SpaceX is ready for the launch of Falcon 9 and drone ship landings on both coasts of US. They will launch from Cape Canaveral’s Kennedy Space Center and Vandenberg Air Force Base no earlier than (NET) November 15th and 19th, respectively.
The static fire test for Falcon 9 B1047 took place on November 12 on the East Coast but it was originally planned to take place on either November 10 or November 11. The delay in the test means that the original launch will take place on November 16. Usually, the time gap between static fire rollout and the actual launch is rarely less than three days. The process of the launch of Falcon 9 will be time-consuming and a complex one due to SpaceX’s last loss of Amos-6 during the static fire back in 2016.
The launching process, it is believed, can take at least 48 hours to finish. SpaceX is extra cautious regarding the launch of Falcon 9 and as such it will be brought horizontal, extra precautions have been taken to have the payload and fairing attached to the rocket finally. The drone ship OCISLY left port on November 11 which means that it will be ready to catch Falcon 9 whenever the rocket launches.
SpaceX is also ready to launch the drone ship Just Read The Instructions on the West Coast from the Port of San Pedro. However, SpaceX will be forced to use Just Read The Instructions even though Falcon 9 will have enough propellant left to return to its original launch site. It’s fairing recovery vessel, Mr. Steven has also undergone some change and modifications and now has a steel horn installed on its bow deck. Both the rockets, B1047 to the East and B1046 to the West, have flown operational orbital missions before their launch attempts. B1047 launched Telstar 19V in July 2018 and the B1046 completed its two successful launches in May and in August.
