Author Topic: SpaceX F9 : USSF-124/HBTSS : CCSFS SLC-40 : 14 February 2024 (22:30 UTC)  (Read 38436 times)

Online AndrewM

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Discussion thread for the USSF-124 mission.

Launch 14 February 2024, at 22:30 UTC (5:30 pm EST), into low Earth orbit (LEO).  First stage B1078-7 successfully landed at LZ-2.



Awarded on May 26, 2022 under NSSL Phase 2 with a target launch date of within the next two years. USSF-124 is a partnership between the US Space Force (USSF) and Missile Defense Agency (MDA).

Quote
USSF-124 is a mission being conducted with SSC partners at Missile Defense Agency. It
will be launched onboard a Falcon 9 rocket from the eastern range into low earth orbit.

https://www.ssc.spaceforce.mil/Portals/3/Documents/PRESS%20RELEASES/SSC%20Issues%20Launch%20Task%20Orders%20for%20FY22%20NSS%20Missions.pdf?ver=eR_TvXz3KYJArhCmiTk9TA%3D%3D
« Last Edit: 02/16/2024 10:01 pm by zubenelgenubi »

Online AndrewM

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During a briefing for NSSL Phase 3 on July 20, 2023, the following slide was presented which has the current target launch date as September 29, 2023.
« Last Edit: 07/31/2023 06:04 pm by AndrewM »

Online DanClemmensen

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Discussion thread for the USSF-124 mission.

Awarded on May 26, 2022 under NSSL Phase 2 with a target launch date of within the next two years. USSF-124 is a partnership between the US Space Force (USSF) and Missile Defense Agency (MDA).

Quote
USSF-124 is a mission being conducted with SSC partners at Missile Defense Agency. It
will be launched onboard a Falcon 9 rocket from the eastern range into low earth orbit.

https://www.ssc.spaceforce.mil/Portals/3/Documents/PRESS%20RELEASES/SSC%20Issues%20Launch%20Task%20Orders%20for%20FY22%20NSS%20Missions.pdf?ver=eR_TvXz3KYJArhCmiTk9TA%3D%3D
from the announcement:
Quote
Space Systems Command (SSC) ordered eight National Security Space (NSS) launch services under the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 2 Launch Service Procurement contract today; five to United Launch Alliance (ULA) for GPS III-7, USSF-23, USSF-43, WGS-11+, and USSF-16 using the Vulcan Centaur launch vehicle, and three to Space Exploration Technologies Corp (SpaceX) for USSF-124, USSF-62, and one SDA-Tranche 1 mission using the Falcon 9 launch vehicle.
In an announcement dated May 2022, I assume "within the next two years" means "before May 2024". That's OK for the three F9 missions, but  what will happen to the Five Vulcan missions? will USSF move them to Falcon 9?

Online gongora

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They're not all happening within two years, and Vulcan missions aren't getting moved unless it's delayed a lot more.

Online Josh_from_Canada

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Keep in mind that the only NSSL mission that has been moved off Vulcan (USSF-51 now scheduled for Atlas V) hasn't even launched yet. There's a lot of work required to move some of these missions between launchers due to the strict requirements they have. Since most of these NSSL payloads are not close to being launched, there is no need to go through the extra effort of changing launchers as it will cause more delays.
Launches Seen: Atlas V OA-7, Falcon 9 Starlink 6-4, Falcon 9 CRS-28,

Online DanClemmensen

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They're not all happening within two years, and Vulcan missions aren't getting moved unless it's delayed a lot more.
So national security is so important that they go to great lengths to maintain two suppliers, and then when one supplier cannot deliver, they do not move the missions? I would think they could shift these missions to F9 and then shift some later F9 missions to Vulcan Centaur to compensate, thus getting these valuable assets into service on time.

(Meta: sorry I dragged this off topic. What is an appropriate thread?)

Offline GewoonLukas_

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USSF-124 is a partnership between the US Space Force (USSF) and Missile Defense Agency (MDA).

Possibly HBTSS? (+ SDA Tranche 0 Tracking Layer) HBTSS is set to launch in 2023 but no launch vehicle has been announced.
« Last Edit: 07/31/2023 07:26 pm by GewoonLukas_ »
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5SLS Mission Patch:

Doesn't give us any information about the payload unfortunatly.
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Offline GewoonLukas_

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NextSpaceflight (Updated August 18th)
First stage LZ-1 Landing
https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/6961

Also lists the payload going to a polar orbit.
« Last Edit: 08/17/2023 10:17 pm by GewoonLukas_ »
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Offline Jim

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5SLS Mission Patch:

Doesn't give us any information about the payload unfortunatly.

Yes, it does.  MDA is a clue

5SLS Mission Patch:

Doesn't give us any information about the payload unfortunatly.

Yes, it does.  MDA is a clue

Yes, supports the payload Gewoon mentioned earlier. Also nice to see the polar corridor getting usage again, first for a dedicated military F9 launch.

Offline GewoonLukas_

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Re: SpaceX F9 : USSF-124 : CCSFS SLC-40 : NET 29 September 2023
« Reply #11 on: 08/18/2023 06:17 am »
5SLS Mission Patch:

Doesn't give us any information about the payload unfortunatly.

