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

[gongora]

[Spaceflight Now - June 30, 2019] Barring a surprise, SpaceX’s next Falcon Heavy flight is planned in late 2020

After the AFSPC-44 launch, the Air Force plans another Falcon Heavy mission with SpaceX in the spring 0f 2021, Bongiovi said. That launch, designated AFSPC-52, was previously planned to lift off by September 2020, but in a briefing with reporters earlier this month, Bongiovi twice said the AFSPC-44 mission is the Air Force’s next Falcon Heavy mission.

[Nate_Trost]

Now that the government has agreed to do GPS missions on reflown stages, I'm curious to see if this mission will still use new side boosters.

[gongora]

I hadn't updated the date on this launch in a while.  With USSF-44 moving to late spring, it's extremely unlikely this flight would occur in the first half of 2021.

[gongora]

Now that the government has agreed to do GPS missions on reflown stages, I'm curious to see if this mission will still use new side boosters.

That will be interesting to see.  They've already tested reused side boosters on a DoD launch (although it wasn't under the NSSL program).

[ZachS09]

Now that the government has agreed to do GPS missions on reflown stages, I'm curious to see if this mission will still use new side boosters.

That will be interesting to see.  They've already tested reused side boosters on a DoD launch (although it wasn't under the NSSL program).

I hope B1052 and B1053 get to fly for a third time. They've been in storage WAY too long.

[Jansen]

Now that the government has agreed to do GPS missions on reflown stages, I'm curious to see if this mission will still use new side boosters.

That will be interesting to see.  They've already tested reused side boosters on a DoD launch (although it wasn't under the NSSL program).

Things are unlikely to change until GPS III SV05 gets certified, but SMC has stated they would like to transition to fully reuseable Falcons within 18 months.

[Jansen]

The following Falcon Heavy mission, another classified payload named USSF-52, will also require three new stages. That mission is expected to enable the recovery of all three stages: both side boosters and the center core.

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2020/09/spacex-manifest-falcon-heavy-arrives-mcgregor/

[Phillipsturtles]

Launch scheduled for October 2021 according to USSF.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/02/15/spacex-planning-launch-of-two-falcon-heavy-missions-in-summer-and-fall/

[Tommyboy]

The following Falcon Heavy mission, another classified payload named USSF-52, will also require three new stages. That mission is expected to enable the recovery of all three stages: both side boosters and the center core.

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2020/09/spacex-manifest-falcon-heavy-arrives-mcgregor/

Just wanted to point out that since all three boosters will be recovered, they must use three ASDS for this mission.

Therefore A Shortfall Of Gravitas *must* enter service before this mission.

Why three ASDSses? Maybe the boosters can RTLS and the code can land on an ASDS.

[Jansen]

You’re right, I was looking at the GTO requirements for another mission and was thinking of those numbers.

[Jansen]

I think this flight might be in October now.

https://fcc.report/IBFS/SES-STA-INTR2021-01859

Here’s the relevant bit if you don’t want to dig:

The spacecraft will be launched on or about October 9th, 2021 on a Falcon Heavy from the Kennedy Space Center. USUVL will rideshare on the vehicle with an unspecified US military spacecraft. USUVL will be injected into super-sync orbit on or about November 27th thru December 8th at which time USN will begin S- band support. The spacecraft is inclined at 2.8 degrees as to minimize potential interference with other geo spacecraft. The operators of USUVL have begun and will coordinate with other operators as to not cause interference as it moves around the geo-belt.

Looks like launch targeting 09 October 2021.

[gongora]

I think this flight might be in October now.

https://fcc.report/IBFS/SES-STA-INTR2021-01859

Here’s the relevant bit if you don’t want to dig:

The spacecraft will be launched on or about October 9th, 2021 on a Falcon Heavy from the Kennedy Space Center. USUVL will rideshare on the vehicle with an unspecified US military spacecraft. USUVL will be injected into super-sync orbit on or about November 27th thru December 8th at which time USN will begin S- band support. The spacecraft is inclined at 2.8 degrees as to minimize potential interference with other geo spacecraft. The operators of USUVL have begun and will coordinate with other operators as to not cause interference as it moves around the geo-belt.

Looks like launch targeting 09 October 2021.

I doubt that is for USSF-52

[scr00chy]

But isn't the super-sync deployment more in line with USSF-52 than USSF-44, which is going direct to GEO?

[gongora]

This is now scheduled for 2022.

[Jansen]

At 33:33 he says a FH is already planned for side booster reuse, in a response to a question. He didn’t specify which one.

Edit: Around 39:20 he confirms the slip for USSF-52

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post:

Multiple USA launch updates from SFN Launch Schedule, updated June 7

Falcon Heavy / USSF-52
Launch date: Early 2022
Launch time: TBD
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida

[techdude06]

https://twitter.com/thesheetztweetz/status/1428864787702849542?s=19

The U.S. Air Force awards SpaceX with a $19.2 million modification to its AFSPC-52 mission contract, due to “a change in the contract requirements.”

The original launch award was worth $130 million, bringing the total now to $149.2 million. https://t.co/k3b3jxMqy2 https://t.co/dmtXSFJFGI


Sent from my KB2005 using Tapatalk

[scr00chy]

https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/10/04/payload-issue-delays-spacexs-next-falcon-heavy-launch-to-early-2022/

The Space Systems Command spokesperson said the USSF-52 mission, the next national security launch on a Falcon Heavy, is scheduled for the second quarter of 2022.

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post:

With JRTI back in the que. The FH mission can go forward if the payload is ready. But once you get past the mid Mar for a launch date. All of the Crew Dragon and cargo Dragon flights one right after another would mean that it is either now (after the 3 Mar flight) or mid to late May.

Is there info as to if the payload is ready or not?

USSF-44 is not happening until next quarter [Q2 2022] at the earliest.

Assuming USSF-52 still follows USSF-44, it would now be NET June [2022]?

How long is a Falcon Heavy launch campaign?
Edit: 40 days from Crew DM1 to Arabsat-6A, in 2019, is the minimum thus far.
I assume/hope it will take less time now?

[Comga]

Cross-post:

With JRTI back in the que. The FH mission can go forward if the payload is ready. But once you get past the mid Mar for a launch date. All of the Crew Dragon and cargo Dragon flights one right after another would mean that it is either now (after the 3 Mar flight) or mid to late May.

Is there info as to if the payload is ready or not?

USSF-44 is not happening until next quarter [Q2 2022] at the earliest.

Assuming USSF-52 still follows USSF-44, it would now be NET June [2022]?

How long is a Falcon Heavy launch campaign?
Edit: 40 days from Crew DM1 to Arabsat-6A, in 2019, is the minimum thus far.
I assume/hope it will take less time now?

This contradicts the “next national security launch” statement from October.

https://spaceflightnow.com/2021/10/04/payload-issue-delays-spacexs-next-falcon-heavy-launch-to-early-2022/

The Space Systems Command spokesperson said the USSF-52 mission, the next national security launch on a Falcon Heavy, is scheduled for the second quarter of 2022.

From where was it learned that the order has been reversed?