Author Topic: Pad 39A - Transition to SpaceX Falcon Heavy debut - Thread 2  (Read 248160 times)

Offline douglas100

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...That's not supposed to be a flame trench, it's supposed to be a concrete ramp up to the pad. The South-facing flame trench has been filled in. The render is inaccurate in showing the South flame trench as still there.

The south flame trench still appears to be there in the photo. I'm  guessing it has been blocked off as previously discussed. The TE hydraulics would be housed there below the level of the pad apron. Of course the trench may still be filled in, but I doubt it.
Douglas Clark

Offline Lars-J

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...That's not supposed to be a flame trench, it's supposed to be a concrete ramp up to the pad. The South-facing flame trench has been filled in. The render is inaccurate in showing the South flame trench as still there.

The south flame trench still appears to be there in the photo. I'm  guessing it has been blocked off as previously discussed. The TE hydraulics would be housed there below the level of the pad apron. Of course the trench may still be filled in, but I doubt it.

No, look closer - it is already filled in. See the fresh white concrete in this cropped image?

Offline douglas100

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Yes, but it looks recessed to me, so maybe partially filled.  Guess we'll have to wait for better resolution to be sure. Think the point about hydraulics will be correct, based on SLC-40 and Vandenberg pads.
Douglas Clark

Offline psloss

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This image is from an angle I had not seen before (from the NASA commercial crew presser) - but it looks like it is a few weeks old:

EDIT - found a better version of the image!
Three images were added to the NASA Kennedy (PAO) photostream and CCP "album", link to the latter:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasakennedy/albums/72157647244171004

They're easier to find right now on the photostream / "all images" link since they were recently posted:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasakennedy/

Attached the other two here.
« Last Edit: 11/21/2015 06:27 pm by psloss »

Offline shuttlefan

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It would be so wonderful if a photo, an extreme closeup of the flame trench and launch mount, etc. could be posted on site here.  ;D
« Last Edit: 11/22/2015 02:05 am by shuttlefan »

Offline ZachS09

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It would be so wonderful if a photo, an extreme closeup of the flame trench and launch mount, etc. could be posted on site here.  ;D

I agree; I want to see the water deluge system if it's installed already.
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Offline shuttlefan

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It would be so wonderful if a photo, an extreme closeup of the flame trench and launch mount, etc. could be posted on site here.  ;D

I agree; I want to see the water deluge system if it's installed already.

Yes an extreme closeup of the pad surface would be wonderful!!

Offline sigil

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This image is from an angle I had not seen before (from the NASA commercial crew presser) - but it looks like it is a few weeks old:

EDIT - found a better version of the image!
Three images were added to the NASA Kennedy (PAO) photostream and CCP "album", link to the latter:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasakennedy/albums/72157647244171004

They're easier to find right now on the photostream / "all images" link since they were recently posted:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasakennedy/

Attached the other two here.

Looks to me like its recessed to allow for the TE hydraulics that are tucked away under the launch mount
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Offline Beittil

Quote
James Dean ‏@flatoday_jdean 16m16 minutes ago

Pad 39A update: SpaceX in Jan. will start removing the shuttle-era Rotating Service Structure (RSS).

Offline jacqmans

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Photo credit: John Studwell (from his facebook site)
Jacques :-)

Offline rcoppola

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Most excellent. Dean also mentioned they'll be replacing the current Lightning mast with a newly designed "Y" shaped mast. Too bad they couldn't install an "X" shaped mast.  :)

Since it's been reported they intend to begin installing the Crew Access Arm as well, I wonder if they still need to add another level to the FSS?
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Offline Prober

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Most excellent. Dean also mentioned they'll be replacing the current Lightning mast with a newly designed "Y" shaped mast. Too bad they couldn't install an "X" shaped mast.  :)

Since it's been reported they intend to begin installing the Crew Access Arm as well, I wonder if they still need to add another level to the FSS?

atm I'm interested to see how they are handling the drainage when the rains come.  They added a lot of concrete on that slope. See anything?
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Offline johnnyhinbos01

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Carol Scott of SpaceX says if they do manage to land the Falcon9 first stage they will use it as the test article for Pad39A

http://m.space.com/31248-spacex-may-try-land-based-rocket-landing.html?cmpid=514648

Offline The Roadie

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Offline rpapo

Carol Scott of SpaceX says if they do manage to land the Falcon9 first stage they will use it as the test article for Pad39A

http://m.space.com/31248-spacex-may-try-land-based-rocket-landing.html?cmpid=514648
Well, I don't think many of us expected they would go straight to reflying the very first stage landed...
Following the space program since before Apollo 8.

Offline mme

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Carol Scott of SpaceX says if they do manage to land the Falcon9 first stage they will use it as the test article for Pad39A

http://m.space.com/31248-spacex-may-try-land-based-rocket-landing.html?cmpid=514648
Well, I don't think many of us expected they would go straight to reflying the very first stage landed...
I did. :)

I thought they were talking about taking the first landed stage to Spaceport America and reflying it to failure.
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Offline Mike_1179

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Carol Scott of SpaceX says if they do manage to land the Falcon9 first stage they will use it as the test article for Pad39A

http://m.space.com/31248-spacex-may-try-land-based-rocket-landing.html?cmpid=514648
Well, I don't think many of us expected they would go straight to reflying the very first stage landed...
I did. :)

I thought they were talking about taking the first landed stage to Spaceport America and reflying it to failure.

By test article, do they mean flight article or would the stage be used for fit checks and GSE validations then shipped off to New Mexico?

Offline guckyfan

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Carol Scott of SpaceX says if they do manage to land the Falcon9 first stage they will use it as the test article for Pad39A

http://m.space.com/31248-spacex-may-try-land-based-rocket-landing.html?cmpid=514648
Well, I don't think many of us expected they would go straight to reflying the very first stage landed...
I did. :)

I thought they were talking about taking the first landed stage to Spaceport America and reflying it to failure.

By test article, do they mean flight article or would the stage be used for fit checks and GSE validations then shipped off to New Mexico?

My first thought on this was, bad news for Spaceport America. They refly it from LC 39A instead of New Mexico.

Offline jacqmans

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Jacques :-)

Offline BrianNH

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I don't think that she meant to imply that it would be reflown.  I think she meant that it would be used for fitting and final adjustments of the ground support equipment.  It will be interesting to see if it goes to Spaceport America for high altitude tests or if it is disassembled and tested to fine tune their reuse design.

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