News from Cape Canaveral
Updated January 20, 2019
January
20, 2019
Relativity
Space/Air Force Announce Redevelopment Of Launch
Complex 16
Reported
by Cliff Lethbridge
Relativity Space,
a start-up rocket manufacturer and space launch provider, in association with
the Air Force, has formally announced the redevelopment of long dormant Launch
Complex 16 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Redevelopment of the complex
will commence immediately and the company could
conduct it first launch there, that of its Terran I rocket, as early as late
2020. The following is an updated Launch Complex 16 fact sheet, soon to be
available at www.spaceline.org.
LAUNCH
COMPLEX 16 FACT SHEET
By
Cliff Lethbridge
Aerial View Of Launch Complex 16 Circa 2018
Configuration: Single Blockhouse, One
Launch Pad (Titan and Terran I), Multiple Mobile Launchers (Pershing)
LAUNCH PAD 16
Current Status: Under Redevelopment
First Launch: December 12, 1959
Final Launch Prior To Redevelopment: March
21, 1988
Number of Launches Prior To Redevelopment:
162
Vehicles Launched Prior To Redevelopment:
Titan I, Titan II, Pershing IA, Pershing II
Launch Complex 16
was one of four launch complexes built in support of Titan missile testing. The
complex was built at a cost of about $5 million. Construction began in 1957
with acceptance by the Air Force in June, 1958. Titan
I and II test launches ceased at the site in 1963. Launch Complex 16 was
reassigned to NASA in January, 1965 and redesigned as
a test stand for static firings of the Apollo Service Module propulsion engine.
The complex was deactivated in 1969, and NASA returned it to the Air Force in January, 1972.
In 1974, due to
its existing blockhouse and ample real estate, the facility was used in support
of Pershing IA and ultimately Pershing II missile testing. These launches
employed the blockhouse, but not the launch pad. Pershing IA and Pershing II
launches took place from specialized mobile launchers located throughout the
grounds. Pershing launch operations officially ceased at the site on June 1,
1988 in the wake of the Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty with the
U.S.S.R. Launch Complex 16 was subsequently abandoned, with the blockhouse and
original Titan launch pad concrete launch support structures left intact.
In 2019 the Air
Force turned over Launch Complex 16 to Relativity Space, a start-up rocket
manufacturer and launch provider. The company plans to launch its Terran I
rocket from the facility as early as late 2020. The company will use
groundbreaking 3-D printing technology to fabricate the rocket and its
components. While much of Launch Complex 16 will be renovated, it is expected
that the historic blockhouse will remain intact for Relativity Space
operations.
Artist Rendition Of Redeveloped Launch Complex 16, Photo Courtesy Relativity
Space
______________________________________________________________________________
January
4, 2019
Navy
Confirms Four Trident II Launches; Cape Launch Total For 2018 At 24
Reported
by Cliff Lethbridge
The U.S. Navy Office
of Strategic Systems Programs has confirmed four Atlantic Ocean Trident II
launches in 2018, bringing the total number of Cape Canaveral launches for 2018
at 24. There were 20 land-based Cape launches in addition to the four at-sea
Trident II launches. Two of the four Trident II launches occurred on June 21,
2018 while two occurred on June 23, 2018. All four launches took place from the
same submerged submarine, the name of which remains secret because it was on
active patrol at the time of the Trident II launches. It is Navy policy to keep
Trident II launches secret until after they are launched. For a complete
listing of Cape Canaveral launches from 1950 to the present visit:
www.spaceline.org/statistics/Cape_Canaveral_Launch_Chronology.html
Trident II Launch From Submerged Submarine, File Photo Courtesy U.S. Navy
______________________________________________________________________________
December
24, 2018
Merry
Christmas As Spaceline Remembers Apollo 8
Reported
by Cliff Lethbridge
Santa Claus In Space, File Photo
Courtesy NASA
Christmas had been
celebrated in space for many years now. Apollo 8, Skylab 4, STS-103 and crews
aboard the International Space Station have all celebrated Christmas in space.
Santa Claus actually visited Space Shuttle Discovery
during STS-103, a Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission, on Christmas Eve,
1999. Mission controllers in Houston were stunned as Santa visited Discovery in
the dead of night, delivering presents for the seven-member crew.
Expedition 42 Astronaut Samantha
Cristoforetti Christmas Aboard ISS, File Photo Courtesy NASA
But for those of
us who have been around for a while, the most memorable Christmas mission
remains Apollo 8, mankind’s first journey to the Moon and back. While Apollo 8
astronauts Frank Borman, James Lovell and William Anders orbited the Moon on
Christmas Eve, 1968, they took time to read from the Bible’s Book of Genesis
Chapter 1, verses 1 through 10, King James version. The reading was included as
part of a televised broadcast, which at the time was the most watched broadcast
in television history.
Astronaut William Anders Aboard
Apollo 8, File Photo Courtesy NASA
Astronaut William Anders began:
We
are now approaching lunar sunrise, and for all the people back on Earth, the
crew of Apollo 8 has a message that we would like to send to you. In the
beginning, God created the heaven and the earth, and the earth was without
form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of
God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let
there be light; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good;
and God divided the light from the darkness.
Astronaut James Lovell Aboard
Apollo 8, File Photo Courtesy NASA
Astronaut James Lovell continued:
And
God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And the evening and
the morning were the first day. And God said, Let
there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters
from the waters. And God made the firmament, and
divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were
above the firmament, and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. And
the evening and the morning were the second day.
Astronaut Frank Borman Aboard
Apollo 8, File Photo Courtesy NASA
Astronaut Frank Borman concluded:
And
God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place,
and let the dry land appear; and it was so. And God called the dry land Earth;
and the gathering together of the waters called He seas; And God saw that it was good. And from the crew of
Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas, and God bless
all of you, all of you on the good Earth.
The “Good Earth” Photographed
During Apollo 8, File Photo Courtesy NASA
It was one of
those really significant and memorable broadcasts in
the history of the U.S. space program, not that secular concerns were ignored.
