SpaceX Updates (Thread 7)

[Draggendrop Veteran]

Just found this fan trailer...I thought it was a good job, what do you think...?

 

Space X The Movie (Fan Trailer)

video is 1:46 min.

 

Quote

Published on Apr 24, 2016
Haven't uploaded a video on here in a while. Have this piece of candy.

Footage courtesy of 60 minutes, NASA, and SpaceX.

 

[Draggendrop Veteran]

Falcon 9 rocket wins landmark U.S. Air Force launch contract

 

File photo of a Falcon 9 launch from Cape Canaveral. Credit: SpaceX

 

Quote

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket will launch a third-generation GPS navigation satellite for the U.S. military in 2018, the Air Force said Wednesday, breaking a monopoly held by United Launch Alliance since its formation nearly a decade ago.

 

The second satellite in the Air Force’s GPS 3 series, GPS 3-2, will launch aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral in May 2018.

 

The Air Force’s announcement came hours after SpaceX unveiled a plan to send the first commercial mission to Mars in 2018, when it hopes to send an uncrewed “Red Dragon” capsule to land there.

 

The GPS 3 launch contract’s $82.7 million value covers launch vehicle production, mission integration, and launch operations and spaceflight certification, the Air Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center said in a press release.

 

SpaceX was expected to win the contract after rival ULA declined to bid in the competition, citing a congressional restriction pushed by Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, to keep the Atlas 5 rocket’s Russian RD-180 engines from launching sensitive, costly U.S. military satellites. ULA also said it did not have proper accounting methods to comply with requirements levied the Air Force procurement notice issued Sept. 30.

Artist’s concept of a GPS 3 navigation satellite. Credit: U.S. Air Force

 

much more at the link...

http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/04/27/falcon-9-rocket-wins-landmark-u-s-air-force-launch-contract/

 

[DocM]

They just keep cutting notches in the handle....

[Draggendrop Veteran]

Got a few numbers from this article...

 

SpaceX wins $82 million contract for 2018 Falcon 9 launch of GPS 3 satellite

 

The April 27 award of an $82.7 million U.S. Air Force contract to launch a GPS-3 satellite gives SpaceX and its Falcon 9 rocket (shown above rolling out for the January launch of Jason-3) an important foothold in the national security launch market. Credit. SpaceX

 

Quote

WASHINGTON — SpaceX has won an $82.7 million contract from the U.S. Air Force to launch a next-generation GPS satellite aboard its Falcon 9 rocket in May 2018, the first of nine launch contracts the Defense Department plans to put out for bid over the next three years.

 

The award announced April 27 by the Pentagon was all but certain to go to SpaceX since the only other qualified bidder, United Launch Alliance, sat out the competition saying, in part,  it didn’t think it could win a cost shootout with SpaceX.

 

The contract also marks a significant first for Elon Musk’s rocket company, which DoD had previously only entrusted with small, experimental satellites. The deal is SpaceX’s first award under the Air Force’s Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Program, which since its inception has divided the launch of big-ticket national security satellites between the Atlas and Delta rockets.

 

“This GPS 3 Launch Services contract award achieves a balance between mission success, meeting operational needs, lowering launch costs, and reintroducing competition for National Security Space missions,” Lt. Gen. Samuel Greaves, commander of the Air Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center, said in an April 27 press release.

 

United Launch Alliance, which for the past decade has launched nearly every U.S. national security satellite, said in November it did not submit a bid for the 2018 GPS-3 launch in part because at the time it did not expect to have an Atlas 5 rocket available for the mission.  The company also cited problems certifying its accounting system and concerns about how the Air Force would weigh price versus reliability, schedule certainty, technical capability and past performance in choosing a launch provider.

 

The win gives SpaceX a foothold in a national security launch market it’s been eager to crack for years.

 

In 2012, SpaceX gave the Air Force an unsolicited bid to launch the GPS 3 satellites for $79.9 million per launch. The Air Force rejected the offer, but initiated a process for certifying SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket to carry military and intelligence payloads to orbit. The Air Force completed that process in May.

