Launch News SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.2 with Thaicom-8, May 26, 2016

[Kyle]

Per NSF:

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/05/latest-recovered-falcon-9-stage-39a-hif/

Meanwhile, yet another first stage may join the recovered cores, via the upcoming Thaicom-8 mission that is set to launch from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral.

This mission is currently targeting a launch on May 26, with a launch window of 17:40 through to 19:19 Eastern. The first stage is already inside the SLC-40 HIF, with the Static Fire test currently scheduled for May 22.

This stage will also be targetted a landing on the ASDS.

 

[Frilock]

If they don't delay this will most likely be the last launch I can watch in person.

 

[Thunder Chicken]

Press kit out:

http://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/spacex_thaicom_8_press_kit.pdf

Static fire went off Tuesday without problem.

---------- Post added 05-26-16 at 05:12 PM ---------- Previous post was 05-25-16 at 07:54 PM ----------

Technical Webcast

Hosted Webcast

---------- Post added at 05:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:12 PM ----------

Is anybody seeing anything? We're a few minutes before the window and all I see is a countdown timer.

 

[DaveS]

T0 has been delayed due to unknown reasons:

@SpaceX:

Launch team finalizing review of vehicle data and check outs. Will move T-0 into the 2 hour window

---------- Post added at 11:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:40 PM ----------

There's some rumors going around that the targeted T0 is at the very end of today's launch window, 7:40 pm EDT (2340 UTC).

 

[Frilock]

Live stream counting down currently 1:32:00

 

[DaveS]

New T0 set for 7:36 pm EDT (2336 UTC).

 

[Thunder Chicken]

New countdown to 1937 ET.

 

[Frilock]

stream moved to 22:59:00 looks like they scrubbed

 

[DaveS]

SCRUB! The launch has been scrubbed due to unknown technical fault. 24hr turnaround.

---------- Post added at 12:57 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:43 AM ----------

Reason for delay and subsequent scrub from @ElonMusk:

There was a tiny glitch in the motion of an upper stage engine actuator. Probably not a flight risk, but still worth investigating.

 

[francisdrake]

Webcast started:
http://www.spacex.com/webcast

 

[GLS]

T0, liftoff!!!

---------- Post added at 10:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:39 PM ----------

1º stage shutdown, 2º stage ignition.

---------- Post added at 10:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:42 PM ----------

Tons of tiny cr*p showering the satellite at PLF separation....

---------- Post added at 10:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:44 PM ----------

Live video from the 1º stage.... might see the landing live

---------- Post added at 10:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:46 PM ----------

Another 2º hand rocket available....

---------- Post added at 10:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:48 PM ----------

2º stage in orbit!

 

[Donamy]

Bulls-eye

 

[RisingFury]

X marks the spot yet again, with SpaceX landing the first stage on "Of course I still love you".

 

[Pipcard]

Nice first stage re-entry cam as well!

 

[Notebook]

Lovely to see that first stage landing, and good presentation by their team. Keeping the ambient down, I could hear what they were talking about this time!

N.

 

[kuddel]

:tiphat: Hats off! Quite nice performance (4 in a row) for a 14 year old*

[*] ...company

 

[Frilock]

It was too cloudy, I couldn't see anything

 

[Hlynkacg]

First stage safe on deck and 2nd tracking straight down the line.

Congrats to SpaceX on another successful launch, that hanger in Canaveral will be getting a bit more crowded it seems.

 

[ADSWNJ]

First stage landed right on the edge of the performance margins (per Elon), using all the crumple zone on at least one leg. Potential threat of topple before they can safely secure it to the deck. But hells yeah ... another perfect mission.

BTW - look at that APA: 91,000 km

 

[Thunder Chicken]

On board camera showing burns and landing of 1st stage :thumbup: