Author Topic: SpaceX Falcon Heavy Discussion (Thread 5)  (Read 487377 times)

Offline cppetrie

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Re: SpaceX Falcon Heavy Discussion (Thread 5)
« Reply #820 on: 04/20/2017 11:44 pm »
Police escorts are likely entirely about traffic accommodations and nothing to do with security. Like others mentioned, what the heck would you do with a stolen rocket even if your very unspeedy getaway was a success?

Online Herb Schaltegger

Re: SpaceX Falcon Heavy Discussion (Thread 5)
« Reply #821 on: 04/20/2017 11:50 pm »
The truck is certainly tracked by GPS in real-time or near-real time, as are a surprising number of plain, ordinary every day tractor-trailer rigs day in and day out on the highways. If it went off-route, or even dawdled for any inordinate length of time it would be noticed and investigated quickly. Stealing a rocket may have made for a silly and fun James Bond plot decades ago, but it's not very likely in this day and age.
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Offline TomH

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Re: SpaceX Falcon Heavy Discussion (Thread 5)
« Reply #822 on: 04/21/2017 12:21 am »
I am not thinking theft, but rather vandalism by hooligans simply looking to make mischief. Paying the salary of a couple of guards is far less expensive than the damage of a handful of teenagers who decide to take a big hammer and start whacking on things or shooting holes with a gun just for the hell of it. And I guarantee you....that does happen.
« Last Edit: 04/21/2017 12:26 am by TomH »

Online Herb Schaltegger

Re: SpaceX Falcon Heavy Discussion (Thread 5)
« Reply #823 on: 04/21/2017 01:09 am »
I am not thinking theft, but rather vandalism by hooligans simply looking to make mischief. Paying the salary of a couple of guards is far less expensive than the damage of a handful of teenagers who decide to take a big hammer and start whacking on things or shooting holes with a gun just for the hell of it. And I guarantee you....that does happen.

You say these things as if I haven't lived in the South most of my life, lol.

Yes, I know such things happen. I also know SpaceX (and many, many other companies before them) have been shipping oversized tanks and expensive equipment around the country by truck for many years and many, MANY miles. They know what they're doing.
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Online Coastal Ron

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Re: SpaceX Falcon Heavy Discussion (Thread 5)
« Reply #824 on: 04/21/2017 02:02 am »
Any thoughts on why they would have diverted from I-12 to the local road?

Did they miss the turnoff for I-10 a ways back, and continuing on I-12 was not a viable option?

Just seems odd, since it's unlikely they'll do local roads the whole way.
If we don't continuously lower the cost to access space, how are we ever going to afford to expand humanity out into space?

Offline cppetrie

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Re: SpaceX Falcon Heavy Discussion (Thread 5)
« Reply #825 on: 04/21/2017 02:23 am »
Any thoughts on why they would have diverted from I-12 to the local road?

Did they miss the turnoff for I-10 a ways back, and continuing on I-12 was not a viable option?

Just seems odd, since it's unlikely they'll do local roads the whole way.
Diverting around a low overpass or similar height restriction?

Offline Steve G

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Re: SpaceX Falcon Heavy Discussion (Thread 5)
« Reply #826 on: 04/21/2017 03:37 am »
There's a road crew working on the trailer. Likely a mechanical issue. These things happen in trucking.

Offline darkenfast

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Re: SpaceX Falcon Heavy Discussion (Thread 5)
« Reply #827 on: 04/21/2017 04:12 am »
I am not thinking theft, but rather vandalism by hooligans simply looking to make mischief. Paying the salary of a couple of guards is far less expensive than the damage of a handful of teenagers who decide to take a big hammer and start whacking on things or shooting holes with a gun just for the hell of it. And I guarantee you....that does happen.
Armed guards crossing multiple state lines is one issue.  If someone throws some rocks or even shoots a hole in a tank, there's little a guard could do except call the police, as the vehicle would be past the site in seconds unless someone was driving alongside and shooting from a vehicle, which is getting pretty out there.  There's insurance to take care of damage and cops to investigate, if a crime has been committed.  Look what happened to United because three Chicago Airport cops hauled a passenger off of a plane.  Nobody would remember the name of the trucking company, but Musk and SpaceX would be dragged through the gutter if a guard shot somebody for damaging a rocket on the highway.
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Online Coastal Ron

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Re: SpaceX Falcon Heavy Discussion (Thread 5)
« Reply #828 on: 04/21/2017 04:34 am »
There's a road crew working on the trailer. Likely a mechanical issue. These things happen in trucking.

I was asking in regards to the video of the stage going by on the local road, not the picture of the stage on the side of the road much earlier in it's trip.
If we don't continuously lower the cost to access space, how are we ever going to afford to expand humanity out into space?

Offline Zucal

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Re: SpaceX Falcon Heavy Discussion (Thread 5)
« Reply #829 on: 04/21/2017 04:49 am »
There is an escort of multiple state highway patrol vehicles accompanying the convoy at most times.

