Iridium Next Flight 6 (x5), GRACE-FO 1, GRACE-FO 2 - Falcon 9 (B1043) - Vandenberg SLC-4E - 22.05.18

Автор tnt22, 01.04.2018 22:36:17

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tnt22

ЦитироватьChris G - NSF‏ @ChrisG_NSF 2 ч. назад

Per here (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=35275.msg1805635#msg1805635 ...) it looks like #Iridium6 / #GraceFO ride-share is slipping to NET 10 May from 26 April. That places it after #Insight's launch from Vandenberg 5 days earlier. #SpaceX @NASASpaceflight

tnt22

#1
ЦитироватьChris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight 22 мин. назад

Iridium notes the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch with the Iridium-6/GRACE-FO rideshare mission has been targeted for launch from SLC-4E at Vandenberg for May 19, 2018 at approximately 1:03 PM PDT (20:03 UTC).

@thejackbeyer Iridium NEXT-5 photo for NSF:
http://investor.iridium.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=1063127
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Apr 9, 2018

Iridium Announces Target Launch Date for the Iridium-6/GRACE-FO Mission

Unique "Rideshare" Mission will Deploy Two Sets of Satellites in Two Separate Orbits

MCLEAN, Va., April 09, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:IRDM) announced today that the Iridium-6/GRACE-FO rideshare mission, the sixth Iridium® NEXT launch overall, has been targeted for launch by SpaceX from Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) in California for May 19, 2018 at approximately 1:03 PM PDT (20:03 UTC). An exact instantaneous launch window time will be available closer to launch. The second of four Iridium launches planned for 2018, this mission will deliver five Iridium NEXT satellites to orbit, alongside the twin satellites for the NASA/German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ) Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On (GRACE-FO) mission. Collaboratively chosen by all parties and considering range availability, this launch date maintains scheduled completion of the Iridium NEXT manifest in 2018.
Спойлер
This unique "rideshare" launch, will first deploy the twin GRACE-FO spacecraft, after which the Falcon 9 second stage will continue onward to the deployment orbit for the five Iridium NEXT satellites. Upon completion, the Iridium-6/GRACE-FO mission will increase the total number of Iridium NEXT satellites in space to 55, leaving just two launches, of 10 satellites each, remaining. Iridium NEXT satellites are scheduled to begin shipping to the launch site this week while the twin GRACE-FO spacecraft are already onsite at the VAFB Harris Corporation facility, and have been stacked, attached to their dispenser and are preparing for transfer to the SpaceX launch complex.

For this mission, all five Iridium NEXT satellites will be delivered to orbital plane six. The Iridium network is comprised of six polar orbiting planes, each containing 11 operational crosslinked satellites, for a total of 66 satellites in the active constellation. The 2018 Iridium NEXT launch series will bring a total of 35 new satellites to space, completing the constellation of 66 operational satellites and 9 in-orbit spares. In total, 81 new satellites are being built, with the six remaining satellites serving as ground spares.

Iridium NEXT is the company's $3 billion, next-generation, mobile, global satellite network scheduled for completion in 2018. Iridium NEXT will replace the company's existing global constellation in one of the largest technology upgrades ever completed in space. It represents the evolution of critical communications infrastructure that governments and organizations worldwide rely on to drive business, enable connectivity, empower disaster relief efforts and more.
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tnt22

ЦитироватьMatt Desch‏ @IridiumBoss 27 мин. назад

Launch date for Iridium-6/GRACE-FO mission now set: Saturday, May 19th at approximately 1:03 pm PDT (20:03 UTC). May 20th backup. Five more Iridium NEXT satellites will start shipping this week to VAFB; the 2 GRACE-FO sats are already at the base. #RidesharingMakesSense!


tnt22

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/04/spacexs-may-manifest-takes-shape-block-5-debut/
Цитировать...
Iridium NEXT-6/GRACE-FO will see seven satellites launched into a polar orbit from SLC-4E at Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA.

The mission, the first rideshare between Iridium Communications and NASA, will feature five Iridium NEXT satellites and the twin GRACE-FO (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-on) satellites launched on a flight-proven Falcon 9.

