Pair of SAOCOM Earth Observation Satellites to Launch between 2012 & 2013Hawthorne, California – April 16, 2009 – Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) has signed an agreement with CONAE, Argentina's National Commission on Space Activity, for two launches aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 medium-to-heavy lift vehicle. The flights will send the SAOCOM 1A and 1B Earth observation satellites into sun-synchronous orbits, where they will provide imagery for natural resources monitoring, as well as emergency and disaster management.The identical SAOCOM satellites each carry an L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) instrument. Among other civil applications, the main purpose of the constellation is the measurement of the soil moisture over the Pampa Húmeda in Argentina. The two SAOCOM satellites will join four X-band SAR COSMO-SkyMed satellites from the Italian Space Agency (ASI), creating the Italian-Argentine System of Satellites for Emergency Management (SIASGE) constellation. The first three of the ASI satellites were launched in 2007 and 2008 with the fourth expected to fly in 2010.“SpaceX is excited to be CONAE's launch service provider for the SAOCOM 1A and 1B missions,” said Elon Musk, CEO and CTO of SpaceX. “The Falcon 9 launch vehicle has been designed to the highest level of reliability and performance; we look forward to helping ensure the success of the SAOCOM satellites.”The inaugural flight of Falcon 9 is scheduled for this year, with the first Dragon spacecraft scheduled to fly on a subsequent launch, both from SpaceX's launch facility at Cape Canaveral, Florida.About CONAECONAE (Comisión Nacional de Actividades Espaciales, or in English, National Space Activities Commission) is Argentina's civilian agency in charge of national space activities. They have launched three satellites to date, and have numerous joint space efforts with Argentine industry and academia, as well as governmental space agencies around the world, including NASA, CSA, AEB/INPE (Brazil), ASI, CNES, ESA and agencies of several other nations.
Professionals of the National Commission of Space Activities (CONAE), the National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA), and the companies VENG, INVAP and CEATSA / ARSAT finalized in Bariloche the electrical verifications and mechanical integration of SAOCOM 1A, the new Argentine observation satellite developed by CONAE together with national organizations and companies.The "body" of the satellite (the service platform) and the "eyes" with which the Earth will observe (the radar antenna) are communicated, with all interfaces correctly connected, in good condition and secure. Once the electrical integration was completed and after verifying the communication of the platform with each of the seven panels of the radar antenna, the mechanical integration of the SAOCOM 1A was completed. This week the first test of the deployment of the SAR antenna continues, starting the final testing stage of the satellite.
http://www.ellitoral.com/index.php/diarios/2018/04/02/economia1/ECON-01.htmlQuoteLa estación de Tolhuin cumplirá “un rol clave” en el monitoreo del próximo satélite nacional que será puesto en órbita en septiembre, el Saocom -Satélite Argentino de Observación Con Microondas
La estación de Tolhuin cumplirá “un rol clave” en el monitoreo del próximo satélite nacional que será puesto en órbita en septiembre, el Saocom -Satélite Argentino de Observación Con Microondas
Shaping up to be the first Vandenberg RTLS!
Quote from: DaveJes1979 on 06/04/2018 05:55 pmShaping up to be the first Vandenberg RTLS!Is it? I really don't have a clue what order these flights from Vandenberg are going to happen. Iridium 8 is NET August, SSO-A is around October, I wouldn't be surprised if this or RCM or SARah 1 ends up after those in Nov/Dec.
I think this manifest is about the aircraft flight that will bring the satellite to VAFB, not the SpaceX launch itself.
SAOCOM 1A shipment to Vandenberg at end of July? The SpaceX Vandenberg manifest has me very confused right now.
Quote from: gongora on 06/17/2018 06:25 pmSAOCOM 1A shipment to Vandenberg at end of July? The SpaceX Vandenberg manifest has me very confused right now.Same. Given the gap between Iridium-7 and -8, I suppose it wouldn't be impossible to squeeze SAOCOM 1A between them, say late August, early September. Everything is dependent on core availability at this point.
