Author Topic: Rebuilding SLC-40  (Read 355980 times)

Offline jpo234

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Re: Rebuilding SLC-40
« Reply #580 on: 12/06/2017 10:50 am »
Sort of a LC-40 1.1

I would think more like 3.0...

1.0 for the original tic-tac-toe Falcon 9
2.0 for the Falcon 1.1 with Octaweb
2.5 for Falcon FT with densified LOX
3.0 Lessons learned from LC-39A

Were this major upgrades?
You want to be inspired by things. You want to wake up in the morning and think the future is going to be great. That's what being a spacefaring civilization is all about. It's about believing in the future and believing the future will be better than the past. And I can't think of anything more exciting than being out there among the stars.

Offline envy887

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Re: Rebuilding SLC-40
« Reply #581 on: 12/06/2017 03:25 pm »
If the improvements get them to a two-week cadence* instead of the three to four week one prior to AMOS, then the extra effort will quickly pay for itself.

* Potentially one week when static fires go away with Block 5 reflights.

I wouldn't be surprised if they implemented lessons learned from 39A into 40 and might have gotten turnaround time to less than 2 weeks (I'd guess around 10-12 days)

The pad itself at 39A has never been the issue, it's by all accounts ready to launch again immediately. Processing another Booster/S2/Payload in the HIF, rolling the TEL back, as well as prop delivery, are where the turnaround constraints lie.

And frequently just getting a booster/S2/fairing on site. Until they have boosters and fairings reflying frequently and convert mfg space to S2 production, they simple can't get a whole vehicle through the production / testing / transport pipeline every 10 days.

Offline Jcc

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Re: Rebuilding SLC-40
« Reply #582 on: 12/06/2017 10:08 pm »
Anybody know why the new TEL is not painted white like the 39a TEL is? Looking forward to getting a good view of it.

Offline Tomness

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Re: Rebuilding SLC-40
« Reply #583 on: 12/06/2017 10:22 pm »
Anybody know why the new TEL is not painted white like the 39a TEL is? Looking forward to getting a good view of it.

(Opinion)
 with them finishing it to launch readniess and transferring back over to LC-39A and getting its pad ready for FH... these guys deserve a Christmas break.  Close out anything for first of the year... take good vacation.... than move on Texas Launch Site for Boca Chica or SLC-4E at Vandenberg Air Force Base ready for FH.

Offline IntoTheVoid

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Re: Rebuilding SLC-40
« Reply #584 on: 12/07/2017 03:53 am »
Anybody know why the new TEL is not painted white like the 39a TEL is? Looking forward to getting a good view of it.

TEL expected to be still mainly "grey" as they've only painted some of it as of today.

"expected", "mainly", "as of today" all point to the TEL eventually being white, but function being more important for the current timeline. Perhaps with the static fire complete, more could be painted before launch, but they may not want to risk changes before the launch. I (nobody) expect it'll be painted in time for Zuma.

Offline SPITexas

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Re: Rebuilding SLC-40
« Reply #585 on: 12/07/2017 04:21 am »
Anybody know why the new TEL is not painted white like the 39a TEL is? Looking forward to getting a good view of it.

(Opinion)
 with them finishing it to launch readniess and transferring back over to LC-39A and getting its pad ready for FH... these guys deserve a Christmas break.  Close out anything for first of the year... take good vacation.... than move on Texas Launch Site for Boca Chica or SLC-4E at Vandenberg Air Force Base ready for FH.

New!!!
Static fire test from LC-40 for CRS-13 complete. December 12th for launch after that it is followed by and confirmed Zuma will launch on
pad 40 also.  I agree Tom with these repairs and modifications nearly done the employees need a lot of rest if there Scheduled to be sent to Boca Chica in early 2018. Building a whole launch complex SpaceX very first commercial launch site.

Offline russianhalo117

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Re: Rebuilding SLC-40
« Reply #586 on: 12/07/2017 01:05 pm »
Anybody know why the new TEL is not painted white like the 39a TEL is? Looking forward to getting a good view of it.

(Opinion)
 with them finishing it to launch readniess and transferring back over to LC-39A and getting its pad ready for FH... these guys deserve a Christmas break.  Close out anything for first of the year... take good vacation.... than move on Texas Launch Site for Boca Chica or SLC-4E at Vandenberg Air Force Base ready for FH.

New!!!
Static fire test from LC-40 for CRS-13 complete. December 12th for launch after that it is followed by and confirmed Zuma will launch on
pad 40 also.  I agree Tom with these repairs and modifications nearly done the employees need a lot of rest if there Scheduled to be sent to Boca Chica in early 2018. Building a whole launch complex SpaceX very first commercial launch site.
Final work at SLC-4E for FH has a higher priority than BC at this time.

Offline leetdan

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Re: Rebuilding SLC-40
« Reply #587 on: 12/07/2017 01:08 pm »
Final work at SLC-4E for FH has a higher priority than BC at this time.

Is that based on solely meeting EELV requirements, or is there other info pointing to this?

Offline russianhalo117

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Re: Rebuilding SLC-40
« Reply #588 on: 12/07/2017 01:11 pm »
Final work at SLC-4E for FH has a higher priority than BC at this time.

Is that based on solely meeting EELV requirements, or is there other info pointing to this?
all I can say is there is info in L2 and there are going to be some surprises at the pad that are new since the last launch at SLC-4E.
« Last Edit: 12/07/2017 01:20 pm by russianhalo117 »

Offline abaddon

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Re: Rebuilding SLC-40
« Reply #589 on: 12/07/2017 01:44 pm »
all I can say is there is info in L2 and there are going to be some surprises at the pad that are new since the last launch at SLC-4E.
Some surprises that will be evident during the Iridium-4 launch campaign?  Or some date later?

Offline cscott

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Re: Rebuilding SLC-40
« Reply #590 on: 12/07/2017 02:03 pm »

all I can say is there is info in L2 and there are going to be some surprises at the pad that are new since the last launch at SLC-4E.

Could you provide a link to L2 so those of us on L2 are clear about what you're referring to? It's quite possible I've missed some L2 thread, but I'm a little foggy on what the "surprises" might be.
« Last Edit: 12/07/2017 02:04 pm by cscott »

Offline SPITexas

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Re: Rebuilding SLC-40
« Reply #591 on: 12/07/2017 03:10 pm »
Anybody know why the new TEL is not painted white like the 39a TEL is? Looking forward to getting a good view of it.

(Opinion)
 with them finishing it to launch readniess and transferring back over to LC-39A and getting its pad ready for FH... these guys deserve a Christmas break.  Close out anything for first of the year... take good vacation.... than move on Texas Launch Site for Boca Chica or SLC-4E at Vandenberg Air Force Base ready for FH.

New!!!
Static fire test from LC-40 for CRS-13 complete. December 12th for launch after that it is followed by and confirmed Zuma will launch on
pad 40 also.  I agree Tom with these repairs and modifications nearly done the employees need a lot of rest if there Scheduled to be sent to Boca Chica in early 2018. Building a whole launch complex SpaceX very first commercial launch site.
Final work at SLC-4E for FH has a higher priority than BC at this time.
Actually both are a high priority next year, while SpaceX California is very close to SLC-4E also it’s probaly already ready for the FH. SpaceX deadline to get Boca Chica operational is sept 30th, 2018 the delay for Boca Chica Contruction was Becuase of the LC-40 incident.

“Now, with our launch construction projects in Florida wrapping up by early 2018, SpaceX will be able to turn more attention to our work in South Texas,”  Spacex spokesman jamesGleeson said. http://www.expressnews.com/business/technology/article/Progress-slow-at-SpaceX-s-planned-South-Texas-12389760.php
« Last Edit: 12/07/2017 03:14 pm by SPITexas »

Online gongora

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Re: Rebuilding SLC-40
« Reply #592 on: 12/07/2017 03:16 pm »
Actually both are a high priority next year, while SpaceX California is very close to SLC-4E also it’s probaly already ready for the FH. SpaceX deadline to get Boca Chica operational is sept 30th, 2018 the delay for Boca Chica Contruction was Becuase of the LC-40 incident.

SLC-4E is not ready for FH, and it's unclear when it needs to be.  I don't recall seeing any info on that in L2.

There is no deadline to get Boca Chica operational by September 30th, and it's not going to happen.

Further discussion on Boca Chica should probably move to the Boca Chica thread.

