Draggendrop Veteran Posted May 23, 2016 Veteran Share Posted May 23, 2016 2 hours ago... Image link Jim K and Unobscured Vision 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted May 23, 2016 Author Share Posted May 23, 2016 There are already comments, what with the range supposedly closed until the 27th. We'll see how it plays out. Unobscured Vision and Draggendrop 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted May 23, 2016 Veteran Share Posted May 23, 2016 I imagine if the static fire is completed..."We have the answer on range requirements". Unobscured Vision 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted May 23, 2016 Author Share Posted May 23, 2016 Right. For those not up to speed.... Apparently the KSC range safety system will be down for maintenance until May 27, but the Thaicom-8 launch is on for May 26 anyhow. Falcon 9 has been qualifying both GPS Metric tracking (no more C-band radars) and automatic flight termination (no guy + big red button). The USAF has been moving in this direction since 2012. SpaceX's automatic flight termination system was tested under fire when it destroyed the F9R Dev-1 test vehicle at McGregor after a sensor failure. OrbitalATK has also been working on automatic flight termination. Either KSC is expecting to have the safety system maintenance completed and reopen a day early, or Falcon 9 will fly with GPS Metric tracking and automatic flight termination. We shall see.... Unobscured Vision and Jim K 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted May 23, 2016 Author Share Posted May 23, 2016 Go Quest and Go Searcher left port this morning. Unobscured Vision 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted May 23, 2016 Author Share Posted May 23, 2016 Weather Thursday: 90% Friday: 70% Unobscured Vision 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted May 24, 2016 Veteran Share Posted May 24, 2016 Still no word on static fire... Unofficial source from SpaceX employee has static fire today at 16:30 - 22:30 EDT 2 1/2 hours to go.... Hope we have one and all is well.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted May 24, 2016 Veteran Share Posted May 24, 2016 Appears that static fire is for tomorrow....24 May 2016 not confirmed, but NSF discussions.... (apparently, everyone has a friend, that knows a friend, that knows a friend, in SpaceX..?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted May 24, 2016 Author Share Posted May 24, 2016 (edited) The previous notice had a typo . Draggendrop 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted May 25, 2016 Author Share Posted May 25, 2016 (edited) Edited May 25, 2016 by DocM Draggendrop 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted May 25, 2016 Author Share Posted May 25, 2016 Unobscured Vision 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted May 25, 2016 Veteran Share Posted May 25, 2016 Yesssss! Now, that's entertainment! DocM and Unobscured Vision 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted May 25, 2016 Author Share Posted May 25, 2016 Webcasts Hosted webcast Technical webcast SpaceX page hosted webcast (YouTube mirror)http://www.spacex.com/webcast It appears they've deleted their LiveStream account and are now all YouTube. Draggendrop 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted May 26, 2016 Author Share Posted May 26, 2016 Draggendrop and Unobscured Vision 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted May 26, 2016 Veteran Share Posted May 26, 2016 We have 4 new images at SpaceX Flickr... https://www.flickr.com/photos/spacex/ With this launch, (landing guess) I am also going with a 3 to 1 engine hoverslam, since this is a similar launch to JCSAT, slightly lighter and ASDS just a bit east of last location. Point of notice. The last landing demonstrated heat for the selected trajectory. SpaceX is known to be always testing in the "shadows" and again payload fairing recovery test will probably be ongoing on this launch. We "may" have something up with engine bell testing as well with reference to these two images enlarged from the above Flickr account. She has a marking and appears a little different in coloration....."test bell" with new materials? No idea, just guessing. Unobscured Vision 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted May 26, 2016 Author Share Posted May 26, 2016 One of these days we're going to suddenly see fairing halves under parachutes or paragliders. Can't wait to see the reactions. Draggendrop and Unobscured Vision 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted May 26, 2016 Veteran Share Posted May 26, 2016 bits and bytes.... SpaceX Image link derived from SpaceX Facebook page SpaceX Press Kit Press Kit PDF, SpaceX/Thaicom 8 Unobscured Vision 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unobscured Vision Posted May 26, 2016 Share Posted May 26, 2016 Oooh ... perhaps a "live test" of some 1.3 Platform Update hardware? Maybe it's to see how the "new stuff" handles the Hoverslam-style launch/landings? Can't wait to see the results ... and that look ... yeah! It's a nice contrast indeed, kinda like in Star Trek when they had "Gen 1 Sovereign" then the "Sovereign Refit" at the end of the last