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ЦитироватьSpaceX adds mystery "Zuma" mission, Iridium-4 aims for Vandenberg landing
October 16, 2017 by Chris Gebhardt

In what has already been a busy year for SpaceX, the commercial launch provider is adding one more mission to its jammed-packed end-of-year schedule. A mysterious mission codenamed "Zuma" will launch No Earlier Than 10 November 2017 from LC-39A at the Kennedy Space Center. Meanwhile, CRS-13 is slipping at least one week per the Station's schedule, and the Iridium NEXT-4 mission from Vandenberg has received permission to debut RTLS landing of the Falcon 9 booster back at SLC-4W.

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SpaceX end-of-year manifest realignment:

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...the Iridium NEXT-4 mission will follow from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.

This mission is – as of writing – NET late-November; however, Iridium CEO Matt Desch was clear to all on-site press at the Iridium NEXT-3 launch last week (https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/10/spacex-falcon-9-launch-third-set-iridium-satellites/) that Iridium NEXT-4 will likely be NET early December 2017.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/209223.png)

This is – in part – to deconflict the launch (specifically the final elements of launch processing for the Iridium team) with the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S. and to also work on a few remaining points with SpaceX.

Intriguingly, there are some indications that Iridium NEXT-4 could make use of a flight-proven Falcon 9 – reusing the booster (B1036) that launched the Iridium-2 mission in June of this year (https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/07/iridium-satellite-network-55-more/).

While not confirmed as of writing, if Iridium NEXT-4 does reuse the Iridium-2 booster, the mission would be the first flight-proven Falcon 9 from Vandenberg (https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/?s=Vandenberg) and the 5th flight-proven mission of the year (if CRS-13 does, indeed, use a flight-proven core).

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/209222.png)

But perhaps most excitingly for Vandenberg is that Iridium NEXT-4, according to sources, will be the first mission to debut RTLS landing of the Falcon 9 at Vandenberg.

For a Vandenberg RTLS landing, the Falcon 9 will launch from SLC-4E and return to SLC-4W, which is just 1,425 ft (434.3 m) away – measured from center of launch mount to center of landing pad.

The commencement of Vandenberg RTLS landings has been a long time coming, with environmental studies finally clearing the way last year on 7 October 2016 (https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/08/spacex-static-fire-formosat-5-falcon-9-asds-landing/).

Since then, SpaceX has been hard at work building the landing pad and assembling/testing all of the systems needed to safely track and communicate with a returning Falcon 9 booster to SLC-4W and all the equipment needed to safe, process, and house RTLS boosters post-landing.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/209224.png)

All of these endeavours are now either complete or on track to be completed in time for Iridium NEXT-4.

An early December launch of Iridium NEXT-4 would result in a launch at approximately 18:00 PST – about 1hr after local sunset and 20mins before complete darkness at the launch site.

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ЦитироватьMatt Desch‏ @IridiumBoss (https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss)  9h9 hours ago (https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/920411002373513216)

Replying to @SpaceY_UK (https://twitter.com/SpaceY_UK)

Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure we're not going to be the first RTLS for our launch 4. Wish it were true, but alas...

ЦитироватьIridium Communications – in the midst of launching their next generation communications constellation – has formally signed an agreement with SpaceX to utilize flight-proven Falcon 9 boosters on their upcoming Iridium NEXT-4 and -5 missions.  Iridium NEXT-4, scheduled to launch NET 22 December 2017 from SLC-4E, will be the first flight-proven Falcon 9 mission from Vandenberg.  The change in boosters now negates the possibility of a Return To Launch Site landing of the Falcon 9 for the mission.

ЦитироватьWhile the exact booster is not yet known, there is significant potential that Iridium NEXT-4 will use the Iridium NEXT-2 booster (https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/06/spacex-falcon-9-iridium-next-2-launch/), which would make Iridium the first company to reuse the same booster for two of its missions.
Iridium NEXT-2 launched on 25 June 2017.  Its first stage, core B1036, then successfully executed a landing on the ASDS (Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship) Just Read The Instructions (https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/?s=Just+Read+The+Instructions).

ЦитироватьWhile it was also confirmed a Block 4 could have RTLS-ed, the switch to a flight-proven Block 3 will now delay the first Vandenberg RTLS into 2018.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/116407.gif) (http://investor.iridium.com/index.cfm)

Oct 19, 2017

Iridium Announces Date for Fourth Iridium® NEXT Launch

Agreement Signed with SpaceX to Use Flight-Proven First Stage of Falcon 9 Rocket

MCLEAN, Va., Oct. 19, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:IRDM) announced today that the fourth Iridium NEXT (https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=EsPFAAEDyp6vflnqETFrYQ6Dhm0VzqdiEPJU2Y3mv1-IAArJ6ts0hAClWn2XTsgA9c5qbEBcCO2CrvBKnzHd1g==) launch has been targeted by SpaceX for December 22, 2017 at 5:26 p.m. PT [1:26 a.m. UTC on Dec. 23], from Vandenberg Air Force Base. This launch signifies the mid-way point of the Iridium NEXT launch program and will deliver another 10 satellites to orbit, bringing the total number deployed to 40. Targeted for just over two months after the third Iridium NEXT launch, this December date enables Iridium to maintain its planned cadence of completing all launches by mid-2018, even with SpaceX's busy launch manifest.

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To date, 30 Iridium NEXT satellites have been deployed, many of which are already providing service to customers. The new satellites are also now undergoing on-orbit testing for Iridium CertusSM (https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=EsPFAAEDyp6vflnqETFrYRHpdTjwx7xlSSf-xd7Opn4MH94eRp-70aQocjAcIbQD1Wq33Bs856GJshTEjrIZGVKK20SHElE3y-AntZ8txdk5UYv9hEx3yggPxDxqrc-HKuF7CznJoscHKme5bl_3QQ==), a major milestone on the path to introducing the company's next generation broadband service. Iridium Certus will feature small form factor, cost-effective terminals and antennas, and ultimately offer the fastest L-band broadband solution available, supported by the world's only truly global network.

In addition to the fourth launch date, Iridium also announced it has reached agreement with SpaceX to utilize flight-proven first stages for the next two Iridium launches. Iridium conducted extensive due diligence work and is fully confident in the SpaceX booster refurbishment program.

"I believe that reusability is the future for satellite launches, and I think SpaceX has intelligently built their Falcon 9 program around this strategy," said Iridium CEO Matt Desch. "With three successful flight-proven Falcon 9 launches already this year, we're excited to show leadership towards the sustainable access to space, while also making sure we maintain our cadence to complete the five remaining Iridium NEXT launches by the middle of next year."

Iridium confirmed with its insurers that there is no increase in premium for the launch program as a result of the use of flight-proven Falcon 9 rockets, further supporting Iridium's conclusion that the risk profile is unchanged.

Iridium NEXT is the company's $3 billion, next-generation, mobile, global satellite network scheduled for completion in 2018. Iridium NEXT will replace the company's existing global constellation in one of the largest technology upgrades ever completed in space.  It represents the evolution of critical communications infrastructure that governments and organizations worldwide rely upon to drive business, enable connectivity, empower disaster relief efforts and more. Iridium NEXT will enable and introduce new services like the company's next-generation communications platform, Iridium Certus, and the AireonSM space-based ADS-B aircraft surveillance and flight tracking network.

For more information about Iridium NEXT, please visit www.IridiumNEXT.com (https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=4Oz5lQR5KPTMBt2WXGTW8lv02xij8ZK0z7oDyr5lLs3bLJDgwZxVQ24iIqDKsdz9n3s0t6qOVJJvj-U9i5Tar8o3VxQvDNzbOmsyvcdefLI=).
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ЦитироватьIridium Selects Flight-Proven Falcon 9 Rockets for Upcoming Constellation Launches
October 19, 2017 (http://spaceflight101.com/iridium-selects-flight-proven-falcon-9-rockets-for-upcoming-constellation-launches/)

Iridium Communications announced on Thursday the company reached an agreement with SpaceX for the use of flight-proven Falcon 9 boosters on the next two launches supporting the Iridium-NEXT constellation in order to keep up the pace of their fleet replacement, planned to be complete by mid-2018.

Iridium-4, the first launch from Vandenberg of a previously flown Falcon 9, has received an updated launch date of December 22 and will mark the mid-point of the Iridium replacement effort, lifting satellites 31-40 and capping a busy year of four Iridium launches.

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(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/154100.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/36984625383_481f51e6c2_k3.jpg)
Falcon 9 lifts off on Iridium-3 Mission – Photo: SpaceX

Iridium signed its original launch contract with SpaceX in June 2010 for a total of $492 million, covering the launch of 70 Iridium-NEXT satellites on seven Falcon 9 rockets. An eighth launch was added to the manifest in January 2017 that will carry five instead of ten satellites and share a ride with a pair of gravity-sensing satellites flying under the GRACE Follow-On Program, a joint U.S.-German mission. These launches will place a total of 75 Iridium-NEXT communications satellites into orbit, 66 of which will enter active service within the constellation while the others act as spares to go into service on short notice.

Iridium had previously emphasized their contracts are for factory-new Falcon 9 rockets and that extensive reviews of SpaceX's re-use capabilities as well as financial incentives or schedule advances would be needed to convince them to switch to what SpaceX markets as 'flight-proven' first stages.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/154105.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Iridium-NEXT-3b.jpg)
Image: Iridium Communications

"Iridium has reached agreement with SpaceX to utilize flight-proven first stages for the next two Iridium launches," the company said in a statement issued on Thursday. "Iridium conducted extensive due diligence work and is fully confident in the SpaceX booster refurbishment program."

The agreement signed with SpaceX covers only the next two Iridium-NEXT missions, Iridium-4 on December 22 with satellites 31-40 and Iridium-5, working toward launch in early 2018, with Iridium-NEXT satellites 41-50.

"I believe that reusability is the future for satellite launches, and I think SpaceX has intelligently built their Falcon 9 program around this strategy," Iridium CEO Matt Desch said in Thursday's announcement. "With three successful flight-proven Falcon 9 launches already this year, we're excited to show leadership towards the sustainable access to space while also making sure we maintain our cadence to complete the five remaining Iridium NEXT launches by the middle of next year."

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/154101.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/37610547226_b69578c7c3_k.jpg)
Photo: SpaceX

SpaceX successfully flew three re-use missions this year and demonstrated to potential customers as well as insurers that the company's flight-proven rockets can reliably launch satellites into orbit. An important part of Thursday's announcement was that the switch to used boosters will come at no additional insurance cost for Iridium, a major requirement for SpaceX's vision of reducing launch costs through re-use.

"Iridium confirmed with its insurers that there is no increase in premium for the launch program as a result of the use of flight-proven Falcon 9 rockets, further supporting Iridium's conclusion that the risk profile is unchanged," the company's statement said.

For its initial re-use flights earlier this year on the SES 10, BulgariaSat-1 and SES 11 missions, SpaceX worked extensively with customers and insurers to share data from the company's re-use testing, the first batch of recovered boosters and lifetime analysis for the various components of Falcon 9's first stage. This allowed the first re-use mission in March to lau nch with only a marginally higher insurance premium incurred by satellite operator SES.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/154099.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/36073897213_08ffd81a47_k.jpg)
A Falcon 9 Booster standing atop SpaceX's West Coast Drone Ship – Photo: SpaceX

The success of the first Falcon 9 re-use missions also prompted NASA to begin reviews into possibly using flight-proven rockets for SpaceX's Commercial Resupply Services missions to the International Space Station. Per the latest, NASA finished the technical review process and management was expected to make a firm decision by November. This decision may or may not be in time for the Dragon SpX-13 mission, currently targeting a NET December 4 liftoff from Florida.

Beginning to gain traction in the commercial and government sectors, SpaceX's re-use business is already helping the company deal with its packed manifest as each re-use mission aids in the major manufacturing bottleneck which has been the production of new first stage boosters. SpaceX hopes to make rapid and cost-effective re-flight a reality with the inauguration of the Falcon 9 Block 5 vehicle that will represent the final iteration of the workhorse launcher, optimized for performance and re-use.

With the continued migration of multiple operators to flight-proven first stages, SpaceX needed less than a year to make re-use a substantial part of its business with up to 25% of the company's 2017 manifest flying re-used hardware – provided SpX-13 launches on a previously flown booster.

SpaceX and Iridium did not disclose potential discounts for the swap to flown boosters, but the decision was likely in part due to Iridium's desire to keep to its planned deployment schedule which may not have been possible with the bottleneck of first stage production.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/154106.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/154106.jpg)
Iridium 3 Payload Stack – Photo: Iridium Communications

Which of SpaceX's recovered first stages will be assigned to the Iridium-4 mission has not been disclosed yet. With the mission moving from a late November target to its new NET of December 22, the flight is looking at a post-sunset blastoff from Vandenberg's SLC-4E at 5:26 p.m. Pacific Time, 1:26 UTC on December 23rd.

