Iridium Next Flight 2 (x10) - Falcon 9 - Vandenberg SLC-4E - 25.06.2017 20:25 UTC

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Iridium Corporate‏Подлинная учетная запись @IridiumComm 15 июн.

Excited to share the official #IridiumNEXT 2nd launch patch! Check it out, along with other collectibles here: http://bit.ly/2sxhdaG 

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SpaceX‏Подлинная учетная запись @SpaceX 2 мин. назад

Iridium targeted for 6/25—could be a weekend doubleheader

SpaceX‏Подлинная учетная запись @SpaceX 4 мин. назад

Standing down on BulgariaSat-1 to replace a fairing valve, next launch opportunities are 6/23 and 6/24

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Elon Musk‏Подлинная учетная запись @elonmusk 30 мин. назад

If schedule holds there will be two Falcon 9 launches within 48 hours (Cape & Vandenberg) this weekend

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https://www.facebook.com/30thSpaceWing/photos/a.97094879896.77266.95781119896/10156225227769897/?type=3&theater
 

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Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight 59 мин. назад

F9 at 39A now horizontal again following an overnight test opportunity. F9 at Vandy currently aiming for 1:30pm local time Static Fire test.

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https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/06/spacex-vandy-falcon-9-schedule-realignment/

SpaceX testing Vandy Falcon 9 amid schedule realignment
June 20, 2017 by Chris Bergin



SpaceX is preparing to static fire test a Falcon 9 at the Vandenberg Air Force Base ahead of a mission to launch the next set of Iridium NEXT satellites. The test will set the stage for the potential of two launches within two days for SpaceX, as it realigns the launch date for the Falcon 9 that has already conducted a hot-fire test ahead of its BulgariaSat-1 mission.

Test, Test, Launch, Launch:

...

Due to the delay to the BulgariaSat-1 mission, the next event for SpaceX is another Static Fire test, this time on the West Coast.

The Falcon 9 tasked with launching the next set of Iridium NEXT satellites will enjoy a 3.5-second firing on the SLC-4E pad at Vandenberg.

The window for the test was originally cited as 11 am local time, before it was realigned to target a T-0 of 1:30 pm local time. Static Fire tests have long windows to provide engineers an allowance for troubleshooting.



Confirmation of a good test will come via SpaceX on its social media channels, based on the results of the "quick look" data.

The SpaceX team will then head into the Launch Readiness Review (LRR) ahead of the Sunday launch attempt with the window opening at 13:25 pm local time.

SpaceX has the ability to continue the flow towards launch, despite the schedule change with the BulgariSat-1 pre-launch flow, due to two separate launch teams for its two – currently active – launch sites.

SpaceX's mission control (MCC-X) in Hawthorne, California also holds the ability thanks to a recent configuration change that avoids any overlaps in procedures relating to the two individual missions taking place in close proximity.

...

(Images: SpaceX, Iridium and L2 – including a large collection of photos from this launch campaign via Brady Kennison for NASASpaceFlight.com)

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Iridium Corporate‏Подлинная учетная запись @IridiumComm 47 мин. назад

All 10 #IridiumNEXT SVs are locked & loaded, in prep for launch on 6/25! @SpaceX @Thales_Alenia_S @AireonLLC @OrbitalATK #Iridium-2

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Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight 3 мин. назад

Falcon 9 (Iridium NEXT-2) vertical and ready to rock the Static Fire test on SLC-4E. Window runs to 5 pm local.

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Jeremy Daniel‏ @jaydee_12857 39 мин назад

Do they have the new TEL in Vandy yet? Are they going to have one there at all?


Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight 23 мин назад

Yep....



Christian Daniels‏ @CJDaniels77 5 мин назад

When was this photo taken?
 
 
Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight 3 мин назад

Not sure. It's not recent. I remember seeing that a while ago. Same with this one I'm going to use for the Static Fire until SpaceX posts.

[Чебурашка]

А может ради пЕара запустить два флакона в один день 

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Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight 2 мин. назад

STATIC FIRE! Falcon 9 fires up at SLC-4E ahead of Iridium NEXT-2 mission. Standby for SpaceX to confirm good test via quick look data.

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SpaceX‏Подлинная учетная запись @SpaceX 2 мин. назад

Static fire test of Falcon 9 at Vandenberg AFB complete—launch of 10 @IridiumComm NEXT satellites slated for Sunday, June 25.

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Matt Desch‏ @IridiumBoss 3 ч. назад

Static fire a success! Weekend VAFB weather looks benign so far as well, so we're on track for a Sunday launch. #Lookinggood!

