SpaceX Falcon 9 : SAOCOM 1B : Cape Canaveral : August 30, 2020 (23:19 UTC)

[KTigress]

https://www.argentina.gob.ar/noticias/saocom-1b-comienzan-las-pruebas-conjuntas-con-spacex

"[During the static fire] we will do a test of the whole system. If the results are satisfactory, it means that SAOCOM 1B is ready to go to orbit", [Ordońez] informed. Then, the satellite will be moved to a hangar, a few meters away from the launch pad. There, it will be turned on again, already in the fairing, to make sure there haven't been any issues during the transfer, and it will be integrated with the Falcon 9 rocket.

Is it usual to detach and reattach the payload to the rocket after the static fire? Otherwise, this article may have some mistakes, or SAOCOM won't be attached to the Falcon 9 for the static fire after all

[vaporcobra]

https://www.argentina.gob.ar/noticias/saocom-1b-comienzan-las-pruebas-conjuntas-con-spacex

"[During the static fire] we will do a test of the whole system. If the results are satisfactory, it means that SAOCOM 1B is ready to go to orbit", [Ordońez] informed. Then, the satellite will be moved to a hangar, a few meters away from the launch pad. There, it will be turned on again, already in the fairing, to make sure there haven't been any issues during the transfer, and it will be integrated with the Falcon 9 rocket.

Is it usual to detach and reattach the payload to the rocket after the static fire? Otherwise, this article may have some mistakes, or SAOCOM won't be attached to the Falcon 9 for the static fire after all

Fully normal. Unless the customer explicitly requests it, SpaceX has performed all commercial launch static fires without the payload installed since Amos-6, where the payload would have been saved if SpaceX had done so. They decided the risk wasn't worth trimming ~24 hours from the launch flow after that.

[Alexphysics]

It doesn't explictly says that the joint test simulating the launch is either during static fire or with the payload on top of the rocket. I think it's more likely the simulated launch test will be done with the payload somewhere else inside the fairing. Once the test is complete then they roll it out to the hangar and install it onto the rocket. That's what I get from the article as Spanish native speaker. Now, translations would obviously lose some of that meaning.

[Elthiryel]

The launch is included in the new NOTMARs.

https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/pdf/lnms/lnm07332020.pdf

ATLANTIC OCEAN - FLORIDA - CAPE CANAVERAL

Eastern Range OP# X5665 FALCON 9 SAOCOM-1B will be conducting hazardous operations surface to unlimited within portions of Warning Areas
W497A, W497B, W465D, and the following Hazard Areas:

A: From 2836 36.77N 8035 43.86W
TO 2839N 8030W
TO 2808N 8011W
TO 2803N 8025W
TO 2824 37.67N 8035 19.75W to beginning

B: From 2626N 7931W
TO 2636N 7906W
TO 2521N 7832W
TO 2510N 7859W to beginning

C: From 2414N 7939W
TO 2421N 7907W
TO 2328N 7855W
TO 2319N 7927W to beginning

Hazard periods for primary launch day and backup launch day;
Primary launch day: 27 AUG 20/2309Z thru 28 AUG 20/0019Z (7:07 pm thru 8:19 pm local). Preferred T-0 is 2314Z (7:14 pm local).
Backup launch day: 28 AUG 20/2309Z thru 29 AUG 20/0019Z (7:07 pm thru 8:19 pm local). Preferred T-0 is 2314Z (7:14 pm local).

[KTigress]

It doesn't explictly says that the joint test simulating the launch is either during static fire or with the payload on top of the rocket. I think it's more likely the simulated launch test will be done with the payload somewhere else inside the fairing. Once the test is complete then they roll it out to the hangar and install it onto the rocket. That's what I get from the article as Spanish native speaker. Now, translations would obviously lose some of that meaning.

True, I just know he’s talking about the static fire because I’m working on this satellite. However, as I don’t work at CONAE (I work for one of the subcontractors), it’s hard to get all the details about the tests. So most of the time I know as much or as little as you all do!

[Elthiryel]

Previously Next Spaceflight stated that this mission is going to be launched using booster 1059.4, but now it shows "Unknown Vehicle" again, so there may be an assignment shift. I wonder if it's somehow related to the mission delays.

https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/90

Next Spaceflight is showing 1059.4 for this flight again, so apparently no assignment changes then.

[envy887]

Previously Next Spaceflight stated that this mission is going to be launched using booster 1059.4, but now it shows "Unknown Vehicle" again, so there may be an assignment shift. I wonder if it's somehow related to the mission delays.

https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/90

Next Spaceflight is showing 1059.4 for this flight again, so apparently no assignment changes then.

