Starlink flight 8 (x60, v1.0 flight 7) – Falcon 9 – CCAFS SLC-40 – 04.06.2020, 01:25 UTC

[tnt22]

Raul @Raul74Cz 42 мин. назад

Complete map of Launch Hazard Areas for #Starlink v1.0-L7 mission from SLC-40 for May 17-19. Typical launch profile as direct insertion, booster and fairing recovery locations. Stage2 deorbit on the first orbit with debris reentry in Eastern Pacific.
http://bit.do/LHA11

[tnt22]

 Gavin - SpaceXFleet.com‏ @SpaceXFleet 6 ч. назад

Fleet Update!  Of Course I Still Love You should arrive at the landing zone overnight tonight.  Ms. Tree and Ms. Chief are close behind and moving faster - they'll arrive around the same time.

[tnt22]

https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/05/13/back-to-back-launches-scheduled-from-cape-canaveral-this-weekend/

Back-to-back launches scheduled from Cape Canaveral this weekend
May 13, 2020 | Stephen Clark


An Atlas 5 rocket, seen inside its Vertical Integration Facility at Cape Canaveral, is set for launch Saturday morning with the U.S. Air Force's X-37B spaceplane. Credit: United Launch Alliance

Working under physical distancing requirements and other precautions against the coronavirus pandemic, range teams at Cape Canaveral are preparing for launches of Atlas 5 and Falcon 9 rockets from neighboring pads this weekend.

The back-to-back launches are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, hauling up the U.S. Air Force's X-37B spaceplane and another batch of around 60 satellites for SpaceX's Starlink Internet network.

A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket is first in line, with liftoff scheduled Saturday from Cape Canaveral's Complex 41 launch pad. The Atlas 5 will carry into orbit the military's reusable winged X-37B mini-space shuttle some time between 8:24 a.m. and 10:53 a.m. EDT (1224-1453 GMT), according to airspace warning notices associated with the launch.

Meanwhile, at pad 40 around a mile-and-half to the south of pad 41, SpaceX is gearing up to launch a Falcon 9 rocket at 3:53 a.m. EDT (0753 GMT) Sunday with 60 more Starlink spacecraft for the company's satellite broadband network.

The Falcon 9 launch attempt Sunday will only go ahead if the Atlas 5 rocket takes off as scheduled Saturday, according to Brig. Gen. Doug Schiess, commander of the 45th Space Wing, which manages range operations at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

For now, the Atlas 5 has Sunday booked as a backup launch opportunity on the Eastern Range at Cape Canaveral.

"We do have a really busy couple of weeks coming up here," Schiess said Tuesday. "We're working ver diligently for Saturday's (Atlas 5) launch ... then if that goes on schedule on Saturday morning, about 20 hours later, early Sunday morning, we will support a SpaceX commercial launch for Starlink."

...

If the Atlas 5 and Falcon 9 launches go off as scheduled this weekend, they would occur 19 hours, 29 minutes apart. That would mark the shortest turnaround between two orbital launches from Cape Canaveral since September 1967 when Delta-G and Atlas-Centaur rockets took off within a 10-hour span from separate launch pads, according to a launch log maintained by Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics who tracks global satellite and launch activity.

Last August, a Falcon 9 and an Atlas 5 rocket launched from Cape Canaveral in a period of less than 35 hours. That was the shortest span between two orbital missions at Cape Canaveral since May 1981.


A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stands vertical Wednesday morning on pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Credit: William Harwood/CBS News

Schiess said Tuesday that range teams at Cape Canaveral are working to reduce the time required between launches. In the last few decades, the range team needed up to 48 hours to reconfigure infrastructure between launches.

That was primarily driven by readying tracking radars, transmitters and other equipment to monitor the trajectory of rockets as they arced downrange, and to send a destruct command if the launcher flew off course.

The range now tracks rockets using the GPS satellite navigation network, and the Falcon 9 launches with an autonomous flight safety system, an on-board computer that would automatically terminate the flight in the event of a major problem.

