Author Topic: SpaceX F9 : O3b mPower 5/6 : CCSFS SLC-40 : 12 November 2023 (21:08 UTC) (Read 36452 times)

GewoonLukas_ · « **on:** 05/04/2023 11:28 am »

Discussion thread for launch of O3B mPOWER satellites 5 and 6.

NSF Threads for O3B mPOWER:
O3B mPOWER program
Flight 1 Discussion (2022-12-16)
Flight 2 Discussion (2023-04-28)
Flight 3 Discussion (2023-11-12)
Flight 4
Flight 5
Flight 6

Launch of a third pair of satellites 12 November 2023 at 21:08 UTC (4:08 pm EST), on Falcon 9 from CCSFS SLC-40, to an equatorial MEO transfer orbit. The first stage is B1076-9. First stage landed aboard A Shortfall Of Gravitas.

The operational orbit will be 8000km equatorial.

O3b mPower satellites

GewoonLukas_ · « **Reply #1 on:** 05/04/2023 11:29 am »

Targeting June 2023:

Quote

First 4 O3b mPOWER satellites launched and next 2 satellites planned to launch in June 2023, paving the way for start of commercial service in late Q3 2023 with customers ramping onto the system through Q4 2023

https://www.ses.com/sites/default/files/2023-05/2305_Q1-2023-Press-Release_FINAL.pdf

[May 4]

scr00chy · « **Reply #2 on:** 05/05/2023 10:42 am »

Early June, specifically, according to Space News:

Quote

The last pair of satellites SES needs to provide upgraded broadband services from medium Earth orbit (MEO) have completed tests ahead of an early June launch, SES said during financial results May 4.

https://spacenews.com/boeing-preparing-to-ship-milestone-o3b-mpower-satellites-for-launch/
[May 4]

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #3 on:** 05/14/2023 04:21 am »

Cross-post:

Quote from: Salo on 05/12/2023 08:17 am

Ben Cooper's Launch Photography Viewing Guide, updated May 12:
Quote
<snip>
A Falcon 9 will launch SES' mPOWER 5&6 communications satellites from pad 40 on early June TBD, in the evening EDT.

GewoonLukas_ · « **Reply #4 on:** 05/18/2023 06:00 pm »

NextSpaceflight (Updated May 18th)
Launch NET June 6th
https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/6943

crandles57 · « **Reply #5 on:** 05/19/2023 01:38 am »

If CRS-28 is on 3 June and Starlink 6-4 is on 30 May and both require droneships
Previous two O3b launches used droneships so presumably needed again for this launch?

Does that make 6 June a bit difficult to have a droneship ready for this launch?

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #6 on:** 05/19/2023 02:58 am »

My extrapolation of Florida ASDS rotation for the next few weeks:
May 19 CCSFS SLC-40 ASOG Starlink 6-3
May 21 KSC LC-39A LZ-1 Axiom-2
May 24 CCSFS SLC-40 JRTI BADR-8
NET May 30 CCSFS SLC-40 ASOG Starlink 6-4
Jun 3 KSC LC-39A JRTI SpX-28
NET Jun 6 CCSFS SLC-40 ASOG O3b mPower 5/6
NET Jun 12 CCSFS SLC-40 JRTI Starlink 5-11
NET Jun 17 CCSFS SLC-40 ASOG Satria

scr00chy · « **Reply #7 on:** 05/19/2023 06:36 am »

Quote from: crandles57 on 05/19/2023 01:38 am

If CRS-28 is on 3 June and Starlink 6-4 is on 30 May and both require droneships
Previous two O3b launches used droneships so presumably needed again for this launch?

Does that make 6 June a bit difficult to have a droneship ready for this launch?

Why don't they do RTLS on CRS missions now? Shouldn't that be possible if it's doable for crewed launches?

Alexphysics · « **Reply #8 on:** 05/19/2023 06:40 am »

Quote from: scr00chy on 05/19/2023 06:36 am

Quote from: crandles57 on 05/19/2023 01:38 am
If CRS-28 is on 3 June and Starlink 6-4 is on 30 May and both require droneships
Previous two O3b launches used droneships so presumably needed again for this launch?

Does that make 6 June a bit difficult to have a droneship ready for this launch?

Why don't they do RTLS on CRS missions now? Shouldn't that be possible if it's doable for crewed launches?

CRS-28 is carrying the shorter nozzle extension on the MVac engine. It won't even do a partial boostback and land downrange like Starlink or GTO missions.

