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#140 by LouScheffer on 08 Jan, 2021 14:42
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Turksat-5A with stage2 as two cataloged objects with initial orbital parameters:
This is an interesting compromise. F9 could give this payload any apogee they want (the NASA LSP web calculator, which is known to be pretty conservative, shows F9 can put 3300 kg to Earth escape). And in theory a really high apogee is even better - you go super high where the plane change costs almost nothing, then back down into geosync. This gives about 1275 m/s total, rather than the 1540 m/s or so here.
2021-001A - TBA - TO BE ASSIGNED - 2021-01-08 05:47 UTC - 286.17/55031.12km/17.66°
2021-001B - TBA - TO BE ASSIGNED - 2021-01-08 05:52 UTC - 285.5/55277.64km/17.66°
But a super high apogee can cause problems. Minor perturbations by the moon, etc., can lower the perigee and cause accidental re-entry if you can't raise the perigee quickly enough (this has happened). Also geo-sync satellites may not be designed for deep space operation - Earth sensors, communication, and so on is all designed for geosync. And super high orbits take a lot of patience - a single orbit can take weeks.
So it looks like they picked the greatest apogee they were comfortable with, then spend the rest of the delta-V on inclination reduction.
PS: The satellite that had problems with a very high apogee (120,000 km) was Superbird 6. A discussion of how this might have happened is on this non-NSF forum. -
#141 by FutureSpaceTourist on 08 Jan, 2021 15:58
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https://twitter.com/kyle_m_photo/status/1347585832966909954Quote
Falcon 9 lifting off with Turksat 5A, a Turkish communications satellite. #SpaceX #Falcon9 #Turksat5A #Turksat
Full Gallery ➡ kylemphoto.com/Galleries/Turk…
https://twitter.com/kyle_m_photo/status/1347588068929376256QuoteFalcon 9 was doing it's best Atlas impression, throwing stuff at our remotes
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#142 by FutureSpaceTourist on 08 Jan, 2021 17:06
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https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1347605450808848385Quote
Just Read the Instructions droneship has departed from the Turksat-5A landing zone and is en-route to Port Canaveral, Florida!
Arrival ETA looking at Mon 11th / Tue 12th. -
#143 by Jansen on 08 Jan, 2021 17:08
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No news from fairing catchers?
https://twitter.com/SpaceXFleet/status/1347363456152961024
Both ships are on the way back -
#144 by gongora on 08 Jan, 2021 17:16
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No news from fairing catchers?
https://twitter.com/SpaceXFleet/status/1347363456152961024
Both ships are on the way back
To be clear, that tweet means it's the first attempt to catch a fairing this year. There wasn't any news on whether it was successful. -
#145 by FutureSpaceTourist on 08 Jan, 2021 17:24
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SoaceX photos by Ben Cooper
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#146 by Jansen on 08 Jan, 2021 19:25
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To be clear, that tweet means it's the first attempt to catch a fairing this year. There wasn't any news on whether it was successful.
Yes, it was posted before the launch. Mostly to show that only one catch attempt was going to be made. Thanks for clarifying. -
#147 by FutureSpaceTourist on 08 Jan, 2021 23:36
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https://twitter.com/mdcainjr/status/1347570232852963329Quote
SpaceX’s merlin engines doing what they do best! Congrats to @elonmusk and @SpaceX for another mission success! Way to start the year. #Turksat5A
Looking forward to the SN9 hop coming soon! -
#148 by FutureSpaceTourist on 09 Jan, 2021 00:16
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https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1347709658342055939Quote
SpaceX recovery fleet status as of Jan 8th!
Ms. Tree and Ms. Chief will be arriving at Port Canaveral daytime tomorrow (9th).
JRTI and B1060 are estimated to arrive early Monday (11th) - subject to change! -
#149 by FutureSpaceTourist on 09 Jan, 2021 20:45
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https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1348022924335263744Quote
Ms. Tree and Ms. Chief will be arriving at Port Canaveral in approximately two hours.
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#150 by scr00chy on 09 Jan, 2021 23:36
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#151 by FutureSpaceTourist on 10 Jan, 2021 13:28
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https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1348275312199692291Quote
Fairing looks good.
PS Go back a few years and who would have thought we'd be talking about "recovered fairings on huge speedboats with massive arms"? -
#152 by Jansen on 11 Jan, 2021 01:40
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#153 by Jansen on 11 Jan, 2021 19:53
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#154 by FutureSpaceTourist on 11 Jan, 2021 20:23
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https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1348742126964789249Quote
B1060 is now visible on the horizon!
A cruise ship is due to leave Port Canaveral at 5:15pm and it will be getting dark after 6pm.
Seems tight - but possible - to bring JRTI in tonight. -
#155 by FutureSpaceTourist on 11 Jan, 2021 21:09
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https://twitter.com/kyle_m_photo/status/1348753444337831943Quote
B1060.4 can be seen on the horizon. #SpaceXFleet #SpaceX
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#156 by bsegal on 12 Jan, 2021 00:28
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Elizabeth S, Christine S, Hawk and another pilot boat outbound. Finn Falgout continues to make slow progress toward port entrance.
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#157 by bsegal on 12 Jan, 2021 00:58
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B1060.4 and its entourage now entering port channel. Should be visible on Fleetcam shortly.
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#158 by FutureSpaceTourist on 12 Jan, 2021 01:12
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https://twitter.com/kyle_m_photo/status/1348814833345564672Quote
B1060.4 is just barely in the port now. #SpaceXFleet #SpaceX
https://twitter.com/baserunner0723/status/1348814285477130240 -
#159 by FutureSpaceTourist on 12 Jan, 2021 01:14
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B1060.4 and its entourage now entering port channel. Should be visible on Fleetcam shortly.
Now visible
Edit to add:
https://twitter.com/spacecoast_stve/status/1348821343769415680QuoteUnder the cover of darkness, #Falcon9 B1060 returns from her 4th flight (#Turksat5A) atop Just Read The Instructions.
With Jetty Park closing before arrival, I thought I’d utilize my favorite head-on spot. Tugboats never looked so cool. 😎