SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch of Orbcomm Satellites (22JUN2014/1724 EDT, 1424 PDT)

SpaceFlightNow.com ^ | 22JUN2014 | Staff Writer

[Jack Hydrazine]

Rocket: Falcon 9 v1.1 Payload: Orbcomm OG2 F1 (6 satellites) Launch date: Sunday, June 22, 2014 Launch time: 5:24 p.m. EDT/2:24 p.m. PDT (2124 GMT) Launch window: 54 minutes Site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral, Florida Live launch coverage: At the link or watch it here http://www.spacex.com/webcast/

Delayed (from September, November, April 30, May 10, 27, June 11, 12, 15, and June 20, 21) several times by SpaceX due to a first stage helium leak and Orbcomm due to a potential defect in one of their satellites. On June 20th a launch attempt was scrubbed due to a fluctuation in pressure readings on the second stage. The June 21 launch window was closed due to poor weather conditions.

0215 GMT (10:15 p.m. EDT on Sat.) Tomorrow's Falcon 9 launch window opens at 5:24 p.m. EDT (2124 GMT), but the weather forecast is iffy with predictions for more stormy weather over Central Florida.

SpaceX ready for commercial launch for Orbcomm http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/010/140619preview/#.U6bXK7GSCog

Falcon 9 countdown timeline http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/010/countdowntimeline.html

Falcon 9 launch timeline http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/010/launchtimeline.html

Mission Press Kit http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/010/presskit.pdf

OG2 info sheet http://www.orbcomm.com/uploads/files/OG2-2.pdf http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbcomm_satellites#Orbcomm-G2

List of Falcon 9 launches http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Falcon_9_launches

Photos: Falcon 9 on the launch pad http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/010/prelaunch/#.U6bYFrGSCog

Delay-stricken SpaceX launch scrubbed by technical issue http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/010/140620scrub/#.U6bYTbGSCog 20JUN2014

[Jack Hydrazine]

SpaceX ready for commercial launch for Orbcomm http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/010/140619preview/#.U6bXK7GSCog

Falcon 9 countdown timeline http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/010/countdowntimeline.html

Falcon 9 launch timeline http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/010/launchtimeline.html

Mission Press Kit http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/010/presskit.pdf

OG2 info sheet http://www.orbcomm.com/uploads/files/OG2-2.pdf http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbcomm_satellites#Orbcomm-G2

List of Falcon 9 launches http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Falcon_9_launches

Photos: Falcon 9 on the launch pad http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/010/prelaunch/#.U6bYFrGSCog

Delay-stricken SpaceX launch scrubbed by technical issue http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/010/140620scrub/#.U6bYTbGSCog 20JUN2014

[Jack Hydrazine]

Rocket: Falcon 9 v1.1

Payload: Orbcomm OG2 F1 (6 satellites)

Launch date: Sunday, June 22, 2014

Launch time: 5:24 p.m. EDT/2:24 p.m. PDT (2124 GMT)

Launch window: 54 minutes Site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral,

Florida Live launch coverage: At the link or watch it here http://www.spacex.com/webcast/

[Jack Hydrazine]

Just wanted to ping everyone to this launch.

[NonValueAdded]

Brevard County, Florida ping.

Let me know if you want on or off this ping list.
(not associated with the county government)

[mcmuffin]

Third time's a charm!

Thanks for the ping. . .

[Dagnabitt]

Are they going to try to soft-land / soft-splash the booster?

[Jack Hydrazine]

According to this...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Falcon_9_launches

Second Falcon 9 booster with landing legs. Following second-stage separation, SpaceX will conduct a controlled-descent test of the discarded booster vehicle.

and this...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SpaceX_Falcon_9_booster_post-mission,_controlled-descent,_test_program#Falcon_9_booster_post-mission.2C_controlled-descent_tests

Test flight 3

The third test flight and another attempt at recovery of the returned booster is planned for June 2014 on Falcon 9 Flight 10. Whereas the previous test did its “soft landing” some hundreds of kilometers off the Florida coast, this flight is aiming for a boost-back trajectory that will attempt the simulated ocean landing much nearer the coast, and closer to the original launch location at Cape Canaveral.

