SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 - CASSIOPE - September, 2013 - GENERAL DISCUSSION THREAD

[JBF]

Any idea when they intended to check out the plumbing connections and perform the cold flow tests ?

According to Chris's article last week this month.

[Mader Levap]

Soooo... so far they are on track to 5 September? At least theoretically? A little over two weeks left and this October slip predicted by many did not materialized yet.

[meekGee]

... but it's a very tight schedule.

I mean - testing the TEL on the last week of this month, and launching on the 5th - it means that small things that need to be fixed and retested might affect the schedule.

But, tight schedule doesn't mean you need to automatically postpone. These are the same people that fixed the stage 2 nozzle by flying a tech over from CA for a next-day skirt hemming procedure.

Fingers crossed.

"Oversight mishaps", btw, are more likely when everything is relaxed and there's no pressure.  When the heat is on, people are more focused.

[ugordan]

At least theoretically? A little over two weeks left and this October slip predicted by many did not materialized yet.

Maybe we should have had a thread predicting when the predicted delay would materialize...

[Chris Bergin]

A few things need to go right for it to stay on September 5, not just the WDR and Hot Fire. We'll keep an eye on it.

[chrisking0997]

other than enabling the arm-wavers to bray about SpaceX missing another deadline, is there any problem with them being ready on September 12th (for example)?  In other words, is there anything mission critical about hitting the deadline as opposed to a minor delay of a week or two?

[wolfpack]

But still, in aviation and in spaceflight, accidents happen a lot (mostly?) when people are complacent after having gotten "used to" doing it.

Depends on where you are in the life cycle of the launch vehicle.

Flights < 4, hardware/design issues.

Flights > 4, process/procedural issues.

F9R (or v1.1) is an infant. Flights = 0.

[Chris Bergin]

Ok come on now. This thread is about this launch.

[Norm38]

If the WDR is next week, isn't there a dry dress rehearsal before that?  Getting the F9 vertical, checking all the hoses, fittings, electrical connections, before any fuel is pumped?

So there should be flight hardware at the pad any day now, right?

[aero]

Does anyone posting here know what's going on at the pad? I can't see the pad from here and for all I know they could be doing lots of stuff, just not talking publicly about it.

[averagespacejoe]

Considering that a launch date and window are published and it was not just a hidden delay (so far) but rather a careful analysis of what they can or cannot do, I just wanted to apologize for my impatient and arrogant rant thinking SpaceX somehow owed me an explanation.

You get wrapped up in spaceflight getting better and each delay from the space community makes it feel like forever.

That being said delays are still quite possible but I am really hoping September 5th works out. It will be a busy September for American spaceflight: SpaceX, Orbital, ULA and a change of the guard on board the ISS.

[hartspace]

Does anyone posting here know what's going on at the pad? I can't see the pad from here and for all I know they could be doing lots of stuff, just not talking publicly about it.

Yesterday afternoon, the erector was upright at SLC-4E.  From north VAFB, it was a little hard to tell, but it looked like the erector only, no rocket.  This afternoon, the erector was down, and, I assume, back in the hanger.

[Lars_J]

Does anyone posting here know what's going on at the pad? I can't see the pad from here and for all I know they could be doing lots of stuff, just not talking publicly about it.

Yesterday afternoon, the erector was upright at SLC-4E.  From north VAFB, it was a little hard to tell, but it looked like the erector only, no rocket.  This afternoon, the erector was down, and, I assume, back in the hanger.

Surely you have a super duper telephoto lens and can share pictures? 

[kevin-rf]

Surely you have a super duper telephoto lens and can share pictures? 

I'm sure walking around Vandenberg with a super duper telephoto is frowned upon.

[douglas100]

Yesterday afternoon, the erector was upright at SLC-4E.  From north VAFB, it was a little hard to tell, but it looked like the erector only, no rocket.  This afternoon, the erector was down, and, I assume, back in the hanger.

