Quote from: JamesH65 on 06/09/2016 01:52 pmBut TBH sounds like the CG being a PITA. Given the numbers of wrecks pretending to be seaworthy ships around.You can bet your life it's not the CG being a PITA but a United States Senator.
But TBH sounds like the CG being a PITA. Given the numbers of wrecks pretending to be seaworthy ships around.
Quote from: Retired Downrange on 06/10/2016 03:57 pmI wonder what the crew of the Elsbeth III says when asked; "What do you do?"..."I work on a tugboat, and we catch rockets." 😏😎Those guys do an incredible job under difficult conditions. Maybe NSF can come up with some way, sometime down the road, to let them know how much all of us ASDS stalkers appreciate the risks they take, and the great work they do.I doubt they'd have a lot of use for an L2 membership (though you never know!), but maybe we can put our heads together and come up with something nice. Like, organize an NSF get-together down in the Cape area and invite them, or something. I dunno... just a thought.
I wonder what the crew of the Elsbeth III says when asked; "What do you do?"..."I work on a tugboat, and we catch rockets." 😏😎
Quote from: AC in NC on 06/09/2016 04:03 pmQuote from: JamesH65 on 06/09/2016 01:52 pmBut TBH sounds like the CG being a PITA. Given the numbers of wrecks pretending to be seaworthy ships around.You can bet your life it's not the CG being a PITA but a United States Senator.Likely so.Assuming this rumor about the Coasties drydock requirement is true, I'm surprised that Elon didn't bring this up as an impediment in his this Wednesday's meeting with the Secretary of Defense. Would love to see the SecDef rain down hell on the USCG post meeting.
Quote from: flyright on 06/10/2016 03:58 pmPassing Jetty Park at 11:40 AM EDTNice work grabbing those photos for us!
Passing Jetty Park at 11:40 AM EDT
We've confirmed that there's nothing nefarious going on, the date of the next scheduled dry dock inspection is as expected and is a matter of public record. There may have been some scrambling, but there needn't have been.
QuoteWe've confirmed that there's nothing nefarious going on, the date of the next scheduled dry dock inspection is as expected and is a matter of public record. There may have been some scrambling, but there needn't have been.Maybe not nefarious, but a source close to the matter says this is definitely unexpected.McDonough Marine's barge experience is mainly with tank barges, not unmanned (self-propelled?) deck barges, and the source guesses that it may have something to do with reclassification by USCG, along the lines of what cscott has suggested upthread, or a misunderstanding about the inspection requirements that would be levied on the barges after refit as ASDSes.However, he knows that neither McDonough Marine nor SpaceX saw this coming. And McDonough leases barges for a living, so they know the normal inspection routine. But it looks like the ASDS refits tossed them a curveball they didn't anticipate.
Also, I'm wondering if the late departure could have had something to do with this, such as having to ask for, and get, a temporary waiver?
More details on the sea-going barge exemption: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-01-09/pdf/2012-30984.pdfThe term *self-propelled* is quite broadly defined; see https://www.uscg.mil/hq/msc/tonnage/docs/nvic_11-93_CH-3.pdf ("any vessel with means of self-propulsion, including sails").On review it seems clear to me that Elon has been correct and the vessel ceased to be exempt as a barge as soon as it was fitted with "means of self-propulsion", even if it was often towed in practice.
In principle, there could be a reason why that does not apply.If, and only if the barges drive is configured to be able to only stationkeep - it is no more a means of propulsion than an anchor.
Quote from: Kabloona on 06/10/2016 02:38 amIf Elsbeth III's AIS is still turned off Friday morning, can someone try to get a visual? Because if she's still in port by mid-morning, something is wrong. Should have left ~12 hours ago.Hoping they haven't been shut down by this Coast Guard drydock inspection thing.If I remember correctly (a very big if) we've always seen some activity with the support ships a few hours or more before a sortie. I've checked on two sites, and both Elsbeth III and Go Quest haven't sent an AIS signal since the 7th. My guess; either there's a launch delay they haven't announced yet, or OCISLY is mired in paperwork and won't be going out this time.
If Elsbeth III's AIS is still turned off Friday morning, can someone try to get a visual? Because if she's still in port by mid-morning, something is wrong. Should have left ~12 hours ago.Hoping they haven't been shut down by this Coast Guard drydock inspection thing.
Does that look more like a Dragon 1 or a Dragon 2? What do you think?