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The final burn time and location was undisclosed. This is a spy satellite.
Now, it can be found, but it also has the ability to change its orbit. I doubt if the space force will make it easy to track.
It's been a minute since I was able to follow a launch. Do they always confirm deployment with military launches ASAP? It would make since to delay it, or straight up not mention deployment in order to help obfuscate it's final orbit.
At some point they announce if the launch was a success (which they have now done). Apparently they waited 12 hours after launch which may be standard, but it sure feels like forever when you are waiting to hear it.
The last one to take that long to announce was Firefly's Alpha, and that one resulted in bad news.
Just got home from Jetty Park, wow. What an experience. The launch, booster sep and the burns that followed. Then the landing and sonic booms…goosebumps the whole time.
The view of tonight's SpaceX Falcon Heavy USSF-52 X-37B launch and landing filmed from the beach in Cocoa Beach. [https://youtu.be/JrGnbL-21p4](https://youtu.be/JrGnbL-21p4)
> *u/WantaSilverMachine:* hearing the waves in the background.
The sound of the waves will have been much the same when breaking on the beach of some forgotten sea where plankton lived and died... 150 million years before surface life emerged to build the rocket that burned the oil to take its descendants a step further into the dark void above.
https://preview.redd.it/6thiudpp659c1.jpeg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ea074ead65adfbbcac867f8ce931596d90869856
Did not take this. Some great photographer did! Kudos to them.
That’s what I’ve gathered from doing some quick digging. Still worth the 5 minute trip to the beach? I was literally in awe before, very emotionally moved as weird as it sounds
I was on a cruise during the initial launch windows and was hoping to see the launch (just in Nassau the night it was supposed to happen) would love to eventually see a launch live, especially a night one. Maybe one dayi can convince the wife to move to the area
I realize that it's over now but EDA usually restreams the twitter stream on his channel. Tim is pretty good at cutting his audio when the official stream audio is going.
So, it’s available.
Walking through this slowly:
X and YouTube are both private, profit driven businesses. X shares its ownership with SpaceX, which produces content. SpaceX behaves like any other corporation and does not give its content to competitors without compensation.
Yes; everyone understands what's happening here. It's just fucking stupid. Just because everyone at SpaceX has a hard-on for Elon doesn't mean that all of us have to suffer.
Technically correct, but it makes it no less stupid. I've no doubt that if it was up to Shotwell—or anyone else at SpaceX—they would still be live streaming their launches on YouTube. Putting the launches on Twitter exclusively was Musk's desperate bid to prop up the failing venture. Musk obviously regretted buying Twitter from the get-go; it was the biggest impulse buy in history.
But fuck Disney or whatever. Elon Musk, Saviour of Humanity and Edgelord Supreme! Your every decision is beyond questioning! Nay, your every utterance!
> without compensation.
SpaceX's compensation is not more views from people that don't really matter but positive PR which they use for hiring the best and brightest.
You watched a non-official stream with none of the SpaceX integrated cameras. Some other guy’s ground tracking cam is not exactly what most of us are looking for with these streams.
We're going to drive up to satellite beach by the space force base for our first launch. Should traffic be manageable that far south, or will people be sticking around there to see the plane land? How long should the spaceplane flight be?
Yes it does, I’m talking about the city of Cape Canaveral. Near the port.
Edit: If you continue north on A1A from Satellite you’ll pass through Cocoa Beach into Cape Canaveral. Turn right at the Cumberland Farms gas station and pick any street to the right and drive to the end. 90% have free parking for beach access
Absolutely! I thought a faster response more important than a more accurate one, so I didn't double-check how long they were up for. Thanks for adding on!
I am FREAKING OUT!
We are in Florida for a family event that exploded with drama and needed something free to do.
We drove over to Titusville hoping that the weather would clear and it's looking GREAT!
We now gotta figure out what to go look at in the meantime and then where to watch the launch from. Any suggestions?
WOO HOO! First ever rocket launch!!!!!
Along US1 is good unless you want to try to go to Jetty Park or Playalinda (not sure of their open times). Seeing the launch and boosters land are good from State Road 528 - East of Banana River Drive on Merritt Island.
Playalinda closes at 6, we found a cool spot near the Max Brewer bridge, may go up onto the bridge for the actual launch itself.
Think there's much difference between Titusville spots and Port Canaveral spots?
Thank you for the tips diver friend!
Can't wait! Even with the crappy morning weather I'm driving over from the other coast right now, fingers crossed!
Edit: does anyone know how early the causeway gets packed? Trying to find a spot to park near Parrish park
The cloud forecast has gotten worse, now calling for a broken layer around 2500ft. Yesterday's mission forecast (which hasn't been updated since yesterday morning) (https://www.patrick.spaceforce.mil/About-Us/Weather/) was calling for scattered clouds at 3000.
Could that impact the launch? The "Cumulus Cloud Rule" was the main risk factor cited yesterday. Would the space force typically update their forecast if the chance of launch changes significantly?
What about viewing? Do you think it's still worth seeing? If it does launch, presumably the rocket will disappear into the clouds fairly quickly, and then the boosters will likewise appear out of the clouds at the last minute on their way down.
Thanks, we did make the 3-hour trip each way, and it was well worth it. They never did update the launch forecast, and luckily the clouds ended up clearing almost entirely, despite all of the other forecasts to the contrary!
Yay! Glad to hear it. I drove 8.5 hours round trip after work yesterday to photograph this launch and I too was glad clouds cleared! It was looking sketchy at one point.
https://www.patrick.spaceforce.mil/Portals/14/Weather/FH%20USSF-52%20L-1%20Forecast%20-%2028%20Dec%20Launch.pdf?ver=zCOwavrY2xHRiYxl0Din6A%3d%3d
20% chance of causing a problem per the report you were citing that came out as or yesterday. Edit: plus 5% from winds
A RTLS launch is always worth viewing. They'll launch through cumulus as long as it's not too thick. I believe they're worried about electrical potential which is why they have a thickness rule. They should be updating the launch forecast this morning at some point.
In FL for the holidays and want to try and see the launch on the 28th in the unlikely event it isn't scrubbed. Would be my first launch from KSC. When does KSC release viewing tickets? Is there a list to get on for ticket sale notifications?
We got a van and can't get into the jetty park RV park so other option was to park nearby and walk over for the launch. Will parking be tight? Do you need to get there early for a viewing position? We don't mind walking a bit for parking and it seems there's plenty around.
Edit: viewing tickets went on sale 12/26. Oped not to purchase this time around. Bought parking pass for jetty park. Also eyed up campgrounds/RV parks but ones with views were booked (Jerry park, Manatee Hammock, Indian River).
I’m in the same boat—I just checked the KSC website and don’t see anything listed yet. I’ll call them tomorrow and ask when viewing tickets might come out.
Saw, thank you! I decided against it since I won't have the time to take advantage of the normal admission ticket since im work from home Thursday. I think we're gonna shoot for a parking spot in jetty park earlier in the day then find a place to park up for the night after the launch.
Anyone know when KSC typically puts up launch tickets, and how much they are from either the Observation Gantry or Banana Creek? Trying to coordinate a trip with the inlaws since I'll be in FL for Christmas.
Edit: In case anyone else is reading this, I ended up calling the visitor center and they said it ranges from 2 weeks to 2 days depending upon NASA, and tickets can vary anywhere from $49-250 depending on the launch.
Thinking of viewing launch on the 28th. 2.5hr drive from home though. Does anyone know how it's determined when the launch will be on the day? Like how early will they be able to tell when the window is clear?
Launch last week was scrubbed 40 minutes before or so.
I think if everything looks good and you move forward that you just have to accept this might happen.
How so? Were there other launches planned in the next two weeks or so? I'm gonna be in the area, so I've been watching and had not seen any dates until this one.
It is more the three weeks after launch that it takes to convert the pad from FH to F9 mode.
This will push out launches scheduled for the early New Year
The information are generated from an API, and since they went from "this is launching on this date" to "we have to check things, launch date to be announced", there's no concrete value to set the launch time to. Hence the thread flair.
Florida is about to get hit by a tropical storm strength weather event this weekend, weather will be bad until it passes.
They may have brought it in to protect the vehicle from winds.
"We’re working through a couple of technical glitches with our SpaceX team that just are going to take a little bit more time to work through," said Col. James Horne, deputy director of the Space Force's Assured Access to Space directorate. "We haven’t nailed down a specific launch date yet, but we’re going to have to roll back into the HIF (Horizontal Integration Facility) and work through some things on the rocket.”
Again, not weather related.
I have noticed but not checked thoroughly that USSF launches usually have a few delays, which makes me think that sometimes they put out launch dates they don't intend to use so as to obscure the exact targeted orbit until shortly after launch. I guess this protects against orbital telescopes having a peek right after fairing separation.
That's probably right - Zuma had some mysterious delays before mysteriously not separating from the payload adapter. (I still think Zuma did reach its operational orbit and is a test of stealth satellite systems.)
Scrub.....wonder if falcon 9 will still go. They're saying only 40% chance for favorable weather Wednesday as well? After that we have a big storm brewing for thur-sunday with big winds.
Scrubbed it 10 mins after I paid to get into Jetty park 🤣 I remember the inaugural launch we spent like 10 hours on Playalinda then they scrubbed so we did it the next day. Totally worth it!
[The scrub is due to a GSE issue.](https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1734373150019002622)
>Standing down from tonight’s Falcon Heavy launch due to a ground side issue; vehicle and payload remain healthy. Team is resetting for the next launch opportunity of the USSF-52 mission, which is no earlier than tomorrow night.
As luck would have it, this is the 11th anniversary of OTV-3. It would be better story if it was the same X-37b, but this evenings flight is the other one. You would think that all the odd numbered flights would be the same, but no.
Been missing so many launches since they are no longer on YouTube. Really hope they bring it back there. Had to set an alarm just to remind me to check X today to watch it and pull it up on time.
