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#220
by
Rocket Science
on 25 Jun, 2017 21:47
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Way to "book-end" the weekend SpaceX, "two up and two down".
It has been a privilege to witness your accomplishment "from sea to shining sea"... I am so proud for all the teams involved, congratulations and get some well deserved rest. Thank you NSF for continued excellent coverage!
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#221
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 25 Jun, 2017 21:48
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#222
by
WmThomas
on 25 Jun, 2017 21:52
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Thanks to Chirs, Steve, and Zach for all the coverage. Congrats SpaceX!!
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#223
by
Chris Bergin
on 25 Jun, 2017 21:54
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SpaceX Falcon 9 B1029.2 Launches and Lands - Mission Success. SpaceX Falcon 9 B1036 Launches and Lands - Mission Success. 49 hours apart.
Fastest US turnaround since a pair of non-identical Titans launched in 1989. Fastest since a pair of Atlas SLV-3's launched in 1966.
(Thanks to William Graham's article).
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#224
by
pb2000
on 25 Jun, 2017 21:54
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Congrats SpaceX and Iridium! Now to get LC-40 back online and go for a new triple record
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#225
by
Elmar Moelzer
on 25 Jun, 2017 22:02
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Congrats to SpaceX on yet another successful launch and landing. Missed that one unfortunately
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#226
by
rickl
on 25 Jun, 2017 22:02
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Beautiful. Congratulations to all involved.
I still want to see video of Friday's landing.
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#227
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 25 Jun, 2017 22:04
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#228
by
Bubbinski
on 25 Jun, 2017 22:04
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Congratulations SpaceX! Good work getting 2 launches & landings in 49 hours. 9 launches in 6 months.
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#229
by
dnavas
on 25 Jun, 2017 22:06
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Nice double-header, and perfect companion to Hidden Figures. Thanks for continuing to push us forward.
We're already on Mars.
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#230
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 25 Jun, 2017 22:06
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Jun 25, 2017
Successful Second Launch Doubles the Number of Iridium® NEXT Satellites in Space
SpaceX Delivers 10 More Iridium NEXT Satellites to Orbit, Continuing Infrastructure Build for Aireon's Real-Time Aircraft Surveillance System and Iridium Certus℠
MCLEAN, Va., June 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:IRDM), the only communications company with truly global coverage, announced today the successful second launch of its next-generation network, Iridium NEXT. This payload of 10 satellites was deployed into low-Earth orbit, approximately one hour after a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, at 1:25pm PDT (20:25 UTC). With this launch complete, there are now 20 Iridium NEXT satellites in orbit, establishing the infrastructure for groundbreaking technologies such as Iridium Certus and Aireon's space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) aircraft tracking and surveillance service. Iridium Certus is poised to disrupt industry norms by enabling truly global L-band satellite broadband speeds through smaller, more cost-effective antennas.
Since the successful January 14, 2017 launch, Iridium NEXT satellites have already been integrated into the operational constellation and are providing service. The first eight operational Iridium NEXT satellites are already providing superior call quality and faster data speeds with increased capacity to Iridium customers. The two additional satellites from the first launch are continuing to drift to their operational orbital plane, where upon arrival they will begin providing service. Iridium NEXT satellites from today's launch will be tested and integrated into the constellation over the coming weeks. Just as with the first launch, on-orbit testing and validation will be completed by the Iridium and Thales Alenia Space teams. Five of the 10 satellites from this launch will be sent to adjacent orbits ("planes") to optimize the network deployment and ensure eleven operational satellites, and at least one in-orbit spare, are in each of Iridium's six polar orbiting planes following full deployment.
"Right now, it's two down with six more launches to go," said Matt Desch, chief executive officer, Iridium. "Our operations team is eagerly awaiting this new batch of satellites and is ready to begin the testing and validation process. After several weeks of fine-tuning, the next set of ‘slot swaps' will begin, bringing more Iridium NEXT satellites into operational service, and bringing us closer to an exciting new era for our network, company, and partners."
