We're waiting for photos, but Gary for L2 McGregor is reporting FH side booster on the test stand!
"Conehead" Very good. "We're NOT from France!" It is interesting that the guy wires are attached outside of the cone. Would this make for more rapid processing, not needing to take off the cone for test firing? Can they transport the stage from Hawthorne and to Florida with the cone attached? Isn't it said that the first stage is already at the length limit for transport? If they have to take off the cone for transport, why not use the standard (or slightly modified) cap for test firing? Why build this capability into flight hardware?
Does the first stage normally transports with an interstage?
If so, it might be that the cone replaces the interstage and doesn't add to the overall length of the rocket for transport.
Quote from: Comga on 04/09/2017 05:17 pm"Conehead" Very good. "We're NOT from France!" It is interesting that the guy wires are attached outside of the cone. Would this make for more rapid processing, not needing to take off the cone for test firing? Can they transport the stage from Hawthorne and to Florida with the cone attached? Isn't it said that the first stage is already at the length limit for transport? If they have to take off the cone for transport, why not use the standard (or slightly modified) cap for test firing? Why build this capability into flight hardware?I believe it was transported from Hawthorne to McGregor with the nose cone attached, so presumably it could also be transported to Florida.
So what are people's opinion of having the hold-down's as part of the "conehead"?
In light of reports that a core stage may have been set to static fire last week, I browsed the SpaceX tag on Instagram and came across this. Photo posted (not sure if taken) Saturday of the McGregor test site, and strongly suggests that 1023.2 did indeed have an apparently successful SF. https://www.instagram.com/p/BS6nzBPDwed/
Quote from: vaporcobra on 04/18/2017 06:21 amIn light of reports that a core stage may have been set to static fire last week, I browsed the SpaceX tag on Instagram and came across this. Photo posted (not sure if taken) Saturday of the McGregor test site, and strongly suggests that 1023.2 did indeed have an apparently successful SF. https://www.instagram.com/p/BS6nzBPDwed/Wrong stand. You can see the old tripod stand to the right, the booster stand is right beside it, further to the right out of frame.This test's vapor plume is better placed for Raptor, as it's stand is a ways to the north of the booster, as well as Merlin, testing areas.
Interesting note on the supposed FH core sighted yesterday. Around the aft engine section there seems to be loads of coloured tape. Without a closer look it's only guessing, but I was thinking they could be messages from Hawthorne employees, sending the first FH core on it's way.It's a bit out there From here: https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/65z8yi/falcon_spotting_sighting_in_marana_az_im_pretty/?ref=share&ref_source=link