SpaceX Falcon 9 : Spaceflight SSO-A : December 3, 2018 - UPDATES

[Chris Bergin]

UPDATE ONLY Thread for Spaceflight Industries SSO-A rideshare mission.

NSF Threads for SSO-A : Discussion / Updates
NSF Articles for SSO-A : https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/?s=SSO-A

Successful launch Dec. 3, 2018 at 10:34am PST (18:34 UTC) on Falcon 9 (booster 1046.3, previously used for Bangabandhu-1 and Merah Putih launches) to ~575km circular 97deg 10:30 LTDN SSO from Vandenberg SLC-4E.  ASDS landing was successful.  RTLS landing was initially expected for this mission, but that option was not available on the targeted launch date because of range conflicts.  Fairings missed the net.

FCC Paperwork
List of known payloads.  Total payload mass including 74 64 satellites and the two deployed dispenser structures is around 3000kg, with 1332kg being the deployed dispenser structures.

FCC File Number: SAT-STA-20180523-00042

The mission now has 114 payloads planned.  There will be two free-flying dispenser structures that each deploy multiple satellites, and four more satellites deploying from the base of the stack which stays attached to the second stage of Falcon 9.  The Upper Free Flyer has 12 microsatellites and 46 cubesats.  The Lower Free Flyer (which is exposed after the Upper Free Flyer separates) has 52 cubesats.  The Multi-Payload Carrier (MPC) has 4 microsatellites.  After deploying their payloads, the two dispenser structures (Upper Free Flyer and Lower Free Flyer) will deploy drag sails to decrease their time in orbit.

Spaceflight Purchases SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket to Provide More Frequent, Cost-Effective Rideshare Availability for Small Satellite Industry

Company expands launch services to meet growing demand for routine, predictable access to space, removing cost and access barriers for commercial and governmental organizations

 

SEATTLE (September 30, 2015)— Spaceflight, the company reinventing the model for launching small satellites into space, today announced the purchase of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and the expansion of its launch services to include dedicated rideshare missions. Spaceflight’s first dedicated rideshare mission, named the “2017 Sun Synch Express,” will launch in the second half of 2017 to a sun-synchronous low Earth orbit which is popular for earth imaging satellites.

Dedicated rideshare is a new launch alternative that blends cost-effective rideshare pricing with first-class service typically associated with buying a private rocket. Spaceflight’s dedicated rideshare missions will deliver customer spacecraft to popular destinations, such as sun-synchronous and geosynchronous transfer orbits, and provide a new solution for smaller satellites that cannot afford a complete launch vehicle.

“By purchasing and manifesting the entire SpaceX rocket, Spaceflight is well positioned to meet the smallsat industry’s growing demand for routine, reliable access to space,” said Curt Blake, President of Spaceflight’s launch business. “Our purchase of a private rocket further continues our mission of providing a customer-focused, full-service launch experience.”

Spaceflight’s dedicated rideshare routes are not tied to any particular primary satellite mission, so commercial and non-commercial smallsat operators using the service will benefit from the certainty of set launch schedules that were not previously available to rideshare customers, and can thereby avoid delays resulting from geo-political issues or primary satellite schedule changes. This enables customers with spacecraft that range in mass from 5 to 2500 kg to create long-range mission plans to Sun Synch and GTO with more dependable launch dates. Spaceflight is creating steady access to space with yearly dedicated rideshare missions planned beginning in 2017.

Spaceflight’s 2017 Sun Synch Express mission manifest includes satellites as small as 5 kg 3U CubeSat up to 575 kg satellite. Over 20 satellites will be deployed during the mission, with commercial customers pursuing a range of endeavors and government-sponsored scientific research originating from six different countries. The manifest is nearly at capacity.

“Dedicated missions for Rideshare-class payloads are an excellent way to promote space enterprise and research,” said Gwynne Shotwell, President and COO of SpaceX. “We are pleased that Spaceflight has successfully brought this multi-faceted partnership together.”

Spaceflight has launched 81 satellites to date and has over 135 satellites to deploy through 2018. The frequency of satellite launches, combined with Spaceflight’s cross-section of customers and variety of mission-applications, is a strong indicator of the growing capabilities of small satellites and the need for more timely and cost-effective access to space.

In addition to the new dedicated rideshare service, Spaceflight will continue to manifest small satellites as secondary payloads aboard several launch vehicles around the world to a variety of orbit destinations. Spaceflight is the only rideshare launch provider that publishes launch pricing and schedules online (http://www.spaceflightindustries.com/schedule-pricing/), aiming to make access to space as easy as booking an airline ticket.

About Spaceflight

Spaceflight is a next-generation, integrated space services and solutions company that is fundamentally changing how small satellites are built, launched and operated to improve access to space and enable persistent global awareness. Through its market-leading subsidiaries and service lines, including Spaceflight Systems, Spaceflight Services and Spaceflight Networks, the company provides cost-effective, comprehensive small-satellite products and services from development to launch, communications and operations. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, Spaceflight provides its services worldwide through its global network of partners, ground stations and launch vehicle providers. For more information, please visit http://www.spaceflightindustries.com.