Schiess said the range team for an Atlas 5 launch, which uses a ground-commanded flight termination system, numbers around 300 people, including range operations, security forces, the fire department and other support teams. That number is around 200 people for this weekend's Falcon 9 launch, which uses an autonomous flight safety system and will fly with commercial satellites, rather than a military payload.

"The fact that one is a flight termination system (with a human in the loop), and one is an autonomous flight safety system is what really gets us to the ability to do (two launches) within 24 hours," Schiess said.

Schiess said that the range recently assessed the possibility of launching two SpaceX missions within six hours from different launch pads. That appears feasible with two rockets that use autonomous flight safety systems, Schiess said.

Launch operations at Cape Canaveral have continued amid the coronavirus pandemic. ...

Range teams have introduced new physical distancing measures inside operations centers at Cape Canaveral, and workers are assigned to rotating shifts to minimize contact. When possible, teams are working remotely.

"We're now all wearing face coverings any time that you enter into a building on Patrick Air Force Base or Cape Canaveral Air Force Station," Schiess said. "Then within the operations center, if you cannot maintain 6 feet of physical separation, then you're wearing masks."

...

SpaceX test-fired a Falcon 9 rocket at pad 40 Wednesday in preparation for Sunday morning's launch. The rocket's nine Merlin engines fired up for several seconds while hold-down restraints kept the 229-foot-tall (70-meter) rocket on the ground.

The Falcon 9 will launch on the eighth dedicated flight since May 2019 for SpaceX's Starlink broadband network. SpaceX has launched 420 Starlink spacecraft on seven previous missions, making the company the operator of the world's largest fleet of commercial satellites.

SpaceX aims to launch around 1,000 more Starlink satellites later this year and next year to begin offering worldwide Internet service. Initial beta testing of the Starlink network could begin later this year, beginning in higher latitude regions like Canada and the northern United States.

The Falcon 9 launch this weekend is the final planned SpaceX mission before the Crew Dragon demonstration flight launching May 27.
...

[tnt22]

https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/05/13/spacex-readies-rocket-for-final-falcon-9-launch-before-crew-flight/

SpaceX readies rocket for final Falcon 9 launch before crew flight
May 13, 2020 | Stephen Clark


SpaceX test-fires a Falcon 9 rocket Wednesday at Cape Canaveral's Complex 40 launch pad. Credit: William Harwood/CBS News

SpaceX fired up a Falcon 9 rocket at Cape Canaveral Wednesday in a pre-flight test for a Starlink satellite launch Sunday, moving closer to the company's final mission before sending two NASA astronauts into orbit for the first time May 27.

The test-firing occurred at 10 a.m. EDT (1400 GMT) Wednesday on pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The Falcon 9's nine Merlin main engines throttled up to full power, generating 1.7 million pounds of thrust while hold-down restraints kept the 229-foot-tall (70-meter) rocket firmly on the ground.

The engines burned for several seconds, sending a cloud of steam and exhaust into the sky over the seaside launch pad.

The static fire test is a customary part of all SpaceX launch campaigns, giving engineers a chance to practice countdown procedures and load the Falcon 9 with super-chilled, densified kerosene and liquid oxygen propellants to verify the rocket's readiness for flight.

After a data review, SpaceX will press ahead with final preparations for launch of around 60 more satellites for its Starlink Internet network, joining more than 400 other Starlink craft launched since May 2019.

SpaceX aims to launch around 1,000 more Starlink satellites later this year and next year to begin offering worldwide Internet service. Initial beta testing of the Starlink network could begin later this year, beginning in higher latitude regions like Canada and the northern United States.

Thousands more Starlink spacecraft could launch in the coming years to meet global demand, according to SpaceX.

A new sunshade to reduce the brightness of the Starlink satellites will debut on this weekend's launch. The umbrella-like visor will block sunlight from reaching the shiniest parts of the flat-panel spacecraft, making them less visible from the ground.

Scientists have raised concerns that thousands of Starlink satellites — as envisioned by SpaceX — could impact astronomical observations through ground-based telescopes. So far, SpaceX has answered with an experimental darkening treatment that offered some reduction in visibility, and the company says it is changing the orientation of the Starlink satellites during the period shortly after launch to turn their solar panels away from the sun.