Per Iridium's revised deployment plan, the Iridium-4 mission will be targeting Plane 2 of the six-plane constellation with eight satellites expected to go into service and two drifting over into Plane 1. Iridium-5, the second to fly with a used first stage, will target Plane 1. Whether future Iridium missions will also use flight-proven hardware was left open, but will largely depend on the success of the upcoming launches.

The Iridium replacement comes with a price tag of nearly $3 billion and calls for the replacement of the entire 66-satellite Iridium constellation, much of which had been in place since the late 1990s. With Iridium-NEXT satellites going into service, the company has begun to move old Iridium satellites, either deboosting satellites that are at the end of their lives to accelerate their orbital decay or relocating spacecraft that remain in good condition into storage orbits to remain available as spares until the replacement is completed next year.

Weighing in at 860 Kilograms, each Iridium satellite covers a 4,700-Kilometer wide footprint – connecting to user terminals through a large L-Band antenna and routing data via space-to-space links with neighboring satellites to ship customer data packets to their respective destination. Typical services offered by Iridium-NEXT are voice and data communications with mobile terminals at up to 1.5Mbit/s while a high-speed Ka-Band service is available for larger fixed and transportable terminals at data rates up to 8Mbit/s.

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ЦитироватьMatt Desch‏ @IridiumBoss (https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss)  19h19 hours ago (https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/921070386640556032)

Replying to @vjerkov (https://twitter.com/vjerkov)

Comfort that risk <= than new and more schedule certainty to complete 5 more launches over next 8 months. Cost is better, but not driver.

ЦитироватьIridium swaps two new Falcon 9 rockets for "flight-proven" boosters
October 20, 2017 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/10/) Stephen Clark (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/stephen-clark/)

Citing schedule concerns over price benefits, Iridium announced Thursday it will launch its next 20 satellites on a pair of previously-flown Falcon 9 boosters from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, beginning with a Dec. 22 mission.

Iridium previously planned to launch all its satellites on newly-manufactured rockets under a $492 million contract with SpaceX signed in 2010, but the company kept open the option to switch to previously-flown boosters if the change met certain schedule, risk and cost metrics.

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/127030.jpg)
A Falcon 9 first stage lands on a drone ship in the Pacific Ocean in June following a liftoff with Iridium satellites. Credit: SpaceX

Matt Desch, Iridium's CEO, told Spaceflight Now in an interview Thursday that the agreement will help ensure the deployment of the company's next-generation voice and data relay network, comprising up to 81 satellites, remains on schedule for completion by mid-2018.

"In terms of schedule, I certainly felt comfortable that it was going to keep or improve the overall schedule," Desch said. "We have a very aggressive plan to have five more launches over the next eight months, and I realize that working with previously-flown, flight-proven boosters was going to help SpaceX and ourselves keep on track to that launch schedule."

Iridium said the fourth flight of the company's eight-launch campaign with SpaceX is set for no earlier than Dec. 22 from Space Launch Complex 4-East at Vandenberg Air Force Base, a facility on the Pacific coast northwest of Los Angeles. Launch time is set for 5:26 p.m. PST (8:26 p.m. EST; 0126 GMT on Dec. 23).

SpaceX will launch 10 more satellites for the Iridium Next constellation into orbit 388 miles (625 kilometers) above Earth, moving the fleet to the halfway point in deployments.

Iridium has contracted with Thales Alenia Space and Orbital ATK to build 81 satellites to replace the company's aging spacecraft, providing uninterrupted global messaging and telephone service, and introducing new higher-bandwidth applications, such as video.

Seventy-five of the satellites are booked for launch on SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets — one of the missions will only carry five Iridium payloads in a shared ride with two U.S.-German research satellites — and thirty of the Iridium Next platforms are already in orbit from three successful Falcon 9 flights in January, June and on Oct. 9.

Iridium hoped to have the Iridium Next constellation fully operational by the end of 2017, but delays in satellite production, followed by a four-month interruption in SpaceX's launch manifest last year after a rocket failure, pushed back the schedule.

"With the new services we have available with the Next satellites, we really want to take advantage of those and ensure that we complete the network in mid-2018 as planned," Desch said, adding that Iridium's agreement was not aimed at moving forward launch dates for the next two missions, but "about improving my whole launch cadence."

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126126.jpg)
File photo of 10 Iridium Next satellites before encapsulation inside the Falcon 9 rocket's payload fairing. Each tier of the two-part dispenser holds five satellites. Credit: Iridium

In a statement announcing the decision, Iridium said it "conducted extensive due diligence work and is fully confident in the SpaceX booster refurbishment program."

Desch told Spaceflight Now that three successful re-flights of Falcon 9 first stage boosters this year gave Iridium, and the insurance community, confidence in the rocket's ability to fly more than once.

"Our technical teams really dug into it, it was clear that SpaceX has been designing for reusability all along," Desch said. "They have a lot of engineering data and work, that by the time we got through all that due diligence, we felt that the risks were no higher, and maybe lower, in using a flight-proven booster.

"The most important thing there is we went out to our insurance carriers, and they agreed," he said. "They said there would be no changes to our premium as a result of this."

SpaceX has flown three reused first stages on Falcon 9 flights this year, beginning March 30 with the SES 10 communications satellite. Another previously-flown booster launched the BulgariaSat 1 broadcast satellite toward orbit June 23, and another communications payload for SES and EchoStar rode a reused first stage to space Oct. 11.

Desch said Iridium has not confirmed which boosters in SpaceX's inventory of recovered rockets will fly Dec. 22, or on the following Iridium Next mission in the first quarter of 2018.

"There was a cost reduction," Desch said. "But I think we got the fairly standard cost reduction they're offering, and that was acceptable to me because the value was (the same) or better, overall."

He declined to identify the exact discount SpaceX offered.

"Regardless, (cost) was my lowest driver," Desch said. "That, to me, meant nothing if the other two weren't met."

In the long run, SpaceX aims for more significant cost reductions as the company cuts the time it needs to recover and refurbish a Falcon 9 first stage for a re-flight. The second stage remains expendable.

"Anybody who says they need a significant cost reduction, or is starting to throw out numbers, I believe that means that they don't believe that the risk profile is the same," Desch said. "The value is getting your payload successfully into the orbit that you need, and to me, I don't know that it's a requirement to get a discount at all for that. I think, long-term, there isn't going to be a discount for it."

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/127031.jpg)
File photo of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket rolling out to Space Launch Complex 4-East at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. Credit: SpaceX

But schedule concerns, and potentially a lower risk profile, could draw customers to SpaceX's stable of reused rockets, even without a major cost reduction from SpaceX's current prices, which undercut competitors, Desch said, echoing several other satellite industry officials who have sought or booked launches on previously-flown Falcon 9 boosters.

"I say it's been tested," he said. "Our analysis believes it is proven technology, and what reduction we're getting is because that's what's being offered right now. I'm really getting all the value I contracted for before. I don't get to keep the rocket after it's over. I get no memento from having paid for it, so I'm just paying for the service, and as long as I get my service, I'm pretty happy with what the price should be.

"I thought I had a pretty good deal to begin with, and maybe some people are still thinking about it compared to other rockets they use, but I believe that the Falcon 9 is a good value right now, and a flight-proven (vehicle) maybe is a little bit better, but (cost) is not really what drives us."

The $492 million contract signed by SpaceX and Iridium in 2010 covered seven launches, plus the design and construction of special dispensers to deploy the satellites once in orbit. Iridium since added another launch, a rideshare flight with five Iridium payloads and two U.S.-German GRACE-Follow On gravity measurement satellites.

Desch said Iridium will consider flying on reused boosters on missions next year, but likely not the rideshare mission with the GRACE satellites, which is expected to be the sixth flight in Iridium's launch sequence in the spring of 2018, using SpaceX's new Block 5 vehicle, an upgraded Falcon 9 configuration.

The current version of the Falcon 9 rocket must land its first stage on SpaceX's ocean-going drone ships after launching with heavy payloads — such as 10 Iridium satellites in one go — or missions bound for high-altitude orbits. Among other benefits, the Block 5 will allow more Falcon 9 boosters to return to land on a concrete pad near launch sites in Florida and California.

SpaceX has not conducted a rocket landing at Vandenberg Air Force Base following a West Coast launch, but is expected to debut that capability early next year after the completion of environmental reviews. Unlike SpaceX's landing target at Cape Canaveral, which is several miles from Falcon 9 launch pads, the company's landing site at Vandenberg is adjacent to the liftoff point at a former Titan 2 launch pad.

Desch said the first Falcon 9 landing at the California base is not expected to be on an Iridium flight.

"I checked around and found out that it is not us, and SpaceX has never talked to us about that," he said.

SpaceX has several launches from Vandenberg for customers other than Iridium next year, beginning with a mission targeted for liftoff no earlier than Jan. 30 with the Spanish Paz Earth observation satellite.

The next two Falcon 9 missions from Florida's Space Coast, set for Oct. 30 and mid-November, will utilize factory-fresh boosters. A NASA spokesperson told Spaceflight Now last week he could not confirm if the booster for SpaceX's next space station supply launch in early December will be new or previously-flown.

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Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67496.jpg) Matt Desch‏ @IridiumBoss (https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss) 7 нояб. (https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/928002624670101504)

First 2 sats for Launch #4 on their way from AZ factory to VAFB! Only a little more than 6 weeks away - 12/22! (Tracked via Iridium IoT)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/170610.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67496.jpg) Matt Desch‏ @IridiumBoss (https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss) 30 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/928987644863959041)

Launch 4 activities on track for a Dec 22nd launch. Second two of 10 Iridium NEXT sats just left for VAFB - all there by Thanksgiving weekend. First stage and dispenser onsite. 2018 schedule firming up too... Halfway home!
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/170879.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186040.jpg)  Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight)  13 мин.13 минут назад (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/932754005708636165)
SpaceX confirms the Falcon 9 Iridium-4 mission from SLC-4E at Vandenberg is on track for NET December 22, via the opening of media accreditation. NSF's Philip Sloss photo from Iridium-3:
 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/171191.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186191.jpg) Eric Ralph‏ @13ericralph31 (https://twitter.com/13ericralph31) 10 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/13ericralph31/status/934956733755039745)

Iridium-4 still on-schedule, apparently! Hopefully its fairing predates the present investigation's source(s).

Цитировать (https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/770641314052501504/kpDnKfTj_bigger.jpg) Uwe Häntsch‏ @uwelinchen1 (https://twitter.com/uwelinchen1) 26 нояб. (https://twitter.com/uwelinchen1/status/934689755375259648)

@IridiumBoss (https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss) Good afternoon, Mr. Desch. Is the date on December 22nd for the next Iridium flight still up to date? SpaceX has problems with payload fairing. Thanks for the information.

 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67496.jpg) Matt Desch‏ @IridiumBoss (https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss) 19 ч назад (https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/934816884599480320)

Yes, Dec 22nd is still our date.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186040.jpg) Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) 3 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/935494706120790016)

ARTICLE: Iridium NEXT-4 on track for December launch from Vandenberg - https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/11/iridium-next-4-december-launch-vandenberg/ ... (https://t.co/tE5WrzYSnS) - By Chris Gebhardt (@ChrisG_NSF (https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF))
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/171415.jpg)

Цитировать

Iridium NEXT-4 on track for December launch from Vandenberg (https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/11/iridium-next-4-december-launch-vandenberg/)

November 28, 2017 by Chris Gebhardt

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185659.jpg) James Dean‏Подлинная учетная запись @flatoday_jdean (https://twitter.com/flatoday_jdean) 19 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/flatoday_jdean/status/935537131937845249)

Iridium-4 mission will re-fly the SpaceX Falcon booster that launched Iridium-2, making @IridiumComm (https://twitter.com/IridiumComm) first satellite co. to launch 2x on same rocket: http://bit.ly/2AiOOpO  (https://t.co/FOrfAygYTt).
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/171422.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/116407.gif) (http://investor.iridium.com/index.cfm)

Nov 28, 2017

Iridium Nears Launch Campaign Midway Point as All 10 Satellites Arrive at Vandenberg Air Force Base

Iridium-4 to create historic moment, making Iridium the first company to re-use the same rocket booster

MCLEAN, Va., Nov. 28, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:IRDM) announced today that all 10 Iridium® NEXT satellites for its fourth launch are now in processing at SpaceX's west coast launch site at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. This launch will mark the midway point of Iridium's launch campaign with SpaceX, and is the first of two Iridium NEXT launches utilizing "flight-proven" SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets. Iridium-4 is currently scheduled for December 22, 2017 at 5:32 pm PST, with a backup date of December 23rd.

