Recommended Posts

3 sources now; two NSF L2 sources paraphrased in the open forum and a launch photographer on r/SpaceX, reporting that NROL-76 and Inmarsat-5 F4 were Block 3 boosters with a Block 4 upper stage.

 

Also,

 

From KSC, the usual GTO insertion deltaV deficit is GTO -1,800 m/s. The number crunchers say the Inmarsat-5 F4 launch hit GTO -1,570 m/s, which is very close to a 3-stage Proton-M (!!) or Atlas V 541 (4 solid boosters, single engine Centaur upper stage.) Thaicom-8 hit GTO -1,492 m/s, but it only massed 3,100 kg. 

 

Accordingto Spaceflight101, Merlin 1D has a max throttle setting of at least 112%, so perhaps they tapped into that.

 

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=42941e .msg1679467#msg1679467

 

NSF post 

Quote

#4 by biosehnsucht on 16 May, 2017 18:13

At least two different people have posted that they've heard from reliable sources (but of course, can't name them etc) that the last two flights were Block 4 second stages, but Block 3 first stages

 


r/SpaceX post

https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/6bed12/comment/dhm1o04

 

Quote

OccupyMarsNow
Block 4?


johnkphotos 
AmericaSpace.com Photographer
Block 3 first stage, block 4 second stage.

Edited by DocM
  • Like 1

... and a Tweet from Elon which confirms that they can go at way more than the stated numbers:

SpaceX has been sandbagging the true performance of Block-3. Now we just need to figure out by how much. If we go by the "112% throttle" number being the "real 100%" output of the Falcon 9 as it currently sits -- Block-3, aka "Full Thrust" plus some mods like the new Helium load system and fixes to the engines to prevent microcracking -- they can finally run it at the intended power when needed.

 

Not surprising, when ya think about it. They've done this with the other iterations of Falcon 9, where they understated the power significantly. It's actually prudent to do this, from an Engineering perspective. Be conservative and overengineer your hardware at the same time and you'll have the capability to amaze friends and horrify competitors alike.

 

We shouldn't expect SpaceX to do this every launch yet. As Elon said, it was a "Qualification Test" at the higher thrust level. There's still some work to do (read: probably) for this level of thrust to be useful if they want to get the S1 back.

 

So now we know ... :yes: 

  • Like 2

Sounds like Inmarsat was pleased with SpaceX's service.

 

https://www.universetoday.com/135614/will-launch-reuseable-rocket-exceptional-spacex-performance-inmarsat-ceo-tells-universe-today/

 

Quote

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL  Following SpaceXs exceptional performance launching an immensely powerful broadband satellite on their maiden mission for Inmarsat this week on a Falcon 9 rocket, the company CEO told Universe Today that Inmarsat was willing to conduct future launches with SpaceX  including on a reusable rocket in the future!

 

"This has obviously been an absolutely exceptional performance from SpaceX," Inmarsat CEO Rupert Pearce told Universe Today in a post launch interview at the Kennedy Space Center on Monday, May 15.

"They have now earned themselves an immensely loyal customer."
>
"They hit the ball out of the park with this launch for us," Inmarsat CEO Pearce told me regarding the new space company founded by billionaire CEO Elon Musk.
>
Pearce says he has "every confidence in SpaceX."
>
I asked CEO Pearce; What does the future hold regarding further Inmarsat launches with SpaceX?

"They [SpaceX] have now just gained and earned themselves an immensely loyal customer [from Inmarsat]," CEO Pearce replied.

"We will be looking to do further launches with them."
>
Would you consider a used rocket, a previously flown booster?

"I'm sure we will be using a reused rocket," Pearce stated. "And we will be launching on a reusable rocket in the future."

"We will be looking to support them in any way we can with their new innovation programs."
>
Thus there are no landing legs or grid gins attached to the skin of this Falcon 9.

"This rocket that went today was not reusable. That was just a creature of its time," Pearce elaborated.

"We will stay at the cutting edge with SpaceX!"
>

 

 

  • Like 2

How much does re-use save?

 

https://seasia.co/2017/05/01/indonesia-to-use-spacex-to-launch-next-satellite

 


Telkom the largest telecom company in Indonesia, is about to launch a new satellite next year, dubbed Telkom-4.

The satellite is on order from California-based Space Systems Loral and will be equipped with 60 transponders that can transmit 100 Gbps mobile broadband across Indonesia, India, and Southeast Asia.

The total investment was worth US$166 million, including US$10 million insurance. President Director of Telkom, Alex J. Sinaga mentioned to CNN, "Investment in Telkom-4 [satellite] will be cheaper as we use a reusable orbital rocket from SpaceX, so it will be cheaper as much as 40 percent."
>

 

:punk:

As a side note, I'm currently watching National Geographic channels' "Mars", docu-drama, with lots of interviews with Elon and others, and behind the scenes peeks at SpaceX.  If folks haven't seen it, see it!

  • Like 3

I believe that savings is for a Flight Proven™ block 3 booster and block 4 upper stage. The block 4 upper stage, which has mods for a long cruise after the first burn and before subsequent burns, has only flown twice: NROL-76 and Inmarsat-5 F4.  

 

The original budget for Telkom-4 was over $250 million + insurance and launch services on another rocket, so a ~40% savings for a Flight Proven™ F9 takes it down to $166 million and SpaceX can do the launch services in-house - cheap.

 

The $10m insurance for a Flight Proven™ F9 is within a percent or so of a new F9 or Ariane 5. Proton insurance has ballooned to 5x this or more because of its many...issues.

Edited by DocM

The next few weeks, subject to changes.

 

June 1: CRS-11 (KSC, static fire moved left 1 day)

 

June 15: Bulgariasat-1 (KSC)

 

June 25: Iridium Next #2 (Vandenberg, moved left 5 days)

 

July 1: Intelsat-35e (KSC)
 

  • Like 3
1 hour ago, anthdci said:

is there enough customers for that much?

Yes. There's actually a two-year backlog on flights right now, if memory serves. Probably more than two years and closer to four. They can't get them in the sky fast enough.

Using Falcon 9/Heavy to launch and maintain  the SpaceX/Google internet constellation will require nearly 90 launches a year.  4,425 satellites in the LEO rollout, 7,519 satellites in VLEO. 

 

Odds are a new large fairing, and/or another large SpaceX launcher, will need to be deployed to get that launch count minimized. 

  • Like 2

Road work has started on Hwy 4 leading to and through the Texas launch center. 16 miles of road will be improved, extending the base from 8 feet deep to 16 feet. Should be done by August, then the big builds start.

 

Also, Waco is ~18 miles from the SpaceX test center in McGregor TX

 

http://www.wacotrib.com/news/business/waco-housing-boom-leaves-its-mark-on-tax-appraisals/article_9bc6e987-a841-5927-80a3-ca5a5dc8c066.html

 

Quote

Waco housing boom leaves its mark on tax appraisals

 

It's hard to be too surprised about rising tax appraisals when the superlatives about Waco real estate keep piling up.

Waco-area ZIP codes last year topped the list for most popular searches on Realtor.com, thanks in part to a certain television show. In the first quarter of 2017, the city of Waco saw a record 151 housing permits issued.

And local real estate agents are seeing things they've never seen in Waco, such as bidding wars over coveted homes.

"In 37 years, this is the strongest sellers market I've seen," said Kathy Schroeder, vice president of residential property at Coldwell Banker Jim Stewart Realtors. "I don't remember ever being this low on inventory."
>
"We're starting to see situations where people are bidding up prices on houses," she said. "It's not uncommon to list a house on Friday afternoon and by Sunday to have six offers, four above the asking price."

She said four of the last five houses she has sold have been to people moving in from outside Waco, including Houston and out of state. Some of the action is the result of Fixer Upper, but some has to do with the economy and new jobs at places such as SpaceX.
>

 

Edited by DocM
  • Like 1

More on Dragon re-use

 

Bloomberg....

 

Quote

SpaceX Taking Recycling All the Way to Orbit With Cargo Ship

 

Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP) -- SpaceX is taking recycling to a whole new realm  all the way to orbit.

On this week's supply run to the International Space Station, SpaceX will launch a Dragon capsule that's already traveled there. The milestone comes just two months after the launch of its first reused rocket booster for a satellite.
>
This particular Dragon flew to the station in 2014. SpaceX refurbished it for Thursday evening's planned launch, providing a new heat shield and fresh parachutes for re-entry at mission's end. There were so many X-rays and inspections that savings, if any, were minimal this time, said Hans Koenigsmann, vice president of flight reliability for SpaceX.

>
While this Falcon booster is new, SpaceX will attempt to land it at Cape Canaveral following liftoff so it, too, can be reused. >
The private SpaceX and NASA are discussing the possibility of flying a reused booster on an upcoming delivery mission.

Koenigsmann told reporters more and more reused capsules will carry cargo to the space station, each possibly flying three times. 
>

  • Like 1
This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Posts

    • But the reality is it will work for people's needs, and they don't care about the technology that makes it. Clearly not everyone's needs, but that low end space where personal laptops were only used to type emails, watch content and browse websites, but they didn't want to do that on a small screen device. Heck, writing that out I can now see the connection and reason it'll do so well. Apple is about experience. If the experience is bad, they don't release it. Low end Windows laptop manufacturers up until this point have not taken that into consideration ever before, so slow laggy usage with brittle slimey plastic shells were common. I hope that the low end space at least creates better physical products that last a bit longer, and if Microsoft get their act together, they could also have a solid OS on such low end hardware that would actually make the experience work for what the hardware was intended for. The fact that the CPU is a "cellphone", sorry mobile phone processor is irrelevant. It's about the experience, and so far, that sounds quite solid.
    • Hello, Bonjour is Apple's implementation of a multicast-DNS service, which allows devices running Apple's software and/or hardware to find each other on your local network.  I believe the Windows version was last updated around 2010. If you do not need it, you can stop and disable the Bonjour service in the Services Control Manager (filename: SERVICES.MSC).  Once you have done that, the operating system will no longer attempt to load the service. Regards, Aryeh Goretsky  
    • This AMD RX 9070 16GB GPU that performs close to Nvidia 5070 is under $600 by Sayan Sen With the memory shortage that's prevalent nowadays, discounts are super-hard to get. As such we post good deals whenever they pop up. Recently, we covered a few great discounts on SSDs wherein you can get a 4TB TeamGroup NVMe PCIe Gen4 drive for just $400 thanks to a special coupon. If you want a faster product but don't need all that capacity, you can also opt for Samsung's 990 PRO 2TB that is on sale for its lowest price in over three months. Let's say though that you are on the hunt for a 1440p gaming card. In that case AMD's RX 9070 non-XT can help, and with its 16GB VRAM, you can also run AI models locally without worrying about bottlenecking (check out our recent 9070 GRE reviews for gaming and productivity to get an idea). The PowerColor Reaper variant of the RX 9070 is currently on sale for just $580 which is a very good price in the current state of affairs (purchase link under the specs table down below). The Reaper cooler on this 9070 uses a triple‑fan design with ring‑blade fans, paired with premium dual ball bearings to extend lifespan and reduce friction. "Intelligent" fan control allows the fans to remain idle at lower temperatures, only spinning up when the GPU is under load. A nickel‑plated copper base makes direct contact with both the GPU and memory modules, helping to spread heat evenly. PowerColor also applies Honeywell PTM7950 phase‑change thermal interface material (TIM), which fills microscopic gaps between the die and heatsink for more efficient thermal transfer. The fan shroud is shorter in height as the firm has made it such that it can be used in certain SFF (small form factor) cases. The technical specifications of the Reaper RX 9070 are given in the table below: Specification Value Stream Processors 3584 Units Video Memory 16GB GDDR6 Memory Speed 20.0 Gbps Memory Interface 256-bit Engine Clock Game Clock: up to 2070 MHz Boost Clock: up to 2520 MHz Bus Standard PCI Express 5.0 x16 Display Connectors 1 x HDMI 2.1b, 3 x DisplayPort 2.1a Maximum Resolution DisplayPort: 7680 × 4320 HDMI: 7680 × 4320 Board Dimensions 289mm × 111mm × 41mm 304mm × 127mm × 42mm (with bracket) Slot 2 Minimum System Power Requirement 600W Power Connectors Two 8-pin PCI Express Get the PowerColor Reaper RX 9070 at the links below (you get only a 90-day warranty on Woot): PowerColor Reaper Radeon RX 9070 16GB Graphics Card (RX9070 16G-A): $579.99 (Sold and Shipped by Amazon US) (Was: $700) PowerColor Reaper Radeon RX 9070 16GB Graphics Card (RX9070 16G-A): $559.99 (Sold and Shipped by Woot US) Good to know This Amazon deal is U.S. specific, and not available in other regions unless specified. We only use first-party seller links (at the time of article publishing); ensure that you purchase from a first-party seller link only. Check out Today's Deals on Amazon | or our recent tech deals. Become a Prime member (for Students or SNAP) via Neowin Get Prime Access - Prime for half price (for qualifying Medicaid, EBT, SNAP) Subscribe to Prime Video, Audible Plus, Music Unlimited or Kindle Unlimited via Neowin As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
    • Are they marketed as an entry into astronomy or astrophotography? I do astrophotography. With big rigs, lots of computers, cables and headaches. I love it. And by learning this ridiculously complex hobby, I’ve learned about the objects I’m shooting. Astronomy followed from photography.
    • Microsoft confirms Recycle Bin bug across all versions of Windows by Usama Jawad A couple of days ago, we reported that the latest Patch Tuesday update has seemingly resulted in a lot of issues for many users, including OneDrive and Dropbox access problems, BitLocker recovery lockouts, and BSODs. Although Microsoft is yet to acknowledge these bugs, it has confirmed another, relatively smaller issue across all supported versions of Windows. In an update on its Windows Release Health Dashboard, Microsoft has confirmed that after installing June's Patch Tuesday update (KB5094126), you'll experience unexpected behavior when leveraging Recycle Bin. Basically, when you attempt to delete an item from the Recycle Bin, the confirm dialog will show you the internal file name of that content rather than the actual name. For example, the file may be named abc.png, but the confirm dialog will ask if you're sure that you want to permanently delete $Rxxxxx.png from the Recycle Bin. This is pretty much it for the scope of the bug itself; it just displays the wrong name in the confirm dialog. The correct name will be shown in the list view of the Recycle Bin and if you restore the file, it will return with the correct name as well. This issue affects pretty much all supported versions of Windows client and server, including: Client: Windows 11, version 26H1; Windows 11, version 25H2; Windows 11, version 24H2; Windows 11, version 23H2; Windows 10, version 22H2; Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2021; Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC 2019; Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB 2016 Server: Windows Server 2025; Windows Server 2022; Windows Server 2019; Windows Server 2016; Windows Server 2012 R2; Windows Server 2012 As things currently stand, Microsoft is working on a concrete solution that will be released in a "future" Windows update. It remains to be seen if the firm will wait till the next Patch Tuesday or roll out an out-of-band (OOB) fix. The good news is that commercial customers can deploy a workaround right now, but they will have to reach out to Microsoft Support for Business for additional details.
  • Recent Achievements

    • Week One Done
      Jordan Smith earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Reacting Well
      BizSAR earned a badge
      Reacting Well
    • First Post
      AndreaB earned a badge
      First Post
    • Week One Done
      Huge Trailer earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Week One Done
      Classifyskilleducation earned a badge
      Week One Done
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      578
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      184
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      75
    4. 4
      Michael Scrip
      72
    5. 5
      neufuse
      64
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!