Author Topic: SpaceX FH : USSF-52 (X-37B OTV-7) : KSC LC-39A : 28/29 December 2023 01:07 UTC  (Read 210203 times)

Offline southshore26

Do we know a launch window on this yet?

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How late can USSF-52 slip before impingeing on the IM-1 launch campaign? Circa the week before Christmas?  🎄 Two/2.5 weeks to shift GSE/pad from Falcon Heavy to Falcon 9?
Does IM-1 require LC-39A, or could it move to SLC-40? Apparently, SX-3 may launch from SLC-40 instead of LC-39A now that SLC-40 has its shiny new crew access arm. AX-3 appears to have a bit more scheduling flexibility than IM-1, but I have lost track of all the constraints for each of these missions.

Re: LC-39A, apparently yes, due to requirement to fill/replenish liquid methane for the lander via the strongback.
August 14, Lukas C.H. tweets
Quote
Launch will take place from LC-39A aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9. Because the lander uses liquid methane as its fuel, it needs to be fueled as late as possible. In order to do this, SpaceX will modify the strongback to be able to fuel the lander while it's inside the payload fairing.

Does USSF-52 impose the "must have time to evaluate the prior launch" rule?
Good question.  I don't know.  If so, it would be a DOD/Space Force requirement, not NASA.
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Do we know a launch window on this yet?

Was circa 00:00 to 05:00 UTC.  We'll see if this sort-of window changes when the new launch date is announced.  Up-thread:
NextSpaceflight (Updated November 14th)
Launch NET 8 December 2023
https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/110
Does this mean we can assume launch December 7th local time and December 8th UTC?

Yep. Evening launch local time, will be on the 8th in UTC. It'll be more clear once the launch window is announced.
« Last Edit: 11/28/2023 11:05 pm by zubenelgenubi »
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Offline GewoonLukas_

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United States Space Force Prepares X-37B for Launch
Nov. 29, 2023

The Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, in partnership with the United States Space Force and SpaceX, is making final preparations to launch the seventh mission of the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle. Due to launch delays and pad availability, USSF-52 will now launch on Dec. 10, 2023.

The seventh mission of the X-37B, also known as OTV-7, will be the first to launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket—designated USSF-52—with a wide range of test and experimentation objectives. These tests include operating in new orbital regimes, experimenting with space domain awareness technologies and investigating the radiation effects to NASA materials.

These tests are key to ensuring safe and responsible operations in space for all users of the space domain. Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall said about the mission, “this seventh flight of the X-37B continues to demonstrate the innovative spirit of the United States Space Force.”

[...]
« Last Edit: 11/29/2023 07:58 pm by GewoonLukas_ »
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Offline Asteroza

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United States Space Force Prepares X-37B for Launch
Nov. 29, 2023

The Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, in partnership with the United States Space Force and SpaceX, is making final preparations to launch the seventh mission of the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle. Due to launch delays and pad availability, USSF-52 will now launch on Dec. 10, 2023.

The seventh mission of the X-37B, also known as OTV-7, will be the first to launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket—designated USSF-52—with a wide range of test and experimentation objectives. These tests include operating in new orbital regimes, experimenting with space domain awareness technologies and investigating the radiation effects to NASA materials.

These tests are key to ensuring safe and responsible operations in space for all users of the space domain. Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall said about the mission, “this seventh flight of the X-37B continues to demonstrate the innovative spirit of the United States Space Force.”

[...]

Assuming that picture is not file footage, for the tea leaf watchers does the X-37b look like it's sitting a little higher than in previous encapsulation photos? If they don't show the rear end/payload adapter interface and it's sitting higher, that feeds more speculation on what is hanging out on the bottom...

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Quote
United States Space Force Prepares X-37B for Launch
Nov. 29, 2023

The Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, in partnership with the United States Space Force and SpaceX, is making final preparations to launch the seventh mission of the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle. Due to launch delays and pad availability, USSF-52 will now launch on Dec. 10, 2023.

The seventh mission of the X-37B, also known as OTV-7, will be the first to launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket—designated USSF-52—with a wide range of test and experimentation objectives. These tests include operating in new orbital regimes, experimenting with space domain awareness technologies and investigating the radiation effects to NASA materials.

