Author Topic: SpaceX FH : USSF-52 (X-37B OTV-7) : KSC LC-39A : 28/29 December 2023 01:07 UTC  (Read 210200 times)

Fully vertical just after 10pm ET.

Pics from NSF Space Coast Live.

Online zubenelgenubi

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No payload fairing.  This should mean a Static Fire, followed by a return to the HIF for payload integration.

Also, no gray band on the second stage, so no extended mission for the second stage.
« Last Edit: 12/03/2023 03:24 am by zubenelgenubi »
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Offline GewoonLukas_

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Static fire expected today around 17:00 UTC:

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SpaceX is planning to test fire a Falcon Heavy at launch pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center on Sunday. Ignition and a short burn of the 27 Merlin first stage engines is expected around midday (approx. 1700 UTC). The static fire test comes a week ahead of the planned launch of the U.S. military's secretive X-37B spaceplane.

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Offline GewoonLukas_

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Frost lines and condensation visible around the side boosters, so fueling for static fire is underway!
Lukas C. H. • Hobbyist Mission Patch Artist 🎨 • May the force be with you my friend, Ad Astra Per Aspera ✨️

Offline GewoonLukas_

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T-22 minute vent
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Online FutureSpaceTourist

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https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1731352405806063708

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T-22 minute vent. (Yes, it's 22 for FH, 20 for F9)

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1731357955910484382

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STATIC FIRE! Falcon Heavy fires up at 39A ahead of USSF-52.

nsf.live/spacecoast

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NSF static fire views
« Last Edit: 12/03/2023 04:06 pm by FutureSpaceTourist »

Online catdlr

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Something to hold us until the NSF Launch team assembles later today

Two feeds:  NSF and SFN
NSF: Space Coast Live
SFN: Launch Pad Live



« Last Edit: 12/03/2023 09:23 pm by catdlr »
It's Tony De La Rosa, ...I don't create this stuff, I just report it.

Offline GewoonLukas_

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NextSpaceflight (Updated December 5th)
Launch NET December 11th, 2023
https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/110

I presume this means launch December 10th local time and December 11th UTC:

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.
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Offline daveglo

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Post-static fire rollback in progress.  Image grabbed from SFN feed.  Time to mount the payload!

Offline Ken the Bin

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NGA Rocket Launching notice.

Quote from: NGA
061024Z DEC 23
NAVAREA IV 1414/23(GEN).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FLORIDA
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
   110001Z TO 110431Z DEC, ALTERNATE
   0001Z TO 0431Z DAILY 12 THRU 17 DEC
   IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 28-39.16N 080-37.80W, 29-12.00N 079-57.00W,
      29-10.00N 079-55.00W, 28-36.00N 080-15.00W,
      28-29.00N 080-24.00W, 28-27.60N 080-31.55W,
      28-27.94N 080-31.75W.
   B. 30-30.00N 078-35.00W, 30-58.00N 078-09.00W,
      30-52.00N 077-58.00W, 30-24.00N 078-23.00W.
   C. 36-07.00N 071-37.00W, 38-06.00N 069-34.00W,
      38-17.00N 068-32.00W, 38-13.00N 068-27.00W,
      37-32.00N 068-50.00W, 35-58.00N 071-28.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 170531Z DEC 23.//

Offline GewoonLukas_

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Initial orbit to ~48.25°:

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1/x
Navigational Warnings have appeared which I believe are for the USSF-52 #OTV7 X-37B mission.
They point to (initial) launch into a 48.25 degree inclined orbit.
Map depicts 185 km parking orbit variant and direct 185 x 35188 Km insertion variant

https://twitter.com/Marco_Langbroek/status/1732391895144321252?t=Fz3J9HO6b8yl83nYxortiw&s=19

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2/x
There is a possibility that at soime point it makes a dogleg into a ~64 degree HEO orbit
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Online zubenelgenubi

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Mission to GEO, after all.
Or a NOSS/Molniya HEO.
Well, well.

As Kosh says: "And so it begins."

« Last Edit: 12/06/2023 03:14 pm by zubenelgenubi »
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Offline rocketenthusiast

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Mission to GEO, after all.
Or a NOSS/Molniya HEO.
Well, well.

As Kosh says: "And so it begins."
its not geo! its GSO! geo is 0 degree inclination
« Last Edit: 12/06/2023 06:48 pm by gongora »

Offline Jim

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Mission to GEO, after all.
Or a NOSS/Molniya HEO.
Well, well.

As Kosh says: "And so it begins."
its not geo! its GSO! geo is 0 degree inclination

No, GSO is 0 degree inclination.  Any other inclination is not "stationary"

Offline rocketenthusiast

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Mission to GEO, after all.
Or a NOSS/Molniya HEO.
Well, well.

As Kosh says: "And so it begins."
its not geo! its GSO! geo is 0 degree inclination

No, GSO is 0 degree inclination.  Any other inclination is not "stationary"

gso is geosyncrinous ourbit not geostationary orbit! geo (geostationary orbit) is zero degrees GSO is not
« Last Edit: 12/06/2023 09:38 pm by zubenelgenubi »

Offline Brigantine

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Offline Asteroza

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parking plus insertion...

Do we know if the X-37 is rated for a GTO reentry?

Otherwise, this perhaps suggests X-37 with SM released in parking orbit, secondary payload behind SM still attached to the second stage gets boosted by second stage to GTO?

Offline Brigantine

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Do we know if the X-37 is rated for a GTO reentry?

Just want to point out, it can do aerobraking as gradually as it likes down to LEO energy. It doesn't need to go from GTO to landing all at once.

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