On Christmas Day, 1968, the Apollo 8 crew performed a Trans-Earth Injection
burn, which was conducted from the dark side of the Moon, out of reach of
communication with Earth. Once voice contact was restored, astronaut James
Lovell exclaimed, Please be informed, there IS a Santa Claus! Ken
Mattingly, the Mission Control Capsule Communicator at the time, replied, That’s affirmative, you are the best ones to know!
We hope this
humble article brings back Christmas memories, or creates new ones. Merry
Christmas from all of us here at Spaceline!
______________________________________________________________________________
December
23, 2018
Falcon
9 Successfully Launches GPS III-SV01 Satellite
Reported
by Cliff Lethbridge
Falcon 9 GPS III-SV01 Launch, Photo
Courtesy SpaceX
A SpaceX Falcon 9
rocket successfully launched the GPS III-SV01 satellite at 8:51 a.m. EST today
from Launch Pad 40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Launch was delayed five
days. A launch attempt on December 18 was scrubbed due to abnormal readings
from a first stage sensor. Launch attempts on December 20 and December 22 were
scrubbed due to unacceptable weather, because of stormy launch site weather and
high winds aloft respectively. Today’s launch occurred on time with no delays.
In a departure from previous Falcon 9 launches, the first stage booster did not
feature grid fins or landing legs and was not recovered. Mission requirements
dictated that sufficient first stage booster fuel be
kept on reserve in order to place the payload on its correct elliptical orbit,
which did not allow enough fuel to support a landing. The satellite was
successfully deployed about two hours after launch.
Falcon 9 GPS III-SV01 Launch View From Press Site, Photo Courtesy Cliff Lethbridge/Spaceline
GPS III-SV01
(Global Positioning System III-Space Vehicle 01) is the first in a planned
constellation of ten next generation GPS satellites. The GPS III series of
satellites is intended to deliver sustained, reliable GPS capabilities to
America’s warfighters, U.S. allies and civilian users. GPS provides
positioning, navigation and timing service to civilian and military users worldwide,
with the goal of fulfilling increasing demands for the GPS system. System
improvements introduced with the GPS III series include improved anti-jamming,
improved accuracy and improved integrity. The satellites operate on six orbital
planes at 55-degrees inclination at an altitude of about 12,000 miles. Design
life is 15 years with 12 years mean mission duration. Launch weight of the
satellite was about 8,000 pounds. Position accuracy is within 0.63 meters.
Prime contractor for GPS III-SV01 is Lockheed Martin.
Falcon 9 GPS III-SV01 At Booster
Engine Cutoff, Photo Courtesy Lloyd Behrendt
______________________________________________________________________________
December
5, 2018
Falcon
9 Launches NASA CRS-16; Booster Misses Mark
Reported
by Cliff Lethbridge
Falcon 9 CRS-16 Launch View From Press Site, Photo Courtesy NASA
A SpaceX Falcon 9
rocket successfully launched the CRS-16 payload for NASA at 1:16 p.m. EST today
from Launch Pad 40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Launch was delayed one
day to allow contaminated rodent food aboard the payload to be replaced. The
Dragon spacecraft that supports CRS-16 has flown once before, on the CRS-10
mission in February, 2017. CRS-16 was deployed about
ten minutes after launch and will dock to the International Space Station on
Saturday, December 8. Today’s launch was marred only by a “non-nominal”
recovery of the Falcon 9 first stage booster. The booster was intended to land
at Landing Zone 1 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, but its grid fin
hydraulic pump stalled and the booster made a water
landing just offshore of the Cape instead. The booster was recovered intact and
is apparently in excellent condition despite the mishap.
Falcon 9 CRS-16 In Flight, Photo
Courtesy NASA
The CRS-16 Dragon Capsule
is loaded with over 5,600 pounds of supplies and equipment in support of over
250 science and research investigations conducted aboard the International
Space Station (ISS). This is the sixteenth of up to 20 missions SpaceX will
conduct to ISS under their first Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract
with NASA. In January, 2016 NASA announced that SpaceX
will support multiple CRS missions to resupply ISS through at least 2024 as
part of a second contract award. Under the CRS contracts, SpaceX is able to provide the United States capability to deliver
and return significant amounts of ISS cargo, including live plants and animals.
An important variant of the Dragon spacecraft, named Crew Dragon, is under
development and is intended to carry manned crews to and from ISS. As for
CRS-16, Dragon will remain at ISS for about five weeks before being recovered
in the Pacific Ocean carrying about 4,000 pounds of return cargo.
Falcon 9 Booster Descends Prior To
Landing Mishap, Photo Courtesy NASA
______________________________________________________________________________
November
15, 2018
Falcon
9 Successfully Launches Es’hail-2 Communications Satellite
Reported
by Cliff Lethbridge
Falcon 9 Launches With Es’hail-2 Satellite, Photo Courtesy SpaceX
A SpaceX Falcon 9
rocket successfully launched the Es’hail-2 communications satellite at 3:46
p.m. EST today from Launch Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. Launch occurred
on time with no delays. The daytime launch ended a six-month string of night
launches from Cape Canaveral. The first stage booster employed today was being
flown for the second time, having first flown for the Telstar-19 Vantage launch
from the Cape in July, 2018. The booster was
successfully recovered today on the “Of Course I Still Love You” drone ship
positioned several hundred miles east of Cape Canaveral. The Es’hail-2
satellite was successfully deployed in a geostationary transfer orbit about 32
minutes after liftoff.
Falcon 9 In Flight With “Max Q”
Halo Effect, Photo Courtesy SpaceX
Es’hail-2 is the
second geostationary communications satellite owned and operated by Es’hailSat, a company located in the Middle Eastern nation of
Qatar. The satellite offers Ku-band resources to support a wide variety of
applications. It also features multi-transponder Ka-band capacity, providing
businesses and government customers secure communications across the Middle
East and North Africa. The satellite’s multi-mission architecture will provide
content transfer, broadcast distribution, enterprise communications and a
variety of government services. The satellite was built by Mitsubishi Electric
(MELCO) and has a design life of about 15 years.
