SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 CASSIOPE Launch Thread

[Mr Shifty]

Preparations for the first launch of the Falcon 9 v1.1 are proceeding. The hot fire test (basically lighting off the rocket on the pad while keeping it clamped down) was completed yesterday at full thrust after a scrub Wednesday and 2 aborts yesterday. All that remains is to evaluate the data from the hot fire and conduct the launch readiness review. Current NET (No Earlier Than) date for the launch is Sunday, September 15.

UPDATE 9/13/2013 1430 PDT: No launch Sunday. Range issues (i.e. VAFB using the range for missile tests) might mean it'll be one or two weeks until launch.

UPDATE 9/15/2013 1430 PDT: Per Elon Musk's twitter feed: "Will do another static fire of rocket to make sure all is good & AF needs to test ICBMs, so probable launch Sept 29/30"

UPDATE 9/29/2013 0700 PDT (1200 GMT): Launch this morning in two hours. Fueling has begun. NSF just posted a very nice longform article about the launch:

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/09/spacex-debut-falcon-9-v1-1-cassiope-launch/

Watch live here:

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

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/006/status.html

Info about the launch preparations here:

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/09/falcon-9-v1-1-hot-fire-ahead-cassiope-mission/

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/006/130912staticfire/#.UjMgkMakoeo

Information about the payloads is here:

http://www.spaceflight101.com/falcon-9-v11-cassiope-launch-updates.html (scroll down to the payloads section)

http://spaceref.ca/missions-and-programs/canadian-space-agency/after-years-in-storage-cassiope-satellite-set-for-launch.html

http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/2013/09/cusat-launch-now-delayed-until-sept-15

http://www.usu.edu/ust/index.cfm?article=52602

A YouTube video showing the launch planning for one of the payloads (DANDE) which might look very familiar starting at about 1:04:

YouTube video showing CUSat Launch:

Edited September 29, 2013 by Mr Shifty

[Kryten]

If it does hit the target of the 15th, that gives us a launch a day for the next four days; EPSILON, Falcon, Antares, then Atlas.

[Mr Shifty]

If it does hit the target of the 15th, that gives us a launch a day for the next four days; EPSILON, Falcon, Antares, then Atlas.

No launches scheduled Monday. (Cygnus 1 is scheduled for Tuesday). It seems probable that the Falcon launch will slip; Musk tweeted that there were "anomalies" during the hot fire, though it seems that his role lately has been to downplay expectations for the launch.

UPDATE: It seems as though both the CSA and SpaceX's PR department are saying now that launch will be Sunday at 9am PDT. (Source: http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=41551)

What's really awesome is that 2 of those upcoming launches are brand-new launch vehicles never before sent to space. And Cygnus is set to fly Orbital's first CRS mission to the ISS. A very exciting week in space flight.

Edited September 13, 2013 by Mr Shifty

[cypher_00]

Are they going to launch R2-D2? (DANTE)

[bigdad84]

This is the first Falcon launch that is going to try a propulsive landing over water.... Correct?

[Mr Shifty]

This is the first Falcon launch that is going to try a propulsive landing over water.... Correct?

This will be the one. The latest update is that there will be no launch on Sunday and that range issue pre-clude anytime in the few days after that. It might be a week or two before launch.

[Britpoint]

I can't wait until this flight. I've been keeping a really close eye on the Grasshopper and the notion of the first steps of a reusable stage being tested out on a real flight excites me to no end. I hope the problems they have delaying the launch aren't too serious.

[Kryten]

Apparently there was a liquid oxygen leak prior to the hotfire. Not in the rocket itself, but that's the same plumbing they need for fuelling for the real thing.

[Omicron314]

That's too bad about the repeated delays. I'll be watching this thread, though. I don't want to miss this!

[Kerbal01]

I want to watch this launch!

[CpPolar268]

So, when are they going to launch it again?

[Mr Shifty]

So, when are they going to launch it again?

Looks like the end of the month. I updated the OP.

[VirtualCLD]

I heard they did another static fire test on the 20th. Does anyone know what the report was from that test? Are they still planning for Sept 29th with the 30th as a backup?

[Mr Shifty]

Time to resurrect this thread. Launch window opens this morning at 9AM PDT (1600 GMT). I updated the OP with livestream locations and a great new article at NSF.

Edited September 29, 2013 by Mr Shifty

[M.Wolfy]

YES! now I can watch a falcon 9 launch in 2 hours and consume all my 3G and get taxed! YESSS!

[nettcod]

T- 20 minutes

[Kryten]

If anyone's looking for a stream;

http://new.livestream.com/spacex/F9-6

[Francesco]

Go for launch!

Will there be a camera view for first stage re-entry?

[nothke]

9 mins to launch =)

that thing is so tall and thin xD Musk really likes stacking 2m parts doesn't he xD

[Kryten]

1 minute to launch.

[VirtualCLD]

Stage 1 separation! Hope the propulsive return over water goes well!

[hugix]

Awaiting vehicle downlink.

AARRGGHHH

[Kryten]

Apparently it's set up so that when we don't have video feed from the vehicle, we also don't have audio feed from the ground...

Just mentioned first stage re-ignition successful.

[Mr Shifty]

Uhh.... webcast wrapped up, but no report on whether spacecraft sep was successful?

The pre-launch and launch up to T+1:00 coverage was pretty good, but the post launch was pretty awful. Multiple LOS with no mission audio for the webcast; no report on the status of the 1st stage; no external view of the ascending rocket; no orbital telemetry; webcast ended prior to report on spacecraft status. WTF SpaceX?

Edited September 29, 2013 by Mr Shifty

[Kryten]

It hasn't happened yet.