ChiefsPlanet - Science Space Exploration megathread

They're trying to catch the fairing at the moment, so that's fun at least.

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BfgHKDNAplx/" data-instgrm-version="8" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:49.9537037037037% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GP T6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAA AElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BfgHKDNAplx/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Going to try to catch the giant fairing (nosecone) of Falcon 9 as it falls back from space at about eight times the speed of sound. It has onboard thrusters and a guidance system to bring it through the atmosphere intact, then releases a parafoil and our ship, named Mr. Steven, with basically a giant catcher’s mitt welded on, tries to catch it.</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/elonmusk/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Elon Musk</a> (@elonmusk) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2018-02-22T14:07:42+00:00">Feb 22, 2018 at 6:07am PST</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async defer src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

stumppy

02-22-2018 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaFace (Post 13429886)

I seen that and had this thought 'Easy Peezy, what could go wrong'. ROFL

DaFace

02-22-2018 09:32 AM

Not quite there yet.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Missed by a few hundred meters, but fairing landed intact in water. Should be able catch it with slightly bigger chutes to slow down descent.</p>— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/966692641533390848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2018</a></blockquote>
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DaFace

02-22-2018 11:42 AM

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BfgRX-lgIt6/" data-instgrm-version="8" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:8px;"> <div style=" background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAABGdBTUEAALGPC/xhBQAAAAFzUkdCAK7OHOkAAAAMUExURczMzPf399fX1+bm5mzY9AMAAADiSURBVDjLvZXbEsMgCES5/P8/t9FuRVCRmU73JWlzosgSIIZURCjo/ad+EQJJB4Hv8BFt+IDpQoCx1wjOSBFhh2XssxEIYn3ulI/6MNReE07UIWJEv8UEOWDS88LY97kqyTliJKKtuYBbruAyVh5wOHiXmpi5we58Ek028czwyuQdLKPG1Bkb4NnM+VeAnfHqn1k4+GP T6uGQcvu2h2OVuIf/gWUFyy8OWEpdyZSa3aVCqpVoVvzZZ2VTnn2wU8qzVjDDetO90GSy9mVLqtgYSy231MxrY6I2gGqjrTY0L8fxCxfCBbhWrsYYAAAA AElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"></div></div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BfgRX-lgIt6/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Falcon fairing half as seen from our catcher’s mitt in boat form, Mr. Steven. No apparent damage from reentry and splashdown.</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/elonmusk/" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Elon Musk</a> (@elonmusk) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2018-02-22T15:36:59+00:00">Feb 22, 2018 at 7:36am PST</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async defer src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

savchief

02-22-2018 01:16 PM

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Don’t tell anyone, but the wifi password is “martians”</p>— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/966706924124188672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Donger

02-22-2018 01:38 PM

The MicroSat 2a and 2b are two identical satellites to test technologies for SpaceX's planned 4425-satellite Starlink constellation to provide broadband Internet access.

These satellites replace the MicroSat 1a and 1b microsatellites as the first test satellites for the SpaceX constellation. The first phase of testing will include two satellites: Microsat-2a and Microsat-2b. These two satellites are intended to be launched as early as 2017.

Both of these satellites will be deployed in one mission aboard a SpaceX Falcon-9 v1.2 launch vehicle into an orbital plane of 514 km circular at 97.44 degrees inclination. After insertion, the satellite orbits will be raised to the desired mission altitude of 1125 km circular. The designed lifetime of each satellite is six months. If this lifetime is exceeded, SpaceX plans to continue operation until such time as the primary mission goals can no longer be met, at which point the spacecraft will be deorbited. Both Microsat-2a and Microsat-2b are identical in their construction and operation.

The primary structure for the Microsat-2a and -2b test spacecraft will be a box design measuring 1.1 m × 0.7 m × 0.7 m and carries the spacecraft flight computer, power system components, attitude determination and control components, propulsion components, GPS receiver, and broadband, telemetry, and command receivers and transmitters. The primary bus is mounted on the payload truss system, which also carries communications panels, inter-satellite optical link transmitters and receivers, star trackers, and a telemetry antenna. There are two 2 m × 8 m solar panels. Each demonstration spacecraft has a total mass of approximately 400 kg. The attitude of each spacecraft is 3-axis stabilized, and is dynamically controlled over each orbit to maintain attitude position for two pointing modes of operation: broadband antenna (antennas to nadir for testing) and solar array (solar arrays facing sun for charging). Power is provided by solar panels designed to deliver sufficient power at the predicted end of spacecraft life to not impair any test objectives. The Thermal Control System ensures that components are kept within operational temperature ranges.