Спойлер

Noteworthy for the fourth launch, the same Falcon 9 rocket first stage that carried 10 Iridium NEXT satellites for the company's second launch in June of 2017, will also carry this payload of 10 satellites. This will make Iridium the first company in history to reuse the same rocket. Upon arrival at the launch site, each Iridium NEXT satellite began a number of pre-launch processing steps, including mating to the dispenser, fueling and encapsulation within the fairing.  The satellites were shipped two at a time, in specially-designed motion and temperature-controlled containers designed to maintain optimal environmental conditions.

"We're approaching our halfway point on this journey, and with each launch, we gain more momentum," said Iridium CEO Matt Desch. "This launch will bring us to 40 Iridium NEXT satellites in space, which is more than half the number required for a full Iridium NEXT operational constellation.  It has been remarkable to witness the increased speed, capacity and throughput of our network as we continue to replace our original satellites with new Iridium NEXT satellites."

The operational Iridium constellation is comprised of 66 satellites divided into six polar orbiting planes with 11 satellites in each plane. Destined for Iridium orbital plane two, nine of the 10 Iridium NEXT satellites deployed during this launch will immediately go into service following rigorous testing and validation. The remaining satellite will undertake a nearly year-long journey to orbital plane one, where it will serve as a spare satellite.  To date, three Iridium NEXT launches carrying 10 satellites each have been completed. The fourth launch will bump the total number of new Iridium NEXT satellites in orbit to 40. Iridium has contracted with SpaceX to deliver 75 Iridium NEXT satellites to orbit, 66 operational and nine on-orbit spares, through a series of eight launches.

Iridium NEXT is the company's $3 billion next-generation mobile, global satellite network scheduled for completion in 2018. Iridium NEXT will replace the Company's existing global constellation in one of the largest technology upgrades ever completed in space.  It represents the evolution of critical communications infrastructure that governments and organizations worldwide rely upon to drive business, enable connectivity, empower disaster relief efforts and more. Iridium NEXT will enable and introduce new services like the Company's next-generation communications platform, Iridium CertusSM, and the AireonSM space-based ADS-B aircraft surveillance and flight tracking network.

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Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185770.png) Iridium Corporate‏Подлинная учетная запись @IridiumComm (https://twitter.com/IridiumComm) 18 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/IridiumComm/status/935567777317969920)

We're less than a month from Iridium-4 and all 10 #IridiumNEXT (https://twitter.com/hashtag/IridiumNEXT?src=hash) SVs are onsite at Vandenberg Air Force Base and in pre-launch processing! Launch is scheduled for December 22 at 5:32 pm PST. http://bit.ly/2AeuEjl  (https://t.co/0ubwylWU5I) #CountdownBegins (https://twitter.com/hashtag/CountdownBegins?src=hash)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/171429.jpg)

ЦитироватьIridium to Use Flight-Proven Rockets

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220762.jpg) (https://www.youtube.com/user/IridiumComm) IridiumComm (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ6-3U3gUwQHvQ1jyj4dOpQ)

Опубликовано: 1 дек. 2017 г.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67496.jpg) Matt Desch‏ @IridiumBoss (https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss) 1 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/940596816470568961)

T minus 10 days to Iridium-4! All systems go at this point - encapsulating payloads now and rocket processing on track. Keeping an eye on CA fires, but so far not looking like a problem (but wishing them to end for Californians).

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185770.png) Iridium Corporate‏Подлинная учетная запись @IridiumComm (https://twitter.com/IridiumComm) 15 дек. (https://twitter.com/IridiumComm/status/941714733345968128)

With just a week until the 4th #IridiumNEXT (https://twitter.com/hashtag/IridiumNEXT?src=hash) launch, we're excited to share our official #Iridium (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Iridium?src=hash)-4 launch patch! Check it out along with other collectibles here: http://bit.ly/2AoDgAW  (https://t.co/47OyHLJ1ze) @Thales_Alenia_S (https://twitter.com/Thales_Alenia_S) #Partnership (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Partnership?src=hash) #LadyLiberty (https://twitter.com/hashtag/LadyLiberty?src=hash)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/171993.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/69029.jpg) SpaceX‏Подлинная учетная запись @SpaceX (https://twitter.com/SpaceX) 4 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/942542372629463040)

Static fire test of Falcon 9 complete—targeting December 22 launch of Iridium-4 from Vandenberg AFB in California.

ЦитироватьSpaceX Falcon 9 Completes Static Fire Test for Year-Closing Launch
December 18, 2017 (http://spaceflight101.com/spacex-falcon-9-completes-static-fire-test-for-year-closing-launch/)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/154098.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/35533872755_d2f575ede0_k.jpg)
Falcon 9 B1036 (Re-Flying on Iridium-4) at Vandenberg – Photo: SpaceX

SpaceX on Sunday conducted the Static Fire Test of the final Falcon 9 rocket set for liftoff in 2017, targeting launch fr om California's Vandenberg Air Force Base on December 23 (UTC) to lift the next ten satellites for the Iridium-NEXT system into orbit to cross the halfway mark for the constellation upgrade.

Спойлер

The Iridium-4 mission is SpaceX's 18th and final planned Falcon 9 launch of the year, shattering the company's previous record of eight launches in a calendar year. With 17 launches already performed, Falcon 9 is currently the most-flown orbital launch system this year – outperforming the Russian Soyuz workhorse that held the rank for most years in recent memory but only flew 15 times in 2017. Depending on China's launch activity over the next two weeks, Falcon has a good chance of maintaining its position as the most-flown orbital launch family this year since the Long March series currently stands at 14 launches

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/152634.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/falcon-9-iridium-next-flight-3/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Iridium-NEXT-3.jpg)
Image: Iridium

SpaceX's year-closing mission will be the company's fourth in support of Iridium-NEXT, building on three successful ten-satellite deliveries performed in January, June and October. The rapid-fire launches of Iridium-NEXT satellites are part of the most extensive satellite constellation upgrade ever performed – replacing the entire heritage Iridium constellation deployed in the late 90s and early 2000s with much-improved Iridium-NEXT satellites in a period of under two years.

SpaceX is on contract to deliver a total of 75 Iridium-NEXT satellites into orbit via seven Falcon 9 launches with ten satellites and one shared ride in March with five Iridium satellites and two GRACE-FO gravity-sensing satellites flown under a partnership of the German Space Center and NASA. Lifting satellites 31-40, the upcoming mission will cross the halfway point for Iridium's constellation replacement with all 75 satellites set to reach orbit by the end of August 2018.

The Iridium constellation began deployment in May 1997 and, at operational strength, consists of 66 active satellites in six orbital planes at an altitude of 780 Kilometers plus operational spares to replace satellites in case of problems.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/152614.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/falcon-9-iridium-next-flight-1/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/NEXT-1-Fairing.jpg)
Iridium Payload Stack (Iridium-1) – Photo: Iridium/SpaceX

Carefully spaced in their orbital planes, the Iridium satellites communicate with user terminals on the ground and route communications packages to their destinations through satellite-to-satellite links between members of each plane and satellites in neighboring planes as well as an extensive ground network. Given its Low Earth Orbit and high inclination, Iridium is the only constellation currently in operation that can offer truly global coverage.

The Iridium replacement comes with a price tag of nearly $3 billion, covering the production of the satellites, Falcon 9 launch services and ground system upgrades needed to support the new satellites. Built by Thales Alenia and integrated by Orbital ATK, each Iridium-NEXT satellite weighs 860 Kilograms and covers a 4,700-Kilometer wide footprint – connecting to user terminals through a large L-Band antenna. Typical services offered by Iridium-NEXT are voice and data communications with mobile terminals at up to 1.5Mbit/s while a high-speed Ka-Band service is available for larger fixed and transportable terminals at data rates up to 8Mbit/s.

>> Iridium-NEXT Satellite & Constellation Overview (http://spaceflight101.com/spacecraft/iridium-next/)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/152650.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/falcon-9-iridium-next-flight-4/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/35499710806_f9179bea0e_o.jpg)
First Launch of Falcon 9 B1036 – Photo: SpaceX

A steady launch cadence, a failure-free year and beginning initial re-flight missions were the major goals at SpaceX for 2017 as the company begins to recuperate funds spent on development of its re-usable rocket technology. All three goals were achieved as Falcon 9 took the leading position in the world of space launchers and four of SpaceX's 2017 missions performed to date have used previously flown first stages with Iridium-4 set to become the fifth.

Originally, Iridium's contract with SpaceX specified only new boosters to be used for Iridium-NEXT missions, much the same as NASA's Commercial Resupply Services contract for Dragon missions to the International Space Station. Given SpaceX's success in recovering first stage boosters and demonstrating safe re-flights on multiple occasions in 2017, both NASA and Iridium changed their positions through extensive reviews of data from returned boosters that convinced them that flying on a previously used booster adds no to minimal risk to overall mission success.

For Iridium, the financial discount provided for flying on a used first stage – which is minimal – was not the deciding factor for placing two missions on flight-proven boosters. The advantage of opting for flown boosters was in the schedule assurance gained through the use of already existing hardware since first stage production had been the major bottleneck for SpaceX in bringing up its launch rate.

Tasked with the Iridium-4 mission is Falcon 9 first stage B1036 that made its first flight to the edge of space on June 25 with Iridium-NEXT satellites 11-20, returning via a successful landing on SpaceX's drone ship " Just Read The Instructions". The Block 3 booster debuted SpaceX's next-generation grid fins on the June 2017 missions, set to become a standard feature of the F9 Block 5 set for its debut in early 2018.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/152649.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/falcon-9-iridium-next-flight-4/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/35231791780_dd15335d5e_o.jpg)
Photo: SpaceX

After its successful return to land via the Port of Los Angeles, Booster 1036 will have gone through detailed post-flight inspections focused on the vehicle's engines as well as the airframe as welds and structural connections are put through extensive tests using different methods including ultrasound. Once given a clean bill of health, the booster was ready for its return to Vandenberg wh ere it was paired up with a brand new second stage.

Sunday's Static Fire Test, performed without any media attention before the fact, was expected to fire the flight-proven core stage for seven seconds to collect performance data from the nine previously flown Merlin 1D engines. SpaceX confirmed the Static Test via Twitter, indicating the firing met its planned duration and all required data was obtained, feeding into more thorough reviews over the coming days leading up toward the Launch Readiness Review.

Returning to the pad-side hangar, Falcon 9 will receive its payload over the coming days. The ten Iridium-NEXT satellites were delivered to Vandenberg from Orbital ATK's Gilbert, Arizona facility in pairs through the end of November to enter final checkouts, propellant loading and integration around their two-tier launch adapter.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/152617.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/falcon-9-iridium-next-flight-2/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Iridium-NEXT-4.jpg)
Iridium Constellation – Image: Iridium

[свернуть]

Aiming for Plane 2 of the six-plane constellation, Iridium-4 is targeting liftoff at precisely 1:27:23 UTC on December 23, 5:27:23 p.m. local time on December 22. Launch is planned just 61 seconds after the launch window opens for a Japanese H-IIA rocket lifting off from Tanegashima Island with the GCOM-C climate-monitoring satellite.