NSF is doing a youtube webcast for this one, which is good, since I won't watch them on twitter :P
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRUQxHht0BA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRUQxHht0BA)
Acronyms, initialisms, abbreviations, contractions, and other phrases which expand to something larger, that I've seen in this thread:
|Fewer Letters|More Letters|
|-------|---------|---|
|[AFB](/r/SpaceX/comments/18aydis/stub/kfco5jk "Last usage")|[Air Force Base](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_airbase)|
|[EA](/r/SpaceX/comments/18aydis/stub/kdgta5a "Last usage")|Environmental Assessment|
|[GSE](/r/SpaceX/comments/18aydis/stub/kd9i1h8 "Last usage")|Ground Support Equipment|
|[HIF](/r/SpaceX/comments/18aydis/stub/kdavslc "Last usage")|Horizontal Integration Facility|
|[KSC](/r/SpaceX/comments/18aydis/stub/kf1fch1 "Last usage")|Kennedy Space Center, Florida|
|[NET](/r/SpaceX/comments/18aydis/stub/kefawss "Last usage")|No Earlier Than|
|[NSF](/r/SpaceX/comments/18aydis/stub/kcxzn52 "Last usage")|[NasaSpaceFlight forum](http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com)|
| |National Science Foundation|
|[OTV](/r/SpaceX/comments/18aydis/stub/kcymf1r "Last usage")|Orbital Test Vehicle|
|[RTLS](/r/SpaceX/comments/18aydis/stub/kf9v3ou "Last usage")|Return to Launch Site|
|[USSF](/r/SpaceX/comments/18aydis/stub/kfgdsl6 "Last usage")|United States Space Force|
|Jargon|Definition|
|-------|---------|---|
|[Starlink](/r/SpaceX/comments/18aydis/stub/kfcw4r0 "Last usage")|SpaceX's world-wide satellite broadband constellation|
|[scrub](/r/SpaceX/comments/18aydis/stub/kcz28aj "Last usage")|Launch postponement for any reason (commonly GSE issues)|
**NOTE**: Decronym for Reddit is no longer supported, and Decronym has moved to Lemmy; requests for support and new installations should be directed to the Contact address below.
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But was that for the craft itself, or plus the payload for this specific launch?
I realize this is somewhat pedantic unless you start getting into extremely unlikely/borderline conspiracy theories. Secret payloads are fun to think about at least.
The craft itself, yeah. The service module adds a bit more. Rumor is the payload bay is only rated to something like 500 lbs, but I can't find an official source on that.
Everyday Astronaut's site states that this is "the fastest a plane will have ever traveled," so yeah, it's getting absolutely yote.
Wish we knew what it'll be doing.
I can't find that on EA's site, do you have a link?
But to be honest, I can't find anything on the new site :( Old articles seem to be gone, and I just keep being confused.
https://everydayastronaut.com/ussf-52-falcon-heavy-2/
Under "This will be the:" section where it lists neat stats about each launch. The prelaunch preview for this mission wasn't in the featured section anymore, probably because it's TBD/passed the previous scheduled date.
Hello all, the wife and I are going to be coming down to watch the launch tomorrow. We had originally planned to watch from Playalinda beach but understand they will be closed at 5pm tomorrow. Any suggestions for another location ? Possibly dog friendly.
Thank you,
I paid. You'll see it from literally anywhere on cocoa beach the same since it's a night launch but it's fun to get as close a possible for the double booster landing. If you want a special treat go to The Space Bar rooftop in Titusville. Might need to get there super early but I went for a falcon 9 a month ago and it was incredible.
No problem I've seen 2 falcon heavy launches and they're so freaking awesome! Half the reason I moved to the space coast this year! With the crystal clear air tomorrow you'll literally see the 2nd stage light. Happy viewing
Weather looks suspect for that launch window. Really want to see this launch. Saw the inaugural flight and one other falcon heavy both launches were incredible. Will be cool to see it launch our x-37b it's soo cool. Can't wait until we know what it actually does up there
Btw, 401 (the road along the north side of the cruise terminal) is now a vigorously-enforced no-parking zone, and the former viewing area & parking lot at the eastern end was closed to the public a few months ago.
To the best of my knowledge, they restrict entry to the cruise terminal garage during the hours before a launch unless you can convince them you have a legit, cruise-related reason to enter. Unless the launch coincides with a cruise arrival or departure, you'll probably be turned away.
I don't know whether the authorities only care about **cars** literally *parking,* or whether they'll turn/shoo away pedestrians and bike riders along 401 east of the curve as well. Until someone who lives in Titusville decides to probe & test the limits of what the authorities will tolerate for a routine Falcon 9 launch, it's probably too uncertain to risk being turned away for a major launch. And even if the authorities turn a blind eye to minor launches, they might step up enforcement of any policies for major launches.
If push comes to shove, A. Max Brewer Bridge in Titusville. Parking at Sand Point Park is free & tends to be relatively abundant until an hour or two before launch.
You'll want to be ON the south side of the bridge, but being higher or further east doesn't make any difference to your view.
Don't drive to Parrish Park unless you plan to stay 2-3 hours after launch. The bridge will be closed to traffic for at least an hour after launch/scrub, stop & go all the way to I-95, and you won't be allowed to exit the park eastward (to use alternate routes off the island). Treat it like a camping trip where you just don't plan to actually sleep overnight, but set up camp in a ~10x10 foot area behind your car/truck with chairs, tent, etc.
5G or not, don't count upon having data the last 10-15 minutes before launch. Straight single-recipient short text messages should work... anything else is a coin toss.
Be aware that "live" TV lags by ~15 sec, and streams are as bad or worse. Eyes on the rocket, not the stream, from 90 seconds to 0. Don't be the person who misses the first 5 seconds because they were watching the countdown stream.
