-
#60
by
GewoonLukas_
on 23 Dec, 2023 12:04
-
We can see the rocket! (barely)
-
#61
by
GewoonLukas_
on 23 Dec, 2023 12:19
-
-
#62
by
GewoonLukas_
on 23 Dec, 2023 12:33
-
-
#63
by
ZachS09
on 23 Dec, 2023 12:39
-
Of course.
Vandy team feels like something may be amiss and they choose to take 24 hours to double check (or maybe triple check) everything.
-
#64
by
Nomadd
on 23 Dec, 2023 12:50
-
Well, somebody owes me for the five, uhhh... Bintangs I've consumed while waiting for this launch tonight.
-
#65
by
edkyle99
on 23 Dec, 2023 22:04
-
SARah 2/3 launch page background, which may be the launch vehicle for this flight.
- Ed Kyle
-
#66
by
Alexphysics
on 23 Dec, 2023 22:21
-
Yeah SARah-2 payload fairing and B1075 as the booster. Interestingly, the second stage is a Starlink one as it has the velcro pads for the tension rods. It must have been reassigned for this mission in the flurry of delays they've had in the last few weeks out from Vandy.
-
#67
by
wjbarnett
on 23 Dec, 2023 23:40
-
Alex, could you highlight the location of these velco pads? TIA
-
#68
by
catdlr
on 24 Dec, 2023 00:03
-
Yeah SARah-2 payload fairing and B1075 as the booster. Interestingly, the second stage is a Starlink one as it has the velcro pads for the tension rods. It must have been reassigned for this mission in the flurry of delays they've had in the last few weeks out from Vandy.
The pad is indicated by the arrow in the first Picture
Where the arm connects in the second picture from a previous deployment video Picture 2
Source: Video see arm connect with a bounce at 0:11 seconds in this video (youtube.com/watch?v=QXBUUg96pp0)
A second stage at Vandy for the recent Korean launch with no velcro pad Picture 3
-
#69
by
wjbarnett
on 24 Dec, 2023 00:25
-
Awesome way to reduce orbital debris. Thank you for those details!
-
#70
by
spacenuance
on 24 Dec, 2023 01:38
-
Yeah SARah-2 payload fairing and B1075 as the booster. Interestingly, the second stage is a Starlink one as it has the velcro pads for the tension rods. It must have been reassigned for this mission in the flurry of delays they've had in the last few weeks out from Vandy.
I wonder if they kept the standard mvac as well, or swapped it out with a shorty
-
#71
by
ZachS09
on 24 Dec, 2023 04:03
-
Yeah. SARah-2 payload fairing and B1075 as the booster. Interestingly, the second stage is a Starlink one as it has the Velcro pads for the tension rods. It must have been reassigned for this mission in the flurry of delays they've had in the last few weeks out from Vandy.
I wonder if they kept the standard M-Vac as well, or swapped it out with a shorty.
Total payload mass is 3.6 tons (1.8 tons for each satellite), which is well within the margins for direct insertion combined with Stage 1 RTLS. Probably logical to use the stubby M-Vac nozzle.
-
#72
by
catdlr
on 24 Dec, 2023 04:28
-
Still the presence of low-lying marine layer (fog) this afternoon and evening.
-
#73
by
catdlr
on 24 Dec, 2023 08:51
-
SpaceX X link to the broadcast
https://twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1MnxnMbepeEJOSpaceX is targeting Sunday, December 24 for a Falcon 9 launch of the SARah-2 mission to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The 83-minute launch window opens at 5:11 a.m. PT.
A live webcast of this mission will begin on X @SpaceX about 15 minutes prior to liftoff. Watch live.
This is the eighth flight of the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched SDA-0A and six Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on Landing Zone 4 (LZ-4) at Vandenberg Space Force Base.
VSFB Airport METAR data
METAR: KVBG (Vandenberg AFB, CA, US) 1:10 a.m. PT
KVBG 240910Z 01003KT 10SM BKN012 OVC019 12/11 A3012 RMK AO2A CIG 012V019 BKN V FEW SLP203
Decoding a METAR
KVBG = the airfield, VSFB
240910Z = the date and time of the report. ...
01003KT = the wind conditions. ...
10SM = visibility. ...
OVC019 = cloud cover. ...
12/11 = the temperature and dewpoint. ...
A3012 = the atmospheric pressure, a.k.a. altimeter setting.
Additional Remarks:
RMK AO2A CIG 012V019 BKN V FEW SLP203 = the add-ons, which can give a more complete picture of weather conditions but can also be a little more difficult to decipher, at least for a beginner. This part will require a little more memorization or keeping a guide handy to consult.
For the last picture: GOES-West CONUS - Air Mass
legend for AirMass RBG
Key for AirMass RGB:
1 - Jet stream / potential vorticity (PV) / deformation zones / dry upper level (dark red / orange)
2 - Cold air mass (dark blue/purple)
3 - Warm air mass (green)
4 - Warm air mass, less moisture (olive/dark orange)
5 - High thick cloud (white)
6 - Mid level cloud (tan/salmon)
7 - Low level cloud (green, dark blue)
8 - Limb effects (purple/blue)
Air Mass RGB is used to diagnose the environment surrounding synoptic systems by enhancing temperature and moisture characteristics of airmasses. Cyclogenesis can be inferred by the identification of warm, dry, ozone-rich descending stratospheric air associated with jet streams and potential vorticity (PV) anomalies. The RGB can be used to validate the location of PV anomalies in model data. Additionally, this RGB can distinguish between polar and tropical airmasses, especially along upper-level frontal boundaries and identify high-, mid-, and low-level clouds.
-
#74
by
GWR64
on 24 Dec, 2023 08:52
-
OHB generally states 1.9-2.1 t for this type of satellite. “SMARTLEO AGILE” platform.
Edit: PDF replaced with a slightly newer one, I don't know the difference
-
#75
by
catdlr
on 24 Dec, 2023 11:11
-
-
#76
by
catdlr
on 24 Dec, 2023 11:15
-
COUNTDOWN
HR/MIN/SEC EVENT
00:38:00 SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for propellant load
00:35:00 RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) loading begins
00:35:00 1st stage LOX (liquid oxygen) loading begins
00:16:00 2nd stage LOX loading begins
00:07:00 Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch
00:01:00 Command flight computer to begin final prelaunch checks
00:01:00 Propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins
00:00:45 SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for launch
00:00:03 Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start
00:00:00 Falcon 9 liftoff
-
#77
by
catdlr
on 24 Dec, 2023 11:34
-
COUNTDOWN
HR/MIN/SEC EVENT
Completed:
00:38:00 SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for propellant load
In Progress:
00:35:00 RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) loading begins
00:35:00 1st stage LOX (liquid oxygen) loading begins
Remaining Events:
00:16:00 2nd stage LOX loading begins
00:07:00 Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch
00:01:00 Command flight computer to begin final prelaunch checks
00:01:00 Propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins
00:00:45 SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for launch
00:00:03 Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start
00:00:00 Falcon 9 liftoff
-
#78
by
catdlr
on 24 Dec, 2023 11:41
-
T-30 min
83-minute window that opens at 5:11 a.m. PST / 8:11 a.m. EST / 1311 UTC.
-
#79
by
catdlr
on 24 Dec, 2023 11:46
-
T-25 min, no updates from SpaceX, so we are going only by the website countdown info.
83-minute window that opens at 5:11 a.m. PST / 8:11 a.m. EST / 1311 UTC.