Author Topic: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : Feb. 6, 2018 : Updates  (Read 622536 times)

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : Early 2018 : Updates
« Reply #100 on: 01/18/2018 06:32 pm »
Here’s a shot of it being lowered:

Quote
The Falcon Heavy rocket has been lowered to the horizontal position at launch pad 39A: spaceflightnow.com/2018/01/09/fal…

https://twitter.com/spaceflightnow/status/954062516505731072

Offline Chris Bergin

Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : Early 2018 : Updates
« Reply #101 on: 01/18/2018 08:03 pm »
Ed Birchnall  ‏
@ROBO_Birchnall
https://twitter.com/ROBO_Birchnall/status/954089769071505409

Launch pad 39A where Falcon Heavy will launch from.   It is horizontal in this photo.  You can see the engines pointing at us at the bottom of the tower.
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Offline Chris Bergin

Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : Early 2018 : Updates
« Reply #102 on: 01/18/2018 09:13 pm »
Per L2, the window for Friday's static fire, pending Atlas V launching tonight:

T-0 Test Window is 1445 – 2045 EST (6-hour test window)
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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : Early 2018 : Updates
« Reply #103 on: 01/18/2018 10:01 pm »
Quote
Spaceflight Now‏
@SpaceflightNow

The Falcon Heavy rocket is back in place at launch pad 39A this evening: https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/01/09/falcon-heavy-demo-flight-preparations/

https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/954123588415770625

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : Early 2018 : Updates
« Reply #104 on: 01/18/2018 10:02 pm »
If there is a delay to the static fire it seems potential government shutdown won’t affect things (concerns were raised about range support):

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Space Fans: Keep an eye on the looming budget vote. A shutdown could affect @SpaceX operations at Kennedy Space Center. Remember, #FalconHeavy at KSC....
https://twitter.com/spacebrendan/status/954088430572654593

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Follow up from SpaceX: Not anticipating any delays due to possible shutdown.
https://twitter.com/spacebrendan/status/954110271798366209

Offline mhlas7

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : Early 2018 : Updates
« Reply #105 on: 01/18/2018 11:05 pm »
I'm on the LC-39 gantry for the Atlas launch and I got a great shot of heavy back on the pad! It's a beautiful but chilly night for a launch!

Edit: Disappointed about the scrub. Hoping ULA fixes the issue and is able to get off the pad tomorrow

« Last Edit: 01/20/2018 02:53 pm by jacqmans »

Offline Chris Bergin

Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : Early 2018 : Updates
« Reply #106 on: 01/18/2018 11:29 pm »
Test won't happen on Friday if this 24 hour scrub turnaround holds.

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=38649.msg1773980#msg1773980

(Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., Jan. 18, 2018)– The launch of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V carrying the SBIRS GEO Flight 4 mission was scrubbed today due to a ground issue associated with the booster liquid oxygen system.

The launch is planned for Friday, Jan. 19, from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The forecast shows a 90 percent chance of favorable weather conditions for launch. The launch time is 7:48 p.m. ET.
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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : Early 2018 : Updates
« Reply #107 on: 01/19/2018 10:58 am »
Quote
SpaceX #FalconHeavy status update: As suspected, test fire at pad 39A has moved to Saturday; six-hour window opens at 1445 ET (1945 UTC).

ULA, meanwhile, targeting 1948 ET (0048 UTC) tonight for #AtlasV launch with #SBIRS from nearby LC 41.

https://twitter.com/EmreKelly/status/954321496872235008

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : Early 2018 : Updates
« Reply #108 on: 01/19/2018 08:24 pm »
Quote
SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy static fire test at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center is now expected no earlier than Monday. spaceflightnow.com/2018/01/09/fal…

https://twitter.com/spaceflightnow/status/954459424122392579

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : Early 2018 : Updates
« Reply #109 on: 01/20/2018 09:30 am »
Clearly different sources saying different things:

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SpaceX #FalconHeavy test fire now scheduled for a six-hour window that opens at 1730 ET (2230 UTC). Smoke and fire expected at opening of window.
https://twitter.com/emrekelly/status/954658539145965568

Quote
This is for Saturday, Jan. 20.
https://twitter.com/emrekelly/status/954660109254307841

Personally, I wouldn’t make any plans around the static fire being today.

