NASA DSCOVR launch + Falcon 9 landing (extreme multitasking: 3 ops at once)

[Dr Mordrid]

DSCOVR = Deep Space Climate Observatory, a space weather mission to the L1 Lagrange point 1.5 million km from Earth in line with the Sun.

It will be Falcon 9's first mission beyond Earth orbit, and another opportunity to land its first stage on the SpaceX Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Just Read the Instructions, named for the Mind Ship in the Culture novels. Other ASDS drone ships will also receive Mind Ship names.

The DSCOVR launch is Sunday Feb 8 at launch at 1810 EST. The backup opportunity is Feb. 9 at 1807 EST.

The static fire test was completed today. Waiting for data.

The ASDS Just Read the Instructions location will be 31°6′10″ N , 74°33′38″ W for the Falcon 9R first stage landing attempt.

Streaming on NASA TV, spacex.com, YouTube's SpaceX Channel and the Livestream SpaceX channel. NASA TV usually starts about 1 hour before launch, and the others about 20-30 minutes before carrying the SpaceX webcast.

[Dr Mordrid]

Just Read the Instructions, Elsbeth III and the other tender have left port for the stage landing zone. Only 1-2 meter seas.

All Launch reviews completed, the SpaceX & NASA mission controls are prepping and the weather is 90% GO or better.

Launch viewing,

NASA TV (Chromecast by casting screen)
http://mobile.nasa.gov/content/watch-nasa-tv/

SpaceX Webcasts

SpaceX website
http://www.spacex.com/webcast/

LiveStream.SpaceX Channel
https://new.livestream.com/spacex

Youtube SpaceX Channel (Events appear day of launch)
https://youtube.com/user/spacexchannel

KSC live viewing locations, tickets etc.
https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/e...n9-dscovr.aspx

[Dr Mordrid]

Vehicle is vertical. Weather is 90%.

Precise liftoff is 1810;12 EST, 2310;12 GMT.

[Dr Mordrid]

Scrubbed.

Elon Musk ‏@elonmusk 1 min.1 minuut geledenVertaling weergeven
Air Force tracking radar went down. Launch postponed to same time tomorrow.

Tomorrow would actually be ~2 minutes earlier.

[Dr Mordrid]

Some reports there were 4,000 people attending yesterday's attempt, and the 401, 528 and A1A highways were "parking lots."

As expected given today's lousy weather forecast of 40%. Weather prediction for Feb. 10 is 90% and Feb. 11 is 100%.

@NOAASatellites Next NOAA's #DSCOVR launch attempt will now be 2/10/15 at 6:05pm EST; backup on 2/11/15. Weather for 2/9/15 attempt unfavorable.

[Dr Mordrid]

http://news.discovery.com/space/private-spaceflight/west-to-east-coast-spacex-ready-for-extreme-multitasking-150209.htm

West to East Coast: SpaceX Ready for Extreme Multitasking

Breaking new ground is nothing new for SpaceX, but how about launch and landing operations on opposite sides of the country at the same time?

A poor weather forecast in Florida prompted SpaceX to pass on a second launch opportunity Monday to put the Deep Space Climate Observatory into orbit. The first launch attempt on Sunday was called off with two minutes to spare because of a glitch with a ground-based radar system needed to track the Falcon 9 rocket in flight.

The launch of the spacecraft, nicknamed DSCOVR, is now pegged for 6:05 p.m. EST Tuesday, which overlaps with the return flight of a Dragon cargo ship from the International Space Station.

The capsule has been docked at the station since Jan. 12, two days after it blasted off aboard the last Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Dragon is due to make a parachute return into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Baja California at 7:44 p.m. EST.

If simultaneous rocket launches and capsule landings weren’t enough, SpaceX also hopes to recover the first-stage of the Falcon rocket launching Tuesday.

A landing platform is stationed in the Atlantic Ocean about 370 miles northeast of the launch site. If all goes well, SpaceX hopes the Falcon first-stage will separate from the upper-stage and DSCOVR spacecraft, turn around and fire its engines for a high-speed return through the atmosphere and pinpoint vertical touchdown.

Recovery teams will be standing by to secure the booster if indeed it lands successfully — a big “if” since the rocket only has enough fuel to make two burns, rather than the three engine firings the Falcon rocket that flew in January was able to do during a similar test.
>

[Dr Mordrid]

Weather for the launch is GO, for now as the high altitude winds are unstable, but the stage landing zone conditions are iffy.

This may be a last minute call, and if pushed past Wednesday they will have to wait until ~Feb. 20th.

[Dr Mordrid]

YouTube stream starts at 1745 Eastern

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uq-ylPYwaA4

[Dr Mordrid]

Scrub - high altitude winds.

May try tomorrow. If it goes tomorrow the time will be 1803.31 EST

[Dr Mordrid]

No ASDS landing today because of high seas. They will do a water landing, testing landing navs in inclement conditions.

Countdown progressing well, Weather 90% and propellants loading. SpaceX webcast starts 1745 Eastern with a launch at 1803.31.

YouTube stream (Chromecastable)

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OvHJSIKP0Hg

[Dr Mordrid]

Liftoff!!

MaxQ

S2 sep

S2 ignition

Fairing separation

[Dr Mordrid]

S2 restart!! On her way to L1.

S1 splashed down.

DSCOVR Launch:

[Dr Mordrid]

Confirmation of good S2 burn #2.

Spacecraft separation!

Orbit is 187 km x 1,171,345 km x 37.03° inclination.

[Dr Mordrid]

Elon Musk ‏@elonmusk 28 seconds ago
Rocket soft landed in the ocean within 10m of target & nicely vertical! High probability of good droneship landing in non-stormy weather.

YEAH!!!!

[Dr Mordrid]

https://twitter.com/NOAASatellites/s...62063163609088

@NOAASatellites
Solar arrays deployed; communicating with ground. It's in good health & on its way to beginning its mission.