Author Topic: Pad 39A - Transition to SpaceX Falcon Heavy debut - Thread 2  (Read 248398 times)

Offline mvpel

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Re: Pad 39A - Transition to SpaceX Falcon Heavy debut - Thread 2
« Reply #240 on: 02/24/2016 09:40 pm »
Right now.
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Offline mvpel

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Re: Pad 39A - Transition to SpaceX Falcon Heavy debut - Thread 2
« Reply #241 on: 02/24/2016 10:11 pm »
I just shot a gob of 40x frames which I'll be able to stitch tonight for a wicked hires image.
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Offline shuttlefan

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Re: Pad 39A - Transition to SpaceX Falcon Heavy debut - Thread 2
« Reply #242 on: 02/24/2016 11:48 pm »
Right now.

Not to sound dumb, but anything significant this photo tells us? They have not started removing the RSS?

Offline Lar

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Re: Pad 39A - Transition to SpaceX Falcon Heavy debut - Thread 2
« Reply #243 on: 02/25/2016 12:41 am »
Right now.

Not to sound dumb, but anything significant this photo tells us? They have not started removing the RSS?
Crane's in the "down" position, perhaps to safe it from the winds. That's my guess, nothing more.
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Offline mvpel

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Re: Pad 39A - Transition to SpaceX Falcon Heavy debut - Thread 2
« Reply #244 on: 02/25/2016 02:54 am »
Here's the pano from earlier this evening, 14000x8800 pixels.
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Offline Chris_Pi

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Re: Pad 39A - Transition to SpaceX Falcon Heavy debut - Thread 2
« Reply #245 on: 02/25/2016 03:17 am »
A good look at those enormous rainbirds in that photo. Assuming the yellow railing is 4' high, I get a quick-and dirty estimate of the rainbirds at 57'. :o That seems ridiculously big.

Could they be backed off from the rocket far enough that that actually makes sense? Or am I way off on the height?

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Re: Pad 39A - Transition to SpaceX Falcon Heavy debut - Thread 2
« Reply #246 on: 02/25/2016 04:28 am »
Any ideas what the flame trench/duct looks like? I don't recall seeing any photo of it.
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Offline Helodriver

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Re: Pad 39A - Transition to SpaceX Falcon Heavy debut - Thread 2
« Reply #247 on: 02/25/2016 04:45 am »
A good look at those enormous rainbirds in that photo. Assuming the yellow railing is 4' high, I get a quick-and dirty estimate of the rainbirds at 57'. :o That seems ridiculously big.

Could they be backed off from the rocket far enough that that actually makes sense? Or am I way off on the height?

Pure speculation - These are  oversized for an F9 family vehicle but are right sized for a larger follow on vehicle. 39A is the eventual BFR launch site.

Online Coastal Ron

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Re: Pad 39A - Transition to SpaceX Falcon Heavy debut - Thread 2
« Reply #248 on: 02/25/2016 05:29 am »
A good look at those enormous rainbirds in that photo. Assuming the yellow railing is 4' high, I get a quick-and dirty estimate of the rainbirds at 57'. :o That seems ridiculously big.

Could they be backed off from the rocket far enough that that actually makes sense? Or am I way off on the height?

Pure speculation - These are  oversized for an F9 family vehicle but are right sized for a larger follow on vehicle. 39A is the eventual BFR launch site.

I thought Musk or Shotwell said that 39A was too small for the BFR?  Is the flame trench big enough for a 12-15m rocket?
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Offline guckyfan

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Re: Pad 39A - Transition to SpaceX Falcon Heavy debut - Thread 2
« Reply #249 on: 02/25/2016 05:37 am »

I thought Musk or Shotwell said that 39A was too small for the BFR?  Is the flame trench big enough for a 12-15m rocket?

They have said it consistently and again very recently. The flame trench is wide enough but not capable of the full thrust.

Still one of my pet ideas is that they will do initial test flights from LC-39A. Partly fueled and with only part of the engines installed or firing. Good enough to do a lot of MCT testing before they need the full BFR pad. Getting permission for that pad and building it may well be the long pole for the project.

Offline cscott

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Re: Pad 39A - Transition to SpaceX Falcon Heavy debut - Thread 2
« Reply #250 on: 02/25/2016 12:38 pm »
Winds should be lower today, we'll see if the crane goes up.

Offline Zed_Noir

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Re: Pad 39A - Transition to SpaceX Falcon Heavy debut - Thread 2
« Reply #251 on: 02/25/2016 12:57 pm »

I thought Musk or Shotwell said that 39A was too small for the BFR?  Is the flame trench big enough for a 12-15m rocket?

They have said it consistently and again very recently. The flame trench is wide enough but not capable of the full thrust.

Still one of my pet ideas is that they will do initial test flights from LC-39A. Partly fueled and with only part of the engines installed or firing. Good enough to do a lot of MCT testing before they need the full BFR pad. Getting permission for that pad and building it may well be the long pole for the project.

SpaceX could do sub-orbital tests and landing trials with the BFS from LC-39A. Presuming the BFS could lift off without payload. Of course they will need a new hangar for the BFS.

Offline Arb

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Re: Pad 39A - Transition to SpaceX Falcon Heavy debut - Thread 2
« Reply #252 on: 02/25/2016 02:58 pm »
What is this?

Online docmordrid

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Re: Pad 39A - Transition to SpaceX Falcon Heavy debut - Thread 2
« Reply #253 on: 02/25/2016 03:05 pm »
Weird

Contrast boosted
« Last Edit: 02/25/2016 03:10 pm by docmordrid »
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Online abaddon

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Re: Pad 39A - Transition to SpaceX Falcon Heavy debut - Thread 2
« Reply #254 on: 02/25/2016 03:22 pm »
Just at a glance it looks like a dummy stage and PLF, maybe for TEL fit checks or some such.  Photo is pretty vague though, so that's just a guess.

Offline sghill

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Re: Pad 39A - Transition to SpaceX Falcon Heavy debut - Thread 2
« Reply #255 on: 02/25/2016 03:27 pm »
It's the TTCS.  ;)

It's visible in other pictures too.

{edit} The proper name is the "flare stack".
« Last Edit: 02/25/2016 05:53 pm by sghill »
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Offline JBF

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Re: Pad 39A - Transition to SpaceX Falcon Heavy debut - Thread 2
« Reply #256 on: 02/25/2016 04:02 pm »
What does TTCS stand for in this case? It's obviously not telemetry, tracking and command.
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Offline whitelancer64

What does TTCS stand for in this case? It's obviously not telemetry, tracking and command.

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Offline OnWithTheShow

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Re: Pad 39A - Transition to SpaceX Falcon Heavy debut - Thread 2
« Reply #258 on: 02/25/2016 04:11 pm »
Its the burn off tower for the excess hydrogen.

You can see it burning off hydrogen just to the left of the FSS in this video:

Edit: Added video
« Last Edit: 02/25/2016 04:19 pm by OnWithTheShow »

Offline whitelancer64

Yep, part of the Hydrogen burn-off area of the pad.

Fascinating that they call it a "burn pond"

http://apollolaunchcontrol.com/v20test/http___www.apollolaunchcontrol.com_/Launch_Pads.html
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"There are lies, damned lies, and launch schedules." - Larry J

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