Offline cppetrie

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Re: SpaceX Falcon Heavy Discussion (Thread 5)
« Reply #830 on: 04/21/2017 04:51 am »
There is an escort of multiple state highway patrol vehicles accompanying the convoy at most times.
Again I would hazard a guess though that the escort is really about traffic management and public safety and not really about rocket security.

Offline Zucal

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Re: SpaceX Falcon Heavy Discussion (Thread 5)
« Reply #831 on: 04/21/2017 05:02 am »
I'm not explaining their purpose, that's for y'all to work on. Just clarifying that a large escort is present much of the time.

Offline jjyach

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Re: SpaceX Falcon Heavy Discussion (Thread 5)
« Reply #832 on: 04/21/2017 01:24 pm »
Yea they used to have a large escort of police vehicles here in Denver when they would transfer the Atlas V to Buckley AFB in the middle of the night for traffic control, especially on the tighter turns. 
« Last Edit: 04/21/2017 01:27 pm by jjyach »

Offline Brovane

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Re: SpaceX Falcon Heavy Discussion (Thread 5)
« Reply #833 on: 04/21/2017 02:19 pm »
I'm surprised not to see any armed guards, or at least big guys in suits and sunglasses, to protect such an expensive piece of hardware. I would also think they would have 2 or 3 drivers who rotate driving, resting, sleeping. I'd also modify the truck with aux tanks, a toilet, fridge, microwave, and a couple of bunk beds so it only had to stop for drivers to switch seats.

The security is probably chilling in the white SUV parked near the booster.  They have the engine running, AC on and eating a burger while they wait for the tractor to come back.  Who wants to wear a suit to guard a booster, polo and tactical pants will suffice.     
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Online abaddon

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Re: SpaceX Falcon Heavy Discussion (Thread 5)
« Reply #834 on: 04/21/2017 02:35 pm »
So... do we have confirmation that this is in fact the center core?  And it's headed to McGregor (maybe there by now)?  So we've seen one booster that has hot-fired, center core next (FH booster) in line for testing?
« Last Edit: 04/21/2017 02:45 pm by abaddon »

Offline old_sellsword

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Re: SpaceX Falcon Heavy Discussion (Thread 5)
« Reply #835 on: 04/21/2017 02:53 pm »
So... do we have confirmation that this is in fact the center core?  And it's headed to McGregor (maybe there by now)?  So we've seen one booster that has hot-fired, center core next (FH booster) in line for testing?

No confirmation, just my speculation. We'll know soon enough when we see it on the test stand.

Offline Star One

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SpaceX Falcon Heavy Discussion (Thread 5)
« Reply #836 on: 04/21/2017 02:58 pm »
I am cross posting this article from the WFIRST thread where we can see that the Falcon Heavy is in a straight up competition with the DIVH when it comes to launching this prestigious space telescope.

Quote
NASA is currently looking at ULA’s Delta 4-Heavy or SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket to send WFIRST into space, according to Dominic Bedford, the mission’s program scientist at NASA Headquarters.

https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/04/19/with-an-eye-on-growing-cost-nasa-aims-for-2025-launch-of-next-great-observatory/
« Last Edit: 04/21/2017 02:59 pm by Star One »

Online abaddon

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Re: SpaceX Falcon Heavy Discussion (Thread 5)
« Reply #837 on: 04/21/2017 03:13 pm »
Nice find.  Clearly FH will have to be certified at the highest classification to be allowed to carry a $2-3 billion payload.  I guess Solar Probe Plus would have also required that, if FH had won the competition, although clearly it was not a credible competitor based on timeline.  Are there any other NASA payloads that a Falcon 9 vehicle has competed for that would require that level of certification to date?

(Corrected mistake on my part regarding projected launch date of WFIRST).
« Last Edit: 04/21/2017 03:27 pm by abaddon »

Offline Rei

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Re: SpaceX Falcon Heavy Discussion (Thread 5)
« Reply #838 on: 04/21/2017 03:19 pm »
Interesting.  Late next year seems pretty early for Falcon Heavy to be considered for a flagship mission.  Clearly it would have to be certified at the highest classification to be allowed to carry a $2-3 billion payload.

I'd imagine it ends up on Delta IV Heavy.  If it were a year later than the FH would be a more credible competitor.

Am I missing something? "The Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope, or WFIRST, is scheduled to be ready for launch by September 2025"

Online abaddon

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Re: SpaceX Falcon Heavy Discussion (Thread 5)
« Reply #839 on: 04/21/2017 03:24 pm »
Interesting.  Late next year seems pretty early for Falcon Heavy to be considered for a flagship mission.  Clearly it would have to be certified at the highest classification to be allowed to carry a $2-3 billion payload.

I'd imagine it ends up on Delta IV Heavy.  If it were a year later than the FH would be a more credible competitor.

Am I missing something? "The Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope, or WFIRST, is scheduled to be ready for launch by September 2025"
Nope, that would be me :o.  Got confused at the very end of the article where it was talking about JWST.

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