SpaceX F9 : Starlink v1.0 L12 : KSC LC-39A : October 6, 2020 (11:29 UTC)

[otter]

Scrub?

[Steven Pietrobon]

End of SpaceX coverage.

[kessdawg]

Also never heard Falcon 9 is in startup but that probably doesn't mean anything.

[Steven Pietrobon]

NSF stream. I'm going to call it a night. Still 0 down and four more to go!

[eeergo]

Also never heard Falcon 9 is in startup but that probably doesn't mean anything.

That happens in literally every flight at T-1m.

Interesting note about the strongback, wonder why the countdown went on if it did not retract when expected.

[otter]

https://mobile.twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1311658269333618691

[eeergo]

Scrub?

Mr Bharadvaj (commentator) did specify no backup date was available at this time, probably due to both the conflicting GPS launch tomorrow and the need to first identify, and then correct, the GSE problem.

[kessdawg]

Also never heard Falcon 9 is in startup but that probably doesn't mean anything.

That happens in literally every flight at T-1m.

Interesting note about the strongback, wonder why the countdown went on if it did not retract when expected.

Right, but I went back for a few missions and they usually call it out.

[eeergo]

Also never heard Falcon 9 is in startup but that probably doesn't mean anything.

That happens in literally every flight at T-1m.

Interesting note about the strongback, wonder why the countdown went on if it did not retract when expected.

Right, but I went back for a few missions and they usually call it out.

You're right, I mistook what you meant by "never heard": I thought you meant calling that out was unusual, when replaying the feed it's evident they didn't call it out, and hence this callout never arrived! Apologies for the misunderstanding.

[Ken the Bin]

Scrub?

Mr Bharadvaj (commentator) did specify no backup date was available at this time, probably due to both the conflicting GPS launch tomorrow and the need to first identify, and then correct, the GSE problem.

There are four backup dates already assigned for this launch across the next four days, however with this scrub, ULA's scrub, and the GPS launch they're going to need to reevaluate the whole schedule.

[Framryk]

Abort due to out of family ground sensor

What does that mean?

"Out of family" usually means there are multiple sensors that have to agree, if one sensor in the "family" disagrees, this can automate a shutdown or require a manual response. I'm assuming the "ground sensor" might be to do with the Ground Support Equipment, potentially the strongback retraction? (Pure speculation IMHO).

"Scrub September" is cascading into October! 

[zubenelgenubi]

NSF web-cast team signing off.  Go team!

[Craftyatom]

Abort due to out of family ground sensor

What does that mean?

There are many "ground systems" on the launch pad that need to work properly in order to launch the rocket: propellant loading lines, hold-down clamps, water deluge lines, etc.  Each of these has multiple sensors installed in order to monitor their performance.  What SpaceX saw today was some unusual readings from one of those sensors ("out of family" can mean unusual relative to other sensors, past experience, or expectations).  Maybe it was a faulty sensor, or maybe it was a ground system that wasn't doing its job properly.  They decided to stop the launch and investigate it, just to be safe.

The strong back had not begun to move even by t - 0:18

If you do a before-and-after, it is clear that the strongback moved very slightly in the minutes leading up to launch - about 5 degrees, which is completely normal.  If you compare this with footage from the Starlink v1.0 11 launch, it looks almost identical.  This is standard procedure, and the strongback only performs a full "throwback" at liftoff.

[eeergo]

The strong back had not begun to move even by t - 0:18

If you do a before-and-after, it is clear that the strongback moved very slightly in the minutes leading up to launch - about 5 degrees, which is completely normal.  If you compare this with footage from the Starlink v1.0 11 launch, it looks almost identical.  This is standard procedure, and the strongback only performs a full "throwback" at liftoff.

It does look significantly less inclined compared to, for instance, the March 18th Starlink v1.0 launch.

[wannamoonbase]

Maybe those static fire things have a purpose.

[LouScheffer]

Has COVID-19 reduced the amount of GSE maintenance or practice runs?  There seem to be more GSE problems than usual. You can blame the Delta problems in infrequent flights, but SpaceX should not have that issue.   It makes intuitive sense that a limited workforce would concentrate on the launch vehicle itself, and perhaps pay less attention to GSE, but I don't know if that's really the case.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/tj_cooney/status/1311647654636670981

A SUPER rare occurrence at @NASAKennedy today. THREE boosters on their pads, ready(ish) for launch. What an amazing photo.
📸: Zac Shaul

[Norm38]

Okay, who at KSC opened an umbrella indoors, broke 13 mirrors then walked under a ladder whilst a black cat crossed their path?  Someone lift this curse!

[Ken the Bin]

The NGA has canceled all of the backup days for this launch and not assigned any new ones.  They did the same thing last night for ULA's NROL-44.  So the launch from the cape that still has marine navigation warnings in effect is SpaceX's GPS III SV04.

011436Z OCT 20
NAVAREA IV 940/20(11,26).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FLORIDA.
CANCEL NAVAREA IV 927/20 AND THIS MSG.

Referenced:

281613Z SEP 20
NAVAREA IV 927/20(11,26).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FLORIDA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
   011307Z TO 011415Z OCT, ALTERNATE
   021245Z TO 021353Z, 031224Z TO 031332Z,
   041202Z TO 041310Z AND 051141Z TO 051259Z OCT
   IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 28-39-11N 080-37-49W, 28-52-00N 080-25-00W,
      29-02-00N 080-12-00W, 29-00-00N 080-10-00W,
      28-50-00N 080-18-00W, 28-38-00N 080-29-00W,
      28-34-53N 080-34-27W, 28-38-28N 080-37-18W.
   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 918/20.
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 051359Z OCT 20.

[Comga]

The strong back had not begun to move even by t - 0:18

If you do a before-and-after, it is clear that the strongback moved very slightly in the minutes leading up to launch - about 5 degrees, which is completely normal.  If you compare this with footage from the Starlink v1.0 11 launch, it looks almost identical.  This is standard procedure, and the strongback only performs a full "throwback" at liftoff.

It does look significantly less inclined compared to, for instance, the March 18th Starlink v1.0 launch.

That appearance is due to differences in the lighting.
The Sun is in a slightly different direction, so the shadows are different.
Look at the strap that wraps around the fairing during rollout.
Very similar fractions of it can be seen.
But even that comparison relies on the cameras being in the same place.
(I think it is a fixed SpaceX installation.)

The slight lean-back happens at T-4:00 IIRC.
Because they didn’t scrub then we can have 100% confidence the TE was working properly.
SpaceX is not relying on us to be “That Internet Guy”  who spots something on the video feed that eludes their multitudinous sensors.