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#140
by
zubenelgenubi
on 13 Aug, 2023 21:50
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NextSpaceflight, updated August 13:
Center expendable core = B1084.1
Side cores unknown
Jupiter 3/EchoStar XXIV:
NextSpaceflight now has B1074 as the Center Core.
Number on center core says 74 per close up photos from the pad remotes.
Psyche:
B1079.1 instead of B1084.1? Has B1084 been transported from McGregor to the Cape?
B1064 and B1065 for this mission (confirmed again), will also be reused (and expended) on the Europa Clipper launch:
Everything is coming together for launch of NASA’s mission to a metal asteroid
8/11/2023
[...]
All of the major components for SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket are undergoing launch preparations at the Kennedy Space Center or Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, according to Jim Hall, a senior mission manger for NASA's Launch Services Program, which brokers rides for NASA spacecraft on commercial rockets.
The Falcon Heavy's two reusable side boosters for the Psyche mission returned from their previous launch on July 28 with a commercial communications satellite. SpaceX is refurbishing those boosters—each with three flights on their record—for the Psyche launch. The side-mounted rockets will be recovered again at SpaceX's Cape Canaveral landing zones after the Psyche launch, and they'll be reused and expended on the launch of NASA's Europa Clipper mission in October 2024.
The center core of the Falcon Heavy rocket slated to launch Psyche is also in Florida for final launch preps, as are the two new aeroshells for the rocket's payload fairing. This will be the eighth flight of a Falcon Heavy rocket, but the first Falcon Heavy with a payload heading for another planetary body.
[...]
NextSpaceflight, updated August 11?:
Expendable center core B1079.1
B1084 is still vertical at McGregor --> https://nsf.live/mcgregor
Succession of center cores assigned to this launch: 1070 > 1079 > 1074 > 1084
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#141
by
Zed_Noir
on 14 Aug, 2023 00:10
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Wonder if side booster cores B1064 and B1065 will be flying with every upcoming Falcon Heavy launches until getting expended with the Europa Clipper mission?
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#142
by
GewoonLukas_
on 14 Aug, 2023 20:19
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#143
by
zubenelgenubi
on 22 Sep, 2023 18:55
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Any new news?
I know there's been quite a lot of confusing jumps on the schedule of certain classified missions for SpaceX. This is not just for them but also ULA and such and if you remember it's also been a problem for a while as well (see USSF-44 being delayed 2 years). Not sure what's going on but it doesn't look like military payloads have had the best of luck lately trying to be on schedule.
This is in relation with the USSF-124 mission jumping back and forth on nextspaceflight from NET November to NET October 31st, etc. We'll see what happens with that mission - same with USSF-52 and friends.
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#144
by
zubenelgenubi
on 11 Oct, 2023 17:27
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Tim Dunn, Senior Launch Director, NASA Launch Services Program, at Psyche post-LRR press conference:
Psyche side boosters will be reused for DOD mission later this fall = USSF-52.
1064-5, 1065-5.
Then, these are set aside for Europa Clipper.
1064-6, 1065-6, expended at sea.
That means GOES-U will use different side boosters.
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#145
by
zubenelgenubi
on 17 Oct, 2023 14:51
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Cross-post:
2113-EX-ST-2023
Extends the permit for Mission 1491 (USSF-52), which currently expires December 22.
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#146
by
zubenelgenubi
on 20 Oct, 2023 10:10
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#147
by
GewoonLukas_
on 01 Nov, 2023 15:27
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#148
by
zubenelgenubi
on 07 Nov, 2023 21:33
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SFN Private astronaut mission likely first to use SpaceX’s new crew access tower, November 6, by Will Robinson-Smith
Starting Nov. 9, a Falcon 9 is scheduled to launch the 29th SpaceX Commercial Resupply Services (CRS-29) mission to the ISS, which will send thousands of pounds of cargo and science experiments up to the crew on orbit. That is expected to be followed by the fifth and final Falcon Heavy of 2023: the USSF-52 national security mission.
