Just killing some time before the next launch attempt, here is my prediction for the Transporter-1 groundtrack, superimposed on Raul's excellent map of the Launch Hazard Areas. Red is the booster track, orange is the fairing halves, and yellow is the second stage and payload. Because the booster is staging further downrange than it did for SAOCOM-1B, it should be able to complete more of the dogleg, saving propellant for the second stage and its heavier payload.
Quote from: OneSpeed on 01/24/2021 03:08 amJust killing some time before the next launch attempt, here is my prediction for the Transporter-1 groundtrack, superimposed on Raul's excellent map of the Launch Hazard Areas. Red is the booster track, orange is the fairing halves, and yellow is the second stage and payload. Because the booster is staging further downrange than it did for SAOCOM-1B, it should be able to complete more of the dogleg, saving propellant for the second stage and its heavier payload.This is really good, but how accurate is it at the beginning of the second stage flight?Is that really from kinematic modeling?The "hook" after staging seems to represent enormous lateral acceleration.It seems more likely that the second stage would be pointed slightly west of the instantaneous velocity, to minimize the cosine loss to the basic acceleration, with that offset angle decreasing with time.That would make the arc off the path of the coasting first stage be shallower than a parabola.It should asymptote out to the orbital inclination at SECO, which IINM is off the map beyond Cuba.This small detail would be important where the differences are small.In particular, the yellow line passes right over all the cities on the south-east coast.That would put it directly overhead for our friends in those locations.A more gently curved path puts it out to sea.Knowing a precise path might help people find the second stage, which will appear quite small and dim, as it passes to the east.A small difference in location could mean a big difference in elevation.
Timelapse of @SpaceX #Transporter1 going vertical 📽️. The next launch attempt for the 143 spacecraft onboard is today, Jan24 at 10AM ET (1500 UTC).
Good morning. Just under 90 minutes to SpaceX’s 1000 ET liftoff of Transporter-1 from LC-40. Rains on and off.
I like today's view better than yesterday's
T-20 minute vent. Which is always a good sign.➡️youtube.com/watch?v=uXcnyG…
This is really good, but how accurate is it at the beginning of the second stage flight?Is that really from kinematic modeling?The "hook" after staging seems to represent enormous lateral acceleration.It seems more likely that the second stage would be pointed slightly west of the instantaneous velocity, to minimize the cosine loss to the basic acceleration, with that offset angle decreasing with time.
