SpaceX is ready to launch its 61st and last mission of 2022, this one aboard a Falcon 9 rocket. The EROS-C3 mission is scheduled to raise off from Area Launch Complicated 4 East (SLC-4E) on the Vandenberg Area Power Base (VSFB) in California on Thursday, Dec. 29, in a 56-minute window opening at 11:37 PM PST (07:37 UTC on Dec. 30). A 30% probability of favorable climate is forecasted.
This launch will deploy the third NG-series satellite tv for pc in Israel’s Earth Assets Commentary Techniques (EROS) community. Designed by Israel Plane Industries (IAI), the satellite tv for pc community is owned and operated by ImageSat Worldwide (ISI). As of July 2021, ISI is now partnered with “e-GEOS,” an organization owned by the Italian Area Company and Telespazio, which can enable for mixed satellite tv for pc property, together with COSMOS-SkyMed.
EROS Community
The primary satellite tv for pc within the EROS community, EROS-A, launched in Dec. 2000 aboard a Russian Begin-1 rocket right into a Solar-synchronous orbit (SSO) 480 km above Earth. The principle aim was to provide industrial imagery with a decision of 1.8 meters. EROS-A re-entered Earth’s ambiance in 2016.
The second technology, EROS-B, additionally launched aboard a Begin-1 into SSO again in April 2006 with a 506 by 524 km orbit, inclined at 97.5 levels. This satellite tv for pc, primarily based on the army reconnaissance satellite tv for pc Ofeq-3, has an improved picture decision of 70 cm. This satellite tv for pc was utilized by Brazil’s Ministry of Protection to assist determine objects, individuals, automobiles, and extra throughout the 2016 Summer time Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Whereas EROS-B was initially supposed to develop into a community of 4 satellites, it was later decreased to a singular satellite tv for pc.
ISI introduced the plans for an EROS-C constellation in 2006, with the primary launch scheduled for 2009. Nevertheless, the undertaking was canceled in 2019 and merged into a brand new program referred to as EROS NG. The brand new program will make the most of the brand new partnership between ISI and e-GEOS.
All satellites within the deliberate EROS NG constellation. (Credit score: ISI)
EROS-C3
The primary two satellites within the EROS community, EROS-C1 and EROS-C2, are already in orbit and will likely be repurposed to be used within the new constellation. The precise satellites that will likely be re-designated haven’t been publicly recognized.
The primary new satellite tv for pc to be launched for this community is EROS-C3, launching on this mission. Based mostly on the OPSAT 3000 class satellite tv for pc platform, the satellite tv for pc has a mass of 400 kg and can be capable of {photograph} a swath of 11.5 km with a 30 cm picture decision. EROS-C3 additionally gives 60 cm decision for multi-spectral imaging. The spacecraft itself is available in at a measurement of 4.58 m by 4.6 m by 1 m.
The satellite tv for pc will likely be launched right into a retrograde low Earth orbit, though the precise parameters of its vacation spot orbit are unknown right now. Launch hazard zones point out a most certainly inclination of roughly 140 levels.
A view of OPSAT 3000, the identical satellite tv for pc bus used for the EROS-C spacecraft. (Credit score: Arianespace/ESA/CNES/Optique Video du CSG)
Three extra satellites are anticipated to affix the EROS NG constellation by 2026, together with EROS-C4, in addition to EROSAR-1 and EROSAR-2, each of which can take photos within the X-band spectrum.
Falcon 9 and Booster B1061
This mission will launch aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. This specific mission will fly on booster B1061, which is flying for the eleventh time on this mission. This booster beforehand flew 9 flights from Florida, together with the Crew-1 and Crew-2 missions that every carried 4 astronauts to the Worldwide Area Station. B1061 has additionally launched the CRS-23 mission to resupply the ISS, the SXM-8 satellite tv for pc, the IXPE X-ray telescope, the Transporter-4 and 5 rideshare missions, Globalstar FM15 with USA-328 via 331, and a Starlink mission.
Following the completion of its ninth flight, the booster was moved to SpaceX’s west coast launch web site at VSFB. The booster then made its first flight from Vandenberg on a Starlink mission in August 2022.
