The initial launch time estimate was just before my bedtime, so I skipped the live feed after some weather delays. Watching for the barge landing the morning after, I was struck that they got much less of it into the live feed than recently. It was pretty far downrange, and there was a hurricane not so very far away. I'm not sure either played a part.
This was a heavy satellite, which would have been happy to get a swifter kick in the pants than they gave it, so the long down-range barge position suggests this was a near maximum effort launch for a Block 5 S9 booster doing first stage recovery as currently configured.
Of course, if they examine the entrails of the survivors and decide the booster can take a little more re-entry heat, they could cut back on the fuel allocated for the burn just before re-entry. Using that fuel to get the second stage going a little faster at MECO would get a little more oomph to the customer.
As you read the above there is a video of I believe the 3rd launch where the 1st stage "overburns" at separation from the second stage and collides with the second stage. Yes it most certainly is rocket science.
The next scheduled SpaceX launch (after a rather long pause) of SAOCOM 1A is scheduled for Vandenberg on October 7 (local) 8(UTC)--a recent 1-day slip.
Some possible plus points for viewing:
-This is currently indicated to be the first SpaceX West Coast launch to attempt a booster recovery on land (as distinct from a barge landing). The LZ has been paved for a while, but I think there were permission delays.
-The experimental fairing "net catch" boat Mr. Steven has recently gotten the big arms back, and presumably will be out working on developing fairing recovery by having another try at actually catching one of the two fairing halves.
-Just possibly the post-dusk launch time might generate pretty plumes in the sky.
As to minus points:
-Vandenburg launches are notoriously likely to be obscured by low clouds
-SpaceX has not been sharing real-time video of fairing catching experimental operations.
The launch video link is up for SpaceX Vandenberg launch of SAMCOM 1A.
Observers have posted pictures showing that Mr. Steven (the fairing catch trial boat) tried rigging the big net after very recently getting the big arms re-installed. I've not seen a report that she has left port, but she is fast, and could get out to the fairing catch zone in a jiffy. As this is intended to be a return to launch site for the first stage, there is no landing barge minder fleet.
Launch time is posted for 7:22 p.m. October 7 Pacific Daylight time. I've not seen a window, and suppose this to be one of their "single-instant" launch time targets. That would be 2:22 a.m. October 8 in UTC.
This accident makes it really questionable whether ISS will be manned past January 2019. Not only is there a current lack of rides up (the two new US vehicles are nowhere near reaching their NASA final approval points, and Soyuz will likely not be re-approved until a very considerable pile of paper has accumulated affirming that the cause of today's incident is known and fixed), but the Soyuz already docked at the station which is the ride home for the current three man crew has a clock ticking toward the "use-by" date. I've seen different sources assert that time is up for the currently docked ride down Soyuz in either December or January.
It was the plan that another up-flight would take place in December, with the three current crew riding the "old" Soyuz down then, leaving today's Soyuz and the December Soyuz docked and with clocks ticking toward expiry much farther in the future. New plan is needed.
robl wrote:Falcon 9 launch
)
video here: http://spacecoastdaily.com/2018/08/highlights-from-spacex-falcon-9-rocket-launch-from-cape-canaveral-carrying-merah-putih-mission/
Falcon 9, launch
)
Falcon 9, launch now!
Telstar 18 Vantage
The initial launch time
)
The initial launch time estimate was just before my bedtime, so I skipped the live feed after some weather delays. Watching for the barge landing the morning after, I was struck that they got much less of it into the live feed than recently. It was pretty far downrange, and there was a hurricane not so very far away. I'm not sure either played a part.
This was a heavy satellite, which would have been happy to get a swifter kick in the pants than they gave it, so the long down-range barge position suggests this was a near maximum effort launch for a Block 5 S9 booster doing first stage recovery as currently configured.
Of course, if they examine the entrails of the survivors and decide the booster can take a little more re-entry heat, they could cut back on the fuel allocated for the burn just before re-entry. Using that fuel to get the second stage going a little faster at MECO would get a little more oomph to the customer.
A very interesting article
)
A very interesting article about how SpaceX almost did not make it is here: Inside the eight desperate weeks that saved SpaceX from ruin
As you read the above there is a video of I believe the 3rd launch where the 1st stage "overburns" at separation from the second stage and collides with the second stage. Yes it most certainly is rocket science.
The next scheduled SpaceX
)
The next scheduled SpaceX launch (after a rather long pause) of SAOCOM 1A is scheduled for Vandenberg on October 7 (local) 8(UTC)--a recent 1-day slip.
Some possible plus points for viewing:
-This is currently indicated to be the first SpaceX West Coast launch to attempt a booster recovery on land (as distinct from a barge landing). The LZ has been paved for a while, but I think there were permission delays.
-The experimental fairing "net catch" boat Mr. Steven has recently gotten the big arms back, and presumably will be out working on developing fairing recovery by having another try at actually catching one of the two fairing halves.
-Just possibly the post-dusk launch time might generate pretty plumes in the sky.
As to minus points:
-Vandenburg launches are notoriously likely to be obscured by low clouds
-SpaceX has not been sharing real-time video of fairing catching experimental operations.
The launch video link is up
)
The launch video link is up for SpaceX Vandenberg launch of SAMCOM 1A.
Observers have posted pictures showing that Mr. Steven (the fairing catch trial boat) tried rigging the big net after very recently getting the big arms re-installed. I've not seen a report that she has left port, but she is fast, and could get out to the fairing catch zone in a jiffy. As this is intended to be a return to launch site for the first stage, there is no landing barge minder fleet.
Launch time is posted for 7:22 p.m. October 7 Pacific Daylight time. I've not seen a window, and suppose this to be one of their "single-instant" launch time targets. That would be 2:22 a.m. October 8 in UTC.
Mr. Steven had not yet left
)
Mr. Steven had not yet left port far too recently to try a catch tonight. Curious.
Up, down, stuck, splash,
)
Up, down, stuck, splash, sprang, splash, all good.
Summary of today's Soyuz
)
Summary of today's Soyuz accident.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/soyuz-iss-incident-emergency-landing-1.4858238
This accident makes it really
)
This accident makes it really questionable whether ISS will be manned past January 2019. Not only is there a current lack of rides up (the two new US vehicles are nowhere near reaching their NASA final approval points, and Soyuz will likely not be re-approved until a very considerable pile of paper has accumulated affirming that the cause of today's incident is known and fixed), but the Soyuz already docked at the station which is the ride home for the current three man crew has a clock ticking toward the "use-by" date. I've seen different sources assert that time is up for the currently docked ride down Soyuz in either December or January.
It was the plan that another up-flight would take place in December, with the three current crew riding the "old" Soyuz down then, leaving today's Soyuz and the December Soyuz docked and with clocks ticking toward expiry much farther in the future. New plan is needed.