Author Topic: SpaceX F9 : Iridium NEXT 6 with GRACE-FO : May 22, 2018 - UPDATES (Read 86650 times)

ZachS09 · « **Reply #120 on:** 05/22/2018 07:48 pm »

Tank pressurization complete; launch vehicle is completely configured.

T-10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and liftoff of the Falcon 9 Block 4 rocket, carrying into polar orbit five more Iridium-NEXT satellites and the GRACE-FO mission for NASA and GFZ.

ChrisGebhardt · « **Reply #121 on:** 05/22/2018 07:48 pm »

LIFTOFF of Falcon 9!

ChrisGebhardt · « **Reply #122 on:** 05/22/2018 07:48 pm »

Pitching downrange.

ZachS09 · « **Reply #123 on:** 05/22/2018 07:48 pm »

Pitch, roll, and yaw programs have begun. First stage propulsion nominal.

All nine engines producing 1.5 million pounds of thrust.

ChrisGebhardt · « **Reply #124 on:** 05/22/2018 07:48 pm »

Stage 1 prop nominal.

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #125 on:** 05/22/2018 07:48 pm »

Liftoff!

ChrisGebhardt · « **Reply #126 on:** 05/22/2018 07:48 pm »

Power and Telemetry nominal.

ZachS09 · « **Reply #127 on:** 05/22/2018 07:48 pm »

T+45 seconds.

Altitude 3 kilometers, velocity 700 kilometers per hour.

ZachS09 · « **Reply #128 on:** 05/22/2018 07:49 pm »

Vehicle now passing through Mach 1.

At about T+79 seconds, Falcon 9 will go through Max-Q.

ChrisGebhardt · « **Reply #129 on:** 05/22/2018 07:49 pm »

F9 supersonic.

ChrisGebhardt · « **Reply #130 on:** 05/22/2018 07:49 pm »

Max-Q.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #131 on:** 05/22/2018 07:49 pm »

LAUNCH!

ZachS09 · « **Reply #132 on:** 05/22/2018 07:49 pm »

Having gone through Max-Q, the next major event will be Main Engine Cut-Off at T+166 seconds. Staging will occur three seconds later followed by the first M-Vac engine start eight seconds afterwards.

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #133 on:** 05/22/2018 07:49 pm »

T+1 minute. Picture is out of focus.

ChrisGebhardt · « **Reply #134 on:** 05/22/2018 07:50 pm »

MVac chilldown has begun.

ZachS09 · « **Reply #135 on:** 05/22/2018 07:50 pm »

T+2 minutes. M-Vac chilldown started.

ZachS09 · « **Reply #136 on:** 05/22/2018 07:50 pm »

Shortly before MECO, the nine first stage engines will throttle down to limit acceleration stresses. Otherwise, the vehicle would disintegrate if the engines stayed at a fixed thrust level.

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #137 on:** 05/22/2018 07:50 pm »

T+2 minutes.

ChrisGebhardt · « **Reply #138 on:** 05/22/2018 07:50 pm »

Stage 1 shutdown.

Stage separation confirmed.

ZachS09 · « **Reply #139 on:** 05/22/2018 07:50 pm »

We have MECO-1. And staging has occurred.

First stage AFTS will be safed momentarily.