 

But in four years since SpaceX tossed that unsolicited $79.9 million offer over the Air Force’s fence, SpaceX’s price for the GPS 3 mission barely moved. The new contract is a firm-fixed price contract for $82.7 million to cover launch vehicle production, mission integration, and launch operations and spaceflight certification, the Pentagon’s announcement said.

 

The GPS 3 mission is the first of nine medium-class launches the Air Force intends to put out for bid by the end of 2018. Of the nine, six are for GPS 3 satellites, all of which are in SpaceX’s wheelhouse and will pose a competitive challenge for ULA if the Air Force continues to make price a key deciding factor.

 

A request for proposals for the next GPS 3 launch, this time for the third satellite in the constellation, known as GPS 3-3, is expected later this spring.

ULA has said it plans to bid on the next mission.

http://spacenews.com/spacex-wins-82-million-contract-for-2018-falcon-9-launch-of-gps-3-satellite/

 

ULA has some work to do....rough price before this, for low end Atlas 5

 

Quote

ULA says the lower-end model of the Atlas 5 rocket sells for about $164 million, and a heavy-duty model of the Delta 4 rocket goes for nearly $400 million. Bruno’s goal is to offer a barebones Vulcan rocket for as little as half of today’s price for a basic Atlas 5 rocket. ULA could add up to six strap-on boosters to send up heavier satellites at a higher price.

http://spaceflightnow.com/2015/04/22/ula-needs-commercial-business-to-close-vulcan-rocket-business-case/

 

[DocM]

 

[Jim K Global Moderator]

19 minutes ago, DocM said:

 

...now that is cool.

[Draggendrop Veteran]

First batch of Iridium Next satellites good to go for July SpaceX launch

 

The $3 billion Iridium Next constellation is scheduled for launch starting late July aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. It is to be the first of seven 10-satellite Iridium launches on the Falcon 9, all to be completed by late 2017. Each satellite is expected to weigh 860 kilograms at launch. Credit: Iridium

 

Quote

PARIS — Mobile satellite services provider Iridium Communications on April 28 said the contracting team for its second-generation Iridium Next constellation had put past delays behind it and would be ready for a first launch of 10 satellites in late July aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

 

McLean, Virginia-based Iridium said the launch date could slip by a few weeks, depending on SpaceX’s management of its busy manifest. But satellite prime contractor Thales Alenia Space of France and Italy, and Orbital ATK of Dulles, Virginia, which is handling the satellites’ assembly, integration and test, will have 10 satellites ready for the July rendezvous.

 

Iridium said that by midsummer, the Iridium Next builders should be producing five Iridium Next satellites per month to meet Iridium’s aggressive schedule.

 

Iridium’s second-generation, like its first, consists of 66 satellites in low Earth orbit. The company has confronted multiple delays for satellite software and hardware issues that have pushed the first launch to where it is now.

 

Iridium Chief Executive Matt Desch, in a conference call with investors, said the company has recently performed a fresh review of the status of the current constellation – well past its retirement date – and concluded that it remains in good enough health to operate for several years.

 

Nonetheless, the possibility of a satellite in-orbit failure, plus the enhanced mobile communications features of Iridium Next, have made Iridium anxious to put the second-generation fleet into service.

 

The current plan is a first launch of 10 satellites aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9, from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, in July. Six other Falcon 9 rockets, each carrying 10 satellites, are scheduled to launch by late 2017.

 

Desch said Iridium was seventh in line on SpaceX’s current manifest. But all six of the other launches occur from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. Desch said a delay on one of them would not necessarily mean a corresponding delay for Iridium.

 

Rounding out the 72-satellite constellation, including eight spares, a Russian-Ukrainian Dnepr rocket is scheduled to launch two Iridium Next satellites, but the launch date has not been confirmed. Russian-Ukrainian tensions have thrown the Dnepr schedule into question.

more at the link...

http://spacenews.com/iridium-says-2nd-generation-constellation-ready-to-launch-with-spacex-starting-in-july/

 

----------------------

 

 

Thaicom fact sheet...pdf

https://www.orbitalatk.com/space-systems/commercial-satellites/communications-satellites/docs/FS014_13_OA_3862%20Thaicom%208.pdf

 

[DocM]

Its gonna be a busy summer..  

