SpaceX Orbcom OG2 Try number 3, INCL Landing attempt

[B787_300]

From reddit

[h=3]Launch Coverage here![/h]All times given in local [EDT | T-]:

[T-10h45m]: SpaceX have confirmed a webcast will be available for the launch, and it will start at 9:05AM EDT. Also, the launch window has been moved forward by a minute to 9:22AM EDT.

[8AM | T-22h]: The latest weather report from the 48th weather squadron has been released; weather is still 70% favorable for launch in approximately 22 hours from now.

[T-24h]: T-24 hours now. While we wait, be sure to checkout the launch of Orbital Sciences' 2nd resupply mission to the ISS in approximately 2 hours!

July 12: Weather continues to be holding at 30% chance of a launch day violation, 20% chance of a weather violation in the next 48 hours. Primary concerns are the Cumulus Cloud Rule, Anvil Cloud Rule & Lightning Rule. Next update to be issued 13 July 8AM EDT. Source.

July 11: 30% chance of a launch day weather violation, 20% chance of a weather violation in the next 48 hours. Source: 45th Weather Squadron. Next update at 12 July 8AM EDT.

July 11: Static Fire is complete. Looks good. Here's an image of the Static Fire courtesy Orbcomm.

July 10: Static Fire scheduled for Friday. "SpaceX felt another SF was needed to ensure readiness"

July 9: Launch is scheduled for July 14 9:21AM EDT.

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Mission

It is that time again (finally, after many delays) ... cross your fingers that the weather cooperates. While this flight is, perhaps significantly, less complex than the last mission (which flew a Dragon to the ISS along with the launch of a number of other satellites). This flight features a relatively light load for the Falcon 9: only six OG2 satellites weighing in at a touch over 1000kg (out of the official F9 LEO maximum of 13,150kg) are scheduled to make the journey up to LEO; the first of 17 in the Orbcomm OG2 constellation. Ability to deliver satellites to their targeted orbit makes up the definitions of primary mission success, anything from here on is just icing on the cake...

But of course, the light payload leaves more room for fuel, and gives us fuel for what we are most excited about here: the landing attempt. The excess fuel will be used for a landing like

, except this will be over water. A landing attempt was successfully executed in the last flight as well (the rocket came to a halt over the ocean's surface before taking a swim). Unfortunately, due to inclement weather, the footage returned from that landing was shaky at best; though efforts to repair the returned footage have been quite

. This attempt will be happening significantly closer to shore AND with far superior recovery ships in the area. Though the stage certainly won't be in flying shape, chances are looking pretty good that we will see humanity's first-ever recovered flyback stage! SpaceX will this time be targeting a particular area instead of just planning to get the stage down to the ocean.

[h=4]Links[/h]

• Watch the launch live HERE at SpaceX's livestream and hopefully on YouTube as the launch date nears. Webcast stream is scheduled to start TBD.
  
• Official presskit!
  
• Orbcomm's own launch coverage Props to them for putting in the time and effort to put this together, and being a great SpaceX supporter over the years. They've gone above and beyond what we might normally expect from a satellite company. They also have detailed information on the satellites themselves towards the bottom.
  
• Live countdown at spacexstats.com
  
• Here is a list of acronyms you may see regular /r/SpaceX commenters use or hear on the launch control net during countdown.
  
• Hazard area map (Slightly outdated but still very close)
  
• Much better map with NTM data courtesy /u/darga89
  
• Beautiful retroburn simulation courtesy /u/TheVehicleDestroyer
  
• Swell forecast
  

[Scotius]

Go SpaceX Hopefully next time we will see the stage touching down gently on landing pad

[R0cketC0der]

Go SpaceX Hopefully next time we will see the stage touching down gently on landing pad

I don't think so, at least not quite yet. The last flight was seven miles of target, and while that was better than expected due to the weather conditions, they want to be able to repeatedly get one mile precision before try to actually land instead of splash down.

[Streetwind]

Let's hope this one flies. SpaceX was already behind in their launch schedule before the delays on this mission even started (and it was delayed what, 6-7 times?)

They need to make this work, and free up the pad for the next rocket... not counting this one, there's another three Falcon 9's to be launched in two months: one commercial launch in early August, another one in late August, and CRS-4 on September 12th. And so far, every Falcon launched in 2014 was delayed, often quite a bit. The Thaicom one from January was actually a December 2013 mission. CRS-3 was meant for early February but launched in late April. And today on July 14th they're launching one that was meant for May 10th. In other words, both of the last two launches each had more delay on their own than the time window SpaceX now has to launch three Falcons after this one, which is still on the ground at the time of this writing as well.

Come on guys, get it right! It's not rocket science! ... ... ... Oh wait

(And then there's a second Orbcom launch in September, then CRS-5 on October 3rd...)

