08-24-2017, 04:08 PM
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/08/...s-landing/
This is a shiny new Falcon 9 core (the FORMOSASAT5 folks opted for a new one), which will launch from Vandenberg AFB, SLC-4E.
Following successful deployment of the upper stage on trajectory to place the satellite in orbit, the first stage will return, and land on the ASDS "Just Read The Instructions" just off the coast.
This flight could have been accommodated by the new landing pad at SLC-4, but the ground facilities are not QUITE ready yet.
This will be the 9th stage recovery mission this year... gonna need to build a bigger hanger for those soon!
According to the tentative launch manifest, SpaceX will be launching the X-37B on Sept 7, and the IridiumNEXT (flight 3) on September 30, with as many as 9 more payloads before the end of the year.
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.p...ic=43418.0
It's a good time in the space biz again!
(Edit: Correction, AM!!! This morning! Not evening!)
This is a shiny new Falcon 9 core (the FORMOSASAT5 folks opted for a new one), which will launch from Vandenberg AFB, SLC-4E.
Following successful deployment of the upper stage on trajectory to place the satellite in orbit, the first stage will return, and land on the ASDS "Just Read The Instructions" just off the coast.
This flight could have been accommodated by the new landing pad at SLC-4, but the ground facilities are not QUITE ready yet.
This will be the 9th stage recovery mission this year... gonna need to build a bigger hanger for those soon!
According to the tentative launch manifest, SpaceX will be launching the X-37B on Sept 7, and the IridiumNEXT (flight 3) on September 30, with as many as 9 more payloads before the end of the year.
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.p...ic=43418.0
It's a good time in the space biz again!
(Edit: Correction, AM!!! This morning! Not evening!)