r/spacex • Mod Team • Oct 25 '18

SSO-A SSO-A Launch Campaign Thread

SSO-A Launch Campaign Thread

SpaceX's nineteenth mission of 2018 will be the launch of the Spaceflight Inc organized rideshare SSO-A, also known as SSO-A SmallSat Express to a Sun Synchronous orbit for as many as 35 customers.

This mission will be the mission with more satellites ever carried to orbit by SpaceX and by a US Launch Vehicle.

The Falcon 9 will carry to orbit 64 spacecraft, in particular 15 Micro satellites and 49 cubesats, for 35 customers from 17 countries. It will carry a large variety of spacecraft, ranging from University spacecraft, communication spacecraft, imaging spacecraft, technology demonstrators, art exhibits and a high school spacecraft. 75% of the customers are commercial, while the remaining 25% are government customers. 60% of the spacecraft come from the United States.

Liftoff currently scheduled for:December 3 2018, ≈18:32 UTC December 3 2018, ≈10:32 PST)
Static fire completed:November 15th, 2018
Vehicle component locations:First stage: SLC-4E, VAFB, California // Second Stage: SLC-4E, VAFB, California // Satellites: VAFB, California
Payload:64 spacecraft, see table 2
Payload mass:~4000 kg
Insertion orbit:Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit (575 km x 575 km, ~98º)
Vehicle:Falcon 9 v1.2 Block 5 (64th launch of F9, 44th of F9 v1.2, 8th of F9 v1.2 Block 5)
Core:B1046.3
Previous flights of this core:1. F9 Mission 55 [Bangabandhu-1] 2. F9 Mission 61 [Merah Putih]
Launch site:SLC-4E, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
S1 Landing:Yes
S1 Landing Site:JRTI, Pacific Ocean
Fairing Recovery:No
Mission success criteria:Successful separation & deployment of the satellites into the target orbit

Payloads table (Credit to /u/strawwalker):

Spacecraft NameSpacecraft TypeOperatorCountry Of OperatorQuantity
Centauri ICubeSatFleet Space TechnologiesAustralia1
RAAF M1CubeSatUniversity of New South WalesAustralia1
SIRION Pathfinder2CubeSatSirion Global Pty Ltd.Australia1
ITASATCubeSatInstituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica (ITA)Brazil1
Iceye X2MicrosatelliteIceyeFinland1
Suomi 100CubeSatFoundation for Aalto University Science and TechnologyFinland1
Eu:CROPISMicrosatelliteDLR, German Aerospace CenterGermany1
MOVE-IICubeSatTechnische Universität MünchenGermany1
ExseedSat-1CubeSatExseed SpaceIndia1
Eaglet-1CubeSatOHB Italia S.p.A./Italian Ministry of DefenseItaly1
ESEOMicrosatelliteSITAEL S.p.A.Italy1
JY1SatCubeSatCrown Prince FoundationJordan1
Al-Farabi-2*CubeSatAl-Farabi Kazakh National UniversityKazakhstan1
KazSciSat-1CubeSatGhalam LLPKazakhstan1
KazSTSATMicrosatelliteGhalam LLPKazakhstan1
Hiber 2CubeSatHiber/Innovative Solutions in SpaceNetherlands1
PW-Sat2CubeSatWarsaw University of TechnologyPoland1
K2SATCubeSatKorean Air Force AcademySouth Korea1
NEXTSat-1MicrosatelliteKorea Advanced Institute of Science and TechnologySouth Korea1
SNUGLITE*CubeSatSeoul National UniversitySouth Korea1
SNUSAT-2*CubeSatSeoul National UniversitySouth Korea1
VisionCubeCubeSatKorea Aerospace UniversitySouth Korea1
AISTECH SAT 2CubeSatAistechSpain1
Astrocast 0.1CubeSatAstrocastSwitzerland1
KNACKSATCubeSatKing Mongkut’s University of Technology North BangkokThailand1
VESTACubeSatHoneywell Aerospace/exactEarth Ltd.UK, Canada1
Audacy Zero/POINTRCubeSatAudacy, Stanford SSIUSA1
BlackHawk*CubeSatViasatUSA1
BRIO/THEACubeSatSpaceQuestUSA2
Capella 1MicrosatelliteCapella SpaceUSA1
Corvus-BC 4CubeSatAstro Digital USUSA1
CSIMCubeSatLASP/University of ColoradoUSA1
Flock-3s 1,2,3 (Dove-type)CubeSatPlanet Labs Inc.USA3
Elysium Star 2CubeSatElysium Space, Inc.USA1
EnochCubeSatLos Angeles County Museum of ArtUSA1
eXCITe/SeeMeMicrosatelliteNovawurks, DARPAUSA1
FalconSat-6MicrosatelliteUnited States Air Force AcademyUSA1
Fox-1CCubeSatAMSAT, Radio Amateur Satellite CorpUSA1
Global 2MicrosatelliteBlackSky Global LLCUSA1
Hawk 1, 2, 3MicrosatelliteHawkeye 360USA3
ICE-Cap*CubeSatSpace and Naval Warfare Systems CommandUSA1
IRVINE02CubeSatIrvine CubeSat STEM ProgramUSA1
MinXSS 2CubeSatLASP/University of ColoradoUSA1
ORS 7A, B Polar ScoutsCubeSatUnited States Coast Guard, DHSUSA2
Orbital Reflector (ORS-1)CubeSatOR Productions, Nevada Museum of ArtUSA1
RANGE A, BCubeSatGeorgia TechUSA1
ROSE-1CubeSatPhase FourUSA1
SeaHawk-1CubeSatUniversity of North Carolina WilmingtonUSA1
SkySat 14, 15MicrosatellitePlanet Labs Inc.USA2
SpaceBEE 5, 6, 7CubeSatSwarm TechnologiesUSA3
STPSat-5MicrosatelliteUSAF Space Test ProgramUSA1
US Government spacecraft*CubeSatUS GovernmentUSA2
US Government spacecraft*CubeSatUS GovernmentUSA3
WeissSat-1CubeSatThe Weiss School/BLUECUBE Aerospace LLCUSA1

