Launch News SpaceX's Historic First Reuse of a Falcon 9 First Stage with SES-10 - March 27, 2017

[C3PO]

Extreme recycling. :thumbup:

 

[Kyle]

Static fire slipped 24-hours.

 

[Nicholas Kang]

Alright, another launch delay.

45th Space Wing updated their header. Falcon 9 SES-10 launch now NET 30th.

Static fire window opens now, at 10 a.m. EDT, 2 p.m. UTC. and ends at 4 p.m. ET, 8 p.m. UTC.

[ame="https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/846354515762823174"]Chris G - NSF 📎 on Twitter: ".@murphypak Today's static fire for #Falcon9 #SpaceX #SES10 mission opens at 10am and closes at 4pm"[/ame]

F9 already vertical on LC-39A this morning.

03/27/2017 15:45 Falcon 9 in place for static fire test
The Falcon 9 was moved into place at launch pad 39A this morning in readiness for a static test fire later today. The rocket reached its upright position at approximately 3:10 am EDT (0710 GMT).

(Screenshot from Spaceflightnow.com)

See the static fire live here

Updates:

KSC Security making sure the area is clear.

Spaceflightnow.com:

03/27/2017 22:00
A helicopter is sweeping the area around launch pad 39A as SpaceX prepares to fuel the Falcon 9 rocket for a hold-down static fire test today.

[ame="https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews/status/846361149532725248"]William Harwood on Twitter: "F9/SES10: Standing by for hot-fire test at LC-39A to set the stage for launch later this week of the first ‘used’ Falcon 9 first stage https://t.co/5r3kxeJTGj"[/ame]

[ame="https://twitter.com/flatoday_jdean/status/846360980904923136"]James Dean on Twitter: "Weather 70% "go" for SpaceX's new target launch time of 6pm ET Thurs., March 30, for SES-10 on flight proven F9. Window to 8:30pm."[/ame]

So, launch window for 30th March launch would be from 6p.m. to 8.30 p.m.

No sign of venting yet.

Alright, we now have full weather forecast:

Launch day probability of violating launch weather constraints: 30%
Primary concern(s): Cumulus Cloud Rule, Thick Cloud Layer Rule

Delay day probability of violating launch weather constraints: 40%
Primary concern(s): Cumulus Cloud Rule, Thick Cloud Layer Rule, Liftoff Winds

Source

And here is the FAA license.

Note this is not SES-10 specific, it's for F9 v1.2 GTO communication satellite launches from KSC.

Alright, I need to hit the sack now. It is already 11:15 p.m. here. Still have to go to school tomorrow. For those who are watching the static fire broadcast, feel free to continue providing updates here. I wish SpaceX Good Luck in their static fire test today. :thumbup:

 

[Kyle]

Fueling is underway ahead of B-1021's firing.

 

[Kyle]

Good static fire, aiming for a launch tomorrow at 6:27pm EDT (22:27 UTC). Weather 80% go. Timeline is very tight, so possibly a delay to Friday, where weather is 40% go.

 

[Thunder Chicken]

Is there a current photo of this Falcon 9 on the pad? I am wondering how much cosmetic refurbishment was done (i.e. was it repainted to pristine whiteness, or does it look "burned-in"?) I'm sort of hoping they are willing to let a serviceable but worn look be OK.

 

[Nicholas Kang]

Alright, more updates to go.

1. Static fire videos and pictures.

2. Official SpaceX Webcasts and Press Kit.

Hosted:

Technical:

Press Kit is available here.

Banner image from SpaceX.com of SES-10's mission flight booster along with two others available for future flights.

SES-10 MISSION​

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket will deliver SES-10, a commercial communications satellite for SES, to a Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO). SES is a world-leading satellite operator, providing reliable and secure satellite communications solutions across the globe.

SpaceX is targeting launch of SES-10 from historic Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The two and a half hour launch window opens on Thursday, March 30, at 6:27 p.m. EDT, or 10:27 p.m. UTC. The satellite will deploy approximately 32 minutes after launch. A backup launch window opens on Saturday, April 1, at 6:27 p.m. EDT, or 10:27 p.m. UTC.

Therefore, backup launch window opens on Saturday, April 1, at 6:27 p.m. EDT, or 10:27 p.m. UTC, and not Friday.