Falcon 9 Approaching Booster Engine
Cutoff, Photo Courtesy Lloyd Behrendt
______________________________________________________________________________
October
17, 2018
Atlas
V Successfully Launches Military Satellite
Reported
by Cliff Lethbridge
Atlas V AEHF-4 Launch View From Launch Pad 41, Photo Courtesy United Launch Alliance
A United Launch
Alliance Atlas V rocket successfully launched the AEHF-4 military satellite at
12:15 a.m. EDT today from Launch Pad 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
Launch occurred on time with no delays. The rocket launched was the most
powerful Atlas V variant, Version 551, featuring a five-meter fairing, five
solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur second stage.
Atlas V AEHF-4 Launch View From Press Site, Photo Courtesy Cliff Lethbridge/Spaceline
AEHF-4 is the fourth in a
planned constellation of six satellites in the Advanced Extremely High
Frequency (AEHF) System, a joint service geosynchronous satellite system that
provides survivable, global, secure, protected and jam-resistant communications
for high-priority military ground, sea and air assets. The system enables the
National Security Council and Unified Combatant Commanders to control their
tactical and strategic forces at all levels of conflict up to and through a
nuclear war scenario.
Atlas V Solid Rocket Booster Separation,
Photo Courtesy Lloyd Behrendt
The AEHF system is
a follow-up to the Milstar constellation and is
intended to augment and improve existing Milstar
capabilities. AEHF provides connectivity across the full spectrum of mission
areas, including land, air and naval warfare, as well as special operations,
strategic nuclear operations, strategic defense, theater missile defense, space
operations and intelligence. The primary AEHF stated mission is to provide
nearly worldwide secure and survivable satellite communications. The satellite
payload consists of onboard signal processing with crossbanded Extremely High
Frequency (EHF) and Super High Frequency (SHF) communications capability. The
AEHF-4 satellite was built by primary contractor Lockheed Martin Space Systems
Company.
AEHF-4 Artist Conception, Photo
Courtesy Air Force Space Command
______________________________________________________________________________
September
10, 2018
Falcon
9 Successfully Launches Telstar-18 Vantage Satellite
Reported
by Cliff Lethbridge
Falcon 9 Launches Telstar-18 Vantage
Satellite, Photo Courtesy SpaceX
A SpaceX Falcon 9
rocket successfully launched the Telstar-18 Vantage satellite at 12:45 a.m. EDT
today from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Pad 40. Launch was delayed
just over an hour to allow clouds and lightning to clear the Cape area. The
satellite was placed in a geostationary transfer orbit about 32 minutes after
liftoff. The Falcon 9 first stage booster, one in a series of advanced Block 5
boosters that can be re-flown up to 100 times with refurbishment, was flown for
the first time and was successfully recovered on the “Of Course I Still Love
You” drone ship deployed on the Atlantic Ocean several hundred miles east of
Cape Canaveral.
Falcon 9 Launch View From Press Site, Photo Courtesy Cliff Lethbridge/Spaceline
Telstar-18 Vantage
is the third high throughput satellite in the Telesat
corporation’s global fleet and is the first featuring coverage of the
Asia-Pacific region. Built by SSL, the satellite will replace and expand the Telesat network’s capabilities utilizing C-band capacity
over Asia as well as Ku-band capacity over Indonesia and Malaysia. Located at
138 degrees East in a geostationary orbit about 22,000 miles above Earth,
Telstar-18 Vantage will provide coverage including Southeast Asia, Mongolia,
Australia, New Zealand and the North Pacific. The satellite is expected to
enter service this fall and has a design life of 15 years.
Falcon 9 Rocket At
Main Engine Cutoff, Photo Courtesy Lloyd Behrendt
______________________________________________________________________________
August
12, 2018
Delta
IV Heavy Rocket Successfully Launches Parker Solar Probe
Reported
by Cliff Lethbridge
Delta IV Heavy Launches With Parker Solar Probe, Photo Courtesy NASA
A United Launch
Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket successfully launched the Parker Solar Probe at
3:31 a.m. EDT today from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Pad 37B.
Launch was delayed 24 hours due to a number of technical issues
but today’s launch occurred on time with no delays. Launch of the Parker Solar
Probe marks the first time a spacecraft will travel to a star. The Parker Solar
Probe will use seven Venus flybys over nearly seven years to achieve orbit of
the Sun. At its closest approach, the spacecraft will hurtle around the Sun at
about 430,000 m.p.h. which is the equivalent of traveling from New York to
Tokyo in less than a minute.
Delta IV Launch View From KSC Press Site, Photo Courtesy Cliff
Lethbridge/Spaceline
Parker Solar Probe
will be immersed in the Sun’s coronal plasma where temperatures can reach more
than a million degrees Fahrenheit. However, the coronal plasma has such a low
density that the actual heat transferred to the spacecraft will heat it to just
around 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit. The spacecraft employs a 4.5-inch thick
carbon-composite shield which will allow its instruments to function at a
comfortable 85 degrees Fahrenheit. The spacecraft will make 24 orbits of the
Sun over a period of 88 days. On its final three orbits of the Sun, the
spacecraft will fly within 3.9 million miles of the solar surface, which is
more than seven times closer than the current record holder for a close solar
pass, the Helios 2 spacecraft, which passed within 27 million miles of the Sun in
1976. The Parker Solar Probe will employ four instrument suites designed to
study electric and magnetic fields, plasma, energetic particles and will also
create images of the solar wind. A primary spacecraft mission will be to aid
our ability to forecast changes in Earth’s environment caused by solar activity
which may affect life and technology, such as interruption of satellite
service. The spacecraft will also endeavor to answer the question as to why the
solar atmosphere is much hotter than its surface.
