Author Topic: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Updates and Discussion Thread 3  (Read 1424001 times)

Offline wannamoonbase

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Looks like the crack and dent is in a very thin foil wrapped around the leg.  You can see a lapped seam running  along the leg member.

Maybe there's insulation under it and that was the anti-icing remedy?

The icing problem was stopping the deployment piston from latching.  I think we are looking at an arm of the A-frame here. 

The member seems to get wider at the crack, so I think it may just be a tear or crease in the wrapping - which may well be insulation - to accommodate an irregularity in the contours of whatever is underneath.  There is a similar feature in the bottom right corner of the the picture, which seems more like a crease.

Silly question, how does this compare to previous close ups of returned stages?

Are the legs changed, has the possible damage been there before and overlooked? 
Wildly optimistic prediction, Superheavy recovery on IFT-4 or IFT-5

Offline Chris Bergin

To mark this stage's arrival into port (and other SpaceX things), and remember we'll be going to the dedicated thread for this stage in this section for port ops.

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/08/by-sea-land-space-spacex-hardware/
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Offline Lar

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To mark this stage's arrival into port (and other SpaceX things), and remember we'll be going to the dedicated thread for this stage in this section for port ops.

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/08/by-sea-land-space-spacex-hardware/

Great article but I was hoping you'd work the orbiter transporter in there somehow  ... planes trains automobiles :)
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"We're a little bit like the dog who caught the bus" - Musk after CRS-8 S1 successfully landed on ASDS OCISLY

Offline ChrisC

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remember we'll be going to the dedicated thread for this stage in this section for port ops.

To link people over, I believe that is this thread:  http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=40926.0
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Offline tleski

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Timelapse of the JCSAT-16 core being transported to the port was posted to SpaceX's Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJQpM0RjU50/?taken-by=spacex


Over on the facebook spacex group they got an answer from a spacex tech who was posting about the drop test about where the core ID number is.

"Travis Masuichi Hunter
Travis Masuichi Hunter If you look right under the second from the right leg it has the tail number printed in off white."

If anyone has the full resolution photos of the area under the landing leg where its toasted for the various cores and can check to see what can be seen. We might get lucky.  A couple of the shots up thread looked like they where crisp enough to see the lettering if focused on the right spot.

Offline cscott

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"right under" might also mean in the triangular area underneath the bottom leg attach point, where it would be visible with legs folded or unfolded.

Offline SLC

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On FLORIDA SPACErePORT for Thursday 25 August 2016  at http://spacereport.blogspot.co.uk/ and ultimately from Florida Today:

"SpaceX to Lease Building at Port Canaveral, May Build Another One (Source: Florida Today)

SpaceX is moving some of its operations to Port Canaveral, port Chief Executive Officer John Murray said Wednesday. The space launch company plans to lease the now-vacant former Spacehab building on the north side of the port, and is looking at constructing a second building on vacant land adjacent to that site, Murray told port commissioners.  ..."  (continues)
« Last Edit: 08/26/2016 12:30 am by SLC »

Offline Jim

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There is a dedicated thread for that

Offline SLC

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There is a dedicated thread for that
Apologies!  Found the new thread at http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=40997.0

Offline hans_ober

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Reports that the ASDS is already out of port.

Offline CJ

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Elsbeth III is about 120 miles SE (yep, southeast) of Canaveral, inbound at 5.9 knots (towing speed). My guess as to the odd route; they detoured south with OCISLY to avoid rough weather.

Edit to update: EIII back at the dock, so I'm assuming OCISLY is too.
« Last Edit: 09/03/2016 10:54 pm by CJ »

Offline CJ

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If indeed the F9 Return to Flight takes several months, any ideas how SpaceX might take advantage of the downtime in regards to the ASDSs? I'm thinking that any inspections that need doing will be done, and also any planned-for-the-future upgrades/changes. Both ASDSs could be sent back to the yard if needed (Though with JRTI, that'd mean a trip through the Panama Canal, but at least the wings wouldn't have to come off now). 

 

Offline CameronD

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If indeed the F9 Return to Flight takes several months, any ideas how SpaceX might take advantage of the downtime in regards to the ASDSs? I'm thinking that any inspections that need doing will be done, and also any planned-for-the-future upgrades/changes. Both ASDSs could be sent back to the yard if needed (Though with JRTI, that'd mean a trip through the Panama Canal, but at least the wings wouldn't have to come off now).

The ASDSs seem to be doing fine the last couple of landings, so I'm not sure there's anything they need to do.  In many ways this is pretty bad timing, 'cause they rushed through repairs and inspections ready for a long and busy launch season and now find themselves stuck at the dock.

Maybe the tugs will find someone else to play with in the interim, but since everyone else in SpaceX will presumably be focussed on RTF unless there are some major upgrades they've been thinking about and put off I'd be surprised if we see anything much happening at all. 
With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine - however, this is not necessarily a good idea. It is hard to be sure where they are
going to land, and it could be dangerous sitting under them as they fly overhead.

Offline Lar

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Man it was quiet in here....

SpaceX could perhaps use the time to start work on a third ASDS.
"I think it would be great to be born on Earth and to die on Mars. Just hopefully not at the point of impact." -Elon Musk
"We're a little bit like the dog who caught the bus" - Musk after CRS-8 S1 successfully landed on ASDS OCISLY

Offline ZachS09

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Man it was quiet in here....

SpaceX could perhaps use the time to start work on a third ASDS.

Could SpaceX use the hypothetical third ASDS for the Boca Chica launches?
Liftoff for St. Jude's! Go Dragon, Go Falcon, Godspeed Inspiration4!

Offline CameronD

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Man it was quiet in here....

No, not all that quiet really.  If you listen hard enough there's the sound of seagulls on the dock; water lapping against the hull...  ;D
« Last Edit: 09/06/2016 03:04 am by CameronD »
With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine - however, this is not necessarily a good idea. It is hard to be sure where they are
going to land, and it could be dangerous sitting under them as they fly overhead.

Offline Helodriver

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Checked up on the SpaceX Navy idling in Port Canaveral. 

OCISLY and Go Quest are at their usual berths on the north side no signs of activity. GO Searcher nowhere in sight.

Elsbeth III is docked behind Fishlips and has crew aboard. That well scarred tug bears the marks of a hardworking life.

A large crocodile appeared to be ready gobble OCISLY as the sun set.

Offline Lar

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Thanks Helodriver. You sure do get around...
"I think it would be great to be born on Earth and to die on Mars. Just hopefully not at the point of impact." -Elon Musk
"We're a little bit like the dog who caught the bus" - Musk after CRS-8 S1 successfully landed on ASDS OCISLY

Offline Alastor

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A large crocodile appeared to be ready gobble OCISLY as the sun set.

Well, that's one way to revive this thread : If a crocodile does gobble OCISLY, we can be pretty sure that barge-construction-stalking will be able to go in full swing in no time.  ;D
Maybe also gobble JRtI for safety ?  ::)

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