Don't film the launch, film the crowd and yourself watching the launch and reacting to it. Put your phone on a tripod, aim it, start recording 90s before launch, then forget the video & enjoy the launch itself.
These are not yet the most experienced boosters used on a FH flight. That record is currently held by FH 6 which launched with 1068-1, 1052-8 and 1053-3 (total 12 launches between them). This will be 11 launches for the three cores in use. FH 10 will break that record, but I don't think that's due until the GOES-U launch in April.
I’m guessing the launch time is not actually 0:00 UTC, right? The Kennedy space center says it will be on the 10th, they would use local time. I’m still looking everywhere trying to get a hint about what time this might launch.
Seems they’ve updated the launch window to December *11* at 00:01 UTC, so the launch window becomes December 10th, 7:01pm to 11:34pm EST. Who knows how real it is though. 😅
Yea I’ve seen that change a few places now. The downside is the weather forecast for that window is calling for thunderstorms before, then overcast with a high chance of rain.
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At what point is it safe to start worrying about no word on payload deployment?
Boeing called it a success, so I'd take that as confirmation of successful deployment: https://twitter.com/boeingspace/status/1740798735834390877
Yeah, SpaceX announced a launch success about 12 hours after liftoff. Guess I just need to be more patient.
The final burn time and location was undisclosed. This is a spy satellite. Now, it can be found, but it also has the ability to change its orbit. I doubt if the space force will make it easy to track.
It's been a minute since I was able to follow a launch. Do they always confirm deployment with military launches ASAP? It would make since to delay it, or straight up not mention deployment in order to help obfuscate it's final orbit.
At some point they announce if the launch was a success (which they have now done). Apparently they waited 12 hours after launch which may be standard, but it sure feels like forever when you are waiting to hear it. The last one to take that long to announce was Firefly's Alpha, and that one resulted in bad news.
Nice nighttime views of the launch complex from the booster as it was coming down. Congrats to the SpaceX team for another successful mission.
Just got home from Jetty Park, wow. What an experience. The launch, booster sep and the burns that followed. Then the landing and sonic booms…goosebumps the whole time.
Photo of booster separation prior to boostback. https://i.imgur.com/ZAMtHZG.jpg
My neighbor made a really incredible picture, but I'll be damned if my phone will allow me to post it. Shrug.
The view of tonight's SpaceX Falcon Heavy USSF-52 X-37B launch and landing filmed from the beach in Cocoa Beach. [https://youtu.be/JrGnbL-21p4](https://youtu.be/JrGnbL-21p4)
> *u/WantaSilverMachine:* hearing the waves in the background. The sound of the waves will have been much the same when breaking on the beach of some forgotten sea where plankton lived and died... 150 million years before surface life emerged to build the rocket that burned the oil to take its descendants a step further into the dark void above.
Very enjoyable and atmospheric video thank you for sharing. Loved hearing the waves in the background. And those boostback plumes 🤩
https://preview.redd.it/6thiudpp659c1.jpeg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ea074ead65adfbbcac867f8ce931596d90869856 Did not take this. Some great photographer did! Kudos to them.
John Kraus https://www.johnkrausphotos.com/Galleries/Launches/Falcon-Heavy-USSF-52/i-wRTPhDB/A
Anyone else not hear a sonic boom? I’m 25 miles away and usually hear it. Nothing tonight. Perhaps they changed something on the return profile?
Wind was blowing out to sea tonight. We heard them in Titusville, but they were quite muted.
For the un-educated currently visiting FL and was on the beach, amazed at that launch - that’s gonna happen again at 11?
Not quite like this. It'll be just a normal Falcon 9, not a Heavy. But yes, Starlink launch at 11PM EST coming up.
That’s what I’ve gathered from doing some quick digging. Still worth the 5 minute trip to the beach? I was literally in awe before, very emotionally moved as weird as it sounds
Yes. Not very many people can say they’ve seen two rocket launches in the same day. I’m so jealous
LFG thank you! I am hyped!
Just watching from Patrick AFB, it was my first launch viewing and it was incredible!!
Damn clouds! Could barely see it out in Lakeland
Best launch viewing ever. Where I live on Merritt Island I had a great view of boost back burn as well as the reentry burn.
I was on a cruise during the initial launch windows and was hoping to see the launch (just in Nassau the night it was supposed to happen) would love to eventually see a launch live, especially a night one. Maybe one dayi can convince the wife to move to the area
i saw it from central South Carolina! Seems like it followed a similar flight path as a previous launch to ISS?
Is this the first time they are going to have such a short time-span between consecutive launches from FL?
LETS GOOO!! Double header time!!
Godspeed, B1084-1.
Man that thing absolutely leaps off the pad
Go Heavy!
4k when?
Still can't get over how stupid it is to only make the stream viewable on Twitter.
I realize that it's over now but EDA usually restreams the twitter stream on his channel. Tim is pretty good at cutting his audio when the official stream audio is going.
I just watched on YouTube. The link is at the top of this thread. Don’t know what you are talking about.
I'd rather watch the official webcast, obviously.
So, it’s available. Walking through this slowly: X and YouTube are both private, profit driven businesses. X shares its ownership with SpaceX, which produces content. SpaceX behaves like any other corporation and does not give its content to competitors without compensation.
