Right now.
Quote from: mvpel on 02/24/2016 09:40 pmRight now. Not to sound dumb, but anything significant this photo tells us? They have not started removing the RSS?
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'. 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?
Quote from: Chris_Pi on 02/25/2016 03:17 amA 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'. 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?
Quote from: Coastal Ron on 02/25/2016 05:29 amI 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.
What does TTCS stand for in this case? It's obviously not telemetry, tracking and command.