Falcon 9 v1.1 flight #1 (Launch video)

[Dr Mordrid]

30th Space Wing (Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.)

FIRST SPACEX LAUNCH FROM VANDENBERG SCHEDULED

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Team Vandenberg is scheduled to launch its first-ever SpaceX launch from Space Launch Complex-4 here Sunday with a targeted launch window beginning at 9 a.m. PDT.

Col. Keith Balts, 30th Space Wing commander, is the launch decision authority.

“Our mission is to provide unique capabilities for assured access to and from space for our nation,” said Balts. “This is a huge stepping stone for Vandenberg and our SpaceX mission partners and I am impressed with the amount of innovation, dedication and professionalism that was put into making this historic event happen.”

30th Space Wing’s 1st Air and Space Test Squadron is the lead for all launch site certification activities at Vandenberg for SpaceX as an Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle New Entrant. Under the authority of the Space and Missile Systems Center, the Squadron is evaluating SpaceX’s flight and ground systems, processes and procedures for this inaugural space launch campaign for the upgraded Falcon 9 rocket.

“This is historic event for Vandenberg AFB and we are excited to be a part of it,” said Lt. Col. Joseph Imwalle, 1ASTS commander. “The Squadron is committed to making the new process of EELV certification successful and to achieving the vision of more affordable operational spacelift capabilities for the Department of Defense without compromising reliability.”

[Dr Mordrid]

The Launch Readiness Review (LRR) was concluded with a GO for a Sunday launch attempt, pending weather.

Livestream: http://new.livestream.com/spacex/F9-6

Canadian satellite CASSIOPE Ready to Launch

Longueuil, Quebec, September 27, 2013 – The Canadian satellite CASSIOPE (Cascade SmallSat and Ionospheric Polar Explorer) is ready for its second attempt to launch. The event is planned on September 29 with a launch window opening at noon (12 p.m. EDT). CASSIOPE will lift off from Vandenberg, California aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. With CASSIOPE, Canada is looking to make a significant contribution to unravelling the mysteries of space weather.

The launch will be broadcast live on the SpaceX Website

( http://www.spacex.com )

CASSIOPE is a multi-purpose mission designed to conduct space environment research and telecommunications technology demonstration. Its scientific payload ePOP (enhanced polar outflow probe) will observe the ionosphere and enable scientists to collect new data on space storms in Earth's upper atmosphere and assess their potential impacts. CASSIOPE also includes the Cascade technology demonstrator for high speed store and forward information delivery.

This science mission was developed as a result of a close collaboration between several key partners including the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), 10 Canadian universities led by the University of Calgary and 2 research organizations, amongst others.

NOTAM (NOtice To AirMen) -

!CARF 09/183 (KZLA A2319/13) ZLA AIRSPACE DCC 2 ROPS AIROP DO-1307 STAGE 1 AND DEBRIS AREA STATIONARY RESERVATION WITHIN AN AREA BNDD BY 3133N/11934W 2848N/11910W 2809N/12000W 2300N/12000W 2300N/12005W 2622N/12104W 3007N/12119W 3133N/12113W SFC-UNL WEF 1309291600-1309291953

!CARF 09/181 (KZLA A2318/13) ZLA AIRSPACE DCC 2 ROPS AIROP DO-1307 DEBRIS DISPERTION AREA STATIONARY RESERVATION WITHIN AN AREA BNDD BY 3445N/12100W 3445N/12034W 3236N/11947W 3133N/11934W 3133N/12113W SFC-UNL WEF 1309291600-1309291930

1st stage drop/landing zone

[Dr Mordrid]

The American Islander is heading toward the F9 first stage recovery zone. She has previously been used for Dragon recoveries.


Spec sheet

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCsQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amarinecorp.com%2FVessels%2FTugs%2FAmerican%2520Islander%2520Spec.pdf&ei=ncZHUqDbHYTw8QTY_YGwCA&usg=AFQjCNGzq3PDKIkAPszYcNryt7i8AFY0ow&sig2=x8dZe26K0ggwFzVyeu3JjA&bvm=bv.53217764,d.eWU

Press kit

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/006/UpgradedF9DemoMission_PressKit.pdf

[Dr Mordrid]

Livestream at 08:15 PDT, 11:15 EDT.

[Dr Mordrid]

[Dr Mordrid]

PERFECT launch so far. Mission control reports it's right down the middle and the first stage HAS reignited for the sea touchdown experiment.

[Dr Mordrid]

The first communications pass of CASSIOPE is expected ~T+30 minutes over Germany's O'Higgins ground station in Antarctica.

[Dr Mordrid]

[Dr Mordrid]

All SATs in orbit

First stage recovery only failed because of a loss of roll control as it neared the water. Problem is aero loads. Correctable, and they're going to try again in 3 flights - possibly with landing gear. Landing gear could mitigate the roll.

Falcon Heavy test fires Q2 2014.

Vandenberg cams of today

[Dr Mordrid]

Really decent private video of the CASSIOPE launch. Looks like some RCS pulses are visible.

Imagine 3 of these clustered together and that's Falcon Heavy.