NextSpaceflight (Updated January 2nd)Launch NET January 12th, 22:30 UTChttps://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/4989
Ben Cooper's Launch Photography Viewing Guide, updated January 3:QuoteA Falcon Heavy from pad 39A will launch the USSF-67 mission for the U.S. Space Force on January 12 between 5:30 and 10 p.m. EST. Sunset is 5:45 p.m. The first stages will land back at the Cape about eight minutes after launch.
A Falcon Heavy from pad 39A will launch the USSF-67 mission for the U.S. Space Force on January 12 between 5:30 and 10 p.m. EST. Sunset is 5:45 p.m. The first stages will land back at the Cape about eight minutes after launch.
Manifest thread is still showing ship landings. Is that true? The NSF webcast today said they were RTLs
If SpaceX had 3 drone ships, and all 3 boosters landed downrange on them, would that be the same as 2 x RTLS and expend the centre core?
Quote from: Lewies on 01/04/2023 10:31 amIf SpaceX had 3 drone ships, and all 3 boosters landed downrange on them, would that be the same as 2 x RTLS and expend the centre core?If by "...be the same" you mean "have the same performance," the answer is "No."Landing center core on droneship still requires it to reserve enough fuel for entry burn and landing burn, plus there's the weight of the landing legs. So expending the center core brings a significant performance increase. IANARS, but some RS could tell you how much.
Would like to fly (general aviation, not airline) down to see this. Can leave a little buffer for rightward slippage, but not a week. Thinking about watching NSF for the static fire, then results of SF, etc., then finalizing plans. That is, hoping it will follow a last 5 days of flow similar to USSF-44. Reasonable? Any other tips?
If by "...be the same" you mean "have the same performance," the answer is "No."Landing center core on droneship still requires it to reserve enough fuel for entry burn and landing burn, plus there's the weight of the landing legs. So expending the center core brings a significant performance increase. IANARS, but some RS could tell you how much.
Quote from: Perchlorate on 01/04/2023 10:34 amIf by "...be the same" you mean "have the same performance," the answer is "No."Landing center core on droneship still requires it to reserve enough fuel for entry burn and landing burn, plus there's the weight of the landing legs. So expending the center core brings a significant performance increase. IANARS, but some RS could tell you how much.Presumably the performance advantage from expending the centre core is larger than the advantage that would be gained by landing both side cores at sea?That said, some of the previous logic that justified FH was that it could save an expendable F9 by landing the side cores RTLS and the centre core at sea - but that's presumably constrained by longer processing flows and higher refurb costs; and there may also be a time in the future when expending cores with 15+ flights is considered worth the cost compared to a significant refurbishment.
NextSpaceflight (Updated January 4nd)Window Open: Thu Jan 12, 2023 22:30 UTCWindow Close: Fri Jan 13, 2023 03:00 UTCNET: Thu Jan 12, 2023 22:30 UTChttps://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/4989
SPACE X USSF-67 KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLPRIMARY: 01/12/23 2200Z-0247ZBACKUP: 01/13-18/23 2200Z-0247Z
🚨 LAUNCH ALERT 🚨 🚀SpaceX will launch a Falcon Heavy on the #USSF67 mission.⏰No Earlier Than (NET) January 12. 🎟Launch viewing packages are now available: https://bit.ly/3IvtEdl
This launch is scheduled NET (No Earlier Than) January 12, 2023.A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket will launch the USSF 67 mission for the U.S. Space Force. The mission will launch the Space Force's second Continuous Broadcast Augmenting SATCOM, or CBAS 2, communications satellite and the Long Duration Propulsive ESPA 3A, or LDPE 3A, rideshare satellite hosting multiple experimental payloads.For this launch, the Falcon Heavy's two side boosters will land on landing zone 1 and landing zone 2 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, and the core stage will be expended. During this double landing, you will be able to see the boosters descend back towards the landing zones, like seen in the video below, and then experience a double sonic boom from their re-entry.
A Falcon Heavy from pad 39A will launch the USSF-67 mission for the U.S. Space Force onJanuary 12 between 5:45 and 10 p.m. EST.
That said, some of the previous logic that justified FH was that it could save an expendable F9 by landing the side cores RTLS and the centre core at sea - but that's presumably constrained by longer processing flows and higher refurb costs; and there may also be a time in the future when expending cores with 15+ flights is considered worth the cost compared to a significant refurbishment.