SpaceX Falcon 9 FT launch - JCSAT 14 - SLC-40

[Grendal]

SpaceX is on a roll. Next up is:

April 28 Falcon 9 • JCSAT 14
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the JCSAT 14 communications satellite for Tokyo-based SKY Perfect JSAT Corp. JCSAT 14 will support data networks, television broadcasters and mobile communications users in Japan, East Asia, Russia, Oceania, Hawaii and other Pacific islands. Delayed from late 2015.

So the date is likely to be adjusted and we don't even know the launch time frame yet. It will certainly be around this date because we know that the booster has been tested at MacGregor.

We do know this will be an ASDS landing attempt, not a RTLS.

 

[Grendal]

I incorrectly posted the delay on the wrong thread. Launch date is now May 3rd and the launch window is 1:22 AM EST to 3:22 AM. A very early launch.

Thanks GGR.

 

[ggr]

My apology for not noticing you'd already created the right thread! Mods, you can delete or merge mine.

 

[Grendal]

SpaceX bumped the date again. By 24 hours. The launch date is now May 4th and the launch window remains at 1:22 AM EST to 3:22 AM.

 

[Grendal]

SpaceX bumped the date again. By 24 hours. The launch date is now May 4th and the launch window remains at 1:22 AM EST to 3:22 AM.

And bumped once again. By another 24 hours. The launch date is now May 5th and the launch window remains at 1:22 AM EST to 3:22 AM.

 

[Grendal]

And the static test fire was successful... Next up...launch time. Still the 5th. Very early.

It was also reported on SpaceX Facebook that "OCISLY" has left port for open waters.

 

[ICUDoc]

Thanks for the updates, Grendal. Can't wait to see it!

 

[Grendal]

Details on the launch and the landing attempt:

SpaceX completes static fire ahead of JCSAT-14 mission | NASASpaceFlight.com

This will be a hot one. On par with the SES-9 attempt at a landing. That booster ended up running out of fuel and smashing a hole in the ASDS. Fingers crossed that this one will be successful. If it is then SpaceX will have made another big breakthrough in recoveries.

 

[NigelM]

Lightningmaps.org view of Florida right now:

Launch delayed till May 6th.

 

[Grendal]

Lightningmaps.org view of Florida right now:
View attachment 175207

Launch delayed till May 6th.

And I read that it is also 2 hours later for the window. So somewhere around 3 AM.

80% chance of good weather for the attempt today and the 20% came up and caused the scrub. That's a lot of lightning tracking right through the launch and recovery area.

 

[NigelM]

That's a lot of lightning tracking right through the launch and recovery area.

We're on the west coast of FL, but the storms are headed north-east right towards the Cape area. We had ~4" of unseasonal rain in ~4hrs this morning (did someone say "climate change"?)

 

[xmetal]

Based on the fact that it rained so much that my pool overflowed today (I live on the Gulf coast, roughly in line with Canaveral) I am not surprised that they put the launch off for a while.

 

[Grendal]

Well let's hope it happens and there are no anomalies. Nominal all the way!

The Live Webcast:

The Technical Webcast:

 

[Grendal]

Successful launch. Successful MECO.

Successful Landing!!! They frickin' did it again!

 

[808?]

Stage 1 landing success!

 

[ICUDoc]

Wow! Nailed it- it looks dead centre!!??

 

[Grendal]

Real close to dead center on this one. I really hope they have a chase plane that got video of this landing. This will be incredibly cool since it is a night landing.

 

[hockeythug]

 

[ProphetM]

Nailed it! Looks like dead center on the target, too. Wow.

 

[BluestarE3]

Woohoo!!! Simply awesome!!