Cross-post; see this thread for discussion:Quote from: catdlr on 02/20/2024 03:08 amMINISTRY OF TOURISM, INVESTMENTS & AVIATION SECURES HISTORIC AGREEMENT WITH SPACEX TO PROPEL BAHAMAS INTO THE SPACE TECHNOLOGY & TOURISM FRONTIER[Feb 16]QuoteSpaceX, a pioneer in space exploration, is currently finalizing mission designs where one of the company’s autonomous drone ships will serve as a Falcon 9 landing location east of The Exumas, offering a spectacle that will be visible only in The Bahamas. This unique opportunity sets the stage for tourists to witness awe-inspiring space events from cruise ships, resorts, and various tourist hotspots, solidifying The Bahamas' position as a key player in the emerging space tourism industry.SOURCEIn the attached Google Maps the red circle is Exumas, so the landing zone would be the area east of that (in orange). Currently, Starlink launches from the Cape have to do a right dog leg to avoid a Bahamas flyover. With this agreement, a flyover would allow a straight ground track (and possibly save fuel by eliminating the Delta-V?)
MINISTRY OF TOURISM, INVESTMENTS & AVIATION SECURES HISTORIC AGREEMENT WITH SPACEX TO PROPEL BAHAMAS INTO THE SPACE TECHNOLOGY & TOURISM FRONTIER[Feb 16]QuoteSpaceX, a pioneer in space exploration, is currently finalizing mission designs where one of the company’s autonomous drone ships will serve as a Falcon 9 landing location east of The Exumas, offering a spectacle that will be visible only in The Bahamas. This unique opportunity sets the stage for tourists to witness awe-inspiring space events from cruise ships, resorts, and various tourist hotspots, solidifying The Bahamas' position as a key player in the emerging space tourism industry.SOURCEIn the attached Google Maps the red circle is Exumas, so the landing zone would be the area east of that (in orange). Currently, Starlink launches from the Cape have to do a right dog leg to avoid a Bahamas flyover. With this agreement, a flyover would allow a straight ground track (and possibly save fuel by eliminating the Delta-V?)
SpaceX, a pioneer in space exploration, is currently finalizing mission designs where one of the company’s autonomous drone ships will serve as a Falcon 9 landing location east of The Exumas, offering a spectacle that will be visible only in The Bahamas. This unique opportunity sets the stage for tourists to witness awe-inspiring space events from cruise ships, resorts, and various tourist hotspots, solidifying The Bahamas' position as a key player in the emerging space tourism industry.
Is Falcon 9 version that fly now still "v1.2 FT Block 5"?
Near-term not-Starlink launch schedule; also noting LC-39A use:Crew Dragon Crew-8 (Mar 3, LC-39A)Transporter-10 (Mar 4, SLC-4E)Cargo Dragon SpX-30 (Mar 12, SLC-40)USSF-62 (NET late Mar, SLC-4E)WorldView Legion Flight 1 (NET Apr, SLC-4E)GOES-U (NET May, LC-39A)Astranis Block 2 (midyear, SLC-40)Polaris Dawn (summer, LC-39A?)
#SpaceX's #Starlink missions as of Mar 1, 2024
GRACE-C – German-US-American environmental mission has been extendedQuoteTwenty-two years later, the German Space Agency at DLR and NASA have extended this highly successful mission for the second time with GRACE-C, which succeeds GRACE Follow-On (GRACE-FO).The 'C' stands for 'Continuity', which recognises the consistency of the measurement series of these environmental missions. <snip>The launch of the new GRACE-C satellite pair is scheduled for 2028, on board a Falcon 9 rocket from the US company SpaceX.US, Germany Partnering on Mission to Track Earth's Water MovementQuoteThe mission will be composed of a pair of identical satellites flying one behind the other, roughly 60 to 190 miles (100 to 300 kilometers) apart, in a polar orbit. The spacecraft will fly at an altitude of roughly 300 miles (500 kilometers).
Twenty-two years later, the German Space Agency at DLR and NASA have extended this highly successful mission for the second time with GRACE-C, which succeeds GRACE Follow-On (GRACE-FO).The 'C' stands for 'Continuity', which recognises the consistency of the measurement series of these environmental missions. <snip>The launch of the new GRACE-C satellite pair is scheduled for 2028, on board a Falcon 9 rocket from the US company SpaceX.
The mission will be composed of a pair of identical satellites flying one behind the other, roughly 60 to 190 miles (100 to 300 kilometers) apart, in a polar orbit. The spacecraft will fly at an altitude of roughly 300 miles (500 kilometers).
According to Gunter’s each of the GRACE-FO satellites has a mass of 580 kg.At a combined mass of ~1200 kg, isn’t it likely that the GRACE-C satellites will fly on a Transporter mission, rather than a dedicated launch?