Heading into 2018, SpaceX will aim to further step up its launch pace with around 30 missions on the manifest. With the debut of Falcon Heavy, Falcon 9 Block 5 and the crewed Dragon spacecraft, the new year will hold plenty more milestones to be unlocked by SpaceX and thrill an ever-growing fan base.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185770.png) Iridium Corporate‏Подлинная учетная запись @IridiumComm (https://twitter.com/IridiumComm) 2 ч назад (https://twitter.com/IridiumComm/status/942830392092000256)

T-4 days until #Iridium (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Iridium?src=hash)-4 takes flight! Launch is scheduled for 05:27:23 pm PST on Dec 22 (01:27:23 am UTC on Dec 23) with an instantaneous launch window. Live webcast will begin approximately 20 minutes before launch at http://spacex.com/webcast  (https://t.co/H7TLbdNq9h) #IridiumNEXT (https://twitter.com/hashtag/IridiumNEXT?src=hash) #FlightProven (https://twitter.com/hashtag/FlightProven?src=hash) #FriYay (https://twitter.com/hashtag/FriYay?src=hash)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172187.jpg)

ЦитироватьNTTT

A0732/17 - AIRSPACE DEBRIS REENTRY WINTHIN AN AREA BOUNDED BY:2759S14719W 2747S14212W 7232S13135W 7305S14638W TO POINTOF ORIGINTHIS AREA IS PROHIBITED DURING ACTIVITY. MSL - UNL, 0248-0354, 23 DEC 02:482017 UNTIL 28 DEC 03:54 2017. CREATED: 14 DEC 21:51 2017
 
NZZO

B6465/17 - TEMPO DANGER AREA NZD028 (EAST AUCKLAND OCEANIC FIR) IS PRESCRIBEDAS FLW:
ALL THAT AIRSPACE BOUNDED BY A LINE JOINING
S 30 00 00.0, W 141 40 26.8
S 72 32 00.0, W 131 35 00.0
S 73 05 00.0, W 146 38 00.0
S 30 00 00.0, W 147 16 44.2
S 30 00 00.0, W 141 40 26.8
ACTIVITY: SPACE DEBRIS RETURN
USER AGENCY: FOREIGN SPACE AGENCY
PRESCRIBED PURSUANT TO CIVIL AVIATION RULE PART 71 UNDER A DELEGATED
AUTHORITY ISSUED BY THE DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION. SFC - FL999, 23 DEC 02:45
2017 UNTIL 23 DEC 03:55 2017. CREATED: 17 DEC 18:38 2017

ЦитироватьThis core does not have the grid fins and landing legs and will not be recovered.

ЦитироватьPirat5 пишет:
Тогда рождается предположение, что Блок 3 способен слетать максимум пару раз.
И сейчас Маск хочет поизбавляться от Блок 3.

Что осталось от Блок 3 кроме этого ирридиума и Хэви? только B1038 FormoSat-5
B1031 и В1035 летали дважды, поэтому можно всегда сказать, что они больше не смогут.

ЦитироватьApollo13 пишет:
1032, 1035 и 1038 должны быть в хорошем состоянии.

ЦитироватьApollo13 пишет:
Но зачем, если уже есть 7 ступеней Блок 4 (четыре б/у и три новых)?

ЦитироватьPirat5 пишет:
1038- обгорела при посадке. Кто ж знает, как он сохранился.

ЦитироватьApollo13 пишет:
Да вроде как раз эта ступень очень аккуратно села.

ЦитироватьPirat5 пишет:
Или весь этот пиар про BFR – это реклама для F9 и выпуск BFR в ближайшие 10 лет не планируется, так как справиться бы с текущим пусковым манифестом?

ЦитироватьApollo13 пишет:
ИМХО нет смысла всерьез обсуждать BFR по крайней мере до начала строительства нового завода.

ЦитироватьBlackMokona пишет:

ЦитироватьApollo13 пишет:
ИМХО нет смысла всерьез обсуждать BFR по крайней мере до начала строительства нового завода.

Но ведь BFR собираются делать на текущем заводе.

ЦитироватьWhere will the BFR be built?
We're looking at building a facility by the water in LA. We thought we'd build it in our factory in Hawthorne, but we priced transport to the harbor, and it came out to $2.5m per trip. It would require taking down stoplights, and just wouldn't be worth it. So we will build a new facility by the water. We will eventually also have a number of production sites by out launch sites.

ЦитироватьPirat5 пишет:
Есть предположение, что эта ступень после пуска будет уже не нужна

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185396.jpg) Chris G - NSF‏ @ChrisG_NSF (https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF) 2 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF/status/943209436415496193)

The flight proven booster for Iridium launch later this week will NOT be recovered and will be expended into the ocean. This appears to be a decision to start clearing the Block 3 stock in favour of the Block 4s and soon to be Block 5s. #Iridium (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Iridium?src=hash) #SpaceX (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash) #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/171924.jpg)

ЦитироватьNAVAREA XII 576/2017 (18,21)

EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
   230027Z TO 230211Z DEC, ALTERNATE
   0027Z TO 0211Z DAILY 24 THRU 28 DEC
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   31-04N 120-48W, 31-04N 120-21W,
   30-24N 119-46W, 27-43N 119-44W,
   27-33N 120-21W, 27-33N 120-48W,
   27-43N 121-12W, 30-24N 121-15W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 280311Z DEC 17.

( 190939Z DEC 2017 )


HYDROPAC 4471/2017 (29,83)

SOUTH PACIFIC.
DNC 06, DNC 29.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS SPACE DEBRIS
   230248Z TO 230354Z DEC, ALTERNATE 0248Z TO 0354Z
   DAILY 24 THRU 28 DEC IN AREA BOUND BY
   27-59S 147-19W, 27-47S 142-12W,
   72-32S 131-35W, 73-05S 146-38W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 280454Z DEC 17.

( 190948Z DEC 2017 )

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/29262.jpg) Jeff Foust‏ @jeff_foust (https://twitter.com/jeff_foust) 20 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/943269599302127617)

SpaceX spokesperson confirms online discussions (and comments by @IridiumBoss (https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss) ) there will be no attempt to land the Falcon 9 first stage on Friday's launch. "These are case by case decisions and are based on mission requirements and the needs of our manifest."

ЦитироватьSpaceX to skip first stage landing for upcoming Iridium launch
by Jeff Foust (http://spacenews.com/author/jeff-foust/) — December 20, 2017

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/155754.jpg)
The Falcon 9 first stage after landing on a June mission to launch 10 Iridium Next satellites. The same first stage will be used on the Dec. 22 launch of 10 more Iridium satellites, but will not attempt a landing. Credit: SpaceX

BROOMFIELD, Colo. — In a break fr om its now-standard practice, SpaceX will not attempt a landing of the first stage of its Falcon 9 rocket on its next launch this week, the company confirmed Dec. 19.

A SpaceX spokesperson said that the company is not planning to land the first stage of the Falcon 9 that is launching a fourth set of 10 Iridium Next satellites Dec. 22 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The company carried a successful static fire test of the booster at the pad Dec. 17.

Спойлер

SpaceX offered few details about the decision not to land the booster. "These are case-by-case decisions and are based on mission requirements and the needs of our manifest," a company spokesperson said in response to a SpaceNews inquiry.

Prior to the company's statement, there were reports on discussion boards that the Falcon 9 appeared to lack the landing legs and grid fins required for a landing. Matt Desch, chief executive of Iridium, confirmed that was a case in a number of tweets asking about it.

"That appears to be true," he said in response to one tweet asking if the first stage would not make a landing. "I understand that it won't be recovered," he said in another.

Desch appeared to rule out requirements specific to the mission that prevent the first stage from landing. The launch doesn't require any "dogleg" maneuvers, he said, and there are no special maneuvers planned to place satellites in different orbital planes.

The three previous Falcon 9 launches of Iridium satellites all included first stage landings on SpaceX's "drone ship" landing pad in the Pacific Ocean. The first stage for the upcoming launch is a reused stage that first flew on a June launch that placed the second set of 10 Iridium satellites into orbit.

This has led to speculation that SpaceX is no longer interested in landing older versions of the Falcon 9. This stage is of the "Block 3" variant of the rocket that, along with the Block 4, is carrying out Falcon 9 missions today. The company expects to introduce a Block 5 version early next year that will incorporate lessons from the earlier versions to enable greater reuse.

However, SpaceX has landed the four reused boosters it has previously flown, including the Dec. 15 launch of a Dragon cargo spacecraft from Cape Canaveral, Florida. None of those four stages have been launched again, but a company official said prior to that launch that the older first stages are not necessarily limited to a single reflight.

"Everything has a service lifetime," Jessica Jensen, Dragon mission manager at SpaceX, said at a Dec. 11 briefing about that mission. "Dragons and Falcons, depending on wh ere they are and what the service lifetime is for that specific unit, can fly more than twice. We do have plans to fly more than twice in the future."

The upcoming Block 5, though, is intended to be flown 10 or more times. "We're certifying for at least 10 flights, and hoping for a lot more," Jensen said at a Dec. 15 post-launch briefing.

SpaceX has in the recent past not attempted landings only because of performance requirements. Three Falcon 9 launches in 2017 — of the EchoStar 23, Inmarsat-5 F4 and Intelsat 35e geostationary communications satellites — did not attempt first stage landings in order to maximize performance for those large satellites. The other 14 launches this year to date all made landings on drone ships or the company's landing pad at Cape Canaveral.

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьFalcon 9 Iridium-4 scheduled to launch
By 30th Space Wing Public Affairs, 30th Space Wing Public Affairs / Published December 20, 2017

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --
Team Vandenberg is scheduled to launch the fourth Iridium mission consisting of 10 satellites on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex-4 here Friday, Dec. 22, at 5:27 p.m. PST.

Col. Michael S. Hough, 30th Space Wing commander, is the space launch commander.

Спойлер

"Team Vandenberg is excited to begin and end 2017 with Falcon 9 launches," said Hough. "We take our mission of providing assured access to space seriously and we've diligently worked with our SpaceX mission partners to ensure a safe and successful launch."

Because of the launch time, the Hawk's Nest on Hwy 1 south of Vandenberg Air Force Base's main gate will not be open.

[свернуть]

Цитировать(https://scontent-arn2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-1/p50x50/14141726_10155247802079897_1176986817781108090_n.jpg?oh=50d2f438504c635c878be09dd5f4aee8&oe=5AB1340C) (https://www.facebook.com/30thSpaceWing/?ref=nf&hc_ref=ARTyW19zDlX39qyb_iQ7FFoWfzaFrWk2Lf8txnMVAUHGFk3Rd6x1wLRgbHH40qJR6_c) 30th Space Wing (Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.) (https://www.facebook.com/30thSpaceWing/?hc_ref=ARSVA9SrhTUzrIW0iLOdboe69T6HQ98jJhD4oBko6boPhJSYqtiac13mL3gdDZpbsKU&fref=nf)
2 ч (https://www.facebook.com/30thSpaceWing/posts/10156752848189897) ·

L-3 Day Planning Forecast
 Western Range Operation Forecast
 W7510
 Issued: 19 Dec 17 / 0800L (1600Z)
 Valid: 22 Dec 17 / 1727L (23/0127Z)
 Vehicle/Payload: Falcon 9/Iridium-4
 Location: VAFB SLC-4
 T-0 Forecast: High pressure will build into the western CONUS in the wake of Wednesday's cold frontal passage. The impact will be relatively dry northwesterly flow aloft, light surface winds with the loose pressure gradient and no marine layer clouds. Surface winds will be out of the northwest through north from 320-350 at 8-12 knots for T-0. Temperatures will range from 55-60F at T-0. Upper-level winds will be out of the northwest from 330 at 75 knots between 38,000 to 41,000 feet. And finally, the space weather indices for proton and x-ray flux are currently reading at background levels. The overall POV will be 0% with no areas of concern.
 24 Hour Scrub Forecast: A weak upper level trough of low pressure will move into central California which will bring an increase in high-level clouds; otherwise, expect similar conditions as the primary day. Surface winds will be out of the northwest through north from 320-350 at 8-12 knots for T-0. Temperatures will increase slightly at 57-62F while max upper-level winds will decrease slightly, remaining out of the northwest at 70 knots from 38,000 to 41,000 feet. The overall POV will be 0% with no areas of concern.
 Significant Clouds:
 Cirrus
 Coverage
 1/8 ths
 Bases
 28,000 ft
 Tops
 29,000 ft
 Visibility: 7 Miles
 Weather: None
 Wind: 320 - 350 at 8 - 12 knots
 Temperature: 55 - 60° F
 Overall probability of violating weather constraints: 0%
 Area of concern: None
 Overall probability of violating weather constraints for 24 Hour Delay: 0%
 Area of concern: None

Цитировать(https://scontent-arn2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-1/p50x50/14141726_10155247802079897_1176986817781108090_n.jpg?oh=50d2f438504c635c878be09dd5f4aee8&oe=5AB1340C) (https://www.facebook.com/30thSpaceWing/?ref=nf&hc_ref=ARR7WYhSs_TbPzFzqwTIvU62lF79kax75ZzWu9a9GuaaoZHJT7OqDIt50xtjz_XeYIo) 30th Space Wing (Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.) (https://www.facebook.com/30thSpaceWing/?hc_ref=ARQzXhqxLc_7P5341d7iEJ8OvarJ_fhv0GVI-9ApbLCzNklckZ8ZiZrm7eYd895g67E&fref=nf)
2 ч (https://www.facebook.com/30thSpaceWing/posts/10156754518934897) ·

