Quote from: IanThePineapple on 04/10/2017 11:04 pmWhat happened to F9R Dev 2? I know it was supposed to be used for the inflight abort test, but now it's just going to be a plain F9 first stage. So, what happened to Dev 2? Where is it specifically?It was at VAFB as recently as the Iridium-1 launch, it's in the background of the attached picture. It's incompatible with all the current pad hardware, so it's a piece of hardware without a mission right now (or probably ever).
What happened to F9R Dev 2? I know it was supposed to be used for the inflight abort test, but now it's just going to be a plain F9 first stage. So, what happened to Dev 2? Where is it specifically?
Quote from: old_sellsword on 04/10/2017 11:19 pmQuote from: IanThePineapple on 04/10/2017 11:04 pmWhat happened to F9R Dev 2? I know it was supposed to be used for the inflight abort test, but now it's just going to be a plain F9 first stage. So, what happened to Dev 2? Where is it specifically?It was at VAFB as recently as the Iridium-1 launch, it's in the background of the attached picture. It's incompatible with all the current pad hardware, so it's a piece of hardware without a mission right now (or probably ever).How is the inflight abort test vehicle going to be assembled and brought to the pad? Without a second stage it wouldn't fit right on the current TEL.
Quote from: Lars-J on 04/11/2017 07:51 amQuote from: cscott on 04/11/2017 06:22 amThere was a stage stretch around then, too. I believe the F9 dev 2 isn't stretched, so (in addition to the chilled prop, etc) nothing lines up right on top now.Only upper stage tanks were stretched for v1.2/block III, not the first stage. The first stage tank dimensions have not changed since "F9 dev 2".S1 total tank length was not changed but the relative sixe of rp1 and lox tanks was changed because lox densifies more when chilled.
Quote from: cscott on 04/11/2017 06:22 amThere was a stage stretch around then, too. I believe the F9 dev 2 isn't stretched, so (in addition to the chilled prop, etc) nothing lines up right on top now.Only upper stage tanks were stretched for v1.2/block III, not the first stage. The first stage tank dimensions have not changed since "F9 dev 2".
There was a stage stretch around then, too. I believe the F9 dev 2 isn't stretched, so (in addition to the chilled prop, etc) nothing lines up right on top now.
Quote from: envy887 on 04/12/2017 02:41 pmQuote from: old_sellsword on 04/10/2017 11:19 pmQuote from: IanThePineapple on 04/10/2017 11:04 pmWhat happened to F9R Dev 2? I know it was supposed to be used for the inflight abort test, but now it's just going to be a plain F9 first stage. So, what happened to Dev 2? Where is it specifically?It was at VAFB as recently as the Iridium-1 launch, it's in the background of the attached picture. It's incompatible with all the current pad hardware, so it's a piece of hardware without a mission right now (or probably ever).How is the inflight abort test vehicle going to be assembled and brought to the pad? Without a second stage it wouldn't fit right on the current TEL.Would they even be able to fly an F9 without the S2 avionics? Could they put in a dummy S2 and just leave off the engine?I too am curious how this will work.
Apologies in advance if this has been discussed copiously elsewhere, my search-fu wasn't able to find anything: has anyone documented the change in F9 booster serial number nomenclature from the previous B10xx format to the B10xx.y format?Is it as simple as .2 refers to FH side boosters and .1 corresponds to F9/FH-centers?
Quote from: StarTracker on 04/25/2017 01:56 pmApologies in advance if this has been discussed copiously elsewhere, my search-fu wasn't able to find anything: has anyone documented the change in F9 booster serial number nomenclature from the previous B10xx format to the B10xx.y format?Is it as simple as .2 refers to FH side boosters and .1 corresponds to F9/FH-centers?"B10xx" refers to a specific booster serial number. The ".y" suffix indicates the flight number: for example, SES-10 flew on booster B1021.2, the 2nd flight of booster number B1021.
Quote from: envy887 on 04/25/2017 02:01 pmQuote from: StarTracker on 04/25/2017 01:56 pmApologies in advance if this has been discussed copiously elsewhere, my search-fu wasn't able to find anything: has anyone documented the change in F9 booster serial number nomenclature from the previous B10xx format to the B10xx.y format?Is it as simple as .2 refers to FH side boosters and .1 corresponds to F9/FH-centers?"B10xx" refers to a specific booster serial number. The ".y" suffix indicates the flight number: for example, SES-10 flew on booster B1021.2, the 2nd flight of booster number B1021.B10xx.2 isn't necessarily the "booster number". It's probably more accurately the number identifying "something done to the booster" that has to be done for every flight. For instance, "static fire B10xx.2" is the second time B10xx was fired. IMNSHO -- I don't have any inside knowledge here.
A stage that's set for its first reflight gets a -2 added to its number. For example, 1021 is the stage that boosted F9-23 (CRS-8). If it is reflown, it will be referred to as 1021-2.
Quick question:What's the time frame for the debut of the Falcon 9 block 5? Is it going to be this year or next year?
New Google Earth images of Vandenberg from July 2016:
Quote from: sojourner on 05/02/2017 10:49 pmQuick question:What's the time frame for the debut of the Falcon 9 block 5? Is it going to be this year or next year?I think what we have heard is that Commercial Crew has to use Block 5, and there needs to be some launch history with Block 5 before it can carry crew.Last I heard the SpaceX Demonstration Mission 1 was scheduled for November of this year, so Block 5 needs to be flying well before that. Summer?
Quote from: corrodedNut on 04/26/2017 02:20 pmNew Google Earth images of Vandenberg from July 2016:That's going to be so awesome, seeing the landing so close to the launch pad. I foresee many interesting long or composite exposures to show the launch and landing in one shot.
I can see how NASA demands 7 block 5 flights before crew. But I can not see any reason at all why the unmanned test flight and the pad abort flight would need to be block 5.They can easily have 7 flights before crew when they start flying block 5 early next year.