Launch News SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 with SES-8, December 3, 2013

[Kyle]

One down, another one up for SpaceX! This will be the 2nd commercial flight for the Falcon 9, 2nd flight of the Falcon 9 v1.1, first flight from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station for this variant of the Falcon 9.

Launch date: December 3, 2013

Launch window: 5:41-7:07 pm EST (22:41-00:07 UTC)

Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.

Payload: SES-8

SES is launching SES-8 into the orbital position of 95 degrees East to respond to the strong demand for additional direct to home (DTH) capacity in Asia. SES-8, currently under construction with Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB), is a medium-sized communications satellite focused on South Asia (India) and Indo-China (Thailand, Vietnam, Laos) to support existing DTH customers with back-up and growth transponder capacity. SES-8 will be co-positioned with NSS-6 at the orbital slot of 95 degrees East, which is a cornerstone of the SES strategy in Asia and also supports key customers in the Middle East, Afghanistan, Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Korea.

Image courtesy of SpaceX

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

There's a launch window from Spaceflight Now! It's November 1st at 6:28-7:32 pm EDT (22:28-23:32 UTC).

 

[IronRain]

There's a launch window from Spaceflight Now! It's November 1st at 6:28-7:32 pm EDT (22:28-23:32 UTC).

I will definitely stay awake for this one!

 

[Kyle]

There's a launch window from Spaceflight Now! It's November 1st at 6:28-7:32 pm EDT (22:28-23:32 UTC).

Right before sunset! Maybe I'll even be able to attend this one if things go right.

 

[Kyle]

SES-8 has been shipped and enroute to Florida to support the November 1st attempt.

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Apparently the launch has slipped to NET Nov. 12 - not unexpected really with all those second stage issues and a very tight turn-around time since the last launch. The current launch schedule actually seems to be more normal, but I digress.....

The next launch after that, another GTO bound launch with Thailand's Thaicom-6 satellite, is now NET December 12.

 

[Kyle]

Not a SpaceX mission if there isn't a week slip every week.

Thread updated to reflect new NET.

 

[Kyle]

From Padrat (@LH2Padrat).

Padrat ‏@LH2Padrat 18 Oct
Here's some progress for ya. T/E vertical for the first time pic.twitter.com/dbceisJpIk

It'll be interesting to see if this flight slips a few more days, I might get to see my very first Falcon 9 launch in person if I get lucky.*

*actually, I did get to see COTS-2+ nearly take off, but it aborted right at ignition. Huge drive for nothing!

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

The launch is now NET November 22. Does it fit with your schedule Kyle? :hmm:

 

[Donamy]

If it doesn't, they should postpone it so he can see it. He did go for nothing for COS2 after all.

 

[Kyle]

The launch is now NET November 22. Does it fit with your schedule Kyle? :hmm:

Actually yes, but sadly that'll probably push Thaicom 6 into 2014 at the rate of delays SES-8 is facing (I'm presuming this is still over the engine anomaly that happened). So my gut feeling is that SES-8 won't launch until December.

 

[Kyle]

Slight delay to November 25th, static firing scheduled for Thursday. Delay is due to MAVEN and touchups to SLC-40.

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Slight delay to November 25th, static firing scheduled for Thursday. Delay is due to MAVEN and touchups to SLC-40.

The rocket static test fire is now scheduled after the MAVEN launch - maybe about 5 days before launch.

And SpaceX is certainly trying to keep a fast launching pace after this - they are pressing on to try to launch the next Falcon 9 with the Thaicom 6 comsat on December 20! 25 days pad turn-around isn't unusual - except for such a new rocket as the F9-1.1! :blink:

 

[Kyle]

If Thaicom goes December 20th, I'll definitely be able to be in attendance. *fingers crossed*

 

[MattBaker]

A Soyuz with Progress M-21M and four cubesats from the Kibo module would also be scheduled for the 25th!

 

[Kyle]

Getting close when you've got a patch!

---------- Post added 11-20-13 at 04:00 AM ---------- Previous post was 11-19-13 at 08:28 PM ----------

Static firing was supposed to happen today, so I'm guessing as we haven't heard any news regarding that, it didn't take place.

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Getting close when you've got a patch!

---------- Post added 11-20-13 at 04:00 AM ---------- Previous post was 11-19-13 at 08:28 PM ----------

Static firing was supposed to happen today, so I'm guessing as we haven't heard any news regarding that, it didn't take place.

Apparently the static firing will happen later today. The rocket has already gone vertical at the launch pad.

 

[Kyle]

Excellent news, if all goes well then we should be in good for the 25th

---------- Post added at 02:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:55 PM ----------

Live broadcast of today's firing!
http://kscwmserv1.ksc.nasa.gov/MAVEN-1

I'm probably going to miss it, so keep a close eye on this stream!

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Excellent news, if all goes well then we should be in good for the 25th

---------- Post added at 02:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:55 PM ----------

Live broadcast of today's firing!
http://kscwmserv1.ksc.nasa.gov/MAVEN-1

I'm probably going to miss it, so keep a close eye on this stream!

Not unless you aren't out of the classes by 5:30, because today's firing will match the planned launch time of 5:37 pm. :tiphat:

 

[Kyle]

That's interesting, I don't recall them ever releasing the time for their firings before.

---------- Post added at 10:30 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:53 PM ----------

Firing scrubbed. May be related to weather or (if our luck doesn't hold) a technical problem.

---------- Post added 11-21-13 at 05:07 PM ---------- Previous post was 11-20-13 at 10:30 PM ----------

Firing rescheduled for this afternoon.

---------- Post added at 07:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:07 PM ----------

Looks like there may have been some drama today before the firing, there was substantial venting seen before the feed was cut.