LIVE: SpaceX Falcon 9 Static Fire - April 30, 2012

[psloss]

Can see weather briefing activity; no audio.

[manboy]

Not sure why they have a picture of the manned variant on the livestream page.

[psloss]

@NASAKennedy:
http://mobile.twitter.com/nasakennedy/status/197021417542385664

SpaceX having no issues ahead of static firing. Falcon 9 rocket is fueled, strongback is retracted. Exercise is rehearsal, no launch today.

[Chris Bergin]

Yeah, smooth count so far. 30 mins to the webcast.

[corrodedNut]

Is that the US DeltaV pack in the planners guide?

Then it is not the same upper stage on flight three

I would agree on both points, question is: why now?

[Robotbeat]

Is that the US DeltaV pack in the planners guide?
...

Where are you seeing that? Can you point it out? (screen capture, highlighted in MS Paint)

[Chris Bergin]

Worth a heads up ask, but if anyone can work out a VLC link out of the live stream, feel free to post it.

[Chris-A]

Looks like the page is working over at livestream.
http://new.livestream.com/accounts/142499/events/849384
http://www.spacex.com/webcast.php

Edit: I'm working on the screen capturing right now, this could be hard.

[Chris Bergin]

I assume everyone's only got this:

[Mapperuo]

I assume everyone's only got this:

Same here.

[brettreds2k]

Yeah until 2:30pm we all will get that screen, then they will stream video live

[Chris Bergin]

Good good, I don't trust me PC one bit!

[Jason1701]

Falcon 9′s Merlin engines hoping to spell success for May 7 target - includes content from William Graham:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/04/falcon-9s-merlin-engines-for-may-7-target/

"Attitude control for both stages will be provided by thrust vectoring; with four Draco thrusters augmenting this after the first stage has separated."

Wow, that's news to me, I thought this feature was a future upgrade. Is this the first flight with this capability?

I believe that is incorrect, that the second stage has no Dracos.

[Chris Bergin]

I've removed that line to be on the safe side. I've added added a couple of paras on the post test to the article.

[Robotbeat]

Falcon 9′s Merlin engines hoping to spell success for May 7 target - includes content from William Graham:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/04/falcon-9s-merlin-engines-for-may-7-target/

"Attitude control for both stages will be provided by thrust vectoring; with four Draco thrusters augmenting this after the first stage has separated."

Wow, that's news to me, I thought this feature was a future upgrade. Is this the first flight with this capability?

I believe that is incorrect, that the second stage has no Dracos.

It might if some rumors by kevin-rf (etc?) are true. I.e. that this Falcon 9 upper stage has the delta-v-kit on-board. Clarification is definitely needed, here.