The sunshade should provide a more significant dimming effect, SpaceX says.

SpaceX confirmed a successful outcome to Wednesday's static fire test in a tweet. The Falcon 9 launch is scheduled for 3:53 a.m. EDT (0753 GMT) Sunday from pad 40, less than 24 hours after a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket is set for liftoff from neighboring pad 41 with the U.S. Air Force's X-37B spaceplane.

Officials with the 45th Space Wing, which manages the range for all launches from Cape Canaveral, said the Falcon 9's approval for flight Sunday hinges on an on-time launch of the Atlas 5 rocket Saturday. If the Atlas 5 launch is scrubbed Saturday and ULA tries again Sunday, the Falcon 9 launch for the Starlink network would be delayed to early Monday on the first-come, first-served range schedule.

SpaceX said Wednesday that the first stage assigned to this weekend's launch is a veteran of four previous flights, landing on a SpaceX drone ship after each mission. The booster first flew from Cape Canaveral in September 2018 with a Telesat communications satellite, then launched again from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California in January 2019 with 10 Iridium voice and data relay payloads.

Its third flight occurred last May on the first dedicated Falcon 9 launch for the Starlink program. Most recently, the booster launched Jan. 6 from Cape Canaveral.

The first stage will again attempt a landing on SpaceX's drone ship northeast of Cape Canaveral. If it lands, it will mark the first time SpaceX has recovered a Falcon 9 first stage for a fifth time.
...

[tnt22]

 Stephen Clark‏ @StephenClark1 4 мин. назад

Two launch pads lit up on the way into work this morning. Atlas 5 on left and Falcon on right.

[tnt22]

 William Harwood‏ @cbs_spacenews 3 мин. назад

A5/X37B: If today's weather doesn't improve and the Atlas is delayed to Sunday, the Falcon 9 flight will slip to Monday; the most recent forecast for Sunday is 80 percent go, improving to 90 percent go on Monday

[tnt22]

Поехали как минимум на понедельник...

[tnt22]

 William Harwood‏ @cbs_spacenews 4 мин. назад

A5/X37B: Launch is being retargeted for 9:14am EDT Sunday morning; the delay will force SpaceX to slip its planned Falcon 9/Starlink launch from Sunday to Monday; recent forecast called for 80 percent go conditions Sunday, improving to 90 percent go on Monday

[tnt22]

 Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight 10 мин. назад

ULA's Atlas V launch with the X-37B's USSF-7 mission has been scrubbed for the day due to Range Weather. The Next attempt is Sunday morning.

SpaceX's Falcon 9 Starlink launch will be delayed to Monday due to Atlas V holding priority on the Eastern Range (military launch).

(0:24)

[tnt22]

Прогноз погоды L-2 на 18 мая 2020 г.

Falcon 9 Starlink-L7 L-2

Пусковой день    (18.05) - = 90 % GO
Резервный день (19.05) -     80 % GO

[zandr]

https://www.militarynews.ru/story.asp?rid=1&nid=531992&lang=RU

SpaceX перенесла запуск на орбиту очередной партии интернет-спутников из-за старта сверхсекретного шаттла Пентагона
       Вашингтон. 16 мая. ИНТЕРФАКС - Запланированный на воскресенье запуск на орбиту очередной партии из 60 спутников для продолжения развертывания глобальной сети интернет-покрытия системы Starlink перенесен на 18 мая, сообщила компания SpaceX.
       Перенос связан с отменой из-за непогоды старта ракеты-носителя Atlas V со сверхсекретным беспилотным кораблем многоразового использования X-37B Космического командования ВВС США с космодрома на мысе Канаверал и повторной попыткой ее старта в воскресенье.
      "В связи с конфликтом (интересов - ИФ) на космодроме запуск спутников Starlink планируется осуществить в понедельник в 03:32 (по времени Восточного побережья США, 10:32 мск)", - говорится в сообщении SpaceX.