L-1 Day Planning Forecast
 Western Range Operation Forecast
 W7510
 Issued: 21 Dec 17 / 0600L (1400Z)
 Valid: 22 Dec 17 / 1727L (23/0127Z)
 Vehicle/Payload: Falcon 9/Iridium-4
 Location: VAFB SLC-4
 T-0 Forecast: High pressure continues to build into the western CONUS in the wake of yesterday's cold frontal passage. The impact will be relatively dry northwesterly flow aloft, light surface winds with the loose pressure gradient and no marine layer clouds. Surface winds will be out of the northwest through north from 320-350 at 8-12 knots for T-0. Temperatures will range from 55-60F at T-0. Upper-level winds will be out of the northwest from 330 at 80 knots between 38,000 to 41,000 feet. And finally, the space weather indices for proton and x-ray flux are currently reading at background levels. The overall POV will be 0% with no areas of concern.
 24 Hour Scrub Forecast: A weak upper level trough of low pressure will move into central California which will bring an increase in high-level clouds; otherwise, expect similar conditions as the primary day. Surface winds will be out of the northwest through north from 320-350 at 8-12 knots for T-0. Temperatures will increase slightly at 57-62F while max upper-level winds will decrease, remaining out of the northwest from 300 at 60 knots from 38,000 to 41,000 feet. The overall POV will be 0% with no areas of concern.
 Significant Clouds:
 Cirrus
 Coverage 1/8 ths
 Bases 28,000 ft
 Tops 29,000 ft
 Visibility: 7 Miles
 Weather: None
 Wind: 320 - 350 at 8 - 12 knots
 Temperature: 55 - 60° F
 Overall probability of violating weather constraints: 0%
 Area of concern: None
 Overall probability of violating weather constraints for 24 Hour Delay: 0%
 Area of concern: None

Цитировать

IRIDIUM-4 MISSION

SpaceX is targeting launch of Iridium-4 from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The instantaneous launch window is at 5:27 p.m. PST on Friday, December 22, or 1:27 UTC on Saturday, December 23. A backup launch opportunity is at 5:21 p.m. PST on Saturday, December 23, or 1:21 UTC on Sunday, December 24. This is the fourth set of 10 satellites in a series of 75 total satellites that SpaceX will launch for Iridium's next generation global satellite constellation, Iridium® NEXT.

Falcon 9's first stage for the Iridium-4 mission previously supported the Iridium-2 mission from SLC-4E in June 2017. SpaceX will not attempt to recover Falcon 9's first stage after launch.

You can watch the launch live below and find more information about the mission in our press kit. (http://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/iridium4presskit.pdf).

ЦитироватьНа сайте

spacex.com/webcast (http://www.spacex.com/webcast)

или

на ТыТрубе - Iridium-4 Webcast

youtube.com/watch?v=wtdjCwo6d3Q (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtdjCwo6d3Q)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186245.jpg) Sandy Mazza‏Подлинная учетная запись @SandyMazza (https://twitter.com/SandyMazza) 49 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SandyMazza/status/944024381725982720)

Falcon 9 is lying down at SpaceX's launchpad at Vandenberg AFB prepping for tomorrow's launch at 5pm ish
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172058.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172057.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/35828.jpg) Jay L. DeShetler‏ @jdeshetler (https://twitter.com/jdeshetler) 16 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/jdeshetler/status/944033592723652608)

Although the Falcon F9 Iridium NEXT 4 was covered with two dark canvas, the fins still can be seen. @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) @ChrisG_NSF (https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172054.jpg)

ЦитироватьMeco at 02:33. That's 9sec later than at Iridium 1 & 2, or 10sec later than at Iridium 3.

ЦитироватьFalcon 9 rocket set for launch Friday from California
December 21, 2017 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/12/) Stephen Clark (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/stephen-clark/)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143891.jpg)
A Falcon 9 rocket at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, is ready to be raised vertical on its launch pad for Friday's liftoff. Credit: Gene Blevins/LA Daily News

SpaceX is set to close out a record-breaking 2017 launch campaign Friday night with the delivery of 10 more Iridium voice and data relay satellites to orbit from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.

A Falcon 9 rocket is awaiting liftoff from Space Launch Complex 4-East at Vandenberg, a military base on California's Central Coast northwest of Los Angeles. Launch is scheduled for 5:27 p.m. PST Friday (8:27 p.m. EST; 0127 GMT).

It will be SpaceX's 18th Falcon 9 mission of the year, a record for a commercial launch company, and the fifth time a Falcon 9 rocket will fly with a previously-used first stage booster.

Спойлер

The 10 satellites inside the rocket's payload fairing will join 30 others launched by three Falcon 9 missions earlier this year, pushing Iridium's voice and data relay network over the halfway point in deploying a next-generation fleet of 81 spacecraft to replace an aging constellation dating back to the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Iridium has invested $3 billion in the next-generation network, ensuring the company's more than 900,000 subscribers have uninterrupted service, and debuting new communications capabilities — such as video and Internet — alongside the current telephone, messaging and tracking applications

The new Iridium Next satellites, built by Thales Alenia Space and Orbital ATK in Arizona, each weigh about 1,896 pounds (860 kilograms) and are designed to function at least 15 years in orbit.

"We're approaching our halfway point on this journey, and with each launch, we gain more momentum," said Matt Desch, Iridium's CEO. "This launch will bring us to 40 Iridium Next satellites in space, which is more than half the number required for a full Iridium Next operational constellation. It has been remarkable to witness the increased speed, capacity and throughput of our network as we continue to replace our original satellites with new Iridium Next satellites."

The Iridium fleet uses 66 active satellites spread into six orbital planes, ensuring the network has global coverage. Each spacecraft carries inter-satellite radio links to hand off data and voice traffic without transmitting to the ground.

It will take about an hour for the Falcon 9 rocket to release the 10 satellites one at a time in a polar orbit 388 miles (625 kilometers) above Earth.

Friday's launch will be the first time Iridium has elected to put its satellites on a previously-flown Falcon 9 booster. The first stage set for launch from Vandenberg first flew June 25 on a previous mission for Iridium, making the Virginia-based telecom company the first customer to use the same Falcon 9 booster twice.

Desch said in October that Iridium chose to go with previously-flown boosters on its next two launches — the flight Friday and one in early 2018 — to keep pace with plans to complete the deployment of 75 new-generation satellites by the middle of next year.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143850.jpg)
A SpaceX Falcon 9 booster pictured after its return to port in Southern California following a launch in June. The same first stage will fly Friday for the second time. Credit: SpaceX

Iridium has purchased eight Falcon 9 rocket flights from SpaceX, and four more will remain after Friday's mission.

"Our technical teams really dug into it, it was clear that SpaceX has been designing for reusability all along," Desch said in an interview in October. "They have a lot of engineering data and work, that by the time we got through all that due diligence, we felt that the risks were no higher, and maybe lower, in using a flight-proven booster."

All four previous re-flights of Falcon 9 boosters have been successful, boosting payloads into space for SES, BulgariaSat and NASA.

The 229-foot-tall (70-meter) Falcon 9 will head south after liftoff from Vandenberg, riding 1.7 million pounds of thrust into the sky shortly after sunset at the California launch base.

The slender white rocket will exceed the speed of sound in about a minute, and its nine Merlin 1D main engines will switch off at T+plus 2 minutes, 33 seconds. Three seconds later, the Falcon 9's first stage will fall away, followed by ignition of the upper stage's single Merlin powerplant to continue into orbit.

SpaceX does not plan to recover the first stage on Friday's launch.

It is rare that the company does not try to land one of its rockets for refurbishment and reuse. The Falcon 9's first stage was disposed on three missions earlier this year, but those carried heavy satellites bound for geostationary orbit, a perch more than 22,000 miles (nearly 36,000 kilometers) above the planet.

Launch profiles to such lofty orbits need more speed, and more fuel.

But the three earlier launches for Iridium included first stage landings on SpaceX's mobile platform in the Pacific Ocean.

A reason for doing away with the landing on Friday's launch has not been confirmed by SpaceX.

"These are case by case decisions and are based on mission requirements and the needs of our manifest," a SpaceX spokesperson said.

The Falcon 9's payload fairing, a structure which cocoons the satellites during the first few minutes of flight, will release in a clamshell-like fashion at T+plus 3 minutes, 11 seconds.

SpaceX may try to retrieve part of the payload shroud downrange from Vandenberg. A fast boat linked to experimental fairing recovery attempts, named Mr. Steven, was relocated from Florida to California in recent weeks, and it has sailed south from the Port of Los Angeles on a heading toward the Falcon 9's projected flight path.

Engineers aim to eventually recover fairings, which come off the rocket in two halves, for inspections and re-flights. SpaceX founder Elon Musk said earlier this year the fairing costs around $5 million to produce for each launch, and reusing the parts would help the company achieve its objective of reducing the cost of spaceflight.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143875.jpg)
The 10 Iridium Next satellites were encapsulated inside the Falcon 9's payload fairing earlier this month. Credit: Iridium

Two burns by the Falcon 9's upper stage are required to place the Iridium satellites into the planned 388-mile-high orbit. The first firing will end at T+plus 9 minutes, and the rocket will coast over the Pacific Ocean, then Antarctica, before reigniting the Merlin engine for a brief 11-second burn at approximately T+plus 52 minutes.

The spacecraft will deploy one-by-one from a specially-designed dispenser on the second stage. The separation sequence should be complete by 6:39 p.m. PST (9:39 p.m. EST; 0239 GMT) to wrap up the Falcon 9's primary mission.

A de-orbit maneuver by the second stage is expected later Friday night to send the rocket on a destructive re-entry back into Earth's atmosphere.

Friday's launch will target Plane 2 of the Iridium fleet, and the liftoff will be timed for an instantaneous opportunity to place the satellites in the right location in the company's network.

Iridium says nine of the 10 satellites launching Friday will go into service in Plane 2 after completing in-orbit testing early next year. Another will drift to Plane 1 to serve as a spare.

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьTimeline for SpaceX's fourth launch of Iridium satellites
December 22, 2017 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/12/) Stephen Clark (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/stephen-clark/)

Follow the key events of the Falcon 9 rocket's ascent to orbit with the fourth set of 10 next-generation satellites for Iridium's voice and data relay fleet.

Спойлер

The 229-foot-tall (70-meter) rocket will lift off Friday at 5:27 p.m. PST (8:27 p.m. EST; 0137 GMT) from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

SpaceX will not attempt to recover the first stage on Friday's mission.

Data source: SpaceX

T-0:00:00: Liftoff

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143760.png) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143760.png)
After the rocket's nine Merlin 1D engines pass an automated health check, the Falcon 9 is released from Space Launch Complex 4-East at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.

T+0:01:14: Max-Q

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143763.png) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143763.png)
The Falcon 9 rocket reaches Max Q, the point of maximum aerodynamic pressure. The first stage's nine Merlin 1D engines produce about 1.7 million pounds of thrust.

T+0:02:33: MECO

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/31294.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/31294.jpg)
The Falcon 9's nine Merlin 1D engines shut down.

T+0:02:36: Stage 1 Separation

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/31295.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/31295.jpg)
The Falcon 9's first stage separates from the second stage moments after MECO.

T+0:02:38: Stage 2 Ignition

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143761.png) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143761.png)
The second stage Merlin 1D vacuum engine ignites for an approximately 6-and-a-half-minute burn to inject the Iridium Next satellites into a parking orbit.

T+0:03:11: Fairing Jettison

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143758.png) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143758.png)
The 5.2-meter (17.1-foot) diameter payload fairing jettisons once the Falcon 9 rocket ascends through the dense lower atmosphere. The 43-foot-tall fairing is made of two clamshell-like halves composed of carbon fiber with an aluminum honeycomb core.

T+0:09:00: SECO 1

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143762.png) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143762.png)
The Merlin 1D vacuum engine turns off after placing the Iridium satellites in a temporary parking orbit, beginning at 43-minute coast in space.

T+0:51:54: Stage 2 Restart

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143759.png) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143759.png)
The Falcon 9's second stage engine ignites again for an 11-second burn to circularize its orbit.

T+0:52:05: SECO 2

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143765.png) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143765.png)
The Merlin 1D vacuum engine shuts down after reaching a target orbit about 388 miles (625 kilometers) high with an inclination of 86 degrees.

T+0:57:05: Begin Iridium Deployments

 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143815.png)
The 1,896-pound (860-kilogram) Iridium Next satellites begin deploying from their two-tier dispenser on the Falcon 9 rocket's second stage, separating at intervals of approximately every 90 seconds.

T+1:12:00: End Iridium Deployments

 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143816.png)
The last of the 10 Iridium Next satellites will separate from the rocket.

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьWhile no landing, I'm told there should still be some good video on the way down to "water landing".

ЦитироватьЗловредный пишет:
Так получается всё же не просто утилизация первой ступени, а некий эксперимент?

ЦитироватьPirat5 пишет:
Ступень ... очищенная от сажи!  :o загадочно!