Quote from: vaporcobra on 06/17/2018 07:39 pmQuote from: gongora on 06/17/2018 06:25 pmSAOCOM 1A shipment to Vandenberg at end of July? The SpaceX Vandenberg manifest has me very confused right now.Same. Given the gap between Iridium-7 and -8, I suppose it wouldn't be impossible to squeeze SAOCOM 1A between them, say late August, early September. Everything is dependent on core availability at this point. Would that actually be possible though? Pad turnaround time at Vandenberg seems like it has also really been holding SpaceX back over the last 18 months. There have been no short intervals between flights from that pad, and it's not been for lack of payloads to fly from it; they have been queued up and waiting. SpaceX seem to try to be equally fair to all customers, therefore I can only assume that they would have launched from Vandenberg at shorter intervals if they were capable of it, which implies that they are not. Once B5s are being regularly flown and refurbished, and at increasingly shorter intervals, I would suggest that pad turnaround at VAFB becomes their biggest limiting factor on cadence until they max out on 2nd stage and fairing production capabilities.
Quote from: UKobserver on 06/18/2018 11:34 amQuote from: vaporcobra on 06/17/2018 07:39 pmQuote from: gongora on 06/17/2018 06:25 pmSAOCOM 1A shipment to Vandenberg at end of July? The SpaceX Vandenberg manifest has me very confused right now.Same. Given the gap between Iridium-7 and -8, I suppose it wouldn't be impossible to squeeze SAOCOM 1A between them, say late August, early September. Everything is dependent on core availability at this point. Would that actually be possible though? Pad turnaround time at Vandenberg seems like it has also really been holding SpaceX back over the last 18 months. There have been no short intervals between flights from that pad, and it's not been for lack of payloads to fly from it; they have been queued up and waiting. SpaceX seem to try to be equally fair to all customers, therefore I can only assume that they would have launched from Vandenberg at shorter intervals if they were capable of it, which implies that they are not. Once B5s are being regularly flown and refurbished, and at increasingly shorter intervals, I would suggest that pad turnaround at VAFB becomes their biggest limiting factor on cadence until they max out on 2nd stage and fairing production capabilities.Needs a new/modified reaction frame, launch mount, and TEL to support a faster launch rate at VAFB. It is in a hybrid state between the v1.1 and v1.2 designs.
There have been no short intervals between flights from that pad, and it's not been for lack of payloads to fly from it; they have been queued up and waiting. SpaceX seem to try to be equally fair to all customers, therefore I can only assume that they would have launched from Vandenberg at shorter intervals if they were capable of it, which implies that they are not.
SAOCOM 1A PREPARING TO TRAVEL. The observation satellite of CONAE entered the container for the last verification test in @ invapargentina / CEATSA before its transfer to the USA. for the launch campaign. In a few weeks, SAOCOM 1A will look at us from space!
it appears it has been delayed to the end of september
ARTICLE: SAOCOM 1A ships to Vandenberg as Falcon 9 prepares for the first west coast RTLS - https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/08/saocom-1a-ships-vandenberg-falcon-9-first-west-coast-rtls/ by Michael Baylor
Does anyone know if Surf Beach will be closed down for this RTLS launch? I want to bring the family up to watch the launch.
Multiple media reports of Sept. 29 launch date.http://www.ambito.com/930136-presentaron-oficialmente-el-saocom-1a-el-satelite-argentino-que-partira-al-espacio-en-50-diashttp://www.correodelorinoco.gob.ve/argentina-presenta-satelite-para-medir-desastres-naturales/etc.
El satélite de observación SAOCOM1A llegó muy bien al sitio de lanzamiento en Vandenberg, California. El equipo de trabajo de CONAE, VENG, INVAP y CNEA, trabaja en la sala limpia de Spacex, preparándolo para el lanzamiento, previsto entre el 28 de septiembre y el 4 de octubre.[translation] The SAOCOM1A observation satellite arrived very well at the launch site in Vandenberg, California. The work team of CONAE, VENG, INVAP and CNEA, works in the cleanroom of Spacex, preparing for the launch, scheduled between 28 September and 4 October.
Sorry, that page does not exist is what I got
SAOCOM at the SpaceX's clean room in Vandenberg
Quote from: Targeteer on 09/14/2018 09:26 pmSAOCOM at the SpaceX's clean room in VandenbergJust to clarify, are these sourced from somewhere or from you yourself? Great photos, rare to get that many encapsulation photos from a Vandy mission.Edit: Ah, this is the source. https://twitter.com/CONAE_Oficial/status/1040694505903738880
Scheduled to launch on a SpaceX Falcon rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Oct. 6, Argentina’s SAOCOM 1a satellite “is going to boost the high quality precision agriculture Argentina relies on,” President Mauricio Macri told farmers and industry representatives last week.
