TECH

Space Notebook: SpaceX launch from KSC, SLS platforms installed

James Dean
FLORIDA TODAY
SpaceX hangar at the base of Kennedy Space Center's launch pad 39A.

Update on Monday, Jan. 23:  SpaceX's target launch date has moved to early Friday, Feb. 3. The launch window that morning runs from 12:07 a.m. to 2:37 a.m.

Original story:

SpaceX before the end of this month hopes to fly a Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center for the first time.

The company is targeting a launch no earlier than Monday, Jan. 30, of the EchoStar 23 commercial communications satellite from KSC’s historic pad 39A, the former Saturn V and space shuttle pad.

A liftoff on Monday would be at 12:04 a.m., so the countdown would mostly unfold next Sunday night.

Before then, SpaceX is expected to fuel the rocket on the pad and light its nine main engines, a standard pre-launch rehearsal.

The KSC launch follows the Falcon 9’s successful return to flight Jan. 14 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, a mission that delivered 10 Iridium Communications satellites to orbit and saw SpaceX land the rocket’s first stage at sea.

SpaceX needs to launch from KSC because pad 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station remains damaged the Sept. 1 explosion that destroyed a Falcon 9 and commercial satellite during a test.

SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches from California, lands in Pacific

Space Coast remembers 'great American' Gene Cernan

Satellite shipped for Falcon re-flight

The SES-10 commercial communications satellite.

The satellite expected to be the first to fly on a used — or “flight proven” — Falcon 9 rocket was transported from France to Cape Canaveral last week.

Manufacturer Airbus Defense and Space shipped the SES-10 communications satellite for Luxembourg-based SES.

SES has entrusted SpaceX with challenging missions before. In December 2013, an SES satellite was the first flown by a Falcon 9 to a geosynchronous orbit high over the equator.

No launch date has been confirmed for the SES-10 mission, which will ride on a booster that on its first flight launched supplies to the International Space Station.

Atlas V rocket blasts off with missile warning satellite

SLS platforms installed in VAB

Platform A North, the final platform, was installed this month inside High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center.

Kennedy Space Center recently completed a significant milestone in its preparations to work on the Space Launch System exploration rocket.

The last of 20 platforms — paired to form 10 levels — that will give workers access to the 322-foot rocket and Orion crew capsules was installed in High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building.

NASA and contractor employees signed the last platform half before hoisting it into position on the uppermost level earlier this month.

The space agency is targeting a late 2018 test flight of the SLS and an unmanned Orion from launch pad 39B.

Schedule of upcoming Florida rocket launches

Fallen astronauts to be honored

Apollo 1 mission patch.

A series of events next week will honor astronauts lost in the Apollo 1, Challenger and Columbia disasters.

On Thursday, Jan. 26, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and Astronauts Memorial Foundation will host a Day of Remembrance ceremony followed by a wreath-laying at the Space Mirror Memorial. NASA TV will broadcast the 10 a.m. ceremony.

On Friday, Jan. 27, the 45th Space Wing will host an invitation-only tribute to the three Apollo 1 astronauts at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Launch Complex 34, 50 years after a flash fire killed the crew in their capsule during a countdown simulation.

At 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 28, Titusville’s Flag and Memorial Committee and the American Space Museum will co-host a memorial event at Sand Point Park.

Launch and Learn

Lockheed Martin engineers on Jan. 17 visited students at Cocoa Beach Jr. /Sr. High, a few days before a missile warning satellite built by the company was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on an Atlas V rocket.

The engineers used hands-on lessons about space missions to promote science, technology, engineering and math careers as part of Lockheed’s “Launch and Learn” program."

Lockheed built the third Space Based Infrared System, or SBIRS, satellite whose launch began a $1.2 billion mission to detect and track ballistic missiles and rockets.

A fourth satellite completing the global warning system is expected to launch in November.

Contact Dean at 321-242-3668 orjdean@floridatoday.com.And follow on Twitter at@flatoday_jdeanand on Facebook atfacebook.com/jamesdeanspace.