Author Topic: SpaceX Falcon 9 : SAOCOM 1B : Cape Canaveral : August 30, 2020 (23:19 UTC) (Read 200271 times)

the_other_Doug · « **Reply #260 on:** 08/29/2020 03:16 pm »

So, what would take less time, do y'all think? Letting SAOCOM and its booster sit at SLC-40 for at least a week, waiting for ULA to get its act together and vacate their pad, or clean up 39A real fast, move the SAOCOM booster and spacecraft over, and fly it from there? Or even, since Starlink is an internal customer, pull it off the pad at 39A, quick move SAOCOM over, and get it off ASAP?

Would moving SAOCOM to 39A fix the issue? Or does the southerly trajectory make it a complete no-go to launch SAOCOM from either SLC-40 or 39A until ULA either launches, or complies with a cease-and-desist order to put its toys away and let the other kids use the playground for a while?

hartspace · « **Reply #261 on:** 08/29/2020 03:26 pm »

The trajectory is the problem (overflight of SLC-37). So flying out of 39A doesn't really solve that problem.

kdhilliard · « **Reply #262 on:** 08/29/2020 04:59 pm »

I've added distances and bearings to my post upthread with the map of the pad locations.

LC-40 is 3.65 km (2.25 mi) NNW (336°) of SLC-37B.
LC-39A is 9.40 km (5.85 mi) NNW (340°) of SLC-37B.

As noted by hartspace, the issue is not distance but one of bearings and trajectory resulting in overflight. LC-39A wouldn't be any better.

Quote from: Ronpur50 on 08/29/2020 02:53 pm

... My understanding was the dogleg happens with stage two. So stage one would not have to fly that close to the coast, which it what an over flight of ULA would do.

Here is the upthread post with Raul's tweet of his unofficial ground track estimate. (Image attached below.)

Yes, the doglegs are conducted by S2, but the initial S1 trajectory takes advantage of the "capeiness" of Cape Canaveral to get it out to sea after overflying SLC-37B and the string of other (mostly retired) pads north of the cape.

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #263 on:** 08/29/2020 05:17 pm »

https://twitter.com/emrekelly/status/1299756124212785152

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Latest Eastern Range schedule still points to two Falcon 9 launches tomorrow: Starlink from 39A at 1012 ET and SAOCOM from 40 at 1918 ET. Buckle up.

So 45th issues new forecast, range schedule still has flight listed, and yet overflights aren’t permitted. What gives?!

Edit to add:

Also Ben Cooper now lists Delta IV as September but still has both SpaceX launches tomorrow.

kdhilliard · « **Reply #264 on:** 08/29/2020 05:24 pm »

Quote from: FutureSpaceTourist on 08/29/2020 05:17 pm

Emre Kelly:
Quote
Latest Eastern Range schedule still points to two Falcon 9 launches tomorrow: Starlink from 39A at 1012 ET and SAOCOM from 40 at 1918 ET. Buckle up.

So 45th issues new forecast, range schedule still has flight listed, and yet overflights aren’t permitted. What gives?!

Edit to add:
Also Ben Cooper now lists Delta IV as September but still has both SpaceX launches tomorrow.

Interesting. We also have:
https://twitter.com/SpaceXFleet/status/1299726562229661697
Gavin - SpaceXFleet.com / @SpaceXFleet:

Quote

Here's the full recovery fleet update:

OCISLY droneship and GO Quest have arrived at the Starlink LZ. Ms. Tree will be arriving later today.

Ms. Chief is still at the SAOCOM-1B recovery zone for now. That mission will face further delay because of a range conflict with NROL-44.

I'd have though Ms. Chief would be steaming north if tomorrow's SAOCOM-1B launch was precluded.

Is overflight not such a big deal?

How much time would it take for the ULA team to demate the payload and truck it away?

Edit to add: Might SpaceX be planning a more easterly launch followed by an immediate S1 dogleg to avoid overflight?