Цитировать12/22/2017 18:59

Ideal weather at Vandenberg Air Force Base is forecast Friday night, and the official U.S. Air Force outlook predicts a 100 percent chance of favorable conditions for the Falcon 9's instantaneous launch window at 5:27 p.m. PST (8:27 p.m. EST; 0127 GMT).

Clear skies and light winds from the north-northwest are expected at launch time. The temperature is forecast to be between 55 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Weather balloons will be sent aloft throughout the countdown to measure high-altitude winds and ensure those are acceptable for liftoff.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67496.jpg) Matt Desch‏ @IridiumBoss (https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss) 3 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/944237612700647424)

I took this during last night's pad visit - they have better lights now at pad. We went vertical about 8pm, and everything looks good for tonight's launch. While no landing, I'm told there should still be some good video on the way down to "water landing". #GoIridium (https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoIridium?src=hash)-4!
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172107.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/69029.jpg) SpaceX‏Подлинная учетная запись @SpaceX (https://twitter.com/SpaceX) 2 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/944250423904428032)

Falcon 9 and Iridium-4 went vertical last night on SLC-4E at Vandenberg AFB. Today's launch is at 5:27 p.m. PST.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172116.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/206390.jpg) (https://www.iridium.com/)

Flight-Proven Falcon 9 Rocket is Vertical at Vandenberg Air Force Base and Ready for Fourth Iridium® NEXT Launch
by Iridium (https://blog.iridium.com/author/david-ovienmhadairidium-com/) | Dec 22, 2017 | Iridium NEXT (https://blog.iridium.com/category/iridium-next/)


Iridium Communications, in partnership with SpaceX, is prepared to launch its fourth set of 10 Iridium NEXT satellites today, December 22nd, on SpaceX's flight-proven Falcon 9 rocket. The full payload and rocket have been transported to the launch pad, and the rocket is vertical for launch. The payload has an instantaneous launch window scheduled for today at 5:27:34 pm PST (1:27:34 a.m. UTC on December 23rd). Once deployed, there will be a total of 40 Iridium NEXT satellites in low earth orbit. The Falcon 9 rocket first stage being used in today's launch was previously flown during Iridium's second launch, which successfully took place in June.

Спойлер

Iridium NEXT is the company's $3 billion, next-generation, mobile, global satellite network scheduled for completion in 2018. These new satellites are replacing the company's existing global constellation in one of the largest technology upgrades ever completed in space. It represents the evolution of critical communications infrastructure that governments and organizations worldwide rely upon to drive business, enable connectivity, empower disaster relief efforts and more. Iridium NEXT will enable and introduce new services like the Company's next-generation broadband service, Iridium CertusSM.

Make sure to tune into the SpaceX webcast to watch a live feed of the launch!  You can access the feed starting twenty minutes prior to liftoff at www.spacex.com/webcast (https://www.spacex.com/webcast)

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьЗловредный пишет:
https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/944237612700647424

ЦитироватьWhile no landing, I'm told there should still be some good video on the way down to "water landing".

Так получается всё же не просто утилизация первой ступени, а некий эксперимент?

ЦитироватьЗловредный пишет:
https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/944237612700647424

ЦитироватьWhile no landing, I'm told there should still be some good video on the way down to "water landing".

Так получается всё же не просто утилизация первой ступени, а некий эксперимент?

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186040.jpg) Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) 6 ч назад (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/944209477074644993)

FEATURE ARTICLE: SpaceX to close out 2017 campaign with Iridium-4 launch - By William Graham:

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/12/spacex-2017-campaign-iridium-4-launch/ ... (https://t.co/7Fd62VRMl7)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172111.jpg)

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172108.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172109.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172110.jpg)

[свернуть]

Цитироватьandr59 пишет:
Скучное зрелище

ЦитироватьЧебурашка пишет:
лучше прямо на МИК

ЦитироватьЗловредный пишет:
Ну да, запуск спутников -- скучное зрелище. Избаловал нас этот Маск.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186245.jpg) Sandy Mazza‏Подлинная учетная запись @SandyMazza (https://twitter.com/SandyMazza) 4 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/SandyMazza/status/944285546792173568)

Our pre-launch photo gallery of SpaceX's 5:27 p.m. launch today at Vandy:

https://www.dailybreeze.com/2017/12/22/photos-spacex/ ... (https://t.co/4aMFuQiKSz)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172129.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185396.jpg) Chris G - NSF‏ @ChrisG_NSF (https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF) 42 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF/status/944333476810997760)

T-3hrs and COUNTING until the launch of a #SpaceX (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash) flight-proven #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash) on the #Iridium4 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Iridium4?src=hash) mission with 10 new @IridiumComm (https://twitter.com/IridiumComm) satellites destined for Low Earth Orbit. Weather is a predicted 100% "GO" for this evening's launch.

ЦитироватьЗловредный пишет:
Ну да, запуск спутников -- скучное зрелище. Избаловал нас этот Маск.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67496.jpg) Matt Desch‏ @IridiumBoss (https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss) 1 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/944353941600354304)

Arriving VAFB; high light cirrus clouds. All is still go for launch with less that 2 hours to go...

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg) Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 53 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/944356409663262722)

#Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash): L-90 Minutes - RF Link checks and AFTS testing should be complete at this point. Next for the launch team will be a weather briefing at L-80 and the poll for prop load at L-73 to clear the way for the auto sequencer to take over at T-70 minutes and counting.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg) Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 34 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/944361252662411265)

#Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash): T-70 Minutes - The Automatic Countdown Sequence kicks in at this point to take Falcon 9 through its expedited propellant loading sequence, starting with RP-1 load on both stages to fill the vehicle with ~155 metric tons of chilled Kerosene. LOX load at T-35.

Цитировать12/23/2017 03:34

RP-1 fuel flow rates into the Falcon 9 rocket are reported normal.

Цитировать12/23/2017 03:52

Super-chilled, densified liquid oxygen is now flowing into the two-stage Falcon 9 rocket.
Both stages of the launcher burn the same RP-1/liquid oxygen propellant mixture.

Цитировать12/23/2017 03:59

Liquid oxygen flow rates are reported normal, and cryogenic helium pressurant is now being loaded into the Falcon 9.

Цитировать2/23/2017 04:00

Today's launch will target Plane 2 of the Iridium constellation, which is designed to have 66 satellites spread out evenly in six orbital planes around Earth.

The launch is timed to the second -- 5:27:34 p.m. PST -- to target Plane 2.

Today's mission is the fourth of eight Falcon 9 flights to deliver 75 next-generation satellites to replace Iridium's network with upgraded services and new spacecraft designed to operate for the next 15 years.

Цитировать12/23/2017 04:04

Loading of the Falcon 9's second stage with RP-1 fuel is complete.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/69029.jpg) SpaceX‏Подлинная учетная запись @SpaceX (https://twitter.com/SpaceX) 23 сек назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/944375120675586048)

Webcast of Falcon 9 launch is now live → http://spacex.com/webcast (https://t.co/gtC39uBC7z)

Цитировать12/23/2017 04:09

T-minus 18 minutes and counting. There are no issues being discussed at this time by the SpaceX launch team

Цитировать12/23/2017 04:12

T-minus 15 minutes. The Falcon 9 rocket stands 229 feet tall and measures 12 feet in diameter.
Today's mission ties the record for the Falcon 9's heaviest payload to date, counting the 10 Iridium satellites and their dispenser.

Цитировать12/23/2017 04:17

SpaceX engineer John Insprucker says the Falcon 9 first stage will conduct descent and landing maneuvers over the Pacific Ocean, but no drone ship is in place to recover the booster.
The stage is fitted with aerodynamic grid fins to aid in the descent, but does not carry landing legs.
Officials have not said why the rocket is not being recovered on this mission.

Цитировать12/23/2017 04:38

SpaceX confirms the Falcon 9 achieved a good parking orbit following the first burn of the second stage engine.

Цитировать12/23/2017 04:38

The first stage of the Falcon 9 is confirmed to have splashed down in the Pacific Ocean after conducting its normal entry and landing burns. But an intact landing was not planned on this mission.

ЦитироватьFarEcho пишет:
Возможно, заказчик из эстетических соображений пожелал (и оплатил) помывку.

ЦитироватьSGS_67 пишет:
Нормальное видео на сайте СпейсИкс, не тормозит:

Цитировать12/23/2017 04:47

T+plus 20 minutes. The first phase of today's launch appears to have gone according to plan. SpaceX reports the upper stage and the Iridium Next payloads are on the right trajectory following liftoff, as the rocket continues coasting toward the point where the Merlin vacuum engine will reignite for its second burn.

ЦитироватьДем пишет:
 Там всего лишь ссылка на ютуб

ЦитироватьДем пишет: 

ЦитироватьFarEcho пишет: 
Возможно, заказчик из эстетических соображений пожелал (и оплатил) помывку.

А помывку блока с решётками не оплатил видать

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg) Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 9 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/944383592553238528)

Heading into opposite directions now: Next event for #HIIA (https://twitter.com/hashtag/HIIA?src=hash) is an eight-second retrograde maneuver at X+57:46 to lower its perigee to ~470km. Next event for #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash) is a 11-second posigrade maneuver at T+51:54 to circularize its orbit at around 620 Kilometers.

Цитировать (https://twitter.com/Walldo)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg) Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 27 мин назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/944397273349357568)

#Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash): SPACECRAFT SEPARATION COMPLETE - All ten #IridiumNEXT (https://twitter.com/hashtag/IridiumNEXT?src=hash) satellites have been released. Falcon 9 launch success, capping a record-setting year for #SpaceX (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash). 40 Iridium-NEXT satellites now in orbit. http://bit.ly/2jguwYj  (https://t.co/MJPat77bQ3)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172153.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185421.jpg) Spaceflight101‏ @Spaceflight101 (https://twitter.com/Spaceflight101) 14 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/Spaceflight101/status/944401050693505030)

#Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash) Closes Record Year with 4th Iridium Launch, 1st Stage Disposal Gathers Flight Data

 - http://spaceflight101.com/falcon-9-iridium-next-flight-4/falcon-9-launches-fourth-set-of-iridium-satellites/ ... (https://t.co/DPJmQTW5OT)

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Спойлер

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DRsvWlXX0AEWCvl.jpg)
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ЦитироватьGeorgea пишет:
В трансляции были сообщения об "entry burn" и тому подобные. Зачем-то спейсы приводняли ступень аккуратно...

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/69029.jpg) SpaceX‏Подлинная учетная запись @SpaceX (https://twitter.com/SpaceX) 1 ч назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/944402151740121088)

Iridium has acquired healthy signals from all 10 satellites.

ЦитироватьLucky charms, Special Tributes and Symbolism: Iridium® NEXT Launch Patches Demystified!
by Iridium (https://blog.iridium.com/author/ariana-bahrami/) | Dec 22, 2017 | Iridium NEXT (https://blog.iridium.com/category/iridium-next/)

What do the Statue of Liberty, a zodiac sign, lucky horseshoes and the Big Dipper all have in common? They've all made it onto an Iridium NEXT launch patch. If you've been following the Iridium NEXT launch campaign, you may have seen the unique patches developed for each launch, and wondered if there was a story behind their designs. In fact, every detail holds special meaning to us, and below we are giving you a peek behind the curtain, and a chance to learn about what went into creating the Iridium-4 and Iridium-3 patch designs. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

Iridium-4 Patch Explained:
(https://d24f1sdg4tqdi.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/22084649/L4-Patch-Symbols-FINAL-349x253.png)
 
Iridium-3 Patch Explained:
(https://d24f1sdg4tqdi.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/22084645/L3-Patch-Symbols-FINAL-349x253.png)

ЦитироватьSpaceX Falcon 9 launches Iridium-4

 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220782.jpg)  (https://www.youtube.com/user/SciNewsRo) SciNews (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjU6ZwoTQtKWfz1urL7XcbA)

Опубликовано: 22 дек. 2017 г.

ЦитироватьSpaceX Iridium 4 Launch from Alhambra, CA

 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220663.jpg)  (https://www.youtube.com/user/unmannedspaceflight) Doug Ellison (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSz3VZiGSShOHI0CD02lfig)

Опубликовано: 22 дек. 2017 г.

ЦитироватьIridium-4 satellites deployment

 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220782.jpg)  (https://www.youtube.com/user/SciNewsRo) SciNews (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjU6ZwoTQtKWfz1urL7XcbA)

Опубликовано: 22 дек. 2017 г.