Parker Solar Probe Artist
Conception, Photo Courtesy NASA
The Parker Solar Probe
is named after scientist Dr. Eugene N. Parker, whose investigations pioneered
our modern understanding of the Sun. This marks the first time a NASA
spacecraft has been named for a living individual. Dr. Parker and members of
his family were on hand at Cape Canaveral to view the launch. The Parker Solar
Probe is part of NASA’s Living With a Star program,
managed by the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland for
NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington, D.C. The Johns Hopkins University
Applied Physics Laboratory provided the spacecraft for NASA. Scientific
instrumentation is provided by the Naval Research Laboratory, Princeton
University, the University of California Berkeley and the University of
Michigan.
Dr. Eugene Parker Views Launch Of Parker Solar Probe, Photo Courtesy NASA
______________________________________________________________________________
August
11, 2018
Space
Museum Collectibles Show And Sale Thrills Visitors
Reported
by Cliff Lethbridge
Visitors Enjoy The
Space Collectibles Show And Sale, Photo Courtesy Cliff Lethbridge/Spaceline
The Air Force
Space and Missile Museum today hosted a Space Collectibles Show and Sale at the
Sands Space History Center, located outside the southern gate to Cape Canaveral
Air Force Station. About 20 vendors participated, showcasing and offering for
sale everything from astronaut autographs, items flown in space, photographs,
cache covers, toys and models, to ephemera of all kinds and descriptions. The
annual event drew several hundred visitors, spending thousands of dollars on
various space collectibles and memorabilia. While the Air Force Space and
Missile Museum itself is located on restricted government property, the Sands
Space History Center is open to the public.
Veteran Cape Photographer And Vendor Carleton Bailie Holding
Two Pepsi “One Giant Sip For Mankind” Soda Dispenser Replicas, Photo Courtesy
Cliff Lethbridge/Spaceline
Top Space Collectors Ken And Theresa Havekotte Of Space Coast Cover Service Offer
Hundreds Of Items For Show And Sale, Photo Courtesy Cliff Lethbridge/Spaceline
______________________________________________________________________________
August
11, 2018
Delta
IV Heavy Parker Solar Probe Launch Scrubbed
Reported
by Cliff Lethbridge
Today’s scheduled
launch of a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket carrying NASA’s Parker
Solar Probe has been scrubbed. Launch was scheduled for 3:33 a.m. EDT but was
initially postponed to 3:53 a.m. EDT due to an unspecified technical issue.
Launch was postponed again to 4:28 a.m. EDT due to an apparent ground system
problem. The terminal countdown was halted at Launch Minus 1 minute, 55 seconds
due to a gaseous helium regulator alarm. The 65-minute launch window closed at
4:38 a.m. EDT and did not leave enough room to evaluate and potentially resolve
the problem and the launch was scrubbed. Launch has been rescheduled for
Sunday, August 12 at 3:31 a.m. EDT again with a 65-minute launch window which
closes at 4:36 a.m. EDT. There is officially a 60% chance that weather will be
favorable to support a Sunday launch attempt. Launch will be from Pad 37B on
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
Delta IV Heavy With
Parker Solar Probe On Launch Pad 37B, Photo Courtesy NASA
______________________________________________________________________________
August
7, 2018
Falcon
9 Successfully Launches Merah-Putih Satellite
Reported
by Cliff Lethbridge
Falcon 9 Merah-Putih
Launch, Photo Courtesy SpaceX
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket
successfully launched the Merah-Putih satellite at 1:18 a.m. EDT today from
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Pad 40. This marked the first re-flight
of a Falcon 9 Block 5 first stage booster, designed to be launched as many as
100 times with periodic refurbishment. The first stage booster launched today
was flown previously on the Bangabandhu-1 mission in May,
2018. The booster was successfully recovered with a landing on the “Of Course I
Still Love You” drone ship located on the Atlantic Ocean several hundred miles
east of the Cape. The Merah-Putih satellite was successfully deployed in a
geostationary transfer orbit about 32 minutes following launch.
Falcon 9 Merah-Putih
Launch View From Press Site, Photo Courtesy Cliff
Lethbridge/Spaceline
The Merah-Putih satellite will be guided to a geostationary orbit
about 22,000 miles above Earth at an orbital position of 108 degrees east.
Built by Space Systems Loral (SSL), Merah-Putih will be integrated into the PT
Telkom Indonesia’s network to provide service to Indonesia, South and Southeast
Asia. Merah-Putih, standing for the red and white colors in the flag of
Indonesia, carries C-band transponders which can support a wide variety of
communications applications. The satellite has a design life of 15 years. PT
Telkom is the largest telecommunications and network provider in Indonesia,
providing services including fixed wireline connections, cellular services,
internet and data communication.
Falcon 9 Merah-Putih
Main Engine Cutoff, Photo Courtesy Lloyd Behrendt
______________________________________________________________________________
July
22, 2018
Falcon
9 Successfully Launches Telstar-19 Vantage Satellite
Reported
by Cliff Lethbridge
Falcon 9 Launches With Telstar-19 Vantage Satellite, Photo Courtesy SpaceX
A SpaceX Falcon 9
rocket successfully launched the Telstar-19 Vantage satellite at 1:50 a.m. EDT
today from Launch Pad 40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Launch occurred
on time with no delays. This was the second launch of the Falcon 9 Block 5 version,
featuring a first stage booster that can be re-flown up to 100 times with
refurbishing. The first stage booster launched today successfully landed on the
“Of Course I Still Love You” drone ship located several hundred miles off the
Cape. The Telstar-19 Vantage satellite was successfully deployed in a
geostationary transfer orbit about 32 minutes after liftoff.