Edited July 14, 2014 by Streetwind

[Jenteb07]

It's delayed by around 2 hours

[Jenteb07]

10 minutes to go now, weather conditions seem ok for launch

[hugix]

2 minutes to go

[Mr Shifty]

Go Falcon Go! I just wish they'd put telemetry on-screen, like they do for ULA launches.

[Karriz]

Great launch, hopefully this time we'll get a clear video of the first stage splashdown.

[Mr Shifty]

Too bad they cut off the webcast so early. It'd be cool to get some shots of Earth below without the engine firing. Great launch though. Congrats to SpaceX for another successful orbit. Hope to hear more about that first stage.

[TMS]

Yep, the launch itself was very picturesque.

Looked almost surrealist.

[Mr Shifty]

Here are a few more nice shots:

Javascript is disabled. View full album

[Mr Shifty]

And here's full video of the launch (in 1080p):

Edited July 15, 2014 by Mr Shifty

[PakledHostage]

And here's full video of the launch (in 1080p)

Thanks. I missed seeing it live but I'll watch the replay.

[Dkmdlb]

Any word on the landing attempt?

[Mr Shifty]

Any word on the landing attempt?

Per tweet by Elon Musk:

Rocket booster reentry, landing burn & leg deploy were good, but lost hull integrity right after splashdown (aka kaboom)

EDIT: Update

Detailed review of rocket telemetry needed to tell if due to initial splashdown or subsequent tip over and body slam

Edited July 14, 2014 by Mr Shifty

[Streetwind]

Kaboom again? :s Bummer!

Hope that it was accurate enough that they can go for a land target soon, because it looks like the sea just isn't panning out for recovering the stage.

But hey, at least the launchpad is free again! Three week launch cadence from now till October 3rd, here we come? Wonder how many of those are going to have flyback tests. We know the CRS missions are suitable (of which there are two in these five launches). And there's little reason not to try, since the stage would otherwise be lost anyway.

Edited July 14, 2014 by Streetwind

[R0cketC0der]

Kaboom again? :s Bummer!

Hope that it was accurate enough that they can go for a land target soon, because it looks like the sea just isn't panning out for recovering the stage.

But hey, at least the launchpad is free again! Three week launch cadence from now till October 3rd, here we come? Wonder how many of those are going to have flyback tests. We know the CRS missions are suitable (of which there are two in these five launches). And there's little reason not to try, since the stage would otherwise be lost anyway.

AFAIK they will do tests on ALL the flights until they are finished with the tests.

[NovaSilisko]

No legs on the next several launches I believe. Maybe there will be boostback tests anyway?

[magnemoe]

No legs on the next several launches I believe. Maybe there will be boostback tests anyway?

Probably not, if not they only use the air brakes/ fins and no legs, flyback reduces payload so it can not be used in all launches.

And the stage who tip over and take damage after landing on water, is just like in KSP.

And yes they would need to find a landing spot on land for future tests.

[R0cketC0der]

Probably not, if not they only use the air brakes/ fins and no legs, flyback reduces payload so it can not be used in all launches.

And the stage who tip over and take damage after landing on water, is just like in KSP.

And yes they would need to find a landing spot on land for future tests.

I'm pretty sure their current stated payload capacity does already have a 30% cut so they can do these tests.

Edit: source found here: http://www.spacenews.com/article/launch-report/40006spacex-says-requirements-not-markup-make-government-missions-more-costly

Edited July 15, 2014 by R0cketC0der

[Sky_walker]

No legs on the next several launches I believe. Maybe there will be boostback tests anyway?

Well, looks like we'll see more kabooms on landing.

[Comrade Jenkens]

I'm really hoping that they are able to do a land landing soon. Landing a large rocket not designed to land on water on water is never going to have amazing results. If the April test had been on land I reckon the booster would have touched down fine rather than being destroyed by the waves.

[Albert VDS]

^But it's not about retrieving an intact booster in the first place, although that would be a bonus.

It's about the accuracy and landing speed.

If they have a series of successful landings then they might try it on land, even if they keep loosing the booster.

[magnemoe]

I'm pretty sure their current stated payload capacity does already have a 30% cut so they can do these tests.

Edit: source found here: http://www.spacenews.com/article/launch-report/40006spacex-says-requirements-not-markup-make-government-missions-more-costly

They are doing soft landings so its pretty much the same as the real recovery mission.

^But it's not about retrieving an intact booster in the first place, although that would be a bonus.

It's about the accuracy and landing speed.

If they have a series of successful landings then they might try it on land, even if they keep loosing the booster.

Yes, however the previous test telemetry told the rocket went into hover mode over water however rocket tipping over and the huge waves broke it up.

An landing on ground would be easier to monitor