TheSkySearchers

From Space.com:
"CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The private spaceflight company SpaceX will launch 60 new Starlink satellites to join its ever-growing broadband internet megaconstellation Sunday (March 15) and you can watch it live online.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Starlink mission from Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Liftoff is scheduled for no earlier than 9:22 a.m. EST (1322 GMT)."

https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-5 ... bcast.html

It's too bad the COVID-19 can't make this stop ...

smp

More fun with satellites. I wish there was some way to halt this phenomenon but so far Elon isn't doing anything.

Here's another article from Ars Technica:
"For this launch, everything on the rocket is recycled but the second stage"

https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/03 ... ifth-time/

smp

Launch abort. The 60 satellites will stay on earth for the time being.

When will the re-scheduled launch take place?

Hello Stephen and Tim. Thanks for the updates on the SpaceX launch. Nevertheless, if this current pace continues globally, we will soon have more satellites in our skies than stars.

helicon wrote: ↑Sun Mar 15, 2020 3:37 pm When will the re-scheduled launch take place?

From Space.com today:
"The abort, coupled with an instantaneous launch window, meant that SpaceX engineers would not have time to try again today. The company is working with the U.S. Air Force and the Eastern Range, which oversee launches from Florida's Space Coast, to determine the next available launch date. "

smp

Sorry folks, I should have posted the links I found.

Space.com:

https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-5 ... abort.html

ArsTechnica.com:

https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/03 ... ifth-time/

SpaceFlightNow.com:

https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/03/13/f ... us-center/

smp

Ars Technica says maybe Monday:
"SpaceX has a backup opportunity for Monday morning, likely around 9am ET (13:00 UTC), but it is not clear whether they will utilize it. This will be determined after engineers analyze the cause of Sunday morning's abort, and determine the best path forward toward a safe launch. Weather is similarly favorable for Monday."

smp

Per SpaceX twitter launch is scheduled for Wednesday, March 18 at 8:16 AM EDT

Thanks for the update! When it does launch it will be a bit more mud in our eye as amateurs.

This morning's update (Ars Technica):
"7:15am ET Wednesday update: Weather is good. After an engine issue on Sunday, the Falcon 9 rocket is good. And the 60 Starlink satellites in the booster's payload fairing are good. All, therefore, remains set for a second attempt to launch the sixth Starlink mission at 8:16am ET Wednesday (12:16 UTC)."

smp

Successful launch and deployment. They failed to recover the first stage. That makes two failed recoveries in a row.

I watched it online. I love watching launches - I just do not love what these particular SpaceX launches are accomplishing.

I also noted the failed recovery of the first stage. As you say, two in a row now. Perhaps something to do with 5 uses on this one? I do not recall how many uses the previous lost one had.

smp

I also just watched a video of the launch - successful, except for the loss of the first stage as you mention.

Here's an article from SpacveFlightNow.com:
"Falcon 9 rocket overcomes engine failure to deploy Starlink satellites"

https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/03/18/f ... atellites/

Perhaps we are now seeing empirical data on the number of times a booster may be able to be reused?

smp

As you would expect, NASA is interested in the engine failure. It would be a bummer if this issue causes another delay for the Demo-2 launch, but astronaut safety is top priority.

https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-rocket ... ch-impact/

Here's another article from SpaceNews.com:
"NASA to participate in SpaceX engine anomaly investigation"

https://spacenews.com/nasa-to-participa ... stigation/

Not much in the article, but I'm glad that NASA is not turning a blind eye. If this is empirical evidence regarding how many re-uses a booster can perform before the failure risk climbs, then let's note it and set the rules appropriately.

smp

I know the Crew Dragons have to fly on new boosters. I believe some Dragon 1's were launched on reused boosters though. I'm not sure if NASA put a limit on the number of times a booster could be reused for Dragon 1 missions.

helicon wrote: ↑Sat Mar 14, 2020 3:26 pm More fun with satellites. I wish there was some way to halt this phenomenon but so far Elon isn't doing anything.

It would be good if the world could get together and deploy one single constellation instead of a dozen different companies and nations putting their own system up there. Then I woke up and it was all a dream!

Regards

Graeme