SpaceX will be attempting to launch Integrated Flight Test today during a 110 minute window that began at 8.00am Eastern Time. This will test their combined Starship and Superheavy Booster system they are developing to use in their plans to colonize Mars. There are several video links below where you can watch the test via either citizen journalists or the official SpaceX feed on Twitter. The current launch attempt has been delayed to 9.10am Eastern due to boaters that strayed into the danger zone. The SpaceX video feed will be embedded on the SpaceX website at https://www.spacex.com/launches/mission/?missionId=starship-flight-3
SpaceX and NASA are targeting no earlier than Wednesday, October 5 for Falcon 9's launch of Dragon's fifth operational human spaceflight mission (Crew-5) to the International Space Station from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The instantaneous launch window opens at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time, with a backup opportunity available on Thursday, October 6 at 11:38 a.m. Eastern Time.
SpaceX Crew-5 Mission | Launch Webcast Starts at 8:30am
This will be the fifth crewed operational NASA Commercial Crew Program flight of a Crew Dragon spacecraft, and the eighth overall crewed orbital flight. The mission is scheduled to launch today and is due to transport four crew members to the International Space Station.
Two NASA astronauts, one JAXA astronaut, and one Russian cosmonaut have been assigned to the mission. Three of the currently assigned crew members were assigned following delays to Boeing's Starliner program. Commander Nicole Mann was reassigned to the flight from Boeing's Boe-CFT mission, while Pilot Josh Cassada and Mission Specialist Koichi Wakata transferred from Boeing Starliner-1. Anna Kikina was reassigned from Soyuz MS-22. Three of the four crew members would be making their first space flight, with the exception of Koichi Wakata, who is a veteran of four previous space flights.
The Dragon spacecraft supporting this mission previously flew Crew-3 to and from the space station. The first stage is a newly built Falcon-9 v1.2 Block 5 (designated B1077.1). This will be the 179th launch of a Falcon-9 rocket. Following stage separation, Falcon 9's first stage will land on the Just Read the Instructions droneship stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. There have been 138 successful landings of Falcon-9 boosters, making this the 139th if successful. This will also be the 45th SpaceX launch this year.
During their time on the orbiting laboratory, the crew will conduct over 200 science experiments and technology demonstrations in areas such as human health and lunar fuel systems.
Other live streams:
NASA SPACEflight
Spaceflight Now
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**update** The flight was successful and here is a recap from CNET:
Shortly after 9am Eastern Time this morning, Blue Origin is scheduled to launch Jeff Bezos, his brother Mark Bezos, Wally Funk, and Oliver Daemen, after the unnamed auction winner dropped out due to a scheduling conflict. Learn more about Blue Origin on [Wikipedia]. Meanwhile, several video players from multiple sources to watch the event have been embedded below a couple of explainer videos. A video of the full flight will be added after the flight is complete.
Replay: First Human Flight Pre-Launch Mission Briefing
Former NASA Astronaut Mike Massimino Explains Jeff Bezos's Space Flight | WIRED
Wally Funk will fly to space on New Shepard’s first human flight
Blue Origin Official Webcast
NASA Spaceflight (Citizen Journalists)
Everyday Astronaut (Citizen Journalists)
CBS News (Legacy Media Outlet)
If you receive value from what Macon Media provides to the community, please consider becoming a supporter and contribute at least a dollar a month. Those who support Macon Media with at least a dollar a month receive early access to video of some events and meetings before they are made public on the website. Videos and news involving public safety are not subject to early access.
**UPDATE** Here is the portion of the webcast from just before release to wheel stop on the runway.
...and here is Richard Branson's message from the edge of space...
Richard Branson, the billionaire founder of Virgin Galactic, is set to fly to space with two pilots and three other people. Learn more about the flight and the people that will be going to space with him today on this Virgin Galactic Video.
Introducing Virgin Galactic Unity 22 Crew
(Promo video by Virgin Galactic)
Macon Media has included several choices of video streamers for following this event and video players have been embedded below. After the flight, this article will be updated with video and screenshots of the flight. You can also follow along on FlightAware at https://flightaware.com/live/flight/VGX1
Watch Richard Branson fly to space on Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo!
(Video and play by play by Tim Dodd, the Everyday Astronaut)
LIVE: Virgin Galactic launches Richard Branson to space on Unity 22
(Video and play by play by the NASA Spaceflight Team)
Watch Live: Richard Branson’s flight to space aboard Virgin Galactic rocket plane
(Video and play by play by CBS News)
Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo launch with Richard Branson 10:30 am ET | LiveNOW from FOX
(Video and play by play by LiveNOW from FOX)
If you receive value from what Macon Media provides to the community, please consider becoming a supporter and contribute at least a dollar a month. Those who support Macon Media with at least a dollar a month receive early access to video of some events and meetings before they are made public on the website. Videos and news involving public safety are not subject to early access.
