SpaceX F9 - 16th Reuse - SAOCOM 1A - SLC-4E

[Grendal]

Launch Date: October 7th Sunday
Launch Window: 7:22 PM PST
Launch site: SLC-4E Vandenberg
Booster Recovery: 1st West Coast RTLS to SLC-4W
Booster Type: B1048.2 - 2nd Reused Block 5
Mass: 1600 kg (3527 lbs.)
Orbit: 620 km SSO

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the SAOCOM 1A for CONAE, Argentina’s space agency. SAOCOM 1A is the first of two SAOCOM 1-series Earth observation satellites designed to provide radar imagery to help emergency responders and monitor the environment, including the collection of soil moisture measurements.

SAOCOM 1A, 1B
SAOCOM - Wikipedia
Details of launch:
SAOCOM 1A ships to Vandenberg as Falcon 9 prepares for the first west coast RTLS – NASASpaceFlight.com

The first West Coast RTLS will reuse the last Iridium booster from July 25th. So this will be the quickest turnaround for a booster to date if early September holds. The payload is a light one going to SSO which allows for the RTLS.

17th SpaceX launch of the year.

 

[ecarfan]

Thanks for starting this thread. This is the launch and land that I really must go see!

The SpaceXNow app shows this launch date will be Sep 5. Is there some reason you posted “Early September”?

 

[Grendal]

Thanks for starting this thread. This is the launch and land that I really must go see!

The SpaceXNow app shows this launch date will be Sep 5. Is there some reason you posted “Early September”?

For a while, that was the tentative launch date. Most official launch date sites have modified to Early or Mid September. I chose to be optimistic and put early September. The satellite is at Vandenberg. The booster was parked outside the Hawthorne factory just a couple days ago and is now inside the factory. I expect the official launch date should firm up in the next two or three weeks.

Good luck and have a great time. According to people that have been to both places, for the public viewing sites, you will be closer to the landing pad at Vandenberg than you can be near to LZ-1 at the Cape. Let's hope it is a beautiful daylight launch and landing with clear weather...

 

[Grendal]

The satellite arrived at Vandenberg.
Twitter

 

[ecarfan]

SpaceXNow now shows the launch date as “NET Sat, 29th Sep 2018”. It used to show Sep 5th.

@Grendal what source do you use for SpaceX launch dates? Their website seems to offer no information.

 

[ecarfan]

Searching the web I find a lot of sites stating 29 September launch, or a window that includes that date.

SpaceX Falcon 9 : SAOCOM 1A : NET September 28, 2018 : Vandenberg
NET September 2018 (targeting Sept. 28-Oct. 4) on Falcon 9 from Vandenberg. Booster is 1048.2, previously used for Iridium NEXT flight 7. RTLS landing is expected.
—————————————————

Unfortunately I am going to be traveling in that timeframe and won’t be able to attend the launch. Damn.

 

[Grendal]

I mostly use:
Launch Schedule – Spaceflight Now
Which still has it on the 28th.
Facebook SpaceX has it on the 29th at 9 AM. I'd go with Facebook over Spaceflight Now since they respond very fast to changes.

 

[Grendal]

Searching the web I find a lot of sites stating 29 September launch, or a window that includes that date.

SpaceX Falcon 9 : SAOCOM 1A : NET September 28, 2018 : Vandenberg
NET September 2018 (targeting Sept. 28-Oct. 4) on Falcon 9 from Vandenberg. Booster is 1048.2, previously used for Iridium NEXT flight 7. RTLS landing is expected.
—————————————————

Unfortunately I am going to be traveling in that timeframe and won’t be able to attend the launch. Damn.

Well you likely got your wish. It looks like it is getting pushed out again. October 7th or later from an inside source.

 

[ecarfan]

I wonder when we are going to find out the launch time of day. Anxious to figure out if there is a chance I can make this launch.

 

[Grendal]

I wonder when we are going to find out the launch time of day. Anxious to figure out if there is a chance I can make this launch.

Still NET October 7th. So it's probably going to adjust.

 

[nwdiver]

I wonder when we are going to find out the launch time of day. Anxious to figure out if there is a chance I can make this launch.

I'm planning to go too... where do you plan to setup?

 

[ecarfan]

I'm planning to go too... where do you plan to setup?

Where all the other SpaceX geeks will be hanging out: the intersection of W. Ocean Ave and Renwick Ave. (34.6663818,-120.5545483)

 

[Cariver]

Where all the other SpaceX geeks will be hanging out: the intersection of W. Ocean Ave and Renwick Ave. (34.6663818,-120.5545483)

Hi, I'm sorry, but will there be some unofficial broadcast from the geeks?

 

[Grendal]

Hi, I'm sorry, but will there be some unofficial broadcast from the geeks?

There hasn't been in the past. Just the Facebook SpaceX group along with other organized fans.

 

[ecarfan]

Hi, I'm sorry, but will there be some unofficial broadcast from the geeks?

I don’t understand what you mean by “broadcast from the geeks”.

 

[Grendal]

I don’t understand what you mean by “broadcast from the geeks”.

I believe (s)he's asking if the SpaceX enthusiasts do a livestream of the launch and the activities. Which they haven't done in the past. I would be surprised if something like that started up since SpaceX's is so good.

Here's a picture of the satellite getting encapsulated in Vandenberg:

 

[e-FTW]

Spaceflightnow has it as an October 6th launch. Not sure what is up there. On 9/21, they updated the schedule as “moved forward”.

 

[ecarfan]

Spaceflightnow has it as an October 6th launch.

Thanks. I know that launch dates/times can change, but I am anxious to find out the launch time of day as well as the date so I can figure out whether or not I can make this launch. Currently in New Mexico on a road trip, but can adjust my return to California timing to some degree and hopefully see this launch!

 

[nwdiver]

Thanks. I know that launch dates/times can change, but I am anxious to find out the launch time of day as well as the date so I can figure out whether or not I can make this launch. Currently in New Mexico on a road trip, but can adjust my return to California timing to some degree and hopefully see this launch!

LOL... I'll be on a road trip RETURNING to NM.

 

[e-FTW]

LOL... I'll be on a road trip RETURNING to NM.

You guys need to meet somewhere in the middle, this is too funny!