[DocM]

Woo-Hoo!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

[DocM]

New F9/FH performance numbers from their capabilities page. The F9 page hasn't fully caught up.

 

NSF'ers are boggled, still exploring the ramifications. WOW!

 

Falcon 9/FH Fuller Thrust? 

 

So much for these designs being frozen, and SpaceX's traditional performance sandbagging is clearly out the window.

 

http://www.spacex.com/about/capabilities

 

F9 (expendable)

 

Cost: $62m
LEO: 28.8 tonnes
GTO: 8.3 tonnes
Mars: 4.02 tonnes

 

Falcon Heavy (center core expendable)

 

Cost: $90m
LEO: 54.4 tonnes
GTO: 22.2 tonnes
Mars: 13.6 tonnes
Pluto: 2.9 tonnes (New Horizons = 478 kg)

 

Specs

 

F9: $978.54/lb to LEO
FH: $752.0/lb to LEO
M1D+ thrust: 190,000 lb f
M1DVac+ thrust: 210,000 lbf
F9 liftoff thrust: 1.71 mlbf
FH liftoff thrust: 5.13 mlbf
Merlin 1D+ t/w now 199.5:1

 

These mean

 

F9 can toss more mass to LEO than Delta IV Heavy

 

A fully expendable FH should push almost 70 tonnes to LEO, barring structural limits. Not mentioned for SLS politics? 

[+John. Subscriber¹]

1 hour ago, DocM said:

New F9/FH performance numbers from their capabilities page. The F9 page hasn't fully caught up.

 

NSF'ers are boggled, still exploring the ramifications. WOW!

 

Falcon 9/FH Fuller Thrust? 

 

So much for these designs being frozen, and SpaceX's traditional performance sandbagging is clearly out the window.

 

http://www.spacex.com/about/capabilities

 

F9 (expendable)

 

Cost: $62m
LEO: 28.8 tonnes
GTO: 8.3 tonnes
Mars: 4.02 tonnes

 

Falcon Heavy (center core expendable)

 

Cost: $90m
LEO: 54.4 tonnes
GTO: 22.2 tonnes
Mars: 13.6 tonnes
Pluto: 2.9 tonnes (New Horizons = 478 kg)

 

Specs

 

F9: $978.54/lb to LEO
FH: $752.0/lb to LEO
M1D+ thrust: 190,000 lb f
M1DVac+ thrust: 210,000 lbf
F9 liftoff thrust: 1.71 mlbf
FH liftoff thrust: 5.13 mlbf
Merlin 1D+ t/w now 199.5:1

 

These mean

 

F9 can toss more mass to LEO than Delta IV Heavy

 

A fully expendable FH should push almost 70 tonnes to LEO, barring structural limits. Not mentioned for SLS politics? 

 ...woah...

[Draggendrop Veteran]

Landing all 3 on first flight will be one heck of a show. I am wondering if there is enough room at LZ-1 for all, or if there are other spots in proximity?

 

2:29 min.

 

[+John. Subscriber¹]

With what they've shown recently i'm sure that - given the right weather conditions - they could do exactly whats shown there

 

They can already land one pencil upright, so why not three!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Draggendrop Veteran]

True...I was assuming a delay from first landing to second (entry turbulence) then the third stage, but LZ-1, from what I remember, is not overly large. But, they have demonstrated accuracy...maybe use the edges of the pad?

[DocM]

Most likely, the boosters go to LZ-1 and the center core to OCISLY. 

 

They could build a second pad at LZ-1, but it'll have to wait for a wetlands bird nesting season that ends about the last of July. Zero permits issued during that.

Edited April 30, 2016 by DocM

[Draggendrop Veteran]

I thought this was interesting...no need for "shoes" upon landing on ASDS.

 

On the last landing, they welded "eyelet" assemblies to the deck...

 

 

They then put the jacks under the octaweb, under pin mount. The jacks are raised, pin installed, then the chains are attached to the deck and the pin ends. the chains use turnbuckles to tighten to a predetermined strain (strain gauges) and pull jack onto deck....minimal stress to the core.

 

 

This is pretty neat.....

[DocM]

Musk weighs in

 

Good Lord....eye watering numbers and M1D is one tough SOB. And for a lightweight keroLOX?!?

