Launch News SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 with AsiaSat 6, September 7, 2014

[Cosmic Penguin]

Well it looks like SpaceX is finally lighting up candles in full force! Today's not the time to stop and in just 3 weeks time the 2nd of 2 satellites trusted by Hong Kong-based AsiaSat on SpaceX is going to fly!

Now let's hope that nothing stops them from flying!

Launch date: September 7, 2014

Launch window: 12:50 - 4:04 am EDT (04:50 - 08:04 UTC)

Launch site: Space Launch Complex-40, Cape Canaveral AFS, Florida.

Payload: AsiaSat 6

AsiaSat 6, based on Space Systems/Loral 1300 platform, is designed to provide excellent power and wide C-band coverage over Asia, Australasia, Central Asia and the Pacific islands. This new satellite, planned to be launched in the second half of 2014, will carry 28 high-powered C-band transponders, with a design life of 15 years. It will be positioned at the 120 degrees East orbital slot, with a global beam and a regional beam to offer enhanced power and look angles for video distribution and broadband network services in the region.

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

At T-10 days launch processing is going as planned.

Here's the satellite being prepared for fueling:

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Per reports the rocket's static firing will be done on Friday.

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Per reports the rocket's static firing will be done on Friday.

...and it's done, despite the F9R blowing up just a few hours before that! :shifty: The launch has slipped one day too, but again unrelated to the accident (likely for catching up work).

Despite a tropical depression closing in to Florida, the weather forecasted is still at 60% chance GO!

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

At T-14 hours the countdown is on! :tiphat:

Find the press kit for the launch here!

As for the satellite on board that, again, no one cares....

PAYLOAD

AsiaSat 6 communication satellite:

Spacecraft Overview

AsiaSat 6 is a Fixed Satellite Services (FSS) satellite being built for Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat), serving Asia, the Middle East, and Australasia. The satellite is designed on the flight-proven SS/L 1300 satellite platform, which provides the flexibility for a broad range of applications and technology advances. It will have 28 high-power C-band transponders. The satellite is scheduled for launch in 2014 and designed to provide service for 15 years or more.

[table="head"]{colsp=2}Summary
Parameter|Value

Working Orbit:​

|GEO

Orbital Location:​

|120° East

Coverage:​

|Eastern/Southern/Middle/South-east Asia, Australia

ApA at separation:​

|35786 km

PeA at separation:​

|185 km

Inc at separation:​

|25.3°
[/table]

[table="head"]Characteristics|

AsiaSat 8​

Customer:​

|

• AsiaSat
  

Prime contractor:​

|

• Space Systems/Loral
  

Platform:​

|

• LS-1300LL

Mass at Separation:​

|

• 3700 kg

Dry Mass:​

|

• ?

Stabilization:​

|

• 3 axis stabilized

Dimensions:​

|

• ?

Power at end-of-life:​

|

• ?

Primary Payload:​

|

• 28 C-band transponders

Coverage area:​

|

• 
  
  

Life time:​

|

• 15+ years

|

[/table]

And the launch timeline for carrying the satellite into a standard GTO (185 x 35786 km x 25.3°):

• T-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 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
• T+01:10 Mach 1
  The Falcon 9 rocket passes the speed of sound. The first stage's nine Merlin 1D engines produce 1.3 million pounds of thrust at sea level, ramping up to 1.5 million pounds of thrust in vacuum.
• T+01:18 Max Q
  The Falcon 9 rocket reaches Max Q, the point of maximum aerodynamic pressure.
• T+02:56 MECO
  Moments after two of the Falcon 9's first stage engines shut down, the remaining seven Merlin 1D engines cut off at an altitude of about 90 kilometers, or 56 miles.
• T+03:00 Stage 1 Separation
  The Falcon 9's first stage separates from the second stage four seconds after MECO.
• T+03:08 Stage 2 Ignition
  The second stage Merlin 1D vacuum engine ignites for an approximately 5-minute, 33-second burn to inject the AsiaSat 6 satellite into a parking orbit.
• T+03:XX 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+08:41 SECO 1
  The second stage Merlin 1D vacuum engine shuts down after reaching orbit.
• T+26:XX Stage 2 Restart
  The second stage Merlin 1D vacuum engine re-ignites for a brief burn lasting just over one minute to inject AsiaSat 6 into the planned geosynchronous transfer orbit. SpaceX has not disclosed the exact time of second stage restart.
• T+27:XX SECO 2
  The second stage Merlin 1D vacuum engine shuts down. The upper stage next re-orients itself to deployment of the AsiaSat 6 payload. SpaceX has not disclosed the exact time of second stage shutdown.
• T+32:XX AsiaSat Separation
  The AsiaSat 6 broadcasting satellite is deployed from the Falcon 9 second stage in an orbit with a perigee of 115 miles, an apogee of 22,236 miles (185 km x 35,786 km) with an inclination of 25.3 degrees. AsiaSat expects to acquire radio signals from the satellite moments after separation.

