Wednesday, July 5, 2017

"Third time's a charm" - Third attempt to launch Intelsat 35e

After standing down from a launch attempt on the 4th of July, SpaceX decided to take that day to do a full re-evaluation of the rocket and the launch pad systems to ensure everything is working how it should. SpaceX will try to launch Intelsat 35e again today at 7:37pm EDT from historic Launch Complex 39a. Live broadcasts of the launch will start about 15 minutes before launch.

Monday, July 3, 2017

Successful splashdown of CRS-11 and a second attempt to launch Intelsat 35e

Photo of CRS-10 parachuting down back in March // SpaceX
 This morning around 5:14am EDT CRS-11, SpaceX's first reused Dragon spacecraft, splashed down in the Pacific Ocean after departing from the ISS later last night. Splashdown was good and it seems Dragon is in good health, becoming the first re-flight of a commercial spacecraft.
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Intelsat 35e fairing // SpaceX
The second launch attempt of Intelsat 35e will also take place today at 7:37pm EDT after yesterday's attempt was scrubbed due to a guidence control issue. Intelsat 35e will be launched into a Geostationary Transfer Orbit and no first stage recovery will occur. Given the weight of the payload, SpaceX will have to use the full power of the Falcon 9 without any recovery gear onboard. Their future Block V version of the Falcon 9 will be able to carry heavy payloads like this into orbit and be able to attempt a landing on their droneships. 


SpaceX: First reused Dragon leaves ISS

SpaceX CRS-11 Dragon leaves the Station
On Saturday, July 1st, the hatch was closed after loading SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft with nearly 1,400lbs of experiments that will be carried back to Earth. The next day, the spacecraft was unbearthed from the harmony module around 1:30pm EDT and was released from the ISS at 2:41pm EDT. After 3 consecutive burns, it moved away from the ISS and started its deorbit toward Earth where it will land in the Pacific Ocean just west of California at 8:12am EDT. After the recovery team picks up Dragon onto their recovery vessel, they'll take it back into port and will be brought back to their HQ in Hawthorne, CA. Upon arrival, the onboard samples will be unloaded immediately for analysis.

Sunday, July 2, 2017

SCRUB: 24-hour recycle of the launch of Intelsat 35e

In the final seconds of the countdown, the flight computer of the Falcon 9 aborted the launch at T-10 seconds. The SpaceX team is assessing the data from the countdown and will hopefully find the issue that caused the abort and are planning on a 24-hour recycle. The next launch window opens tomorrow, July 3rd at 7:37pm EDT from Historic Launch Complex 39a.
Edit: Guidance Issue aborted the launch, The Falcon 9 and Satellite are both healthy. 

New droneship under construction for SpaceX rocket recovery

"Of Course I Still Love You" positioned in the Atlantic Photo // SpaceX To this date, SpaceX currently has 2 droneships to lan...