Argentina bets on $600 million satellite to boost agriculture sectorQuoteScheduled to launch on a SpaceX Falcon rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Oct. 6, Argentina’s SAOCOM 1a satellite “is going to boost the high quality precision agriculture Argentina relies on,” President Mauricio Macri told farmers and industry representatives last week.
Per L2, liftoff is currently scheduled for 19:22 local time on October 6th. That's October 7th at 2:22 UTC.
Quote from: Michael Baylor on 09/22/2018 10:01 pmPer L2, liftoff is currently scheduled for 19:22 local time on October 6th. That's October 7th at 2:22 UTC.Sunset on October 6th is at 18:37 local, about 45 minutes before launch. Is that to late to make a spectacular plume display? My real simple geometry gives an estimate of sunlight at ~125km altitude (if I did that right) which I think is well above where the first stage separates, and probably well downrange as well. But I'm guessing that the boostback burn of the first stage should be sunlit. I took a look back at the Iridium 4 launch last December that resulted in all those UFO reports. It was about 30 minutes after sunset, so maybe this will be close enough to be good. I'm surprised that there hasn't been a lot more buzz about this dusk launch, especially being the first VAFB RTLS and all.
L2 confirms the booster is on the pad for the Static Fire test today:https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/10/spacex-falcon-9-for-static-fire-saocom-1a-first-west-rtls/ - by Ian Atkinson
LZ-4 is situated approximately 0.3km from SLC-4E, where SAOCOM-1A will launch from. This is much different than the setup at Cape Canaveral, where LZ-1 is over 9km from SLC-40.The smaller distance will help to reduce the minimum time between launches, as it will take much less time to ship the landed first stage back to the Horizontal Integration Facility (HIF) to ready it for another launch.
Strangely, nowhere in the article does it say when the launch is scheduled.
Launch is scheduled for No Earlier Than (NET) 7:22PM Pacific time (2:22 UTC) on October 6 (October 7 UTC) from SLC-4E at Vandenberg Air Force Base. It will be the first launch from SLC-4E since the Iridium NEXT 7 flight on July 25, 2018.
Quote from: Chris Bergin on 10/02/2018 02:18 pmL2 confirms the booster is on the pad for the Static Fire test today:https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/10/spacex-falcon-9-for-static-fire-saocom-1a-first-west-rtls/ - by Ian AtkinsonQuote from: The ArticleLZ-4 is situated approximately 0.3km from SLC-4E, where SAOCOM-1A will launch from. This is much different than the setup at Cape Canaveral, where LZ-1 is over 9km from SLC-40.The smaller distance will help to reduce the minimum time between launches, as it will take much less time to ship the landed first stage back to the Horizontal Integration Facility (HIF) to ready it for another launch.Generally, the articles and discussion here at NSF are great, but without some justification, this just comes across as silly. The 9km between LZ-1 and LC-40 as gating the turn around time? such that SLC-4E can be faster?Unless they just contracted booster movement to Radio Flyer, I'm just not seeing it.
Quote from: marsbase on 10/02/2018 10:32 pmStrangely, nowhere in the article does it say when the launch is scheduled.Second paragraphQuoteLaunch is scheduled for No Earlier Than (NET) 7:22PM Pacific time (2:22 UTC) on October 6 (October 7 UTC) from SLC-4E at Vandenberg Air Force Base. It will be the first launch from SLC-4E since the Iridium NEXT 7 flight on July 25, 2018.
Who is going to try and see this launch and landing in person? I was planning to try and attend this in person. I am expecting major crowds for this. Considering it is the weekend and it is the first RTLS on the west coast.
...So whats true? 1600kg or 3000kg?
Quote from: IntoTheVoid on 10/02/2018 08:21 pmQuote from: Chris Bergin on 10/02/2018 02:18 pmL2 confirms the booster is on the pad for the Static Fire test today:https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/10/spacex-falcon-9-for-static-fire-saocom-1a-first-west-rtls/ - by Ian AtkinsonQuote from: The ArticleLZ-4 is situated approximately 0.3km from SLC-4E, where SAOCOM-1A will launch from. This is much different than the setup at Cape Canaveral, where LZ-1 is over 9km from SLC-40.The smaller distance will help to reduce the minimum time between launches, as it will take much less time to ship the landed first stage back to the Horizontal Integration Facility (HIF) to ready it for another launch.Generally, the articles and discussion here at NSF are great, but without some justification, this just comes across as silly. The 9km between LZ-1 and LC-40 as gating the turn around time? such that SLC-4E can be faster?Unless they just contracted booster movement to Radio Flyer, I'm just not seeing it.The hassle of transporting the recovered boosters is an appreciable one at the Cape. Whereas for the VAFB recoveries, everything will be taking place not just within the base but, if they're doing the refurb work in the HIF of SLC-4, within the perimeter of a single launch complex. This means it's much less of a disruption for the other users of the base and requires much less scheduling and coordination with security/police for escort/traffic control/etc. These are not totally trivial considerations and could help in speeding up average turn around times.