ЦитироватьIridium-4 Webcast

 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220682.jpg)  (https://www.youtube.com/user/spacexchannel) SpaceX (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtI0Hodo5o5dUb67FeUjDeA)

Опубликовано: 22 дек. 2017 г.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185424.jpg) tiny baby fingers‏ @kevins_fingers (https://twitter.com/kevins_fingers) 6 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/kevins_fingers/status/944380465410031616)

I told you it would be spectacular #SpaceX (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash) #Iridium4 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Iridium4?src=hash)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/172145.jpg)

ЦитироватьА.Фарафонов пишет:
Вырезал красивый момент: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jt0FINKGdKQ&feature=youtu.be (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jt0FINKGdKQ&feature=youtu.be)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/116407.gif) (http://investor.iridium.com/index.cfm)       
Dec 22, 2017

Iridium® NEXT Launch Campaign Reaches its Halfway Point with a Fourth Successful Launch

Iridium closes out 2017 with more than half of the Iridium NEXT constellation now in orbit

MCLEAN, Va., Dec. 22, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:IRDM) announced today that at 5:27pm PST (1:27 am UTC on Dec. 23), SpaceX successfully launched the fourth set of 10 Iridium NEXT satellites into orbit from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Today's launch marks the midway point of the Iridium NEXT launch program, and was the first Iridium launch to use a SpaceX flight-proven rocket. The first stage booster for Iridium-4 was previously used for Iridium-2, making Iridium the first company to reuse the same rocket booster.

Спойлер

Each launch strategically delivers new satellites to specific orbital planes, so that the complete Iridium NEXT constellation will be operational as soon as possible after all launches are complete. The Iridium network is comprised of six polar orbiting planes, each containing 11 operational crosslinked satellites, for a total of 66 satellites in the active constellation. Of the 10 Iridium NEXT satellites launched today, nine were delivered to their operational orbital plane, and the tenth is set to drift to an adjacent orbital plane. Once fully deployed, Iridium NEXT will blanket the earth with satellite connectivity, enabling broadband connectivity from even the most remote parts of the planet.

"Today's launch is an incredible milestone — we have officially reached the halfway point," said Matt Desch, chief executive officer, Iridium. "It was an amazing sight to see the Iridium-2 booster back in flight today, carrying Iridium-4 into space. We are excited to be taking part in SpaceX's rocket reusability initiative and make history as the first company to reuse the same booster." Desch continued, "With over half of the new constellation now in orbit, momentum around the testing of our new broadband service, Iridium CertusSM, will continue to progress quickly. I know our customers are very excited about our expanding capabilities."

Iridium NEXT is not only delivering faster data speeds and other new capabilities with Iridium Certus, but also enabling revolutionary technologies from the hosted payloads onboard each satellite. Among these are the AireonSM real-time aircraft surveillance payload and the maritime Automatic Identification System (AIS) payload, co-operated by Harris Corporation and exactEarth. That payload, known as exactViewTM Real Time (RT) Powered by Harris, provides global real-time ship and vessel tracking across all the earth's oceans. Through the Aireon and exactView RT hosted payloads, both built by Harris Corporation, the Iridium NEXT satellite constellation is the only system capable of providing global, real-time surveillance and tracking of aircraft and ships.

"With each successful Iridium NEXT launch, Harris gets one step closer to bringing our service to market," said Bill Gattle, president, Harris Space and Intelligence Systems. "The Satellite Automatic Identification System is vital for the maritime market, and Harris is excited to help bring services, like exactView RT, global— providing the industry with access to the most accurate vessel information available. For the first time, the entire planet will have real-time AIS coverage from one network, and with the expected growth of maritime shipping and increasing access to polar sea routes, this service is needed more than ever." Gattle continued, "We can't think of a better way to end 2017 than with today's launch, and we are looking forward to what is coming in 2018."

All Iridium NEXT launches take place out of SpaceX's west coast launch facility at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Four additional launches are planned for the first half of 2018, including a unique rideshare that will carry five Iridium NEXT satellites, and the twin satellites for the NASA/German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ) Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On mission.

Iridium NEXT is the company's $3 billion, next-generation, mobile, global satellite network scheduled for completion in 2018. Iridium NEXT will replace the company's existing global constellation in one of the largest technology upgrades ever completed in space. It represents the evolution of critical communications infrastructure that governments and organizations worldwide rely on to drive business, enable connectivity, empower disaster relief efforts and more.

For more information about exactView RT Powered by Harris, please visit https://www.harris.com/solution/maritime-geospatial-solutions

For more information about Aireon, please visit https://Aireon.com/ (https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=h8NEEoi9J9nuldbHINbMY8Owj9fnJj8j6VJve-kTu9GYx9XPCuWAS938p_jeLGwP8e8d-Pnr3ca9ZrsHLGqqig==)

For more information about Iridium NEXT, please visit https://www.IridiumNEXT.com/ (https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=h8NEEoi9J9nuldbHINbMYw1vv6pO6-rHmUvd_L0cv9TxsB80AlaZ1I5Ba6i16f0MZsjrqDbpirtwwweV466gUyF-2RTUyjZ8chNeu-lEi9Q=)

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ЦитироватьSpaceX launch dazzles, delivering 10 more satellites for Iridium
December 23, 2017 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/12/) Stephen Clark (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/stephen-clark/)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143901.jpg)
Credit: Gene Blevins/LA Daily News

Putting on a holiday light show for Southern California and much of the desert southwest, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket fired into a twilight sky from the Pacific coastline Friday night to add 10 new satellites to Iridium's upgraded communications network.

The two-stage, kerosene-fueled rocket climbed into the rarefied upper atmosphere a few minutes following liftoff shortly after sunset at 5:27:34 p.m. PST (8:27:34 p.m. EST; 0127:34 GMT) from Space Launch Complex 4-East Vandenberg Air Force Base northwest of Los Angeles.

Спойлер

The Falcon 9 left a brilliant white plume of exhaust in its wake, catching rays of sunshine as it soared above the stratosphere. The ever-expanding plume left a teardrop-shaped mark in the sky, prompting countless social media posts from rush hour drivers and others who happened to catch an unexpected glimpse of the rocket's trip to space.

A few celebrities mused about the sky show.

Hip hop artist will.i.am tweeted two videos of the rocket streaking to the west of Los Angeles, and actor Don Cheadle asked his Twitter followers what he was seeing in the sky.

Elon Musk, SpaceX's founder and CEO, joked about the social media speculation about the cause of the spectacle. He tweeted a video of the launch as viewed from Southern California, and added: "Nuclear alien UFO from North Korea."

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185947.jpg) Elon Musk ✔ @elonmusk  (https://twitter.com/elonmusk)

Nuclear alien UFO from North Korea

 5:50 AM - Dec 23, 2017 (https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/944399853316055040)

But seasoned skywatchers knew what they were seeing.

A rocket launch just before sunrise or after sunset can produce a spectacular twilight effect as it passes into sunlight, while observers on the ground are in darkness.

The Falcon 9 turned south from Vandenberg on 1.7 million pounds of thrust from its nine Merlin 1D engines, and surpassed the speed of sound about one minute after liftoff.

The first stage's nine engines switched off, and the booster separated from the Falcon 9's second stage about two-and-a-half minutes into the mission.

The upper stage's single Merlin engine ignited right on time to drive the rocket's 10 Iridium satellite passengers into orbit, and the first stage began a controlled propulsive descent back to Earth.

SpaceX did not plan to recover the Falcon 9's first stage booster intact after Friday night's launch. The company did not dispatch its landing platform into the Pacific Ocean, and the stage flew without the four landing legs required for touchdown.

But the rocket still accomplished its customary descent maneuvers, and it carried four aerodynamic grid fins employed to help steer and stabilize the booster on descent.

SpaceX officials did not cite a reason for their decision to forego a landing Friday.

It is rare that the company does not try to land one of its rockets for refurbishment and reuse. The Falcon 9's first stage was disposed on three missions earlier this year, but those carried heavy satellites bound for geostationary orbit, a perch more than 22,000 miles (nearly 36,000 kilometers) above the planet.

Launch profiles to such lofty orbits need more speed, and more fuel.

But the three earlier launches for Iridium included first stage landings on SpaceX's mobile platform in the Pacific Ocean.

"These are case by case decisions and are based on mission requirements and the needs of our manifest," a SpaceX spokesperson said.

The first stage that launched on Friday night's mission was a reused booster that first flew June 25 on a previous mission for Iridium, making the Virginia-based telecom company the first customer to use the same Falcon 9 booster twice.

It was the first time Iridium has agreed to launch its satellites on a reused Falcon 9 booster, joining SES, BulgariaSat and NASA as customers who have placed payloads on SpaceX's re-flown rockets.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143875.jpg)
The 10 Iridium Next satellites were encapsulated inside the Falcon 9's payload fairing earlier this month. Credit: Iridium

Matt Desch, Iridium's CEO, said in October that Iridium chose to go with previously-flown boosters on its next two launches — the flight Friday and one in early 2018 — to keep pace with plans to complete the deployment of 75 new-generation satellites by the middle of next year.

Iridium has purchased eight Falcon 9 rocket flights from SpaceX, and four more will remain after Friday's mission.

SpaceX was expected to try and retrieve part of the Falcon 9's payload shroud downrange from Vandenberg after Friday's launch. A fast boat linked to experimental fairing recovery attempts, named Mr. Steven, was relocated from Florida to California in recent weeks, and it sailed south from the Port of Los Angeles on a heading toward the Falcon 9's projected flight path.

Engineers aim to eventually recover fairings, which come off the rocket in two halves, for inspections and re-flights. SpaceX founder Elon Musk said earlier this year the fairing costs around $5 million to produce for each launch, and reusing the parts would help the company achieve its objective of reducing the cost of spaceflight.

The fairing detached around three minutes into Friday's mission, and the second stage engine completed its first burn at about T+plus 9 minutes. After coasting over Antarctica, the second stage reignited its Merlin engine for a few seconds at T+plus 52 minutes to place the 10 Iridium satellites an orbit targeted for 388 miles (625 kilometers) high.

The satellites released from a specially-designed dispenser on the upper stage one-by-one until the separation sequence wrapped up at 6:39 p.m. PST (9:39 p.m. EST; 0239 GMT).

"We're 10-for-10," said John Insprucker, a Falcon 9 lead engineer at SpaceX. "All 10 Iridium satellites have deployed right on time into the desired orbit. Falcon 9 looked good all the way through that sequence."

SpaceX confirmed all 10 of the Iridium Next satellites, each about the size of a compact car and weighing about 1,896 pounds (860 kilograms), radioed ground controllers after arriving in orbit.

"Today's launch is an incredible milestone — we have officially reached the halfway point," Desch said in a press release.

"It was an amazing sight to see the Iridium-2 booster back in flight today, carrying Iridium-4 into space," he said, referring to the re-flown stage launched Friday that originally flew on the second Iridium Next mission in June. "We are excited to be taking part in SpaceX's rocket reusability initiative and make history as the first company to reuse the same booster.

"With over half of the new constellation now in orbit, momentum around the testing of our new broadband service, Iridium Certus, will continue to progress quickly. I know our customers are very excited about our expanding capabilities," he said.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143813.jpg)
Artist's illustration of the Iridium network. Credit: Thales Alenia Space

The 10 satellites launched Friday join 30 others launched by three Falcon 9 missions earlier this year, pushing Iridium's voice and data relay network over the halfway point in deploying a next-generation fleet of 66 spacecraft, plus spares, to replace an aging constellation dating back to the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Iridium has invested $3 billion in the next-generation network, ensuring the company's more than 900,000 subscribers have uninterrupted service, and debuting new communications capabilities — such as video and Internet — alongside the current telephone, messaging and tracking applications

The Iridium Certus offering will permit customers to transmit and receive higher-bandwidth messages, including high-definition video and Internet services. Designed for ships, airplanes and other users on-the-go, Iridium Certus will provide Iridium customers with up to 1.4 megabits per second of L-band connectivity, up from 128 kilobits per second available with the existing satellites.

Thales Alenia Space and Orbital ATK are under contract to build 81 Iridium Next satellites, and 75 have been assigned to eight SpaceX launches.

Each spacecraft carries inter-satellite radio links to hand off data and voice traffic without transmitting to the ground.

The Iridium Next satellites also host radio receivers for Aireon, an affiliate of Iridium established in partnership with air traffic control authorities in Canada, Ireland, Italy and Denmark. The Aireon instrumentation will track air traffic worldwide, including planes traveling outside the range of conventional radars.

"This is a huge achievement. With 40 payloads in orbit, we're officially approaching two-thirds of the way to being operational," said Don Thoma, CEO of Aireon. "As we continue to deploy our space-based system, we witness greater and greater performance from our service. We couldn't be more thrilled to go into 2018 celebrating this milestone."