Falcon 9 In Flight, Photo Courtesy
Liz Allen/Lloyd Behrendt
Telstar-19 Vantage
is the latest in a new generation of Telesat
satellites that combine broad regional beams and powerful high throughput
satellite spot beams in a design optimized to serve the types of bandwidth
intensive applications increasingly in demand by users worldwide. Its Ku-band
coverage includes Brazil, the Andean region and the North Atlantic. Its Ka-band
coverage includes South America, the Caribbean, the North Atlantic and Northern
Canada. Telstar-19 Vantage is scheduled to enter service this summer. Built by
Space Systems Loral (SSL), the satellite has a design life of 15 years.
Falcon 9 Main Engine Cutoff, Photo Courtesy
Liz Allen/Lloyd Behrendt
______________________________________________________________________________
June
29, 2018
Falcon
9 Wows Spectators With Awesome Views And Halo Effect
Reported
by Cliff Lethbridge
Sometimes, all of the stars line up. They did this morning as a SpaceX
Falcon 9 rocket carried the CRS-15 payload into space. At first it seemed like
a routine night launch with darkness prevailing, but then something wonderful
happened. A few minutes after liftoff, the pre-dawn sunrise caught the smoky
trail of the rocket as it lofted high above the Atlantic Ocean. Not only did a
brightly colored trail emerge, but so did a rare event – the development of a
bright white halo around the rocket. It started as a bright white teardrop, but
then expanded to a large white circle with the rocket’s second stage burn
highly visible at its bottom. Indeed, the rocket was visible for over 8 minutes
after launch, a very rare occurrence. This was the most spectacular unmanned
launch I have ever seen in my 40 years covering the Cape. Thanks to SpaceX and
NASA for the show!
Halo Begins To
Surround Falcon 9 Rocket, Photo Courtesy Cliff Lethbridge/Spaceline
Halo Broadens Around Falcon 9
Rocket, Photo Courtesy Cliff Lethbridge/Spaceline
Halo Grows Larger Around Falcon 9
Rocket, Photo Courtesy Cliff Lethbridge/Spaceline
Halo Peaks in Size Around Falcon 9,
Photo Courtesy Cliff Lethbridge/Spaceline
Halo Dissipates As
Falcon 9 Continues Its Flight, Photo Courtesy Cliff Lethbridge/Spaceline
______________________________________________________________________________
June
29, 2018
Falcon
9 Successfully Launches CRS-15 Payload For NASA
Reported
by Cliff Lethbridge
A SpaceX Falcon 9
rocket successfully launched the CRS-15 payload for NASA at 5:42 a.m. EDT today
from Launch Pad 40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The CRS-15 payload
consists of a SpaceX Dragon capsule carrying about 6,000 pounds of supplies and
equipment bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The Dragon capsule
was successfully deployed about 9.5 minutes after launch. Dragon is set to
arrive at ISS on July 2. Two of the main elements of the Falcon 9 were flown
previously. The first stage booster was flown on the NASA TESS mission in
April, 2018 while the Dragon capsule was flown on the CRS-9 mission in July,
2016. The first stage booster flown today was not recovered as it had a design
life of just two launches. The Dragon capsule will return to Earth carrying
4,000 pounds of cargo in a month.
Falcon 9 CRS-15 Launch, Photo
Courtesy NASA
In addition to
supplies and experiments, the Dragon capsule carries a new Canadian-built
Latching End Effector (LEE). LEE will replace a failed unit astronauts removed
from the Canadarm2 robotic arm in 2017. Each end of Canadarm2 has an identical
LEE, used to grapple payloads and cargo spaceships and walk to various ISS
locations. In collaboration with the National Park Service, a toy dog
representing a Newfoundland that accompanied Lewis and Clark on their historic
expedition is being flown to help NASA and the National Park Service celebrate
two important anniversaries in 2018. The National Park Service commemorates 50
years since the beginning of the National Trail System in 1968 and NASA
commemorates 60 years since the start of the space agency in 1958.
Falcon 9 CRS-15 In Flight, Photo
Courtesy NASA
______________________________________________________________________________
June
5, 2018
Veteran
Cape Photographer Captures Stunning Falcon 9 Photo
Reported
by Cliff Lethbridge
Veteran Cape photographer
Lloyd Behrendt has released a stunning photo of Monday’s Falcon 9 flight.
Behrendt, who has photographed hundreds of launches at Cape Canaveral Air Force
Station and the Kennedy Space Center, captured the photo below a few minutes
after the launch of the Falcon 9, which was launched at 12:45 a.m. EDT Monday
June 4 into crystal clear skies. The photo captures the Falcon 9 in flight just
seconds before booster engine cutoff. The extreme color of the rocket’s fiery
trail and the distinctive “fan” of the rocket’s nine first stage engines make
this one of the most outstanding rocket photos we have ever seen. Behrendt and
his business partner Liz Allen are contributing photographers for Spaceline.
Falcon 9 SES-12 At Main Engine
Cutoff, Photo Courtesy Lloyd Behrendt
______________________________________________________________________________
June
4, 2018
SpaceX
Falcon 9 Successfully Launches SES-12 Satellite
Reported
by Cliff Lethbridge
Falcon 9 SES-12 Launch View From Launch Pad 40, Photo Courtesy SpaceX
A SpaceX Falcon 9
rocket successfully launched the SES-12 commercial communications satellite at
12:45 a.m. EDT today from Launch Pad 40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
Launch was originally scheduled for May 31 but was postponed to allow engineers
time to troubleshoot a potential problem with the rocket’s second stage. The
Falcon 9 first stage booster was previously flown on the OTV-5 mission in
September, 2017. An attempt to recover the booster today was not made, as it
had a design life of two launches. Today’s launch was flawless, and the SES-12
satellite was successfully deployed on a Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO)
about 32 minutes after liftoff.
Falcon 9 SES-12 Launch Streak Shot,
Photo Courtesy SpaceX
Owned and operated
by Luxembourg-based SES, SES-12 will allow the company to provide high
performance capacity, greater reliability and flexibility for video, data,
mobility and government services to the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions.
