Astounding that we are a few months out and no confirmed payload. (Plenty of rumors and wishes, but nothing solid AFAIK.) Don't want to start another first payload thread; any real info would be great!
Quote from: AncientU on 02/07/2017 10:44 amAstounding that we are a few months out and no confirmed payload. (Plenty of rumors and wishes, but nothing solid AFAIK.) Don't want to start another first payload thread; any real info would be great!It's a demo mission. No customer payloads on it of any importance. A lesson learned from the likes of Ariane 5 G, Ariane 5 ECA, Falcon 1, Delta IV Heavy, etc.
Quote from: woods170 on 02/07/2017 11:19 amQuote from: AncientU on 02/07/2017 10:44 amAstounding that we are a few months out and no confirmed payload. (Plenty of rumors and wishes, but nothing solid AFAIK.) Don't want to start another first payload thread; any real info would be great!It's a demo mission. No customer payloads on it of any importance. A lesson learned from the likes of Ariane 5 G, Ariane 5 ECA, Falcon 1, Delta IV Heavy, etc.Is that confirmed, or speculation?SpaceX have a history of putting payloads on maiden launches.
Seeing the pictures of a potential falcon heavy side core with nose cone already attached has me thinking. To lift stages on and off the test stands as well as recover the stages once landed SpaceX have been using a fitting that secures to the interstage of the rocket. This will not be possible with a falcon heavy core with a nose cone attached. I would assume SpaceX wouldn't want to be messing round with removing a nose cone while the rocket sits on a landing pad. It would be logical to design the nose cone so that it has the structural capability and includes fixtures so that it can be uses as the lifting point. Does anyone have any insight into wether this might be the case?
Quote from: wardy89 on 02/07/2017 12:56 pmSeeing the pictures of a potential falcon heavy side core with nose cone already attached has me thinking. To lift stages on and off the test stands as well as recover the stages once landed SpaceX have been using a fitting that secures to the interstage of the rocket. This will not be possible with a falcon heavy core with a nose cone attached. I would assume SpaceX wouldn't want to be messing round with removing a nose cone while the rocket sits on a landing pad. It would be logical to design the nose cone so that it has the structural capability and includes fixtures so that it can be uses as the lifting point. Does anyone have any insight into wether this might be the case?Some form of external mounting points arranged round the diameter of the core just under the cone?Could be similar to the four lugs that are on the outside of the octaweb for attaching the jacks when they recover them on the ASDS.
F9 F-1 launched a Dragon boilerplate.
Sources close to me say confirmed. FH side booster.
Quote from: Orbiter on 02/07/2017 12:39 pmF9 F-1 launched a Dragon boilerplate.And don't forget the cheese.