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

[zubenelgenubi]

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).

Transfer of the Falcon 9 to the pad and Static Fire should be next.

[gongora]

The post from CONAE gave the launch time as 8:24pm in Argentina, which is 7:24pm at the launch site.

[gongora]

https://twitter.com/Raul74Cz/status/1297923202019143680

#SAOCOM-1B LHAs for Aug 27 23:14 UTC, altern.Aug 28. LZ1 landing for B1059.4. Drop area (red) in case of boostback failure. Possible fairing recovery in southern (orange) area. Dogleg maneuver to polar orbit azimuth. S2 debris reentry west of Easter Island.http://bit.do/LHA11

[intelati]

Drop area (red) in case of boostback failure. Possible fairing recovery in southern (orange) area. Dogleg maneuver to polar orbit azimuth. S2 debris reentry west of Easter Island

Yeesh. Seems like it'll be a high lofted launch. Compared to the starlink launches at least. (Look at the Fairing recovery area) Do we have an archive of other RTLS launches?

[Elthiryel]

Weather forecast is 80% GO for August 27 and 70% GO for August 28.

https://www.patrick.af.mil/Portals/14/Weather/Falcon%209%20SAOCOM-1B%20L-3%20Forecast%2027%20Aug%20Launch.pdf?ver=2020-08-24-115153-933

[scr00chy]

https://www.capellaspace.com/announcing-our-sequoia-launch-i-cant-believe-its-not-optical/

We’re partnering with Rocket Lab, a launch provider and space systems company, to launch Sequoia, the first publicly available satellite in our planned constellation.

Sequoia was supposed to launch with SAOCOM, but I'm guessing it was moved to Electron due to the long COVID-related delay?

[abaddon]

https://www.capellaspace.com/announcing-our-sequoia-launch-i-cant-believe-its-not-optical/

We’re partnering with Rocket Lab, a launch provider and space systems company, to launch Sequoia, the first publicly available satellite in our planned constellation.

Sequoia was supposed to launch with SAOCOM, but I'm guessing it was moved to Electron due to the long COVID-related delay?

Seems plausible... only to be delayed anyway by the Rocketlab failure and return-to-flight period, and ending up with basically the same launch date after all.  Such is the world of spaceflight...

[envy887]

Is the launch expected to be right at the beginning of the window? Sunset will be around 23:45 UTC, and a twilight launch could be really spectacular with burns up and down the coast.

[gongora]

They usually target the middle of the window.  This flight is most likely moving back at least one day with the DIVH slip.

[Lars-J]

https://twitter.com/Raul74Cz/status/1297923202019143680

Im still amazed that this launch trajectory was approved... this will be an amazing flight to watch for all. The long exposure shots will show some pretty unique dog-legging.

[KTigress]

They usually target the middle of the window.  This flight is most likely moving back at least one day with the DIVH slip.

Yes, SAOCOM's launch was conditional on NROL-44 launching first. I hope it's moving just one day, but we'll have to wait for confirmation of the new date.

[Lars-J]

They usually target the middle of the window.  This flight is most likely moving back at least one day with the DIVH slip.

Yes, SAOCOM's launch was conditional on NROL-44 launching first. I hope it's moving just one day, but we'll have to wait for confirmation of the new date.

Yes, if the launch track is to be believed (from the tweet above), the SAOCOM trajectory will take it very close to (if not over) SLC-37B. So it makes sense that they want to let NROL-44 fly first.

[KTigress]

They usually target the middle of the window.  This flight is most likely moving back at least one day with the DIVH slip.

Yes, SAOCOM's launch was conditional on NROL-44 launching first. I hope it's moving just one day, but we'll have to wait for confirmation of the new date.

Yes, if the launch track is to be believed (from the tweet above), the SAOCOM trajectory will take it very close to (if not over) SLC-37B. So it makes sense that they want to let NROL-44 fly first.

That’s a great point. I thought it was an issue because there would be two launches in less than 24 hours. But that makes a lot of sense!

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/conae_oficial/status/1298263260853018625

Google translate:

The satellite launch date #SAOCOM1B It has happened for Friday 8/28, at 8:20 pm; the second day of the window of opportunity previously announced and anticipated by SpaceX. The rescheduling is due to a delay from a previous release.

[Elthiryel]

Weather for August 28 is still 70% GO.

https://www.patrick.af.mil/Portals/14/Weather/Falcon%209%20SAOCOM-1B%20L-3%20Forecast%2028%20Aug%20Launch.pdf?ver=2020-08-25-101829-530

[gongora]

@Elthiryel I literally checked that site 8 minutes ago and still saw the forecast for the 27th.

CONAE tweeted the 28th date
https://twitter.com/CONAE_Oficial/status/1298263260853018625

[Google translate] The satellite launch date #SAOCOM1B It has happened for Friday 8/28, at 8:20 pm; the second day of the window of opportunity previously announced and anticipated by SpaceX. The rescheduling is due to a delay from a previous release.

[lucas071200]

Any idea why there is no longer a backup window on the forecast ? Starlink-L11 taking priority?

[KTigress]

Any idea why there is no longer a backup window on the forecast? Starlink-L11 taking priority?

If SAOCOM is delayed again, we'll have to wait a couple more days for a launch window. The 29th doesn't have the optimal conditions for orbit insertion.

[ChrisC]

I am considering the Kennedy Visitor Center parking and a movie deal for viewing the SAOCOM launch. Would that be a good location for this launch and stage landing?

KSC / Cape launching viewing is discussed here:
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=44657.0
(FYI, I've answered your question there, and your post may get moved there.)

Don't miss the very first link in that thread:
http://www.launchphotography.com/Delta_4_Atlas_5_Falcon_9_Launch_Viewing.html

[FutureSpaceTourist]

L-2 launch weather forecast has dropped to 60% GO