SpaceX Falcon 9 : AMOS-17 : August 6, 2019 : DISCUSSION

[GWR64]

It's weird that they fly this one expendable, given they're flying it for free (as compensation for AMOS-6), I assume they'd want to minimize the cost.

 

Spacecom paid $ 50 million to SpaceX for the Amos 6 launch. They did not get the money back.
The insurance from the satellite manufacturer IAI has paid the money for the satellite.
This money has been returned to Spacecom by IAI.
SpaceX was allowed to keep the $ 50 million for the launch for 3 years.

That's how I know the story.

[Draggendrop]

I have no qualms and see no reason for this launch not be be expendable.

Courtesy launch and give the payload an assist as well as setting up for future business.

[John Alan]

As long as expending rockets is still legal... 
SpaceX has every right to expend rockets, to dispose of excess inventory of earlier models... 

Remember, it costs money to "recycle"... 
It costs nothing (and you gain performance) by doing it "the old fashion way"... 

SO... I have no issue with the fate of 1047...
3 flights was WAY better then just 1... job done... RIP... 

 

[Semmel]

I want to voice one possibility (pure speculation):

Early contracts with many customers for expendable first stages are re-negotiated towards booster recovery in exchange for a discount. Since this flight is free to the customer, there is no motivation from the customer to agree to a change in contract. In fact, F9 can give the payload a better orbit if the first stage is expended, hence the customer has even less motivation to agree to this.

[envy887]

Per the manifest, Telstar 18/19 were both 7 ton birds with ship recovery, so they should be able to land this stage as well.
I would think the core would have use as a Starlink launcher at least.  But as they have yet to attempt a 4th reflight, maybe they’re happy going expendable?

Both Telstar launches were to sub-GTO, I'm assuming this launch will be to a super-sync as Spacecom needs to get this satellite operational faster.

With 3.5 t of fuel this has to be chemical propulsion for GEO insertion, so the GTO energy does not matter for time to orbit. But it does matter a lot for stationkeeping fuel remaining after insertion... A higher orbit can mean several more years of life and tens of millions in revenue.

[edkyle99]

Per the manifest, Telstar 18/19 were both 7 ton birds with ship recovery, so they should be able to land this stage as well.
I would think the core would have use as a Starlink launcher at least.  But as they have yet to attempt a 4th reflight, maybe they’re happy going expendable?

Subsynchronous, as others pointed out, with apogee only around 18,000 km.  The limit for recovery is around 5.5 tonnes to a standard GTO, so if this one at 6.5 tonnes is going full GTO, first stage has to be expended.

I also have to wonder about the reuse numbers.  Maybe 3 and done is going to be it for Block 5.

 - Ed Kyle

[AC in NC]

Maybe 3 and done is going to be it for Block 5.

Even as a possibility, this seems exceedingly unlikely.  Doesn't seem like the boss.

[ZachS09]

Maybe 3 and done is going to be it for Block 5.

Even as a possibility, this seems exceedingly unlikely.  Doesn't seem like the boss.

I agree. I feel that Elon's commitment to fly each booster ten times before the required maintenance to keep going is set in stone. I can't see him changing his mind to have the Block 5 boosters make like the Block 4 versions which are only flown twice before being expended.

Expending each Block 5 booster after three times seems unrealistic to me.

[groundbound]

Maybe 3 and done is going to be it for Block 5.

Even as a possibility, this seems exceedingly unlikely.  Doesn't seem like the boss.

A recent Elon tweet stated otherwise. Something about a fifth flight by the end of 2019.

[edkyle99]

Maybe 3 and done is going to be it for Block 5.

Even as a possibility, this seems exceedingly unlikely.  Doesn't seem like the boss.

A recent Elon tweet stated otherwise. Something about a fifth flight by the end of 2019.

We'll see.  1046 should be the first, or one of the first, to try four flights.   

 - Ed Kyle

[ZachS09]

I've heard that B1048 will make a fourth and final flight, doing the IFA test.

[ZachF]

I also have to wonder about the reuse numbers.  Maybe 3 and done is going to be it for Block 5.

 - Ed Kyle

This is silly. B5 has only been around for a year. The entire Atlas 5 family hasn't even flown 4 times during this time period, nevermind a single booster that's gone 4 times.

Hell, the next flight on the manifest is another Starlink flight in september, I bet that's your fourth flight right there. Third Starlink flight will probably be #5.

I suspect all the flight milestones will take place on Starlink flights from here on as well.

[scr00chy]

I've heard that B1048 will make a fourth and final flight, doing the IFA test.

Seems likely. That booster was seen being moved to the HIF a not too long ago.

[gongora]

Maybe 3 and done is going to be it for Block 5.

Even as a possibility, this seems exceedingly unlikely.  Doesn't seem like the boss.

A recent Elon tweet stated otherwise. Something about a fifth flight by the end of 2019.

https://spacenews.com/spacex-targets-2021-commercial-starship-launch/

Hofeller said SpaceX plans to use a single Falcon 9 booster five times by the end of this year.

(this is getting a bit offtopic for the AMOS-17 thread)

[Chris Bergin]

Will start the update thread when we get a Static Fire date confirmed. NET Tuesday but thinking Wednesday.

[zubenelgenubi]

A "could-become-a-fun-fact"? EDIT 8/5

Four geocomm satellite launches in 6 4 days (UTC):
August 5: Proton-M/Briz-M / Baikonur / Blagovest #4
August 6: Ariane 5 ECA / Kourou / Intelsat 39 & EDRS C
August 6: Falcon 9 / Cape Canaveral / AMOS 17
August 8: Atlas V 551 / Cape Canaveral / AEHF 5

[gongora]

https://twitter.com/chrisswann26/status/1155921923186057216
h/t to Tyler Gray for finding this

Looks like they assembled the vehicle at 39-A and then moved it to 40.

[DatUser14]

I don't know if this has been mentioned before, but the booster looks like 1047. Left is the booster from that post, right is from this tweet: https://twitter.com/Cygnusx112/status/1064590202470100994?

[ChrisGebhardt]

From the National Hurricane Center: "Formation chance through 5 days...low...10 percent."  In other words, just an increase moisture/rain bringer to Florida... just in time (maybe) for AMOS-17's launch.

[crandles57]

I don't know if this has been mentioned before, but the booster looks like 1047.

https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/85
has it as 1047.3 since at least 22 July.