Author Topic: SpaceX Vandenberg Updates and Discussion  (Read 325796 times)

Offline Chris Bergin

Re: SpaceX Vandenberg Updates and Discussion
« Reply #20 on: 09/19/2014 04:06 pm »
Great video. Potty mouth friend! ;D
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Offline R7

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Re: SpaceX Vandenberg Updates and Discussion
« Reply #21 on: 09/19/2014 05:49 pm »
Potty mouth friend! ;D

Someone missed the money shot: "Son of a BLEEP ... MotherBLEEP ... been sitting here all BLEEP morning and I didn't get it"  :D :D
AD·ASTRA·ASTRORVM·GRATIA

Offline Helodriver

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Re: SpaceX Vandenberg Updates and Discussion
« Reply #22 on: 09/19/2014 06:18 pm »
Potty mouth friend! ;D

Someone missed the money shot: "Son of a BLEEP ... MotherBLEEP ... been sitting here all BLEEP morning and I didn't get it"  :D :D

It took much longer than expected, I was out there about 4 hours, they had trouble getting it to fall, then it went all of sudden with little warning. The guy next to me had put his camera down. Oops  :P

Offline dglow

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Re: SpaceX Vandenberg Updates and Discussion
« Reply #23 on: 09/19/2014 06:37 pm »
A shot from the other side.

Incredible! They even made a videogame about it...    ;)

Offline abaddon

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Re: SpaceX Vandenberg Updates and Discussion
« Reply #24 on: 09/19/2014 07:51 pm »
Actually, that looks like a sequel... Titanfall II.

Offline Helodriver

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Re: SpaceX Vandenberg Updates and Discussion
« Reply #25 on: 09/19/2014 08:30 pm »
Well it seems that someone at SpaceX likes my photo work. Check out the pic I shot of CASSIOPE on the pad last year and then the link. Coincidence? I think not ;)

http://shop.spacex.com/tshirts/f9-te-t-shirt.html

Online ugordan

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Re: SpaceX Vandenberg Updates and Discussion
« Reply #26 on: 09/19/2014 10:06 pm »
Actually, if you look at the T/E perspective distortion in their image, it suggests it was taken from much closer in than yours was. Something closer up like this one:

Offline Helodriver

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Re: SpaceX Vandenberg Updates and Discussion
« Reply #27 on: 09/19/2014 11:16 pm »
Hence the ;) in my original post.

Offline Helodriver

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Re: SpaceX Vandenberg Updates and Discussion
« Reply #28 on: 10/06/2014 04:26 am »
In preparation for the inflight Dragon Abort test SpaceX begins to return SLC-4E to flight status as 3 of 4 launch holddowns are re-installed on the launch deck after a year long interval of pad repair, modifications, and upgrades. The hardware is being returned to the same apparent configuration as was used for the CASSIOPE flight, with no evidence as yet for Heavy specific additions.

Demolition of the fallen MST at SLC-4W to make way for the landing pad continues with over half of the steel structure removed or disassembled for scrapping.

Offline woods170

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Re: SpaceX Vandenberg Updates and Discussion
« Reply #29 on: 10/06/2014 10:53 am »
In preparation for the inflight Dragon Abort test SpaceX begins to return SLC-4E to flight status as 3 of 4 launch holddowns are re-installed on the launch deck after a year long interval of pad repair, modifications, and upgrades. The hardware is being returned to the same apparent configuration as was used for the CASSIOPE flight, with no evidence as yet for Heavy specific additions.

Demolition of the fallen MST at SLC-4W to make way for the landing pad continues with over half of the steel structure removed or disassembled for scrapping.
Thanks for keeping the updates coming Helodriver. Much appreciated!
« Last Edit: 10/06/2014 10:53 am by woods170 »

Offline CardBoardBoxProcessor

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Re: SpaceX Vandenberg Updates and Discussion
« Reply #30 on: 10/06/2014 12:01 pm »
Was the pad that damaged? And from what? Just the rocket?

Offline Helodriver

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Re: SpaceX Vandenberg Updates and Discussion
« Reply #31 on: 10/06/2014 01:25 pm »
Was the pad that damaged? And from what? Just the rocket?

An engineering consultant source tells me that the CASSIOPE launch produced far more damage than was expected, wrecking a lot of the plumbing and cabling on the pad and necessitating months of rework.

Offline Helodriver

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Re: SpaceX Vandenberg Updates and Discussion
« Reply #32 on: 10/16/2014 06:10 am »
SLC-4, after months of slow progress has been a hive of SpaceX activity. Demolition of the old Titan II structures continues with most of the MST chopped apart and hauled off site and only the Launch Umbilical Tower still standing for not much longer.

On 15 October the first of three large new LOX tanks that have been stored in a parking lot near the pad for over a year was was lifted onto a self propelled wheeled transporter and brought up to the pad itself in preparation for installation adjacent to the original LOX tanks. When all three are in place on their waiting concrete foundations, LOX capacity at the pad will be double what it was before. This is the first visible change of the site so far in preparations for the Heavy.

The Transporter Erector was also parked outside and was an active jobsite, with workers welding on additional steel blast shield plates along the bottom inside of the erector.

Finally a heavy flatbed truck arrived bearing a curious new low profile towing type vehicle on its back . Unsure of its role, but possibly something for moving horizontal rockets stages around. Parked far away, I never got the clearest shot.
« Last Edit: 10/16/2014 01:39 pm by Helodriver »

Offline woods170

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Re: SpaceX Vandenberg Updates and Discussion
« Reply #33 on: 10/16/2014 06:23 am »
Great update Helodriver! Thanks for posting.  :)

Offline AncientU

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Re: SpaceX Vandenberg Updates and Discussion
« Reply #34 on: 10/16/2014 02:47 pm »
Incredible update!
"If we shared everything [we are working on] people would think we are insane!"
-- SpaceX friend of mlindner

Offline deruch

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Re: SpaceX Vandenberg Updates and Discussion
« Reply #35 on: 10/17/2014 02:43 am »
Great pics!  I love sb2.jpg.  "No smoking within 50 ft" right behind the hold downs.   ;D  I'm sure they're a safe distance away, it's just a funny juxtaposition.
Shouldn't reality posts be in "Advanced concepts"?  --Nomadd

Offline Helodriver

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Re: SpaceX Vandenberg Updates and Discussion
« Reply #36 on: 10/25/2014 03:30 pm »
Construction and demolition activity continues at SLC-4, with visible progress made since last week.

The 4th and final hold down has been reinstalled on the launch stand, returning it to its operational configuration.

All three new LOX tanks are in place adjacent to the original three. Plumbing work continues to link them to the system.

SLC-4W's long standing fixed Launch Umbilical Tower has been pulled down, and is in the process of being cut apart.

All traces of the Mobile Service Tower have been removed from the site. Grading work for the landing pad should be beginning shortly.
« Last Edit: 10/26/2014 04:02 am by Helodriver »

Offline Coastal Ron

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Re: SpaceX Vandenberg Updates and Discussion
« Reply #37 on: 10/25/2014 03:43 pm »
In the picture from 10/16, what is SB1.jpg showing?  It looks like some form of erector, but I thought the Transporter Erector for the Falcon Heavy was just slimmer (it has to fit underneath the Falcon Heavy).

I guess I'm not up to date with what the new launch infrastructure is going to be...
If we don't continuously lower the cost to access space, how are we ever going to afford to expand humanity out into space?

Offline Helodriver

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Re: SpaceX Vandenberg Updates and Discussion
« Reply #38 on: 10/25/2014 03:49 pm »
Photo SB1 shows the bottom of Vandenberg's T/E. Built to handle the Heavy variant, it is a much larger and more robust piece of hardware than the T/E at the Cape.

Offline MTom

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Re: SpaceX Vandenberg Updates and Discussion
« Reply #39 on: 10/25/2014 08:19 pm »
Here you find a photo of T/E from 2013.

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