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

[zubenelgenubi]

Ted Molczan provides pre-launch search elements for a September 7, 1400 UTC launch:
http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Sep-2017/0023.html

He refers to the NOTAMs for second stage de-orbit.  Does anyone have them and could they post them to the NSF forum?

EDIT: See here https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=43585.msg1720198#msg1720198 .

The NOTAMs for the Falcon 9 second stage de-orbit suggest the possibility of a much higher inclination. My guess is that any change of inclination would occur after OTV separation.

***

Regarding orbit changes, how many burns can the second stage accomplish?

EDITed my 2nd question

EDIT 2: Add Update thread link to 2nd stage disposal NOTAM.

[mdeep]

Expecting media coverage to be light for this one. The team I work with is standing down on remote camera setup to focus on hurricane prep.

[yokem55]

If they can't launch before the hurricane comes in, do they demate the payload and move it to a more secure building? Or do they ride it out in the 39a HIF? Can't be an easy call because the demate and transport has risks of it own...

[wannamoonbase]

If they can't launch before the hurricane comes in, do they demate the payload and move it to a more secure building? Or do they ride it out in the 39a HIF? Can't be an easy call because the demate and transport has risks of it own...

I was thinking about this on my drive to work today.  I think if they attempt a launch on Thursday that they ride it out in the HIF.  Demate and transport may not be done quick enough to get out of the way of the storm in time.

Also an important point to consider is the staff that support the launch and range.  Those folks have homes and families to take care of too.

[ChrisGebhardt]

If they can't launch before the hurricane comes in, do they demate the payload and move it to a more secure building? Or do they ride it out in the 39a HIF? Can't be an easy call because the demate and transport has risks of it own...

I was thinking about this on my drive to work today.  I think if they attempt a launch on Thursday that they ride it out in the HIF.  Demate and transport may not be done quick enough to get out of the way of the storm in time.

Also an important point to consider is the staff that support the launch and range.  Those folks have homes and families to take care of too.

For what it's worth, just got off the phone with Kennedy public affairs and was told of the following in terms of what the buildings are designed to withstand. Former OPFs (where X-37B and Starliner reside) and VAB are designed to withstand 125 mph winds, equivalent of a Category 3 hurricane.  The HIF at 39A is designed to withstand 150 mph winds, the equivalent of a very strong Category 4.  In that regard, based on Kennedy public information, the HIF is safer for the payload at this point.

[Ben the Space Brit]

Based on the now-published s2 splashdown area, anyone want to speculate on the target orbit for OTV-5? The inclination looks in the 70- to 80-degree envelope to me!

[crandles57]

*Update: According to Florida Today’s Emre Kelly, SpaceX confirmed the company was targeting a 5 hour, 5 minute launch window that opens at 9:50 a.m. EDT (13:50 GMT) Sept. 7, 2017.

http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/organizations/space-exploration-technologies/x-37b-set-first-launch-atop-spacex-falcon-9/

[yokem55]

Looking at the press kit, the only events listed are through staging and then 1st stage return. I take this to mean coverage will be just like the NROL-76 launch.

[ChrisGebhardt]

Looking at the press kit, the only events listed are through staging and then 1st stage return. I take this to mean coverage will be just like the NROL-76 launch.

Yes.

[rpapo]

Visiting #SpaceX's Falcon 9 that will launch the classified Air Force X-37B space plane tomorrow. Window is 9:50 to 14:55 ET. LZ-1 landing.

https://twitter.com/nova_road/status/905550802797948928

Does anybody have any idea why the pink and black plastic wrappers this time?  I don't recall seeing so much before.  They wrapped part of the Dragon trunk on CRS-12, but that was nothing compared to this time.  And the positions of some of those wrappers don't make a lot of sense to me, particularly the lowest pink wrapper.

[IanThePineapple]

Visiting #SpaceX's Falcon 9 that will launch the classified Air Force X-37B space plane tomorrow. Window is 9:50 to 14:55 ET. LZ-1 landing.

https://twitter.com/nova_road/status/905550802797948928

Does anybody have any idea why the pink and black plastic wrappers this time?  I don't recall seeing so much before.  They wrapped part of the Dragon trunk on CRS-12, but that was nothing compared to this time.  And the positions of some of those wrappers don't make a lot of sense to me, particularly the lowest pink wrapper.

They keep water and pests out of gaps and critical areas or the rocket, they are kinda needed with the slight drizzle coming to Florida in a few days.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

They wrapped part of the Dragon trunk on CRS-12, but that was nothing compared to this time.  And the positions of some of those wrappers don't make a lot of sense to me, particularly the lowest pink wrapper.