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Matt Desch‏ @IridiumBoss 3 ч. назад

They're planning to land the first stage on the drone ship downrange.
...

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https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/06/20/spacex-rocket-passes-key-preflight-test-before-liftoff-from-california/

SpaceX rocket passes key preflight test before liftoff fr om California

June 20, 2017 Stephen Clark

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The 10 Iridium Next communications satellites slated to launch Sunday from California were recently encapsulated inside the Falcon 9 rocket's payload fairing. Credit: Iridium

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Juggling simultaneous launch campaigns on both coasts, a team of SpaceX engineers put a Falcon 9 rocket through a customary countdown rehearsal and hold-down firing Tuesday at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California ahead of a scheduled liftoff Sunday.

The commercial mission will loft 10 voice and data relay satellites for Iridium's upgraded network, in the second of at least eight Iridium launches booked on SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets.

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Liftoff is set for 1:25:14 p.m. PDT (4:25:14 p.m. EDT; 2025:14 GMT) Sunday from Space Launch Complex 4-East at Vandenberg, a hillside launch mount that has hosted three previous Falcon 9 missions since SpaceX reconfigured the facility from a Titan 4 pad.

The engine firing Tuesday afternoon at Vandenberg occurred after SpaceX filled the two-stage Falcon 9 rocket with super-chilled kerosene and liquid oxygen propellants, along with its load of helium pressurant. Following the procedures of a real countdown, the Falcon 9 rocket was readied for ignition of its nine first stage Merlin 1D engines, its fuel tanks were pressurized, and a strongback tower next to the vehicle was retracted to launch position.

SpaceX confirmed the successful "static fire" test in a tweet Tuesday evening.

The launch team conducted the hold-down ignition test without the mission's 10 Iridium satellite payloads on the rocket. The next step in the launch campaign will be the removal of the Falcon 9 from the pad for a return trip to its nearby hangar, wh ere ground crews will attach the Iridium satellites, already connected to their two-tier dispenser inside the rocket's nose shroud.

Then the rocket will roll back out to Space Launch Complex 4-East sometime Saturday and hoisted vertical before the start of Sunday's countdown.

The Iridium satellites were trucked from their factory near Phoenix two-at-a-time to Vandenberg in May and early June, then bolted to their SpaceX-built deployment mechanisms, fueled with hydrazine propellant, and enclosed inside the Falcon 9's clamshell-like fairing.


The mission patch for Sunday's launch of 10 new Iridium communications satellites. Credit: Iridium

Built by Thales Alenia Space and Orbital ATK, the satellites are each about the size of a compact car and weigh 1,896 pounds (860 kilograms) with a full tank of fuel.

After flying to the south from Vandenberg, the Falcon 9's second stage engine will fire two times to to deliver the satellites into a 388-mile-high (625-kilometer) orbit. The satellites will deploy one-by-one from the dispenser fastened to the forward end of the Falcon 9's second stage, separating at 90-second intervals beginning around one hour after liftoff.

The Falcon 9's first stage will attempt a vertical thrust-assisted landing on a platform positioned in the Pacific Ocean south of Vandenberg. SpaceX intends to inspect, refurbish and re-fly the rocket.

Iridium's next-generation constellation, which will replace the company's aging satellites launched in the late 1990s and early 2000s, will have 66 operational spacecraft flying around Earth. The Virginia-based telecom provider ordered 81 satellites from Thales Alenia Space, a company based in France, some of which will be built as spares.

Sunday's Falcon 9 launch from California is scheduled two days after another Falcon 9 booster is set to blast off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The flight out of Florida will carry BulgariaSat 1, a television broadcasting satellite destined to cover the Balkans. BulgariaSat 1's two-hour launch window opens at 2:10 p.m. EDT (1810 GMT) Friday, four days later than previously planned.

SpaceX ordered the BulgariaSat 1 launch delay from Monday to replace a pneumatic valve in the payload fairing that will shield the spacecraft during the trip into space.

BulgariaSat 1 is set to fly on a previously-launched Falcon 9 first stage that first flew in Jan. 14 with Iridium's first set of 10 new-generation satellites.

It will be the second time SpaceX has launched a satellite with a reused first stage booster.

Matt Desch, Iridium's chief executive, said Monday that the close timing of their second launch with the re-flight of the first stage from the January mission is "an interesting twist of fate."

SpaceX has never launched two Falcon 9 rockets on such a short turnaround before.

"We've been assured by SpaceX that there is no impact between the two," Desch told reporters Monday. "They have separate flight teams. They have the ability to operate completely independently. Our flight team is on schedule and tracking well to this weekend's launch.

