Quote from: douglas100 on 11/11/2015 03:24 pmI notice that the render shows the 8 hold downs for FH, but only 2 seem attached to the F9. There was discussion about the base plate having interchangeable configs to allow 4 hold downs on the F9. I wonder if the render is slightly wrong here.I was wondering the same thing. Also, if the T/E is intended to go "full" horizontal at T=0 wont it need that center assembly shown in the red outline in the image below? That assembly, given its position in the exhaust deflection stream, is going to get a hell of a taste of the launch temps and pressures. If it is at that location at T0, what is securing it? What are the wheels made of (they look pneumatic/puffy)? Is it likely they won't have that assembly there during launch? If so, then the strong back will not go full horizontal after T0?
I notice that the render shows the 8 hold downs for FH, but only 2 seem attached to the F9. There was discussion about the base plate having interchangeable configs to allow 4 hold downs on the F9. I wonder if the render is slightly wrong here.
do I understand that article correctly that on holddown release the strongback will drop to the horizontal position? If so, that should make for a (n already) visually interesting launch
Quote from: chrisking0997 on 11/10/2015 04:47 pmdo I understand that article correctly that on holddown release the strongback will drop to the horizontal position? If so, that should make for a (n already) visually interesting launchShould be similar to the launch of the Soyuz. The vertical supports are held upright by the mass of the vehicle on the pad but as soon as Soyuz lifts off the supports they swing away and down pretty rapidly. F9/F9H have a completely different mechanism, but the visual effect should be similarly spectacular.
Quote from: AS-503 on 11/11/2015 03:40 pmQuote from: douglas100 on 11/11/2015 03:24 pmI notice that the render shows the 8 hold downs for FH, but only 2 seem attached to the F9. There was discussion about the base plate having interchangeable configs to allow 4 hold downs on the F9. I wonder if the render is slightly wrong here.I was wondering the same thing. Also, if the T/E is intended to go "full" horizontal at T=0 wont it need that center assembly shown in the red outline in the image below? That assembly, given its position in the exhaust deflection stream, is going to get a hell of a taste of the launch temps and pressures. If it is at that location at T0, what is securing it? What are the wheels made of (they look pneumatic/puffy)? Is it likely they won't have that assembly there during launch? If so, then the strong back will not go full horizontal after T0?I've read somewhere that SpaceX closed that part of the flame trench and during the launch exhaust flames/vapor would go only in one direction (away from the pad). I think I read it in Chris article.
Quote from: longdrivechampion102 on 11/10/2015 07:28 pmQuote from: chrisking0997 on 11/10/2015 04:47 pmdo I understand that article correctly that on holddown release the strongback will drop to the horizontal position? If so, that should make for a (n already) visually interesting launchThey did that for the Antares rocket launches.Do you have a link to a picture of that? From what I remember Antares would just tilt it back a little further at liftoff. Maybe 45 degrees. Not horizontal...
Quote from: chrisking0997 on 11/10/2015 04:47 pmdo I understand that article correctly that on holddown release the strongback will drop to the horizontal position? If so, that should make for a (n already) visually interesting launchThey did that for the Antares rocket launches.
will falcon 9/Falcon heavy enter ( be assembled for launch)and exit to the pad from the same doors in the HIF?
And the latest article to get us all up to speed:http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/11/spacex-conducts-rollout-39a-te/
Quote from: Chris Bergin on 11/10/2015 01:26 pmAnd the latest article to get us all up to speed:http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/11/spacex-conducts-rollout-39a-te/The big SpaceX on the water tower is cool too!
Quote from: AndyX on 11/13/2015 01:03 pmQuote from: Chris Bergin on 11/10/2015 01:26 pmThe big SpaceX on the water tower is cool too! No matter what logo you stick to it, a water tower is uncool....
Quote from: Chris Bergin on 11/10/2015 01:26 pmThe big SpaceX on the water tower is cool too!
The new Full Thrust Falcon will have a higher thrust/weight parameter even with heavier 2nd stage and will lift off faster
Quote from: philw1776 on 11/13/2015 01:07 amThe new Full Thrust Falcon will have a higher thrust/weight parameter even with heavier 2nd stage and will lift off fasterA little higher, maybe, but not that much different (especially during the first second). T/W will still likely be in the typical liquid rocket range (maybe 1.3-ish versus 1.2-ish previously). Still more like an Atlas or an R-7 or a Proton than a Zenit. - Ed Kyle
I have a hypothesis that one reason people constantly think the F9 launch is slow is an illusion of sorts. It is slow, but I think it "looks" even slower because it's such a tall rocket. Same reason that a 747 looks like it is just hanging in the air on final approach even though it's going at least 130 mph.
What a missed opportunity Elon. Look at all that roof real estate - where's the solar city panels feeding a bank of powerwalls?