The interstage looks kind of used? Looking at the picture SpaceX posted, it’s definitely a bit dirtier than the tank section of the center core.
B1064 and B1065 at the Landing Zones after launching the Falcon Heavy, USSF-67, two days ago.
Recovery ship Bob is finally underway towards Port Canaveral after supporting fairing recovery for the USSF-67 mission Sunday.The ship has been working in the LZ area for the last few days. Sea conditions finally improved today - possible Bob had to wait to complete operations.
This view from the station shows the launch plume of the @SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket after its liftoff on Sunday, Jan. 15, 2023, from @NASAKennedy in Florida.
In the Banana River viewing area bleachers, 3.9 miles from FH.
Quote from: TimTri on 01/14/2023 06:47 pmThe interstage looks kind of used? Looking at the picture SpaceX posted, it’s definitely a bit dirtier than the tank section of the center core.That is because the interstage is painted. Like the Falcon 9 Block 5 interstage, the Falcon Heavy interstage is black due to the thermal protection coating that gets applied. However, for Falcon Heavy, SpaceX then paints the interstage white (presumably for aesthetics). Because the white paint gets applied to a dark background, it will look a little darker, especially when it does not have a bunch of light to reflect. (Which it does in the picture taken during the day as that side of the rocket is in shadow). In the picture taken during the night, the floodlights (which emit a bunch of light for the white paint to reflect) are on, making the effect much less noticable.
The interstage is black carbon fiber. FH they seem to paint it white for aesthetic reasons.The grey on this FH mission is not on the interstage. It is painted on the methane portion of the second stage tanks for a little extra heat capture from the sun during a long coast phase. This is not the first time we have seen this grey paint.
Quote from: srcln on 01/20/2023 06:53 pmThe interstage is black carbon fiber. FH they seem to paint it white for aesthetic reasons.The grey on this FH mission is not on the interstage. It is painted on the methane portion of the second stage tanks for a little extra heat capture from the sun during a long coast phase. This is not the first time we have seen this grey paint.RP-1 portion.
Quote from: greybeardengineer on 01/20/2023 06:57 pmQuote from: srcln on 01/20/2023 06:53 pmThe interstage is black carbon fiber. FH they seem to paint it white for aesthetic reasons.The grey on this FH mission is not on the interstage. It is painted on the methane portion of the second stage tanks for a little extra heat capture from the sun during a long coast phase. This is not the first time we have seen this grey paint.RP-1 portion.D’oh! Of course, I mis-typed, but it is for temperature management.
Arrival! Bob has finally returned from the USSF-67 (Falcon Heavy) mission with two fairing halves.Sea conditions were forecasted as terrible on launch day so this is mighty impressive!🔗nsf.live/spacecoast
SpaceX support ship Bob arrived overnight with 2 fairing halves from the USSF-67 mission! Impressive work as 12ft seas were forecasted in the recovery area at the time!
Falcon Heavy launching just after the Sun dipped below the horizon and flew back into the light creating a colorful condensation trail in the upper atmosphere. #SpaceX 📸 for @Teslarati
This is a stack of over 800 photos and my laptop hates me for creating it.. time for a couple upgrades haha.
When a SpaceX Falcon Heavy launched a national security mission to geostationary Earth orbit Jan. 15, the Space Force revealed that three of the payloads onboard were developed by one of its most secretive agencies, the Space Rapid Capabilities Office.
Hammett noted that the three Space RCO smallsats launched on USSF-67 are not experiments but operational satellites supporting military activities. Two carry space situational awareness sensors, and the other has an encryption payload to protect uplink and downlink satellite communications.
Potential reason for the delay (Not confirmed!)QuoteIt was noted that Air Liquide has been working against a shortfall of the needed amounts of nitrogen to fully support the USSF-67 launch.In the review, sources note that a capacity problem at Air Liquide existed for Saturday’s launch attempt, with a solution to tie trailers filled with nitrogen into the overall nitrogen loop on base to augment the available supply.The issue at Air Liquide is the second such occurrence with the nitrogen supply to the space center within a year. A very visible and notable issue in 2022 played a large role in the delay of the SLS rocket’s Wet Dress Rehearsal campaign.The plan put in place for Saturday’s Falcon Heavy launch involves tying trailers of nitrogen into the main nitrogen loop – which runs up from the VAB out to the LC-39 pads before turning south to service Launch Complexes 41, 40, and 37.In addition to tying in trailers, base operations also have the option to isolate specific portions of the loop to help provide the needed supply of nitrogen for Falcon Heavy.https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2023/01/ussf-67-launch/
It was noted that Air Liquide has been working against a shortfall of the needed amounts of nitrogen to fully support the USSF-67 launch.In the review, sources note that a capacity problem at Air Liquide existed for Saturday’s launch attempt, with a solution to tie trailers filled with nitrogen into the overall nitrogen loop on base to augment the available supply.The issue at Air Liquide is the second such occurrence with the nitrogen supply to the space center within a year. A very visible and notable issue in 2022 played a large role in the delay of the SLS rocket’s Wet Dress Rehearsal campaign.The plan put in place for Saturday’s Falcon Heavy launch involves tying trailers of nitrogen into the main nitrogen loop – which runs up from the VAB out to the LC-39 pads before turning south to service Launch Complexes 41, 40, and 37.In addition to tying in trailers, base operations also have the option to isolate specific portions of the loop to help provide the needed supply of nitrogen for Falcon Heavy.
At a Space Mobility panel in Orlando, KSC director Janet Petro says Air Liquide, which supplies KSC with nitrogen, was nervous about supporting January's Falcon Heavy/USSF-67 on the heels of Artemis. SpaceX came up with a unique solution by bringing in nitrogen "rechargers."
"SpaceX came up with a unique resolution where they brought in a couple of heavy-duty rechargers that would provide that gaseous nitrogen," Petro said.
This is interesting. Air Liquide, via a legal firm, said this was false at the time (when we reported it).
Yeah, they denied that one too. This was about Falcon Heavy. It was part of the launch preview, but we pulled that section after their lawyers got involved. I've requested they respond with a statement to the notes in Emre's tweet.
