Author Topic: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion Thread 1  (Read 790164 times)

Offline mn

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #40 on: 06/08/2017 07:51 pm »
Elon Musk‏Verified account
@elonmusk 

Replying to @JohnnyZenith

All Falcon Heavy cores should be at the Cape in two to three months, so launch should happen a month after that

11:51 AM - 8 Jun 2017

This ignores that fact that they are waiting for LC40 to be ready and then another 60 days to make LC39A ready for FH.

Of course the ever optimistic EM will tweet as if the pad is ready, doesn't mean it will be. (neither does this post mean it won't be)

Offline leetdan

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #41 on: 06/08/2017 07:57 pm »
Alternatively, didn't Chris G recently quote SpaceX saying LC-40 was already "active"?  The 60 day window could start after Intelsat and still meet this projection.

Offline envy887

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #42 on: 06/08/2017 07:57 pm »
Elon Musk‏Verified account
@elonmusk 

Replying to @JohnnyZenith

All Falcon Heavy cores should be at the Cape in two to three months, so launch should happen a month after that

11:51 AM - 8 Jun 2017

This ignores that fact that they are waiting for LC40 to be ready and then another 60 days to make LC39A ready for FH.

Of course the ever optimistic EM will tweet as if the pad is ready, doesn't mean it will be. (neither does this post mean it won't be)

I highly doubt that Elon is ignoring pad availability, in his tweets or otherwise. I'm sure 3 to 4 months is aggressive, but possible if everything goes to plan.

Online gongora

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #43 on: 06/08/2017 08:02 pm »
Alternatively, didn't Chris G recently quote SpaceX saying LC-40 was already "active"?  The 60 day window could start after Intelsat and still meet this projection.

No

Alternatively, didn't Chris G recently quote SpaceX saying LC-40 was already "active"?  The 60 day window could start after Intelsat and still meet this projection.

I asked him about that, and it turns out that when they said "active" they actually meant there was a lot of activity at the pad.
« Last Edit: 06/09/2017 01:15 am by tvg98 »

Offline mn

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #45 on: 06/08/2017 08:46 pm »
Elon Musk‏Verified account
@elonmusk 

Replying to @JohnnyZenith

All Falcon Heavy cores should be at the Cape in two to three months, so launch should happen a month after that

11:51 AM - 8 Jun 2017

This ignores that fact that they are waiting for LC40 to be ready and then another 60 days to make LC39A ready for FH.

Of course the ever optimistic EM will tweet as if the pad is ready, doesn't mean it will be. (neither does this post mean it won't be)

I highly doubt that Elon is ignoring pad availability, in his tweets or otherwise. I'm sure 3 to 4 months is aggressive, but possible if everything goes to plan.

I don't suspect that he's ignoring it, he just chose not to mention it in his tweet, so I thought it's worth mentioning in case anyone reads his tweet and forgets about that elephant in the room.

Yes it's definitely possible, nobody is denying that, but from reading the LC40 repair thread I got the impression that it's a long shot, (just my impression, I know the official word is it will be 'activated' in august)

See here: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=41060.msg1683397#msg1683397

Offline Eric Hedman

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #46 on: 06/08/2017 08:50 pm »
Hi Res set from Gary Blair (taken from a public area...as always) going into L2 over the coming hours, but this is a big milestone, so passing on at least a preview as "Conehead" is cool.

We believe this is 1023 (formerly the leaning Tower of Thaicom-8). One of the two flight proven S1's that will be with the Falcon Heavy debut.
From the picture it looks like the guy wires are attached to some kind of ring placed over the cone.  Does the center core have attach points for the wires that the side cores don't or are covered up by the cone?

Offline old_sellsword

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #47 on: 06/08/2017 11:59 pm »
Hi Res set from Gary Blair (taken from a public area...as always) going into L2 over the coming hours, but this is a big milestone, so passing on at least a preview as "Conehead" is cool.

We believe this is 1023 (formerly the leaning Tower of Thaicom-8). One of the two flight proven S1's that will be with the Falcon Heavy debut.
From the picture it looks like the guy wires are attached to some kind of ring placed over the cone.  Does the center core have attach points for the wires that the side cores don't or are covered up by the cone?

The center core (and normal F9s for that matter) have those same guy wires attach to their interstage separation mechanisms. Since the side boosters don't have those, they use that special ring solution.

Offline wredlich

Hope this isn't a stupid question. I'm planning to drive up to watch the Falcon Heavy launch (and landings) in the fall. Thinking the best view might be from a boat.

There must be rules about how close boats can get to the launch site, but I can't find them. I searched on Google and also in the forums here. So far I can't find anything.

Can anyone point me to such rules?

Offline BruceM

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #49 on: 06/11/2017 12:54 am »
Hope this isn't a stupid question. I'm planning to drive up to watch the Falcon Heavy launch (and landings) in the fall. Thinking the best view might be from a boat.

There must be rules about how close boats can get to the launch site, but I can't find them. I searched on Google and also in the forums here. So far I can't find anything.

Can anyone point me to such rules?

The restrictions for Cape Canaveral launches are generally temporary and depend on launch date and time among other things.

Temporary restrictions are published as Notices to Mariners (and they also have similar Notices to Airmen).  You can access them for the entire US (along with much other navigation info) at Department of Homeland Security Navigation Center at: https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=lnmMain.  For USCG District 7 which includes Cape Canaveral and much more north and south go here:  https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=lnmDistrict&region=7.  You can also subscribe and DHS will send them to you as they are issued.

Offline Kabloona

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #50 on: 06/11/2017 01:05 am »
Hope this isn't a stupid question. I'm planning to drive up to watch the Falcon Heavy launch (and landings) in the fall. Thinking the best view might be from a boat.

There must be rules about how close boats can get to the launch site, but I can't find them. I searched on Google and also in the forums here. So far I can't find anything.

Can anyone point me to such rules?

You can see the hazard areas designated as keep-out zones for previous launches on this map made by one of the forum members:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1GwvMWuWyokeVZJWqy9nNMH_Pug4&ll=28.60369278482171%2C-80.25713888830194&z=10

Just click the box for the particular mission to see the associated hazard map. You'll see the hazard area varies depending on the launch azimuth, etc. Don't know how the FH hazard areas will compare, but this should give you an idea of minimum allowable approach distances. Since FH carries much more propellant than F9, the FH hazard areas may be larger.

And if you do go, please don't be the "wayward boat" that wanders into the box and causes a launch scrub.  ;)
« Last Edit: 06/11/2017 01:12 am by Kabloona »

Offline sanman

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #51 on: 06/11/2017 09:13 am »
Sorry if it's been answered - but what's the payload going to be on this demo mission? Or will it be kept secret until close to the launch date? Will a Dragon capsule be involved in this demo flight?

Offline KaiFarrimond

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #52 on: 06/11/2017 09:36 am »
Sorry if it's been answered - but what's the payload going to be on this demo mission? Or will it be kept secret until close to the launch date? Will a Dragon capsule be involved in this demo flight?

Gwynne has stated that there won't be a customer for the first FH flight during the LC-39A press conference before the CRS-10 launch. So most likely just a mass simulator.
« Last Edit: 06/11/2017 09:37 am by KaiFarrimond »
Of Course I Still Love You; We Have A Falcon 9 Onboard!

Online gongora

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #53 on: 06/11/2017 03:32 pm »
Just a reminder, payload speculation for the mission can go here:
Falcon Heavy Demo Mission Payload Speculation
« Last Edit: 06/11/2017 03:32 pm by gongora »

Online gongora

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #54 on: 07/28/2017 02:49 am »
Tweet from Elon Musk:
Quote
Falcon Heavy maiden launch this November https://www.instagram.com/p/BXEkGKlgJDK/

Offline ThePonjaX

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #55 on: 07/28/2017 04:03 am »
Elon Musk‏
@elonmusk
Side booster rockets return to Cape Canaveral. Center lands on droneship.

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/890774088104370176

Another confirmation

Offline ChrisC

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #56 on: 07/29/2017 02:55 am »
Not really news to us, but another confirmation for the record:

Q to Elon:  who lands first?

A from Elon: Sides run high thrust, center is lower thrust until sides separate & fly back. Center then throttles up, keeps burning & lands on droneship.  ... If we're lucky

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/890810308326940672
« Last Edit: 07/29/2017 02:56 am by ChrisC »
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Offline macpacheco

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #57 on: 07/30/2017 12:44 am »
Not really news to us, but another confirmation for the record:

Q to Elon:  who lands first?

A from Elon: Sides run high thrust, center is lower thrust until sides separate & fly back. Center then throttles up, keeps burning & lands on droneship.  ... If we're lucky

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/890810308326940672
Side boosters land first.
Center booster flies longer and higher, so when it finishes burning it has more energy => higher apogee => longer flight time
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Offline jpo234

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #58 on: 08/31/2017 11:31 am »
Cross post from core spotting:
FH side booster in McGregor:
https://m.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10155786087011318/
« Last Edit: 08/31/2017 01:40 pm by jpo234 »
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Offline spacexfuture

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Re: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : early 2018 : Discussion
« Reply #59 on: 08/31/2017 01:22 pm »
Cross post from core spotting:
FH side booster in McGregor:
https://m.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10155786087011318/
Beautiful shot.Can't wait to see the demo flight of FH.

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