Paz - Falcon 9 - Vandenberg SLC-4E - 22.02.2018 11:25 UTC

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Elon Musk‏Verified account @elonmusk 56s ago

Today's Falcon launch carries 2 SpaceX test satellites for global broadband. If successful, Starlink constellation will serve least served.

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Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live 2m ago

T-70 Minutes: The Automatic Countdown Sequence kicks in at this point to take #Falcon9 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. Standing by for confirmation.

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Michael Baylor‏ @nextspaceflight 7m ago

Mr. Steven is currently in position about ~400 miles downrange from Vandenberg Air Force Base ahead of the PAZ launch at 6:17 AM local. Shortly after launch, the Vessel will likely make the first full-blown attempt at recovering a fairing.

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Chris G - NSF‏ @ChrisG_NSF 4m ago

Confirmed. RP-1 is flowing into the Falcon 9 for today's launch. All is on track for a launch at 06:17 PST (09:17 EST; 14:17 UTC)

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02/21/2018 16:17  Stephen Clark

T-minus 60 minutes. The launch autosequence started 10 minutes ago, kicking off the first steps to begin pumping propellants into the 229-foot-tall Falcon 9 at Space Launch Complex 4-East at Vandenberg.

RP-1 kerosene is being pumped into the two-stage Falcon 9 rocket first, followed by liquid oxygen chilled to near minus 340 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 206 degrees Celsius) at T-minus 35 minutes

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Chris G - NSF‏ @ChrisG_NSF 1m ago

CONSTRAINT: Upper Level Winds are OVER the limit. Additional weather balloon data at T-25mins. Proceeding with fueling for now in case winds subside. But this could result in a scrub after LOX load starts.

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Derrick.Stamos‏ @Helodriver2004 9m ago

Currently we are on the edge of the jet stream over southern California at altitude. Over the limit for the #SpaceX #PAZ launch.

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SpaceX‏Verified account @SpaceX 2m ago

T-40 minutes until Falcon 9 launch of PAZ. Pending weather balloon data, launch webcast will go live about 15 minutes before liftoff → http://spacex.com/webcast 

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Chris G - NSF‏ @ChrisG_NSF 4m ago

T-35mins. LOX load (fueling) into the first stage has started.

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Chris G - NSF‏ @ChrisG_NSF 7m ago

Per most recent weather balloon data from more than 30 mins ago (still waiting on new data), Upper Level Winds were at 101.8% of max allowed. So that's close & why they're proceeding with fueling. If they get below 100%, we'll be OK to launch.

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Chris G - NSF‏ @ChrisG_NSF 1m ago

Technically, everything is still going perfectly. Waiting on final weather balloon data on Upper Level Winds, which should be coming in right about now.

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https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/02/20/falcon-9-launch-timeline-with-paz/

Falcon 9 launch timeline with Paz
February 20, 2018 Stephen Clark

Follow the key events of the Falcon 9 rocket's ascent to orbit with the Paz Earth observation payload for Hisdesat, operator of Spain's governmental satellites.

The 229-foot-tall (70-meter) rocket will lift off Wednesday at 6:17 a.m. PST (9:17 a.m. EST; 1417 GMT) from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

Спойлер

Two SpaceX-built mini-satellites are also on the launch to test technologies for the company's planned broadband communications network.

SpaceX does not plan to recover the first stage booster on this mission. The Falcon 9's first stage set to launch with Paz previously flew on the Formosat 5 mission from Vandenberg in August 2017.

Data source: SpaceX

T-0:00:00: Liftoff


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+0:01:17: Max-Q


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+0:02:29: MECO


The Falcon 9's nine Merlin 1D engines shut down.

T+0:02:33: Stage 1 Separation


The Falcon 9's first stage separates from the second stage moments after MECO.

T+0:02:40: Stage 2 Ignition


The second stage Merlin 1D vacuum engine ignites for an approximately six-and-a-half minute burn to guide the Paz, Microsat-2a and Microsat-2b satellites into orbit.

T+0:02:56: Fairing Jettison


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+0:08:58: SECO 1


The Merlin 1D vacuum engine turns off after placing the Paz satellite into its planned 317-mile-high (511-kilometer) polar orbit.

T+0:10:58: Paz Separation


The Paz spacecraft deploys from the Falcon 9 rocket's upper stage to begin its five-and-a-half year Earth observation mission. SpaceX's two Microsat secondary payloads are expected to separate from the upper stage after Paz.

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Chris G - NSF‏ @ChrisG_NSF 1m ago

SCRUB due to Upper Level Winds. #SpaceX #Falcon9 #Paz #Starlink

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Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live 2m ago

Upper Level Winds are not cooperating today. #Falcon9/PAZ heading into a 24-hour recycle. Next attempt on Thursday at 14:17 UTC.

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Elon Musk‏Verified account @elonmusk 1m ago

High altitude wind shear data shows a probable 2% load exceedance. Small, but better to be paranoid. Postponing launch to tomorrow, assuming winds are better then.

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SpaceX‏Verified account @SpaceX 3m ago


Standing down today due to strong upper level winds. Now targeting launch of PAZ for February 22 at 6:17 a.m. PST from Vandenberg Air Force Base.

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http://www.spacex.com/webcast

PAZ MISSION

SpaceX is now targeting a Falcon 9 launch of the PAZ satellite to low-Earth orbit on Thursday, February 22 from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.

The Feb. 21st attempt was scrubbed due to strong upper level winds. The instantaneous launch opportunity is at 6:17 a.m. PST, or 14:17 UTC. The satellite will be deployed approximately eleven minutes after launch.

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Меньше 3 часа до старта. Там проснулись уже?

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Продолжают снимать из космоса:

Deimos Imaging‏ @deimosimaging 2h ago

#DEIMOS2 keeps monitoring launch preparations at Vandenberg Air Force Base & captured #Falcon9 and #PAZ vertical on SLC-4E yesterday. Looking forward to a successful launch! #Hisdesat @AirbusSpace

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02/22/2018 15:27 Stephen Clark

Now inside two hours to today's instantaneous launch attempt, SpaceX should be completing checkouts and power-up of the Falcon 9 rocket in advance of fueling, which is due to begin at 5:07 a.m. PST (8:07 a.m. EST; 1307 GMT) with loading of RP-1 kerosene into the vehicle.

Liquid oxygen will begin flowing into the Falcon 9 at 5:42 a.m. PST (8:42 a.m. EST; 1307 GMT).

Liftoff from Vandenberg Air Force Base's Space Launch Complex 4-East is targeted for 6:17 a.m. EST (9:17 a.m. EST; 1417 GMT) with the Paz Earth observation satellite and two experimental test craft for SpaceX's planned Starlink broadband project.