SpaceX F9 : Galaxy 31/Galaxy 32 : CCSFS SLC-40 : Nov. 12, 2022 (16:06 UTC)

[Ken the Bin]

NGA notice.

310035Z OCT 22
NAVAREA IV 1165/22(11,26).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FLORIDA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
   081606Z TO 081854ZZ NOV, ALTERNATE
   1606Z TO 1855Z DAILY 09 THRU 14 NOV
   IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 28-39.92N 080-38.33W, 28-40.00N 079-44.00W,
      28-28.00N 079-40.00W, 28-29.97N 080-32.29W, 
   B. 27-51.00N 073-56.00W, 28-37.00N 073-55.00W,
      28-40.00N 071-21.00W, 28-13.00N 069-58.00W,
      27-31.00N 069-58.00W, 27-21.00N 071-43.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 141955Z NOV 22.//

[Rondaz]

B1051 will fly it's final mission next week. It will carry the Galaxy 31 & 32 satellite to GTO for Intelsat. Due to the weight of the 2 satellites, an expendable launch is required. B1051 will impact the ocean ~863km downrange. Furthest ASDS landing so far has been 687km.

https://twitter.com/GewoonLukas_/status/1588155522343227397

[Chinakpradhan]

can we assume that along with stripping B1051.14 before Galaxy 31/32 mission, will spacex swap the costly carbon fiber black interstage with a block 4 one like B1049.11 to save the interstage for a side booster like B1076(like B1049.11's interstage went to B1052)?

[hektor]

So it is more efficient to launch both satellites on a Falcon 9 which makes its final flight than launching them separately on two Falcon 9 which will be reused ? or was there a feasibility issues which would preclude this alternate option ?

[Zed_Noir]

So it is more efficient to launch both satellites on a Falcon 9 which makes its final flight than launching them separately on two Falcon 9 which will be reused ? or was there a feasibility issues which would preclude this alternate option ?

IIRC it is about $90M for an expended Falcon 9 launch and about $50 M for a reused Falcon 9 launch. Also the launch schedule is getting really crowded for the SpaceX Florida pads.

So it is a bit cheaper and quicker to launch a pair of comsats on an expenable booster instead of 2 reusable boosters. Plus quicker transit to the comsat's GEO slots using the full performance of the booster.

This launch option is likely available only because SpaceX have an elderly early block 5 booster laying around with higher and maybe escalating refurbishment cost.

[kevin-rf]

Also, factor in the cost of expending two second stages.

[GewoonLukas_]

B1051 has been moved to SLC-40. No landing legs or gridfins

[Ken the Bin]

L-3 weather forecast. 30% 'Go' for November 8. 20% 'Go' for November 9.  Upper-Level Wind Shear risk is Moderate for November 8 and Low-Moderate for November 9.  Recovery Conditions risk is High for both days.

[lucas071200]

This is an expendable launch, is recovery risk fairing related now?

[AmigaClone]

This is an expendable launch, is recovery risk fairing related now?

I suspect so.

[Ken the Bin]

L-2 weather forecast. 30% 'Go' for November 8. 20% 'Go' for November 9.  Upper-Level Wind Shear risk is Moderate for November 8 and Low-Moderate for November 9.  Recovery Conditions risk is High for both days.

[ZachS09]

How about they just slip past the 8th and 9th without even attempting to launch on both days?

You know, hold off until everything is at least in the high-80s range in terms of favorable conditions.

[Zed_Noir]

How about they just slip past the 8th and 9th without even attempting to launch on both days?

You know, hold off until everything is at least in the high-80s range in terms of favorable conditions.

Think SpaceX will attempt a launch on both the 8th and the 9th even with the poor weather conditions. There is a storm named Nicole heading toward Florida after the 9th. With the SLS inaugural launch attempt after the storm's passage. According to the launch schedule there is suppose to be 3 more launches planned from pad SLC-40 in November after the Galaxy 31 & Galaxy 32 dual launch.

[gongora]

There is a storm named Nicole heading toward Florida after the 9th.

Winds from Nicole are forecast to reach the Cape on the 9th.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

L-1 weather forecast, has worsened to only 20% GO tomorrow and 10% Thursday and still high risk on recovery

[ZachS09]

Either way, I think everyone picked the wrong month to launch their LVs.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

No surprise here

twitter.com/w_robinsonsmith/status/1589681543194112002

In a press call, @INTELSAT notes that the planned Nov. 8 launch of its Galaxy 31 and Galaxy 32 satellites will likely be delayed as Subtropical Storm #Nicole makes its way towards Florida. No new launch date named yet, but likely later this week.

@MyNews13 #launchdelay

https://twitter.com/w_robinsonsmith/status/1589682858444042240

There will be a two-hour launch window for the mission.

Notably, unlike the most recent @INTELSAT launch, this will use an expendable @SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. So, no booster landing with this one.

It allows the rocket to have more power when not reserving fuel for landing.

[AmigaClone]

Looks like a new launch date has been set NET 12 November 2022.

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1589705155607687170

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1589705291461189633

The vehicle and payload are secure in the hangar and will remain there through the duration of the storm

[Ken the Bin]

As expected, a cancel-and-replace NGA notice.

072209Z NOV 22
NAVAREA IV 1177/22(11,26).
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
UNITED STATES.
FLORIDA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
   121606Z TO 121854Z NOV, ALTERNATE
   131606Z TO 131854Z, 1607Z TO 1854Z DAILY 14 THRU 18 NOV
   IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 28-39.92N 080-38.33W, 28-40.00N 079-44.00W,
      28-28.00N 079-40.00W, 28-29.97N 080-32.29W,
      28-39.92N 080-38.33W.
   B. 27-51.00N 073-56.00W, 28-37.00N 073-55.00W,
      28-40.00N 071-21.00W, 28-13.00N 069-58.00W,
      27-31.00N 069-58.00W, 27-21.00N 071-43.00W,
      27-51.00N 073-56.00W.
2. CANCEL NAVAREA IV 1165/22.
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 181954Z NOV 22.