Dry weather and warming temperatures are expected through the end
of the work week. A cold front will impact the area over the weekend
with some uncertainty in the forecast for early next week.
Above the Fold
With Key Metrics Increasing Rapidly, North Carolina to Begin Modified Stay at Home Order to Slow COVID-19 Spread [LINK]
SpaceX tested their newest rocket design yesterday afternoon in Texas. [Play by play]
The test article, called SN8, achieved the highest altitude flight by a methane fueled full flow staged combustion cycle engine. The new rocket, called Starship, reached an altitude of around 40,000 feet before it performed a "belly flop manuever" and fell back to earth, using aerodynamic forces to steer it back to the targeted landing pad before its engines were reignited and it atempted a landing. Due to low pressure in the header tanks, the raptor engines were not able to achieve full thrust and the SN8 test article was mostly destroyed. SpaceX has another test article, called SN9 that will be performing another test using what they've learned from this test flight. Video is posted below.
Full Flight
Landing Attempt
(and Subsequent Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly)
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General forecast through Tuesday night
Franklin area
Today
Sunny, with highs in the mid-60s. Calm winds increasing to come out of the south around 5 mph by noon.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with lows in the mid-30s. Calm winds.
Friday
Sunny, with highs in the mid-60s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night
Mostly cloudy, with lows around 40. Light winds out of the southeast.
Saturday
A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly after 9am. Mostly cloudy, with highs in the mid-to-upper 50s. Calm winds early increasing to come out of the south 5 to 10 mph by midmorning.
Saturday Night
A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the lower 40s.
Highlands area
Today
Sunny, with highs near in the mid-50s. Winds out of the north around 5 mph becoming calm by noon.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with lows in the mid-to-upper 30s. Winds out of the southeast around 5 mph becoming calm before midnight.
Friday
Sunny, with highs near in the mid-50s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night
Mostly cloudy, with lows in the upper 30s. Winds out of the south 3 to 6 mph.
Saturday
A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly after 10am. Mostly cloudy, with highs near 50. Winds out of the south 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night
A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with lows around 40.
Otto area
Today
Sunny, with highs in the mid-60s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with lows in the mid-30s. Calm winds.
Friday
Sunny, with highs in the lower 60s. Calm winds in the morning increasing to come out of the south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night
Mostly cloudy, with lows around 40. Light winds out of the southeast.
Saturday
A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly after 9am. Mostly cloudy, with highs in the mid-50s. Winds out of the south 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night
Showers likely, mainly before 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the mid-40s. The chance of precipitation is 60%.
Nantahala area
Today
Sunny, with highs near 60. Light and variable winds.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with lows in the mid-30s. Calm winds.
Friday
Sunny, with highs near 60. Light winds out of the southeast.
Friday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with lows around 40. Winds out of the southeast around 5 mph becoming calm before midnight.
Saturday
A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly after 7am. Mostly cloudy, with highs in the low-to-mid 50s. Winds out of the south 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night
A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with lows in the low-to-mid 40s.
HAZARDS
Hazardous weather is not expected today.
COVID-19 Briefing
The Macon Media COVID-19 Briefing, aka the COVID Linkapalooza [LINK] will be published later this morning.
The local numbers, tables, and graphs are posted below.
Here are the latest COVID-19 Numbers and Demographics Report from Macon Public Health, along with a couple of charts by Macon Media to show you the long-term trends since May 30, 2020, when the health department started releasing numbers to Macon Media.
Cases
1034 Detected
(+14 from Tuesday and +78 from last Wednesday and +223 in four weeks)
92 Active
(+7 from Tuesday and +18 from last Wednesday and +52 in four weeks)
933 Recovered
(+7 from Tuesday and +60 from last Wednesday and +170 in four weeks)
9 Deaths
(unchanged from Tuesday and unchanged from last Wednesday and +1 in four weeks)
Testing
7352 by MCPH
(+83 from Tuesday and +299 from last Wednesday and +705 in four weeks)
4396 by Others
(unchanged from Tuesday and +420 from last Wednesday and +1089 in four weeks)
11748 total
(+83 from Tuesday and +719 from last Wednesday and +1794 in four weeks)
145 tests pending results
(+15 from Tuesday and -6 from last Wednesday and +58 in four weeks)
Air Quality
Air quality is in the lower range of yellow today for all elevations.
