SpaceX

[CJSF]

I was birding at Jetty Park in Cape Canaveral this morning - this is where one can see Space X's various fleet members going in and out for launch and landing support. Although the next scheduled F9 launch isn't until Dec 5, Ms. Tree was heading out for a morning cruise!

ms-tree_01.jpg

ms-tree_02.jpg

ms-tree_03.jpg

ms-tree_04.jpg

CJSF

[docmordrid]

Cool. Wonder if they had a helo & fairing half out there for catching practice?

[bknight]

So what are the road closings for this week and when is the most likely day for the launch?

[docmordrid]

SN-08

Static fire: Tuesday, December 1

Launch dates

Primary date: Thursday December 3, 2020
Window: 0900 - 1800 Eastern

Secondary date: Friday December 4, 2020
Window: 0900 - 1800 Eastern

[docmordrid]

And it's changed again - no static fire, flight on December 2.

Thomas Burghardt @TGMetsFan98 (NASASpaceFlight)
The Starship SN8 test flight is officially on for Wednesday. No more static fire tests. Let's fly.

https://twitter.com/TGMetsFan98/stat...06773274587136

[bknight]

And it's changed again - no static fire, flight on December 2.

Thomas Burghardt @TGMetsFan98 (NASASpaceFlight)
The Starship SN8 test flight is officially on for Wednesday. No more static fire tests. Let's fly.

https://twitter.com/TGMetsFan98/stat...06773274587136

I was curious as to why another static fire was scheduled. All I had read was the last was good with only the small pad damage, which they need to plan better abetment procedures.

[docmordrid]

FAA has issued flight restrictions

Altitude: from "surface up to unlimited"

Duration: December 4 at 0900 Eastern (1400 UT) to December 6 at 1800 Eastern (2300 UT)

https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_0_8423.html

[Nicolas]

So basically, if it ends in a crater it would be an FAA violation?

[bknight]

So basically, if it ends in a crater it would be an FAA violation?

Lets hope not.

[docmordrid]

Craters are somewhat expected during early test flights, this just tells air traffic to avoid the area.

[Trebuchet]

Below the surface is no longer FAA jurisdiction. But the Coast Guard might also need to do some permitting, as well as Mexican authorities.

[Nicolas]

This thread reminded me: our company uses flying drones underground. Jurisdiction nightmare.

[profloater]

This thread reminded me: our company uses flying drones underground. Jurisdiction nightmare.

Wow, tricky to recover one that fails? Or is it not tunnels?

[Swift]

Below the surface is no longer FAA jurisdiction. But the Coast Guard might also need to do some permitting, as well as Mexican authorities.

Or the US Geological Survey, depending on where it "lands".

[docmordrid]

Cargo Dragon CRS-21

Dragon 2, Crew and Cargo, has been given much larger unpressurized cargo Trunk.

From the 2011 DragonLab datasheet, Dragon 1 had a Standard Trunk of 14 cu/meters and an Extended Trunk option of 34 cu/meters (which never flew.)

https://web.archive.org/web/20110104...-datasheet.pdf

SpaceX's current Dragon 2 page lists a Trunk volume of 37 cu/meters, so quite a stretch. It's gone from a pickup to a deuce-and-a-half

https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/dragon/

SpaceX ✓ @SpaceX
Static fire test complete — targeting December 5 for Falcon 9 launch of Dragon’s 21st resupply mission to the @space_station; team is keeping an eye on weather conditions as the forecast is currently 40% favorable for liftoff
||
First launch of the upgraded cargo version of Dragon, which can carry 50% more science payloads than the previous version
||
The Falcon 9 booster supporting this mission previously launched @NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to the @space_station, the ANASIS-II mission, and a Starlink mission https://t.co/qNVIaBjCCa

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1334502616374550529

[docmordrid]

SN-08

Michael Baylor @nextspaceflight
SpaceX is now targeting Monday for Starship SN8’s test flight from Boca Chica, Texas.