It takes about three weeks to convert the launch pad from a Falcon 9 to a Falcon Heavy configuration.
Nov 10 UTC + 21 days = Dec 1
Launch NET early December
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#149
by
spacenuance
on 08 Nov, 2023 19:26
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Um so this is an X-37B launch . . .
https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3583347/department-of-the-air-force-scheduled-to-launch-seventh-x-37b-mission/
Department of the Air Force Scheduled to Launch Seventh X-37B Mission
Published Nov. 8, 2023
By SAF/PA Staff Writer
ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) --
The Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, in partnership with the United States Space Force, is scheduled to launch the seventh mission of the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle Dec. 7, 2023 from Kennedy Space Center, Florida.
The X-37B Mission 7 will launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket for the first time, designated USSF-52, with a wide range of test and experimentation objectives. These tests include operating the reusable spaceplane in new orbital regimes, experimenting with future space domain awareness technologies, and investigating the radiation effects on materials provided by NASA.
“We are excited to expand the envelope of the reusable X-37B’s capabilities, using the flight-proven service module and Falcon Heavy rocket to fly multiple cutting-edge experiments for the Department of the Air Force and its partners,” said Lt. Col. Joseph Fritschen, the X-37B Program Director.
X-37B Mission 7, also known as OTV-7, will expand the United States Space Force’s knowledge of the space environment by experimenting with future space domain awareness technologies. These tests are integral in ensuring safe, stable, and secure operations in space for all users of the domain.
Chief of Space Operations, Gen. B. Chance Saltzman hailed these experiments as “groundbreaking,” saying, “The X37B continues to equip the United States with the knowledge to enhance current and future space operations. X-37B Mission 7 demonstrates the USSF’s commitment to innovation and defining the art-of-the-possible in the space domain.”
The NASA experiment onboard will expose plant seeds to the harsh radiation environment of long-duration spaceflight. Known as “Seeds-2,” the experiment will build upon the successes of prior experiments, paving the way for future crewed space missions.
Previously, X-37B Mission 6 was the first mission to introduce a service module that expanded the capabilities of the spacecraft and allowed it to host more experiments than any of the previous missions. The spacecraft carried the Naval Research Laboratory’s Photovoltaic Radio-frequency Antenna Module experiment, which transformed solar power into radio frequency microwave energy, and two NASA experiments to study the results of radiation and other space effects on a materials sample plate and seeds used to grow food. The X-37B Mission 6 also deployed FalconSat-8, a small satellite developed by the U.S. Air Force Academy and sponsored by the Air Force Research Laboratory.
The Director of the DAF RCO, William D. Bailey, praised the collaborative partnership with industry, noting, “The X-37B government and Boeing teams have worked together to produce a more responsive, flexible, and adaptive experimentation platform. The work they’ve done to streamline processes and adapt evolving technologies will help our nation learn a tremendous amount about operating in and returning from a space environment.”
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#150
by
GewoonLukas_
on 08 Nov, 2023 19:31
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X-37B encapsulated inside of the Falcon Heavy payload fairing for the USSF-52 mission:
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#151
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 08 Nov, 2023 19:36
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Here’s full resolution. Photo has a time stamp
yesterday. Looks like new fairing.
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#152
by
XRZ.YZ
on 08 Nov, 2023 19:49
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Will the X-37B goes to a higher orbit? Why Falcon Heavy?
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#153
by
vanoord
on 08 Nov, 2023 19:51
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Weight of the service module?
But would that fit in the fairing?
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#154
by
lrk
on 08 Nov, 2023 19:58
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Seems like they could have recovered the center core for this mission then, if they hadn't decided to make them all expendable.
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#155
by
zubenelgenubi
on 08 Nov, 2023 20:00
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Why the repeated launch delays? There are 6 previous missions performed over the last 13 years. I suspect the cause was payload delays, not the X-37B platform.
