SpaceX F9 — RADARSAT Constellation - SLC-4E

[ecarfan]

(taken from SpaceX F9 - 1st 2nd Reuse - SSO-A - SLC-4E )
Grendal said: ↑

The next RTLS, as long as Vandenberg allows it, will likely be the Radarsat constellation in mid-February. Probably also a second or third reuse booster.
Click to expand...​

Still no date announced for this launch as far as I know. Anyone have some news?

Launch Date: June 12
Launch Window: 1417 GMT (10:17 a.m. EDT; 7:17 a.m. PDT)
Launch site: SLC-4E, Vandenberg
Booster Recovery: Yes
Booster Type: Reused - B1051.2
Mass: 1475 kg
Orbit: Sun-synchronous orbit

RADARSAT Constellation - Wikipedia
Radarsat Constellation 1, 2, 3 (RCM 1, 2, 3)

 

[ecarfan]

The SpaceXNow app shows this launch as “NET Mar 2019”. But still no announcement from SpaceX on the launch date. I’m beginning to wonder if it is going to happen in March, or if it will be April.

 

[Grendal]

Everything just says NET March. The Falcon Heavy (Arabsat) is more likely as the next after DM-1.

DM-1
FH - Arabsat
Radarsat
CRS-17

and then it gets dicey for what comes next. IFA? or FH STP-2? Then the big DM-2 in June.

 

[ecarfan]

Okay, but SpaceX has stated that they have two separate launch teams, one for each coast, so in theory what happens in Florida should not impact to much what happens at VAFB. That said, of course 2nd stages and fairings have to be built, boosters have to be tested in Texas, and all kinds of things have to happen to get an F9 to the pad, wherever that pad is located.

I’ll be happy if the RADARSAT Constellation launch gets postponed to April, it will increase the likelihood that I will be able to be at VAFB to watch it.

 

[Grendal]

Radarsat has been pushed into March. It looks like it will be the next launch. No date or time yet.

 

[ecarfan]

Radarsat has been pushed into March. It looks like it will be the next launch. No date or time yet.

Did you mean to type “pushed into April”? Because upthread we have been discussing a March launch already.

 

[Grendal]

Did you mean to type “pushed into April”? Because upthread we have been discussing a March launch already.

I was being overly dramatic. It looked like it was heading into April when it suddenly got confirmed for March. Something else could cause a delay but it's looking good for mid to late March.

 

[ecarfan]

The SpaceXNow app shows this mission is now NET May. Still hoping to go see this launch.

 

[e-FTW]

SpaceFlightNow lists this as NET May 16 now.

Is anything else happening today, this site was a touch sluggish just now... ;-)

 

[Grendal]

Reusing the DM-1 booster. Which surprises me since they need to cart the booster across the country instead of using one of the boosters used on the West Coast. First post updated.

 

[e-FTW]

I am Canadian, and I just now read-up on these satellites (a 1B$ constellation of 3) becasue I just realized they are Canadian sats?

(Ignore the alarmist title and tone): Canadian Space Agency confident in rocket being used to launch $1 billion satellite despite U.S. investigation — National Post

They will play a crucial role in monitoring all three of Canada’s coastlines (Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic). That last one is key, with the shrinking sea ice in the arctic opening all kinds of routes never previously open to navigation. And the complex national sovereignty issues that opens up in the Arctic.

 

[ecarfan]

Reusing the DM-1 booster. Which surprises me since they need to cart the booster across the country instead of using one of the boosters used on the West Coast. First post updated.

Hoping to find out soon if that booster will RTLS!

 

[e-FTW]

Hoping to find out soon if that booster will RTLS!

I might convince the wife to road-trip this one! If we are back from a trip to ... Canada of course.

 

[e-FTW]

Launch Schedule – Spaceflight Now Has it as NET May 16.

 

[Grendal]

No Earlier Than is still questionable. First post is still updated though.

 

[e-FTW]

No Earlier Than is still questionable. First post is still updated though.

Oh yes.

(But I fly back on the 15th, so this is a good start...)

 

[bxr140]

I just realized they are Canadian sats?

Yeah, built by MDA in Montreal. Some good stuff in the downloads here: Radar

...with the shrinking sea ice in the arctic opening all kinds of routes never previously open to navigation.

So it turns out the American politician that said CO2 is a good thing was right...right?

 

[mongo]

Yeah, built by MDA in Montreal. Some good stuff in the downloads here: Radar

Cool, I helped build a radar system for them.

 

[ecarfan]

Hoping to find out soon if that booster will RTLS!

Just about two weeks from this launch, still wondering if it will RTLS, and what the launch time will be...

 

[ecarfan]

SpaceXNow shows this launch now scheduled for June 10th at 1700PDT.

Lists booster as “reused”. No indication if it will be RTLS or JRTI.