B1061 lifts off on the Transporter-5 mission. (Credit score: Julia Bergeron for NSF)
This booster was initially supposed to assist the Starlink 2-4 mission in November, nevertheless, that launch was delayed following a static fireplace take a look at. It’s unclear what situation or points SpaceX noticed throughout the take a look at fireplace of the 9 Merlin-1D engines. The delay was taken to “take a better have a look at information.”
This mission will see B1061 carry out a Return to Launch Website (RTLS) touchdown. This may mark the primary time this specific booster has landed at Touchdown Zone 4 (LZ-4), which is positioned a brief distance away from the launch pad at VSFB. Assuming the booster lands efficiently, B1061 will develop into the one booster to land on all however considered one of SpaceX’s totally different touchdown zones and drone ships.
The booster has beforehand accomplished an RTLS touchdown at LZ-1 at Cape Canaveral Area Power Station (CCSFS) in Florida. B1061 has additionally landed on three of SpaceX’s Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ships (ASDS), touchdown on Simply Learn the Directions and A Shortfall of Gravitas in Florida, and Of Course I Nonetheless Love You in California. The one location the booster has not landed is LZ-2 at CCSFS, which, as of this text, has solely ever seen 5 landings, 4 of which had been Falcon Heavy facet boosters.
Falcon 9 booster B1061 stands tall on Simply Learn The Directions after launching the SXM-8 mission. (Credit score: Julia Bergeron for NSF)
Flight Profile
35 minutes earlier than liftoff, tools on the launch pad begins to load the Falcon 9 with RP-1 gasoline, a sort of refined kerosene. On the similar time, liquid oxygen (LOX), the oxidizer for the Falcon fleet of rockets, begins loading into the primary stage.
That’s adopted by LOX load onto the second stage at T-16 minutes to liftoff. Seven minutes earlier than launch, the engines are chilled to prime them forward of the supercooled cryogenics that may circulate via them at liftoff.
At T-1 minute, Falcon 9 goes into “startup,” that means the onboard computer systems have full management of the countdown because the propellant tanks are pressurized for flight. At T-3 seconds, the command is given to ignite the 9 Merlin-1D engines on the base of the primary stage, with liftoff occurring at T0.
B1061 launches NASA’s IXPE X-ray telescope from LC-39A in Florida. (Credit score: Stephen Marr for NSF/L2)
Simply over a minute into the flight, the rocket encounters “Max-Q,” which is when the utmost aerodynamic forces are performing on Falcon 9 because it flies via the ambiance.
Slightly over two minutes into the flight, a sequence of occasions in fast succession begins. The primary-stage engines will shut down in an occasion referred to as principal engine cutoff (MECO), adopted seconds later by the separation of the primary and second levels. About eight seconds after that, the second stage engine will begin in what’s generally known as SES-1 (Second Engine Begin 1). Just below three minutes into the flight, the fairing halves on the prime of the rocket will separate and start their journey again in the direction of the Pacific Ocean, the place they are going to be recovered to be flown once more.
Whereas the second stage Merlin Vacuum (MVac) engine continues its burn to convey EROS-C3 into orbit, the primary stage will carry out a flip maneuver and a boostback burn, aiming it on a trajectory in the direction of LZ-4.
The booster will fireplace its engines two extra occasions earlier than touchdown. The subsequent burn, referred to as the entry burn, will see B1061 use three engines to gradual the booster down, in addition to to guard it from extreme heating because it begins encountering thicker parts of the ambiance as soon as once more.
Falcon 9 booster B1071 lands at LZ-4 throughout the NROL-87 mission. (Credit score: Michael Baylor for NSF)
A short while later, B1061 will fireplace a single engine one final time, deploy a set of beforehand stowed touchdown legs, and gently contact down at LZ-4.
This launch is the ultimate mission on SpaceX’s 2022 manifest. With the profitable launch of this mission, SpaceX may have launched 61 rockets in 2022, a brand new document for the corporate. SpaceX says they plan to fly not less than 100 missions in 2023.
(Lead photograph: Falcon 9 at SLC-4E earlier than the scheduled launch of EROS-C3. Credit score: SpaceX)
