NRO will have a specific core
Quote from: Jim on 04/10/2017 02:08 pmNRO will have a specific coreI'd like to clarify this. A specific core doesn't necessarily mean a separate design, special modifications. Is there anything unique about this core?
Quote from: Norm38 on 04/13/2017 02:11 amQuote from: Jim on 04/10/2017 02:08 pmNRO will have a specific coreI'd like to clarify this. A specific core doesn't necessarily mean a separate design, special modifications. Is there anything unique about this core?It has been carefully observed & inspected by the NRO people?
Looks like we have rollback into the HIF for the Strongback and Launch Table, per Instagram.https://www.instagram.com/p/BS1lppZAYXU/?tagged=spacexGood progress given 1 1/2 weeks to Static Fire.
Do we know if they are going to do some sort of primitive vertical integration on this launch? Like with a crane? The need for the rocket to be vertical could explain both the delay in launch and the early ingress of the TEL.Though I think that idea a bit far out...
Mike Wagner, from @USLaunchReport has tweeted this:#SpaceX Falcon 9 minus payload upright on 39A venting 10:30 AM 04/18/2017This is probably not true thought.
There is no vehicle on the pad
Quote from: Jim on 04/18/2017 02:46 pmThere is no vehicle on the padDo you know if the TE is venting? Or were they wrong about that part as well?
They *might* have been doing TEL throwback tests. The TEL kept going from 45-ish degrees to vertical. Then it was back at 45... and so on and so forth. Never actually saw it "throwback", so someone with better knowledge can correct. Just reporting what I saw.
Quote from: ChrisGebhardt on 04/18/2017 09:00 pmThey *might* have been doing TEL throwback tests. The TEL kept going from 45-ish degrees to vertical. Then it was back at 45... and so on and so forth. Never actually saw it "throwback", so someone with better knowledge can correct. Just reporting what I saw.Is it back to horizontal with the launch table yet? That would be great for rollback and SF next week.
Quote from: Jim on 04/18/2017 02:55 pmThere is no vehicle on the padGiven that this is an NRO mission, could it be a stealth vehicle?