Yes, it does.  MDA is a clue

Yeah although we already knew that from when the mission was announced, so no new clues
« Last Edit: 08/18/2023 06:19 am by GewoonLukas_ »
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Offline GewoonLukas_

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Re: SpaceX F9 : USSF-124 : CCSFS SLC-40 : NET 29 September 2023
« Reply #12 on: 08/22/2023 05:41 am »
NextSpaceflight (Updated August 21/22)
Launch NET November 2023
https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/6961
Lukas C. H. • Hobbyist Mission Patch Artist 🎨 • May the force be with you my friend, Ad Astra Per Aspera ✨️

If we needed any more confirmation this was HBTSS. (From Stephen Clark)

Quote
Meanwhile, the Missile Defense Agency plans to launch the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor mission into orbit later this year on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. This new sensor will have improved sensitivity to detect and track hypersonic missiles, which have lower heat signatures from their exhaust plumes than larger long-range ballistic missiles, making them more challenging to see with the military's existing missile tracking satellites.

https://arstechnica.com/security/2023/09/heres-what-we-know-about-a-mysterious-launch-from-florida-this-week/ [Sept 5th]
« Last Edit: 09/05/2023 10:48 pm by spacenuance »

Offline zubenelgenubi

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Belated cross-post:
SN Space Development Agency to launch 13 satellites in late June
Quote
May 26, 2023
<snip>
Four L3Harris Tranche 0 satellites were scheduled to launch [on SDA Tranche 0B] but were taken off the manifest due to production delays, [SDA director Derek Tournear] said. The four satellites will fly to orbit on a separate mission planned by the Missile Defense Agency. MDA is preparing to launch two prototypes — one made by L3Harris and the other by Northrop Grumman — for its Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS). 

SDA and MDA are collaborating closely on missile tracking and missile defense architectures, said Tournear. The agencies agreed to deploy L3Harris’ wide field-of-view satellites made for SDA in the same orbit as the HBTSS medium field-of-view missile defense satellites.
<snip>
MDA has not yet announced a launch date for the HBTSS mission.
« Last Edit: 09/07/2023 04:14 am by zubenelgenubi »
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Offline GewoonLukas_

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Re: SpaceX F9 : USSF-124/HBTSS : CCSFS SLC-40 : 2023
« Reply #15 on: 09/18/2023 06:15 pm »
Scheduled for October according to SpaceNews:

Quote
L3Harris exploring supplier partnerships for its satellite business
September 18, 2023

[...]

Schedule setbacks caused by supplier issues delayed the delivery of four missile-detection tracking satellites L3Harris built for the U.S. Space Force’s Space Development Agency.

These satellites will be part of a large network of sensors in low Earth orbit known as the Transport Layer. They were projected to ride to orbit along with other SDA Tranche 0 satellites in two recent launches but they were not ready. They are now on track to launch in October on USSF-124 with two Missile Defense Agency infrared sensor satellites.

[...]
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Offline GewoonLukas_

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Re: SpaceX F9 : USSF-124/HBTSS : CCSFS SLC-40 : 2023
« Reply #16 on: 09/18/2023 10:00 pm »
Scheduled for October according to SpaceNews:

Quote
L3Harris exploring supplier partnerships for its satellite business
September 18, 2023

[...]

Schedule setbacks caused by supplier issues delayed the delivery of four missile-detection tracking satellites L3Harris built for the U.S. Space Force’s Space Development Agency.

These satellites will be part of a large network of sensors in low Earth orbit known as the Transport Layer. They were projected to ride to orbit along with other SDA Tranche 0 satellites in two recent launches but they were not ready. They are now on track to launch in October on USSF-124 with two Missile Defense Agency infrared sensor satellites.

[...]

NextSpaceflight (Updated September 18th)
Launch NET October 31st
https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/6961
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Offline zubenelgenubi

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NextSpaceflight (Updated August 21/22)
Launch NET November 2023
https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/6961

Scheduled for October according to SpaceNews:
Quote
L3Harris exploring supplier partnerships for its satellite business
September 18, 2023

[...]

Schedule setbacks caused by supplier issues delayed the delivery of four missile-detection tracking satellites L3Harris built for the U.S. Space Force’s Space Development Agency.

These satellites will be part of a large network of sensors in low Earth orbit known as the Transport Layer. They were projected to ride to orbit along with other SDA Tranche 0 satellites in two recent launches but they were not ready. They are now on track to launch in October on USSF-124 with two Missile Defense Agency infrared sensor satellites.

[...]

NextSpaceflight (Updated September 18th)
Launch NET October 31st
https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/6961

I know there's been quite a lot of confusing jumps on the schedule of certain classified missions for SpaceX. This is not just for them but also ULA and such and if you remember it's also been a problem for a while as well (see USSF-44 being delayed 2 years). Not sure what's going on but it doesn't look like military payloads have had the best of luck lately trying to be on schedule.

This is in relation with the USSF-124 mission jumping back and forth on nextspaceflight from NET November to NET October 31st, etc. We'll see what happens with that mission - same with USSF-52 and friends.

NextSpaceflight, updated September 21:
Launch NET November
« Last Edit: 09/22/2023 06:50 pm by zubenelgenubi »
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Offline GewoonLukas_

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NextSpaceflight (Updated October 11th/12th)
Launch NET December 2023
https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/6961
« Last Edit: 10/28/2023 04:01 am by zubenelgenubi »
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