Is the static fire pad visible from any publicly accessible area?Do they stand the Falcon up for static fires or are those done horizontally?
Quote from: sevenperforce on 04/19/2016 01:58 pmIs the static fire pad visible from any publicly accessible area?Do they stand the Falcon up for static fires or are those done horizontally?Since they will be (they say) doing the static fires on this stage at LC-39A, then yeah, I think that pad is visible from publicly accessible areas. And yes, they stand it upright on the launch pad before firing it. I may be mistaken, but I don't believe these stages are ever static-fired from a horizontal position.
I think the Saturn V Center is probably one of the better publicly accessible areas to see Pad 39A and the upcoming test firing/activity. I don't know if the KSCVC buses stop anymore at the observation tower with the SSME in it that I saw Atlantis from in 2007 before STS-117.
ROCX, I don't think the Falcon 9 can be tested horizontally because it is a liquid fueled rocket. Once it launches the g force can keep the liquid pushing down along with pressurized helium, even if it turns horizontal. Once in orbit in zero g, the 2nd stage fuel under pressure should stay in place. It doesn't matter with solids, with or without gravity. So, I think they used the rocket tie-downs on the launch pad for testing, only releasing when there is an actual launch. Same at McGregor, Texas.
Elon Musk @elonmusk 6:30 PM - 19 Apr 2016 By land and sea
Quote from: spacenut on 04/20/2016 12:34 amROCX, I don't think the Falcon 9 can be tested horizontally because it is a liquid fueled rocket. Once it launches the g force can keep the liquid pushing down along with pressurized helium, even if it turns horizontal. Once in orbit in zero g, the 2nd stage fuel under pressure should stay in place. It doesn't matter with solids, with or without gravity. So, I think they used the rocket tie-downs on the launch pad for testing, only releasing when there is an actual launch. Same at McGregor, Texas. This part is incorrect.
Elon just tweeted the attached picture of ORBCOMM-2 and CRS-8 side-by-side in 39A's HIF:...Looks like ORBCOMM-2 has undergone some additional inspections post-static fire as five of the engines are missing.