When SpaceX last updated their launches page after the scrub of the ispace Hakuto-R mission 1 launch, they said, "A new target launch date will be shared once confirmed." It still says that right now (2100 or 9:00 PM EST). Twitter also hasn't posted an update.
But somehow, somebody got a launch date on SpaceflightNow's launch schedule, one of my regular "Go To" sources for this sort of information. I discovered this accidentally, by checking to see if they had any updates. As of a few minutes ago, they still post this:
That means two launches in less than 15 hours from two pads about 3-1/2 miles apart. From here on the east coast, that's Tuesday night / Wednesday morning - and Wednesday evening.
I'm just not completely sure if this is true and trustworthy since none of the official SpaceX channels are saying it.
I don't have any close, personal contacts working on the Cape these days, or I'd ask if those pads will need to be cleared when the other one launches. A bigger deal for the one launching second.
Artemis/Orion fired its service module engine again today to begin its "Trans Earth Injection," taking it out of the lunar sphere of influence and starting its return on a trajectory to Earth.
The engine burn Monday lasted 3 minutes and 27 seconds, changing Orion’s velocity by about 655 mph (961 feet per second). The engine burn and the effect of lunar gravity bent the Orion spacecraft’s trajectory to send it on a course toward Earth, targeting a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean west of San Diego on Sunday, Dec. 11.
After coming out from behind the moon (from our vantage point on Earth), Orion took this picture of the crescent Earth and some epic lens flare that looks pinkish orange, embedded in a larger, more blue/purple lens flare.
Well, the Space Wing there (I forget the number) is happy with the self-destruct capabilities of SpaceX launches, so they can do them in as little time as 6 hours apart on adjacent pads.
ReplyDeleteAlso, since SpaceX does fill-and-launch, there's no danger if the idle rocket is hit by anything because there's nothing explosively sensitive on it other than the destruct package's explosives!
Pretty neat!
So, yeah, they can do it.
BTW, since there are TWO landing pads, they can do two Falcon 9's in quick succession... just make sure the booster programming selects the EMPTY pad for the second launch. Oops...
Delete56th Space Wing, USSF
DeleteWaitwhut?
ReplyDeleteSomething on the Internet being totally inaccurate?
Stop the presses! :)
What's the over/under on how long it takes for the UFO community to declare a sighting with the orange-pink lens flare?
ReplyDeleteI think they did it yesterday when the picture first came down ;-)
DeleteIt looks almost like a refraction of the Earth image somehow frequency shifted from invisible IR to visible red.
DeleteI think it's the sun itself. Maybe a reflection of the sun off the solar panels or something else we can't see. By the angle of the crescent Earth and the light on the Orion capsule, I think the sun is in that general direction but that's about all I can get of that pic.
DeleteA truly wonderful picture.
ReplyDeleteSpaceflight Now is now listing it as TBD
ReplyDelete