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

[kuddel]

...it seems like any serious Falcon 9 v1.1 addon developer might need to put some extra effort into modelling the LOX venting
Good N8 from GMT+1,
Kuddel

 

[Kyle]

I hope it scrubs on Tuesday.

SpaceX Presser,

Press: "We thought you'd launch on Tuesday!"
SpaceX PAO: "We didn't say which Tuesday."

 

[DaveS]

I hope it scrubs on Tuesday.

Next attempt is NET Thursday, so it isn't a 24hr recycle.

 

[Kyle]

Next attempt is NET Thursday, so it isn't a 24hr recycle.

I know that, I mean I hope it scrubs Tuesday after next. :thumbup:

 

[orb]

Florida Today: Weather 80% 'go' for SpaceX Thanksgiving Day launch

 

[N_Molson]

Another delay

Spaceflight Now :

Holiday travelers trump SpaceX launch plans

Concerned a rocket launch might add more congestion to the skies during Thanksgiving week, federal regulators blocked SpaceX's bid to launch a commercial broadcasting satellite Tuesday and Wednesday, two of the busiest travel days of the year.

The Federal Aviation Administration, which grants licenses for commercial space launches in the United States, would not approve SpaceX launch attempts Tuesday or Wednesday.

"We were unable to approve the use of the national airspace system for launches on Nov. 26 and Nov. 27 because they are the two heaviest air travel days of the year," said Hank Price, an FAA spokesperson.

A map of restricted airspace for the Falcon 9 launch released by the U.S. Air Force 45th Space Wing. The "warning areas" offshore are in international airspace and outside of the FAA's jurisdiction, while aircraft are prohibited from flying in the regions labeled "CFR 91.143" and in the "restricted areas" over land. See a larger image. Credit: U.S. Air Force

 

[Urwumpe]

Well, didn't they want to launch on Thursday anyway? So no delay, just the reason why they delay it again.

Will SpaceX break the Space Shuttle record of scrubbed launch attempts before finally lifting off?

http://www.cbsnews.com/network/news/space/launchland.pdf

 

[garyw]

Well, didn't they want to launch on Thursday anyway. So no delay, just the reason why they delay it again.

When they scrubbed until Thursday there is a good chance that this was already in discussion/going to happen anyway.

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Well, didn't they want to launch on Thursday anyway? So no delay, just the reason why they delay it again.

Will SpaceX break the Space Shuttle record of scrubbed launch attempts before finally lifting off?

http://www.cbsnews.com/network/news/space/launchland.pdf

Are you sure that it can break this record of six straight scrubs in seven days of a Delta II launch in 2006? :rofl:

(unlike that one at least this launch isn't for a one-second launch window....)

 

[Urwumpe]

Are you sure that it can break this record of six straight scrubs in seven days of a Delta II launch in 2006? :rofl:

(unlike that one at least this launch isn't for a one-second launch window....)

Well, they could have three attempts on Thursday and try again on Friday... :lol:

 

[PhantomCruiser]

Well this could be done one of two ways; right, or now.

 

[N_Molson]

Still, when a R-7 launch is scheduled, it almost always happens right on time... Proton launches are rarely delayed too (well, they recently have been because of this summer first stage catastrophic failure). How do they achieve that ?

 

[Kyle]

Still, when a R-7 launch is scheduled, it almost always happens right on time... Proton launches are rarely delayed too (well, they recently have been because of this summer first stage catastrophic failure). How do they achieve that ?

R-7 and Proton have flown combined hundreds of times over the course of several decades. Falcon 9 v1.1 has only flown once before and it's launching out of a newly upgraded SLC-40.

 

[Urwumpe]

Still, when a R-7 launch is scheduled, it almost always happens right on time... Proton launches are rarely delayed too (well, they recently have been because of this summer first stage catastrophic failure). How do they achieve that ?

Additionally to their long flight-experience and mature stone-age technology, R-7 and Proton also have ICBM roots: They always lift-off, but where they come down, is a problem of another department.

 

[Alfastar]

Well, didn't they want to launch on Thursday anyway? So no delay, just the reason why they delay it again.

Will SpaceX break the Space Shuttle record of scrubbed launch attempts before finally lifting off?

http://www.cbsnews.com/network/news/space/launchland.pdf

Well, I didn't know that busy air traffic is a reason that it moved to the 28'st. But even when it was a reason to do the launch tomorrow instead today, what is so important to point this as the cause of it? Is it even really the major cause that the Falcon 9 (1.1) going to launch at least Thursday (tomorrow).

I guess the really major cause is simple because SpaceX needs to have time to fix the glitches and problems. If everything works normal and good, then I see a good chance that we going to see a launch there Thursday, if the weather don't go become dramatic and cause a scrub to a other day.

But yea, SpaceX and reports, we all know its like (most) Chinese launches...

 

[N_Molson]

R-7 and Proton have flown combined hundreds of times over the course of several decades. Falcon 9 v1.1 has only flown once before and it's launching out of a newly upgraded SLC-40.

The Shuttle often experienced launch delays too. And that's rather thousands

Additionally to their long flight-experience and mature stone-age technology, R-7 and Proton also have ICBM roots: They always lift-off, but where they come down, is a problem of another department.

Yes, russian launches are probably more managed in the continuation of the military origin of these launchers. "Readiness" was taken into account in their design (even if, of course, liquid-fueled missles can't beat solids there). But even counting the recent Proton mishaps, if you sum up all the launches, you have an impressively low failure %.

 

[Kyle]

Launch window tomorrow opens at 5:39pm EST.

 

[ADSWNJ]

Launch window tomorrow opens at 5:39pm EST.

Just confirming ... "tomorrow" meant Thanksgiving Day @ 5:39pm EST (Kyle would have posted this last night, just into Thursday in UTC time. Go for launch in 5 hours or so...

 

[N_Molson]

They should scrub right now. The Chronicles of the Probe clearly tell us it is a bad day to launch :

Spaceflight Now
There has not been a Thanksgiving Day launch from Cape Canaveral since 1959, when an Atlas-Able launch vehicle lifted off with the Pioneer P-3 lunar probe. The mission ended in a launch failure.

Don't take the risk to make the angry.

 

[Kyle]

Alright, let's try this again! Prop loading should have been completed by now, all seems quiet.

---------- Post added at 08:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:11 PM ----------

Happy Spacegiving! Falcon 9 is targeted to launch the SES-8 telecommunications satellite from Cape Canaveral at 5:39pm ET. Turn the big screen here just after 5:15!

---------- Post added at 10:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:59 PM ----------

Webcast about to start.
http://www.spacex.com/webcast/