[Jeff Foust Tweets]
...There has been a “tremendous amount of testing” since the GPS 3 launch scrub, including taking the Merlin engines from that rocket back to SpaceX’s McGregor, Texas, test site for further study. That investigation has involved NASA and Space Force personnel working with SpaceX.
Quote from: RocketLover0119 on 10/16/2020 05:20 pm[Jeff Foust Tweets]Further, Falcon 9 investigation ongoing as SpaceX continues Starlink launches, dated October 18:Tim Dunn of NASA’s Launch Services Program said at an Oct. 16 briefing about the scheduled Nov. 10 launch of the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich ocean science satellite:Quote...There has been a “tremendous amount of testing” since the GPS 3 launch scrub, including taking the Merlin engines from that rocket back to SpaceX’s McGregor, Texas, test site for further study. That investigation has involved NASA and Space Force personnel working with SpaceX.
Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 10/20/2020 06:00 amQuote from: RocketLover0119 on 10/16/2020 05:20 pm[Jeff Foust Tweets]Further, Falcon 9 investigation ongoing as SpaceX continues Starlink launches, dated October 18:Tim Dunn of NASA’s Launch Services Program said at an Oct. 16 briefing about the scheduled Nov. 10 launch of the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich ocean science satellite:Quote...There has been a “tremendous amount of testing” since the GPS 3 launch scrub, including taking the Merlin engines from that rocket back to SpaceX’s McGregor, Texas, test site for further study. That investigation has involved NASA and Space Force personnel working with SpaceX.Your link doesn’t work. Sorry.This should work:https://spacenews.com/space-force-plans-big-reveals-on-its-first-anniversary/
https://twitter.com/KathyLueders/status/1318915120051802112QuoteWe are making a lot of good progress with @SpaceX on engine testing to better understand the unexpected behavior observed during a recent non-NASA launch. (1/5)It’s too early to report findings at this point, as @SpaceX continues testing to validate what’s believed to be the most credible cause. (2/5)Based on our current analysis, @SpaceX is replacing one Merlin engine on the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich launch vehicle and one engine for Crew-1 rocket that displayed similar early-start behavior during testing. (3/5)We are still targeting the Sentinel-6 launch for Nov. 10 from Vandenberg Air Force Base as we expect to complete forward work in time. (4/5)We are also still working towards a mid-November launch for Crew-1. We will want a few days between Sentinel-6 and Crew-1 to complete data reviews and check performance. Most importantly, we will fly all our missions when we are ready. (5/5) #LaunchAmerica
We are making a lot of good progress with @SpaceX on engine testing to better understand the unexpected behavior observed during a recent non-NASA launch. (1/5)It’s too early to report findings at this point, as @SpaceX continues testing to validate what’s believed to be the most credible cause. (2/5)Based on our current analysis, @SpaceX is replacing one Merlin engine on the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich launch vehicle and one engine for Crew-1 rocket that displayed similar early-start behavior during testing. (3/5)We are still targeting the Sentinel-6 launch for Nov. 10 from Vandenberg Air Force Base as we expect to complete forward work in time. (4/5)We are also still working towards a mid-November launch for Crew-1. We will want a few days between Sentinel-6 and Crew-1 to complete data reviews and check performance. Most importantly, we will fly all our missions when we are ready. (5/5) #LaunchAmerica
It was prerecorded, though, so we don't know when she said it exactly.
A streak of United Launch Alliance and SpaceX launch scrubs has frustrated rocket company executives and space aficionados. But Space Force launch managers are not discouraged, and in fact see scrubs as proof that systems are working like they should, Col. Douglas Pentecost said Oct. 22.
SN: Space Force official: Launch scrubs are no reason to despair, dated October 22
...the Space Force is planning to send three satellites to orbit in November, suggesting both NROL-44 and GPS 3 could be ready to launch next month. The third national security launch would be NROL-101, an NRO mission scheduled to fly on ULA’s Atlas 5.
SFN (dated October 27) reporting launch windows moved forward to Nov 4 2328-2343 GMT (6:28-6:43 p.m. EST).
https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1321545840092049409Quote from: TweetStich: Due to the engine issue discovered on a previous mission, working to swap two engines on the Falcon 9 for Crew-1.Koenigsmann: Abort on the GPS III launch was caused by an early start on two of the nine first-stage engines. Auto abort prevented a potential hard start which could have damaged the engines.Koenigsmann: Engines were sent to McGregor, Texas for testing and they were able to reproduce the issue. The problem was traced to a blocked relief valve in the gas generator. There was leftover masking material from the production process.Koenigsmann: Further reviews have determined that other boosters had engines with this problem.Koenigsmann: Problematic substance was sort of like nail polish. Only some of the recently produced engines have this problem.<snip>Stich: Want to see GPS launch before we go fly crew.
Stich: Due to the engine issue discovered on a previous mission, working to swap two engines on the Falcon 9 for Crew-1.Koenigsmann: Abort on the GPS III launch was caused by an early start on two of the nine first-stage engines. Auto abort prevented a potential hard start which could have damaged the engines.Koenigsmann: Engines were sent to McGregor, Texas for testing and they were able to reproduce the issue. The problem was traced to a blocked relief valve in the gas generator. There was leftover masking material from the production process.Koenigsmann: Further reviews have determined that other boosters had engines with this problem.Koenigsmann: Problematic substance was sort of like nail polish. Only some of the recently produced engines have this problem.<snip>Stich: Want to see GPS launch before we go fly crew.
Why was this not picked up during the Static Fire for this mission?I thought that the SF was designed to reveal such issues.
If the launch is delayed to Wednesday for some reason, there is a 70 percent chance of good conditions."For backup day Wednesday, continued onshore flow and winds from the east bring increased cloud cover with a spotty light rain shower moving onshore possible. Therefore the primary concerns for backup day are the Cumulus Cloud Rule and Ground Winds," forecasters report.
