Falcon Heavy Flight #2 - Arabsat 6A - LC-39A

[e-FTW]

Launch Date: April 11th
Launch Window: 7:35-8:35 p.m. EDT, 23:35 UTC to 00:35 UTC
Launch site: LC-39A, Cape Canaveral, Florida
Side Booster Recovery: RTLS
Core Booster Recovery: OCISLY
Boosters: All new Block 5, Side Boosters: B1052.1 and B1053.1 Center Core: B1055.1
Mass: 6000 kg
Orbit: GEO

(Did not find such a thread for this launch, figured I’d kick things off. Need some more data about the boosters.)

This launch will be the second Falcon Heavy launch and will feature the same epic simultaneous Return To Landing Site (RTLS) booster landings.

Rumour/speculation is that the same booster set could be re-used about two months later for STP-2.

Arabsat 6A details:
Arabsat-6A - Wikipedia
Arabsat 6A
Arabsat 6A is going for a GEO orbit, at 30.5 degrees east. I am not aware of any other details at this time. But I would assume we will know more within a few days after the DM-1 launch. A FH launch is a big deal literally and figuratively, but just not as big to SpaceX, NASA, the US as the DM-1 launch! It signals the returns of human Spaceflight to the US.

 

[e-FTW]

This launch promises to smash a few records!
SpaceX's next Falcon Heavy launch may feature record-breaking center core landing — Teslarati

In addition to the 1000km/600mi distance, a speed record at MECO is expected:

the Falcon Heavy center booster flying a trajectory as implied could be traveling as fast as ~3.5 km/s (2.2 mi/s) at main engine cut-off (MECO), the point at which the booster separates from the upper stage and fairing. This would be a nearly unprecedented velocity for any Falcon booster, let alone a booster with plans to land after launch. Falcon 9 MECO typically occurs at velocities between 1.5 and 2.5 km/s for recoverable missions, while even the recent expendable GPS III launch saw F9 S1’s engines cut off around 2.7 km/s.

This works out to ~12,600 km/h or about 7800 mph. Or roughly 30% faster than the expendable GPS III.

 

[nwdiver]

This works out to ~12,600 km/h or about 7800 mph. Or roughly 30% faster than the expendable GPS III.

That will be interesting... I recall Elon saying that heat generated on re-entry is velocity cubed So ~30% more velocity should mean >2x the heat?

 

[Yggdrasill]

They might do a longer reentry burn to get rid of some velocity and reduce heating.

 

[Earl.detty]

Glad to finally see a date set.

 

[e-FTW]

This launch will very likely be delayed significantly. At least until after DM-1 clears the tower.

SpaceX's Crew Dragon launch moves to March, risking Falcon Heavy delays — Teslarati

It’s entirely possible that SpaceX integration technicians are able to complete the process of swapping out Crew Dragon and Falcon 9, modifying the transport/erector (T/E), completing Falcon Heavy booster integration, and installing Falcon Heavy on the T/E quickly enough to allow for simultaneous DM-1 and Arabsat 6A processing. It’s also possible that an extremely elegant but risky alternative strategy could solve the logistical puzzle – as an example, SpaceX could roll Crew Dragon and Falcon 9 out to Pad 39A a week or more before launch to give Falcon Heavy enough space for full integration, whereby Falcon 9’s necessarily successful launch would clear the T/E and allow it to be rolled back into 39A’s hangar for Falcon Heavy installation.

 

[e-FTW]

Third booster now in Florida, probably the center core.
Pics inside: SpaceX's next Falcon Heavy reaches milestone as third booster arrives in FL — Teslarati

 

[Sparky]

Third booster now in Florida, probably the center core.
Pics inside: SpaceX's next Falcon Heavy reaches milestone as third booster arrives in FL — Teslarati

Current Launch Date: NET March 29th

 

[Trips]

How far in advance could we expect a launch window or any odds of it being during the day?

 

[e-FTW]

How far in advance could we expect a launch window or any odds of it being during the day?

Well, we are dealing with rocket trafic at Kennedy Space Center, and specifically at pad 39A. We need that Commercial Crew Demo flight 1 (DM-1) to launch so SpaceX can start work on the big guy.
IIRC, SpaceX needs about two weeks after DM-1 launch to modify the Transporter-Erector (TE) for Falcon Heavy (FH) and then integrate FH on it.
Now you have to find a launch window for the payload you have after that two weeks.

Arabsat 6A is going for a GEO orbit, at 30.5 degrees east. I am not aware of any other details at this time. But I would assume we will know more within a few days after the DM-1 launch. A FH launch is a big deal literally and figuratively, but just not as big to SpaceX, NASA, the US as the DM-1 launch! It signals the returns of human Spaceflight to the US.

 

[Grendal]

Now April

 

[hayes8418]

Any idea how hard it will be to get Feel the Burn tickets when they’re released? Is it a pipe dream?

 

[mongo]

Any idea how hard it will be to get Feel the Burn tickets when they’re released? Is it a pipe dream?

Just check the KSC page a lot. They were available for longer than concert tickets.

Having been to the last one, the FtB site is not the greatest for viewing. The rocket is occluded and then launched directly away from us. The video footage from A1A was much more interesting. That said, the overall package fwas great. Spent the previous day at KSC which was awesome, and the launch day food was good, just plan on being in line to get in and then get on the bus for a long time....

 

[hayes8418]

Thanks for the information! Coming down with 3 other families whenever they decide to launch it. How was the view of the boosters landing from FtB?

 

[Grendal]

The launch date is delayed. The satellite was sent back to Lockheed. So it has some issue.

 

[mongo]

Thanks for the information! Coming down with 3 other families whenever they decide to launch it. How was the view of the boosters landing from FtB?

You could see both burns off to the right.
You all will have a good time!

 

[hayes8418]

You could see both burns off to the right.
You all will have a good time!

Got tickets this morning. My boys are pumped! (Not as pumped as I am)

 

[e-FTW]

Chris B - NSF on Twitter

Preliminary: April 7 - Window: 22:36 UTC to 00:35 UTC

 

[Earl.detty]

We will be hanging out on playalinda beach again. Looking forward to another falcon heavy launch.

 

[greenbldg]

"Feel the Heat" ticket booked. See you there!