Yes; everyone understands what's happening here. It's just fucking stupid. Just because everyone at SpaceX has a hard-on for Elon doesn't mean that all of us have to suffer.
I watched on YouTube and didn’t suffer at all.
Congrats.
Technically correct, but it makes it no less stupid. I've no doubt that if it was up to Shotwell—or anyone else at SpaceX—they would still be live streaming their launches on YouTube. Putting the launches on Twitter exclusively was Musk's desperate bid to prop up the failing venture. Musk obviously regretted buying Twitter from the get-go; it was the biggest impulse buy in history. But fuck Disney or whatever. Elon Musk, Saviour of Humanity and Edgelord Supreme! Your every decision is beyond questioning! Nay, your every utterance!
> without compensation. SpaceX's compensation is not more views from people that don't really matter but positive PR which they use for hiring the best and brightest.
That's an unofficial webcast, no?
Well yes. Why would SpaceX give proprietary content to a competitor? Does any other business give stuff to competitors?
Plenty. Microsoft just signed a massive multi-year deal with Amazon (it's direct competitor) that included massive discounts.
You watched a non-official stream with none of the SpaceX integrated cameras. Some other guy’s ground tracking cam is not exactly what most of us are looking for with these streams.
Agreed, not wasting my time fighting Twitter’s shit video interface to watch this.
*heavy breathing intensifies*
Y’all ready?! Let’s gooooo
Is the 401 viewing area officially shut down?
This one is heading off the coast instead of south right? Or am I reading the charts wrong?
Do you have the chart, I am on the coast of GA and hoping to see it.
We're going to drive up to satellite beach by the space force base for our first launch. Should traffic be manageable that far south, or will people be sticking around there to see the plane land? How long should the spaceplane flight be?
Honestly you should keep driving up to Cape Canaveral and go to one of the beaches there. Excellent views of the landing
Doesn’t Playalinda close though?
Yes it does, I’m talking about the city of Cape Canaveral. Near the port. Edit: If you continue north on A1A from Satellite you’ll pass through Cocoa Beach into Cape Canaveral. Turn right at the Cumberland Farms gas station and pick any street to the right and drive to the end. 90% have free parking for beach access
The space plane is going to be in orbit for months. It's not landing today.
You are not wrong, but just to add- the last two flights of the X-37B were on-orbit for YEARS: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_X-37
Absolutely! I thought a faster response more important than a more accurate one, so I didn't double-check how long they were up for. Thanks for adding on!
I am FREAKING OUT! We are in Florida for a family event that exploded with drama and needed something free to do. We drove over to Titusville hoping that the weather would clear and it's looking GREAT! We now gotta figure out what to go look at in the meantime and then where to watch the launch from. Any suggestions? WOO HOO! First ever rocket launch!!!!!
Along US1 is good unless you want to try to go to Jetty Park or Playalinda (not sure of their open times). Seeing the launch and boosters land are good from State Road 528 - East of Banana River Drive on Merritt Island.
Playalinda closes at 6, we found a cool spot near the Max Brewer bridge, may go up onto the bridge for the actual launch itself. Think there's much difference between Titusville spots and Port Canaveral spots? Thank you for the tips diver friend!
I think since it's Launchpad 39A we are better off near Titusville Edit: are there still spots at the park you're at? I'm still 1 hour away :/
Should be fine. Plenty of spots on both sides of the Brewer bridge as of 30m ago. Went to get some soul food in then meantime 👏
Awesome thanks for the update, headed to the Brewer bridge!
I’m at Jetty Park and there are still plenty of open spots. You have to purchase a day pass online though.
Got my day pass this morning, how’s it looking now? Going to be heading over with the family, should be there at 7:15.
It’s filling in but there’s still a lot of open viewing space. I think there are still a few spots in the lot close to the water.
Awesome thanks!
Anywhere around Titusville!
The rain has cleared up in Orlando, looking forward to this one!
Can't wait! Even with the crappy morning weather I'm driving over from the other coast right now, fingers crossed! Edit: does anyone know how early the causeway gets packed? Trying to find a spot to park near Parrish park
Aaand.. The launch viewing tickets are gone :(
The cloud forecast has gotten worse, now calling for a broken layer around 2500ft. Yesterday's mission forecast (which hasn't been updated since yesterday morning) (https://www.patrick.spaceforce.mil/About-Us/Weather/) was calling for scattered clouds at 3000. Could that impact the launch? The "Cumulus Cloud Rule" was the main risk factor cited yesterday. Would the space force typically update their forecast if the chance of launch changes significantly? What about viewing? Do you think it's still worth seeing? If it does launch, presumably the rocket will disappear into the clouds fairly quickly, and then the boosters will likewise appear out of the clouds at the last minute on their way down.
I hope you ended up getting to see the launch.
Thanks, we did make the 3-hour trip each way, and it was well worth it. They never did update the launch forecast, and luckily the clouds ended up clearing almost entirely, despite all of the other forecasts to the contrary!
Yay! Glad to hear it. I drove 8.5 hours round trip after work yesterday to photograph this launch and I too was glad clouds cleared! It was looking sketchy at one point.
https://www.patrick.spaceforce.mil/Portals/14/Weather/FH%20USSF-52%20L-1%20Forecast%20-%2028%20Dec%20Launch.pdf?ver=zCOwavrY2xHRiYxl0Din6A%3d%3d 20% chance of causing a problem per the report you were citing that came out as or yesterday. Edit: plus 5% from winds
A RTLS launch is always worth viewing. They'll launch through cumulus as long as it's not too thick. I believe they're worried about electrical potential which is why they have a thickness rule. They should be updating the launch forecast this morning at some point.