Employing six wide beams and 72 high throughput user spot beams, SES-12 is one
of the largest satellites owned by SES. The satellite also employs a Digital
Transparent Processor to provide customizable bandwidth services to SES
customers. The all-electric SES-12 satellite was built by Airbus Defense and
Space, and employs electric propulsion for orbit raising and on-orbit
maneuvers. The electric propulsion system dramatically reduced the weight of
the satellite as it does not require fuel tanks and liquid fuel. Once
operational, SES-12 has a design life of 15 years.
Falcon 9 SES-12 In Flight, Photo
Courtesy Liz Allen/Lloyd Behrendt
______________________________________________________________________________
May
11, 2018
SpaceX
Falcon 9 Successfully Launches Bangabandhu-1 Satellite
Reported
by Cliff Lethbridge
Falcon 9 Bangabandhu-1 Launch,
Photo Courtesy Liz Allen/Lloyd Behrendt
A SpaceX Falcon 9
rocket successfully launched the Bangabandhu-1 satellite from Kennedy Space
Center Launch Pad 39A at 4:14 p.m. EDT today. Launch was postponed 24 hours due
to a ground system abort triggered during the countdown of a launch attempt on
May 10. The Falcon 9 first stage booster successfully landed on the “Of Course
I Still Love You” drone ship on the Atlantic Ocean about 340 miles southeast of
the Cape. The Bangabandhu-1 satellite, operated by the Bangladesh
Communications Satellite Company Limited, is the first geostationary
communications satellite for the nation of Bangladesh. Built by Thales Alenia
Space, the satellite weighed about 8,000 pounds fully fueled and has a design
life of 15 years. It will provide a variety of communications services to the
Asia region.
Bangabandhu-1 Artist Conception,
Photo Courtesy Thales Alenia Space
This was the first
launch of the Falcon 9 Block 5 version. The
Falcon 9 Block 5 Version incorporates innovations to help increase the speed of
production and enhanced re-usability. Block 5 first stage boosters are designed
to fly ten times with only inspections in between launches, and might be able
to fly up to 100 times with periodic refurbishment. This dramatically increases
the pool of available first stage boosters, allowing SpaceX to provide a larger
flight manifest with quicker turnaround between launches. The Block 5 version
looks in every way similar to previous versions of the Falcon 9, with the
exception that the interstage between the first and second stages is unpainted
and appears black.
Falcon 9 In Flight, Photo Courtesy
Liz Allen/Lloyd Behrendt
Specific Block 5
enhancements include an increase of seven to eight percent thrust made possible
by uprating the Falcon 9 Merlin engines. An improved flight control system for
booster landings decreases the amount of fuel needed for descent. Endurance for
first stage re-usability is provided by a re-usable heat shield which protects
the engines and plumbing at the base of the rocket, more temperature resistant
titanium grid fins and a thermal protection coating on the first stage to limit
damage from re-entry. A set of retractable landing legs affords rapid recovery
and shipping. The Block 5 incorporates improvements necessary to assure its use
in the NASA Commercial Crew Program and various U.S. National Security
missions.
Falcon 9 Launch View From Press Site, Photo Courtesy Cliff Lethbridge/Spaceline
______________________________________________________________________________
May
10, 2018
Falcon
9 Bangabandhu-1 Satellite Launch Scrubbed
Reported
by Cliff Lethbridge
Launch
of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Bangabandhu-1 communications satellite
for the nation of Bangladesh has been scrubbed. Launch was originally scheduled
for 4:12 p.m. EDT today. The launch time was delayed twice, the first time to
4:42 p.m. EDT and the second time to 5:47 p.m. EDT. A specific reason for the
delays was not announced. A “standard ground system auto abort” was triggered
just 60 seconds before the scheduled 5:47 p.m. EDT launch attempt. With the
launch window set to expire at 6:22 p.m. EDT there was not enough time for
engineers to determine the cause of the abort and a scrub was called. The next
launch opportunity is Friday, May 11 at 4:14 p.m. EDT with the launch window
extending to 6:21 p.m. EDT. There is a 60% chance of favorable weather for a
Friday launch attempt, with a concern for possible thick cloud cover at launch
time. Launch will be from Kennedy Space Center Launch Pad 39A.
Falcon 9 On Launch Pad 39A, Photo
Courtesy Liz Allen/Lloyd Behrendt
______________________________________________________________________________
April
18, 2018
Falcon
9 Successfully Launches TESS Mission For NASA
Reported
by Cliff Lethbridge
Falcon 9 TESS Launch View From Launch Pad 40, Photo Courtesy NASA
A SpaceX Falcon 9
rocket successfully launched the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS)
for NASA at 6:51 p.m. EDT today from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch
Pad 40. Launch was delayed two days to give engineers time to study issues
related to the rocket’s guidance, navigation and control system. TESS is
scheduled to fly by the Moon on May 17 and use the body as a slingshot toward
its ultimate High-Earth Orbit, a highly elliptical orbit with a low point of
67,000 miles by a high point of 233,000 miles. TESS should be able to achieve
its working orbit by mid-June. The Falcon 9 first stage booster launched today
was successfully recovered on the “Of Course I Still Love You” drone ship
located in the Atlantic a few hundred miles east of the Cape.
Falcon 9 TESS Launch View From Press Site, Photo Courtesy Cliff Lethbridge/Spaceline
TESS is an Explorer-class
planet finder. In the first-ever spaceborne all-sky transit survey, TESS will
identify planets ranging from Earth-sized to gas giants, orbiting a wide range
of stellar types and orbital distances. The principal goal of the TESS mission
is to detect small planets with bright host stars in the solar neighborhood, so
that detailed characterization of the planets and their atmospheres can be
performed.
Falcon 9 TESS In
Flight, Photo Courtesy NASA
TESS will monitor
the brightness of more than 200,000 stars during a two-year mission, searching
for temporary drops in brightness caused by planetary transits. Transits occur
when a planet’s orbit carries it directly in front of its parent star as viewed
from Earth. TESS is expected to catalog more than 20,000 transiting exoplanet
candidates. TESS should provide prime targets for further, more detailed
characterization with the upcoming James Webb Telescope, as well as other large
ground-based and space-based telescopes in the future.