That's interesting. I don't think the erector and an F9 can fit into the hangar together. If the erector really is back in the hangar then they must be ready to load the F9 on to it.

[dedead]

Hi !

I have just one question. I will maybe be in California for my holidays in september. Do you know if it is possible to see the launch from vendenberg from a good point of view ?
I'm french, I don't want to be sent in jail if I cross the military fences !

Some stuff on viewing the LDCM launch from outside VAFB was posted here.  Renwick Ave was chosen by many including jimvela, who is really a guy in the know.  You can search his posts for photos. 

This will all belong in the viewing thread when it gets started.

Just some notes- I didn't see any of my posts in the "joined" thread that was linked above.  I see some of them in the LDCM thread here:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=10070.255

That spot isn't as great for SLC4 E/W launches as it is for Atlas, but it's still a pretty darned good spot.

I'm hoping to be able to align my work schedules to be able to take a trip out to see this one go as I'm dying to see an F9 launch up close and personal- and it will be a while before I have hardware riding on one.

I have a contingency spot for days when the marine layer is in.  At that contingency spot I have a fighting chance of seeing the vehicle pop out the top, but that spot isn't great if you want to be close enough to really feel the launch.  (I'm thinking that 9 x M1-Ds singing has to be a pretty good song to be in the front row for!)

Specifically to dedead's questions- First, I hope you have a great visit to the USA!  It is very clear where fences are and are not, and you're not likely to inadvertently drive somewhere that you cannot be.  Don't try to climb any fences, and if you do end up somewhere with a gate and a MP, tell them you're lost and follow their directions to get out.  You can't really get to such a spot without trying to...

If there's a crowd along the roadside, you're generally in OK shape but remember that there won't be any public facilities (food/water/restrooms) at a location like Ocean/Renwick- so prepare like you're going camping in the outdoors.

Also, don't be offended if many of us seem to significantly limit our discussions around a foreign person.  It's not because we don't like you and welcome our French allies to visit our great nation.  It's because we have serious ITAR restrictions that will cause us to clam up in general.

And finally, If you are out in the area on holiday, I hope you are able to spend time exploring Lompoc/Santa Maria and the surrounding wine country.  There's plenty of horrible crappy fast food, but if you look you will be able to find some really good local wine and many family restaurants that, though hidden, are quite good.

Thank you very much for your answer (and sorry for this one, so late !)
It seems that the launch is still on september 5th, too bad, normally I will not be here. I will arrive near LA on september 12th.
I will not speak about ITAR restriction It's a root cause for us to not going anymore on chinese launch pad ! But I speak a lot with american people from a security company on Baikonur and they are absolutely fantastic

[ugordan]

If the erector really is back in the hangar then they must be ready to load the F9 on to it.

Of course, the erector could simply be down, on the pad.

[AS-503]

Yesterday afternoon, the erector was upright at SLC-4E.  From north VAFB, it was a little hard to tell, but it looked like the erector only, no rocket.  This afternoon, the erector was down, and, I assume, back in the hanger.

That's interesting. I don't think the erector and an F9 can fit into the hangar together. If the erector really is back in the hangar then they must be ready to load the F9 on to it.

Isn't the hangar specifically for F9 mating to the erector? Your second sentence seems to contradict your first sentence.

[Jim]

Yesterday afternoon, the erector was upright at SLC-4E.  From north VAFB, it was a little hard to tell, but it looked like the erector only, no rocket.  This afternoon, the erector was down, and, I assume, back in the hanger.

That's interesting. I don't think the erector and an F9 can fit into the hangar together. If the erector really is back in the hangar then they must be ready to load the F9 on to it.

Isn't the hangar specifically for F9 mating to the erector? Your second sentence seems to contradict your first sentence.

The vehicle has to suspended and the erector moved under it for both to be in the hangar. 

[douglas100]

Of course, the erector could simply be down, on the pad.

Absolutely.

And what Jim said. I should have made that clear.