Author Topic: SpaceX F9 : Iridium NEXT 6 with GRACE-FO : May 22, 2018 - UPDATES (Read 76313 times)

ChrisGebhardt · « **Reply #20 on:** 05/21/2018 05:37 pm »

GRACE-FO pre-launch news conference now live from Vandenberg.

https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html#public

ChrisGebhardt · « **Reply #21 on:** 05/21/2018 05:38 pm »

The first GRACE mission was able to see major planetary events, from the Ross Ice Shelf sea ice loss to the Chilean 2010 earthquake.

ChrisGebhardt · « **Reply #22 on:** 05/21/2018 06:00 pm »

GRACE-FO sats will call home via McMurdo Station, Antartica, about 23 minutes after separation from the Falcon 9

ChrisGebhardt · « **Reply #23 on:** 05/21/2018 06:02 pm »

L-1 day launch weather update:

Tomorrow, Tuesday, we have a >90% chance of good weather at the instantaneous launch time of 12:47:58 PDT (1947:58 UTC). Ground winds are concern.

For backup opportunity Wednesday, there's a 100% chance of good weather.

vaporcobra · « **Reply #24 on:** 05/21/2018 06:03 pm »

Some great photos of integration

sadly 720p, but cool nonetheless.

Elthiryel · « **Reply #25 on:** 05/21/2018 06:04 pm »

Press kit, mission patch and webcast are now available!

http://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/iridium6presskit2018521.pdf

ChrisGebhardt · « **Reply #26 on:** 05/21/2018 06:05 pm »

Michael Baylor for NASASpaceflight asking about microwave instruments and what might happen if it doesn't work as expected.

ChrisGebhardt · « **Reply #27 on:** 05/21/2018 06:13 pm »

Michael asking how quickly the GRACEFOs have to get away from the Falcon 9 2nd before Stage 2 performs its second burn to get into the Iridium comm sats orbit.

Answer was about 2mins, but panelist weren't sure of exact timing.

ChrisGebhardt · « **Reply #28 on:** 05/21/2018 06:17 pm »

And briefing over.

NASA TV broadcast starts at 12:15 PDT (19:15 UTC) tomorrow.

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #29 on:** 05/21/2018 08:14 pm »

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #30 on:** 05/21/2018 09:57 pm »

Great to see Michael at the presser!

F9 is at the pad.

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #31 on:** 05/22/2018 05:07 am »

Photo from SpaceX website

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #32 on:** 05/22/2018 05:38 am »

Photos from NASA

Lewis007 · « **Reply #33 on:** 05/22/2018 09:21 am »

Three additional patches
Source: http://spacexpatchlist.space/

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #34 on:** 05/22/2018 11:00 am »

FEATURE ARTICLE: SpaceX Falcon 9 set for Iridium NEXT 6 and GRACE-FO launch -

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/05/falcon-9-iridium-next-6-grace-fo-launch/

- By William Graham. Photos from Michael Baylor, Jay L. DeShetler and we also have Jack Beyer there with remotes.

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #35 on:** 05/22/2018 04:20 pm »

Video from SpaceX of F9 being raised last night:

http://Instagram.com/p/BjFcFGMlhjJ

ChrisGebhardt · « **Reply #36 on:** 05/22/2018 05:59 pm »

Under 2hrs to go. All progressing well right now.

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #37 on:** 05/22/2018 06:16 pm »

Couple of NASA photos taken today

ChrisGebhardt · « **Reply #38 on:** 05/22/2018 06:27 pm »

T-80mins. 7mins to final fuelling polls. 10mins to fueling.

ChrisGebhardt · « **Reply #39 on:** 05/22/2018 06:30 pm »

Launch team going through the standard "what to do if an urgent need to abort the count after the start of autosequence occurs" briefing now.

Autosequence for this launch starts at T-70mins.