3. SES-10 Mission Briefing

Updates:

And F9 went vertical this morning!

Spaceflightnow.com:

03/30/2017 16:16
The Falcon 9 rocket is again standing vertical at pad 39A after being raised upright around 4 a.m. EDT (0800 GMT) this morning.

[ame="https://twitter.com/Erdayastronaut/status/847390749213704193"]Everyday Astronaut on Twitter: "@SpaceX 's previously flown Falcon9 awaits its historic flight for #SES10. Good morning Falcon 🚀 @elonmusk #spacex https://t.co/2Krgi45Vco"[/ame]

[ame="https://twitter.com/SES_Satellites/status/847412606197309443"]SES on Twitter: "Good morning Cape Canaveral! #SES10 @SpaceX https://t.co/hZA4e6JikX"[/ame]

[ame="https://twitter.com/SES_Satellites/status/847434266447196161"]SES on Twitter: "“We’re at the edge of quite significant bit of history here. This is big step for SES, for @SpaceX and for the industry.� M. Halliwell, SES https://t.co/4RbqAYcyaZ"[/ame]

Dirty core on the pad :lol:

Spaceflightnow.com:
03/30/2017 22:08 SES 10 launch preps on track

Sources say satellite checkouts are going ahead of schedule this morning after the Falcon 9 rocket went vertical at pad 39A. Airbus Defense and Space, SES 10's manufacturer, expected to need about 13 hours to test and prep the spacecaft once the rocket was vertical at the pad.

Liftoff remains scheduled for 6:27 p.m. EDT (2227 GMT), the opening of this evening's launch window.

And we have a high resolution picture of core 21.

[ame="https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/847451738307088386"]Spaceflight Now on Twitter: "Checkouts of the SES 10 telecom satellite running ahead of schedule. Falcon 9 launch set for 6:27pm EDT (2227 GMT). https://t.co/lQGWudgCox https://t.co/zbMe06uLlf"[/ame]

Alright, time for some sleep. Interestingly, SES-10's launch window starts at 6:27 p.m. which coincides with the time when my bus come to fetch me to school at 6:27 a.m. morning (my time here, GMT+8 hrs). School authorities do not allow live rocket launch broadcast in school. So, I wish SpaceX's first reused first stage launch successful.

Godspeed, Good Luck and Go SpaceX! :thumbup:

 

[Donamy]

How many of the engines have been re-used ?

 

[Urwumpe]

How many of the engines have been re-used ?

Who knows? Maybe none of them. But I am pretty sure, it should be possible to use them for a few burns more. :lol:

 

[Kyle]

Exciting update, apparently fairing recovery will also be attempted for the first time on this mission!

---------- Post added at 09:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:09 PM ----------

L-1 hour, fueling underway!

 

[RisingFury]

Webcast is hot, few minutes to launch. Tune in if you can

 

[Hlynkacg]

Liftoff!

---------- Post added at 14:33 ---------- Previous post was at 14:29 ----------

Stage and Fairing separation, every things looking good.

 

[Pipcard]

For the first time, an orbital launch vehicle's first stage is recovered twice!

 

[llarian]

Excellent broadcast, excellent flight and excellent landing. Kudos to Spacex!

 

[Hlynkacg]

Fly that puppy again!

---------- Post added at 14:42 ---------- Previous post was at 14:41 ----------

Second stage has reached orbit, waiting on transfer window to GTO. Congrats to SpaceX on a successful launch and a historic milestone.

 

[kuddel]

Congrats to SpaceX on this one!

Does anyone have any solid information whether all the 1st stage engines were from the "original" (or not)?
Or maybe some were from another start, but still "re-flown"?
Or were some engines new?
Official source only, no guessing please :thumbup:

 

[Scrooge McDuck]

It was nice to watch the live stream! CG SpaceX on this milestone!

Does anyone have any solid information whether all the 1st stage engines were from the "original" (or not)?

I was wondering exactly the same. Anyone any info on this? What parts are reused and what parts are new?

 

[Frilock]

For the first time, an orbital launch vehicle's first stage is recovered twice!

Erm....

and

:leaving:

 

[Kyle]

I honestly didn't think they had that great of a chance of stage recovery. Really incredible to see it sitting on OCISLY like that, for the second time!

 

[Thunder Chicken]