Pollen
Pollen levels are expected to be low (1.4 out of 12) with a mixed trace of sources being the culprits. Tomorrow is expected to be a little higher (1.5 out of 12).
Weather Extremes for Macon County for December 10th
Highest Temperature 68°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 2007
lowest Temperature -3°F in Highlands in 1917
Greatest One-Day Rainfall 3.40 inches at the Coweeta Experimental Station in 1952
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 6.8 inches in Highlands in 2017
Weather Extremes for Macon County for the Month of December
Highest Temperature 78°F in Franklin in 1951
lowest Temperature -12°F in Highlands in 1917
Greatest One-Day Rainfall 6.00 inches in Highlands in 1901
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 12.0 inches in Franklin in 1876
TROPICAL WEATHER
(The North Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1st to Nov 30th)
The North Atlantic Hurricane Season is over for the year. If anything does develop, the information will be posted in this section of the weather briefing.
CROWDFUNDING OR DAY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
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A view of the SpaceX Starman kitted out on the SpaceX spacesuit and sitting in the Tesla Roadster.
**4:10 pm** Here is a replay of the launch.
**4:53 pm** Both side boosters have successfully landed
**3:45 pm** The launch is a success!
**3:15 pm** Added Live SpaceS webcast to top of page so people don't have to scroll forever to reach it. **3:02 pm** Center Core filled, two side cores have reached RP-1 kerosene fueling topping targets! No issues. **2:50 pm** Everyday stronaut is now live
xxx **1:20 pm** Launch delay to 20:05 UTS (3:05 pm Eastern) due to upper atmosphere winds. **12:52 pm** For those of you who want to listen to public safety radio traffic, here is Kennedy Space Center Communications. On this feed, you can hear KSC Tower, NASA weather aircraft, and support aircraft. https://www.broadcastify.com/listen/feed/705/web
**12:02 pm**
Launch pushed back an hour to 2:30 pm per Elon Musk: Upper atmosphere winds currently 20% above max allowable load. Holding for an hour to allow winds to diminish.
Upper atmosphere winds currently 20% above max allowable load. Holding for an hour to allow winds to diminish. #FalconHeavy
Today is the day of the much-anticipated Falcon Heavy Demo Flight. If all goes well, the new rocket designed and built by SpaceX will launch from Cape Canaveral sometime after 1 pm. The launch window is from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm. The demonstration flight will be using two recycled Falcon 9 boosters and a beefed-up Falcon 9 for the core booster as the first stage. All components of the first stage are supposed to return to earth for re-use in a future flight. The two outer Falcon 9s will return simultaneously to the SpaceX landing pads and the core booster will land on the autonomous drone barge " Of Course I Still Love You" in the Atlantic Ocean. The barge is named after a planet-sized Culture starship which first appears in Ian Banks' "The Player of Games" science fiction novel. SpaceX also operates another barge ship also named after another Culture starship and it is called, "Just Read the Instructions." After the rocket coasts in orbit for a bit, it will fire off the second stage again and head out to pass near Mars with Elon Musk's Midnight Cherry Red Tesla Roadster onboard. A press kit detailing the timing of events is posted below the videos.
A couple of videos that explain more about this flight are posted below, then there are a number of video players embedded that will have live video of the launch if you are unable to get to a TV where you are when the big event takes place.
Falcon Heavy Launch, What Should We Expect?
Falcon Heavy Animation
Live Coverage of the launch (multiple channels are listed)
SpaceX
Time
PBS News HOur
Julian Danzer
Florida Cam
Press Kit
February 2018 Falcon Heavy Demonstration Mission
Mission Overview
SpaceX is targeting launch of the Falcon Heavy demonstration mission on Tuesday, February 6 from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida. The primary launch window opens at 1:30 p.m. EST, or 18:30 UTC, and closes at 4:00 p.m. EST, or 21:00 UTC. A backup launch window opens on Wednesday, February 7 at 1:30 p.m. EST, or 18:30 UTC, and closes at 4:00 p.m. EST, or 21:00 UTC.
When Falcon Heavy lifts off, it will be the most powerful operational rocket in the world by a factor of two, with the ability to lift more than twice the payload of the next vehicle, at one-third the cost. Only the Saturn V moon rocket, last flown in 1973, delivered more payload to orbit. Three cores make up the first stage of Falcon Heavy. The side cores, or boosters, are connected to the center core at its base and at the vehicle’s interstage. With a total of 27 Merlin engines, Falcon Heavy’s three cores are capable of generating more than 5 million pounds of thrust.