Is this the first customer payload to go on a 4th booster flight?

[KTigress]

Previously Next Spaceflight stated that this mission is going to be launched using booster 1059.4, but now it shows "Unknown Vehicle" again, so there may be an assignment shift. I wonder if it's somehow related to the mission delays.

https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/90

Next Spaceflight is showing 1059.4 for this flight again, so apparently no assignment changes then.

Is this the first customer payload to go on a 4th booster flight?

Yes, it will be the first! (If you don't count the IFA for Crew Dragon haha)

[envy887]

Previously Next Spaceflight stated that this mission is going to be launched using booster 1059.4, but now it shows "Unknown Vehicle" again, so there may be an assignment shift. I wonder if it's somehow related to the mission delays.

https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/90

Next Spaceflight is showing 1059.4 for this flight again, so apparently no assignment changes then.

Is this the first customer payload to go on a 4th booster flight?

Yes, I will be the first! (If you don't count the IFA for Crew Dragon haha)

Well, I hope the payload is not you personally

Unless there's something I really missed about this launch...

[KTigress]

Previously Next Spaceflight stated that this mission is going to be launched using booster 1059.4, but now it shows "Unknown Vehicle" again, so there may be an assignment shift. I wonder if it's somehow related to the mission delays.

https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/90

Next Spaceflight is showing 1059.4 for this flight again, so apparently no assignment changes then.

Is this the first customer payload to go on a 4th booster flight?

Yes, I will be the first! (If you don't count the IFA for Crew Dragon haha)

Well, I hope the payload is not you personally

Unless there's something I really missed about this launch...

LOL! Typo! TBH, who wouldn't prefer being in space right now xD

[TorenAltair]

Perhaps something to keep an eye on as the static fire is usually 1-2 days before launch.
Storm 13 _currently_ heading towards Florida with ETA on August 24. Of course predictions that many days out are difficult, for example the last storm just dissipated instead of hitting the Carribean as predicted.
https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at3+shtml/090937.shtml?cone#contents

[wannamoonbase]

I'm super excited about this launch of a couple of reasons.

Launching south will be a great track.

And to see a RTLS booster after this long will be really refreshing.

[Mangala]

Previously Next Spaceflight stated that this mission is going to be launched using booster 1059.4, but now it shows "Unknown Vehicle" again, so there may be an assignment shift. I wonder if it's somehow related to the mission delays.

https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/90

Next Spaceflight is showing 1059.4 for this flight again, so apparently no assignment changes then.

Well, I was betting that they might use a less used booster like the 1058 in its third launch (it would have been a record 38 days between two launches after July 20th last launch, but why not?) and might keep the 1059 for the next starlink launch (now scheduled for the end of this month as today fresh news)...

[TorenAltair]

Small update on #13:
Projected to rise to hurricane level before passing Florida on August 24 and 25.
https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/graphics_at3.shtml?start#contents

[KTigress]

Small update on #13:
Projected to rise to hurricane level before passing Florida on August 24 and 25.
https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/graphics_at3.shtml?start#contents

Could this impact the launch itself or is it a concern just for the static fire?

[TorenAltair]

Could this impact the launch itself or is it a concern just for the static fire?

Storms can speed up, slow down (just remember how the Bahamas were hit last year as the hurricane stopped moving and stayed overhead for 2 days) or disperse quite quickly (#12 this year), so it could impact launch day as well. It is currently imo in a stage to keep an eye on it.

[Comga]

Small update on #13:
Projected to rise to hurricane level before passing Florida on August 24 and 25.
https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/graphics_at3.shtml?start#contents

Don't use that graph!
It's not the one that forecasts where the winds will be.
It shows the predicted probable paths of the center of the storm.
Try this "Time of Arrival" graph, or the wind speed forecasts.

[TorenAltair]

@Comga Yes, the center.. as the graph states it at the top. And the impact can be, also stated in the graph, outside the marked area.

[KTigress]

Finally, the last test/rehearsal for SAOCOM-1B before launch won't be simultaneous to the static fire, so it will probably be a "regular" SF (no payload attached).

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/conae_oficial/status/1297313254755241987

The SAOCOM 1B satellite passed the latest test and is ready to launch. On Friday the 21st we carried out a test to check its correct operation and communications with Argentina. It was a success! Do you want to know everything that happened? We tell you here 👉bit.ly/SAOCOM1BListo