Data source: SpaceX via Spaceflight Now

And the weather - with hurricane Cristobal completely missing Florida the chances of good weather now stands at 80%! :thumbup:

Weather forecast for Titusville, Florida on August 27, 2014 (1 a.m.)

Some clouds. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 24C. Winds NNE at 15 to 30 km/h.

Time|Temps|Dew Point|Relative Humidity|Precip|Snow|Cloud cover|Pressure|Wind|Weather
1 AM|26°C|22°C|82%|19%|0%|38%|1014 hPa|10 km/h NE|

Partly Cloudy

 

[Alfastar]

I was wondering why there is no precise timing for the fairing jettison and the second burn of the second stage. Is it because something like an autopilot counting what's the best time for fairing jettison and the second burn of the second stage?

Also, who bets its become a scrub? We know in the past that SpaceX doesn't have a great relation with original launch dates.

 

[Kyle]

Launch scrubbed, Elon Musk's call. No NET given.

 

[PhantomCruiser]

Also, who bets its become a scrub? We know in the past that SpaceX doesn't have a great relation with original launch dates.

I seem to remember a shuttle launch in the early 80's where the announcer said something to the effect of "NASA doing what it does best (long pause) holding".

Ya want it done right, or now? Pick one.

SpaceflightNow said the launch was postponed "indefinitely". I wonder if there if they learned something pretty significant from the F9R that prompted the scrub and extended delay. Maybe they'll let us in on the secret, but I wouldn't bet on it (and they are under no obligation to do so anyway).

 

[MaverickSawyer]

It would appear that a blocked sensor port was the cause of the failure. They came to a conclusion fast...:shifty:

I'd say that's a damn good reason.

 

[ISProgram]

I'd say that's a damn good reason.

Totally agree. :thumbup:


In other news, a update on the Asiasat 6 delay...

SpaceX has decided to postpone tomorrow's flight of AsiaSat 6. We are not aware of any issue with Falcon 9, nor the interfaces with the Spacecraft, but have decided to review all potential failure modes and contingencies again. We expect to complete this process in one to two weeks.

The natural question is whether this is related to the test vehicle malfunction at our development facility in Texas last week. After a thorough review, we are confident that there is no direct link. Had the same blocked sensor port problem occurred with an operational Falcon 9, it would have been outvoted by several other sensors. That voting system was not present on the test vehicle.

What we do want to triple-check is whether even highly improbable corner case scenarios have the optimal fault detection and recovery logic. This has already been reviewed by SpaceX and multiple outside agencies, so the most likely outcome is no change. If any changes are made, we will provide as much detail as is allowed under US law.

 

[fsci123]

Maybe this caused the delay?

http://money.cnn.com/2014/08/27/technology/elon-musk/index.html?sr=fb082714elonmusk330pVODtopLink

For a second there I thought he said he was hearing voices...:shifty:

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Looks like SpaceX will try again early this Saturday (September 6).

 

[DanM]

Looks like SpaceX will try again early this Saturday (September 6).

Has a time been announced or just a date?

 

[Kyle]

Has a time been announced or just a date?

Same window as the last attempt.

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Slipping one day it seems (not sure why, though there's a solar storm inbound on the 6th so maybe that's it):

Jeff Foust
@jeff_foust

RT @SCLAUNCH321: Latest status: F9 #AsiaSat6 has slipped 1 day. New primary day is 9/7 0050-0404 with a back up of 9/8 same time. No reason…

Makes no difference to me - I would be in a camp at launch time on the 6th.....and will still be on the 7th. Though since it's launch lunch time here..... :hmm:

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Launch day! Looking good for launch at T-5 hours...

 

[Kyle]

Well, except for the fact it's pouring rain and has been all day! The hope is that it'll all die off by the time we reach launch. Let's hope that holds true.

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

New T-0 of 1 am Eastern (5 am UTC).

 

[DanM]

Vehicle is off the pad and currently the second stage is burning, looks like everything is going well.

---------- Post added at 11:10 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:06 PM ----------

Now in a 202 x 177 km orbit

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Well...no one cared launch success?