Author Topic: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion Thread 1  (Read 790226 times)

Offline Space Ghost 1962

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #560 on: 12/28/2017 06:34 pm »
I never thought we would see this day. FH is real.  :D
Perhaps we need to see a launch/success ... for it to be ... real?

But for sure ... not a paper rocket.

Offline Ike17055

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #561 on: 12/28/2017 06:39 pm »
Crud.  I just left the cape this morning after ending a 10-day vacation trip there. What time was the pad appearance? Sitting in Sanford airport waiting for my flight and read about this just a few minutes ago.  sooooo close....

Offline PahTo

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #562 on: 12/28/2017 06:40 pm »
I never thought we would see this day. FH is real.  :D
Perhaps we need to see a launch/success ... for it to be ... real?

But for sure ... not a paper rocket.

Yeah--that's where I was going with my answer--need to have an operational rocket (why I left out Energia, though at least she/they flew a couple times as a test).  And of course thrust v performance, etc etc.
btw, nice hat, SG1962...
:)

Offline Space Ghost 1962

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #563 on: 12/28/2017 06:48 pm »
This is coming together at the pad a lot faster than I remember the inaugural Delta IV Heavy.

If it hot fires/launches well, has adequate performance, and lands all ... it may well be a very capable LV, and the first cluster vehicle to achieve what all the others could not - feasibility.

Yes DIVH works but it's a nightmare in many ways to get on/off the pad. Angara has been many decades in the making. Both don't have a huge number of flights.

If it does go well, and does so within two years again ... many heads will be turned. Congrats SX, you did it much faster than I thought you would.

Here's betting on a smooth inaugural flight.

I never thought we would see this day. FH is real.  :D
Perhaps we need to see a launch/success ... for it to be ... real?

But for sure ... not a paper rocket.

Yeah--that's where I was going with my answer--need to have an operational rocket (why I left out Energia, though at least she/they flew a couple times as a test).  And of course thrust v performance, etc etc.
Indeed.

(Energia also was a costly, touchy ... iffy thing.) F9/FH seem to be more about "utility" thenthan "shock and awe".

Quote
btw, nice hat, SG1962...
:)
Thanks, it's festive for this FH season ;)
« Last Edit: 12/28/2017 07:10 pm by Space Ghost 1962 »

Offline Oersted

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #564 on: 12/28/2017 06:59 pm »
Space Shuttle could only get 28mT to LEO.

If we think of the whole orbiter (gross lift-off weight 110 tonnes) as the "payload" then STS got a lot more into LEO. But that is of course a question of how you define payload. However, I think we can consider the orbiter as a spaceship the same way that we consider Dragon a spaceship, and then indeed STS got 110 tonnes into LEO. The fact that the orbiter was reusable supports considering it as "payload". 

Offline Semmel

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #565 on: 12/28/2017 07:01 pm »
This is coming together at the pad a lot faster than I remember the inaugural Delta IV Heavy.

If it hot fires/launches well, has adequate performance, and lands all ... it may well be a very capable LV, and the first cluster vehicle to achieve what all the others could not - feasibility.

I agree with you on the examples you gave.

But dont forget Soyuz. With more than 1000 flights over many iterations, its in an entirely different league than any other launcher in the world. And its a cluster vehicle. I would say it counts in terms of feasibility ;-)

Offline Oersted

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #566 on: 12/28/2017 07:05 pm »
Can't comment on why I say this, but man I am happy that I have an L2 membership of this site :-)

Offline deruch

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #567 on: 12/28/2017 07:05 pm »
F9/FH seem to be more about "utility" then "shock and awe".

(then vs. than)  I don't think that was the one you meant to use there.  But it fits, too, so I'll allow it.   :)
Shouldn't reality posts be in "Advanced concepts"?  --Nomadd

Offline Johnnyhinbos

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #568 on: 12/28/2017 07:08 pm »
Space Shuttle could only get 28mT to LEO.

If we think of the whole orbiter (gross lift-off weight 110 tonnes) as the "payload" then STS got a lot more into LEO. But that is of course a question of how you define payload. However, I think we can consider the orbiter as a spaceship the same way that we consider Dragon a spaceship, and then indeed STS got 110 tonnes into LEO. The fact that the orbiter was reusable supports considering it as "payload".
STS was also able to transport crew along with payload - so not exactly apples to apples when comparing to FH. Perhaps FH with a Dragon 2 - then STS wins on crew # and payload capacity and FH wins on throw distance...
John Hanzl. Author, action / adventure www.johnhanzl.com

Offline speedevil

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #569 on: 12/28/2017 07:17 pm »
New fairing design visible in photographs just after rollout.

( https://twitter.com/Helodriver2004/status/851553717077889029 )
« Last Edit: 12/28/2017 07:20 pm by speedevil »

Offline Lars-J

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #570 on: 12/28/2017 07:20 pm »
Space Shuttle could only get 28mT to LEO.

If we think of the whole orbiter (gross lift-off weight 110 tonnes) as the "payload" then STS got a lot more into LEO. But that is of course a question of how you define payload. However, I think we can consider the orbiter as a spaceship the same way that we consider Dragon a spaceship, and then indeed STS got 110 tonnes into LEO. The fact that the orbiter was reusable supports considering it as "payload".

Relax, shuttle huggers, there are still records it holds that aren't broken. :) Come back in a few years, though...  ;D

Offline loki

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #571 on: 12/28/2017 07:32 pm »
Space Shuttle could only get 28mT to LEO.

If we think of the whole orbiter (gross lift-off weight 110 tonnes) as the "payload" then STS got a lot more into LEO. But that is of course a question of how you define payload. However, I think we can consider the orbiter as a spaceship the same way that we consider Dragon a spaceship, and then indeed STS got 110 tonnes into LEO. The fact that the orbiter was reusable supports considering it as "payload".

Please, define "Spaceship".

Offline NX-0

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #572 on: 12/28/2017 07:50 pm »
Neat comparison images, source: http://www.forum-conquete-spatiale.fr/t17713p250-spacex-lancement-falcon-heavy-janvier-2018#408836

Astronauts are going to need a bike to get from one end of the CAA to the Dragon 2.
That's going to be quite a walk...

Offline cuddihy

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #573 on: 12/28/2017 09:23 pm »
So  is it possible they would proceed directly to static fire TODAY???!!!???

Offline Herb Schaltegger

So  is it possible they would proceed directly to static fire TODAY???!!!???

No. There is L2 info if you're a member, but short answer is no.
Ad astra per aspirin ...

Offline Craig_VG

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #575 on: 12/28/2017 09:24 pm »
So  is it possible they would proceed directly to static fire TODAY???!!!???

No, consensus seems to be that they will be waiting until after Zuma (Jan 4)

EDIT: living in the past...
« Last Edit: 12/28/2017 10:17 pm by Craig_VG »

Offline Chris Bergin

Whoa. That escalated quickly! ;D

It's a positive time, so rather than trawling back through a sudden flood of report to mods...

Keep Calm and Falcon Heavy.

--

People ignored this, so now I'm trimming the thread. You only have yourselves to blame! :)

Thread title helps you. "SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion" <---we have threads for general FH stuff and most of it was about comparing with Shuttle, which is both wrong and totally not on topic.

Sent most of the longer off topic posts back to the members who created them. Personally I'd let you all go nuts, but people complain, lots of people.
« Last Edit: 12/29/2017 01:25 am by Chris Bergin »
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Offline russianhalo117

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #577 on: 12/28/2017 09:36 pm »
So  is it possible they would proceed directly to static fire TODAY???!!!???
No. Not this week Only dry tests and a dry dress rehearsal per say for now. The public side should here soon as to when the Static fire and targeted launch date is.

Offline Endeavour_01

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #578 on: 12/28/2017 11:39 pm »
What a beautiful site to see. FH on the pad.  :D I have to admit those comparison images that Lars-J posted make me feel a bit emotional. I guarantee you that if this thing launches during my Physics II class I am stopping lecture and putting it up on the screen. I have a good feeling that we will be witnessing an important part of space history.  :D
I cheer for both NASA and commercial space. For SLS, Orion, Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, Dragon, Starship/SH, Starliner, Cygnus and all the rest!
I was blessed to see the launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour on STS-99. The launch was beyond amazing. My 8-year old mind was blown. I remember the noise and seeing the exhaust pour out of the shuttle as it lifted off. I remember staring and watching it soar while it was visible in the clear blue sky. It was one of the greatest moments of my life and I will never forget it.

Offline david1971

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #579 on: 12/29/2017 02:26 am »
I guarantee you that if this thing launches during my Physics II class I am stopping lecture and putting it up on the screen. I have a good feeling that we will be witnessing an important part of space history.  :D

You won't be the only physics professor doing that.
I flew on SOFIA four times.

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