Alexphysics · « **Reply #9 on:** 05/19/2023 06:40 am »

Quote from: crandles57 on 05/19/2023 01:38 am

If CRS-28 is on 3 June and Starlink 6-4 is on 30 May and both require droneships
Previous two O3b launches used droneships so presumably needed again for this launch?

Does that make 6 June a bit difficult to have a droneship ready for this launch?

They should be able to support it droneship-wise but it'll likely entail a couple of quick stays at port like they've done in the past where they arrive, drop the booster, and head out again.

GewoonLukas_ · « **Reply #10 on:** 05/24/2023 01:18 pm »

NextSpaceflight (Updated May 24th)
Launch NET June 9th, 2023 at 19:15 UTC
https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/6943

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #11 on:** 05/24/2023 06:47 pm »

Ben Cooper's Launch Photography Viewing Guide, updated May 24:

Quote

<snip>
A Falcon 9 will launch SES' mPOWER 5&6 communications satellites from pad 40 on June 9, in the evening EDT. A Falcon 9 will launch the Satria communications satellite for Indonesia from pad 40 on June 19. Upcoming launches include more Starlink batches.
<snip>

GewoonLukas_ · « **Reply #12 on:** 05/31/2023 07:26 pm »

NextSpaceflight (Updated May 31st)
Launch NET June 2023
https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/6943

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #13 on:** 06/01/2023 04:49 pm »

Mention of this launch was removed for this June 1 update.
Ben Cooper's Launch Photography Viewing Guide, updated June 1:

Quote

The next SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Cargo Dragon CRS-28 resupply mission to the ISS from pad 39A on June 3 at 12:35 p.m. EDT. A Falcon 9 will launch a Starlink batch from pad 40 on June 4 at 5:53 a.m. EDT. Upcoming launches include more Starlink batches from pad 40. A Falcon 9 will launch the Satria communications satellite for Indonesia from pad 40 on June 19. A Falcon 9 will launch the Euclid telescope for the European Space Agency from pad 40 on early July, in the mid-day EDT. The next Falcon Heavy will launch the USSF-52 mission for the U.S. Space Force from pad 39A on July 7. The two side boosters will land back at the Cape about eight minutes after launch.

Also noting that there is no news of the satellites' delivery to Florida. The previous pair were delivered circa one half month before scheduled launch.

I suspect that this launch will be rescheduled shortly after the satellites are delivered.

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #14 on:** 06/02/2023 02:57 pm »

Cross-post:

Quote from: Salo on 06/02/2023 10:28 am

NextSpaceflight, updated June 2:
Quote
O3b mPOWER 5 & 6
Launch Time
NET July, 2023

Edit:
I wonder what happened? Launch was set for June 9, then poof, it's TBD.

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #15 on:** 06/04/2023 03:19 am »

SFN Launch Schedule, updated June 3:
Launch TBD

GewoonLukas_ · « **Reply #16 on:** 06/12/2023 03:44 pm »

Quote

SES CEO Steve Collar announces sudden resignation

June 12, 2023

[...]

SES has been planning to deploy initial services this summer from its upgraded MEO network following an upcoming launch of two more O3b mPower satellites.

Boeing was at one point preparing to ship the fifth and sixth of 11 O3b mPower satellites it is building for SES in May for a SpaceX launch in early June.

However, Ong said the satellites are still at Boeing’s manufacturing facilities in El Segundo, California, so they can complete further tests before being sent to SpaceX’s launchpad in Florida.

SES has not provided an updated launch window for the satellites.

[...]

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #17 on:** 07/05/2023 05:24 am »

Listing unchanged as of July 4. These satellite pairs can launch in less than two weeks after delivery to the Cape.

Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 06/02/2023 02:57 pm

Cross-post:
Quote from: Salo on 06/02/2023 10:28 am
NextSpaceflight, updated June 2:
Quote
O3b mPOWER 5 & 6
Launch Time
NET July 2023

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #18 on:** 07/10/2023 05:01 am »

Given Florida ASDS availability for the rest of July, particularly the need for both ASDS to serve the July 24 Jupiter 3 launch, and given the NET August 3 Galaxy 37 launch that requires one ASDS, then this launch should now be NET August.

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #19 on:** 07/14/2023 12:27 am »

Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 07/10/2023 05:01 am

Given Florida ASDS availability for the rest of July, particularly the need for both ASDS to serve the July 24 Jupiter 3 launch, and given the NET August 3 Galaxy 37 launch that requires one ASDS, then this launch should now be NET August.

NextSpaceflight, updated July 13:
Launch NET August 2023