It appears a Falcon 9 is wrapped and ready to ship from Port of Long Beach back to Vandenberg SFB. Perhaps this is B1071 which arrived last week after recovery from the Starlink 3-2 mission?@NASASpaceflight
This is what a recovered Falcon 9 looks like shipping out of Port of Long Beach back to Vandy, an elusive sight on the West Coast.@NASASpaceflight
1076 or 1077?
https://twitter.com/tgmetsfan98/status/1555669851821281283QuoteFalcon 9 B1077, the booster slated for Crew-5 that was damaged when it hit a bridge, has been repaired and static fired at McGregor!twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1555669545075048449QuoteFalcon 9 fires up at McGregor:youtube.com/watch?v=cOmmvh…
Falcon 9 B1077, the booster slated for Crew-5 that was damaged when it hit a bridge, has been repaired and static fired at McGregor!
Falcon 9 fires up at McGregor:youtube.com/watch?v=cOmmvh…
I think it's worth pointing out that boosters aren't chosen by the customers but by SpaceX. Even government customers lately are only allowed to do such a thing but at the expense of paying for it or any sort of in-kind deal. Boosters have flights assigned well deep into their flight history. B1073 for example will fly as FH side booster on its 7th flight, pending any potential changes in the way of course, but it's already penciled down for that even before flying for the first time. In short, the customer gets what SpaceX wants and what SpaceX wanted with this upcoming flight is to get a new booster in the fleet to support higher flight rate so... Starlink was the only one available around this time in their manifest.
A booster was spotted heading west, presumably to Vandenberg, presumably from McGregor: <snip>If that's the case, my theory is that it's B1075 <snip>
Falcon 9 first stage booster seen heading east early Saturday morning, following completion of its full post-production/pre-launch testing at @SpaceX’s McGregor, TX facility
SpaceX booster on the way to the Cape- future Falcon Heavy core
SpaceX completed today a 77 second static fire test of B1076, a Falcon booster, at their McGregor Test and Development Facility in Texas. If data looks good, it'll be transported to Florida for its first flight.
Sooty cylinder on the move at Kennedy Space Center!nsf.live/spacecoast
At least one Falcon 9 rocket is on the move tonight. On the way home after tonight’s scrub, I crossed paths with this well-used bird and its brand new upper stage heading eastbound at twilight toward SpaceX’s launch pads.
SpaceX Falcon booster on the roll at KSC.nsf.live/spacecoast
B1067 rolling out at KSC. Notice lack of grid fins and no second stage attached so don't expect this one to launch just yet, gonna need a bit more work to get ready for flight. It's likely for one of the launches next month.
As Falcon Heavy rolled out, two Falcon 9 first stage boosters arrived at the hangar
Quote from: SpaceX tweetAs Falcon Heavy rolled out, two Falcon 9 first stage boosters arrived at the hangar. [Oct 31]
As Falcon Heavy rolled out, two Falcon 9 first stage boosters arrived at the hangar. [Oct 31]
Quote from: FutureSpaceTourist on 10/31/2022 09:04 pmQuote from: SpaceX tweetAs Falcon Heavy rolled out, two Falcon 9 first stage boosters arrived at the hangar. [Oct 31]Identities, please?For the next two LC-39A Falcon 9 launches (SpX-26 and ??)?
can we assume that along with stripping B1051.14 before Galaxy 31/32 mission, will spacex swap the costly carbon fiber black interstage with a block 4 one like B1049.11 to save the interstage for a side booster like B1076(like B1049.11's interstage went to B1052)?