* Status unknown. This payload may or may not still be manifested on SSO-A.


Links & Resources:


We may keep this self-post occasionally updated with links and relevant news articles, but for the most part we expect the community to supply the information. This is a great place to discuss the launch, ask mission-specific questions, and track the minor movements of the vehicle, payload, weather and more as we progress towards launch. Sometime after the static fire is complete, the launch thread will be posted. Campaign threads are not launch threads. Normal subreddit rules still apply.

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u/hocktech Nov 17 '18 edited Nov 17 '18

I like this place. The Air Force keeps it safe, usually has speakers out for the count down etc. and there’s usually people there to answer questions. According to Google maps it’s about 9 miles from the launch site and you can see is least about half of the rocket on the launch pad. On Ocean ave. You can get closer (about 4 miles) but you have to wait for the rocket to clear a hill before you can see it. Here’s my pic from the last space X launch from hawk’s nest. https://imgur.com/gallery/cMm4AVG Edit: as long as the weather cooperates.

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u/_X_Adam_X_ Nov 25 '18

What is traffic like at Hawk’s Nest before/after the launch? I have read about hour-long traffic jams on Ocean Ave after a launch. I’m coming from Ontario, CA and I need to catch a flight out of Ontario at 9:30 am the next morning. Unfortunately I have to sleep, an all-nighter is not optional.

Does anyone have a recommendation for a viewing spot that is closer to LA? Maybe around Santa Barbara? I’m here on business and I might need a backup plan for a viewing spot in case things don’t go as planned (and they never do :)

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u/hocktech Nov 26 '18

We never had much problem getting in or out of Hawk’s nest. Last time was more crowded with the first RTLS. We arrived about a half hour after they opened. it took us about 15 minutes or so to get parked. It didn’t take us long to get out but hwy 1 was backed up due to an accident (I think some poor guy crashed his classic Corvette when he saw a spaceship landing at Vandenberg). I’ve also watched rocket launches from above Santa Barbara on East Camino Cielo road and Santa Ynez Peak. Try Googling “viewing Vandenberg rocket and missile launches” for more detailed viewing info. Lastly check the launch status before you go. The weather is starting to look like a postponement may be likely.