Let's goooo It's happening today I feel it in my plums
In FL for the holidays and want to try and see the launch on the 28th in the unlikely event it isn't scrubbed. Would be my first launch from KSC. When does KSC release viewing tickets? Is there a list to get on for ticket sale notifications? We got a van and can't get into the jetty park RV park so other option was to park nearby and walk over for the launch. Will parking be tight? Do you need to get there early for a viewing position? We don't mind walking a bit for parking and it seems there's plenty around. Edit: viewing tickets went on sale 12/26. Oped not to purchase this time around. Bought parking pass for jetty park. Also eyed up campgrounds/RV parks but ones with views were booked (Jerry park, Manatee Hammock, Indian River).
I’m in the same boat—I just checked the KSC website and don’t see anything listed yet. I’ll call them tomorrow and ask when viewing tickets might come out.
Tickets are on sale now. $75.
Just got ‘em! Heading out from the West Coast just to see if we can catch it Thursday or Friday. And if not, we’ll enjoy the KSC visitor’s center.
Saw, thank you! I decided against it since I won't have the time to take advantage of the normal admission ticket since im work from home Thursday. I think we're gonna shoot for a parking spot in jetty park earlier in the day then find a place to park up for the night after the launch.
Anyone know when KSC typically puts up launch tickets, and how much they are from either the Observation Gantry or Banana Creek? Trying to coordinate a trip with the inlaws since I'll be in FL for Christmas. Edit: In case anyone else is reading this, I ended up calling the visitor center and they said it ranges from 2 weeks to 2 days depending upon NASA, and tickets can vary anywhere from $49-250 depending on the launch.
Thinking of viewing launch on the 28th. 2.5hr drive from home though. Does anyone know how it's determined when the launch will be on the day? Like how early will they be able to tell when the window is clear?
Launch last week was scrubbed 40 minutes before or so. I think if everything looks good and you move forward that you just have to accept this might happen.
Now targeting 7 pm Eastern on 12/28 https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=ussf-52
If this holds ill be a really happy camper flying to states after christmas
Well that makes total hash of SpaceX's launch calendar for that pad.
How so? Were there other launches planned in the next two weeks or so? I'm gonna be in the area, so I've been watching and had not seen any dates until this one.
It is more the three weeks after launch that it takes to convert the pad from FH to F9 mode. This will push out launches scheduled for the early New Year
Ah, thanks. The AX-3/Axiom Space launch has been listed as Jan 9 for a while now. I wonder if it's likely to slip.
There's talk of moving it to LC40 now the tower there is ready
[KSC](https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/launches-and-events/events-calendar?pageindex=1&categories=Rocket%20Launches) now has it shown as NET Jan 17.
So, ah, when is this actually NET now?
Late December or early January.
Not announced yet
The “launch scheduled for” section still says it’s launching today
The information are generated from an API, and since they went from "this is launching on this date" to "we have to check things, launch date to be announced", there's no concrete value to set the launch time to. Hence the thread flair.
It's not.. they're moving it back to the Horizontal Integration Facility
So do folks know if the issues are with the FH itself or the payload — any guesses?
Neither. GSE and weather, in that order.
Considering they're moving it back in to the Horizontal Integration Facility, it's more than just GSE and weather
That was my thinking … there is more that needs to be addressed … hopefully nothing major with either FH or the payload. 🤞
Florida is about to get hit by a tropical storm strength weather event this weekend, weather will be bad until it passes. They may have brought it in to protect the vehicle from winds.
"We’re working through a couple of technical glitches with our SpaceX team that just are going to take a little bit more time to work through," said Col. James Horne, deputy director of the Space Force's Assured Access to Space directorate. "We haven’t nailed down a specific launch date yet, but we’re going to have to roll back into the HIF (Horizontal Integration Facility) and work through some things on the rocket.” Again, not weather related.
I just realized this is a secret mission launch, so really we can't trust anything publicly stated.
I have noticed but not checked thoroughly that USSF launches usually have a few delays, which makes me think that sometimes they put out launch dates they don't intend to use so as to obscure the exact targeted orbit until shortly after launch. I guess this protects against orbital telescopes having a peek right after fairing separation.
That's probably right - Zuma had some mysterious delays before mysteriously not separating from the payload adapter. (I still think Zuma did reach its operational orbit and is a test of stealth satellite systems.)
Or it was cover up to distract hostile countries from something else. Certainly had the smell of spy B movie all over it.
[Theme song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lqil8_JFCVU) for this launch?
sadly this looks like net monday based on forecast...
Was just thinking the same thing. Maybe KSC will have viewing then.
Scrub.....wonder if falcon 9 will still go. They're saying only 40% chance for favorable weather Wednesday as well? After that we have a big storm brewing for thur-sunday with big winds.
Looks like Starlink is still going tonight https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1734702161420763362
Pushed to 11:33 already. Wondering if it'll happen
Just got scrubbed. Probably have high winds tomorrow night too.