In addition to proving out the development of the satellite bus and related subsystems, the test program for the Microsat-2a and -2b spacecraft will also validate the design of a phased array broadband antenna communications platform (primary payload) that will be included in the final spacecraft design for the proposed NGSO constellation. SpaceX intends to test the Microsat-2a and -2b communication paths utilizing five broadband array test ground stations located in the western United States, as well as three transportable ground stations that will be deployed near the fixed ground station locations, all within the contiguous United States (“CONUS”). With the orbit profile provided, broadband array tests (Ku-band) will be conducted on average once every 0.9 days for less than 15 minutes. The primary Telemetry, Tracking, and Command (“TT&C”) ground station will be located near the primary test site in Redmond, WA to facilitate and control the broadband array testing. The testing will help to validate a number of design parameters.

DaFace

02-23-2018 11:36 PM

I wish I had a way to post this without a bump, but since I wasn't the last post otherwise, here's a bump to say that the thread shouldn't be bumped this weekend after all.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Standing down from this weekend's launch attempt to conduct additional testing on the fairing’s pressurization system. Once complete, and pending range availability, we will confirm a new targeted launch date.</p>— SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/967270883713679360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Molitoth

02-25-2018 01:01 AM

DaFace

02-27-2018 01:13 PM

There are rumors that Hispasat may launch in the next couple days, but nothing definitive. I'll bump the thread when we know.

Unrelated, the first Block 5 F9 is on the test stand. Looks like it's gonna be a more black and white rocket moving forward rather than just white. The legs will be black too. (The yellow cap on the top is just to hold it down during testing.)

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/wp-c.../02/Block5.jpg

This probably isn't 100% accurate, but here's a brief synopsis of what people THINK the upgrades are:

https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comm..._readying_for/

Quote:

Titanium grid fins for unlimited re-uses.
New landing legs with the ability to be retracted by the ground crew instead of having to be removed after landing. These legs will also be black instead of white.
Changes to the turbopumps to prevent turbine wheel microfractures. This was never considered a risk by SpaceX but NASA asked SpaceX to fix the issue and from all reports they have.
Replace paint with thermal protection barrier coating for the purposes of re-use.
Improved heat shielding around the engines to improve re-usability.
The octoweb (structure that holds the engines) will be bolted instead of welded, to reduce time for inspection/repair/refurbishment and to allow easy change from F9 to FH side booster.
The interstage will be black instead of white - likely unpainted carbon fiber (saves time and weight).
Upgraded fairing, Fairing 2.0, which is very slightly larger and has changes to allow for recovery and re-use. It is also easier to make and lighter than the previous fairings.
SpaceX's upgraded COPVs (dubbed COPV 2.0) will fly on Block V. This is an upgrade to further reduce the potential for an incident like Amos-6.
Another improvement in thrust for the Merlin 1D engines (roughly 10%).
The rocket will be man-rated, meaning it will be certified to carry crew. NASA has set the bar at 7 successful flights of the rocket for certification.
Upgrades to valves, seals, and many other parts to allow for many re-uses.
Improved flight control, angle-of-attack, and control authority which should allow for landings with less fuel (and therefore the ability to land after lofting heavier payloads).

To summarize, they essentially made many interior parts to a significantly higher durability level, replaced the grid fins and landing legs with versions that are more durable and easier to reuse, significantly improved heat shielding over the entire vehicle - but focusing specifically on the engines - to limit needs for refurbishment, and made the engines easier to inspect/repair/refurbish by bolting instead of welding the octoweb. Then, due to improved flight control authority and thrust, they ensured that they should be able to land more of their missions.

Molitoth

02-27-2018 01:28 PM

boner

DaFace

03-02-2018 12:19 PM

Next FH launch is officially slated for June.

https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/03/0...-heavy-launch/

In short, 25 different satellites all in one launch. Should be a hell of a deployment to watch if nothing else.

--

Also, Hispasat is officially on for Monday night.

aturnis

03-02-2018 05:03 PM

Oh wow. Are they launching someone else's satellites, or their own?

Or I suppose, most likely, both?

DaFace

03-02-2018 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aturnis (Post 13447253)

Oh wow. Are they launching someone else's satellites, or their own?

Or I suppose, most likely, both?

I don't THINK any of them will be more test sats from SpaceX themselves. Sounds like it's a couple of Air Force satellites plus probably a barrage of cubesats from universities and such.

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