At some point in the future I would expect that any boats in breach of the Notice to Mariners would simply be ignored, and their risks would have no effect on launches, only on their own insurance.Really, if it doesn't endanger the launch and proper notice has been given, it's up to the boat owners to decide whether they want to take the risk of having some metal land on their boat from a great height.
Recording of the scrub (part 1 of 2, starts at 2hr20m):http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/54578694http://www.ustream.tv/nasahdtv/videos
Quote from: Joffan on 10/27/2014 10:02 pmAt some point in the future I would expect that any boats in breach of the Notice to Mariners would simply be ignored, and their risks would have no effect on launches, only on their own insurance.Really, if it doesn't endanger the launch and proper notice has been given, it's up to the boat owners to decide whether they want to take the risk of having some metal land on their boat from a great height.It seems to me that they could still meet the safety numbers with a sailboat in the range. The limit for commercial launches appears to be less than 0.00003 expected deaths per launch. http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgAdvisoryCircular.nsf/list/AC%20431.35-1/$FILE/AC431.35-1.pdfUnless the sailboat is directly under the expected booster impact point, (or very close to the shore) that should be easy to meet. (back of the envelope - booster would need to go off course (10%), then RSO blows it up, possible area for debris to land at least 10km by 10km, sailboat is 10m by 10m, sailboat has a max of 10 people).Of course, doing this calculation to the satisfaction of the FAA in real time is not practical. But if they did it ex post facto, I bet the safety requirement would have been met.
We just had a bright ISS pass over NYC. Too bad it was alone.
http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/ANTARES-ORB3-NOTMARREVA.pdf"The Army Corp of Engineers Danger Zone will be in effect for all launch attempts per 33CFR(Code of Federal Regulations) Part 334. Fines and arrest authority are permissible by U.S. CoastGuard and Virginia Marine Police."There are two zones, one local and one that seems to be 900 nmi or more offshore, which would be in international waters not subject to U.S. laws. Do we know which zone had the "boat"? - Ed Kyle
95% chance of GO for weather tomorrow.
Just evacuate, don't need to sink it. Anyway, this is just one more reason we need to go toward high-launch-rate reusable rockets that don't have pieces falling off into the ocean or onto the steppe.
It was a beautiful night.Now I get to drive 7 hours again!Last image is the ISS passing over the scrubbed rocket.