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  SpaceX Falcon 9 Eutelsat/ABS (landing failure)

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Author Topic:   SpaceX Falcon 9 Eutelsat/ABS (landing failure)
Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 06-14-2016 03:14 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
SpaceX Falcon 9 with Eutelsat/ABS satellites

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket will deliver two commercial communications satellite, EUTELSAT 117 West and ABS-2A, to geostationary transfer orbits.

EUTELSAT 117 West B will be the second new-generation electric satellite in Eutelsat Americas' fleet and will strengthen the video capacities and offer key services to Latin America clients in the field of telecommunications and government services.

ABS-2A will be the second of the pair of the innovative all-electric propulsion satellites. ABS-2A will serve Africa, MENA, Russia, South Asia and South East Asia regions with video.

SpaceX is targeting launch from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on June 15. The approximately 45-minute launch window opens at 10:29 a.m. EDT (1429 GMT). EUTELSAT 117 West B will be deployed approximately 30 minutes after liftoff, and ABS-2A will be deployed 5 minutes later.

Following stage separation, the first stage of Falcon 9 will attempt an experimental landing on the "Of Course I Still Love You" droneship. As with other missions going to geostationary orbits, the first-stage will be subject to extreme velocities and re-entry heating, making a successful landing difficult.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 06-15-2016 09:51 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
SpaceX's Falcon 9 lifted off at 10:29 a.m. EDT (1429 GMT) on Wednesday (June 15). From SpaceX on Twitter:
Second stage and satellites now in nominal coast phase.

(The video feed cut off before it was clear if the first stage successfully landed on the droneship.)

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 06-15-2016 09:57 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The experimental landing was unsuccessful ("Unfortunately, we lost the vehicle.")
Eutelsat satellite has been deployed into a nominal orbit.

ABS satellite has been deployed into a nominal orbit.

Elon Musk on Twitter:
Ascent phase and satellites look good, but booster rocket had a RUD [rapid unscheduled disassembly] on droneship.

Looks like thrust was low on one of three landing engines. High g landings very sensitive to all engines operating at max.

Upgrades underway to enable rocket to compensate for a thrust shortfall on one of the three landing engines. Probably get there end of year.

Landing video will be posted when we gain access to cameras on the droneship later today. Maybe hardest impact to date. Droneship still okay.

Robert Pearlman
Editor

Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 06-16-2016 08:29 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Elon Musk on Twitter:
Turns out the landing was not as fast we thought, but still hard enough to destroy the primary airframe and accordion the engines.

Looks like early liquid oxygen depletion caused engine shutdown just above the deck.

As mentioned at the beginning of the year, I'm expecting about 70% success rate on landings for the year. 2016 is the year of experimentation.

All times are CT (US)

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