Other SpaceX resources on NASASpaceflight:
   SpaceX News Articles (Recent)
   SpaceX News Articles from 2006 (Including numerous exclusive Elon interviews)
   SpaceX Dragon Articles
   SpaceX Missions Section (with Launch Manifest and info on past and future missions)

   L2 SpaceX Section

[Chris Bergin]

Static Fire NET November 15 via L2. We'll know better when the booster gets on the pad.

[Michael Baylor]

No fairing recovery attempt this time.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1062542792700784640

[Michael Baylor]

The recovery license for JRTI has still not been approved by the FCC. Still some time obviously, but something to watch.

[docmordrid]

The recovery license for JRTI has still not been approved by the FCC. Still some time obviously, but something to watch.

SpaceX has a 5 year launch license which includes landings or disposal.

License...(PDF)

(a) "Flight" shall mean the flight of a Falcon 9 launch
vehicle, commencing with ignition of the first stage from SLC-4E at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) and transporting
communications, remote sensing, or navigation class
payloads to low Earth orbit. Flight includes flyback of the first stage booster for landing at Landing Zone 4 at VAFB, landing on a droneship, or splashdown in the ocean as described in the application. A flight is concluded upon
SpaceX's last exercise of control over the Falcon 9 vehicle, including the safing of the Falcon 9 vehicle
stages or components that reach Earth orbit, following separation of the payload.

[Chris Bergin]

Standing by for the Static Fire test.

Via L2
Falcon 9 B1046.3 has arrived at SLC-4E for her static fire test ahead of launch on Monday with the SSO-A mission.

[jpo234]

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1063309442786062336

[jpo234]

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1063310464870834176

[Mammutti]

Don't know if this was posted before (couldn't find). Spaceflight has published a press kit for this mission. There are a few interesting bits: timelapse of putting the payload adapter together, payload mass (~4000 kg) and high resolution mission patch from Spaceflight. Unforunately, there isn't any list of all the satellites on board.

Direct link to the .zip archive with all the files: http://spaceflight.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Spaceflight_SSO-A_Presskit.zip

[Raul]

Spaceflight SSO-A Launch Hazard Area based on issued NOTMAR/NOTAMs.
Shape of green Area A suggests that it also includes ASDS position in its western part as an alternative to RTLS landing.
Stage2 Reentry Debris Area south of Hawaii is identical as at SAOCOM-1A mission and is active on the second orbit between 20:04 to 21:04 UTC.

[RocketLover0119]

Droneship Just Read The instructions departed port last night, looks like landing will be really close to shore

(Tweet 1 is from last night, tweet 2 is from this morning)

https://twitter.com/SpaceXFleet/status/1063559312180690952
https://twitter.com/SpaceXFleet/status/1063781550465142784

[Michael Baylor]

FCC permit granted! SpaceX are clear to attempt the first landing with the ASDS just offshore from the launch pad. Reminder: No RTLS due to the NROL mission being prepped downrange.

[Chris Bergin]

Not Monday!

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1063900263570788352

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/stephenclark1/status/1063901129141039110

[SMS]

https://twitter.com/minxsscubesat/status/1063888514280902656

[gongora]

https://twitter.com/HiberGlobal/status/1065232383849451520

Last night they informed us that the launch of our space “baby" in California will not be any earlier than Tuesday, 27 November. At this moment they are working on a new schedule that requires executive approval before it will be released. #launch #delay

[Alexphysics]

Posting it here per the usual RTLS questions. Delta IV Heavy flight is delayed to NET Dec 7th. Remember SSO-A would have to be heavily delayed (ie launch would have to be after Dec 7th) to be able to have a RTLS landing.

https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc/status/1065273975381594114

[Alexphysics]

Adding this here too, it seems the Nov 27th date was an error, launch date and time seems to be Nov 28th at 18:32 UTC. Link here to go to the source, I'll post the quotes here for those that can't.

2018-11-28T18:32 UTC confirmed.

27th*

And from where did you get the exact time?

I work on the ground segment for a large portion of the payloads and they have been informed of the 28th earlier today.

Wait so it changed again... to 28th? Another company with a payload on the mission just said hours ago it was 27th :/

Strange. Digging further.

28th is definitely confirmed.

[Raul]

Launch day Nov 28, with backup launch days Nov 29-30 is now confirmed also by newly issued NOTMAR Launch Hazard Area.

NAVAREA XII    513/2018(18,19,83).
PACIFIC OCEAN.
HAWAII.
CALIFORNIA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
   281801Z TO 281945Z NOV, ALTERNATE
   291801Z TO 291945Z AND 301801Z TO 301945Z NOV
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   32-46N 121-01W, 32-02N 120-11W,
   31-09N 120-27W, 30-48N 120-48W,
   30-41N 121-00W, 30-25N 121-31W,
   30-26N 121-56W, 31-10N 122-01W,
   32-14N 122-04W.
2. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS
   282004Z TO 282105Z NOV, ALTERNATE
   292004Z TO 292105Z AND 302004Z TO 302105Z NOV
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   00-52S 152-42W, 00-20S 155-10W,
   07-06N 158-07W, 15-27N 156-51W,
   19-27N 153-30W, 18-43N 147-59W,
   14-23N 147-19W, 05-35N 149-07W.
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 302205Z NOV 18.
(230807Z NOV 2018)

[Alexphysics]

Official confirmation from SpaceX of the new launch date.

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1066467725151780864