Author Topic: SpaceX F9 : Iridium NEXT 6 with GRACE-FO : May 22, 2018 - UPDATES  (Read 81672 times)

Offline ChrisGebhardt

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

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

Offline ChrisGebhardt

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The first GRACE mission was able to see major planetary events, from the Ross Ice Shelf sea ice loss to the Chilean 2010 earthquake.
« Last Edit: 05/21/2018 05:38 pm by ChrisGebhardt »

Offline ChrisGebhardt

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

Offline ChrisGebhardt

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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.
« Last Edit: 05/21/2018 06:03 pm by ChrisGebhardt »

Offline vaporcobra

Some great photos of integration :D sadly 720p, but cool nonetheless.

Offline Elthiryel

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Press kit, mission patch and webcast are now available!

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

GO for launch, GO for age of reflight

Offline ChrisGebhardt

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Michael Baylor for NASASpaceflight asking about microwave instruments and what might happen if it doesn't work as expected.
« Last Edit: 05/21/2018 06:05 pm by ChrisGebhardt »

Offline ChrisGebhardt

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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.

Offline ChrisGebhardt

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And briefing over.

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

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Offline Chris Bergin

Great to see Michael at the presser!

F9 is at the pad.
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Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Photo from SpaceX website

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Photos from NASA

Offline Lewis007

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

Offline Chris Bergin

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.
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Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Video from SpaceX of F9 being raised last night:

http://Instagram.com/p/BjFcFGMlhjJ

Offline ChrisGebhardt

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

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Couple of NASA photos taken today

Offline ChrisGebhardt

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T-80mins.  7mins to final fuelling polls.  10mins to fueling.
« Last Edit: 05/22/2018 06:35 pm by ChrisGebhardt »

Offline ChrisGebhardt

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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.
« Last Edit: 05/22/2018 06:31 pm by ChrisGebhardt »

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