Falcon 9 TESS Ascent Backlit By Local Sunset, Photo Courtesy Cliff Lethbridge/Spaceline
The legacy of TESS
will be a catalog of the nearest and brightest stars hosting transiting
exoplanets, which will comprise the most favorable targets for detailed
investigations in the coming decades. TESS team partners include the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Kavli Institute for Astrophysics
and Space Research, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, MIT Lincoln Laboratory,
Orbital ATK, NASA Ames Research Center, the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for
Astrophysics and the Space Telescope Science Institute.
Artist Conception Of TESS, Photo
Courtesy NASA
______________________________________________________________________________
April
16, 2018
Falcon
9 TESS Launch For NASA Scrubbed
Reported
by Cliff Lethbridge
Launch of a SpaceX
Falcon 9 rocket carrying the NASA Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) payload
previously scheduled for 6:32 p.m. EDT today has been scrubbed. SpaceX said a
scrub was called to allow engineers to perform additional testing of the
rocket’s guidance, navigation and control system. Additional information was
not released. Launch has been tentatively rescheduled for Wednesday, April 18
at 6:51 p.m. EDT. Launch will be from Launch Pad 40 on Cape Canaveral Air Force
Station. TESS is a NASA satellite designed to locate planets orbiting stars in
the solar neighborhood.
Falcon 9 Rocket With
TESS Payload On Launch Pad 40, Photo Courtesy SpaceX
______________________________________________________________________________
April
14, 2018
Atlas
V Launches AFSPC-11 Mission For Air Force Space Command
Reported
by Cliff Lethbridge
Atlas V AFSPC-11 Launch, Photo
Courtesy Liz Allen/Lloyd Behrendt
A United Launch
Alliance Atlas V rocket successfully launched the Air Force Space Command-11
(AFSPC-11) payload at 7:13 p.m. EDT today from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Launch Pad 41. The Atlas V was launched in the 551 configuration, featuring a
five-meter payload fairing, five solid rocket boosters and a single-engine
Centaur second stage. This is the most powerful version of the Atlas V, capable
of producing about 2.6 million pounds of thrust at launch. The ASPC-11 payload
consists of two satellites sent directly to geosynchronous orbit, bypassing a
geostationary transfer orbit typically employed in this type of mission. The
satellites reached their proper geosynchronous orbit 22,300 miles above Earth
about six hours after launch.
Atlas V In
Flight, Photo Courtesy Liz Allen/Lloyd Behrendt
The forward
satellite is the Continuous Broadcast Augmenting SATCOM (CBAS), considered the
primary satellite of the two launched. CBAS is designed to augment existing
military satellite communications capabilities by broadcasting military data
continuously through space-based satellite communications relay links. The aft satellite
is the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA)
Augmented Geosynchronous Laboratory Experiment (EAGLE), which carries a variety
of Space Test Program (STP) experiments. ESPA incorporates six slots capable of
holding up to six separate attached small payloads.
Atlas V Five Solids Separate, Photo
Courtesy Liz Allen/Lloyd Behrendt
One of the more interesting
EAGLE experiments is a small, free-flying satellite named Mycroft, after the
brother of fictional sleuth Sherlock Holmes. Mycroft will be released and fly
to a distance of about 21 miles from EAGLE, then return to rendezvous with
EAGLE at a distance of about 3,300 feet. The experiment will study methods of
surveying, cataloging and inspecting satellites in geosynchronous orbit. The
AFSPC-11 mission is managed by Air Force Space Command, based at Los Angeles
Air Force Base, California.
Atlas V Exhaust Backlit By Local Sunset, Photo Courtesy Cliff Lethbridge/Spaceline
______________________________________________________________________________
April
2, 2018
Falcon
9 Successfully Launches CRS-14 Mission For NASA
Reported
by Cliff Lethbridge
A SpaceX Falcon 9
rocket successfully launched the CRS-14 mission for NASA at 4:30 p.m. EDT today
from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Pad 40. The rocket carried a
Dragon capsule bound for the International Space Station (ISS) under the NASA
Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract. The Dragon capsule is set to be
berthed at ISS on Wednesday, April 4. Both the Falcon 9 first stage booster and
Dragon capsule flown today are flight proven. The first stage booster supported
the CRS-12 flight in August, 2017 and the Dragon capsule supported the CRS-8
flight in April, 2016. The first stage booster flown today was not recovered,
but was successfully used to test recovery methods for future launches. The
Dragon capsule will splash down in the Pacific Ocean carrying about 4,000
pounds of cargo after a month-long stay at ISS.
Falcon 9 CRS-14 Launch View From Launch Pad 40, Photo Courtesy NASA
The Dragon capsule
launched today carries nearly 6,000 pounds of supplies, equipment and
scientific research elements to crew members living and working aboard ISS.
Scientific investigations carried will examine severe thunderstorms on Earth,
the effects of microgravity on the production of high-performance products from
metal powders, and growing food in space. Dragon also carries cargo for
research in the National Laboratory, operated by the Center for the Advancement
of Science in Space (CASIS), which includes testing of how the harsh
environment of space affects materials, coatings and components, identifying
potential pathogens aboard ISS and studying an antibiotic releasing wound
patch.
Falcon 9 CRS-14 Launch View From Press Site, Photo Courtesy NASA
Specific
scientific investigations include the Atmosphere-Space Interactions Monitor
(ASIM) which from its perch outside the European Space Agency Columbus module
will study severe thunderstorms and lightning in Earth’s atmosphere and upper
atmosphere. Metal Powder Fabrication will be studied by the NASA Sample
Cartridge Assembly (MSL-SCA-GEDS) while the Testing of Materials in Space will
be studied by the Materials ISS Experiment Flight Facility (MISSE-FF). The
patching up of wounds with a patch containing an antimicrobial hydrogel that
promotes healing and growth of regenerating tissue is carried and methods of
developing drugs in space will also be studied.
