SpaceX F9 : Crew Dragon In-Flight Abort Test : Jan. 19, 2020 : Updates

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/jasonfelege/status/1218310695634325505

GO Searcher and GO Quest left port for tomorrows launch attempt of @SpaceX #CrewDragon for #InFlightAbort. Also, Ms Tree and Ms Chiefs catching arms are huge!

[gongora]

SpaceX In-Flight Abort: Launch Window Update

NASA and SpaceX are targeting the launch of the company’s In-Flight Abort Test on Saturday, Jan. 18, from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Although the test window opens at 8 a.m. EST, teams are planning to target a launch in the last hour of the four-hour window due to sea state conditions for the splashdown of the Crew Dragon spacecraft in the Atlantic Ocean. The test teams will continue to monitor weather and update the launch time accordingly in the morning.

[Chris Bergin]

https://twitter.com/NASA_Nerd/status/1218328144660312064

https://twitter.com/NASA_Nerd/status/1218347859839352833

[Chris Bergin]

39A Pad Tour and IFA overview from Chris Gebhardt and the NSF Team!

[DaveS]

Standing down for today due to rough seas in the recovery zone:

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1218473546772430848

[jacqmans]

UPDATE: CREW DRAGON LAUNCH ESCAPE TEST

SpaceX is standing down from today's in-flight Crew Dragon launch escape test attempt due to sustained winds and rough seas in the recovery area. We are now targeting Sunday, January 19 from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This test, which does not have NASA astronauts onboard the spacecraft, is intended to demonstrate Crew Dragon’s ability to reliably carry crew to safety in the unlikely event of an emergency on ascent.

Sunday's six-hour test window opens at 8:00 a.m. EST, or 13:00 UTC. A backup test opportunity is available on Monday, January 20.

Weather will remain a watch item for Sunday so keep an eye on our website and social media for additional updates as new data becomes available.

[jacqmans]

Officials from NASA, SpaceX and the U.S. Air Force participate in a briefing at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Jan. 17, 2020, prior to launch of SpaceX's uncrewed In-Flight Abort Test. From left to right are Josh Finch, NASA Communications; Kathy Lueders, program manager, NASA's Commercial Crew Program; Benji Reed, director of Crew Mission Management, SpaceX; and Mike McAleenan, launch weather officer with the Air Force's 45th Weather Squadron. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket topped by the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft will lift off from Kennedy's Launch Complex 39A, then begin the launch-abort sequence. The spacecraft will demonstrate its escape capabilities in preparation for crewed flights to the International Space Station as part of the agency's Commercial Crew Program.

Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

[Rondaz]

SpaceX In-Flight Abort: Launch Date Update

Marie Lewis Posted on January 18, 2020

NASA and SpaceX now are targeting 8 a.m. EST Sunday, Jan. 19, for launch of the company’s In-Flight Abort Test from Launch Complex 39A in Florida, which will demonstrate Crew Dragon’s ability to safely escape the Falcon 9 rocket in the event of a failure during launch. The abort test has a six-hour launch window.

Teams are standing down from today’s launch attempt due to poor splashdown and recovery weather.

For tomorrow’s launch attempt, meteorologists with the U.S. Air Force 45th Space Wing predict a 60% chance of favorable weather toward the opening of the window with a 40% chance toward the end of the window. The primary concerns for launch day being the thick cloud layer and flight through precipitation rule during the launch window.

The test launch will air on NASA Television and the agency’s website. Here’s the upcoming mission coverage:

Sunday, Jan. 19

7:40 a.m. – NASA TV test coverage begins for the 8 a.m. liftoff
9:30 a.m. – Post-test news conference at Kennedy, with the following representatives:
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine
SpaceX representative
Kathy Lueders, manager, NASA Commercial Crew Program
Victor Glover, astronaut, NASA Commercial Crew Program
Mike Hopkins, astronaut, NASA Commercial Crew Program

https://blogs.nasa.gov/commercialcrew/2020/01/18/spacex-in-flight-abort-launch-date-update/

[Rondaz]

Update: NASA and SpaceX Targeting Sunday, Jan. 19, for In-Flight Abort Test

Danielle Sempsrott Posted on January 18, 2020

NASA and SpaceX now are targeting 8 a.m. EST Sunday, Jan. 19, for launch of the company’s In-Flight Abort Test from Launch Complex 39A in Florida, which will demonstrate Crew Dragon’s ability to safely escape the Falcon 9 rocket in the event of a failure during launch. The abort test has a six-hour launch window.

Teams are standing down from today’s launch attempt due to poor splashdown and recovery weather.

For tomorrow’s launch attempt, meteorologists with the U.S. Air Force 45th Space Wing predict a 60% chance of favorable weather toward the opening of the window with a 40% chance toward the end of the window. The primary concerns for launch day are the thick cloud layer and flight through precipitation rules during the launch window.

The test launch will air on NASA Television and the agency’s website. Here’s the upcoming mission coverage:

Sunday, Jan. 19

7:40 a.m. – NASA TV test coverage begins for the 8 a.m. liftoff
9:30 a.m. – Post-test news conference at Kennedy, with the following representatives:
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine
SpaceX representative
Kathy Lueders, manager, NASA Commercial Crew Program
Victor Glover, astronaut, NASA Commercial Crew Program
Mike Hopkins, astronaut, NASA Commercial Crew Program

https://blogs.nasa.gov/kennedy/2020/01/18/update-spacex-targeting-sunday-jan-19-for-in-flight-abort-test/

[Elthiryel]

SpaceX has issued an updated press kit. There are no changes except the new launch time.

https://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/in-flight_abort_test_media_kit.pdf

[FutureSpaceTourist]

L-1 launch weather forecast for tomorrow, 60% GO at beginning of launch window:

Launch day probability of violating launch weather constraints: 40% ➡️ 60%
Primary concern(s): Thick Cloud Layer Rule, Flight through Precipitation

24-hr delay probability of violating launch weather constraints: 50% ➡️ 40%
Primary concern(s): Thick Cloud Layer Rule, Flight through Precipitation

[Chris Bergin]

https://twitter.com/NASA_Nerd/status/1218582706407084038

https://twitter.com/thejackbeyer/status/1218596865698074624

https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1218600030447329281

https://twitter.com/NASA_Nerd/status/1218630165061951488

[Chris Bergin]

Looking like there's a chance!

https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/status/1218657132809195521

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1218505812978622464

Arrival! GO Searcher and GO Navigator have returned to Port Canaveral for a brief pitstop.

The pair are expected to leave again later tonight for the IFA test.

https://twitter.com/dummyjoe4/status/1218671428977025024

@SpaceXFleet Go Searcher and Go Navigator leaving for dragon

https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1218673955764154371

ATTEMPT #2! GO Searcher and GO Navigator have departed Port Canaveral for tomorrow morning's In-Flight-Abort test.

[edkyle99]

SpaceX image.  IFA sunset, January 18, 2020.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Hopefully a good sign that weather will be more cooperative today

https://twitter.com/spacexfleet/status/1218839099123077120

Bed so comfy but IFA so exciting.

Pleased to say that GO Searcher and GO Navigator are still in position at the Dragon splashdown location this morning.

[Chris Bergin]

https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF/status/1218848685678899200

[vaporcobra]

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1218852985138057217

[RotoSequence]

Webcast start time has been pushed back another hour, to 10 AM Eastern.

[Steven Pietrobon]

NSF livestream.