TNG movie (when they were repairing the Saucer Section of the Enterprise-E) -- there was no mistaking it. I dug the look a lot. Maybe a little bit of that kind of nuance here .... Draggendrop 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted May 26, 2016 Author Share Posted May 26, 2016 New betaware, reused engine, whatever it appears to have tracking marks for the launch cameras. Unobscured Vision and Draggendrop 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted May 26, 2016 Veteran Share Posted May 26, 2016 Quote 16:17 The U.S. Air Force Eastern Range has finished hold-fire checks with the Falcon 9 rocket. The Falcon 9 countdown is significantly changed with the upgraded version of the rocket. While radio checks and flight termination system tests complete, fueling of the rocket with its propellant mixture of RP-1 rocket-grade kerosene and liquid oxygen will not begin until about a half-hour before the launch, instead of at about T-minus 3 hours on earlier Falcon 9s. The upgraded Falcon 9 consumes a chilled propellant mix that allows engineers to load additional fuel into the rocket. The cryogenic liquid oxygen is chilled closer to its freezing point, from minus 298 degrees Fahrenheit to minus 340 degrees, while the RP-1 fuel is cooled from a more standard room temperature of about 70 degrees Fahrenheit to 20 degrees, according to SpaceX founder Elon Musk. The change essentially permits the volume of the Falcon 9 fuel tanks, which are also slightly enlarged on this launch, to hold more mass of propellant, giving the rocket more performance. The Merlin engines on the first and second stages will also produce more thrust. At liftoff, the nine-engine first stage will generate 1.5 million pounds of thrust, up from 1.3 million force-pounds on the Falcon 9's previous version. The second stage engine is also modified with a bigger nozzle, and the stage separation system includes a new pusher device to help guide the first stage as it is jettisoned, ensuring no recontact. Taken together, the modifications allow the Falcon 9 to carry heavier satellites into orbit and still attempt booster landings on the coast or on an ocean-going barge. This afternoon's launch will target a landing on a barge 420 miles (680 kilometers) offshore in the Atlantic Ocean. http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/05/26/falcon-9-thaicom-8-mission-status-center/ gif link National Data Buoy Center http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/obs.shtml One can use buoy # 41047, it also has wave images. http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=41047 Unobscured Vision 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted May 26, 2016 Author Share Posted May 26, 2016 Sounding like a super-synchronous launch, and.... SpaceX @SpaceX Weather 90% go for 5:40pm ET launch today. Droneship landing challenging -- very hot and fast first-stage reentry Draggendrop and Unobscured Vision 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted May 26, 2016 Veteran Share Posted May 26, 2016 Quote 16:59 Falcon 9 targets "supersynchronous" orbit SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket will aim for an elongated "supersynchronous transfer orbit" on today's mission. The Thaicom 8 satellite has a relatively light launch mass of 6,669 pounds (3,025 kilograms), according to its Bangkok-based owner. The heavy-lifting capacity of the Falcon 9 allows the rocket to place it in an orbit with an apogee, or high point, of approximately 90,000 kilometers (nearly 56,000 miles) and a perigee, or low point, of 250 kilometers (124 miles), Thaicom tells Spaceflight Now. 16:52 T-minus 48 minutes. Coming up on several major milestones in the countdown, beginning with a poll of the launch team at T-minus 38 minutes and the start of propellant loading at T-minus 35 minutes. http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/05/26/falcon-9-thaicom-8-mission-status-center/ Unobscured Vision 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unobscured Vision Posted May 26, 2016 Share Posted May 26, 2016 Hmm, checklist for today ... Sports Drink? Check. Supper? Spaghetti-n-Meatballs. Check. Weather? Groovy. Michigan late Springtime. Birdies chirping, cats and squirrels are playing outside. Let's put SpaceX's Hosted Webcast on the 48" when it starts. Draggendrop 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unobscured Vision Posted May 26, 2016 Share Posted May 26, 2016 (edited) Oh goodie, I'm gonna have the house to myself too. THEATER MODE. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted May 26, 2016 Veteran Share Posted May 26, 2016 Quote 17:19 DELAY. The Falcon 9 rocket will not lift off as scheduled at 5:40 p.m. EDT (2140 GMT). The countdown is holding, but officials have not disclosed the reason for the pause. This evening's launch window extends to 7:40 p.m. EDT (2340 GMT). 17:17 Fueling of the Falcon 9 rocket should have started more than 10 minutes ago, but SpaceX has not confirmed the milestone yet. http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/05/26/falcon-9-thaicom-8-mission-status-center/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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