---

I think SpaceX should not waste any fuel on trying to land it back on or near the cape. They need to buy a large boat that can be modified with a platform that can capture the booster as soon as it lands and bring it back to shore.

Here’s another test of their F9R test vehicle but this time with set of steerable grid fins.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgLBIdVg3EM

[Jack Hydrazine]

Hopefully the booster won’t land in the middle of a storm like last time. I do hope the on-board video is better this time around.

The video they had from their first successful test has been cleaned up to the point where you can actually watch it and see it land.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sqKXGCkpMA

Compare that with the raw/original footage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7m8H8OlJ3o8&feature=youtu.be

[Jack Hydrazine]

Latest updates:

1715 GMT (1:15 p.m. EDT)
The precise time of the opening of today’s launch window is 5:30:54 p.m. EDT (2130:54 GMT).

1655 GMT (12:55 p.m. EDT)
SpaceX says they will webcast this evening’s Falcon 9 launch attempt beginning at 5:16 p.m. EDT (2116 GMT). The launch window opens at 5:30 p.m. EDT (2130 GMT).

1505 GMT (11:05 a.m. EDT)
The launch window opens at 5:30 p.m. EDT and extends to 8:08 p.m. EDT (2130-0008 GMT), according to an official U.S. Air Force weather forecast.

The forecast predicts an 80 percent chance conditions will violate one of the weather rules for liftoff today, with widespread showers and thunderstorms expected over the Space Coast.

The outlook calls for broken clouds at 2,500 feet, 10,000 feet and 30,000 feet, southeast winds at 12 to 16 mph, and a temperature of 84 degrees Fahrenheit at launch time.

“Showers and thunderstorms will form on the sea breeze in the early afternoon and, with southwesterly flow [and] stay near the Cape through the afternoon,” the Air Force weather team wrote in a forecast synopsis. “Conditions will gradually improve near sunset and through the evening hours. The primary concerns are cumulus clouds, lightning, anvil clouds and high electric fields within the window. With conditions not appearing to change through mid-week, similar weather concerns will persist for a few days.”

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Thanks I just linked to your photo:

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/010/prelaunch/#.U6bYFrGSCog

I was surprized the rocket doesn’t really seem to have tails. It that all done now, basically also with rockets?

[NonValueAdded]

I’m thinking if they light the candle today, you’ll have to be close to see it. Unless they stream it live.

[Jack Hydrazine]

Do you mean fins?

They don’t need fins since the engines are gimballed.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Fins. Yes thanks.

I’m sure that’s not a breathtaking concept, but it’s new to me.

I appreciate that.

[Jack Hydrazine]

We need SpaceX to get the Falcon 9 man-rated ASAP!

Russia Bans U.S. From International Space Station: America Strikes Back
http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/06/22/russia-bans-us-from-international-space-station-am.aspx

[Jack Hydrazine]

It’s going to be broadcast live. I’ve provided the links above.

[Jack Hydrazine]

Space Shuttle Engine Gimbal Check
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_jserW1Mbk

J-2X Rocket Engine Gimbal Test
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8ABMicmaZo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2gU4CVDV6Y

Flometrics Gimbal Rocket Test - Side View
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CP-xZHYyCuk

Shuttle Endeavour engine noozle gimbal test
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Wtg_3Y4lFc

Testing engine gimbal on vertical takeoff and landing rocket 2005/07/30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOGveB2Fktk

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Oh hey, this is today.

Just under two more hours.

(bookmarking the link)

[DoughtyOne]

Thank you very much Jack Hydrazine.

[Jack Hydrazine]

You are quite welcome!