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First newly improved SpaceX Block 5 Falcon 9 booster vents
gaseous oxygen in the final seconds of countdown before aborting planned May 10, 2018 liftoff with Bangabandhu-1 geocomsat for Bangladesh on Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. Launch reset to May 11. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com |
Ken Kremer
— SpaceUpClose.com — 11 May 2018
— SpaceUpClose.com — 11 May 2018
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER,
FL – A technical glitch in the final
seconds of the countdown leading up to the first launch of the newly improved Falcon
9 Block 5 booster built by Elon Musk’s SpaceX aborted Thursday’s planned May 10
blastoff from the Florida Space Coast with Bangabandhu-1; the the 1st ever
geostationary communications satellite for the nation of Bangladesh.
FL – A technical glitch in the final
seconds of the countdown leading up to the first launch of the newly improved Falcon
9 Block 5 booster built by Elon Musk’s SpaceX aborted Thursday’s planned May 10
blastoff from the Florida Space Coast with Bangabandhu-1; the the 1st ever
geostationary communications satellite for the nation of Bangladesh.
Launch has been
rescheduled to Friday afternoon, May 11.
rescheduled to Friday afternoon, May 11.
The launch was unexpectedly aborted
automatically at T Minus 45 seconds due to a “standard ground
system auto abort” SpaceX said later after the 22-story tall rocket had been fully fueled and was vigorously
venting vaporized liquid oxygen propellant in its gaseous form from the second
stage.
automatically at T Minus 45 seconds due to a “standard ground
system auto abort” SpaceX said later after the 22-story tall rocket had been fully fueled and was vigorously
venting vaporized liquid oxygen propellant in its gaseous form from the second
stage.
Liftoff from historic
seaside Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida has
been reset to Friday afternoon, May 11, after SpaceX engineers reviewed the
telemetry.
seaside Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida has
been reset to Friday afternoon, May 11, after SpaceX engineers reviewed the
telemetry.
“Standing down today due to a standard ground
system auto abort at T-1 min,” SpaceX tweeted.
system auto abort at T-1 min,” SpaceX tweeted.
“Rocket and payload are in good health—teams
are working towards tomorrow’s backup launch opportunity at 4:14 p.m. EDT, or
20:14 UTC.”
are working towards tomorrow’s backup launch opportunity at 4:14 p.m. EDT, or
20:14 UTC.”
The May 11 launch window again extends
slightly over two hours; opening at 4:14 p.m. EDT (2014 GMT) and closing at 6:21 p.m. EDT (2221
GMT).
slightly over two hours; opening at 4:14 p.m. EDT (2014 GMT) and closing at 6:21 p.m. EDT (2221
GMT).
This newest and last
major upgrade to the Falcon 9 is dubbed the Block 5 version. The rocket on pad
39A is the first built Block 5 rocket.
major upgrade to the Falcon 9 is dubbed the Block 5 version. The rocket on pad
39A is the first built Block 5 rocket.
At a prelaunch media
telecon SpaceX CEO Elon Musk says numerous improvements built onto the Block 5
Falcon 9 will significantly increase the reliability and reusability of the
Falcon 9 including faster turnaround with less maintenance and fewer
refurbishments.
telecon SpaceX CEO Elon Musk says numerous improvements built onto the Block 5
Falcon 9 will significantly increase the reliability and reusability of the
Falcon 9 including faster turnaround with less maintenance and fewer
refurbishments.
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Up close landing leg view of first upgraded
SpaceX Block 5 Falcon 9 booster ahead of planned with Bangabandhu-1 geocomsat for Bangladesh on Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida, reset to May 11. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com |
Musk expects each Block 5 rocket to launch 10 times before requiring
any appreciable maintenance or refurbishments.
any appreciable maintenance or refurbishments.
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Up close nose
cone and grid fin view of first upgraded SpaceX Block 5 Falcon 9 booster ahead of planned with Bangabandhu-1 geocomsat for Bangladesh on Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida, reset to May 11. Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com/spaceupclose.com |
The weather outlook for Friday has improved and is currently
favorable. The official forecast issued last night by the U.S. Air Force’s 45th
Weather Squadron indicates a 70% chance of favorable weather conditions at
launch time, compared to 60% earlier.
favorable. The official forecast issued last night by the U.S. Air Force’s 45th
Weather Squadron indicates a 70% chance of favorable weather conditions at
launch time, compared to 60% earlier.
The primary concern is for the Thick Cloud Layer Rule.
In case of a 24 hour delay, the forecast drops to a 60% chance of
favorable weather conditions at launch time. The primary concern remains for
the Thick Cloud Layer Rule and Cumulus Cloud Rule.
favorable weather conditions at launch time. The primary concern remains for
the Thick Cloud Layer Rule and Cumulus Cloud Rule.
Watch for Ken’s continuing onsite coverage of NASA, SpaceX,
ULA, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Orbital ATK and more space and mission
reports direct from the Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station,
Florida and Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia.
ULA, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Orbital ATK and more space and mission
reports direct from the Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station,
Florida and Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia.
Stay tuned here for Ken’s continuing
Earth and Planetary science and human spaceflight news: www.kenkremer.com –www.spaceupclose.com –
twitter @ken_kremer – ken
at kenkremer.com
Earth and Planetary science and human spaceflight news: www.kenkremer.com –www.spaceupclose.com –
twitter @ken_kremer – ken
at kenkremer.com