The mission will use core B1043.2a booster previously used to launch the much-discussed Zuma mission from Cape Canaveral, FL, in January.
...
At four-months 20 days between Zuma and Iridium NEXT-6/GRACE-FO, this will be the fastest Falcon 9 first stage turnaround between flights to date.

The mission is on track to launch NET 19 May 2018 at 13:04:24 PDT (20:04:24 UTC) with Static Fire preceding launch by about five days, or roughly 14 May.

B1043.2 is a Block 4 Falcon 9 and is expected to be expended into the Pacific Ocean after carrying out post-separation atmospheric control tests for SpaceX.
...

tnt22

https://www.iridium.com/blog/2018/04/25/all-satellites-sixth-iridium-next-launch-processing/
ЦитироватьAll Satellites for Sixth Iridium® NEXT Launch are in Pre-Launch Processing at Vandenberg Air Force Base
by Frank Johnson | Apr 25, 2018 | Iridium NEXT



Iridium Communications Inc. announced today that all five Iridium NEXT satellites for its sixth launch are in processing at SpaceX's west coast launch site, Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. This launch will increase the total number of Iridium NEXT satellites in space to 55 and is the third Iridium launch to use a "flight-proven" SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Currently targeted for May 19, 2018 at 1:04:24 pm PDT (20:04:24 UTC), these Iridium NEXT satellites will be sharing this Falcon 9 with the twin spacecraft for the NASA/German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ) Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On (GRACE-FO) mission.
Спойлер
Upon arrival at the launch site, each Iridium NEXT satellite began a number of pre-launch processing steps. These include mating them to the dispenser, fueling, stacking the Iridium NEXT and GRACE-FO dispensers on the Falcon 9 payload adapter, and encapsulation within the fairing. Once launched, the rocket will first deploy the twin GRACE-FO spacecraft, after which the second stage will continue onward and deploy the five Iridium NEXT satellites.

The operational Iridium constellation is comprised of 66 satellites divided into six polar orbiting planes with 11 satellites in each plane. All five satellites for this launch will be deployed to orbital plane six. To date, five Iridium NEXT launches carrying 10 satellites each have been completed, and over half of the Iridium NEXT constellation has been activated. Iridium has contracted with SpaceX to deliver 75 Iridium NEXT satellites to orbit, 66 operational and nine on-orbit spares, through a series of eight launches.

Iridium NEXT is the company's $3 billion next-generation mobile, global satellite network scheduled for completion in 2018. Iridium NEXT will replace the Company's existing global constellation in one of the largest technology upgrades ever completed in space. It represents the evolution of critical communications infrastructure that governments and organizations worldwide rely upon to drive business, enable connectivity, empower disaster relief efforts and more. Iridium NEXT will enable and introduce new services like the Company's next-generation communications platform, Iridium CertusSM, and the AireonSM space-based ADS-B aircraft surveillance and flight tracking network.

For more information about Iridium NEXT, please visit www.IridiumNEXT.com.
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tnt22

ЦитироватьIridium Corporate‏Подлинная учетная запись @IridiumComm 9 мин. назад

Launch Update: All #IridiumNEXT satellites for the #Iridium6/#GRACEFO rideshare are onsite at VAFB and in pre-launch processing. The instantaneous launch window is targeting May 19th at 1:04:24 PM PDT (20:04:24 UTC).

Pirat5


tnt22

ЦитироватьNASA JPL‏Подлинная учетная запись @NASAJPL 2 ч. назад

Discover how #GRACEFO will track the evolution of Earth's water cycle after the twin spacecraft launch on May 19. Tag questions #askNASA Watch @NASA news LIVE on Monday, April 30, 10 a.m. PT (1 p.m. ET, 1700 UTC):

http://youtube.com/NASAJPL/live 

https://video.twimg.com/tweet_video/DcCJQdlU8AA-hHy.mp4 (0:04)


tnt22

https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/schedule.html
ЦитироватьUpcoming Events (All Times Eastern)

    [/li]
  • 1 p.m., Monday, April 30 - Pre-Launch Briefing on NASA's Next Earth-Observing Mission: The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On (GRACE-FO) Mission (all channels)
17:00 UTC 30.04.2018

https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html