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#60
by
Ken the Bin
on 31 Mar, 2024 17:58
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The mission webpage is back:
https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=sl-7-18SpaceX is targeting Monday, April 1 for a Falcon 9 launch of 22 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Liftoff is targeted for 7:30 p.m. PT, with backup opportunities available until 11:30 p.m. PT. If needed, additional opportunities are also available on Tuesday, April 2 starting at 7:30 p.m. PT.
A live webcast of this mission will begin on X @SpaceX about five minutes prior to liftoff. Watch live.
This is the 15th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched NROL-87, NROL-85, SARah-1, SWOT, Transporter-8, Transporter-9, and eight Starlink missions. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which will be stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
This means that the information that SpaceX sent to CelesTrak is completely bogus.
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#61
by
zubenelgenubi
on 31 Mar, 2024 18:15
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Primary launch opportunity per CelesTrak = 2024-04-01 02:38:00 UTC, so the FAA ATC information is correct. Given the situation, I wonder why SpaceX removed the mission webpage, and why it's still not back.
It's Easter. Somebody dropped the
ball Easter egg and they'll likely pick it up Monday. 🐣
Edit: Picked it up ASAP!
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#62
by
Ken the Bin
on 31 Mar, 2024 20:15
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Primary launch opportunity per CelesTrak = 2024-04-01 02:38:00 UTC, so the FAA ATC information is correct. Given the situation, I wonder why SpaceX removed the mission webpage, and why it's still not back.
It's Easter. Somebody dropped the ball Easter egg and they'll likely pick it up Monday. 🐣
Edit: Picked it up ASAP!
So why did SpaceX give wrong information to the FAA and to CelesTrak about a launch attempt on early April 1 UTC?
I'm thinking someone was celebrating Easter a little too much while on the job. 🐇
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#63
by
zubenelgenubi
on 31 Mar, 2024 21:21
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Primary launch opportunity per CelesTrak = 2024-04-01 02:38:00 UTC, so the FAA ATC information is correct. Given the situation, I wonder why SpaceX removed the mission webpage, and why it's still not back.
It's Easter. Somebody dropped the ball Easter egg and they'll likely pick it up Monday. 🐣
Edit: Picked it up ASAP!
So why did SpaceX give wrong information to the FAA and to CelesTrak about a launch attempt on early April 1 UTC?
I'm thinking someone was celebrating Easter a little too much while on the job. 🐇
That's a valid question. 🤔 I don't know.
We'll see if TS Kelso revises his launch opportunities listings.
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#64
by
Steven Pietrobon
on 31 Mar, 2024 21:47
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PDF of updated press kit.
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#65
by
catdlr
on 31 Mar, 2024 21:50
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Looking good for Monday evening weather-wise. I'll revisit for upper-level winds as we get closer to T-0.
Detail Two Day Forcast
Weather Data - Launch Window in Red Bracket.
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#66
by
Ken the Bin
on 01 Apr, 2024 03:59
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Primary launch opportunity per CelesTrak = 2024-04-01 02:38:00 UTC, so the FAA ATC information is correct. Given the situation, I wonder why SpaceX removed the mission webpage, and why it's still not back.
It's Easter. Somebody dropped the ball Easter egg and they'll likely pick it up Monday. 🐣
Edit: Picked it up ASAP!
So why did SpaceX give wrong information to the FAA and to CelesTrak about a launch attempt on early April 1 UTC?
I'm thinking someone was celebrating Easter a little too much while on the job. 🐇
That's a valid question. 🤔 I don't know.
We'll see if TS Kelso revises his launch opportunities listings.
The FAA ATCSCC Current Operations Plan Advisory has been updated to remove April 1.
https://www.fly.faa.gov/adv/adv_spt.jspSPACEX STARLINK 7-18, VANDENBERG SFB, CA
PRIMARY: 04/02/24 0230Z-0701Z
BACKUP: 04/03/24 0230Z-0710Z
Nothing was posted by T.S. Kelso on X, but the CelesTrak website has been updated for April 2, but just for the Primary launch opportunity. Normally the only time there is just a single entry is when the launch has taken place and everything has been removed except the launch opportunity that was actually used, as is shown for 6-45.
https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/supplemental/
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#67
by
AJW
on 01 Apr, 2024 22:03
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NOAA forecasts can give you some general hints on conditions before you drive to a launch, especially very high winds, fog, rain and lightning, but the actual launch criteria are quite detailed. Here's a good doc on launch criteria for crew dragon, I haven't spotted one for uncrewed.
https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/falcon9_crewdragon_launch_weather_criteria_fact_sheet.pdfThe criteria makes no mention of gusts, but when reading this NOAA wind forecast, it is easy to get the impression that the ground level wind gusts conveniently stop right at 7:00. I believe that NOAA doesn't report gusts below 15 mph. At 8pm, wind speeds drop to 6, but you might still have unreported gusts as high as 14. These forecasts also tell you nothing about upper level winds or the other 10 or more criteria. IANAMeteorologist, but that's my experience. (fixed a time)
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#68
by
catdlr
on 02 Apr, 2024 00:50
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NOAA forecasts can give you some general hints on conditions before you drive to a launch, especially very high winds, fog, rain and lightning, but the actual launch criteria are quite detailed. Here's a good doc on launch criteria for crew dragon, I haven't spotted one for uncrewed.
https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/falcon9_crewdragon_launch_weather_criteria_fact_sheet.pdf
The criteria makes no mention of gusts, but when reading this NOAA wind forecast, it is easy to get the impression that the ground level wind gusts conveniently stop right at 7:00. I believe that NOAA doesn't report gusts below 15 mph. At 8pm, wind speeds drop to 6, but you might still have unreported gusts as high as 14. These forecasts also tell you nothing about upper level winds or the other 10 or more criteria. IANAMeteorologist, but that's my experience. (fixed a time)
AJW we get and I report the upper levels via this link. I've tried making contact to the VSFB meteorological Group via a NASA meteorologist. No luck getting them to respond. I was advised to call the Main Gate to get the weather.
https://www.usairnet.com/cgi-bin/Winds/Aloft.cgi?location=SBA&Submit=Get+Forecast&hour=06&course=azimuth
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#69
by
catdlr
on 02 Apr, 2024 01:03
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#70
by
Galactic Penguin SST
on 02 Apr, 2024 01:45
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#71
by
catdlr
on 02 Apr, 2024 02:03
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#72
by
zubenelgenubi
on 02 Apr, 2024 02:51
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Screen caps from Space Affairs
Final minutes of the countdown:
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#73
by
Comga
on 02 Apr, 2024 02:53
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Are we off-line?
This mission launched at the first opportunity 22 minutes ago.
Successful landing
Nominal orbit insertion.
Waiting for second burn of second stage and deployment
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#74
by
zubenelgenubi
on 02 Apr, 2024 02:55
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#75
by
Ron Lee
on 02 Apr, 2024 03:01
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This was a great jellyfish event.
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#76
by
zubenelgenubi
on 02 Apr, 2024 03:03
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#77
by
zubenelgenubi
on 02 Apr, 2024 03:05
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First stage ascent to MECO, stage 1/2 separation, fairing jettison:
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#78
by
zubenelgenubi
on 02 Apr, 2024 03:16
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First and second stages, including entry burn:
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#79
by
zubenelgenubi
on 02 Apr, 2024 03:19
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First stage lands on
OCISLY; second stage SECO-1 and achieves orbit: