SpaceX Falcon Heavy (updates & maiden flight)

[Blue-Vision]

 Like nobody would imagine ... if this goes "according to plan" there's going to be a [snip]storm of stuff announced in VERY short, rapid succession. FH is going to be the "golden kid".

 

Put it like this: The "big dream" missions, many (but not all) of which we've wanted for a while, will become reality and actually get logged. 

 

SpaceX will get a number of "Mil/Gov" orders riding on FH too. That's what Pence is most interested in, probably.

 

Aaaaand the USSC can get a bunch of new birds up there for the price of one, before. That'll make them happy as clams in the Chesapeake.  

[TrevorLahey]

Any word on how many FHs they have ready to go? Or do they just convert a few F9s once they get a buyer?

[Jim K Global Moderator]

2 minutes ago, bguy_1986 said:

Any word on how many FHs they have ready to go? Or do they just convert a few F9s once they get a buyer?

I don't think there is any word on a second FH being "ready to go."  I would assume they're waiting for the maiden flight, gather necessary flight/test data, making adjustments/corrections as needed before they launch Arabsat 6A sometime this first half of 2018.

[DocM]

FH #2's cores are in production now, all FH booster and center cores after the maiden flight being Block 5's. 

 

F9 Block 5 #1, core B1046, is next out of the barn and getting ready to ship to MgGregor.  

[DocM]

 

[DocM]

 

[DocM]

Hmmmm....

 

http://www.newsshooter.com/2018/01/28/red-gemini-custom-s35-low-light-sensor-for-outer-space/

 

RED Gemini – custom S35 low light sensor for outer space

RED Gemini is a custom S35 low light sensor that has been made for a “very special customer” for use in outer space. RED says that the new sensor is a vampire that loves the dark, but you will need to put ND’s [neutral density filters] on it if you want to shoot in the light.
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The name Gemini is undoubtedly paying homage to the NASA space program of the same name. Project Gemini was NASA’s second human spaceflight program, that took place between projects Mercury and Apollo the 1960’s.

That “very special customer” RED is talking about, is undoubtedly Elon Musk, founder, CEO, and lead designer of SpaceX, and co-founder, CEO, and product architect of Tesla. There are not too many people with their own space programs, and it’s probably not NASA, as they been using Canon cameras for capturing video footage in space for quite a few years now.

I have a strong suspicion that the RED Gemini may be used for somehow filming the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket that Elon Musk is sending into space with a Tesla Roadster attached. The midnight cherry Tesla Roadster will apparently be playing Space Oddity over its stereo and the destination for the rocket will be Mars orbit. In typical Musk bravado, he said on Twitter ” It will be in deep space for a billion years or so if it doesn’t blow up on the ascent.”

If you want to buy a Gemini, you are already too late. Apart from the one that was probably for Elon Musk, only 5 additional Gemini sensors were made by RED. The Gemini wasn’t even available on the RED store, and the lucky few who snapped up these remaining 5 sensors had to email RED President Jarred Land directly. The price was said to be a shade under $20,000 USD, which was a lot cheaper than some of RED’s other camera offerings. Jarred Land mentions that they were subsidized though.
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[Blue-Vision]

Wonder if that 8k camera is on the Tesla ...?

[DocM]

Date: Feb 6, 2018

Window: 1330-1630 Eastern (1830-2130 UT)
Backup date: Feb 7, 2018

[DocM]

Visitor Complex tickets have sold out 

Announced VIP's (so far)

Buzz Aldrin
Harrison Ford
Bill Nye

[DocM]

The tug Hawk is heading out to sea from Port Canaveral, towing the ASDS Of Course I Still Love You.

 

 

[DocM]

 

[DocM]

 

 

 

[FloatingFatMan]

I hope he remembers to go to the RUNWAY and not the landing pads!  

[DocM]

Yes!!

 

 

 

[DocM]

Wow....

 

 

https://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2018/02/04/thousands-expected-space-coast-spacex-falcon-heavy-launch-ksc-florida/301817002/

 

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"It will be a historic event, so we expect the community to fill up in terms of hotel rooms and any kind of lodging," said Eric Garvey, the Space Coast Office of Tourism's executive director. He estimates up to 100,000 people could visit for the three-core rocket's launch, but combining that with area residents could boost the number to half a million.

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[DocM]

 

Cropped & boosted

[DocM]

No pressure 

 

 

 

 

[Blue-Vision]

Yeah ... no pressure at all. When's the last time 39-A's been this busy? John Glenn's launch on the Shuttle?

[Jim K Global Moderator]

1 hour ago, Unobscured Vision said:

Yeah ... no pressure at all. When's the last time 39-A's been this busy? John Glenn's launch on the Shuttle?

Glenn launched from pad B.   

Though I'm not sure if any tally numbers for shuttle flights...numbers on STS-1, STS-26, STS-114 and STS-135 would be interesting to know (highly doubt if any of them had 100k)

[DocM]

Sounds like the launch readiness review was passed.

 

 

[DocM]

 

Bwaahhaahaa!!

 

Heavy Metal meets Grasshopper's Cowboy in Black 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 5, 2018 by DocM

[Blue-Vision]

4 hours ago, Jim K said:

Glenn launched from pad B.   

Yeah, that's right, he did. Heh.  

38 minutes ago, DocM said:

 

Bwaahhaahaa!!

 

Heavy Metal meets Grasshopper's Cowboy in Black 

 

 

 

 

BWAHAHAHA!!!  Oh man that's great ...

[DocM]

Bet the suit and dummy are instrumented, a space test before astronauts ride in their suits. Too good an opportunity to pass up.

[DocM]