Falcon 9 CRS-14 In Flight, Photo
Courtesy NASA
Other CASIS
experiments flown include Budweiser Barley Germination designed to test methods
for growing barley in microgravity, Comparative Real-time Metabolic Activity
Tracking, Genes In Space Education Program, as well as
other scientific investigations. A small satellite to be deployed from ISS is
also being carried. The RemoveDebris experimental satellite, built by British
company Surrey Satellite Technology Limited, employs a net and a harpoon to
capture space debris which will be hauled to burn up in Earth’s atmosphere. The
satellite will itself deploy two smaller satellites which will act as space
debris targets. RemoveDebris will employ a dragsail to provide aerodynamic
resistance in the upper atmosphere. The satellite should be deployed from ISS
later this year.
______________________________________________________________________________
March
6, 2018
Falcon
9 Successfully Launches HISPASAT 30W-6 Communications Satellite
Reported
by Cliff Lethbridge
Falcon 9 Launch View From Launch Pad 40, Photo Courtesy SpaceX
A SpaceX Falcon 9
rocket successfully launched the HISPASAT 30W-6 commercial communications
satellite at 12:33 a.m. EST today from Launch Pad 40 on Cape Canaveral Air
Force Station. Launch was originally scheduled for February 25 but was
postponed to allow troubleshooting of a payload fairing pressurization issue.
The rocket’s first stage booster was not recovered, but it did, however, fire
its landing burn engines which were visible several hundred miles away in a
crystal clear sky. The booster was not expected to survive its ocean “landing”.
Recovery on a barge at sea was not possible due to high seas in the Atlantic
Ocean which did not allow the landing barge to leave Port Canaveral over the
weekend. This was a bit disappointing to SpaceX, as the first stage booster
used in this launch was being flown for the first time.
Falcon 9 Launch Streak Shot, Photo
Courtesy SpaceX
Built by Space
Systems/Loral and having a design life of 15 years, HISPASAT 30W-6 is a
commercial communications satellite operated by Madrid-based Hispasat, the
world’s leading provider in the distribution of Spanish and Portuguese content.
The satellite will be deployed in a geosynchronous orbit at 30 degrees West and
will offer a range of services, including television, broadband, corporate
networking and other telecommunications products. It features 40 Ku band transponders,
6 Ka band beams and 10 C band transponders. HISPASAT 30W-6 will serve Europe,
the Mediterranean, the Americas and northwest Africa. Fully fueled, the
satellite weighed about 13,000 pounds at launch. Roughly the size of a city
bus, SpaceX says this is the largest satellite they have ever launched.
Falcon 9 Nine Engine Fan In Flight, Photo Courtesy Liz Allen/Lloyd Behrendt
______________________________________________________________________________
March
1, 2018
Atlas
V Successfully Launches GOES-S Weather Satellite
Reported
by Cliff Lethbridge
A United Launch
Alliance Atlas V rocket successfully launched the GOES-S weather satellite at
5:02 p.m. EST today from Launch Pad 41 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
Launch was on time with no delays either to the launch date or launch time. The
197-foot tall Atlas V was launched in the Version 541 configuration, featuring
a five-meter fairing, four solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur
second stage. The vehicle can produce over 2 million pounds of thrust at
launch, and can carry a maximum 18,270-pound payload to Geostationary Transfer
Orbit (GTO) or a maximum 38,400-pound payload to Low-Earth Orbit (LEO).
Atlas V Launches GOES-S Weather
Satellite From Launch Pad 41, Photo Courtesy NASA
GOES-S is the second
in the most sophisticated family of National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES)
known as the GOES-R Series. The first satellite in the family, named GOES-R,
was launched from Cape Canaveral on November 19, 2016. The series is designed
to provide advanced imagery and atmospheric measurements of Earth’s Western
Hemisphere, real-time mapping of lightning activity and improved monitoring of
solar activity and space weather. GOES-R, renamed GOES-16 when it achieved
geostationary orbit, serves as NOAA’s operational GOES-East satellite. GOES-S,
which will be renamed GOES-17 upon reaching geostationary orbit, will serve as
NOAA’s operational GOES-West satellite. The two satellites combined will be
able to monitor from the west coast of Africa west as far as New Zealand.
Atlas V Launches GOES-S Weather
Satellite View From Launch Pad 41, Photo Courtesy NASA
The GOES-R Series
of satellites can scan the Earth five times faster with four times the
resolution and three times the number of channels over previous GOES
satellites, supporting more accurate and reliable forecasts and severe weather
warnings. Images taken include weather patterns, hurricanes and severe storms
updated as frequently as every 30 seconds. The satellites carry the first
operational lightning mappers flown in geostationary orbit, providing data on
both in-cloud and cloud-to-ground lightning in support of increased lead time
for severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings. The satellites also host a suite
of instruments that improve the forecasting and detection of approaching space
weather hazards such as solar eruptions and magnetic field variations which could
potentially disrupt power utilities, communication and navigation systems and
cause radiation damage to orbiting satellites.
Atlas V In Flight, Photo Courtesy
Liz Allen/Lloyd Behrendt
As GOES-West,
GOES-17 will be positioned to monitor the western United States, Hawaii,
Mexico, Central America, parts of South America and much of the Pacific Ocean.
GOES-17 will also greatly improve geostationary coverage of Alaska and surrounding
high-latitude areas. “Advertised” advantages of GOES-17 include more and better
data covering the northeastern Pacific Ocean where many of the weather systems
affecting the continental United States originate, better fire detection and
intensity estimation, improved detection of low clouds and fog, improved
tropical cyclone track and intensity forecasts, advanced monitoring of
atmospheric river events that may cause flooding and mudslides, better
monitoring of smoke and dust, improved air quality monitoring as well as
support of improved transportation safety and aviation route planning.
GOES-S Satellite Artist Conception,
Photo Courtesy NASA
______________________________________________________________________________