do I understand that article correctly that on holddown release the strongback will drop to the horizontal position? If so, that should make for a (n already) visually interesting launch
If the strongback is going to go horizontal, is there a separate umbilical tower? It seems like that would add additional complexity to the launch system that hasn't been present on the other pads.
will falcon 9/Falcon heavy enter ( be assembled for launch)and exit to the pad from the same doors in the HIF?
Quote from: chrisking0997 on 11/10/2015 04:47 pmdo I understand that article correctly that on holddown release the strongback will drop to the horizontal position? If so, that should make for a (n already) visually interesting launchThey did that for the Antares rocket launches.
Quote from: DatUser14 on 11/10/2015 06:07 pmwill falcon 9/Falcon heavy enter ( be assembled for launch)and exit to the pad from the same doors in the HIF?See attached images. Rocket goes in one door, and out the other!
Quote from: AS-503 on 11/10/2015 06:28 pmQuote from: DatUser14 on 11/10/2015 06:07 pmwill falcon 9/Falcon heavy enter ( be assembled for launch)and exit to the pad from the same doors in the HIF?See attached images. Rocket goes in one door, and out the other! Question:If you look at the photos of the strongback test and compare it to the render (not sure if that's SpaceX's official render or one of Nathan's)--isn't the strongback on the wrong side now in the render? It's shown there where it drops towards the HIF, but the photos appear to show the strongback dropping away from the HIF.It might be a photographic illusion, so I could be wrong.EDIT: I'm probably wrong. It's like looking at lunar craters in photos where the orientation makes them appear to be domes and not holes. I look at it again and see the strongback falling towards the HIF as in the render...
I notice that the render shows the 8 hold downs for FH, but only 2 seem attached to the F9. There was discussion about the base plate having interchangeable configs to allow 4 hold downs on the F9. I wonder if the render is slightly wrong here.
Quote from: douglas100 on 11/11/2015 03:24 pmI notice that the render shows the 8 hold downs for FH, but only 2 seem attached to the F9. There was discussion about the base plate having interchangeable configs to allow 4 hold downs on the F9. I wonder if the render is slightly wrong here.I was wondering the same thing. Also, if the T/E is intended to go "full" horizontal at T=0 wont it need that center assembly shown in the red outline in the image below? That assembly, given its position in the exhaust deflection stream, is going to get a hell of a taste of the launch temps and pressures. If it is at that location at T0, what is securing it? What are the wheels made of (they look pneumatic/puffy)? Is it likely they won't have that assembly there during launch? If so, then the strong back will not go full horizontal after T0?