kcowing - 25/11/2005 1:42 PMJust got another SpaceX update:Update 24 Nov 2005 9:10 pm EST: All prelaunch preparation is complete. The final task of test firing the torch igniters worked on the first attempt, making us green for launch. Since our launch was bumped by a day to Saturday (California time), we will make tomorrow a shorter day and do some of the optional checkouts of systems that might cause a halt in the countdown.
lmike - 26/11/2005 10:20 AMSome new photos of the beast: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon/f1/prelaunch.html (sorry if it's been posted) As an engineer, I just marvel at the PURE SIMPLICITY of their infrastructure... Check out their "erector truck" (and it traveled like that--the rocket on the truck, on a barge from the mainland!!!), and the "flame pit" really a deflection plate, a dozen people for the operations in the trailer with some PCs, all in all. Granted for a half-a-tonne payload, but still WOW! If NASA can strive to same standards from the beginnings I'll be happy.
Chris Bergin - 26/11/2005 5:56 AMQuotelmike - 26/11/2005 10:20 AMSome new photos of the beast: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon/f1/prelaunch.html (sorry if it's been posted) As an engineer, I just marvel at the PURE SIMPLICITY of their infrastructure... Check out their "erector truck" (and it traveled like that--the rocket on the truck, on a barge from the mainland!!!), and the "flame pit" really a deflection plate, a dozen people for the operations in the trailer with some PCs, all in all. Granted for a half-a-tonne payload, but still WOW! If NASA can strive to same standards from the beginnings I'll be happy.Those haven't been posted before, but they're off the SpaceX website where there's a few more - including on of the "rocket on a truck" outside a building in a US city (which I forgot).Elon's people basically drove their rocket into town! Now one for you engineers out there. Do you feel this is the best low cost "does what it says on the tin" type of rocket? I keep hearing these doubts about the Merlin. Anything you would personally have done different with the mandate they plan for their family of rockets?
Chris Bergin - 26/11/2005 6:56 AMThose haven't been posted before, but they're off the SpaceX website where there's a few more - including on of the "rocket on a truck" outside a building in a US city (which I forgot).Elon's people basically drove their rocket into town!
lmike - 26/11/2005 10:20 AMA regenerative nozzle cooling, instead of the ablative. And I think they are considering that for the Merlin 2 (Falcon-5/9) In any case, my fingers are crossed for the flight... This could be the breakthrough, all have been waiting for...
Justin Space - 26/11/2005 6:29 AMThe rain percentage is a lot better now but what's the limit with the wind?
Rob in KC - 26/11/2005 7:21 PM Is it still a five hour window today?
Tap-Sa - 26/11/2005 3:40 PMSpaceX, what gives? Reporting from '60s N-1 launches in USSR was more lively than this...
Flightstar - 25/11/2005 11:43 PM Was that before or after they blew up?
braddock - 26/11/2005 5:01 PM"Was the weather the cause of the first hold?"Larry Williams of SpaceX: "We don't know. I don't believe that was the case."
Chris Bergin - 26/11/2005 12:03 AMSo, we're holding at T-10m and now we don't know why.
braddock - 26/11/2005 10:18 PMChris, how do you beat me every time?
Chris Bergin - 26/11/2005 12:37 AM"Countdown soon" pending.T-10m and counting.
Shuttle Scapegoat - 26/11/2005 10:39 PMMight they run out of time to launch?
newsartist - 26/11/2005 5:13 PMA manual "adjustment" of the fill tank on the pad? Frozen valve?They are beginning to scare me.
braddock - 26/11/2005 5:05 PMQ: "How large a support control crew do you have, other than the government people, either there or at Kwajalein?"Larry Williams of SpaceX: "We have about 25 people on the island." ... [Q: Specifically for control of the launch?] "We have 6 people in our launch mission control center."
Chris Bergin - 26/11/2005 5:31 PMCorrected himself, it's the loading tank that is having either a valve or pressure issues.
newsartist - 27/11/2005 12:25 AMBraddock? Can you or anybody see video of the 'work on the line?"
SimonShuttle - 27/11/2005 12:39 AMWell this is a laugh a minute from the SpaceX people. When the next attempt if they can't do it within the window they are working with>
kcowing - 26/11/2005 7:29 PMThe January blog entry is incorrect. According to SpaceX, the next launch date will be at least a week, but could be mid-December.
Orbiter Obvious - 26/11/2005 7:48 PMWhy is there such a long delay, even to the middle of Dec?
kcowing - 26/11/2005 9:47 PM The reason for the delay was an auxiliary liquid oxygen (LOX) fill tank had a manual vent valve incorrectly set to vent. - Elon Musk
David AF - 26/11/2005 11:19 PMSeeing the word manual suggests this was a proceedure error by one of the SpaceX engineers?
Terry Rocket - 27/11/2005 8:54 AMMust be fun being rich, but they need to get it right eventually cause theres other private companies looking to do this and need positive investors to back them.