If SpaceX confirmed a good static fire for the October 6/7 date, why would they slip until later?
Quote from: deruch on 10/03/2018 07:38 am The hassle of transporting the recovered boosters is an appreciable one at the Cape. Whereas for the VAFB recoveries, everything will be taking place not just within the base but, if they're doing the refurb work in the HIF of SLC-4, within the perimeter of a single launch complex. This means it's much less of a disruption for the other users of the base and requires much less scheduling and coordination with security/police for escort/traffic control/etc. These are not totally trivial considerations and could help in speeding up average turn around times.Not trivial, but close to meaningless in the big picture. I imagine it takes at most a day to move the booster from the landing to the prep area. Probably much less then a day. So until your refurbishment time is down into 'a week' time range, you aren't putting a meaningful dent into the processing time.
The hassle of transporting the recovered boosters is an appreciable one at the Cape. Whereas for the VAFB recoveries, everything will be taking place not just within the base but, if they're doing the refurb work in the HIF of SLC-4, within the perimeter of a single launch complex. This means it's much less of a disruption for the other users of the base and requires much less scheduling and coordination with security/police for escort/traffic control/etc. These are not totally trivial considerations and could help in speeding up average turn around times.
If you are doing "24 hour cycle time" cycles, ...
I didn't expected 19 degree westward, is that norm for this type of satellite?
Quote from: Jdeshetler on 10/04/2018 01:28 amI didn't expected 19 degree westward, is that norm for this type of satellite?While I'm not sure if this mission is truly polar, to make a polar orbit the Earth's rotation eastward needs to be negated. So, that's a basic reason to launch with a partial westward vector rather than truly due south. Also of course in the case of VAFB, they need to have it launch over the ocean, not over land, so they can't launch 180 degrees due south for that reason.
Any word on the weather conditions at VAFB for Sunday night?
Quote from: Lar on 10/03/2018 11:03 pmIf you are doing "24 hour cycle time" cycles, ...Big if. Isn't that 24 hour cycle time a theoretical minimum that they will never get close to unless some very weird circumstances arise?
Also of course in the case of VAFB, they need to have it launch over the ocean, not over land, so they can't launch 180 degrees due south for that reason. Once farther downrange to assure not overflying land, a launch vehicle can always do bit of a "dogleg" course change for the intended orbital inclination, as propellant margins allow.
Iridium missions also launch to an azimuth lower than 180°. Otherwise they would end up in orbits with inclinations higher than 90° and we know that's not the case for Iridium sats (I think it is something like 86° or something like that, I can't remember it well).
Basic question and probably covered *somewhere* but:What’s the launch window for tomorrow’s launch? Instantaneous? A few minutes? So much info, so little time...Thanks!
Some circular markings on the landing pad. There are also four sets of marks above and below the lower right arm of the X. The large square in the middle could be the remnants of the old launch pad, or perhaps a different type of concrete so as to reflect radar waves better. The structure at bottom left could perhaps be used to hold the vehicle before transferring to horizontal.
Has Mr Steven left port to attempt fairing recovery?
Quote from: magicsound on 10/07/2018 05:47 pmHas Mr Steven left port to attempt fairing recovery?He doesn't left his berth - not today, because he needs at least 10 hours in the place of fairing landing, which doesn't have.However, this is fairing 1.0, which would only be attempt without the possibility of re-use.
1 hour and counting.
Fairing capture attempt?
Quote from: ZachS09 on 10/08/2018 01:21 am1 hour and counting.Wow! These new Block 5 launch countdowns are QUIET. We won’t Hear anything from SpaceX until what, 45 minutes before T=0?
Wow, hang on a moment... who’s gonna do the analysis of that lean? - bad leg- camera lensPeople will want to know... this could actually be fun to see until the day SpaceX provides raw telemetry for us lemmings!Just glad it all went well and didn’t have to set an actual reminder to watch it... cause RTLS at VAFB
Are you sure the booster's leaning, MATTBLAK? It could be just the camera angle.