The temporary flight restriction for Friday's attempt has been pulled. A new TFR will have to be published for Monday, which is the next possibility per road closures.

https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/...41195084079104

[docmordrid]

SN-08

@nextspaceflight
The FAA website is now showing Temporary Flight Restrictions on Dec. 6, 7, and 8 for Starship SN8's 12.5-kilometer test flight.

No road closures for Sunday yet, but it looks like SpaceX may be trying to pursue that possibility. https://t.co/SRdwv1ADNR

https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/...54501619400705

[docmordrid]

SN-08

From the latest FAA NOTAM, they're now going for Sunday.

Date: December 6 (Sunday)
Window: 1300 - 1900 Eastern

Backup date 1: December 7 (Monday)
Window: 0900 - 1830 Eastern

Backup date 2: December 8 (Tuesday)
Window: 0900 - 1800 Eastern

[docmordrid]

CRS-21

Scrubbed: weather

Date: December 6, 2020
Time: 1117 Eastern (1617 UT)

https://youtu.be/4xJAGFR_N-c

[docmordrid]

CRS-21

Perfect, just.like.clockwork.

Separation showed the Cargo Dragon 2 two-fin config vs four fins for Crew Dragon, two being retained for their conformal solar tiles (no fins would reduce power by ~18%). The Trunk payload is the new Bishop airlock module for ISS.

CRS-21_Cargo Dragon 2 deploy_2020-12-06-1280.jpg

[bknight]

But that isn't the launch that most are anticipating.

[Trebuchet]

But that isn't the launch that most are anticipating.

Won't be happening today, apparently.

[docmordrid]

Weather. Sounds like the next attempt is Tuesday.

OTOH, Musk's jet has landed in Brownsville.

I'm suspecting NASA will monitor the mission with one of their WB-57's. There are three stationed at Ellington Field near Houston, and one was used to monitor early Falcon 9 landing tests.

[Garrison]

CRS-21

Perfect, just.like.clockwork.

Separation showed the Cargo Dragon 2 two-fin config vs four fins for Crew Dragon, two being retained for their conformal solar tiles (no fins would reduce power by ~18%). The Trunk payload is the new Bishop airlock module for ISS.

CRS-21_Cargo Dragon 2 deploy_2020-12-06-1280.jpg

And 24th flight this year, could any other rocket match that launch cadence even if the customers were available?

[docmordrid]

And 24th flight this year, could any other rocket match that launch cadence even if the customers were available?

Not likely for any launcher in its class. With their mass layoffs ULA's having trouble getting Atlas V up in siingle digits.

SpaceX's Commercial Resupply Services 2 contract was for 6 missions to ISS. NASA has now extended it to 9 missions, with further extensions possible. SpaceX's CRS 1 contract was extended from 12 to 20 missions.

[cjameshuff]

And 24th flight this year, could any other rocket match that launch cadence even if the customers were available?

Russia might once have been able to match that with the Proton. SpaceX has up to 54 Falcon 9 flights planned for next year though...

[docmordrid]

Michael Baylor @nextspaceflight
Dec 6, 2020
Update: New TFR added for Wednesday. SpaceX now has TFRs for attempts on Tuesday and Wednesday.
||
Michael Baylor @nextspaceflight
And add Thursday to that list.

https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/...64749301075968

[Roger E. Moore]

Double Dragons: SpaceX launches space station supplies

SpaceX launched a newer, bigger version of its Dragon supply ship to the International Space Station on Sunday, marking the first time the company has two capsules in orbit at the same time. The Dragon — packed with Christmas treats and presents — should reach the space station on Monday, joining the Dragon that delivered four astronauts last month.

https://apnews.com/article/spacex-co...e5b850fec38d8d

[Garrison]

And docked!

[docmordrid]

SpaceX's StarLink is a major winner in the FCC RDOF (rural internet subsidy) auction. Awards are by state, so states with limited access got more. Geostationary providers were pretty much shut out.

US total: $9.23 billion for 5,220,833 locations
SpaceX total: $885.5 million for 642,000 locations.

https://www.fcc.gov/document/auction...inning-bidders