Quote from: Comga on 03/22/2024 08:41 pmAccording to Gunter’s each of the GRACE-FO satellites has a mass of 580 kg.At a combined mass of ~1200 kg, isn’t it likely that the GRACE-C satellites will fly on a Transporter mission, rather than a dedicated launch?The GRACE satellites aren't in SSO
The German contributions are funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The German Space Agency at DLR will manage the German contributions to GRACE-C, providing the LRI optics subsystems; mission operations; telemetry, tracking, and command; the ground data system; the laser retroreflectors to help with satellite positioning; the launch vehicle; and launch services.
This one says the Germans were responsible for the launch contract again, which I would guess increases the chance of a rideshare if they can find an appropriate partner.<snip>
Quote from: gongora on 03/22/2024 09:26 pmThis one says the Germans were responsible for the launch contract again, which I would guess increases the chance of a rideshare if they can find an appropriate partner.<snip>IIRC, Iridium still has 6 Iridium NEXT ground spares.
Quote from: Zed_Noir on 03/23/2024 03:58 amQuote from: gongora on 03/22/2024 09:26 pmThis one says the Germans were responsible for the launch contract again, which I would guess increases the chance of a rideshare if they can find an appropriate partner.<snip>IIRC, Iridium still has 6 Iridium NEXT ground spares.I thought they only had one left?
I'm curious what Starlink group SpaceX will choose to launch from Florida after 6-47.
Continue with group 6?Start in with group 7?Or interleaving groups?
And, of course, there's the offshore Exuma Island option for group 7. 🏝
And, how long will there be access to LC-39A before the GOES-U launch campaign begins?
https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/news/nasa-spacex-target-new-launch-date-noaa-weather-satellite[Mar 26]NASA, SpaceX Target New Launch Date for NOAA Weather SatelliteNASA and SpaceX now are targeting Tuesday, June 25, for the launch of GOES-U, the fourth and final satellite in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) – R Series. The new launch date allows time for teams to fully repair and test the Falcon Heavy core booster after a liquid oxygen leak was identified during routine new booster testing in February. NASA and SpaceX teams have resumed preparation of the GOES-U launch. GOES-U will launch on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.NOAA oversees the GOES-R Series Program through an integrated NOAA-NASA office, managing the ground system, operating the satellites, and distributing their data to users worldwide. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center manages the acquisition of the spacecraft and instruments and also built the Magnetometer instrument for GOES-T and GOES-U. NASA’s Launch Services Program, based at Kennedy Space Center manages the launch services for the GOES missions. Lockheed Martin designs, builds, and tests the GOES-R series satellites. L3Harris Technologies provides the primary instrument, the Advanced Baseline Imager, along with the ground system, which includes the antenna system for data reception.
#SpaceX's #Falcon9 & #FalconHeavy flightworthy boosters overview as of Apr 1, 2024
Statistics of #SpaceX's #Falcon9 & #FalconHeavy booster missions as of Apr 1, 2024
#SpaceX's #Dragon2 fleet overview as of Apr 1, 2024
@elonmusk's 144 launches plan as of Apr 1, 2024
#SpaceX's #Starlink missions as of Apr 1, 2024
#SpaceX launches of March 2024
120940Z APR 24NAVAREA XII 248/24(18).EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.CALIFORNIA.1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS 1830Z TO 1924Z DAILY 17 THRU 23 APR IN AREA BOUND BY 34-42.00N 120-43.00W, 34-42.00N 120-28.00W, 34-30.00N 120-28.00W, 33-41.00N 120-53.00W, 31-26.00N 121-51.00W, 31-15.00N 122-04.00W, 31-15.00N 122-34.00W, 31-45.00N 122-37.00W, 32-01.00N 122-24.00W, 33-51.00N 121-11.00W.2. CANCEL THIS MSG 232024Z APR 24.//
120954Z APR 24NAVAREA XII 249/24(17,19).EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS 1958Z TO 2046Z DAILY 17 THRU 23 APR IN AREA BOUND BY 34-33.00N 146-18.00W, 34-06.00N 143-55.00W, 51-12.00N 138-08.00W, 51-39.00N 141-17.00W.2. CANCEL THIS MSG 232146Z APR 24.//
Here are a couple NGA Space Debris notices that I don't know what they are. They are not necessarily related to each other, though they came out around 15 minutes apart. I don't know whether either or both are even SpaceX.The first is Vandy. The second is in the Eastern North Pacific running from well off the coast of California up to off the coast of British Columbia.
May there be many boosters hitting 20 or 30 or 50, with an unbroken success streak. Kudos to the team!
Another one next week!
