Launch News SpaceX's second reuse mission with BulgariaSat-1 - June 17, 2017

[Kyle]

Another reuse mission coming up for SpaceX! This booster previously launched the Iridium NEXT-1 mission 5 months ago, B1029. This will also be Bulgaria's first geostationary satellite. Looking for a static fire NET tomorrow (6/15/17)

B1029 on the deck of "Just Read the Instructions" earlier this January.

 

[Kyle]

Looks like a good static fire!

 

[ADSWNJ]

I was thinking: wait, what ... they are doing a 3rd launch for the same booster? (i.e. second reuse)!

 

[DaveS]

I was thinking: wait, what ... they are doing a 3rd launch for the same booster? (i.e. second reuse)!

No, it's the second mission that will use a previously flown booster (IE, this booster has only one flight to its history).

 

[Donamy]

A third flight would be something.

 

[BrianJ]

Launch delayed until Monday 19th June, 18:10 - 20:10 UTC
(from spaceflightnow.com)

 

[Messierhunter]

No, it's the second mission that will use a previously flown booster (IE, this booster has only one flight to its history).

Will this be the first time a booster has launched from both Vandenberg and KSC?

 

[DaveS]

Will this be the first time a booster has launched from both Vandenberg and KSC?

Launched? Yes. Processed, no. I think that honor falls to ET-23 which was assigned to STS-62B/2V but after the Challenger disaster was reassigned to STS-27.

 

[Kyle]

Patch and press kit out!

http://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/bulgariasat1presskit.pdf

 

[Nicholas Kang]

Launch delayed to replace a fairing valve.

[ame="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/876536406230712320"]Elon Musk on Twitter: "Postponing launch to replace fairing pneumatic valve. It is dual redundant, but not worth taking a chance. https://t.co/vnfxmeer7h"[/ame]

[ame="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/876522258948169728"]SpaceX on Twitter: "Standing down on BulgariaSat-1 to replace a fairing valve, next launch opportunities are 6/23 and 6/24"[/ame]

[ame="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/876522478046068737"]SpaceX on Twitter: "Iridium targeted for 6/25—could be a weekend doubleheader"[/ame]

Wow. 2 SpaceX launches in 2-3 days time.

Launch webcast:

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8mLi-rRTh8"]BulgariaSat-1 Launch Webcast - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Thunder Chicken]

New launch date and time:

June 23, 2017 2:10 PM EDT (18:10 UTC)

 

[Thunder Chicken]

Looks like they are still tracking for a launch this afternoon.

 

[Kyle]

Fueling underway!

 

[RisingFury]

[ame="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/878313692986621953"]Elon Musk on Twitter: "Falcon 9 will experience its highest ever reentry force and heat in today's launch. Good chance rocket booster doesn't make it back."[/ame]

Oh-oh! Looks like they might be testing the limits of the stage.

---------- Post added at 19:20 ---------- Previous post was at 18:38 ----------

First stage landed, but it looks tilted to me. It may have come in hard. Video cut out.

 

[Thunder Chicken]

Oh yeah! :thumbup:

---------- Post added at 03:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:21 PM ----------

And now is the time at Sprockets where we dance to the SpaceX music:

:bananadance: :banana:

 

[RisingFury]

[ame="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/878334920141135872"]Elon Musk on Twitter: "Rocket is extra toasty and hit the deck hard (used almost all of the emergency crush core), but otherwise good"[/ame]

Hit the deck hard, which explains why it's tilted - one leg's crush core got used up more than others.

I also think it was out of position. Just as the feed cut out, I saw water disturbed on one side of the ship and not the other, suggesting the rocket was either off to the side or tilted towards it.

The water was disturbed on the left of the ship (from cam's POV). I think the rocket was to the left and tilted right, then in the last moment tilted left when it smacked down, crushing the left leg more than the others, so it's now tilted left on the deck.

Really looking forward to the video this time

 

[Thunder Chicken]

I also think it was out of position. Just as the feed cut out, I saw water disturbed on one side of the ship and not the other, suggesting the rocket was either off to the side or tilted towards it.

Yeah, I was looking at that disturbed water and thought it was going to be a RUD for sure. That must have been a busy landing.

 

[Donamy]

Looks like the engines may have been impacted.

 

[Kyle]

Looks like the engines may have been impacted.

Yea, but I doubt they'll refly this stage again anyways... don't think it's until the Block V F9 that they're really going to be gearing towards rapid reusability.

 

[RisingFury]

Looks like the engines may have been impacted.

I don't think so. Looks close, but the crush core is designed to take the blow so the engines don't take it. You'd have to crush them and the legs to go all the way.

Also... it's a rocket. They tend to go boom on impact