Among the many technologies enabled by Iridium NEXT is a unique hosted payload from Iridium's partner, Aireon, which will provide a real-time, global aircraft surveillance and tracking service. Today, air traffic controllers and aircraft operators face the problem of being unable to see the location of aircraft at all times, worldwide. This is largely due to the lack of aircraft tracking infrastructure on the ground in remote regions and over the oceans. The AireonSM system is designed to solve this problem. To date, more than one billion aircraft position reports have been received by the first eight operational Aireon payloads, activated after the first Iridium NEXT launch this past January.
"Since first launch, our technology has exceeded all expectations," said Don Thoma, chief executive officer, Aireon. "With just eight payloads, we have seen an incredible amount of data, from aircraft and vehicle antennas of both high and surprisingly low wattage. We've conducted flight tests with the FAA and NAV CANADA, which were designed to really push our system's limits, while also helping to fine-tune its capabilities. We're on a path to revolutionizing how the world sees the skies, and with each launch come one step closer to making it a global reality."
According to analyses conducted by the Flight Safety Foundation and Purdue University's School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, space-based ADS-B, utilized by the Aireon system, can increase safety while also reducing the environmental impact of the aviation industry.
Through a series of eight launches, SpaceX will deliver 75 Iridium NEXT satellites to low-Earth orbit, with 66 making up the operational constellation. In total, 81 new satellites are being built, with nine serving as on-orbit spares and six as ground spares. The satellites were designed by Thales Alenia Space, which serves as system prime contractor, and are being integrated by Thales's subcontractor, Orbital ATK, at its Satellite Manufacturing Facility in Arizona. The production process features an 18-station, state-of-the-art assembly line system for all 81 Iridium NEXT satellites.
For more information about Iridium NEXT, please visit https://www.iridiumnext.com.
http://investor.iridium.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=1031231
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#231
by
Star One
on 25 Jun, 2017 22:07
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Congratulations to all involved. Impressive pair of launches in rapid succession.
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#232
by
marshal
on 25 Jun, 2017 22:17
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Congratulations SpaceX, Iridium !
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#233
by
Craftyatom
on 25 Jun, 2017 22:19
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Huge congratulations to everyone involved in today's launch - doubleheader ends with the home team 2 for 2!
It's crazy how quickly things have ramped up. First F9 out of Vandy flew less than 4 years ago - what an incredible amount SpaceX has done in that time. Can't wait to see what they can manage in the future - hopefully more turnaround records, if nothing else!
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#234
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 25 Jun, 2017 22:26
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SpaceX have now posted a full size version of the grid fin photo
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#235
by
joek
on 25 Jun, 2017 22:28
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Congrats everyone, and thanks to the NSF crew for coverage.
For SpaceX, this is two successful launches, two sets of payloads successfully delivered to orbit, and two successful booster recoveries--all in less than three days.
Keep on rockin' SpaceX.
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#236
by
Silmfeanor
on 25 Jun, 2017 22:31
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SpaceX have now posted a full size version of the grid fin photo
Note the S/N#003 on the far right fin visible.
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#237
by
baldusi
on 25 Jun, 2017 22:36
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Congratulations to SpaceX, Iridium, Thales Alenia, OrbitalATK, the West Range and specially the NSF. Chris, Zack and Steven, you are amazing.
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#238
by
Michael Baylor
on 25 Jun, 2017 22:41
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That was my first launch in person! The first few seconds after it cleared the hill were unfortunately blocked by the fog, however an amazing view after that.
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#239
by
NASAGeek
on 25 Jun, 2017 23:07
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Congrats spacex. Nice to have a core on each drone ship at the same time with just little time between launches.
It has been a privilege to witness your accomplishment "from sea to shining sea"... I am so proud for all the teams involved, congratulations and get some well deserved rest. Thank you NSF for continued excellent coverage! 