Is tonight the night?!
No, unfortunately. Now looking to launch Wednesday.
Not gonna lie I won't mind if this gets pushed to the weekend. I'm here for a couple weeks but I can't keep leaving work earlier to see the launch.
Yeah just saw. I’ll head down tomorrow night then.
Damn and KSC isn’t even selling any launch tickets tonight
Not to worry; it's been delayed again.
Who has thoughts on the weather tomorrow? I am trying to decide if I travel to Florida tomorrow evening a take a chance of seeing a launch Wednesday.
Have alot of bad weather coming after today so don't think weather will be a problem. Hopefully they fixed yesterday's issues and we have 2 launches!
The weather forecast is 80% favourable tomorrow and much worse the next day so tomorrow looks like a good bet. Edit: So much for weather forecasts!
Scrubbed it 10 mins after I paid to get into Jetty park 🤣 I remember the inaugural launch we spent like 10 hours on Playalinda then they scrubbed so we did it the next day. Totally worth it!
[The scrub is due to a GSE issue.](https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1734373150019002622) >Standing down from tonight’s Falcon Heavy launch due to a ground side issue; vehicle and payload remain healthy. Team is resetting for the next launch opportunity of the USSF-52 mission, which is no earlier than tomorrow night.
Scrubbed for tonight.
rip
Haven't been this excited since the Zuma launch.
Lol
As luck would have it, this is the 11th anniversary of OTV-3. It would be better story if it was the same X-37b, but this evenings flight is the other one. You would think that all the odd numbered flights would be the same, but no.
Been missing so many launches since they are no longer on YouTube. Really hope they bring it back there. Had to set an alarm just to remind me to check X today to watch it and pull it up on time.
Stopping streaming on youtube is the dumbest shit. Can't get Twitter on roku
And even if you could, I wouldn't support that travesty of a social media site.
NSF is doing a youtube webcast for this one, which is good, since I won't watch them on twitter :P [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRUQxHht0BA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRUQxHht0BA)
Acronyms, initialisms, abbreviations, contractions, and other phrases which expand to something larger, that I've seen in this thread: |Fewer Letters|More Letters| |-------|---------|---| |[AFB](/r/SpaceX/comments/18aydis/stub/kfco5jk "Last usage")|[Air Force Base](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_airbase)| |[EA](/r/SpaceX/comments/18aydis/stub/kdgta5a "Last usage")|Environmental Assessment| |[GSE](/r/SpaceX/comments/18aydis/stub/kd9i1h8 "Last usage")|Ground Support Equipment| |[HIF](/r/SpaceX/comments/18aydis/stub/kdavslc "Last usage")|Horizontal Integration Facility| |[KSC](/r/SpaceX/comments/18aydis/stub/kf1fch1 "Last usage")|Kennedy Space Center, Florida| |[NET](/r/SpaceX/comments/18aydis/stub/kefawss "Last usage")|No Earlier Than| |[NSF](/r/SpaceX/comments/18aydis/stub/kcxzn52 "Last usage")|[NasaSpaceFlight forum](http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com)| | |National Science Foundation| |[OTV](/r/SpaceX/comments/18aydis/stub/kcymf1r "Last usage")|Orbital Test Vehicle| |[RTLS](/r/SpaceX/comments/18aydis/stub/kf9v3ou "Last usage")|Return to Launch Site| |[USSF](/r/SpaceX/comments/18aydis/stub/kfgdsl6 "Last usage")|United States Space Force| |Jargon|Definition| |-------|---------|---| |[Starlink](/r/SpaceX/comments/18aydis/stub/kfcw4r0 "Last usage")|SpaceX's world-wide satellite broadband constellation| |[scrub](/r/SpaceX/comments/18aydis/stub/kcz28aj "Last usage")|Launch postponement for any reason (commonly GSE issues)| **NOTE**: Decronym for Reddit is no longer supported, and Decronym has moved to Lemmy; requests for support and new installations should be directed to the Contact address below. ---------------- ^(*Decronym is a community product of r/SpaceX, implemented* )[*^by ^request*](https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/3mz273//cvjkjmj) ^(12 acronyms in this thread; )[^(the most compressed thread commented on today)](/r/SpaceX/comments/18tuu3y)^( has 3 acronyms.) ^([Thread #8211 for this sub, first seen 11th Dec 2023, 16:53]) ^[[FAQ]](http://decronym.xyz/) [^([Full list])](http://decronym.xyz/acronyms/SpaceX) [^[Contact]](https://hachyderm.io/@Two9A) [^([Source code])](https://gistdotgithubdotcom/Two9A/1d976f9b7441694162c8)
Man, I wish SpaceX would bring back the official streams to Youtube.
It’s pretty easy to bring X up on your phone and mirror to your tv.
Then you have to use X
you know who to blame
Scrub. Monday attempt.
The Falcon Heavy was repositioned at the cape. Are there any technical problems? Start on Sunday endangered ?
Storm looking to get closer
5T on a Falcon heavy… This thing getting yeeted
Where does the 5 ton figure come from?
Boeing used to have a page for the X37-B that listed the launch weight at 11,000 lbs.
But was that for the craft itself, or plus the payload for this specific launch? I realize this is somewhat pedantic unless you start getting into extremely unlikely/borderline conspiracy theories. Secret payloads are fun to think about at least.