Actually CRS-12 wasn't that different; see attached.

[CyndyC]

Re: Space Weather

Happens to be a personal interest I've been following longer than I've been following SpaceX. There were IIRC 3 earth-directed coronal mass ejections (CMEs) in one week immediately preceding the CRS-7 anomaly, highly unusual and still pretty suspicious if you ask me. CRS-12 is the first I've noticed solar weather included in a launch weather forecast.

There is currently a geomagnetic storm watch at level 3 (G3) through the 7th. Below are the possible repercussions. The G rating is a result of CMEs which can take some time to travel to earth IF they are earth-directed.

The X 9.3 flare is just under the X 10 flare when radio blackouts at level 4 begin, so I'm including the effects of R3 & R4. Solar flares travel at the speed of light so the effects on radio transmissions are immediate.

It's unknown as of my post whether or not this flare produced a CME.

It's my impression it's the other way around. CMEs are or are not associated with solar flares. I suggest the links in fine print at the bottom of the page at http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/

The question remains what are the Falcon 9 avionics dependent upon? It has already been established that direction & orientation are pre-programmed, and no commands are transmitted from the ground. Telemetry downlinks are still in question, but what about GPS? I believe Jim has stated pre-programming is based solely on timing, not on GPS.


 

[gongora]

The question remains what are the Falcon 9 avionics dependent upon? It has already been established that direction & orientation are pre-programmed, and no commands are transmitted from the ground. Telemetry downlinks are still in question, but what about GPS? I believe Jim has stated pre-programming is based solely on timing, not on GPS.

Isn't the flight termination system based on GPS?

[cppetrie]

The question remains what are the Falcon 9 avionics dependent upon? It has already been established that direction & orientation are pre-programmed, and no commands are transmitted from the ground. Telemetry downlinks are still in question, but what about GPS? I believe Jim has stated pre-programming is based solely on timing, not on GPS.

Isn't the flight termination system based on GPS?

Yes it is.

https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/02/25/auto-destruct-safety-system-seen-as-key-to-ramping-up-launch-tempos/

The on-board safety system, relying on Global Positioning System satellite navigation data,

And

http://www.patrick.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1095084/air-force-eastern-range-innovates-expedites-access-to-space/

These configurable software-based rules are reliant on redundant flight processors using data from Global Positioning System and inertial measurement unit navigation sensors

Edit: added links to full articles

[Semmel]

The question remains what are the Falcon 9 avionics dependent upon? It has already been established that direction & orientation are pre-programmed, and no commands are transmitted from the ground. Telemetry downlinks are still in question, but what about GPS? I believe Jim has stated pre-programming is based solely on timing, not on GPS.

I am pretty sure the AFTS is using GPS as well as the landing targeting. So if there was a problem with GPS due to the solar storm, I would expect a launch abort due to AFTS constraints. Which is quite fortunate as it would prevent the first stage from landing on top of the VAB by accident.

[Ben the Space Brit]

Let's face it, the spacecraft will just be travelling through ionised ratified upper atmosphere; all the really nasty stuff will be directed onto the magnetic poles by the magnetosphere. If the Falcon-9's IU electronics aren't able to handle this, then SpaceX has serious problems in its engineering department!

[eeergo]

Let's face it, the spacecraft will just be travelling through ionised ratified upper atmosphere; all the really nasty stuff will be directed onto the magnetic poles by the magnetosphere. If the Falcon-9's IU electronics aren't able to handle this, then SpaceX has serious problems in its engineering department!

?

What about neutrals? Ionospheric radio distortions?

This can be assessed for sure, but you don't just handwave away the strongest solar flare in 10 years.

[kevin-rf]

I think the biggest issue is radiation hardening of electronics. Early on SpaceX did not rad hard everything, not sure what level they are at now. During (emphasis During) a flare the X Ray numbers go up, I suspect they have a threshold for background radiation levels they do not want to exceed due to the risk of mis-behavior, single event upsets and resets of the avionic electronics.

Btw A quit glance shows two strong M class flares this morning (which are now over).

[Ben the Space Brit]

What about neutrals? Ionospheric radio distortions?

That might lead to telemetry blackouts but as the spacecraft doesn't uplink commands from launch or mission control during the ascent phase, that shouldn't be a problem.

What matters is whether the electronics can handle travelling through a charged medium and, possibly, whether the radio interference (which is occasionally spiking into the mildest levels of shortwave black out at the moment) would degrade the GPS signals that let the core manage its autonomous landing sequence.