These tests are key to ensuring safe and responsible operations in space for all users of the space domain. Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall said about the mission, “this seventh flight of the X-37B continues to demonstrate the innovative spirit of the United States Space Force.”

[...]

Assuming that picture is not file footage, for the tea leaf watchers does the X-37b look like it's sitting a little higher than in previous encapsulation photos? If they don't show the rear end/payload adapter interface and it's sitting higher, that feeds more speculation on what is hanging out on the bottom...

See here for other encapsulation photos:
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=47236.msg2078354#msg2078354
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Offline scr00chy

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United States Space Force Prepares X-37B for Launch
Nov. 29, 2023

The Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, in partnership with the United States Space Force and SpaceX, is making final preparations to launch the seventh mission of the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle. Due to launch delays and pad availability, USSF-52 will now launch on Dec. 10, 2023.

The seventh mission of the X-37B, also known as OTV-7, will be the first to launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket—designated USSF-52—with a wide range of test and experimentation objectives. These tests include operating in new orbital regimes, experimenting with space domain awareness technologies and investigating the radiation effects to NASA materials.

These tests are key to ensuring safe and responsible operations in space for all users of the space domain. Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall said about the mission, “this seventh flight of the X-37B continues to demonstrate the innovative spirit of the United States Space Force.”

[...]

Assuming that picture is not file footage, for the tea leaf watchers does the X-37b look like it's sitting a little higher than in previous encapsulation photos? If they don't show the rear end/payload adapter interface and it's sitting higher, that feeds more speculation on what is hanging out on the bottom...

According to this, the photo is from November 28, 2023.

Offline rocketenthusiast

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United States Space Force Prepares X-37B for Launch
Nov. 29, 2023

The Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, in partnership with the United States Space Force and SpaceX, is making final preparations to launch the seventh mission of the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle. Due to launch delays and pad availability, USSF-52 will now launch on Dec. 10, 2023.

The seventh mission of the X-37B, also known as OTV-7, will be the first to launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket—designated USSF-52—with a wide range of test and experimentation objectives. These tests include operating in new orbital regimes, experimenting with space domain awareness technologies and investigating the radiation effects to NASA materials.

These tests are key to ensuring safe and responsible operations in space for all users of the space domain. Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall said about the mission, “this seventh flight of the X-37B continues to demonstrate the innovative spirit of the United States Space Force.”

[...]

based on this photo can anyone tell if this is vehicle 1 or vehicle 2?

Offline daveglo

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Assuming that picture is not file footage, for the tea leaf watchers does the X-37b look like it's sitting a little higher than in previous encapsulation photos? If they don't show the rear end/payload adapter interface and it's sitting higher, that feeds more speculation on what is hanging out on the bottom...

As I understand it, the FH payload fairing usable height is a fair bit shorter than the Atlas fairing you'd see in the comparison post from Tony.  Not sure you're going to be able to draw any conclusions from that aspect.

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do we have images from otv-5?

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do we have images from otv-5?

None that I could find in respect to the ship in the faring.  All we have are pictures of the encapsulated payload rollout.
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Offline GewoonLukas_

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Falcon Heavy in the hangar at Launch Complex 39A in Florida

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1730708761751535751
« Last Edit: 12/01/2023 09:03 pm by GewoonLukas_ »
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Falcon Heavy is rolling out of the hanger at 39A.

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NSF Space Coast Live view
« Last Edit: 12/02/2023 05:52 pm by FutureSpaceTourist »

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https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1731011655071342757

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SpaceX's Falcon Heavy is heading to 39A's pad for its Static Fire test ahead of the USSF-52 (OTV-7) mission.

nsf.live/spacecoast

Offline GewoonLukas_

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SpaceX's Falcon Heavy is heading to 39A's pad for its Static Fire test ahead of the USSF-52 (OTV-7) mission.

nsf.live/spacecoast

New nosecones again? What's going on? During their careers B1064 and B1065 have reused the nosecones only during the USSF-67 mission, EchoStar XXIV / Jupiter-3, Psyche, and now USSF-52 have all flown with new nosecones.
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Offline rocketenthusiast

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does this booster have the stripe?

does this booster have the stripe?

The grey band on the second stage?

Nope.

Going vertical btw.

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