It's that time, again! (...in a bit over 9 hours.)
Tonight, the JCSAT-18/Kacific1 mission launches on 12/16 @ 7:10pm EST (12/17 @ 12:10am UCT). The payload is a dual-purpose broadcast/communications satellite, destined for a geostationary orbit over the Asia-Pacific region. The Falcon 9 first stage is set to land on the ASDS, and both fairing catchers are waiting at their expected drop zone.
Want to watch the festivities live? SpaceX Launch Stream (starts @ ~6:55pm EST / 11:55pm UTC):
Want to nerd out over dull procedural checklists? Mission Control Audio Stream (starts @ ~6:55pm EST / 11:55pm UTC):
Want to watch the launch stream, but with more parasocial commentary? Everyday Astronaut's launch stream (starts @ 6:40pm EST / 11:40pm UTC):
So looks like it won't reach the ISS.
Terrible day for Boeing. It was bad enough that they were charging $50m more per CCS launch than SpaceX, then this happens.
Wait till either Boeing or SpaceX lose an astronaut. Even if it happens purely by chance, people will point to it as "proof" that that company shouldn't be flying manned missions.
LES fuel? Can someone explain what this means?There is no way even if it is in an orbit that it's anything useful. The burn was delayed by five minutes, and given it's an instantenous launch window to meet the ISS this points to a misson failure.
I just don't understand Boeing's strategy to use LES fuel to give the capsule a kick into orbit. Let Atlas V do that..
I don't understand how a mission timer could be sole reason for the failure to properly insert. Are you telling me the entire spacecraft just operates on that timer, and once it was clear that no insertion was happening, its RCS thrusters continued to operate as though it was inserting? It doesn't take into account attitude, velocity etc.... and you know, sensors that verify the engines are firing. The explanation doesn't make sense IMO.
Interesting, thank you!Launch Escape System.
On the Starliner the same system that would be used to perform an abort is also used for orbital insertion, it's an efficiency measure because you don't waste fuel and engine weight that way.
Dragon 2 has the Super Draco thrusters as it's Launch Escape System, but these are used solely for abort and have zero use in an on-profile mission.
If I were Boeing, I wouldn't trust my attitude or altitude sensors either tbh.
Probably safer for all involved to trust a simple clock, rather than have the capsule continually pitch down and actively try to kill everyone on board.