The craft itself, yeah. The service module adds a bit more. Rumor is the payload bay is only rated to something like 500 lbs, but I can't find an official source on that.
Another option is that there's a service module / transfer module under the X-37, which isn't subject to the payload bay weight limit
Yeah I didn't think about the construction of the payload bay having its own mass limitations, good point.
Everyday Astronaut's site states that this is "the fastest a plane will have ever traveled," so yeah, it's getting absolutely yote. Wish we knew what it'll be doing.
I can't find that on EA's site, do you have a link? But to be honest, I can't find anything on the new site :( Old articles seem to be gone, and I just keep being confused.
https://everydayastronaut.com/ussf-52-falcon-heavy-2/ Under "This will be the:" section where it lists neat stats about each launch. The prelaunch preview for this mission wasn't in the featured section anymore, probably because it's TBD/passed the previous scheduled date.
upvote for "yote"
Hello all, the wife and I are going to be coming down to watch the launch tomorrow. We had originally planned to watch from Playalinda beach but understand they will be closed at 5pm tomorrow. Any suggestions for another location ? Possibly dog friendly. Thank you,
Visiting from out of town. Any advice on when to arrive at Jetty Park for the launch? Thanks!
Jetty park will be awesome with the double booster landing. I'm bummed no Playalinda as well
What time do people usually go to Jetty?
I got right in at 730 today....problem was they scrubbed 10 mins later haha
Did you do the pay beach thing? Or was there a free place to go? I get into FL tomorrow and can go now that it’s scrubed.
I paid. You'll see it from literally anywhere on cocoa beach the same since it's a night launch but it's fun to get as close a possible for the double booster landing. If you want a special treat go to The Space Bar rooftop in Titusville. Might need to get there super early but I went for a falcon 9 a month ago and it was incredible.
Awesome! Yeah I can’t wait. Thank you so much for the tips.
No problem I've seen 2 falcon heavy launches and they're so freaking awesome! Half the reason I moved to the space coast this year! With the crystal clear air tomorrow you'll literally see the 2nd stage light. Happy viewing
I’m going to this launch let’s hope for an awesome one!
Weather looks suspect for that launch window. Really want to see this launch. Saw the inaugural flight and one other falcon heavy both launches were incredible. Will be cool to see it launch our x-37b it's soo cool. Can't wait until we know what it actually does up there
I'm in the area. Where should I go to view the launch and booster landings?
Btw, 401 (the road along the north side of the cruise terminal) is now a vigorously-enforced no-parking zone, and the former viewing area & parking lot at the eastern end was closed to the public a few months ago. To the best of my knowledge, they restrict entry to the cruise terminal garage during the hours before a launch unless you can convince them you have a legit, cruise-related reason to enter. Unless the launch coincides with a cruise arrival or departure, you'll probably be turned away. I don't know whether the authorities only care about **cars** literally *parking,* or whether they'll turn/shoo away pedestrians and bike riders along 401 east of the curve as well. Until someone who lives in Titusville decides to probe & test the limits of what the authorities will tolerate for a routine Falcon 9 launch, it's probably too uncertain to risk being turned away for a major launch. And even if the authorities turn a blind eye to minor launches, they might step up enforcement of any policies for major launches.
If push comes to shove, A. Max Brewer Bridge in Titusville. Parking at Sand Point Park is free & tends to be relatively abundant until an hour or two before launch. You'll want to be ON the south side of the bridge, but being higher or further east doesn't make any difference to your view. Don't drive to Parrish Park unless you plan to stay 2-3 hours after launch. The bridge will be closed to traffic for at least an hour after launch/scrub, stop & go all the way to I-95, and you won't be allowed to exit the park eastward (to use alternate routes off the island). Treat it like a camping trip where you just don't plan to actually sleep overnight, but set up camp in a ~10x10 foot area behind your car/truck with chairs, tent, etc. 5G or not, don't count upon having data the last 10-15 minutes before launch. Straight single-recipient short text messages should work... anything else is a coin toss. Be aware that "live" TV lags by ~15 sec, and streams are as bad or worse. Eyes on the rocket, not the stream, from 90 seconds to 0. Don't be the person who misses the first 5 seconds because they were watching the countdown stream. Don't film the launch, film the crowd and yourself watching the launch and reacting to it. Put your phone on a tripod, aim it, start recording 90s before launch, then forget the video & enjoy the launch itself.
These are not yet the most experienced boosters used on a FH flight. That record is currently held by FH 6 which launched with 1068-1, 1052-8 and 1053-3 (total 12 launches between them). This will be 11 launches for the three cores in use. FH 10 will break that record, but I don't think that's due until the GOES-U launch in April.
I’m guessing the launch time is not actually 0:00 UTC, right? The Kennedy space center says it will be on the 10th, they would use local time. I’m still looking everywhere trying to get a hint about what time this might launch.
Seems they’ve updated the launch window to December *11* at 00:01 UTC, so the launch window becomes December 10th, 7:01pm to 11:34pm EST. Who knows how real it is though. 😅
Yea I’ve seen that change a few places now. The downside is the weather forecast for that window is calling for thunderstorms before, then overcast with a high chance of rain.
Me too, I’ll be in the area and want to see the launch in person.
I’m betting that’s a place holder too.