The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket spied at Pad 39A while the December launch quartet aligns

On November 27th, photographer Tom McCool had the chance to discover an open hangar door on Pad 39A, capturing a new reminder of Falcon 9 Block 5 in the final stages of integration before launch.

Likely to launch one of two particularly important payloads at one time. in the next 4 to 8 weeks, this reminder goes in the direction of what should be a busy December for SpaceX, marked by four possible launches and preparations for the impending Crew Dragon inaugural test flight.

#SpaceX opened the HIF gate at 39A this morning showing us a # Falcon9 pic.twitter.com/3aECxYP4Y7

– Tom McCool (@ Cygnusx112) November 27, 2018 [19659006] SpaceX is currently consolidating shipping, integrating and preflighting at least three new Falcon 9 Block 5 flare rockets before the US Air Force's critical launches and from NASA in December and January. In order of expected launch date, these boosters are respectively B1050, B1054 and B1051 for CRS-16 (Cargo Dragon), an improved GPS III satellite, and DM-1 (Crew Dragon).

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On the East Coast, the next SpaceX launch is the 16th Cargo Dragon Replenishment Operational Mission, which will deliver several tons of critical supplies to the International Space Station by the latest December 4th (NET). Launched from SpaceX's Cape Canaveral Air Force (CCAFS) Complex Complex 40 (LC-40), the new Block 5 B1050 booster is already integrated and ready for use in the LC-40 hangar of the company, in anticipation of the arrival and fixing of a tried – and – tested Dragon Cargo in flight.

Although the Dragon capsule is not known, SpaceX has 4 to 8 spacecraft recovered from which to choose, although expendable chests (a removable rear section with solar panels and space storage) must still be built for each future replenishment mission. According to CEO Elon Musk and other SpaceX executives, Cargo Dragon was designed from the ground up to perform at least three refurbished orbital missions, and it is possible that CRS-16 will be the third launch of the project. such a capsule.

By sending Dragon Cargo and the upper scene on their way, the Falcon 9 B1050 will probably perform the first recovery of the return site at the launch of Block 5 (RTLS), performing a 180-degree turn and a flashback to the Florida coast to land just a few miles from the launch site

A cargo freighter experienced in flight is preparing for launch in support of CRS-14. (Tom Cross)

The cargo cargo dragon experienced in flight of CRS-14 captured in orbit in April 2018 by astronaut Oleg Artemyev. (NASA / Oleg Artemyev)

GPS III-01 (the first of many others)

Of the five start-up contracts awarded for the first ten GPS III launches, SpaceX won all five, while the delta of ULA IV has been awarded a launch contract for one of these satellites, leaving four others at stake in the next few years. The first "space vehicle", the GPS III 01 serial number (GPS III-01), is ready to be launched, pending the completion of some exams by the US Air Force of the recently released update of the Block 5 Falcon 9 upgrade.

18, the most curious aspect of the first Falcon 9 GPS launch is the glaring reality that most signs currently suggest a deliberately configuring consumable new new Falcon 9 Block 5. Given that SpaceX has made it clear that the Block 5 thrusters were aiming at least to be able to make 10 launches with little or no renovation, spending one new without reusing it would have a potentially huge opportunity cost.

B1054 Enhancer is ready to be involved in this mission. It is currently clbadified in the "Expendable" category, that is, there is no recovery in the east.

Here is the pbadenger: pic.twitter.com/ohJFIz197P

– Chris B – NSF (@NASASpaceflight) of November 19, 2018

According to all reasonable estimates, Falcon 9 Block 5 should be able to place the GPS III satellite ~ 3900 kg (8600 lb) on a medium Earth orbit with a large margin for the recovery of a drone ship in the Atlantic. Likely to embark on the Falcon 9 B1054, the only possible explanation for an expendable mission would be a request (or a request) from SpaceX's customer, the US Air Force.

The orbital debut of Crew Dragon (DM-1)

Finally, SpaceX and NASA has – perhaps for the first time in the history of the Commercial Crew Program (PCC) – set the date of the first orbital launch of a spacecraft developed under the responsibility of the program, in this case the crew of SpaceX atop a Falcon 9, block 5 rocket. NET January 7, 2019, this date is certainly tenuous, but it does indicate that SpaceX is certain that hardware, software and general operations are quite acceptable. SpaceX now more or less expects NASA's terribly slow bureaucracy to perform much more mundane tasks of performing administrative tasks, coordinating ISS schedules to adapt to Crew Dragon. and other miscellaneous tasks.

In this illustration, a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft is shown in low Earth orbit. (SpaceX)

DM-2 astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley train for their first flight at Crew Dragon. (NASA)

The B1051 made its last static fire in Texas last month and has since been shipped to Florida. (SpaceX)

Time will tell, but Chief Operating Officer and President Gwynne Shotwell said in October 2018 that she expected Falcon 9 and the first orbit-ready Dragon Crew to be vertical at Pad 39A before the month of December. , basically ready for launch as soon as NASA and ISS planning is ready. It is almost impossible to know for sure, but the rocket spotted Tuesday in the Pad 39A hangar could very well be the Falcon 9 B1051 and a top scene ready to welcome the crew preparing for the first flight of the day. Crew Dragon standalone test, or B1054 (unconfirmed) in the final stages of preparation for the imminent launch of SpaceX GPS III.

Everything will be clarified in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, the next launch of SpaceX – SSO-A on the west coast – entered the early days of December thanks to exceptionally harsh weather conditions over the launch pad.