Launch News SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.2 - Iridium NEXT-2 - June 25, 2017

Kyle

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A little more than 48-hours after SpaceX launched BulgariaSat-1 from KSC, another Falcon 9 will launch, this time from Vandenberg AFB, with the Iridium NEXT-2 satellites! Launch will be at 20:24:59 UTC today and it will be an instantaneous window. The first stage will land on the drone ship "Just Read the Instructions". Unlike the previous flight on Friday, this booster will be an entirely new one, however a new feature this booster will feature is a new, upgraded grid fin:

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RisingFury

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Among bits and Bytes...

Webcast starting in 30 minutes.

The new titanium grid fins should provide more temperature resistance. I really like seeing the glow they create on reentry. Keep an eye for it today if you haven't seen it.

[ame="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/879065552060260352"]Elon Musk on Twitter: "Closeup of the titanium grid fins. Not painted, as they glow red hot during a fast reentry. https://t.co/Ltrq1Prg2m"[/ame]

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Webcast is live. There's trouble:

[ame="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/879067060558417921"]Elon Musk on Twitter: "Launch at 1:25 delivering 10 satellites for Iridium. Droneship repositioned due to extreme weather. Will be tight. https://t.co/6ZcSG29B74"[/ame]
 

boogabooga

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Seems odd to launch into heavy fog?

They don't seem too worried about it though.
 

MaverickSawyer

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LIFTOFF!
Through the June Gloom like it's nothing. :D

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Good staging and boostback ignition

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Fairing away!

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Entry burn underway...

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EBCO.

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Landing burn... gear down...
 

MaverickSawyer

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NAILED IT!

No glow on the fins, though... probably too bright from the sunlight.
 

RisingFury

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The rocket did drop maybe 10 to 20 cm in the end and it's sitting a little low, but I don't think the engines impacted the ground and it isn't tilted.
 

Kyle

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Amazing, two launches in a little over 48-hours!
 

Thunder Chicken

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Wow. Just wow. Scoreboard updated!

We have not just one, but two F9s riding drone ships at sea now. :huh: ASDS recovery rate has broken 60%.
 
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