Could they just swap booster with another one while this one goes through checks and fixes?
No. They have a limited number of boosters available, and the boosters with lower numbers of flights would be assigned for external customers (they have two of those flights that could happen in July). There may not be another booster available right now for Starlink. It would also probably take several days to swap boosters even if another was ready to go.
There was some talk of an oxygen sensor in the engine bay having issues. Maybe it's easier to fix this particular problem in the vertical position for some reason?
It looks like they’re taking her horizontal now.
From Starlink v1.0 L7:
What happens to the booster that was on the pad, now that its set to launch in June? Do they take it down and bring it back to the barn?
Yes. F9 will be rolled back into the barn for weather protection of rocket and payload.
Payload stack (including fairing) will also be de-mated and stored in vertical (upright) position. A Starlink stack doesn't like being stored horizontally for prolonged periods of time (sagging of the stack is just one concern).
So if we're speculating why this F9 was vertical until now, another possibility is that they wanted to finish horizontal integration of GPS before lowering this rocket, so the Starlink stack did not have to remain horizontal while waiting for integration/deintegration equipment to be available.
Edit: Theory in next post makes more sense -- shared work crew rather than shared equipment. My modified speculation is they did not want to lower the Starlink F9 to horizontal until the people were ready to do the deintegration.
So if we're speculating why this F9 was vertical until now, another possibility is that they wanted to finish horizontal integration of GPS before lowering this rocket, so the Starlink stack did not have to remain horizontal while waiting for integration/de-integration equipment to be available.
Good thinking. Also, good finding the quote from a previous launch thread!
However, the GPS F9 is launching from SLC-40, and the Starlink F9 is launching from LC-39A.
I
assume that each launch complex or Horizontal Integration Facility (HIF) at each complex has its own complete set of tools and equipment, so to speak. Is this a correct assumption? If so, that should not prevent full-on campaign work simultaneously at the two launch complexes.
Another assumption: the encapsulated payloads, removed from their launch vehicles, would stay at their respective HIFs. Therefore, no move of payloads back to their respective processing facilities.
Or, SpaceX chose to do as they did because it was better from a human-hours/labor costs consideration? Rather than working 2 full, separate crews at both launch sites simultaneously?
TL;DR IDK. Someone else here might.
twitter.com/spaceflightnow/status/1278031544263880711
SpaceX is targeting July 8 for its next launch from pad 39A, where a Falcon 9 rocket will take off carrying Starlink and BlackSky satellites.
But first, SpaceX is counting down to a Falcon 9 launch with a GPS payload today from pad 40 at Cape Canaveral. spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedul…
https://twitter.com/stephenclark1/status/1278031666632626176 Launch time should be around 12pm EDT (1600 UTC) July 8.
And now this is the next Falcon 9 launch! Again!
L-2 launch weather forecast still 70% GO
Based on this NGA NOTMAR, the backup day is going to Friday, July 10, instead of Thursday, July 9. Wednesday, July 8, remains as the primary launch day.
061959Z JUL 20
NAVAREA IV 595/20(11,26).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FLORIDA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
081549Z TO 081657Z JUL, ALTERNATE
101506Z TO 101615Z JUL
IN AREAS BOUND BY:
A. 28-39-41N 080-38-10W, 28-48-00N 080-30-00W,
29-20-00N 079-52-00W, 29-17-00N 079-50-00W,
28-37-00N 080-27-00W, 28-34-20N 080-34-15W,
28-38-26N 080-37-17W.
B. 31-39-00N 077-20-00W, 33-15-00N 075-57-00W,
33-40-00N 074-59-00W, 33-21-00N 074-25-00W,
32-45-00N 074-32-00W, 31-25-00N 077-06-00W.
2. CANCEL NAVAREA IV 583/20.
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 101715Z JUL 20.
L-1 launch weather forecast has dropped to 60% GO
