Considering Spacex’s inner culture about reducing costs wherever are possible, I don’t believe they expand any booster for no reason, even if it can't be launched again. I think they have made an agreement with Iridium to move one or more satellites from this launch to adjacent orbital plane, made up for delays and for launches with flight proven busters.Putting the customer first.
...QuoteThere were some speculations that the one satellite that is about to drift from Plane 2 to Plane 1 could do it a bit faster with a bit of help from Falcon 9. So this is not the case, right? https://twitter.com/Elthiryel/status/943212600594231307QuoteInteresting concept! But no.https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/943287335432712192
There were some speculations that the one satellite that is about to drift from Plane 2 to Plane 1 could do it a bit faster with a bit of help from Falcon 9. So this is not the case, right?
Interesting concept! But no.
Quote from: Arb on 12/20/2017 12:12 amQuote from: zubenelgenubi on 12/19/2017 06:45 pmIf there is discussion on SpaceX donating equipment for display, could someone point to it?Can't provide a reference (it was some years ago) but my recollection is that when asked about donating a recovered core to the National Air and Space Museum, Musk replied along the lines of "Sure, if they pay for it".If true, what a great way to unnecessarily burn a bridge, Elon. Besides, with a donation of this scale, one should get two big, juicy, high-profile public events at the museum--one public, one private--commemorating the donation/display of the new artifact.
Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 12/19/2017 06:45 pmIf there is discussion on SpaceX donating equipment for display, could someone point to it?Can't provide a reference (it was some years ago) but my recollection is that when asked about donating a recovered core to the National Air and Space Museum, Musk replied along the lines of "Sure, if they pay for it".
If there is discussion on SpaceX donating equipment for display, could someone point to it?
I think the Smithsonian was looking for SpaceX to pay not just for transport but for construction of a significant new gallery or exhibit complex (these boosters are big, and the Smithsonian doesn't do second rate displays) and I don't think Elon (driven by cost) thought that was a good use of SpaceX funds at the time.
Quote from: Lar on 12/20/2017 09:09 pmI think the Smithsonian was looking for SpaceX to pay not just for transport but for construction of a significant new gallery or exhibit complex (these boosters are big, and the Smithsonian doesn't do second rate displays) and I don't think Elon (driven by cost) thought that was a good use of SpaceX funds at the time.This is what I recall as well.
maybe theyre going to try some recovery stuff with stage2? no body has shot down that idea yet
SpaceX should be able to claim the cost of the booster as a tax deduction if it is donated to a museum. That's why SpaceShip One ended up in the Smithsonian, instead of taking up tourists.
I hope you guys are prepared for them to do the exact same thing on another mission.
When they attempt a fairing recovery on this mission, which thread would that be covered in, this one or some other thread?BTW, just consider if this kind of electronic venue would have been available during the hey day of the Apollo program, can you imagine the conversations then???
Quote from: hootowls on 12/21/2017 02:41 pmI hope you guys are prepared for them to do the exact same thing on another mission.SpaceX expending end-of-life or obsolete boosters on their final mission has been speculated about extensively here. Usually in the context of customers getting expendable performance for flight-proven prices - but if a customer needs a launch ASAP and an EOL or obsolete booster is the first thing available, I wouldn't be surprised at all to see it happen again.Edit - spelling is hard.
When they attempt a fairing recovery on this mission, which thread would that be covered in, this one or some other?(Snip)