Falcon 9: Iridium NEXT #5 (LEO commsats)

[Dr Mordrid]

Too late in the morning to frighten those twitchy Los Angelenos with a light show.

The first Falcon 9 Flight Proven launch was on March 30, 2017 (SES-10.) There will have been 21 missions since then with 10, 47.6%, using Flight Proven cores. Economic case closed.

Matt Desch ✓ @IridiumBoss (CEO)
Iridium network update: our first 2 drifters from Launch 1 (105 & 108) were activated today, bringing the total to 34 Iridium NEXT sats now in operation (over 50% of 66 in constellation!). 3 more drifters also planned to be in service before next launch on March 29. Onward!

https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/stat...61177922981888

Satellites: 10 Iridium NEXT commsats (#41-50)
Mass: 8,600kg + 1,000kg dispenser
Launch orbit: 625km, 86.66°
Operational orbit: 778km, 86.4°

Date: March 29, 2018
Time: 0419.49 ET, 0719.49 PT (1419.49 UT)
Pad: Vandenberg AFB SLC-4W
Core: 1041.2 (Iridium NEXT #21-30)
Recovery: no

From this launch through April be prepared for a Run & Gun stretch,

Iridium NEXT #5 (this launch)
Dragon CRS-14 to ISS
Bangabandhu-1 commsat (Falcon 9 Block 5 #1)
Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (NASA)
Iridium NEXT #6/GRACE-FO*

* Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On

[Dr Mordrid]

Updated launch times: 1013;51 EDT (0713;51 PDT, 1413;51 UT)

The webcast should start about 20 min before launch.

[Dr Mordrid]

Funky music video has started, webcast in a few minutes.