Quote from: MarekCyzio on 11/18/2017 11:28 amAssuming SpaceX needs to replace payload fairing - would this require demating the whole payload, returning it to payload processing facility and doing it there? Or it can be done on LC-39A? Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkEven if they could do it on 39A - I'd expect them to do it in the payload processing facility to avoid prying eyes on this super secret payload.
Assuming SpaceX needs to replace payload fairing - would this require demating the whole payload, returning it to payload processing facility and doing it there? Or it can be done on LC-39A? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Any possibility of an attempt Sunday?
Quote from: shuttlefan on 11/18/2017 01:23 pmAny possibility of an attempt Sunday?No. No NOTAM published, no launch date announced and the F9 back horizontal.
Quote from: ZachS09 on 11/18/2017 03:21 amQuote from: Jim on 11/18/2017 01:39 amQuote from: ZachS09 on 11/18/2017 12:56 amIf they're taking the Falcon 9/Zuma stack off the TEL, why not keep it to the side and continue work on the Falcon Heavy Demo preps?there is no side when it comes to an integrated launch vehicleI meant leave the Zuma stack in the LC-39A hangar, finish Falcon Heavy modifications, then integrate the Falcon Heavy vehicle on the TEL.I’m pretty sure he understood what you meant, and his reply was stating that integrated launch vehicles (especially ones of this much importance) do not simply “get put to the side,” especially by something like FH-1.Integrated launch vehicles get all the attention until they’ve safely done their job.
Quote from: Jim on 11/18/2017 01:39 amQuote from: ZachS09 on 11/18/2017 12:56 amIf they're taking the Falcon 9/Zuma stack off the TEL, why not keep it to the side and continue work on the Falcon Heavy Demo preps?there is no side when it comes to an integrated launch vehicleI meant leave the Zuma stack in the LC-39A hangar, finish Falcon Heavy modifications, then integrate the Falcon Heavy vehicle on the TEL.
Quote from: ZachS09 on 11/18/2017 12:56 amIf they're taking the Falcon 9/Zuma stack off the TEL, why not keep it to the side and continue work on the Falcon Heavy Demo preps?there is no side when it comes to an integrated launch vehicle
If they're taking the Falcon 9/Zuma stack off the TEL, why not keep it to the side and continue work on the Falcon Heavy Demo preps?
So, given the requirement of launching before November is out and the nonzero chance the Zuma fairing is suspect as well, what are the odds that SpaceX just does not have another fairing ready? Their fairing production rate is also said to be limited, they really cannot crank them out fast.
That certainly is an excellent question. We may never know. Or it may come out right away. Waiting is.
Quote from: FutureSpaceTourist on 11/18/2017 02:26 pmQuote from: shuttlefan on 11/18/2017 01:23 pmAny possibility of an attempt Sunday?No. No NOTAM published, no launch date announced and the F9 back horizontal.Just out of curiosity is there a mandated minimum required advance notice for NOTAM's?
I'm thinking that if Zuma does not launch by November 30th, the payload might either be sent to the scrapyard, or have its parts reused for other satellites.
Quote from: ZachS09 on 11/19/2017 05:15 pmI'm thinking that if Zuma does not launch by November 30th, the payload might either be sent to the scrapyard, or have its parts reused for other satellites.That stirkes me as highly implausible. Why would a very expensive bird be scrapped? Much more likely that SpaceX pays a lot of penalty and gets bad PR. If the mission was actually that time sensitive I could see repurposing.
What is the fairing issue? My guess at possible issues:Like the shuttle, they have notices something breaking loose and falling during launch, not causing problems so far because they safely fall past payload.They have noticed that the fairing splitting and falling away violates the payload envelope SpaceX contracts to be protected to customer, but all payloads do not intrude into that violated space.They have discovered the air pressures or turbulence are higher than expected when the fairing splits, or that the pressure drop experienced by the faring is more extreme.The most likely is, in my view:They discovered on inspection of another fairing in the production batch a material problem that requires QC check and test by xray etc a portion of the fairing, (steel from the corporation faking steel quality certifications). SpaceX can check the problem in four hours by looking inside the fairing, and in six hours by replacing the bolts, metal part, etc.Steps soon far:Getting a SpaceX QC guy an manufacturing tech security clearance.Figuring out how to get a customer team trained to do QC and manufacturing steps.Figuring out how to get the fairing removed so SpaceX can inspect and fix it if required without moving the payload and fairing far away and back.Maybe they are building a room inside the SpaceX building with hardware to remove fairing and make it available to SpaceX while keeping payload out of sight of SpaceX security cleared workers.Most likely all the delay is caused by SpaceX workers not being able to see the payload, even at the detail they will see in photos taken from the ground by hobbyist in a few weeks after the launch. Ie, from one end of the assembly building to the other with tarps hung to obstruct view.