For this test flight, Falcon Heavy’s two side cores are both flight-proven. One launched the Thaicom 8 satellite in May 2016 and the other supported the CRS-9 mission in July 2016. SpaceX will attempt to land all three of Falcon Heavy’s first stage cores during this test. Following booster separation, Falcon Heavy’s two side cores will attempt to land at SpaceX’s Landing Zones 1 and 2 (LZ-1 and LZ-2) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. Falcon Heavy’s center core will attempt to land on the “Of Course I Still Love You” droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
The payload for Falcon Heavy’s demonstration mission is SpaceX CEO and Lead Designer Elon Musk’s midnight-cherry Tesla Roadster. Demonstration missions like this one typically carry steel or concrete blocks as mass simulators, but SpaceX decided it would be more worthwhile to launch something fun and without irreplaceable sentimental value: a red Roadster for the red planet. Following launch, Falcon Heavy’s second stage will attempt to place the Roadster into a precessing Earth-Mars elliptical orbit around the sun. It’s important to remember that this mission is a test flight. Even if we do not complete all of the experimental milestones that are being attempted during this test, we will still be gathering critical data throughout the mission. Ultimately, a successful demonstration mission will be measured by the quality of information we can gather to improve the launch vehicle for our existing and future customers.
February 2018 Mission Timeline (all times approximate)
COUNTDOWN Hour/Min/Sec Events
- 01:28:00 SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for propellant load
- 00:07:00 Falcon Heavy begins engine chill prior to launch
- 00:01:00 Flight computer commanded to begin final prelaunch checks
- 00:01:00 Propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins
- 00:00:45 SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for launch
- 00:00:05 Engine controller commands side booster engine ignition sequence to start
- 00:00:03 Engine controller commands center core engine ignition sequence to start
- 00:00:00 Falcon Heavy liftoff
LAUNCH, LANDINGS AND ORBITAL INSERTION Hour/Min/Sec Events
00:01:06 Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
00:02:29 Booster engine cutoff (BECO)
00:02:33 Side cores separate from center core 00:02:50 Side cores begin boostback burn
00:03:04 Center core engine shutdown/main engine cutoff (MECO)
00:03:07 Center core and 2nd stage separate
00:03:15 2nd stage engine starts
00:03:24 Center core begins boostback burn
00:03:49 Fairing deployment
00:06:41 Side cores begin entry burn
00:06:47 Center core begins entry burn
00:07:58 Side core landings
00:08:19 Center core landing
00:08:31 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1)
00:28:22 2nd stage engine restarts
00:28:52 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-2) Mission continues on an experimental long coast and third stage two burn to target a precessing Earth-Mars elliptical orbit around the sun
Launch Facility Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center, Florida Built to support the Apollo program in the 1960s, LC-39A supported many of the Apollo missions, including the first Saturn V launch (Apollo 4), and Apollo 11, which sent the first humans to the surface of the moon. In 2014, SpaceX signed a 20-year lease with NASA for the use of LC-39A. Since then, the company has made significant upgrades to modernize the pad’s structures and ground systems, while also preserving its important heritage. Extensive modifications to LC-39A have been made to support launches of both the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch vehicles.
DAY SPONSOR
Carrion Tree Service is underwriting the daily weather briefing and public safety updates for today. they are a fully licensed and insured tree service, specializing in dangerous tree removal, view clearing, pruning, and crane services with a 24 Hour emergency response.
Their phone number is 371-4718. They are located at 120 Depot Street.
They can handle all your tree removal needs in good or bad weather.
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You can find out more information on how to do that and some of what I plan to accomplish if I reach certain levels of funding at https://www.patreon.com/MaconMedia
The private spaceflight company SpaceX will launch an unmanned Dragon space capsule to the International Space Station today on it's second cargo delivery mission for NASA and you can follow the mission live via this video player or, if you have NASA TV on your Satellite or Cable System, you can watch there. For Roku Users, there is a NASA TV App that will allow you to watch the launch live also.
The live coverage begins at 8.30am on the NASA-TV Channel player above and the launch is supposed to take place at 10.10am. There will be a steady parade of people to speak about the various aspects of this mission.
The SpaceX people have a live blog(with video) of the launch that is scheduled to begin at 9.30am on their webpage, and they will be having a different lineup of guests to speak about the launch and mission of the spacecraft than NASA will.
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