 "We wish our friends down in Florida well ... But it shouldn't have any impact on us," he said.

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NZZO
B2911/17 - TEMPO DANGER AREA NZD029 (EAST AUCKLAND OCEANIC FIR) IS PRESCRIBED
AS FLW:
ALL THAT AIRSPACE BOUNDED BY A LINE JOINING
S 30 00 00, W 140 10 00
S 72 46 00, W 140 10 00
S 72 46 00, W 146 53 00
S 30 00 00, W 146 53 00
S 30 00 00, W 140 10 00.
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, 25 JUN 22:10
2017 UNTIL 25 JUN 22:45 2017. CREATED: 18 JUN 20:22 2017

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https://blog.iridium.com/2017/06/20/hydrazine-toxic-for-humans-but-satellites-love-it/

Hydrazine – Toxic for humans, but satellites love it.

by Iridium | Jun 20, 2017 | Iridium NEXT | 0 comments

Today's successful static fire test is yet another significant milestone passed along the way to the second Iridium® NEXT launch on June 25th. And, just like how the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has a sophisticated engine system, Iridium NEXT satellites each have their own thrusters for in-orbit maneuvering. Iridium NEXT Space System Engineer John McBride shared with us how the satellites' engines don't actually "burn" their fuel to produce thrust, among other curious facts. To get a better understanding of just how this system works, we sat down with John to learn more about the Iridium NEXT satellites' fuel, hydrazine, and how while the fuel is great for satellites, it's incredibly dangerous for people.

So just like how rockets have rocket fuel, satellites have a fuel of their own. Can you tell us a bit about the fuel for Iridium NEXT satellites?
Rockets like the SpaceX Falcon 9 develop tremendous thrust by "burning" fuel (combining the fuel with oxygen and heat), but Iridium NEXT satellite engines use only fuel and heat, no oxygen. This makes the propellant system much simpler and lighter, providing small amounts of controlled thrust using small quantities of fuel for a long mission. Block 1 (the original Iridium satellite constellation) and Iridium NEXT satellites use anhydrous hydrazine (N2H4) for the fuel because it is stable for long missions. We call this type of system monopropellant, or "monoprop."

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What are some of the properties that make it uniquely good for satellites, but also incredibly toxic for people? Are there alternatives to hydrazine?
Hydrazine is a clear liquid that looks and behaves much like water. It has a similar freezing point, surface tension, density, and viscosity. It has a unique characteristic of producing a white vapor that resembles cigarette smoke. It has a smell of ammonia (a close chemical cousin) and fish.

Hydrazine dissociates (separates) and expands in the presences of a catalyst and heat, providing the thrust needed to move the satellite. The Iridium NEXT engines contain small crystals of rare earth metal to act as a catalyst (cat bed) and heaters to get the chemical reaction started. In order to keep the engines clean we have to make sure there are as few impurities as possible in the fuel. For this reason, we buy a rare and expensive form of hydrazine called 'ultra-pure'. We control the thrust by controlling the flow of hydrazine through valves. Despite these distinctions, we still say 'burn' when referring to what our engines do (a lot simpler than rapid energetic dissociation).

Hydrazine will burn if given the opportunity. In fact, in the presence of oxygen (air), a catalyst (a spot of rust in a room, for example), and a small amount of heat, hydrazine will spontaneously explode.

These characteristics make it desirable as a fuel for satellites, but dangerous to the humans who are around it. Besides being highly and easily combustible, it is extremely toxic, caustic, and probably carcinogenic. Humans exposed to hydrazine vapor will suffer burns in the eyes, nose, mouth, esophagus, and respiratory tract. Severe burns can be fatal. Liquid hydrazine on the skin is quickly absorbed and acts as a neurotoxin. Burning hydrazine is extremely hot, but produces no visible flame (yes, it's like invisible fire!) which can quickly spread to other combustible materials (clothes, skin, etc.).

There are some new alternatives being developed called "green fuel" but these tend to be only slightly less caustic and combustible and the long-term performance in a space mission is just now being demonstrated.

With a substance so toxic and dangerous, what are some of the safety protocols followed for fueling with Hydrazine? How is it transported fr om one place to another?
Hydrazine is always transported in a Department of Transportation approved tank called a DOT 110. These tanks are very robust, and must demonstrate that they will not rupture or leak in a variety of conditions and forces.

For Iridium NEXT, the hydrazine is shipped to Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, wh ere it is stored in an open-air fuel farm along with fuels for other missions. It is brought to the SpaceX Payload Processing Facility (PPF) days before fueling in order to stabilize to the ambient temperature. Handling these tanks require leak detectors and access to emergency breathing equipment (often called gag bags), but otherwise no special protective clothing.