Edit: If this is a launch (direct GEO insertion) to GEO, then various systems would require substantial improvements, particularly the tiles, so as to allow reentry from GEO. Also, radiation hardening to allow GEO operations. This could explain the delays from NLT Q4 FY 2020 = NLT Q3 2020.
The delta-v to return from GEO would be identical? to reaching GEO? Perhaps GEO to "reverse" GTO burn, followed by GTO to LEO burn, followed by reentry burn?
And, why the shift to Falcon Heavy? Previous launches used Atlas V 501 (5 times) and Falcon 9 v1.2 (1 time). Will the FH second stage perform GEO insertion? The NOTAMs/NOTMARs will provide some clarity regarding orbital destination.
This bodes to be an interesting engineering experiment! 🤔 I'm sure the not-friends of the USA 🇺🇸 will observe very closely.
Correction, clarification, or confirmation welcomed, as always.
Original unclassified contract requirements noted here:
http://www.losangeles.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1328975/final-rfp-released-for-afspc-52-launch-services-contract/#.Wc2JJNwG0Ks.facebook
Final RFP Released for AFSPC-52 Launch Services Contract
...
The solicitation is at:
https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USAF/AFSC/SMCSMSC/FA8811-17-R-0005/listing.html
The mission requirements appear to be classified. Quickly skimmed a couple of the documents, the only interesting information I saw so far is:
For unclassified proposal responses, the Offeror shall reference the payload as the “AFSPC-52 Payload” and the aft end shall be referred to as the “aft end of the Payload” if referencing is required.
...
If an Offeror is unable to perform calculations utilizing the requirements contained in the Interface Requirements Document (IRD) Table 3.2.2-1, the Offeror may utilize the reference orbit for calculations (27°, 6,350kg to a GTO of at least 35,188km X 185km). If an Offeror chooses this reference orbit, sufficient supporting data to include engineering analysis, technical justification and rationale must be provided to demonstrate the ability to meet the actual orbital accuracy requirement (Ref IRD Table 3.2.2-1).
My
bold:
Um so this is an X-37B launch . . .
https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3583347/department-of-the-air-force-scheduled-to-launch-seventh-x-37b-mission/
Department of the Air Force Scheduled to Launch Seventh X-37B Mission
Published Nov. 8, 2023
By SAF/PA Staff Writer
<snip>
The X-37B Mission 7 will launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket for the first time, designated USSF-52, with a wide range of test and experimentation objectives. These tests include operating the reusable spaceplane in new orbital regimes, experimenting with future space domain awareness technologies, and investigating the radiation effects on materials provided by NASA.
<snip>
Wolfgang: "Very interesting"
Extensive edits ✨️
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#156
by
Alexphysics
on 08 Nov, 2023 20:00
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Seems like they could have recovered the center core for this mission then, if they hadn't decided to make them all expendable.
According to SpaceX's Jon Edwards they'll have center core recovery on the Astrobotic flight flying next year so it's not off the table.
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#157
by
Newton_V
on 08 Nov, 2023 20:02
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Will the X-37B goes to a higher orbit? Why Falcon Heavy?
Draft solicitation said the launch was 6,350 kg to GTO, which is just a bit too heavy for Falcon 9 to be able to do if I'm correct.
That's just a "reference orbit", probably to track performance capability of the LV. (not necessarily the mass OR the orbit)
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#158
by
XRZ.YZ
on 08 Nov, 2023 20:05
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Will the X-37B goes to a higher orbit? Why Falcon Heavy?
Draft solicitation said the launch was 6,350 kg to GTO, which is just a bit too heavy for Falcon 9 to be able to do if I'm correct.
That number probably for another satellite originally thought to use this launch number.
It's very unlikely that X-37B will be able to return from GEO and land on an airport.
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#159
by
zubenelgenubi
on 08 Nov, 2023 20:21
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Weight of the service module?
But would that fit in the fairing?
Yes, assuming same mass and dimensions as service module used for
OTV-6.