Quote from: webdan on 10/08/2018 02:48 amWow, hang on a moment... who’s gonna do the analysis of that lean? - bad leg- camera lensPeople will want to know... this could actually be fun to see until the day SpaceX provides raw telemetry for us lemmings!Just glad it all went well and didn’t have to set an actual reminder to watch it... cause RTLS at VAFBObviously camera lens 'cause the light post on the left also leaned at the same angle.
I didn't think TV cameras often indulged in wide angle lenses? Anyway - when it's daylight we'll see what really happened.
Quote from: BrightLight on 10/08/2018 02:37 amFairing capture attempt?Not this timeVery nice launchAmazing landingAnyone know how this looked from ground in the LA region?Edit: And yes, Zach, we are reading your post and very appreciative. Thanks!edit2: Thanks psloss! I look forward to images and video.
Quote from: MATTBLAK on 10/08/2018 03:07 amI didn't think TV cameras often indulged in wide angle lenses? Anyway - when it's daylight we'll see what really happened.This is the same kind of wide angle view that we always get on drone ships. And the same question gets asked every time.
All taken from Redondo Beach.
Did anyone else notice how much flame impingement there was on the first stage after separation? As the booster was in the middle of it's flip it looks like the flame hit between the bottom of the interstage and the top of the lox tank
No fairing capture attempt, no. They probably wont be doing night fairing recoveries until they've perfected day ones. This mission went very well, though I see the first stage ended up with quite a lean! Partial failure of one leg?
Hot damn (60 FPS)
Some nice shots before launch.Congratulations to SpaceX and CONAE for the successful launch!
Any idea what's going on here?
Quote from: edkyle99 on 10/08/2018 02:22 pmAny idea what's going on here? Ice, I imagine.
Any news about Mr.Steven and fairing?
Quote from: blaze79 on 10/09/2018 06:11 amAny news about Mr.Steven and fairing?Mr. Steven didn't sail due to heavy seas in the recovery area. So, there was no attempt to catch a fairing.
Quote from: woods170 on 10/09/2018 06:16 amQuote from: blaze79 on 10/09/2018 06:11 amAny news about Mr.Steven and fairing?Mr. Steven didn't sail due to heavy seas in the recovery area. So, there was no attempt to catch a fairing.Or as speculated above SpaceX won't attempt nighttime fairing recovery until they have success in daylight.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1049920490704388096
Quote from: Olaf on 10/10/2018 09:32 amhttps://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1049920490704388096That's such a 50's photograph-----ABCD: Always Be Counting Down
Quote from: Olaf on 10/10/2018 09:32 amhttps://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1049920490704388096That's such a 50's photograph... Bold days ahead!-----ABCD: Always Be Counting Down
Interesting soot marks:https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1049920490704388096
No updates about how this booster was taken down? I'm curious how long it took.
SpaceX has been referring to the landing zone as LZ-4 everywhere: on their Twitter, on the official website, in the press kit and during the webcast. I guess it's just a typo in Elon's tweet.
Quote from: Elthiryel on 10/11/2018 01:45 pmSpaceX has been referring to the landing zone as LZ-4 everywhere: on their Twitter, on the official website, in the press kit and during the webcast. I guess it's just a typo in Elon's tweet.Hah! It'll be LZ-1 now that Elon's said it's LZ-1!Reminded me of when HM Queen was opening a section - a tunnel or bridge, something - of a ring road in Birmingham and instead of saying 'I name this tunnel/bridge/something Queensway' she actually said 'I name this ring road Queensway' and Birmingham Council had to spend weeks renaming every other section on the ring road!
President Johnson first announced in 1964 the existence of the RS-71, the Air Force two-seater Blackbird Johnson accidentally turned it around and called it the “SR-71.”. But still, this is not going to happened with LZ-4 at Vandy.
Here is my summary report on public hysteria sparked by observations of the launch in California.
Quote from: JimO on 12/13/2018 02:00 amHere is my summary report on public hysteria sparked by observations of the launch in California.Geat analysis! Must have taken ages to collect all the references and quotes.But I've also got some constructive criticism: many slides of the report are written in capital letters, this is really hard to read - better use normal casing. Also, the presentation format is not optimal for this amount of text, I'd suggest formatting it as a structured document.