"Ранее"

      Как сообщалось, 23 апреля SpaceX успешно вывела на орбиту очередные 60 интернет-спутников Starlink, доведя орбитальную группировку до 420 космических аппаратов. В настоящее время компания SpaceX является крупнейшим спутниковым оператором в мире.
       В перспективе компания SpaceX планирует развернуть орбитальную группировку из 12 тыс. космических аппаратов данного типа (а в последующем из 30 тыс.) для создания полномасштабной сети, которая позволит обеспечить жителей Земли широкополосным доступом в интернет в любом уголке планеты. SpaceX сообщила, что уже в 2020 году спутники обеспечат интернет-покрытием всю территорию Северной Америки, а к 2021 году будет охвачена почти вся планета. Общая сумма инвестиций для реализации проекта оценивается в $10 млрд.

[свернуть]

[tnt22]

 SpaceX‏ @SpaceX 3 ч. назад

Due to a conflict on the Range, now targeting Monday, May 18 at 3:32 a.m. EDT for launch of Starlink

07:32 UTC / 10:32 ДМВ

[tnt22]

 Gavin - SpaceXFleet.com‏ @SpaceXFleet 3 ч. назад

Of Course I Still Love You arrived at the landing zone for the Starlink mission overnight - ~629km downrange.

Ms. Tree and Ms. Chief are also in position ~687km downrange for fairing recovery.

[tnt22]

Флот покинул зону операции, отходит к побережью Юж. Каролины - надвигается тропический шторм Артур.

Gavin - SpaceXFleet.com‏ @SpaceXFleet 12 мин. назад

The SpaceX Fleet has begun moving away from the landing zone in the last few hours, heading towards the South Carolina coastline.  Tropical Depression One is forecast to become Tropical Storm Arthur and will pass right through the recovery zone around launch time on Monday.

[tnt22]

 T.S. Kelso‏ @TSKelso 6 ч. назад

#Starlink-8 SupTLEs updated for next launch opportunity on May 18 at 0732 UTC, with deployment time at 2020-05-18 07:47:12.910 UTC.

[tnt22]

 SpaceX @SpaceX 5 ч. назад

Due to a tropical depression developing off the Southeast Coast of the U.S., now targeting Tuesday, May 19 at 3:10 a.m. EDT for the Starlink mission—SpaceX teams will continue monitoring launch and landing weather conditions

19 мая 2020 г. в 07:10 UTC / 10:10 ДМВ

[tnt22]

https://www.militarynews.ru/story.asp?rid=1&nid=532014&lang=RU

SpaceX еще на сутки перенесла запуск на орбиту очередной партии интернет-спутников
17.05.2020 14:59:13

Вашингтон. 17 мая. ИНТЕРФАКС - Запланированный на понедельник запуск на орбиту очередной партии из 60 спутников для продолжения развертывания глобальной сети интернет-покрытия системы Starlink перенесен на вторник, 19 мая, сообщила компания SpaceX.

"Из-за тропического циклона, надвигающегося на юго-восточное побережье США теперь планируем осуществить запуск 19 мая в 03:10 по времени Восточного побережья США (10:10 мск)", - говорится в сообщении.

Первоначально он должен был состояться в воскресенье. Однако в связи с отменой из-за непогоды старта ракеты-носителя Atlas V со сверхсекретным беспилотным шаттлом ВВС США X-37B с космодрома на мысе Канаверал в субботу и повторной попыткой его проведения в воскресенье SpaceX вынуждена была отодвинуть свой запуск на сутки. Теперь перенос пуска SpaceX еще на одни сутки с космодрома на мысе Канаверал вызван тропическим циклоном.
...

[Pirat5]

Ура! Атлас стартовал, есть шанс старлинкам полететь в этом месяце.

[тавот]

Pirat5 написал:
Ура! Атлас стартовал, есть шанс старлинкам полететь в этом месяце.

Раз уже не может лететь OneWeb - пусть хоть Старлинки летят.

[tnt22]

Прогноз погоды L-2 на 19 мая 2020 г.

Falcon 9 Starlink-L7 L-2

Пусковой день (19.05) - ↓ 70 % GO