Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-08-2017 10:27 AM
SpaceX is preparing to return its Falcon 9 to flight with the launch of Iridium-1, the first 10 satellites for Iridium's upgraded voice and data relay network, from Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
The FAA accepted the investigation report on the Amos-6 mishap and has closed the investigation. SpaceX applied for a license to launch the Iridium Next satellites from Vandenberg Air Force Base. The FAA has granted a license for that purpose.
SpaceX traced the problem to a composite overwrapped pressure vessel used to store helium in the liquid oxygen tank of the Falcon 9's second stage.
The corrective actions address all credible causes and focus on changes which avoid the conditions that led to these credible causes. In the short term, this entails changing the COPV configuration to allow warmer temperature helium to be loaded, as well as returning helium loading operations to a prior flight proven configuration based on operations used in over 700 successful COPV loads.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-08-2017 10:30 AM
SpaceX conducted a static fire test on Jan. 5. From Elon Musk on Twitter:
Hold-down firing of SpaceX Falcon 9 at Vandenberg Air Force completed. All systems are go for launch next week.
From SpaceX on Twitter:
Launch moving [from Jan. 9] due to high winds and rains at Vandenberg. Other range conflicts this week results in next available launch date being Jan 14.
Per Iridium on Twitter:
First launch of Iridium NEXT now planned for Jan. 14 at 9:54:34 a.m. PST [1754 GMT].
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-13-2017 02:00 PM
From Iridium CEO Matt Desch on Twitter:
Beautiful picture of our ride to space tomorrow on the launch pad this morning!
From SpaceX on Twitter:
Tracking ground wind for tomorrow's launch attempt of 10 Iridium NEXT satellites. Weather overall 60% favorable.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-14-2017 12:01 PM
SpaceX's Falcon 9 lifted off with ten Iridium NEXT satellites at 9:54 a.m. PST [1754 GMT] from Space Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
The Falcon 9 first stage successfully landed on SpaceX's autonomous spaceport drone ship "Just Read The Instructions." The second stage reached its parking orbit as planned.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-14-2017 01:29 PM
From SpaceX on Twitter:
Successful deployment of 10 Iridium NEXT satellites has been confirmed.
GACspaceguy Member
Posts: 2476 From: Guyton, GA Registered: Jan 2006
posted 01-14-2017 03:36 PM
Fantastic!!!
dom Member
Posts: 855 From: Registered: Aug 2001
posted 01-15-2017 12:28 PM
Spectacular. Real 'James Bond' stuff! All Musk needs now is a hollowed out volcano.
Michael Davis Member
Posts: 528 From: Houston, Texas Registered: Aug 2002
posted 01-15-2017 05:02 PM
This was just spectacular to watch from start to finish. Can't wait for what I see as the next milestone for SpaceX - relaunching one of the recovered Falcon 9s.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-18-2017 02:03 PM
SpaceX photos
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 42988 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 01-23-2017 12:40 AM
Port of Los Angeles video
The first SpaceX rocket booster to dock at the Port of Los Angeles arrived on Tuesday, January 17, 2017.
posted 01-08-2017 10:27 AM
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