Once we start moving the fuel from the DOT 110s to the satellites, all non-essential personnel are evacuated from the building and the operation is controlled from a building several hundred meters away. Personnel entering the PPF must wear Self Contained Atmospheric Protective Equipment (SCAPE). These suits are the same suits as used by Fire and Rescue departments everywhere. Breathing air is provided by hoses connected to a supply outside of the building.

Once the fuel is in the space vehicles, the tools are cleaned, the fuel transfer lines are purged, and everything including the operators are "sniffed" using a portable detector to make sure there is no contamination. The fuel valve on the satellite is closed and a secondary cover is lock wired into place.
Once the fuel tanks are pressurized to flight pressure and they have been shown to be stable and leak free, personnel are free to re-enter the PPF. However, we always operate leak detectors and have access to gag bags.

How long can Hydrazine last in space? And how much is put in to each satellite?
Hydrazine is very stable and does not undergo any long term chemical changes. It can last indefinitely in a clean tank. The hydrazine in Block 1 satellites was produced in the mid '90s and still works perfectly. The Iridium NEXT satellites each have 164 kg of hydrazine and 1.5 kg of Nitrogen to pressurize the tanks. Most of this will be used to move the satellites from their insertion orbit to mission orbit, or to deorbit them when they have finished their mission, very little is used during the course of the mission.

How much does Hydrazine cost and what is the manufacturing process?
The Ultra-Pure hydrazine for Iridium NEXT was procured by our prime contractor as part of their contract, so the actual cost is not known to us, but during Block 1 we paid about $85/lb. Typical cost is around $100/lb. The real cost of hydrazine is probably in the protective measures we take to deal with it. SCAPE, detectors, disposal of waste, and mitigation plans are all very expensive.

Hydrazine is manufactured by chemically adding an oxygen atom to an ammonia molecule, then by using something like a giant a distillation column (really big still), which separates the hydrazine molecules from the ammonia and other impurities.

What else can you tell us about hydrazine?
Hydrazine is nasty. If you see water that is smoking, or if you smell fishy ammonia it is best to get away, go outside, and move upwind. But treated carefully it is stable, predictable, and critical for our mission success.

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30th Space Wing (Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.)

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L-2 Day Planning Forecast
 
Western Range Operation Forecast
 W7295
 Issued: 23 Jun 17 / 0800L (1500Z)
 Valid: 25 Jun 17 / 1325L (2025Z)
 Vehicle/Payload: Falcon 9/Iridium-2
 Location: VAFB SLC-4
 
T-0 Forecast: The subtropical ridge will be the dominant feature on Sunday with the marine layer influence strong over the range. Cooling overnight and sustained northwesterly flow will allow the marine layer to move in over the range and linger on the coastal areas, bringing low shallow stratus and fog through the count. By T-0, the marine layer will have broken out, the stratus will be clearing out and visibility restrictions lifted. Winds will be onshore through the count with T-0 winds out of the northwest at 10 - 15 knots. Temperatures will range from 63 - 68F and max upper-level winds will be from the west at 50 knots from 34,000 to 36,000 feet. The overall POV will be 0% with no constraints of concern.

 24 Hour Scrub Forecast: High pressure will continue to influence the range on Monday. The marine layer will again move in overnight, bringing low stratus and reduction to visibility through the count and a burn-off by T-0. Winds will increase slightly to 12 - 15 with knots by T-0 out of the northwest with a slightly enhanced gradient. Temperatures will rise to 65 - 70F and max upper-level winds will increase, with winds out of the west-southwest at 55 knots from 34,000 to 36,000 feet. The overall POV will remain at 0% with no constraints of concern.
 
Significant Clouds: Stratus
 Coverage: 4/8 ths
 Bases: 300 ft
 Tops: 900 ft
 Visibility: 7 Miles
 Weather: None
 Wind: 310 - 340 at 10 - 15 knots
 Temperature: 63 - 68° 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
 Next Forecast Issuance: 24/0900L
 QC: TB

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Thales Alenia Space‏ @Thales_Alenia_S 2 ч. назад

Ready for the #launch of the next ten #IridiumNEXT #satellites! http://thls.co/kFgb30cQaFw #VIDEO @IridiumComm @IridiumBoss @SpaceX @elonmusk

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 @CwG_NSF 3 мин. назад

Not to jump too far ahead, but Sunday's launch & landing weather forecast for #SpaceX's #Iridiumnext #Falcon9 launch is 100% favorable.