Offline Galactic Penguin SST

Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : Early 2018 : Updates
« Reply #110 on: 01/20/2018 03:07 pm »
Mike Killian

@KillianPhoto

CONFIRMED from one of our trusted sources at KSC, today is only a WDR for the #FalconHeavy on 39A, there will be NO static test fire today.

Will update with more confirmed info when available.

Photo: @KillianPhoto / @AmericaSpace

https://twitter.com/KillianPhoto/status/954743527937847297
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Offline Chris Bergin

Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : Early 2018 : Updates
« Reply #111 on: 01/20/2018 10:31 pm »
Julia got a couple of shots, and will be developing them more when she gets home, but one was very nice. No venting observed per the WDR.

https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/status/954848326016434182
@julia_bergeron

Pad lights have come on at 39A and this is my current view at the Seashore. Sadly, no venting and my location closes in 10 minutes.
#FalconHeavy @NASASpaceflight
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Offline cebri

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : Early 2018 : Updates
« Reply #112 on: 01/21/2018 12:06 am »
« Last Edit: 01/21/2018 12:07 am by cebri »
"It's kind of amazing that a window of opportunity is open for life to beyond Earth, and we don't know how long this window is gonna be open" Elon Musk
"If you want to see an endangered species, get up and look in the mirror." John Young

Offline Galactic Penguin SST

Astronomy & spaceflight geek penguin. In a relationship w/ Space Shuttle Discovery. Current Priority: Chasing the Chinese Spaceflight Wonder Egg & A Certain Chinese Mars Rover

Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : Early 2018 : Updates
« Reply #114 on: 01/21/2018 03:49 pm »
Quote
Greg Pallone‏Verified account
@gpallone13

NO LAUNCHES: per @45thSpaceWing key members of civilian workforce are removed due to govt shutdown. 45th cannot support @SpaceX commerical static fire tests @NASAKennedy or launch operations @MyNews13

https://twitter.com/gpallone13/status/955118574988865536

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : Early 2018 : Updates
« Reply #115 on: 01/22/2018 11:07 am »
Quote
From SpaceX. Falcon Heavy launch can't happen during a government shutdown.

https://twitter.com/jackiewattles/status/955332368692326400

Offline Keeval

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : Early 2018 : Updates
« Reply #116 on: 01/22/2018 07:57 pm »
Temporary funding bill passed:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-42781880

Should hopefully allow funding until Feb 8th and enough time for a proper budget to be agreed.

EDIT: To add the word "hopefully" as it needs to go to through some procedural stuff (I'm not American so not clear on the specifics, just going off the BBC article).
« Last Edit: 01/22/2018 08:09 pm by Keeval »

Offline ChrisGebhardt

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : Early 2018 : Updates
« Reply #117 on: 01/22/2018 09:51 pm »
Temporary funding bill passed:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-42781880

Should hopefully allow funding until Feb 8th and enough time for a proper budget to be agreed.

EDIT: To add the word "hopefully" as it needs to go to through some procedural stuff (I'm not American so not clear on the specifics, just going off the BBC article).

Originally put this in the discussion thread, but I'll put it here, too, as it is kind of an update.


The Senate voted to pass a three week temporary spending bill that would allow the government to reopen.   The House has to revote on the bill, now, because the Senate changed things in the bill the House voted on last week.  Then, if the House doesn't change anything and votes on exactly what the Senate passed, the bill then has to go to the President for him to sign it into law.  All of those things have to happen before funding is restored and the government can reopen.  It's nearly 18:00 EST.  The House will likely vote tonight (1/22), but they could delay their vote until tomorrow, 1/23.

Realistically, most furloughed employees will go back to work tomorrow.  Once all 45th Space Wing employees are back to work, they then have to get back into a posture to be able to support the Falcon Heavy static fire.  That could take a few hours or a day to accomplish.

Also, bare in mind that SpaceX needs to static fire the GovSat-1/SES-16 booster this week, too, to ensure a NET 30 Jan. launch of that mission.  They will have to balance FH against a paying customer's mission.
« Last Edit: 01/22/2018 09:54 pm by ChrisGebhardt »

Offline ejb749

Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : Early 2018 : Updates
« Reply #118 on: 01/22/2018 10:22 pm »
House has passed the legislation.  Now it's off to Trump's desk.

Offline TheFallen

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : Early 2018 : Updates
« Reply #119 on: 01/23/2018 01:45 am »
I already posted this in the other FH thread, but Trump has signed the bill

https://www.cnn.com/2018/01/22/politics/senate-shutdown-vote-congress/index.html

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