 

@elonmusk
Just posted latest max payload  of Falcon 9 and Heavy https://t.co/Z45Y5V7G91
>
@mattyteare Basically current, but higher throttle setting. Good performance of recent launches allows us to reduce 3 sigma reserve margin.
>
@elonmusk Max performance numbers are for expendable launches. Subtract 30% to 40% for reusable booster payload.

 

Luke ‏@lukealization  
@elonmusk Does FH expendable performance include crossfeed? Crossfeed is generally off the table correct? Rather difficult to implement...
>
@lukealization No physical changes to the engine. This thrust increase is based on delta qual tests. It is just tougher than we thought.
>
Elon Musk ‏@elonmusk  
@lukealization No cross feed. It would help performance, but is not needed for these numbers.

[DocM]

OK, there was a typo on the F9 LEO number that's been corrected. Still eye-watering. Add a Raptor upper stage and it zooms right up again.

 

F9 (expendable)

 

Cost: $62m
LEO: 22.8 tonnes
GTO: 8.3 tonnes
Mars: 4.02 tonnes

 

[flyingskippy]

Does this mean cross-feed is off the table for FH?  I understand if it is. Sometimes it is for the best to keep things simple. They could always throttle down on the core and keep the boosters at 100%. Similar to the D4H. 

[DocM]

There aren't any payloads that need crossfeed right now. As it is a bog standard FH can send the mass of a fully loaded & fueled Boeing 737-200, plus another 2 tonnes, to LEO.

 

If the need arises SpaceX will build a crossfeed FH, but a Raptor S2 may also make it unnecessary. Then again, FH + Raptor S2 + crossfeed would make for a crazy cool combo.

[flyingskippy]

So does this mean they are increasing the thrust even more for F9FT or are these the numbers they have been using for all the F9FT launches? 

[DocM]

Yup, more thrust. Delta qualification runs showed they can run M1D+ at a higher throttle setting, 190 klbf, and that it holds up under that stress. They also showed that the propellant margins were too large, so the excess props can go into the mission bucket.

 

End result: beasts. FH can now throw 2.9T to freaking Pluto fer chrissake. That's a small commsat, 6 New Horizons, or a pretty good lander/rover. F9 is now in Proton and Atlas V 5xx's turf.

[DocM]

 

And the hits keep on coming

@elonmusk
F9 thrust at liftoff will be raised to 1.71M lbf later this year. It is capable of 1.9M lbf in flight.
>
Falcon Heavy thrust will be 5.1M lbf at liftoff --  twice any rocket currently flying. It's a beast...

[BetaguyGZT]

 I called it months ago, did I not? I said "FH's config should be good for 59.9 MT to LEO (Reuse), and +19.8 MT (Non-Reuse @ 33% margin) depending on whether they're landing the cores or not". My math was factoring in the reuse margin of 33% -- turns out that's a completely reliable number that still gives good, solid performance characteristics and gets our payload on-target without issues.

 

I believe we were discussing how to get the Bigelow B-330 and BA-2100 uphill, if memory serves; and that the 2100 launching on a FH was workable if they were willing to send it up in a "minimal configuration" to save some weight (and to get the FH cores back)" ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BA_2100 and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B330 for anyone needing refresher information.

 

Turns out I was right on the money. Elon confirming your math does wonders for your self-esteem ...  

 

So now it turns out those numbers are actually conservative. Wow. Makes me pretty excited to see how far SpaceX can take those two platforms' performance.

[DocM]

The NSF'ers are still boggled, exploring the ramifications of these numbers and what adding a Raptor upper stage will mean. 

 

What's becoming clear is that M1D+ is so powerful for its mass that it trumps a hydroLOX engines ISP advantage in many cases. 

 

For the M1DVac+ upper stage it's sole weakness is the RP-1 gelling due to cold  and battery life, which limits how long a cruise the stage can do before a last burn. Maybe a tank heater, Dragon 2 style conformal solar arrays and bigger batteries? 

 

The Raptor stage fixes all of that, adds iSP, has even more thrust, and then whatever ACES features they decide to add. People are already talking about it as a tanker/depot or interplanetary cruise & Earth return stage.

 

Jeezzzz....