Offline SPITexas

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Re: Rebuilding SLC-40
« Reply #593 on: 12/07/2017 03:27 pm »
Actually both are a high priority next year, while SpaceX California is very close to SLC-4E also it’s probaly already ready for the FH. SpaceX deadline to get Boca Chica operational is sept 30th, 2018 the delay for Boca Chica Contruction was Becuase of the LC-40 incident.

SLC-4E is not ready for FH, and it's unclear when it needs to be.  I don't recall seeing any info on that in L2.

There is no deadline to get Boca Chica operational by September 30th, and it's not going to happen.

Further discussion on Boca Chica should probably move to the Boca Chica thread.

I like your opinion well we’ll see what SpaceX does in 2018. Big stuff happening.  SpaceX has 3 launch pads now. That is all I wants to say. Thanks.
« Last Edit: 12/07/2017 03:51 pm by SPITexas »

Offline russianhalo117

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Re: Rebuilding SLC-40
« Reply #594 on: 12/07/2017 03:52 pm »

all I can say is there is info in L2 and there are going to be some surprises at the pad that are new since the last launch at SLC-4E.

Could you provide a link to L2 so those of us on L2 are clear about what you're referring to? It's quite possible I've missed some L2 thread, but I'm a little foggy on what the "surprises" might be.

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=42426.msg1756248#msg1756248

Offline Space Ghost 1962

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Re: Rebuilding SLC-40
« Reply #595 on: 12/07/2017 03:57 pm »
Considerable work to ready SLC-4E although originally scarred for FH earlier version. As well as the needs to support such missions, as well as perhaps improvements in pad durability following AMOS6 - that's a direct follow through from rebuilding 40.

Wouldn't you want to parallel 39A/40 changes after they are proven, soonest?

Also, if FH had a successfully RTLS at CCAFS, wouldn't there be some pressure to "catch up" landing at VAFB?

As to carry-over for BC, has SX even told the story of what BC now will do, as it has when it talks of 4E, 40, and 39A?

(Oh, and one other thing. If they do HSF lunar free return adventurer Dragon flights, there's a unique advantage for high latitude launch that you cannot get from CCAFS. And, you don't have to have adventurer missions interspersed with national missions either, as well as add to the usually underutilized VAFB cadence. But that would need crew access, or a means to effectively add it if that were to come to pass.)

Offline russianhalo117

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Re: Rebuilding SLC-40
« Reply #596 on: 12/07/2017 04:49 pm »
all I can say is there is info in L2 and there are going to be some surprises at the pad that are new since the last launch at SLC-4E.
Some surprises that will be evident during the Iridium-4 launch campaign?  Or some date later?
Yes and yes.
« Last Edit: 12/07/2017 04:50 pm by russianhalo117 »

Offline cscott

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Re: Rebuilding SLC-40
« Reply #597 on: 12/07/2017 06:02 pm »

all I can say is there is info in L2 and there are going to be some surprises at the pad that are new since the last launch at SLC-4E.

Could you provide a link to L2 so those of us on L2 are clear about what you're referring to? It's quite possible I've missed some L2 thread, but I'm a little foggy on what the "surprises" might be.

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=42426.msg1756248#msg1756248
I also found http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=43994.msg1756828.msg#1756828 for those in L2.

Offline Lars-J

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Re: Rebuilding SLC-40
« Reply #598 on: 12/07/2017 06:06 pm »
The discussion about where to find stuff is L2 is absolutely fascinating ::) , but perhaps you can move it elsewhere so that people who like to discuss things in the open can discuss here?

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: Rebuilding SLC-40
« Reply #599 on: 12/08/2017 06:53 pm »
Quote
In telecon today, SpaceX's John Muratore said company spent about $50M rebuilding SLC-40. It's a total upgrade, not just fixing damage from Sept 1 2016 explosion. Praised "partnership" w/45th Space Wing, support of NASA, FAA and customers.

https://twitter.com/spcplcyonline/status/939218872514772993

Edit to add:

Quote
Muratore said one great outcome is that all 3 pads SpaceX uses (CCAFS SLC-40, KSC LC-39A, VAFB SLC-4 East) are similar now so can move people around easily to do operations, maintenance.

https://twitter.com/spcplcyonline/status/939220413388853248
« Last Edit: 12/08/2017 06:56 pm by FutureSpaceTourist »

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