All 10 satellites delivered to orbit Friday night carry ship tracking antennas for Harris Corp. and exactEarth, a Canadian company.

The launch Friday was timed to place the Iridium Next payloads into Plane 2 in the Iridium fleet, which is spread among six orbital planes, each with 11 operational satellites to ensure global communications coverage.

Nine of the newest satellites will enter service in Plane 2 next year, swapping out with the spacecraft that currently occupy that plane. Another will drift to another plane to begin its lifetime as a spare.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/143814.jpg)
Artist's concept of an Iridium Next satellite. Credit: Thales Alenia Space

Friday night's mission was the 18th and final Falcon 9 launch of the year, a record number of orbital rocket flights for a commercial space company, and more than doubling the pace of SpaceX's second-busiest year.

SpaceX's next launch is scheduled for early January from Cape Canaveral, when a Falcon 9 rocket is set to begin the company's 2018 launch campaign with the mysterious Zuma payload for the U.S. government.

Zuma's launch was postponed from mid-November for SpaceX to investigate engineering concerns with the Falcon 9's payload fairing.

Friday night's Falcon 9 launch took off 72 seconds after a Japanese H-2A rocket launched with two research satellites from southern Japan.

The back-to-back liftoffs marked the shortest time between two orbital launch attempts since the dawn of the Space Age, according to Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics who tracks global space activity.

The previous record for the shortest duration between two orbital launch attempts was set in December 1970, when a Soviet Kosmos 3M booster and a French Diamant-B rocket lifted off from Russia and French Guiana 4 minutes, 44 seconds, apart, McDowell said.

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ЦитироватьSpaceX Falcon 9 Launch, Boostback, Landing Burn - Iridium-4 - 2017-12-22

 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220722.jpg)  (https://www.youtube.com/user/lionfire17) Justin Foley (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTjmcmUjTm551Gk6RqB1tSw)

Опубликовано: 22 дек. 2017 г.

Launch of SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base on December 22th, 2017. It carried 10 Iridium satellites. INCREDIBLE!! You can see the 1st stage shut down, stage separation, 2nd stage engine start, THE FAIRING PIECES! and their RCS thrusters, the first stage boostback burn start, AND the first stage landing burn!!

ЦитироватьFalcon 9 Iridium-4 Successfully Launched
30th Space Wing Public Affairs / Published December 22, 2017
(https://forum.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/file/79180)

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --

Team Vandenberg supported the successful launch of the fourth Iridium mission on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex-4 here Friday, Dec. 22, at 5:27 p.m. PST.

Col. Michael S. Hough, 30th Space Wing commander, was the space launch commander.

"What a way to end the year with the fifth Falcon 9 launch carrying the fourth set of Iridium satellites. This mission proves that Team V provides assured access to space and we do it safely and securely," said Hough. "It goes without saying that we can't accomplish this without great mission partners like SpaceX."

ЦитироватьРакета Falcon 9 с десятью спутниками связи стартовала с базы в Калифорнии

Космос (http://tass.ru/kosmos) | 23 декабря, 4:36 дата обновления: 23 декабря, 6:44 UTC+3

Компания SpaceX сообщила об успешном выходе всех спутников на орбиту


НЬЮ-ЙОРК, 23 декабря. /ТАСС/. Компания SpaceX запустила в пятницу ракету-носитель Falcon 9 с десятью телекоммуникационными спутниками Iridium NEXT. Старт был осуществлен с базы ВВС США Ванденберг (штат Калифорния), его трансляцию SpaceX вела на своем сайте (http://www.spacex.com/).

"Iridium получила штатные сигналы со всех 10 спутников", - заявили (https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/944402151740121088) в SpaceX.

В другом сообщении говорится, что "разведывание спутников на низкой околоземной орбите прошло успешно".

Первая ступень ракеты уже использовась при запуске в июне 2017 года и была возвращена на Землю. На этот раз осуществлять ее управляемый спуск не планируется. Ожидается, что спутники окажутся на заданной орбите в течение часа.

Новейшие телекоммуникационные спутники Iridium NEXT принадлежат компании Iridium Communications. Этот международный оператор мобильной телефонной связи, базирующийся недалеко от Вашингтона в штате Вирджиния, в партнерстве с франко-итальянской Thales Alenia Space поставил задачу собрать и испытать 81 спутник Iridium NEXT.

Запуск по меньшей мере 75 таких аппаратов поручен SpaceX. Как ожидается, все эти аппараты будут находиться на орбите к середине 2018 года.

ЦитироватьSpaceX успешно вывела на орбиту 10 спутников связи

Космос (http://tass.ru/kosmos) | 23 декабря, 9:08 UTC+3

В сообщении компании говорится, что "разведывание спутников на низкой околоземной орбите прошло успешно"

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186774.jpg)
 © EPA-EFE/ANDREW GOMBERT

НЬЮ-ЙОРК, 23 декабря. /ТАСС/. Американская компания SpaceX осуществила в пятницу запуск ракеты-носителя Falcon 9 с десятью телекоммуникационными спутниками Iridium NEXT, все аппараты были успешно выведены на орбиту. Старт был осуществлен с базы ВВС США Ванденберг (штат Калифорния), его трансляцию SpaceX вела на своем сайте (http://www.spacex.com/).

"Iridium получила штатные сигналы со всех 10 спутников", - отметили в Twitter SpaceX. В другом сообщении говорится, что "разведывание спутников на низкой околоземной орбите прошло успешно".
 

ЦитироватьSuccessful deployment of 10 @IridiumComm (https://twitter.com/IridiumComm?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) NEXT satellites to low-Earth orbit confirmed. pic.twitter.com/CTtvPYNgMA (https://t.co/CTtvPYNgMA)
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) 23 December 2017 (https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/944397579369955328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Первая ступень Falcon 9 уже была использована при запуске в июне 2017 года и тогда была возвращена на Землю. Такой подход позволяет компании повторно использовать элемент носителя для дальнейших полетов и существенно экономить на производстве новых ракет и подготовке к пуску. На этот раз осуществлять управляемый спуск первой ступени не планировалось.

Новейшие телекоммуникационные спутники Iridium NEXT принадлежат компании Iridium Communications. Этот международный оператор мобильной телефонной связи, базирующийся недалеко от Вашингтона в штате Вирджиния, в партнерстве с франко-итальянской Thales Alenia Space поставил задачу собрать и испытать 81 спутник Iridium NEXT.

Запуск по меньшей мере 75 таких аппаратов поручен SpaceX. Как ожидается, все эти аппараты будут находиться на орбите к середине 2018 года.

Газета The Los Angeles Times (http://www.latimes.com/hp-2/) сообщила, что в течение некоторого времени после запуска Falcon 9 была хорошо видна с Земли, особенно в южной части Калифорнии. Многие жители штата сфотографировали или запечатлели этот момент на видео. Службе пожарной охраны пришлось опубликовать в Twitter сообщение, в котором говорилось, что "загадочное свечение в небе" является результатом старта ракеты.

Цитироватьtnt22 пишет: 

ЦитироватьSpaceX Falcon 9 Launch, Boostback, Landing Burn - Iridium-4 - 2017-12-22 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UU5KpfOT-_Y 

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/69029.jpg) SpaceX‏Подлинная учетная запись @SpaceX (https://twitter.com/SpaceX) 3 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/944640809252433920)

More photos from last night's Falcon 9 launch → http://flickr.com/spacex  (https://t.co/095WHX44BX)

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Successful 4th launch of 10 Iridium® NEXT satellites!

| 23.12.2017 | Iridium NEXT (https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/views/articles-all-articles-tag?tag=7560)

The Iridium NEXT Constellation now has 40 communications satellites in orbit.

Cannes, December 23rd, 2017 - The fourth batch of Iridium NEXT satellites, built by Thales Alenia Space, has been successfully launched by Space X from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The satellites were launched on a previously flown rocket, which was used during the second Iridium NEXT launch, which took place on the 25th June.  This launch marks a significant new phase in the fantastic adventure of Iridium NEXT.

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Thales Alenia Space is the system prime contractor for the Iridium NEXT program, in charge of engineering, integration, operations and in-orbit and overall system validation for the 81 satellites being built, 75 of which are currently planned for orbit., The satellites are integrated by Thales Alenia Space's subcontractor, Orbital ATK, at its Satellite Manufacturing Facility in Arizona under the supervision of a dedicated, local Thales Alenia Space team. Launch and Early Operations (LEOP) and In Orbit Tests are performed by Thales Alenia Space from the Iridium Satellite Network Operations Center (SNOC) in Leesburg, Va. The success of this fourth launch further consolidates the company's reputation for unparalleled expertise as prime contractor of sophisticated satcom systems.

Цитировать"More than half of our new Iridium NEXT satellites are now in orbit. Performances are exceeding expectations. We have started integration of the 64th satellite and the next satellites to be launched are already available in anticipation of the 5th and 6th launches. Everything is on track to meet our objective, namely to launch all 75 Iridium NEXT low earth orbit satellites in 2018," declared Denis Allard, Iridium NEXT Vice President for Thales Alenia Space.

 
The Iridium NEXT constellation will offer global connectivity thanks to 66 crosslinked satellites at an altitude of 780 km, along with nine spares in parking orbits and six more spare satellites on the ground. This global network provides unrivaled capabilities for communications on the move (individuals, land vehicles, aircraft, ships), and ensures full global coverage, including over the oceans and the poles. Thanks to its global coverage and independent operation, not requiring any local ground infrastructure, Iridium's network provides vital assistance under very challenging conditions, such as in remote areas, during natural disasters or conflicts, etc. Its independence from local ground infrastructure enables secure and reliable communications when needed most.

Copyrights:
Artistic view: ©Thales Alenia Space/Master Image Programmes
Photo: ©SpaceX

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ЦитироватьElon Musk @elonmusk (https://twitter.com/elonmusk) · 1h (https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/944779560104574977)

Having a sinking feeling that most people actually do think it was aliens ...

Цитироватьopinion пишет:
Судя по работе двигателей ориентации первой ступени после разделения, Маск решил проверить, что будет, если в СУ ввести крен три тысячи шестьсот градусов  :)  

ЦитироватьSpaceX Iridium NEXT IV - stabilized video w/audio

 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220636.jpg)  (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxK2xRWY2jsE4vDmaMuopUg) Jay DeShetler (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxK2xRWY2jsE4vDmaMuopUg)

Опубликовано: 25 дек. 2017 г.

SpaceX Iridium NEXT IV - shot with 400mm lens - 3 miles behind the launch pad, processed w/ stabilized software. SpaceX Hosted Webcast's audio was included.

ЦитироватьFourth Set of Iridium® NEXT Satellites Arrive in Orbit and Provide Telemetry
by Iridium (https://blog.iridium.com/author/ariana-bahrami/) | Dec 27, 2017 | Iridium NEXT (https://blog.iridium.com/category/iridium-next/)

Iridium Communications announced today that the fourth set of 10 Iridium NEXT satellites, launched Friday by SpaceX, are functioning nominally and have begun the testing and validation process. Not only did this fourth launch mark the midway point of the Iridium NEXT launch campaign, it is also the first Iridium NEXT launch to use a flight-proven Falcon 9 rocket.

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"Since Friday's deployment, the team has only positive news to report," said Scott Smith, chief operating officer at Iridium. "Similar to the first three launches, our team at the Satellite Network Operations Center immediately began running initial diagnostics as soon as the newly deployed satellites were captured by our network, just minutes after they were deployed. This testing process has been running smoothly and will continue for several weeks, after which nine of the new satellites will begin their individual ascents to an operational orbit, replacing original vehicles. We'll also be sending the tenth satellite to an adjacent orbital plane where it will go into service by Summer 2018."

The Iridium constellation is comprised of six polar orbiting planes, each containing 11 operational crosslinked satellites, for a total of 66 satellites in the active constellation. This unique architecture creates a web of coverage around the earth, enabling Iridium to provide real-time communications over the oceans and from even the most remote locations. Four additional Iridium NEXT launches are scheduled for the first half of 2018, bringing Iridium's total to 75 new satellites in orbit, including nine spares.

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Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185770.png)Iridium Corporate‏Verified account @IridiumComm (https://twitter.com/IridiumComm) Feb 5 (https://twitter.com/IridiumComm/status/960564683043491840)

SNOC Report: All 9 #IridiumNEXT (https://twitter.com/hashtag/IridiumNEXT?src=hash) SVs from the #Iridium4 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Iridium4?src=hash) launch assigned to orbital plane 2 have been ascended to mission and are now actively providing service. This brings a total of 32 Iridium NEXT satellites in to service, nearly half of the full constellation.(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/173593.jpg)