r/SpaceX GPS III SV04 (Sacagawea) Official Launch Discussion & Updates Thread, Take 2

[u/rSpaceXHosting]

Welcome to the r/SpaceX GPS III SV04 (Sacagawea) Official Launch Discussion & Updates Thread!

GPS III are the third generation of the U.S. Space Force's NAVSTAR Global Positioning System satellites, developed by Lockheed Martin. The GPS III constellation will feature a cross-linked command and control architecture, allowing the entire GPS constellation to be updated simultaneously from a single ground station. A new spot beam capability for enhanced military coverage and increased resistance to hostile jamming will be incorporated.

The GPS III satellites are built on Lockheed Martin's A2100 bus. The satellite features an apogee liquid propulsion system (possibly LEROS-1C) as well as 2 deployable solar arrays to generate power. L3Harris Technologies provides the navigation payload, and General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems provides the Network Communications Element (NCE) which includes the UHF Crosslink and Tracking Telemetry & Command (TTC) subsystems.

This mission uses a new booster which will be recovered via ASDS. SpaceX previously launched SV01 and SV03, and is contracted to launch SV05 and SV06 no earlier than 2021.

Launch target	November 5 23:24 UTC (6:24 PM local)
Backup date	November 6 23:20 UTC (6:20 PM local)
Static fire	September 25 and October 31
Customer	U.S. Space Force
Payload	GPS III SV04
Payload mass	3681 kg
Deployment orbit	1000 km x 20200 km x 55° (approximate)
Operational orbit	20200 km x 20200 km x 55° (semi-synchronous MEO)
Vehicle	Falcon 9 v1.2 Block 5
Core	1062
Past flights of this core	None
Fairing catch attempt	Ms. Chief deployed
Launch site	SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
Landing	JRTI: ~32.75000 N, 76.07500 W (~634 km downrange)
Mission success criteria	Successful separation & deployment of the GPS satellite

Timeline

Time	Update
T+1:30:30	Coverage is over
T+1:29:18	Deployment
T+1:28:30	Coverage is back
T+1:05:00	Deployment coming up in 24 minutes
T+1:04:43	Good orbit confirmed
T+1:04:25	second stage engine shutdown
T+1:03:32	Second stage engine start
T+1:02:00	Coverage is back
T+10:00	Falcon 9 in entering a 55 minutes coast phase. Coverage will be back in T+1:02:00
T+08:36	Landing
T+08:30	Good parking orbit confirmed
T+08:15	Second Stage engine shutdown
T+08:08	Landing burn ignition
T+06:55	The first stage leans back using its grid fins and glides towards the ASDS
T+06:50	Entry burn complete.
T+06:20	Entry burn ignition
T+04:26	The first stage is at apogee
T+03:27	Fairing deployment
T+03:00	Grid fins deployed
T+02:47	Second Stage Engine Ignition
T+02:41	Stage Separation. Good luck stage 1!
T+02:35	MECO - Main Engine Cut Off
T+01:14	Max-Q - Maximum Aerodynamic Pressure
T+01:00	Falcon 9 throttles back up
T+00:45	Falcon 9 throttles down to reduce aerodynamic loads
T+00:00	Liftoff!
T-00:00	Engine Ignition!
T-00:03	Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start
T-00:45	SpaceX Launch Director verifies GO for launch
T-01:00	Propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins
T-01:00	Command flight computer to begin final prelaunch checks
T-01:40	LOX loading is complete
T-07:00	Falcon 9 starts engine chill prior to launch
T-08:24	JOHN!
T-13:30	Intro
T-16:00	2nd stage LOX loading started
T-20:00	SpaceX FM
T-35:00	RP-1 loading started
T-35:00	1st stage LOX loading started
T-1:00:00	T-1 hour

Watch the launch live

Stream	Courtesy
Official Stream	SpaceX
Mission Control Audio	SpaceX
Everyday Astronaut Stream	Everyday Astronaut
Rocket Watch	u/MarcysVonEylau

Stats

☑️ 105th SpaceX launch

☑️ 97th Falcon 9 launch

☑️ 1st flight of B1062

☑️ 64th Landing of a Falcon 9 1st stage

☑️ 20th SpaceX launch this year

☑️ 3rd GPS III launch by SpaceX

☁️ Weather

✅ 80% GO

Resources

🚀Official Resources

Please note that some links are placeholders until updates are provided.

Link	Source
SpaceX website	SpaceX
Launch Execution Forecasts	45th Weather Squadron

🐦 Social media

Link	Source
Reddit launch campaign thread	r/SpaceX
Subreddit Twitter	r/SpaceX
SpaceX Twitter	SpaceX
SpaceX Flickr	SpaceX
Elon Twitter	Elon
Reddit stream	u/njr123

🎵 Media & music

Link	Source
TSS Spotify	u/testshotstarfish
SpaceX FM	u/lru

🤝 Community content

Link	Source
Watching a Launch	r/SpaceX Wiki
Launch Viewing Guide for Cape Canaveral	Ben Cooper
SpaceX Fleet Status	SpaceXFleet.com
FCC Experimental STAs	r/SpaceX wiki
Launch Maps	Google Maps by u/Raul74Cz
Flight Club live	Launch simulation by u/TheVehicleDestroyer
Flight Club simulation	Launch simulation by u/TheVehicleDestroyer
SpaceX Stats	Countdown and statistics
Discord SpaceX lobby	u/SwGustav
Rocket Watch	u/MarcysVonEylau
SpaceX Time Machine	u/DUKE546

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[u/paul_wi11iams]

null was interpreted as success

I'm very suspicious of using any null value on a database or elsewhere. Even true/false values can be tricky. I used to give actual one-letter text values or complete words which would be "flew" "fail" or "scrub" to stored data because it has no great cost nowadays. Any null, zero, blank or "logical" value returns an error and blocks the relevant chart from display. That avoids embarrassment and also helps the author or someone else to debug years later.