrival.

[DaveS]

Is there the possibility of a delay based on the potential impact of an impending hurricane on operations to deal with a landed first stage?

The first stage is not the question here.  What all agencies with launches pending from the Cape as a Hurricane approaches CCAFS/KSC do is be in constant contact with the 45th weather squadron.  CCAFS/KSC will likely go into HURCON conditioning soon.  That kick starts a series of formal preparations to prepare for the arrival of a Hurricane.

HURCON warnings explained here: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/10/ksccape-hurcon-alert-matthew/

What the main consideration here will be is "what's the last day we can attempt to launch that, if we scrub that day, we still have enough time to get the F9 back into the HIF and let all the workers get home to safely prepare for the storm's arrival."  That will be the driving factor for launch decisions leading up to Irma's anticipated arrival.

This is starting to shape up like STS-115 11 years ago, when Atlantis was in launch countdown with the PRSD cryos loaded and in the T-11 hours built in hold. The MTT had to make a decision, risk damage to vehicle by going ahead with a single launch attempt or back out of launch countdown and rollback to the VAB. As we all know, they opted for the latter, leading to the famous half-rollback.

[ChrisGebhardt]

HURCON warnings explained here: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/10/ksccape-hurcon-alert-matthew/

Realized that the article link above doesn't have all the HURCON meanings.  So here they are:

The various conditions set off a series of preparatory measures to protect and secure hardware, vehicles, and payloads to ensure they are safe and that Center/Cape workers are released from work in time to safely prepare their homes and families for a storm.

HURCON (Hurricane Condition) IV:
50 knot / 58 mph sustained winds expected within 72 hours

HURCON III:
50 knots or greater within 48 hours.

HURCON II:
Hurricane conditions are expected within 24hrs

HURCON I:
Hurricane conditions imminent/on-going.

[Ben the Space Brit]

Has anyone tried to capture what I assume is the mission patch off of the latest pictures of the encapsulated X-37 being moved to the HIF?

[old_sellsword]

Transport X-37B in fairing to LC-39A HIF

OTV-5 in fairing, Falcon Heavy's center core, a booster on the right with an apparent interstage, and some glamour shots of LC-39A and the IF at night. Amazing video, thanks for posting. I am assuming that Military Materials is a military contractor of some sort, given the access they had to make that video.

Nope: Its a Military Photo group:
https://www.facebook.com/Military-Material-1341979542582245/
https://twitter.com/MilitaryPhotos2

No clue if MM shot the video themselves or they illegally ripped content another organization/agency.

A recent Gizmodo article uses what appear to be screenshots of this video, and they credit them as “Boeing handout photos.”

The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV-5) is being staged at Kennedy Space Center in preparation for its upcoming launch on September 7, 2017 in this September 5th handout photo (Boeing)

Sounds to me like Boeing filmed this (as the X-37B is their hardware) and then distributed it to media.

[William Graham]

Has anyone tried to capture what I assume is the mission patch off of the latest pictures of the encapsulated X-37 being moved to the HIF?

The insignia on the fairing is a generic logo for the X-37B programme.

There are some USAF patches for this launch on eBay - the image I've attached is from the listing below. I wouldn't expect to see a SpaceX patch design until closer to launch.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/USAF-OTV-5-X-37B-ORBITAL-TEST-VEHICLE-FALCON-9-SPACEX-BOEING-MISSION-SPACE-PATCH-/322658425279