(So many questions!)

hartspace · « **Reply #265 on:** 08/29/2020 06:10 pm »

Quote

How much time would it take for the ULA team to demate the payload and truck it away?

Probably several days. And the NRO is not going to do that unless absolutely necessary.

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #266 on:** 08/29/2020 06:34 pm »

Now official:

https://twitter.com/gleesonjm/status/1299774807580520448

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SpaceX is targeting Sunday, August 30th for two Falcon 9 launches – a Starlink mission in the morning and the SAOCOM 1B mission in the evening

soltasto · « **Reply #267 on:** 08/29/2020 07:00 pm »

And here is the webcast link:

meekGee · « **Reply #268 on:** 08/29/2020 07:12 pm »

Quote from: FutureSpaceTourist on 08/29/2020 06:34 pm

Now official:

https://twitter.com/gleesonjm/status/1299774807580520448

Quote
SpaceX is targeting Sunday, August 30th for two Falcon 9 launches – a Starlink mission in the morning and the SAOCOM 1B mission in the evening

Inconceivable!

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #269 on:** 08/29/2020 08:28 pm »

https://twitter.com/ken_kremer/status/1299800752911773696

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#Falcon9 has gone vertical this afternoon for #SpaceX #SAOCOM1B launch slated as the 2nd F9 on Sun Aug 30 at 718 PM ET at pad 40 heading south ! 1st stage to land at LZ-1. So Shiny - and simply Amazing!

vaporcobra · « **Reply #270 on:** 08/29/2020 08:34 pm »

A photo of the fairing via SpaceX.

Edit: And the usual wider prelaunch photo.

[FST: fixed broken 2nd image]

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #271 on:** 08/29/2020 09:03 pm »

https://twitter.com/erikkuna/status/1299813047209529345

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Ok, here we go. Plotted NROL-44 and SAOCOM-1B together, and played through the SAOCOM-1B launch

The white dot is the point at where Falcon 9 will fall if anything goes wrong. It's never anywhere near SLC-37B.

But would radial debris from an explosion ever be an issue? 🤔🤷‍♂️

soltasto · « **Reply #272 on:** 08/30/2020 12:56 am »

Patch

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #273 on:** 08/30/2020 11:55 am »

https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1300038419108605953

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Targeting launch of SAOCOM 1B at 7:18 p.m. EDT tonight. Falcon 9 and SAOCOM 1B are vertical on SLC-40. Weather continues to be 40% favorable for liftoff

Elthiryel · « **Reply #274 on:** 08/30/2020 12:51 pm »

Here's my usual fan-made press kit.

We also have an official confirmation of rideshare payloads.

The first one is GNOMES-1 for PlanetiQ, part of the 20 satellite constellation that will collect radio occultation data by measuring the effects of the atmosphere on navigation system signals.

The second one is Tyvak-0172. It's built by Tyvak Nano-Satellite Systems, but no additional details were given (additional source: https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/08/29/spacex-poised-for-back-to-back-launches-sunday-at-cape-canaveral/).

soltasto · « **Reply #275 on:** 08/30/2020 01:21 pm »

version with OCR

Star One · « **Reply #276 on:** 08/30/2020 02:14 pm »

How many years is it since we’ve had two launches on the same day from the US, guessing you have to go back to the sixties?

TJL · « **Reply #277 on:** 08/30/2020 02:19 pm »

Believe it was November 11, 1966...Atlas-Agena from LC-14 and Gemini Titan 12 from LC-19.

Bean Kenobi · « **Reply #278 on:** 08/30/2020 02:28 pm »

If your question is really "from the US" and not only from Florida, you also have April 4th, 1997 with Titan-2 (DMSP sat) from VAFB and Columbia from KSC.

EDIT : Another one : June 8th, 2007 with Delta II (COSMO 1) from VAFB and Atlantis from KSC.

craiglv2 · « **Reply #279 on:** 08/30/2020 03:22 pm »

Gemini-8, March 16, 1966 Titan II and Atlas Agena . First docking, Commander was Neil Armstrong