Launch News SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 with DSCOVR, February 11, 2015

[Kyle]

The history behind DSCOVR (Deep Space Climate Observatory) is a highly interesting one. DSCOVR, formally known as Triana and unofficially as GoreSat, was first proposed in 1998 by Vice President Al Gore. DSCOVR was originally scheduled to be launched by the Space Shuttle, apparently on STS-107, before being moved off the shuttle manifest and, subsequently, put into storage. Finally in 2008, DSCOVR was moved back onto the manifest on a SpaceX Falcon 9. DSCOVR's launch on Sunday will mark the first ever Falcon 9 launch to the L1 Lagrangian point, and the first stage will be attempting, for a second time, a barge landing in the ocean.

Launch date: February 11th, 2015

Launch window: 23:03 UTC (6:03 pm EST)

Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral AFS, Florida

Payload: Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR)

 

[RisingFury]

and the first stage will be attempting, for a second time, a barge landing in the ocean.

Get your hard hats on, ladies and gents! :lol:

 

[Kyle]

Well, at the very least it should explode for a different reason.

 

[dman]

BANZAI !!!!!!!

http://desencuentrosdeltercertipo.blogspot.com/2012/08/otra-accion-kamikaze.html

 

[Krikkit]

 

[ADSWNJ]

Get the cigar ready, Elon.

 

[PhantomCruiser]

As long as it's done with style, it's cool.

 

[C3PO]

As long as it's done with style, it's cool.

Just attempting it is pretty cool in my book.

 

[GLS]

Looking at the picture Krikkit posted of the satellite and the nose fairing, I wonder if the satellite is going to fit inside, or are they going to need a bigger nose. :rofl:
BTW: was Al invited for the launch?

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Ah, I have been pondering for weeks to write about "The Curious Adventures of A Fly-Back Rocket and GoreSat"...unfortunately running out of time to start this thread before Kyle finally did my job. :ninja:

Anyone have a better thread title for this curious "historic event"?

 

[ISProgram]

And less than 24 hours till launch, we have a mission patch!

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Weather is looking good for take off today:

Weather forecast for Titusville, Florida on February 8, 2015 (6 p.m.)

A mix of clouds and sun in the morning followed by cloudy skies during the afternoon. High 23C. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 km/h.

Time|Temps|Dew Point|Relative Humidity|Precip|Snow|Cloud cover|Pressure|Wind|Weather
6 PM|18°C|12°C|69%|0%|0%|51%|1017 hPa|10 km/h SE|

Partly Cloudy

As always, good luck! Apparently even Al Gore is in Florida for the launch...

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Under 20 minutes to launch.

 

[ADSWNJ]

ugh - 5 mins to launch, avionics issue being worked right down to the wire...

 

[Unstung]

There's been a hold... like usual.

ScrubX encountered telemetry issues and the next launch attempt is tomorrow.

 

[ADSWNJ]

T-2.26 ... HOLD HOLD HOLD.

That scrubs it for today.

Update:
USAF range officer called the hold, with an issue on their radar (range track issue).

But ... 99% certain that SpaceX would have called it off 30 secs later at the T-2.00 count with an unresolved avionics issue.
Weather 60% unfavorable tomorrow (time for next instantaneous launch window at Mon 18:07:49 EST). Windows for launch available on Mon, Tue, Wed, then stand down till Feb 20th due to scheduling.

 

[MikeB]

Can someone explain why the launch window for DSCOVR is only 1 second? It's not like the Lagrange points are moving around (relative to Earth).

 

[tl8]

Can someone explain why the launch window for DSCOVR is only 1 second? It's not like the Lagrange points are moving around (relative to Earth).

I think they are doing a direct assent to the transfer orbit. The payload is tiny compared to the F9 and with only 600m/s dV, they don't have the dV budget for a parking orbit.

 

[Frilock]

whoops

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Slipping to Tuesday as tomorrow's weather forecast is really pessimistic. :shifty: