NASASpaceFlight.com Forum
SpaceX Vehicles and Missions => SpaceX General Section => Topic started by: Jakusb on 05/19/2017 07:53 am
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Please use this thread for reports from public sources (Facebook, Reddit, etc.) on sightings of SpaceX rockets. We'll mainly see first stages, but feel free to post a link if anyone spots second stages, fairings, etc.
For more information on the locations of SpaceX cores, please refer to the very handy L2 Level SpaceX Falcon 9 Stage Watch (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=42452.0)
Another stage (seemingly 1037) ready for transport (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/6c14ik/another_stage_about_to_be_shipped_out/) outside factory @Hawthorne
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And core 1037(?) seen @Marana, AZ (https://www.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10155423528331318/)
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Is this stage backward from 'normal' for some reason? My recollection is that the engines have always been in the back for transport, but in this pic, they appear to be in the front.
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Is this stage backward from 'normal' for some reason? My recollection is that the engines have always been in the back for transport, but in this pic, they appear to be in the front.
Nope, engines are definitely in the back. The bump in the front on top is the second stage release/pusher.
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Another spotting in Arizona reported on Reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/6gbted/another_falcon_9_core_spotted_in_marana_az/), presumably 1038.
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Another core spotted (https://www.reddit.com/r/SpaceXLounge/comments/6k6ai0/i_think_saw_a_stage_1_at_a_weigh_station_in/) enroute to the cape.
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Another core spotted (https://www.reddit.com/r/SpaceXLounge/comments/6k6ai0/i_think_saw_a_stage_1_at_a_weigh_station_in/) enroute to the cape.
I guess that wasn't 1038 after all. FH side booster.
Reddit thread (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/6k92lo/spotted_on_i10_east_near_kiln_ms_at_0950_ct_29/)
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This will be 1023, right? FH Side Booster arriving at the Cape:
https://twitter.com/theepicspoon223/status/881227686995267585
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This will be 1023, right? FH Side Booster arriving at the Cape:
https://twitter.com/theepicspoon223/status/881227686995267585
Yep, that's 1023, nice spotting ;D
You can see a nose cone on the right
So all the pieces for FH are now at the Cape, correct? Seems like if 1029 didn't go back to McGregor before the BulgariaSat reuse, is it reasonable to assume that 1025 won't go to McGregor either? It's a slightly older booster than 1029, but the same vintage. Of course 1023 would also be similar vintage, right? Perhaps they wanted data from one of the side boosters and fired 1023 since it was ready first?
This timeline fits with Elon's tweet from a few weeks ago that FH parts would all be at the Cape soon.
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This will be 1023, right? FH Side Booster arriving at the Cape:
https://twitter.com/theepicspoon223/status/881227686995267585
Yep, that's 1023, nice spotting ;D
You can see a nose cone on the right
So all the pieces for FH are now at the Cape, correct? Seems like if 1029 didn't go back to McGregor before the BulgariaSat reuse, is it reasonable to assume that 1025 won't go to McGregor either? It's a slightly older booster than 1029, but the same vintage. Of course 1023 would also be similar vintage, right? Perhaps they wanted data from one of the side boosters and fired 1023 since it was ready first?
This timeline fits with Elon's tweet from a few weeks ago that FH parts would all be at the Cape soon.
Shotwell recently said on the Space Show that 1025 will go through McGregor before final checkouts back at the Cape, just like 1023 did. However, it's currently unknown whether it's still at the Cape, or if it has moved on to McGregor yet.
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This will be 1023, right? FH Side Booster arriving at the Cape:
https://twitter.com/theepicspoon223/status/881227686995267585
Yep, that's 1023, nice spotting ;D
You can see a nose cone on the right
So all the pieces for FH are now at the Cape, correct? Seems like if 1029 didn't go back to McGregor before the BulgariaSat reuse, is it reasonable to assume that 1025 won't go to McGregor either? It's a slightly older booster than 1029, but the same vintage. Of course 1023 would also be similar vintage, right? Perhaps they wanted data from one of the side boosters and fired 1023 since it was ready first?
This timeline fits with Elon's tweet from a few weeks ago that FH parts would all be at the Cape soon.
Shotwell recently said on the Space Show that 1025 will go through McGregor before final checkouts back at the Cape, just like 1023 did. However, it's currently unknown whether it's still at the Cape, or if it has moved on to McGregor yet.
Had not seen that. Thanks!
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More shots:
It appears we have a Falcon Heavy side booster at the Cape. @elonmusk @SpaceX can you confirm this? Is it Thiacomm?
https://twitter.com/parkerhagan/status/881206323278491652 (https://twitter.com/parkerhagan/status/881206323278491652)
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I know this isn't a core, but an unidentified upperstage is leaving Hawthorne:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWRB-4inWr5/
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I know this isn't a core, but an unidentified upperstage is leaving Hawthorne:
As it's not wrapped, I would guess it's not going very far?
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What is thought to be 1039 was spotted yesterday headed eastbound in Wilcox, Arizona.
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CRS11 Falcon 9 first stage 🚀is all cozy and wrapped for its truck trip to Texas? Hawthorne? Florida?
https://twitter.com/sandymazza/status/884250826641883136 (https://twitter.com/sandymazza/status/884250826641883136)
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CRS stages seem lightly used, and CRS-9 will be an FH#1 booster, so Hawthorne for conversion to a FH #2 booster?
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No point. First post-demo FH flight is Arabsat 6A, many months after the maiden mission and after the introduction of Block 5. It'll use new or reflown Block 5 cores, not flown Block 3 cores.
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CRS stages seem lightly used, and CRS-9 will be an FH#1 booster, so Hawthorne for conversion to a FH #2 booster?
The first FH is already a patchwork booster from various parts. I would expect any subsequent ones to be done exclusively with Block 5 components. I have no proof for that but no contradicting information either. Time will tell.
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CRS11 Falcon 9 first stage is all cozy and wrapped for its truck trip to Texas? Hawthorne? Florida?
https://twitter.com/sandymazza/status/884250826641883136 (https://twitter.com/sandymazza/status/884250826641883136)
That's not CRS-11, that's Iridium-2. Not sure where she got CRS-11 from, there's only been two west coast launches all year, both were Iridium flights.
It's wrapped up because it's going to either McGregor or the Cape (same reason they removed the grid fins).
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Spotted in 29 Palms, CA on July 14th. Not sure which direction it's heading.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BWgfTAunD_s/ (https://www.instagram.com/p/BWgfTAunD_s/)
Edit: Definitely heading West to Vandy.
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Nope. West to Vandenberg.
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@Facebook SpaceX fan page photos of inside HIF-39A.
3 cores visible with 1 core (used) seemingly being lifted on transporter. 1 of the other cores is FH Demo side core. The 3rd likely also..
Maybe they are about to start some integration tests with all 3 FH Demo cores?
Anyone with more insight?
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@Facebook SpaceX fan page photos of inside HIF-39A.
3 cores visible with 1 core (used) seemingly being lifted on transporter. 1 of the other cores is FH Demo side core. The 3rd likely also..
Maybe they are about to start some integration tests with all 3 FH Demo cores?
Anyone with more insight?
Here are the images. FB link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10155651551926318/
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@Facebook SpaceX fan page photos of inside HIF-39A.
3 cores visible with 1 core (used) seemingly being lifted on transporter. 1 of the other cores is FH Demo side core. The 3rd likely also..
Maybe they are about to start some integration tests with all 3 FH Demo cores?
Anyone with more insight?
The one being lifted isn’t used, it’s 1033. You can see all the extra side booster attachment hardware on the interstage and octaweb wrapped in pink.
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@Facebook SpaceX fan page photos of inside HIF-39A.
3 cores visible with 1 core (used) seemingly being lifted on transporter. 1 of the other cores is FH Demo side core. The 3rd likely also..
Maybe they are about to start some integration tests with all 3 FH Demo cores?
Anyone with more insight?
The one being lifted isn’t used, it’s 1033. You can see all the extra side booster attachment hardware on the interstage and octaweb wrapped in pink.
1033 is the FH demo center core, right?
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Love the FH shirt on the worker.
So, 1033 was stored somewhere else? The reason for the question is guessing that the they would normally unload off the truck not the transporter. The transporter only is used to move stages locally.
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@Facebook SpaceX fan page photos of inside HIF-39A.
3 cores visible with 1 core (used) seemingly being lifted on transporter. 1 of the other cores is FH Demo side core. The 3rd likely also..
Maybe they are about to start some integration tests with all 3 FH Demo cores?
Anyone with more insight?
The one being lifted isn’t used, it’s 1033. You can see all the extra side booster attachment hardware on the interstage and octaweb wrapped in pink.
1033 is the FH demo center core, right?
Yes! 1033 arriving it is!
So all 3 FH Demo cores are now in HIF-39A! Nice!
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Love the FH shirt on the worker.
So, 1033 was stored somewhere else? The reason for the question is guessing that the they would normally unload off the truck not the transporter. The transporter only is used to move stages locally.
Looks to me like they installed all that separation hardware somewhere like Hangar AO or even SLC-40, then wrapped up the sensitive bits in pink (just like 1029 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/29418863@N04/34271165143)) and transported it to 39A for fit checks.
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Love the FH shirt on the worker.
So, 1033 was stored somewhere else? The reason for the question is guessing that the they would normally unload off the truck not the transporter. The transporter only is used to move stages locally.
Looks to me like they installed all that separation hardware somewhere like Hangar AO or even SLC-40...
So are they using 40's HIF as a warehouse/preparation facility until it's back online?
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Love the FH shirt on the worker.
So, 1033 was stored somewhere else? The reason for the question is guessing that the they would normally unload off the truck not the transporter. The transporter only is used to move stages locally.
Looks to me like they installed all that separation hardware somewhere like Hangar AO or even SLC-40...
So are they using 40's HIF as a warehouse/preparation facility until it's back online?
We pretty sure that’s where they refurbished 1029.2. It survived Amos-6 almost entirely unscathed, and it’s large enough for at least one full F9, so I don’t see why they wouldn’t be using it for core storage or new SLC-40 hardware preparation.
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Most likely 1040 on its way to McGregor...
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/6pgz54/spacex_booster_off_to_the_side_of_the_road_in/?st=J5JWI6GG&sh=78abc4cb
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In the rain yesterday, @SpaceX moving a wrapped Falcon 9 into the hangar at Pad 39A.
link (https://twitter.com/spacekscblog/status/892496775554248705)
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3 cores to identify. 1 @ Hawthorne, 2 @ CCAFS. (https://redd.it/6rehnb)
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3 cores to identify. 1 @ Hawthorne, 2 @ CCAFS. (https://redd.it/6rehnb)
Currently publicly assumed/deducted through 101-Dalmation Techniques...:
- 1036 @Hawthorne for refurb... WhoopWhoop.. I asked IridiumBoss if this core might be re-used for IridiumNext-4 ;)
- 1029-2 retired @Hangar AO CCAFS
- 1032 retired/long term storage (for now) @Hangar AO CCAFS
- 1038 @VAFB
- 1039 @HIF-39A
- 1040 @McGregor
And of course the most complete overview in L2 dedicated thread (http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=42452.0)
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An employee on Reddit has said that the core for SES-11 was seen heading towards McGregor today for a static fire in the near future. It seems it was coming from the Cape as expected.
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Posted yesterday lunchtime Cape time:
Just passed a big ass booster coming into the Cape. Next up! #NASAsocial
https://twitter.com/wardniner/status/897152084516237312 (https://twitter.com/wardniner/status/897152084516237312)
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Houston_here yesterday @Reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/6tq4ok/comment/dln0iyk?st=J6F1KO4O&sh=443d51c7)
Just saw an F9 booster headed west on I-10 in New Mexico today. I was too slow with the camera but my guess was it was headed to Texas for testing? Can anyone confirm?
:Edit this occurred around 2PM.
Also,. I was headed West. The booster was headed East.
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Houston_here yesterday @Reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/6tq4ok/comment/dln0iyk?st=J6F1KO4O&sh=443d51c7)
Just saw an F9 booster headed west on I-10 in New Mexico today. I was too slow with the camera but my guess was it was headed to Texas for testing? Can anyone confirm?
:Edit this occurred around 2PM.
Also,. I was headed West. The booster was headed East.
Must have been this booster, taken on 14 August:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BXwZFZ_lDHz/
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1029.2 definitely didn't stop in McGregor after Iridium-1. We have one report of 1031.2 returning to McGregor from someone who claims to be an employee, but that's about it.
In related news, 1025.2 was finally just spotted (https://imgur.com/gallery/Ff2UG) heading east west towards McGregor for its post-conversion firing.
Edit: east --> west
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In related news, 1025.2 was finally just spotted (https://imgur.com/gallery/Ff2UG) heading east towards McGregor for its post-conversion firing.
I may be confused, but was it going east or west?
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In related news, 1025.2 was finally just spotted (https://imgur.com/gallery/Ff2UG) heading east towards McGregor for its post-conversion firing.
I may be confused, but was it going east or west?
West, OP just clarified (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/6uxqbz/had_a_falcon_fly_thru_town_today_headed_north_east/dlw8uku/?context=3) in the Reddit thread.
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Geotagged at CCAFS today:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BYLl5b9H25r/
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Presumably CRS-12 / B1039 ?
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Presumably CRS-12 / B1039 ?
Most likely indeed (as in 99,99% sure)
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FH side booster in McGregor
https://m.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10155786087011318/
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Used Cores at CCAFS:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BYmgvQjHUIi/
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I guess those are cores that won't be used in actual launches.
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I guess those are cores that won't be used in actual launches.
They’ve been preliminarily identified as 1029.2 and 1032.1, so retirement would be a good guess for their outcomes.
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The one with two flight on log could be good enough for the Smithsonian (or some other museum if they already have one).
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The one with two flight on log could be good enough for the Smithsonian (or some other museum if they already have one).
Unless SpaceX is satisfied with the results of their post-flight testing, I would think any core with two flight cycles would be a prime candidate for methodical disassembly and destructive testing to compare results with analysis.
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Transport X-37B in fairing to LC-39A HIF
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trNsXrJRDHQ
In that video, we can see 1033.1 on the left side of the hangar, and 1023.2 on the right side. You can also see 1040.1 on the pad.
An F9 (likely 1041.1) just left McGregor (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/6y9fks/headed_east_out_of_mcgregor_is_it_just_another/) heading west, so it's probably on its way to VAFB for Iridium-3.
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Transport X-37B in fairing to LC-39A HIF
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trNsXrJRDHQ
In that video, we can see 1033.1 on the left side of the hangar, and 1023.2 on the right side. You can also see 1040.1 on the pad.
An F9 (likely 1041.1) just left McGregor (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/6y9fks/headed_east_out_of_mcgregor_is_it_just_another/) heading west, so it's probably on its way to VAFB for Iridium-3.
Is the nosecone removed during storage? That was what I was using to judge the core on the right, didn't want to assume it was 1023.2 in spite of that being the logical conclusion. With 1033.1, you can easily see the pink shrink-wrapped side booster connection point.
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Transport X-37B in fairing to LC-39A HIF
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trNsXrJRDHQ
In that video, we can see 1033.1 on the left side of the hangar, and 1023.2 on the right side. You can also see 1040.1 on the pad.
An F9 (likely 1041.1) just left McGregor (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/6y9fks/headed_east_out_of_mcgregor_is_it_just_another/) heading west, so it's probably on its way to VAFB for Iridium-3.
Is the nosecone removed during storage? That was what I was using to judge the core on the right, didn't want to assume it was 1023.2 in spite of that being the logical conclusion. With 1033.1, you can easily see the pink shrink-wrapped side booster connection point.
I personally see a nosecone on the right booster, but I guess that’s up for interpretation. We haven’t 1023.2 leave 39A, so that’s what I assumed it was.
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Neither core to the sides of the TEL in the hanger has a nosecone attached. The booster on the right hand side for sure has a pusher inside the interstage area if that helps at all.
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Neither core to the sides of the TEL in the hanger has a nosecone attached. The booster on the right hand side for sure has a pusher inside the interstage area if that helps at all.
That does, thanks. So that means 1023.2 left 39A and is somewhere else in Cape Canaveral, and now there’s a mystery F9 at 39A.
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Neither core to the sides of the TEL in the hanger has a nosecone attached. The booster on the right hand side for sure has a pusher inside the interstage area if that helps at all.
The TEL isn't in the hangar. It's out on the pad.
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Neither core to the sides of the TEL in the hanger has a nosecone attached. The booster on the right hand side for sure has a pusher inside the interstage area if that helps at all.
The TEL isn't in the hangar. It's out on the pad.
The TEL is still in the hanger right now. Also the booster to the left of the TEL has some pink square next to the raceway at the top. Any chance 1033 is the one to the right and 1023 is to the left? Or any chance they kept the pusher in 1023 to keep under the nose cone?
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Neither core to the sides of the TEL in the hanger has a nosecone attached. The booster on the right hand side for sure has a pusher inside the interstage area if that helps at all.
The TEL isn't in the hangar. It's out on the pad.
The TEL is still in the hanger right now. Also the booster to the left of the TEL has some pink square next to the raceway at the top. Any chance 1033 is the one to the right and 1023 is to the left? Or any chance they kept the pusher in 1023 to keep under the nose cone?
1033 has an interstage and is covered in pink tape, it's on all the new separation mechanisms. So if the booster on the left has and interstage and is covered in pink tape, it's probably 1033.
1023 doesn't have an interstage, it has a nosecone. If that booster on the right side has an interstage and a center pusher inside that interstage, it can't be 1023. It could however, be any of the myriad of other F9 S1s that are lying around the Cape (1021, 1039, 1035, etc.).
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Neither core to the sides of the TEL in the hanger has a nosecone attached. The booster on the right hand side for sure has a pusher inside the interstage area if that helps at all.
The TEL isn't in the hangar. It's out on the pad.
The TEL is still in the hanger right now. Also the booster to the left of the TEL has some pink square next to the raceway at the top. Any chance 1033 is the one to the right and 1023 is to the left? Or any chance they kept the pusher in 1023 to keep under the nose cone?
1033 has an interstage and is covered in pink tape, it's on all the new separation mechanisms. So if the booster on the left has and interstage and is covered in pink tape, it's probably 1033.
1023 doesn't have an interstage, it has a nosecone. If that booster on the right side has an interstage and a center pusher inside that interstage, it can't be 1023. It could however, be any of the myriad of other F9 S1s that are lying around the Cape (1021, 1039, 1035, etc.).
It's getting hard to keep track of them with these intermittent glimpses ;D
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post on Reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/6yft5s/multiple_updates_per_mcgregor_engineers/) says that second stages for Iridium 3 and FH Demo have been tested (along with an interesting Boca Chica tidbit).
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Neither core to the sides of the TEL in the hanger has a nosecone attached. The booster on the right hand side for sure has a pusher inside the interstage area if that helps at all.
The TEL isn't in the hangar. It's out on the pad.
The TEL is still in the hanger right now. Also the booster to the left of the TEL has some pink square next to the raceway at the top. Any chance 1033 is the one to the right and 1023 is to the left? Or any chance they kept the pusher in 1023 to keep under the nose cone?
1033 has an interstage and is covered in pink tape, it's on all the new separation mechanisms. So if the booster on the left has and interstage and is covered in pink tape, it's probably 1033.
1023 doesn't have an interstage, it has a nosecone. If that booster on the right side has an interstage and a center pusher inside that interstage, it can't be 1023. It could however, be any of the myriad of other F9 S1s that are lying around the Cape (1021, 1039, 1035, etc.).
It's getting hard to keep track of them with these intermittent glimpses ;D
If the other core indeed is a 'normal' F9, it very likely is 1039, seen being transported internally here (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=42977.msg1715880#msg1715880)
But I could not think of any reason for it to move to HIF-39A... Anyone has suggestions/ideas?
If so, we have missed 1023-2 being moved out of HIF-39A to some other storage facility @Cape...
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Neither core to the sides of the TEL in the hanger has a nosecone attached. The booster on the right hand side for sure has a pusher inside the interstage area if that helps at all.
The TEL isn't in the hangar. It's out on the pad.
The TEL is still in the hanger right now. Also the booster to the left of the TEL has some pink square next to the raceway at the top. Any chance 1033 is the one to the right and 1023 is to the left? Or any chance they kept the pusher in 1023 to keep under the nose cone?
1033 has an interstage and is covered in pink tape, it's on all the new separation mechanisms. So if the booster on the left has and interstage and is covered in pink tape, it's probably 1033.
1023 doesn't have an interstage, it has a nosecone. If that booster on the right side has an interstage and a center pusher inside that interstage, it can't be 1023. It could however, be any of the myriad of other F9 S1s that are lying around the Cape (1021, 1039, 1035, etc.).
It's getting hard to keep track of them with these intermittent glimpses ;D
If the other core indeed is a 'normal' F9, it very likely is 1039, seen being transported internally here (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=42977.msg1715880#msg1715880)
But I could not think of any reason for it to move to HIF-39A... Anyone has suggestions/ideas?
If so, we have missed 1023-2 being moved out of HIF-39A to some other storage facility @Cape...
Damn sneaky rockets...
I agree, though. 1039 was my first guess, given how recently it was seen on the core transporter outside of the HIF. But where 'o where could 1023.2 have gone? :-[
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Neither core to the sides of the TEL in the hanger has a nosecone attached. The booster on the right hand side for sure has a pusher inside the interstage area if that helps at all.
The TEL isn't in the hangar. It's out on the pad.
The TEL is still in the hanger right now....
Check the video at 5:31 as the PLF is brought up to the hangar door. The TEL is clearly visible to the right of the hangar, upright on the pad and floodlit. Also at 6:28 as the PLF is being rolled into the hangar, the TEL is still there. I imagine they brought it into the hangar shortly afterwards.
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Neither core to the sides of the TEL in the hanger has a nosecone attached. The booster on the right hand side for sure has a pusher inside the interstage area if that helps at all.
The TEL isn't in the hangar. It's out on the pad.
The TEL is still in the hanger right now....
Check the video at 5:31 as the PLF is brought up to the hangar door. The TEL is clearly visible to the right of the hangar, upright on the pad and floodlit. Also at 6:28 as the PLF is being rolled into the hangar, the TEL is still there. I imagine they brought it into the hangar shortly afterwards.
Getting off topic, but at the time of my post the TEL was in the hanger with the same two cores in the video beside it. Video was from last week, but cores visible in it were still in place.
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Right, makes sense now. I should have said "the TEL is on the pad in the video." Thanks for clearing that up.
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Elon just posted a foto (https://instagram.com/p/BYyvO2WA3Ra/) with core 1042 ij background fully assembled!!
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Some cores should be on the move already or soon...
please keep an eye out.
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Just another morning commute on Florida’s Space Coast #Falcon9
https://twitter.com/spaceflorida/status/910470090688274432
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Just another morning commute on Florida’s Space Coast #Falcon9
https://twitter.com/spaceflorida/status/910470090688274432
Ok, anyone got any clue which core this might be? Some Dalmatian Spot Detective?
If need be, PM me or discuss in L2.
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Just another morning commute on Florida’s Space Coast #Falcon9
https://twitter.com/spaceflorida/status/910470090688274432
Ok, anyone got any clue which core this might be? Some Dalmatian Spot Detective?
If need be, PM me or discuss in L2.
Whichever one it is, it's way down behind Hangar E/F. (https://www.google.com/maps/@28.4871496,-80.5781545,251a,35y,180h,39.46t/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en) First Hangar AM, and now Hangar F; SpaceX keeps growing at the Cape.
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Ok, anyone got any clue which core this might be? Some Dalmatian Spot Detective?
If need be, PM me or discuss in L2.
It looks like B1021.2 (https://i.imgur.com/bFstJw3.jpg) after CRS-8 & SES-10 missions - first reused booster, previously under consideration to be displayed near Port Canaveral.
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Edit: Different core at LC-39A:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BZSJxJYlIzd/
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And its now at LC-39A:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BZSJxJYlIzd/
Different booster (no black covers on the white leg areas) and different transporter.
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And its now at LC-39A:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BZSJxJYlIzd/
Different booster (no black covers on the white leg areas) and different transporter.
Might be 1040 coming back from LZ-1.
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And its now at LC-39A:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BZSJxJYlIzd/
Different booster (no black covers on the white leg areas) and different transporter.
Might be 1040 coming back from LZ-1.
Seconded. Whichever core it is, it's probably at the HIF for refurbishment. We had reason to believe the LZ-1 storage facility is also used for refurbishment, but I'm sure SpaceX have a good reason for swapping facilities.
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Is that the Dragon "late load" scaffold being used to examine the top of the stage, outside of the HIF?
If so ... why?
It does appear to be the "late load" partially blocking the view to the core.
And why not? :'( (Sorry, couldn't avaoind the joke.)
Best guess is it was in the way where it was and that spot was currently empty.
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Hmm, cores are being transported and no reports of any kind... :(
I guess they are becoming too much of a common sight now... ;)
Possible movements that could occur or might even already have occurred:
- new core from Hawthorne to McGregor (given production pace last months)
- one or more tested cores from McGregor to East Coast
- maybe even refurbished cores from either West or East Coast to McGregor (pure speculation/wishful thinking)
anyway, just keep looking for cores being transported, or other people reporting about it..
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core spotted (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/74dqdn/another_falcon_9_first_stage_sighting_eastbound/?st=J8E08CI1&sh=0298e2ec) heading east on I-10
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core spotted (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/74dqdn/another_falcon_9_first_stage_sighting_eastbound/?st=J8E08CI1&sh=0298e2ec) heading east on I-10
Good news. Do we have more details? Such as s/n numbers
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core spotted (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/74dqdn/another_falcon_9_first_stage_sighting_eastbound/?st=J8E08CI1&sh=0298e2ec) heading east on I-10
Good news. Do we have more details? Such as s/n numbers
Zucal is convinced it must be brand new core 1043.
There is a smaller chance it is a refurbished core. But that is the whishful thinking part of me. ;)
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1021.2 (soot patterns match) now hanging out on some lil blue stands. Appears to be in the same place it was last spotted, just sans the red trailer. https://twitter.com/spaceflorida/status/910470090688274432
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1021.2 (soot patterns match) now hanging out on some lil blue stands. Appears to be in the same place it was last spotted, just sans the red trailer. https://twitter.com/spaceflorida/status/910470090688274432
Picture effect or is the poor thing sagging? Probably the former, they aren't that weak.
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1021.2 (soot patterns match) now hanging out on some lil blue stands. Appears to be in the same place it was last spotted, just sans the red trailer. https://twitter.com/spaceflorida/status/910470090688274432
Picture effect or is the poor thing sagging? Probably the former, they aren't that weak.
Oooooh I see that too... it has to be lens distortion, there's no way a first stage would sag even when unpressurized.
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1021.2 (soot patterns match) now hanging out on some lil blue stands. Appears to be in the same place it was last spotted, just sans the red trailer. https://twitter.com/spaceflorida/status/910470090688274432
Picture effect or is the poor thing sagging? Probably the former, they aren't that weak.
Looks like a lens effect. If you draw a line straight line over the *underside* (which is at the center of the image), it is straight.
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Nothing to see! Just another used rocket, returned from flight. Ho-hum!
Wonderful, ain't it?
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Spotted around Mississippi/Alabama, presumably heading East. 99% chance that this is 1042, for Koreasat 5A
https://www.instagram.com/p/BaF9Ndshmz_/
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Looks like the FH side booster(1025) is coming back to the cape
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/773j3o/passing_thru_town_4_hours_north_of_the_cape_1035/?utm_content=comments&utm_medium=hot&utm_source=reddit&utm_name=spacex
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A F9 was spotted in Arizona. It should be B1044, going to McGregor
https://www.reddit.com/r/whatisthisthing/comments/78s7kv/this_thing_is_huge_any_ideas/
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If that's B1044 heading for McGregor, then B1043 should be about ready to leave McGregor for the Cape for Zuma.
B1044 will presumably be for Hipasat or potentially CRS-13 if that's not flown on a re-used core - subject to any delays with either payload.
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1042
really off in the boondocks of CCAFS now, I believe it's pretty close to LC-37. spotted at the entrance to LZ-1. Taken by Instagram user twobitgator.
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A Rolling Stone piece on Musk today showed a used core in Hawthorne.
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1042 really off in the boondocks of CCAFS now, I believe it's pretty close to LC-37. Taken by Instagram user twobitgator.
That's the entrance to LZ-1.
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If that's B1044 heading for McGregor, then B1043 should be about ready to leave McGregor for the Cape for Zuma.
B1044 will presumably be for Hipasat or potentially CRS-13 if that's not flown on a re-used core - subject to any delays with either payload.
To echo the above... based on previous timings and with 1043 about to launch from the Cape, 1044 should be leaving McGregor soon and 1045 arriving to replace it.
Whether 1044 will leave (and where it will go) might be a question as LC-39a is going to be busy with Falcon Heavy and (presumably?) the HIF at LC-40 isn't large enough to park spare F9s in - assuming CRS-13 is flying on a re-used core and therefore not 1044...
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If that's B1044 heading for McGregor, then B1043 should be about ready to leave McGregor for the Cape for Zuma.
B1044 will presumably be for Hipasat or potentially CRS-13 if that's not flown on a re-used core - subject to any delays with either payload.
To echo the above... based on previous timings and with 1043 about to launch from the Cape, 1044 should be leaving McGregor soon and 1045 arriving to replace it.
Whether 1044 will leave (and where it will go) might be a question as LC-39a is going to be busy with Falcon Heavy and (presumably?) the HIF at LC-40 isn't large enough to park spare F9s in - assuming CRS-13 is flying on a re-used core and therefore not 1044...
Looking at manifest core 1044 should be going east as next in line for new core would be Hispasat 1F (30W-6)...
The core is seen with re-use parts, so it does not seem to have been build for Hispasat 1F (30W-6) as that is likely going expendable mode being too heavy and GTO...
The current thinking is that this core was backup for CRS-13 and thus build for re-use.
But who knows, maybe they dare to land after first launching Hispasat 1F (30W-6), would be next level again...
Anyway, the launch is currently scheduled NET 2018, so the core is well ahead of schedule, so maybe it will be used for another mission...
If is does go west, it most likely will launch PAZ & co-passenger, currently scheduled to launch NET jan 30th.
Even more interesting will be core 1045, and likely even much more interesting to see 1046... ;)
If all goes well, there will be launching several re-used cores first and hopefully a Falcon Heavy...! :)
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Looks like B1043 (the Zuma) core is likely still in the 39A hangar. Hard to see much in the image, but it sure looks like there is a fourth core next to Falcon Heavy.
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Looks like B1043 (the Zuma) core is likely still in the 39A hangar. Hard to see much in the image, but it sure looks like there is a fourth core next to Falcon Heavy.
I just responded in the Heavy mission thread, but I don't think this is a current picture. That opinion based on both the trajectory on the middle right being dated Oct. 15th and the picture of the Atlas V in the upper left having more SRBs than the next mission to launch from SLC-41. Not totally sure what's going on there though.
SMH. Pretty much wrong in every respect.
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Looks like B1043 (the Zuma) core is likely still in the 39A hangar. Hard to see much in the image, but it sure looks like there is a fourth core next to Falcon Heavy.
I just responded in the Heavy mission thread, but I don't think this is a current picture. That opinion based on both the trajectory on the middle right being dated Oct. 15th and the picture of the Atlas V in the upper left having more SRBs than the next mission to launch from SLC-41. Not totally sure what's going on there though.
It’s a current picture. That’s not an Atlas V at SLC-41, it’s the Delta IV for NROL-47 at SLC-6.
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Thoughts? Spotted on the move today.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bc7xdQwHcHF/
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More than likely CRS-13s core on the move somewhere for housing
Thoughts? Spotted on the move today.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bc7xdQwHcHF/
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Definitely the CRS-13 booster, you can still see the pinstripes on the LOX tank.
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Thoughts?
First off, on future boosters that they actually paint the company name on, they should move it about 30 feet up the rocket. If they want it visible after the second flight, anyway. (Which is likely not done, nor will be done in the future, due to thermal effects from the dark paint used in the name/logo.)
Of course, there was discussion recently about SpaceX thinking about not painting future boosters, to save the time and weight. I imagine that means no logos on the booster sides, either. So it becomes a moot (and not soot) point... :D
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Core probably on its way to Hangar AO at CCAFS
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bc7xdQwHcHF/
The core was well past (https://www.google.com/maps/@28.492918,-80.5827099,199a,35y,126.28h,39.5t/data=!3m1!1e3) Hangar AO (and even past the entrance they usually use for Hangar M) at that point and still heading north. There's no more known SpaceX facilities in that direction until you get to SLC-40 or LC-39A, so it's quite the mystery where that one is headed.
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Core probably on its way to Hangar AO at CCAFS
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bc7xdQwHcHF/
The core was well past (https://www.google.com/maps/@28.492918,-80.5827099,199a,35y,126.28h,39.5t/data=!3m1!1e3) Hangar AO (and even past the entrance they usually use for Hangar M) at that point and still heading north. There's no more known SpaceX facilities in that direction until you get to SLC-40 or LC-39A, so it's quite the mystery where that one is headed.
Back to 39A for another launch? Or out to pasture...
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Core probably on its way to Hangar AO at CCAFS
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bc7xdQwHcHF/
The core was well past (https://www.google.com/maps/@28.492918,-80.5827099,199a,35y,126.28h,39.5t/data=!3m1!1e3) Hangar AO (and even past the entrance they usually use for Hangar M) at that point and still heading north. There's no more known SpaceX facilities in that direction until you get to SLC-40 or LC-39A, so it's quite the mystery where that one is headed.
Thought the same thing, and with the OTV, no less! 1035 is Block 3, so the best bet is probably some odd storage spot for mothballing. Doesn't fit very well either, though ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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Found this posted earlier today. No clear core number, but I believe Hangar M is located somewhere along Hangar Rd in CCAFS, specific location is 28.491818, -80.582141 if Library of Congress records are accurate today.
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core spotted seemingly heading East towards FL (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/7oe9dx/spotted_at_i10_weigh_station_alfl_line_by_a/?st=JC2N6R9S&sh=31d3611e)
I guess core 1044
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core spotted seemingly heading East towards FL (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/7oe9dx/spotted_at_i10_weigh_station_alfl_line_by_a/?st=JC2N6R9S&sh=31d3611e)
I guess core 1044
Arrived at the Cape.
Credit: https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/7olsqo/i_passed_through_pad_39a_and_take_a_photo_of_this
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got another core, heading north from florida, this person claims (not confirmed, ) that this is B1043, Zuma's landed booster, but with all of the cores ln florida, i would say it is safe to assume this may be a different core
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/7r1vg3/found_it_b1043_headed_north/
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got another core, heading north from florida, this person claims (not confirmed) that this is B043, Zuma's landed booster
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/7r1vg3/found_it_b1043_headed_north/
It should be noted that they gave no solid reasoning for the core being 1043, so we should just presume it to be a mystery Falcon 9.
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Safe, indeed. Reminds me, I caught this just after Zuma landed, Jan 9th. A brisk turnaround, if I might say so. I'm not certain if that core is actually 1043, but there's definitely a possibility that the core on the move above and below is 1043.
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Possibly the first Block V leaving Hawthorne!
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/7s0xvm/first_block_5_first_stage_1046_nears_hawthorne/
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/u/everydayastronaut is now suggesting that the above booster is in fact a refurbished core, although 1046 is indeed expected to roll out imminently.
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/u/everydayastronaut is now suggesting that the above booster is in fact a refurbished core, although 1046 is indeed expected to roll out imminently.
Yeah, edited to reflect that. If it's refurbished it's probably 1041. However, the original poster is usually reliable, and I am pretty sure they jumped to that conclusion because this was spotted next to the main building not the refurb facility. Anyways, we shall see.
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Yes, it's a refurbished booster. 1046 is still Block 5, and the next booster to leave from the main building.
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More pics courtesy of Shorealone Films (https://www.flickr.com/photos/81789298@N05/).
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More pics courtesy of Shorealone Films (https://www.flickr.com/photos/81789298@N05/).
It doesn't appear to have the leg mounts?
That fits with 1041 flying Iridium 5 and being expended (and also with 1038...).
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More pics courtesy of Shorealone Films (https://www.flickr.com/photos/81789298@N05/).
It doesn't appear to have the leg mounts?
That fits with 1041 flying Iridium 5 and being expended (and also with 1038...).
Pretty sure it is 1038 heading to VAFB to launch Paz. 1041 is likely still being refurbished for several more weeks.
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Some explanation of the route taken by the recent F9 transport to Vandenberg. (I think there were a lot of comments on Reddit wondering why it was seen at that particular spot.)
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/community/cambrian/article197404794.html
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Spotted near hanger Y today 2/1 by a colleague at the cape.
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HEre's another image:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BeqUynglBOy/
Edit: Most Likely Hispasat 30 Core
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Core 1046 finally spotted traveling along I-8 (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/7xzydu/friend_saw_this_on_i8_in_yuma_an_hour_ago_she/?st=JDQ8L4DX&sh=8e8cbc82)
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Do we expect a much extended test sequence or just a somewhat longer static fire? The engines surely are well tested already.
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Does anyone know where the boosters cross the Mississippi River? If they stay on I-10 to Baton Rouge, I-10 make a very sharp right hand turn. A turn that would appear to be too sharp for a 100 foot long trailer. Thoughts?
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Does anyone know where the boosters cross the Mississippi River? If they stay on I-10 to Baton Rouge, I-10 make a very sharp right hand turn. A turn that would appear to be too sharp for a 100 foot long trailer. Thoughts?
It's not *that* tight. If they can navigate out of the side streets around SpaceX in Hawthorne, it won't be a problem.
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An even better photo of B1046. This was taken in Arizona.
https://imgur.com/a/eu78p
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Does anyone know where the boosters cross the Mississippi River? If they stay on I-10 to Baton Rouge, I-10 make a very sharp right hand turn. A turn that would appear to be too sharp for a 100 foot long trailer. Thoughts?
It's not *that* tight. If they can navigate out of the side streets around SpaceX in Hawthorne, it won't be a problem.
I am led to believe, but have no source I can quote, That the rear quad trailer has some limited ability to be override steered ever so slightly by either the truck driver or the chase driver... :)
No proof on that... sorry... :(
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That picture is SOOOO hot.
This is the most exciting thing since the FH launch, which feels like months ago already.
Let's see how fast it works it's way through McGregor and onto FL.
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Does anyone know where the boosters cross the Mississippi River? If they stay on I-10 to Baton Rouge, I-10 make a very sharp right hand turn. A turn that would appear to be too sharp for a 100 foot long trailer. Thoughts?
It's not *that* tight. If they can navigate out of the side streets around SpaceX in Hawthorne, it won't be a problem.
Remember the YouTube video (https://youtube.com/watch?v=Fuy-IrO524E) where a Falcon 9 first stage passed in front of Spell Family Sno-Balls (map) (https://goo.gl/maps/orRwGEJUF2R2) in Springfield, Louisiana, heading east? There's a tight left turn in Springfield. The inside radius is about 21 meters, and a circle touching the outside stripes on each side and the grass inside the angle gives a radius of about 53 meters.
In contrast, the tightest part of the curve on I-10 eastbound at the I-10/I-110 interchange just east of the bridge over the Mississippi River has a radius something like 240 meters.
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Sounds like Reddit user /u/Allykartz90 may have spotted B1041.2 headed for Vandenberg AFB about an hour ago.
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/7y0grt/rspacex_paz_official_launch_discussion_updates/duna0wz/ (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/7y0grt/rspacex_paz_official_launch_discussion_updates/duna0wz/)
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Sounds like Reddit user /u/Allykartz90 may have spotted B1041.2 headed for Vandenberg AFB about an hour ago.
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/7y0grt/rspacex_paz_official_launch_discussion_updates/duna0wz/ (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/7y0grt/rspacex_paz_official_launch_discussion_updates/duna0wz/)
Can corroborate this. A fairing halve left Hawthorne last night, and a S1 was spotted on a semi trailer, presumably being readied for transport. Finally, although it was apparently too dark to be sure, there was at least one more semi preparing to leave Hawthorne, either the second fairing halve or a second stage. A veritable SpaceX convoy!
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And confirmed! Can't tell if it's headed out, but definitely another core wrapped and ready for transport.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bfh8kFoh1Ns/
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An additional sooty booster seen inside 39A's HIF on Feb 20th, opposite of B1023. Really not sure what core it is, but I'm relatively confident it's been in there for more than two months.
Try to ignore the forehead...
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Core spotted heading East from AL to FL (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/816gdq/falcon_9_spotted_at_alfl_line_headed_west_312018/?st=JE8QWD5X&sh=4523b5e5)
Edit: OP had the direction mixed up. It is heading East, so it must be 1045 heading for the Cape to launch TESS in april...
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A core was spotted leaving Hawthorne last night. Would be great to know which core it is, as it would say a fair bit about 1046's status at McGregor if this core is the second Block 5 to be shipped. Thanks to Reddit /u/stcks for point this out, I've been too busy to trawl Instagram today ;D
https://www.instagram.com/p/BgfboKIB17H/
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A core was spotted leaving Hawthorne last night. Would be great to know which core it is, as it would say a fair bit about 1046's status at McGregor if this core is the second Block 5 to be shipped. Thanks to Reddit /u/stcks for point this out, I've been too busy to trawl Instagram today ;D
https://www.instagram.com/p/BgfboKIB17H/
"Elon Musk is a ... BEAST!" ;D
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A core was spotted leaving Hawthorne last night. Would be great to know which core it is, as it would say a fair bit about 1046's status at McGregor if this core is the second Block 5 to be shipped. Thanks to Reddit /u/stcks for point this out, I've been too busy to trawl Instagram today ;D
https://www.instagram.com/p/BgfboKIB17H/
"Elon Musk is a ... BEAST!" ;D
I appreciate the enthusiasm as well ;D I have hopes that FH's vitality has spawned some additional potential core spotters, fingers crossed.
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A core was spotted leaving Hawthorne last night. Would be great to know which core it is, as it would say a fair bit about 1046's status at McGregor if this core is the second Block 5 to be shipped. Thanks to Reddit /u/stcks for point this out, I've been too busy to trawl Instagram today ;D
https://www.instagram.com/p/BgfboKIB17H/
Does anybody know how many of the half dozen or so vehicles accompanying the stage in this video convoy with it across the country?
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A core was spotted leaving Hawthorne last night. Would be great to know which core it is, as it would say a fair bit about 1046's status at McGregor if this core is the second Block 5 to be shipped. Thanks to Reddit /u/stcks for point this out, I've been too busy to trawl Instagram today ;D
https://www.instagram.com/p/BgfboKIB17H/
Must be 1047 heading for McGregor..
1046 is still on the TestStand as of yesterday, so seems they are either taking a small risk or they are pretty confident that all is well with 1046...
Edit: my prediction, if this is 1047, is that this one will return to West Coast after testing.... But everything but certain, to me the most logical given current manifest... :)
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A core was spotted leaving Hawthorne last night. Would be great to know which core it is, as it would say a fair bit about 1046's status at McGregor if this core is the second Block 5 to be shipped. Thanks to Reddit /u/stcks for point this out, I've been too busy to trawl Instagram today ;D
https://www.instagram.com/p/BgfboKIB17H/
Must be 1047 heading for McGregor..
1046 is still on the TestStand as of yesterday, so seems they are either taking a small risk or they are pretty confident that all is well with 1046...
Edit: my prediction, if this is 1047, is that this one will return to West Coast after testing.... But everything but certain, to me the most logical given current manifest... :)
It seems like the only logical conclusion, lest a flight-proven booster for the East coast was for some reason refurbed at Hawthorne ;D I'm not 100% certain, but I believe SLC-4E's HIF can only handle one booster at a time, similar to LC-40. Only 39A has such a spacious HIF.
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A core was spotted leaving Hawthorne last night. Would be great to know which core it is, as it would say a fair bit about 1046's status at McGregor if this core is the second Block 5 to be shipped. Thanks to Reddit /u/stcks for point this out, I've been too busy to trawl Instagram today ;D
https://www.instagram.com/p/BgfboKIB17H/
Must be 1047 heading for McGregor..
1046 is still on the TestStand as of yesterday, so seems they are either taking a small risk or they are pretty confident that all is well with 1046...
Edit: my prediction, if this is 1047, is that this one will return to West Coast after testing.... But everything but certain, to me the most logical given current manifest... :)
What makes you predict B1047 will go back West after acceptance testing at McGregor?
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A core was spotted leaving Hawthorne last night. Would be great to know which core it is, as it would say a fair bit about 1046's status at McGregor if this core is the second Block 5 to be shipped. Thanks to Reddit /u/stcks for point this out, I've been too busy to trawl Instagram today ;D
https://www.instagram.com/p/BgfboKIB17H/
Must be 1047 heading for McGregor..
1046 is still on the TestStand as of yesterday, so seems they are either taking a small risk or they are pretty confident that all is well with 1046...
Edit: my prediction, if this is 1047, is that this one will return to West Coast after testing.... But everything but certain, to me the most logical given current manifest... :)
What makes you predict B1047 will go back West after acceptance testing at McGregor?
Perhaps for Iridium 6? I think I read somewhere the GRACE-FO owners would like a new core. That might be outdated though.
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A core was spotted leaving Hawthorne last night. Would be great to know which core it is, as it would say a fair bit about 1046's status at McGregor if this core is the second Block 5 to be shipped. Thanks to Reddit /u/stcks for point this out, I've been too busy to trawl Instagram today ;D
https://www.instagram.com/p/BgfboKIB17H/
Must be 1047 heading for McGregor..
1046 is still on the TestStand as of yesterday, so seems they are either taking a small risk or they are pretty confident that all is well with 1046...
Edit: my prediction, if this is 1047, is that this one will return to West Coast after testing.... But everything but certain, to me the most logical given current manifest... :)
What makes you predict B1047 will go back West after acceptance testing at McGregor?
A number of things. L2 side I maintain an FPIP overlay with potential future core assignments. I have 1047 linked to IridiumNext-7.
I have 1043-2 linked to IridiumNext-6 (despite reports it is to fly on new core).
The first Block-5 to East coast, the second to West coast, seems also a nice balance.
Also after 1043-2, they are out of cores on West coast, so a new core will be rehired, unless a used core is transported again from East to West. I find this unlikely.
And I have all but 1042 already linked to a second mission each. All on East coast.
All and all to me 1047 for IridiumNext-7 feels most likely scenario for now.
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A core was spotted leaving Hawthorne last night. Would be great to know which core it is, as it would say a fair bit about 1046's status at McGregor if this core is the second Block 5 to be shipped. Thanks to Reddit /u/stcks for point this out, I've been too busy to trawl Instagram today ;D
https://www.instagram.com/p/BgfboKIB17H/
Must be 1047 heading for McGregor..
1046 is still on the TestStand as of yesterday, so seems they are either taking a small risk or they are pretty confident that all is well with 1046...
Edit: my prediction, if this is 1047, is that this one will return to West Coast after testing.... But everything but certain, to me the most logical given current manifest... :)
What makes you predict B1047 will go back West after acceptance testing at McGregor?
A number of things. L2 side I maintain an FPIP overlay with potential future core assignments. I have 1047 linked to IridiumNext-7.
I have 1043-2 linked to IridiumNext-6 (despite reports it is to fly on new core).
The first Block-5 to East coast, the second to West coast, seems also a nice balance.
Also after 1043-2, they are out of cores on West coast, so a new core will be rehired, unless a used core is transported again from East to West. I find this unlikely.
And I have all but 1042 already linked to a second mission each. All on East coast.
All and all to me 1047 for IridiumNext-7 feels most likely scenario for now.
Except Iridium has been quite vocal about their likeliness to use flight-proven cores for schedule assurance. ;)
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Except Iridium has been quite vocal about their likeliness to use flight-proven cores for schedule assurance. ;)
Barring major issues discovered with 1046 and Block 5 in general (not ruling it out at this point), and assuming it was in fact 1047 that shipped out on Monday, schedule assurance should be no problem at all for Iridium-6 whether it uses a new or proven booster.
I think the final word at this point is still Desch's comment in mid-February that they were "considering [a flight-proven booster for Iridium-6], but its a ride share so a little more complicated and hasn't been totally finalized..." (https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/964695563110404096)
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Except Iridium has been quite vocal about their likeliness to use flight-proven cores for schedule assurance. ;)
Well, there is having refurbed stages at the ready and having used them all.
They already had to ship 1043 all the way across the US mainland.
Unless they do that again, which I doubt sincerely, a new core has to be used at some point.
1047 feels like the perfect candidate for future flight-proven core dedicated to West coast launches.
Maybe accompanied by another Block 5 to ensure timely readiness in the early days of this brand new and still unknown Block5 world of many re-use.
I expect that they have to properly prepare for the situation where a core is expended unplanned (rough see, landing issue).
In that case they might not have time enough to build another or allocate another in time ad hoc.
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There you have it.
Matt Desch is in discussions on this being Block 5, and if it is it will be a reflown Block 5
https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/976575188614762496
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There you have it.
Matt Desch is in discussions on this being Block 5, and if it is it will be a reflown Block 5
https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/976575188614762496
Matt Desch said that it would NOT be block 5.
He also said it would be flight-proven.
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There you have it.
Matt Desch is in discussions on this being Block 5, and if it is it will be a reflown Block 5
https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/976575188614762496
Matt Desch said that it would NOT be block 5.
He also said it would be flight-proven.
Of course it won’t. It can’t be a block 5 and be reused at the same time. The first B5 will have only flown a couple weeks earlier and from the wrong coast. I stated as much in my response in the Iridium 6 thread. The screen grab from Twitter in the original post didn’t get included in my quote but the full Twitter conversation makes that all pretty clear.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180322/ac5b200a058e5917415ed1f2d5171712.jpg)
Edit: insert screen grab from original post
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Jakusb is going to be happy. This is for Iridium 6 btw.
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Matt Deach is a riot. I could buy stock just to support the jokes.
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Matt Desch is a riot. I could buy stock just to support the jokes.
he's my second favorite space CEO, that's for sure....
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Not exactly a "spotting", but Commercial Crew update shows B1051 being used for DM-1 mission, tanks are in vertical integration stage (getting COPVs installed).
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Not exactly a "spotting", but Commercial Crew update shows B1051 being used for DM-1 mission, tanks are in vertical integration stage (getting COPVs installed).
That is an odd comment. As far as I was aware there is no vertical integration stage; everything is done horizontal.
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Not exactly a "spotting", but Commercial Crew update shows B1051 being used for DM-1 mission, tanks are in vertical integration stage (getting COPVs installed).
That is an odd comment. As far as I was aware there is no vertical integration stage; everything is done horizontal.
I don't know that much about the manufacturing process, but when we get views of the Falcon production line there are always tanks off to the side in a vertical orientation (before the RP-1 and LOX tanks are joined).
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Not exactly a "spotting", but Commercial Crew update shows B1051 being used for DM-1 mission, tanks are in vertical integration stage (getting COPVs installed).
That is an odd comment. As far as I was aware there is no vertical integration stage; everything is done horizontal.
I don't know that much about the manufacturing process, but when we get views of the Falcon production line there are always tanks off to the side in a vertical orientation (before the RP-1 and LOX tanks are joined).
And here is a picture.
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https://www.reddit.com/r/SpaceXLounge/comments/886otv/saw_this_used_stage_outside_lc39a_today/
Flown booster sitting outside of 39a as of yesterday, Not sure which one it may be, definitely a GTO core though.... (NOT MY POST)
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https://www.reddit.com/r/SpaceXLounge/comments/886otv/saw_this_used_stage_outside_lc39a_today/
Flown booster sitting outside of 39a as of yesterday, Not sure which one it may be, definitely a GTO core though.... (NOT MY POST)
From looking at the soot patterns, it looks like B1031.2 from SES-11/Echostar 105. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180331/a1644a045648dd26fd54b6053aa2e424.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180331/43ab73982669bd01fee701710d380937.jpg)
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Keep an eye out for a core being transported to McGregor anytime now.
A core has been spotted outside factory at Hawthorne..
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B1043 is at Vandenberg.
https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/983526599030136832
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Not 100% sure when this was taken.
https://twitter.com/MoonEx/status/984494354860576774
Edit: Here's the original source. It seems like this was taken today.
https://twitter.com/Bob_Richards/status/984503849045151744
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Not 100% sure when this was taken.
https://twitter.com/MoonEx/status/984494354860576774
Edit: Here's the original source. It seems like this was taken today.
https://twitter.com/Bob_Richards/status/984503849045151744
Ok, someone on Reddit reported seeing a core today near the Cape. This is likely B1046 arriving.
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Block 5 Core on McGregor test stand, 4/18/18, shot with cell phone camera.
Assumed to be B1047 unless someone has a different assumption.
Edit: This image is right side up on my screen...don't know why it appears upside down on here.
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If my calculations are correct, there is a high chance that a new core 1048 is leaving Hawthorne somewhere this week, maybe next.
This is speculation and based on expected production pace.
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https://www.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10156531268366318/ (https://www.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10156531268366318/)
Core spotted leaving cape...
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I think there are only 3 cores unaccounted for, but who knows which one and why (but I added my guesses).
1031 (Only way this makes sense is for storage in Texas or display somewhere)
1035 (Refit for the inflight abort test? Display? other 3rd flight?)
1042 (Done refurbishment and now being moved to the west coast?)
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If I can be at all useful, I think this core was in the hangar 39a east lane Friday morning wrapped and strapped to a trailer ready to go.
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If I can be at all useful, I think this core was in the hangar 39a east lane Friday morning wrapped and strapped to a trailer ready to go.
In that case, it has to be the booster shown here, unless 1046 is being returned to sender.
An additional sooty booster seen inside 39A's HIF on Feb 20th, opposite of B1023. Really not sure what core it is, but I'm relatively confident it's been in there for more than two months.
Try to ignore the forehead...
(https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=42977.0;attach=1479563;image)
I genuinely have no clue whatsoever what core it is.
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I agree, it is a complete mystery which core it is, that supposedly left the Cape...
List of currently existing cores on East Coast:
- 1021-2 SES-10, 1st Re-Use! --> Has been given to Airforce to go in Display
- 1023-2 FH Demo Side Core (7th re-use)
- 1025-2 FH Demo Side Core (8th re-use)
- 1029-2 BulgariaSat-1 @AM 2nd re-use --> Has been given to KSC Visitor Center
- 1031-2 CRS-10, SES-11 (3rd re-use)
- 1035-2 CRS-11, CRS13 (4th re-use)
- 1042-1 KoreaSat-5A --> Seemingly perfect candidate for Inflight Abort...
- 1046-1 --> Just arrived and very unlikely to return to McGregor.. Unless something is wrong and just discovered.
It seems 1023 and 1025 are not it, as the photo's do not show the distinguishing bulge of a FH Side core..
1021 and 1029 are to go on display and I guess the AirForce one will go on display somewhere at the Cape...
So remaining:
- 1031-2 CRS-10, SES-11 (3rd re-use)
- 1035-2 CRS-11, CRS13 (4th re-use)
- 1042-1 KoreaSat-5A --> Seemingly perfect candidate for Inflight Abort...
Wasn't 1031 linked to a core seen recently in front of LC39A-HIF?
Edit: copy past error mission 1042
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I agree, it is a complete mystery which core it is, that supposedly left the Cape...
List of currently existing cores on East Coast:
- 1021-2 SES-10, 1st Re-Use! --> Has been given to Airforce to go in Display
- 1023-2 FH Demo Side Core (7th re-use)
- 1025-2 FH Demo Side Core (8th re-use)
- 1029-2 BulgariaSat-1 @AM 2nd re-use --> Has been given to KSC Visitor Center
- 1031-2 CRS-10, SES-11 (3rd re-use)
- 1035-2 CRS-11, CRS13 (4th re-use)
- 1042-1 OTV-5 --> Seemingly perfect candidate for Inflight Abort...
- 1046-1 --> Just arrived and very unlikely to return to McGregor.. Unless something is wrong and just discovered.
It seems 1023 and 1025 are not it, as the photo's do not show the distinguishing bulge of a FH Side core..
1021 and 1029 are to go on display and I guess the AirForce one will go on display somewhere at the Cape...
So remaining:
- 1031-2 CRS-10, SES-11 (3rd re-use)
- 1035-2 CRS-11, CRS13 (4th re-use)
- 1042-1 OTV-5 --> Seemingly perfect candidate for Inflight Abort...
Wasn't 1031 linked to a core seen recently in front of LC39A-HIF?
1042 is KoreaSat 5A, not OTV-5.
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Not a Falcon, but one of the Cargo Dragon articles/mockups stored at the docks has been moved to Mr Steven's berth in the last few days. Photo from Pauline Acalin :)
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I have a source saying the core spotted on a westward transit yesterdqy is 1031.
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I have a source saying the core spotted on a westward transit yesterdqy is 1031.
Curious. Perhaps it's related to Shotwell's TED2018 statement that SpaceX wants to turn a large portion of mothballed hardware into "monuments."
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I have a source saying the core spotted on a westward transit yesterdqy is 1031.
Curious. Perhaps it's related to Shotwell's TED2018 statement that SpaceX wants to turn a large portion of mothballed hardware into "monuments."
Johnson Space Center in Houston or Smithsonian seem like logical destinations for ‘monuments’.
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I have a source saying the core spotted on a westward transit yesterdqy is 1031.
Curious. Perhaps it's related to Shotwell's TED2018 statement that SpaceX wants to turn a large portion of mothballed hardware into "monuments."
Johnson Space Center in Houston or Smithsonian seem like logical destinations for ‘monuments’.
The Smithsonian famously wanted SpaceX to pay for the exhibit themselves, so I don't think that's an option unless attitudes have changed. VAFB would also be a reasonable choice.
Vandy has F9R Dev 2 just sitting there, soooo...
But the Smithsonian also has the space issue, it's packed inside both their Air&Space museums. Of course they could add on to them or put it outside (But it does get stormy and snowy there often)
We're getting kinda off-topic here, so I think we should move this conversation to a general discussion thread.
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Mystery booster heading West seen on I-12 on April, 23rd 9:11-ish, per reddit post by user matorolgnika:
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/8eh325/that_mystery_booster_spotted_heading_westbound/?st=JGEUWTQH&sh=5acc7fb9 (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/8eh325/that_mystery_booster_spotted_heading_westbound/?st=JGEUWTQH&sh=5acc7fb9)
“Hey guys! Remember that [mystery booster]( https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/8e2viu/unknown_booster_spotted_leaving_the_cape/) that was spotted yesterday?
It passed me this morning as I was commuting along Interstate-12 to class at my university. I was just before the Holden(It's a town, look it up) exit(mile marker 29) heading eastbound when I saw the police escorts coming down the other side heading westbound. I wasn't sure what it was until probably about half a mile was between us.
I run with a dash cam, so I have video of the booster rocking westbound on the other side, but fair warning, I was a bit enthusiastic and slightly profane at finally seeing one on the road. lol
I drive this route multiple times a week and had a theory the cores went through my area. Today confirmed that.
Ignore the timestamp in the video as well, as it’s an hour behind. Silly Daylight Savings.
The spotting occurred about 9:11ish this morning(April, 23rd.)
As for the video, tread at your own peril and maybe have a laugh at me: [Matoro's Nerd Moment of the Day](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c44yB87dvx8&feature=youtu.be)
EDIT: Okay I don't know which one of you lovely people did it, but thanks for the gold! <3”
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Looks like B1045 was just taking a quick break at 39A ;D Per Don, it's now at Hangar EO (April 27), previously spotted entering the 39A HIF on the 24th by Reddit /u/NewRage.
https://twitter.com/astro_DonThomas/status/989982896525119493
Edit: ehhhh. Pretty sure this isn't B1045 per the soot patterns and wrapped octaweb, as well as the flipped perspective of the SpaceX logo. More likely that this is the booster that was on display at CCAFS last week.
Edit 2: Also definitely not B1021 per the soot patterns. Next best guess (per Don's suggestion that it's preparing for another flight) is B1040 completing refurb before SES-12.
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https://www.instagram.com/p/BiVG1svA9Yd/?taken-by=elonmusk
B1047 Horizontal.
Edit: changed "1047" to "B1047" for indexing purposes.
It is in fact B1046.
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Correct.
edit/gongora: I assume this is the source: https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/8gz02a/oc_block_5_on_the_pad_for_todays_static_fire_test/
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This thread is for tracking the movements of cores. We know what core it is and where it is. Further discussion should be in the Bangabandhu-1 mission threads (or maybe the Block 5 thread if discussing a point about the new booster design).
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A Falcon Heavy side booster, block 3, makes an appearance with the first block 5.
Cross-posting.
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I am really hoping for some core movement now the Bangabandhu launch was successful.
1048 should be finished by now, might even have been ready for some time even. Who knows..
1047 for sure has been much longer at McGregor then expected, so not sure what might be the hold up.
Some possibilities (pure speculation):
- They want to first dissect 1046
- They we’re waiting for a successful launch
- NASA requires them to proof 1047 to be exactly identically build like 1046 and that requires a lot of additional inspection at McGregor
Anyone with maybe some other ideas?
Anyway, keep an eye out for cores being transported...
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I am really hoping for some core movement now the Bangabandhu launch was successful.
1048 should be finished by now, might even have been ready for some time even. Who knows..
1047 for sure has been much longer at McGregor then expected, so not sure what might be the hold up.
Some possibilities (pure speculation):
- They want to first dissect 1046
- They we’re waiting for a successful launch
- NASA requires them to proof 1047 to be exactly identically build like 1046 and that requires a lot of additional inspection at McGregor
Anyone with maybe some other ideas?
Anyway, keep an eye out for cores being transported...
I think it's likely they've just gone under our radar due to all the excitement around yesterday's launch; 1046 got to the Cape from McGregor without anyone noticing, we only knew it was there when it was announced at the TESS pre-launch conference. So it's not unthinkable that this could be the case for the others.
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Some new info from Matt Desch:
Yes, it [Iridium-7] will be Block 5.
Source: https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/995693917717827585 (https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/995693917717827585)
EDIT: He doesn't know the core number
Source: https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/995761202440663045 (https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/995761202440663045)
So what core can it be... :)
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Some new info from Matt Desch:
Yes, it [Iridium-7] will be Block 5.
Source: https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/995693917717827585 (https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/995693917717827585)
EDIT: He doesn't know the core number
Source: https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/995761202440663045 (https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/995761202440663045)
So what core can it be... :)
Not really new info. It was already expected to be a new Block 5.
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Some new info from Matt Desch:
Yes, it [Iridium-7] will be Block 5.
Source: https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/995693917717827585 (https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/995693917717827585)
EDIT: He doesn't know the core number
Source: https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/995761202440663045 (https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/995761202440663045)
So what core can it be... :)
Not really new info. It was already expected to be a new Block 5.
It's a confirmation, though.
If someone confirmed it was Block 5 before, I must have missed it, sorry.
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Some new info from Matt Desch:
Yes, it [Iridium-7] will be Block 5.
Source: https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/995693917717827585 (https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/995693917717827585)
EDIT: He doesn't know the core number
Source: https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/995761202440663045 (https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/995761202440663045)
So what core can it be... :)
Not really new info. It was already expected to be a new Block 5.
It's a confirmation, though.
If someone confirmed it was Block 5 before, I must have missed it, sorry.
This is the second time Desch confirmed it (https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/983523933482872832).
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Some new info from Matt Desch:
Yes, it [Iridium-7] will be Block 5.
Source: https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/995693917717827585 (https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/995693917717827585)
EDIT: He doesn't know the core number
Source: https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/995761202440663045 (https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/995761202440663045)
So what core can it be... :)
Not really new info. It was already expected to be a new Block 5.
It's a confirmation, though.
If someone confirmed it was Block 5 before, I must have missed it, sorry.
This is the second time Desch confirmed it (https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/983523933482872832).
Ok, thanks for the correction!
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Likely 1047 spotted en route to the Cape.
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/8n950t/block_5_this_one_is_headed_south_parked_at_the/
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Previously flown core spotted at McGregor, hard to tell from the quality of the photo which core it may be.
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/8po6cr/drove_by_mcgregor_today_and_spotted_this/
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Best guess there is that it's 1031, but there's no real reason for it to be there unless it's for testing or component recovery.
There is a better photo of it in L2, incidentally ;)
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Could you please link the picture of it on L2 for those of us who have access to it and are lazy? xD
Btw, B1048 has been spotted heading to McGregor on the I-20 in Abilene, TX.
https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/just-saw-a-falcon-9-passing-through-jal-nm.117355/#post-2796450
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Could you please link the picture of it on L2 for those of us who have access to it and are lazy? xD
Btw, B1048 has been spotted heading to McGregor on the I-20 in Abilene, TX.
https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/just-saw-a-falcon-9-passing-through-jal-nm.117355/#post-2796450
He said it was heading west in a later reply. That would mean that it's leaving McGregor and heading to Vandenberg for Iridium-7.
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Could you please link the picture of it on L2 for those of us who have access to it and are lazy? xD
Btw, B1048 has been spotted heading to McGregor on the I-20 in Abilene, TX.
https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/just-saw-a-falcon-9-passing-through-jal-nm.117355/#post-2796450
He said it was heading west in a later reply. That would mean that it's leaving McGregor and heading to Vandenberg for Iridium-7.
He said West, but he also said he saw it pass and called a friend in a city to the EAST to take the picture. And later mentions hearing it passed through another city farther East towards McGregor.
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It happens a lot that people mix East and West. It actually happens everytime there's a sighting of a core and it's unlikely there's a core now heading to Vandy since 1047 has already left McGregor towards the Cape. The best guess is that this is 1048 being transported from Hawthorne to McGregor and the poster just made that mistake. It would be nice to ask him again about where it was heading. Anyways, the opening of the post (and the picture) says he saw it in Jal, New Mexico and that by 9am the booster was spotted on the I-20 in Abilene, Texas (that's what he actually says on the message I posted), so it was clearly moving east, not west.
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It happens a lot that people mix East and West. It actually happens everytime there's a sighting of a core and it's unlikely there's a core now heading to Vandy since 1047 has already left McGregor towards the Cape. The best guess is that this is 1048 being transported from Hawthorne to McGregor and the poster just made that mistake. It would be nice to ask him again about where it was heading. Anyways, the opening of the post (and the picture) says he saw it in Jal, New Mexico and that by 9am the booster was spotted on the I-20 in Abilene, Texas (that's what he actually says on the message I posted), so it was clearly moving east, not west.
There is a chance this actually is 1049 and 1048 has not been spotted while being transported to McGregor.
There was a sighting of a core on the test stand just before 1047 left McGregor. And the conclusion by me was that it was too little time to have it taken of the stand and get it ready for transport, thus it being 1048 that was seen then.
Also it would fit the 2-week cadence that was mentioned in Gwynn’s interview.
On the other hand, this core was spotted several times, so transporting a core unnoticed is also unlikely, although it did happen before I believe.
Time will tell.
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SpaceX’s third Block 5 rocket heads to Texas test site as launch marathon nears
A SpaceX Falcon 9 – almost certainly the third Block 5 booster to leave the company’s factory – was spotted passing through New Mexico on the last leg of its trip from California to Texas. Although the shipment is a great sign, it begs the question of how exactly SpaceX plans to launch its next six launches penciled in for July and August.
https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-falcon-9-block-5-texas-static-fire-tests/
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SpaceX’s third Block 5 rocket heads to Texas test site as launch marathon nears
A SpaceX Falcon 9 – almost certainly the third Block 5 booster to leave the company’s factory – was spotted passing through New Mexico on the last leg of its trip from California to Texas. Although the shipment is a great sign, it begs the question of how exactly SpaceX plans to launch its next six launches penciled in for July and August.
https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-falcon-9-block-5-texas-static-fire-tests/
The two boosters spied in transport have already been covered here, just sans photos. But the critical paragraphs in that article are below:
After conducting routine static fire testing in McGregor, the booster spotted on Monday – B1048 – will likely be shipped West to Vandenberg Air Force Base for the first West coast Block 5 launch in mid-July. B1047, the second Block 5 booster to leave SpaceX’s Hawthorne factory, was spotted miles from Cape Canaveral, FL near the end of May, while B1046‘s early May launch marked the debut of Falcon 9 Block 5 and was expected to undergo several months of disassembly and analysis to ensure the rocket upgrade was functioning as intended. Based on previous patterns, the fourth Block 5 Falcon 9 booster – B1049 – should not be expected to ship from the factory to McGregor until late June or early July. Finally, the last orbital Block 4 booster (B1045) will conduct its second and final launch in the last few days of June, currently NET June 29.
Put simply, B1049 is unlikely to arrive at its first launch site until mid or late July and can thus be taken out of the July running. B1045 will be (presumably) expended after launch, also taking it out of the running for future launches. B1048 will almost certainly travel to Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) for its first launch in July, effectively ruling out its availability for other July and August launches. Furthermore, Iridium’s CEO Matt Desch has stated that both Iridium-7 and Iridium-8 are expected to launch on unflown boosters. Fundamentally, this leaves two Block 5 boosters readily available for four loosely scheduled July and August launches on the East Coast.
Focusing on July’s schedule as it currently stands, B1047 would be required to launch two high-energy geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) missions in as few as two weeks. The nature of drone ship recoveries would cut the time available between the booster’s return to port and its second static fire to perhaps 5-10 days. In other words, there would be almost no time whatsoever for refurbishment, at least compared to the current prospective record of B1045, roughly 70 days between launches.
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Personally I'm only expecting five launches in the third quarter, four from the Cape and one from Vandenberg. I wouldn't get too worked up over booster availability yet.
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So much focus on the first stages, when it is second stage and fairing delivery that really signals that a launch is approaching. They are driven down the highways as well.
- Ed Kyle
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So much focus on the first stages, when it is second stage and fairing delivery that really signals that a launch is approaching. They are driven down the highways as well.
- Ed Kyle
Those are seldom reported though. The first stage is big enough to attract attention.
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So much focus on the first stages, when it is second stage and fairing delivery that really signals that a launch is approaching. They are driven down the highways as well.
- Ed Kyle
Those are seldom reported though. The first stage is big enough to attract attention.
Yeah, spottings are unbelievably rare for fairings and second stages. But just numbers-wise, neither are a bottleneck if there are no boosters available.
And I firmly agree for August and beyond, though I think it's safe to start thinking about July logistics at this point. Mainly just some informed speculation that suggests a 90% chance of significant delays to several launches, 10% chance of a wild push for rapid Block 5 reflights. We all know where the safe bet lies, sadly...
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I think they could reuse B1046 on the Telstar 18V mission, that one is practically on August at this time and I could only see one more flight happenning before the end of summer, probably by the end of August and from the Cape, the Telkom 4 mission, which could use B1049 if it's ready at that time. I can see them reusing B1047 for Es'hail 2 which is looking like NET September, that's aproximately a two-month time between flights that, for Block 5, seems pretty conservative (but obviously they're now on the first few Block 5 boosters, so it's normal to see long turnaround times at first). They're going to delay lots of missions that were scheduled for this summer but, at least from the Cape, they could increase the launch cadence reusing these first Block 5 boosters. Who knows what will happen, it will be interesting one way or another.
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I am still keeping open the possibility we never have spotted 1048 traveling to McGregor. And thus this latest core being 1049...
It would fit the required schedule they need to keep in order to get to the expected 14 new cores this year..
If this is 1048, it is rather late. Even later then 1047 and 1046! That does *not* make sense, as they would pick up speed and not get slower...
In the end we will only know for sure when someone manages to snap a quality picture of the top of the stage... such a small number unfortunately, sigh.
Edit: not
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I am still keeping open the possibility we never have spotted 1048 traveling to McGregor. And thus this latest core being 1049...
It would fit the required schedule they need to keep in order to get to the expected 14 new cores this year..
If this is 1048, it is rather late. Even later then 1047 and 1046! That does *not* make sense, as they would pick up speed and not get slower...
In the end we will only know for sure when someone manages to snap a quality picture of the top of the stage... such a small number unfortunately, sigh.
Edit: not
All seems to now indicate it was 1049 and that is even already has been tested.
Even better, this means that 1050 should be about ready to leave for McGregor any day now.
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C'mon people, we already missed 1048 twice! (facepalm emoji) ;)
We did not see it going to McGregor and we did not see it leave heading West...
We did see 1049 arrive and 1047 was seen heading into Florida, so please keep an eye out for 1050, which should be heading to McGregor any time now, also 1049 is supposedly already finished testing, so it could be seen heading East any time now too...
Don't let me down! ;)
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From the FB group, a core spotting. Western Arizona headed east.
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Is there someone near McGregor that could service a trail camera properly located?
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I think I know what happened regarding the confusion between B1048/B1049.
On May 26, there was this picture (https://www.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10156629342166318/) of a booster in McGregor. We never noticed B1048 leaving Hawthorne, so we assumed this was still B1047.
B1047 was then spotted (https://imgur.com/gallery/1WrfwK8) arriving at the Cape 4 days later. So there were two possibilities:
1) the May 26 pic was of B1047 and right after it was taken, the booster was taken down and sent to the Cape.
2) the May pic was actually of B1048 and B1047 was at that point already off the stand and being prepped for its trip to the Cape
Then on June 10, a core was spotted (https://imgur.com/ZNQxanV) heading to McGregor and here lies the issue (complicated further by the usual east/west confusion). Depending on which of the two options above was right, it could have been considered B1048 or B1049. But we now know B1048 is to be used for Iridium-7 and the core was at Vandy by late June (https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/1012865660425330689), so it's pretty much impossible for the June 10 pic to have been of B1048. So it was B1049.
Now there is another core (https://www.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10156744027246318/) heading to McGregor and it has to be B1050, even though you might be under the impression that it has to be B1049 if you believed the option 1 was right, like I did.
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I think I know what happened regarding the confusion between B1048/B1049.
On May 26, there was this picture (https://www.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10156629342166318/) of a booster in McGregor. We never noticed B1048 leaving Hawthorne, so we assumed this was still B1047.
B1047 was then spotted (https://imgur.com/gallery/1WrfwK8) arriving at the Cape 4 days later. So there were two possibilities:
1) the May 26 pic was of B1047 and right after it was taken, the booster was taken down and sent to the Cape.
2) the May pic was actually of B1048 and B1047 was at that point already off the stand and being prepped for its trip to the Cape
Then on June 10, a core was spotted (https://imgur.com/ZNQxanV) heading to McGregor and here lies the issue (complicated further by the usual east/west confusion). Depending on which of the two options above was right, it could have been considered B1048 or B1049. But we now know B1048 is to be used for Iridium-7 and the core was at Vandy by late June (https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/1012865660425330689), so it's pretty much impossible for the June 10 pic to have been of B1048. So it was B1049.
Now there is another core (https://www.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10156744027246318/) heading to McGregor and it has to be B1050, even though you might be under the impression that it has to be B1049 if you believed the option 1 was right, like I did.
Indeed 1048 ninja-ed in and out of McGregor. 1049 was seen on stand and is already seen of the stand also very recently.
1050 is the one seen today heading for McGregor.
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I think I know what happened regarding the confusion between B1048/B1049.
On May 26, there was this picture (https://www.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10156629342166318/) of a booster in McGregor. We never noticed B1048 leaving Hawthorne, so we assumed this was still B1047.
B1047 was then spotted (https://imgur.com/gallery/1WrfwK8) arriving at the Cape 4 days later. So there were two possibilities:
1) the May 26 pic was of B1047 and right after it was taken, the booster was taken down and sent to the Cape.
2) the May pic was actually of B1048 and B1047 was at that point already off the stand and being prepped for its trip to the Cape
Then on June 10, a core was spotted (https://imgur.com/ZNQxanV) heading to McGregor and here lies the issue (complicated further by the usual east/west confusion). Depending on which of the two options above was right, it could have been considered B1048 or B1049. But we now know B1048 is to be used for Iridium-7 and the core was at Vandy by late June (https://twitter.com/IridiumBoss/status/1012865660425330689), so it's pretty much impossible for the June 10 pic to have been of B1048. So it was B1049.
Now there is another core (https://www.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10156744027246318/) heading to McGregor and it has to be B1050, even though you might be under the impression that it has to be B1049 if you believed the option 1 was right, like I did.
Indeed 1048 ninja-ed in and out of McGregor. 1049 was seen on stand and is already seen of the stand also very recently.
1050 is the one seen today heading for McGregor.
The poster also confirmed it was headed East towards McGregor and later said that it was B1050 :)
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Indeed 1048 ninja-ed in and out of McGregor. 1049 was seen on stand and is already seen of the stand also very recently.
1050 is the one seen today heading for McGregor.
Could be 1051! Who knows till we see it on a stand. With Block V locked in & reuse they will slip through the cracks so they can focus on upperstages
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Indeed 1048 ninja-ed in and out of McGregor. 1049 was seen on stand and is already seen of the stand also very recently.
1050 is the one seen today heading for McGregor.
Could be 1051! Who knows till we see it on a stand. With Block V locked in & reuse they will slip through the cracks so they can focus on upperstages
Seeing it on stand doesn't change anything, thanks to the absolutely miniscule core numbers on Block 5. Really no physical way to get enough detail to confirm the numbers without a flying telescope, sadly.
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Indeed 1048 ninja-ed in and out of McGregor. 1049 was seen on stand and is already seen of the stand also very recently.
1050 is the one seen today heading for McGregor.
Could be 1051! Who knows till we see it on a stand. With Block V locked in & reuse they will slip through the cracks so they can focus on upperstages
Seeing it on stand doesn't change anything, thanks to the absolutely miniscule core numbers on Block 5. Really no physical way to get enough detail to confirm the numbers without a flying telescope, sadly.
So you’re saying you need a flying telescope. We can probably cludge that together.
I’m impressed with how smoothly the new block is going on and off the stand.
We should only be a month or so away from seeing 1051 coming out for DM-1. That’s going to be nice to see the actual Dragon 2 flow in progress.
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F9 S2 arriving at the Cape:
BREAKING: #SpaceX stage arriving now. #Falcon9
https://twitter.com/spacenews360/status/1016311468881522689
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From Reddit user u/MarsOrBust101: Falcon 1 on the move.
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/8y0vng/falcon_1_getting_refurbished/
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From Reddit user u/MarsOrBust101: Falcon 1 on the move.
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/8y0vng/falcon_1_getting_refurbished/
When you zoom in you can see the second stage on a separate trailer ahead of the first stage.
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From Reddit user u/MarsOrBust101: Falcon 1 on the move.
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/8y0vng/falcon_1_getting_refurbished/
When you zoom in you can see the second stage on a separate trailer ahead of the first stage.
I think that's the grey STA/first stage tank that was kept next to or near the first stage in the junkyard, it looks like it's taking up a standard semi trailer.
EDIT: I attached a crudely edited pic of the junkyard from Google Maps (edited in Snipping Tool), and you can see the F1 first stage as the right object being pointed to, and the grey tank as the left object being pointed to.
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Core spotted (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/93guev/falcon9_booster_headed_through_mount_dora_this/) on its way to the Cape.
EDIT: The rare double spot (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/93ggb2/falcon_9_core_spotted_in_orlando/)!
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Core spotted (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/93guev/falcon9_booster_headed_through_mount_dora_this/) on its way to the Cape.
EDIT: The rare double spot (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/93ggb2/falcon_9_core_spotted_in_orlando/)!
Core is B1050 with some certainty. Es'hail-2's booster, barring an exceptionally rapid reuse of B1047.
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Core spotted (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/93guev/falcon9_booster_headed_through_mount_dora_this/) on its way to the Cape.
EDIT: The rare double spot (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/93ggb2/falcon_9_core_spotted_in_orlando/)!
Make that a triple spot!
https://app.box.com/s/13ytvenetmxfvwtfzak24z5cmp9r11dy
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Core spotted (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/93guev/falcon9_booster_headed_through_mount_dora_this/) on its way to the Cape.
EDIT: The rare double spot (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/93ggb2/falcon_9_core_spotted_in_orlando/)!
Core is B1050 with some certainty. Es'hail-2's booster, barring an exceptionally rapid reuse of B1047.
Now that we know Es'hail-2 got delayed to Q4 2018, Which mission do you think B1050 will launch ?
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Cross-posting, nice photos on original post:
B1049 arrives at SLC-40
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All cores known are as of last report in the process of refurbished, headed for the pad or headed for the cape. Can anyone confirm that the Falcon 9 test stand in McGregor either is empty or has a booster on it?
If there is a booster on it does anyone know what it is?
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All cores known are as of last report in the process of refurbished, headed for the pad or headed for the cape. Can anyone confirm that the Falcon 9 test stand in McGregor either is empty or has a booster on it?
If there is a booster on it does anyone know what it is?
L2 knows, haven't seen public info yet.
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All cores known are as of last report in the process of refurbished, headed for the pad or headed for the cape. Can anyone confirm that the Falcon 9 test stand in McGregor either is empty or has a booster on it?
If there is a booster on it does anyone know what it is?
Teslarati Confirmed that the booster and second stage are at McGregor.
'That rocket booster and its complementary upper stage are already at SpaceX’s McGregor, TX rocket testing facility undergoing a number of acceptance tests and checkouts as of today'
https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-crew-dragon-launch-debut-spacecraft-hardware
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All cores known are as of last report in the process of refurbished, headed for the pad or headed for the cape. Can anyone confirm that the Falcon 9 test stand in McGregor either is empty or has a booster on it?
If there is a booster on it does anyone know what it is?
Teslarati Confirmed that the booster and second stage are at McGregor.
'That rocket booster and its complementary upper stage are already at SpaceX’s McGregor, TX rocket testing facility undergoing a number of acceptance tests and checkouts as of today'
https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-crew-dragon-launch-debut-spacecraft-hardware
Yes! 1051, DM-1 booster!
They are still pretty close to the 18-20 days per core... With that pace 1052 could be on the road to McGregor any day now...
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All cores known are as of last report in the process of refurbished, headed for the pad or headed for the cape. Can anyone confirm that the Falcon 9 test stand in McGregor either is empty or has a booster on it?
If there is a booster on it does anyone know what it is?
Teslarati Confirmed that the booster and second stage are at McGregor.
'That rocket booster and its complementary upper stage are already at SpaceX’s McGregor, TX rocket testing facility undergoing a number of acceptance tests and checkouts as of today'
https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-crew-dragon-launch-debut-spacecraft-hardware
Yes! 1051, DM-1 booster!
They are still pretty close to the 18-20 days per core... With that pace 1052 could be on the road to McGregor any day now...
I think there's a pretty strong chance that Crew-related boosters will be spending more time than usual in TX. But something is in fact expected to ship from Hawthorne sometime this week.
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Is this B1052 on the factory floor?
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Is this B1052 on the factory floor?
Prettty sure it must be..
If so, does not seem to be a FH center core as I was predicting...
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Is this B1052 on the factory floor?
Prettty sure it must be..
If so, does not seem to be a FH center core as I was predicting...
How can you tell the difference from that image?
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Is this B1052 on the factory floor?
Prettty sure it must be..
If so, does not seem to be a FH center core as I was predicting...
How can you tell the difference from that image?
I can’t, but hopefully someone here can confirm it being ‘just F9’ or that is is not possible to determine from this image.
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Well, the SpaceX logo looks to be where it is on the F9 block 5 and not where it was on the first FH center core. But that was a block 4, so it's not really definitive.
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Booster seen on the road (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/98yf4p/landed_booster_headed_back_to_hawthorne/) in Alabama. The poster insists that the booster was going west and they think it was going to Hawthorne because of that but I think it could well be headed to Vandenberg. At first I thought this was B1050 but if it was spotted in Alabama and going west, I doubt it could be that booster so this could either be B1046 or B1047. We'll know soon which one of those it is.
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Half the time, the poster on reddit gets their East/West reversed. Is there anything in this photo or the shared location we can use to confirm the direction or travel?
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Half the time, the poster on reddit gets their East/West reversed. Is there anything in this photo or the shared location we can use to confirm the direction or travel?
you may be right. weight station on I10 ala=fla border is Eastbound. road marking also look the same.
https://www.google.com/maps/@30.5689652,-87.3976615,3a,75y,166.77h,91.68t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sVA9O4EphzTAQdTQsPsyhaA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
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The photo (https://i.redditmedia.com/6dhbbEKy9QRunBanrPWjUehHq0kRWdSdS3KLakNyN3E.jpg?s=861b0c67d3934006cbaedd334ddbf5fa) with the core is of the West Bound Station (https://www.google.com/maps/@30.5543141,-87.3623536,122m/data=!3m1!1e3). The East Bound Station (https://www.google.com/maps/@30.5527886,-87.362405,122m/data=!3m1!1e3) is similar (CAT generator, bollards, handicap parking, etc.), but it has one fewer parking space.
Plus, the guy sounds like he knows what he is talking about:
Surprisingly enough there is a weigh station on the westbound side before Alabama as well as eastbound. I have to drive through both each day since I'm working in Florida and living in Alabama at the moment.
Edit: Here (https://www.google.com/maps/@30.5534446,-87.3620588,3a,15y,341.03h,88.85t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sJ2g5qxSku8r_ytDmj7Lz_Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656) is a street view image from the highway, approximating his perspective.
Edit2: Don't just compare the weight station features, but also look at the distant tree line and the building peeking through the trees just left of the STOP sign in the photo. I can't get quite the proper perspective for the left side of that photo without pulling so far back on the highway to make the streetview useless, so the trees and building in the vicinity of the signs in the photo are to the left of the signs in the streetview. But heck, even the midfield trees match.
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[speculation] If the nearly 3 week slip of 18V is booster related, this could even be 1049 going back to McGregor/Hawthorne to test/fix something, with 1050 now slated for the job. [/speculation]
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Ok, crazy idea... What would be the chance of 1046-3 being the booster for this mission? (Sun Synch Express or Spaceflight SSO-A)
Anyone that has a good reason why this would be impossible or highly unlikely?
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Ok, crazy idea... What would be the chance of 1046-3 being the booster for this mission?
Anyone that has a good reason why this would be impossible or highly unlikely?
The only "obstacle" is that 1046 was on the East coast. Now... there was a wrapped booster seen heading from the East coast to the West coast recently, but we don't know which core it was.
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Ok, crazy idea... What would be the chance of 1046-3 being the booster for this mission?
Anyone that has a good reason why this would be impossible or highly unlikely?
The only "obstacle" is that 1046 was on the East coast. Now... there was a wrapped booster seen heading from the East coast to the West coast recently, but we don't know which core it was.
Well I am sure they want to inspect the core once more very thoroughly before releasing it for its third flight.
If this is going to be on the West Coast, it would make sense to inspect it in Hawthorne, where they likely just released 1048 for reflight too.
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Ok, crazy idea... What would be the chance of 1046-3 being the booster for this mission?
Anyone that has a good reason why this would be impossible or highly unlikely?
The only "obstacle" is that 1046 was on the East coast. Now... there was a wrapped booster seen heading from the East coast to the West coast recently, but we don't know which core it was.
Well I am sure they want to inspect the core once more very thoroughly before releasing it for its third flight.
If this is going to be on the West Coast, it would make sense to inspect it in Hawthorne, where they likely just released 1048 for reflight too.
Well, if we speculating about "10xx.3" (third flight of the same core), my wild guess is that it could be SSO-A indeed, but NOT 1046.3, more likely - 1048.3. Just by the same reason as Nehkara noted - 1046 is an east-coast booster.
Of course it is doable to transport core from Cape to Hawthorne (and it can be done if necessary) but it is against their main principle of fast turnaround.
So for now I'd expect strict border between west-coast and east-coast boosters.
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So for now I'd expect strict border between west-coast and east-coast boosters.
The point here is that there's actually been a core movement from east to the west, whether it'll be used on this mission or not is unknown at this point but we shouldn't be surprised if it happens given that they want to launch not one or two but four missions before the end of the year from Vandy and that will be hard without rockets ready (not to mention pad turnaround).
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So for now I'd expect strict border between west-coast and east-coast boosters.
The point here is that there's actually been a core movement from east to the west, whether it'll be used on this mission or not is unknown at this point but we shouldn't be surprised if it happens given that they want to launch not one or two but four missions before the end of the year from Vandy and that will be hard without rockets ready (not to mention pad turnaround).
Yes I was very much taking into account the unidentified booster travelling from East to West recently... ;)
Using 1048-3 might be possible, but would be close.
And more importantly, fully depending on successful launch AND recovery AND timely inspection....
1046 is ready for inspection and would provide a good backup for the busy West coast..
Also the West coast is not necessarily involved in certification of DM-2... ;)
Using newer Block-5 on East coast might be more efficient then (not) using a core that cannot be used for certification...
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So for now I'd expect strict border between west-coast and east-coast boosters.
The point here is that there's actually been a core movement from east to the west, whether it'll be used on this mission or not is unknown at this point but we shouldn't be surprised if it happens given that they want to launch not one or two but four missions before the end of the year from Vandy and that will be hard without rockets ready (not to mention pad turnaround).
I am not prepared to give 100% credence to direction of travel from these sightings. We think it's true but it might not be.
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So for now I'd expect strict border between west-coast and east-coast boosters.
The point here is that there's actually been a core movement from east to the west, whether it'll be used on this mission or not is unknown at this point but we shouldn't be surprised if it happens given that they want to launch not one or two but four missions before the end of the year from Vandy and that will be hard without rockets ready (not to mention pad turnaround).
I am not prepared to give 100% credence to direction of travel from these sightings. We think it's true but it might not be.
The person who saw the booster insisted like 4 or 5 times in reddit that the booster was going from the east to the west.
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So for now I'd expect strict border between west-coast and east-coast boosters.
The point here is that there's actually been a core movement from east to the west, whether it'll be used on this mission or not is unknown at this point but we shouldn't be surprised if it happens given that they want to launch not one or two but four missions before the end of the year from Vandy and that will be hard without rockets ready (not to mention pad turnaround).
I am not prepared to give 100% credence to direction of travel from these sightings. We think it's true but it might not be.
The person who saw the booster insisted like 4 or 5 times in reddit that the booster was going from the east to the west.
Reddit is mostly untrustworthy. If you can find some trusted sources then it may have credit.
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So for now I'd expect strict border between west-coast and east-coast boosters.
The point here is that there's actually been a core movement from east to the west, whether it'll be used on this mission or not is unknown at this point but we shouldn't be surprised if it happens given that they want to launch not one or two but four missions before the end of the year from Vandy and that will be hard without rockets ready (not to mention pad turnaround).
I am not prepared to give 100% credence to direction of travel from these sightings. We think it's true but it might not be.
The person who saw the booster insisted like 4 or 5 times in reddit that the booster was going from the east to the west.
Reddit is mostly untrustworthy. If you can find some trusted sources then it may have credit.
True, but they checked and confirmed is was at the weighing station going into Alabama.
I was convinced.
But we will know more in due time. As always.
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I think SpaceX will be keen to make 3rd flights an accepted reality as soon as possible.
1046 will be the first booster available to do this, assuming equal refurb time for each.
The immediate logjam seems to be at Vandenberg, with SAOCOM 1A, SSO-A, Iridium 8, Radarsat constellation and SARah 1 all supposedly available for launch before the end of the year, if the manufacturers are on schedule.
I think others are right and SpaceX will do well to get even the first three of those flown by the end of Dec. It's just about doable from a pad turnaround perspective if we assume that they are still on a 5-6 week limit between launches. If they have managed to reduce that, as some have speculated, then that will obviously help, but the question then becomes can they provide a ready booster in less than 6 weeks after each of SAOCOM 1A and SSO-A?
We know there is at least one FH core somewhere in the build/testing flow, for STP-2, and probably also one for Arabsat 6A, as I doubt that SpaceX have gambled on definitely getting the first FH B5 core back for re-use. So almost certainly either core 1050 or 1052 is the FH centre for STP-2, my guess being 1050.
Based on their best B5 turnaround so far of ~2 months (which will reduce, but we don't know how quickly), and looking at what has recently flown or is about to fly, I would argue the following;
1) 1048.2 is due to be used for SAOCOM 1A, so to be confident of getting SSO-A launched as soon as the pad and payload are ready I'm sure they will indeed have decided to send a second booster to Vandenberg. This would then be used in rotation with 1048, alternating launches with it to allow for refurbishment of one whilst the other conducts it's next launch campaign.
2) Clearly any of 1046, 1047 and 1049 could be assigned that task, but the latter would put SpaceX under unnecessary schedule pressure, so I'll discount that. The only argument I can make against 1047 is that it delays the first third re-flight of a booster. So all things being equal, I think 1046 will have been chosen to become the other west coast booster. It also makes for a rather elegant division of even numbered cores on the west coast (1046 and 1048) and odd numbers on the east coast (1047, 1049 and 1051). Not the strongest reason I accept! So my prediction is 1046.3 for SSO-A.
3) They will want a booster waiting to fly Eshail as soon as it is ready, so 1047.2 then seems the logical choice.
4) 1049.2 may well be refurbished and ready following the Telstar 18 launch by then, but I think they'll keep them in order and fly that on CRS-16 instead.
5) I think they'll be trying for two launches off pad 40 in December, depending on how much USAF oversight of GPS III-1 preparations slows them down. 1052 would be the next available new booster for GPS III-1.
6) 1048.3 then becomes the next west coast booster rotation, flying on Iridium-8. I think they'll just squeak this in before the end of December.
7) If they have enough time before the end of the year I further predict 1047.3 for PSN VI off LC-40.
8 ) 2019 kicks off with 1050 and 1053 as centres for STP-2 and Arabsat 6A respectively. I'll guess 1049.3 and 1051.2 as the side boosters for STP-2, with 1052.2 and 1054.1 for Arabsat 6A.
9) The 2019 west coast rotation continues with 1046.4 for Radarsat constellation and then 1048.4 for SARah 1.
Do we have some sort of sweepstake accumulator if I get all of that right?
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I think SpaceX will be keen to make 3rd flights an accepted reality as soon as possible.
1046 will be the first booster available to do this, assuming equal refurb time for each.
The immediate logjam seems to be at Vandenberg, with SAOCOM 1A, SSO-A, Iridium 8, Radarsat constellation and SARah 1 all supposedly available for launch before the end of the year, if the manufacturers are on schedule.
I think others are right and SpaceX will do well to get even the first three of those flown by the end of Dec. It's just about doable from a pad turnaround perspective if we assume that they are still on a 5-6 week limit between launches. If they have managed to reduce that, as some have speculated, then that will obviously help, but the question then becomes can they provide a ready booster in less than 6 weeks after each of SAOCOM 1A and SSO-A?
We know there is at least one FH core somewhere in the build/testing flow, for STP-2, and probably also one for Arabsat 6A, as I doubt that SpaceX have gambled on definitely getting the first FH B5 core back for re-use. So almost certainly either core 1050 or 1052 is the FH centre for STP-2, my guess being 1050.
Based on their best B5 turnaround so far of ~2 months (which will reduce, but we don't know how quickly), and looking at what has recently flown or is about to fly, I would argue the following;
1) 1048.2 is due to be used for SAOCOM 1A, so to be confident of getting SSO-A launched as soon as the pad and payload are ready I'm sure they will indeed have decided to send a second booster to Vandenberg. This would then be used in rotation with 1048, alternating launches with it to allow for refurbishment of one whilst the other conducts it's next launch campaign.
2) Clearly any of 1046, 1047 and 1049 could be assigned that task, but the latter would put SpaceX under unnecessary schedule pressure, so I'll discount that. The only argument I can make against 1047 is that it delays the first third re-flight of a booster. So all things being equal, I think 1046 will have been chosen to become the other west coast booster. It also makes for a rather elegant division of even numbered cores on the west coast (1046 and 1048) and odd numbers on the east coast (1047, 1049 and 1051). Not the strongest reason I accept! So my prediction is 1046.3 for SSO-A.
3) They will want a booster waiting to fly Eshail as soon as it is ready, so 1047.2 then seems the logical choice.
4) 1049.2 may well be refurbished and ready following the Telstar 18 launch by then, but I think they'll keep them in order and fly that on CRS-16 instead.
5) I think they'll be trying for two launches off pad 40 in December, depending on how much USAF oversight of GPS III-1 preparations slows them down. 1052 would be the next available new booster for GPS III-1.
6) 1048.3 then becomes the next west coast booster rotation, flying on Iridium-8. I think they'll just squeak this in before the end of December.
7) If they have enough time before the end of the year I further predict 1047.3 for PSN VI off LC-40.
8 ) 2019 kicks off with 1050 and 1053 as centres for STP-2 and Arabsat 6A respectively. I'll guess 1049.3 and 1051.2 as the side boosters for STP-2, with 1052.2 and 1054.1 for Arabsat 6A.
9) The 2019 west coast rotation continues with 1046.4 for Radarsat constellation and then 1048.4 for SARah 1.
Do we have some sort of sweepstake accumulator if I get all of that right?
I thought that the STP-2 Falcon Heavy would be all-new. No recycled cores for boosters.
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STP-2 seems like the ideal mission for the USAF to trial booster re-use and get that milestone out of the way..
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We know there is at least one FH core somewhere in the build/testing flow, for STP-2, and probably also one for Arabsat 6A, as I doubt that SpaceX have gambled on definitely getting the first FH B5 core back for re-use. So almost certainly either core 1050 or 1052 is the FH centre for STP-2, my guess being 1050.
B1050 didn't have any FH-related hardware. I haven't seen B1052 but it seems it isn't FH-related too.
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My current working theory is:
- 1046 is the core seen heading West, to be fully inspected at Hawthorne, then launch Sherpa SSO-A mission as first to fly a 3rd time!
- 1047 likely done inspection and waiting for Es'hail to be ready to launch
- 1048 might already be at VAFB
- 1049 is still at Cape
- 1050 is still at McGregor (waiting for IridiumNext-8?)
- 1051 is still at McGregor
- 1052 is on Test Stand at McGregor
- 1053 might be FH center for STP-2, might be ready to go to McGregor next week
Mostly pure speculation, but also based on currently available data and educated guessing..
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My current working theory is:
- 1046 is the core seen heading West, to be fully inspected at Hawthorne, then launch Sherpa SSO-A mission as first to fly a 3rd time!
- 1047 likely done inspection and waiting for Es'hail to be ready to launch
- 1048 might already be at VAFB
- 1049 is still at Cape
- 1050 is still at McGregor (waiting for IridiumNext-8?)
- 1051 is still at McGregor
- 1052 is on Test Stand at McGregor
- 1053 might be FH center for STP-2, might be ready to go to McGregor next week
Mostly pure speculation, but also based on currently available data and educated guessing..
1050 was spotted heading to the Cape here so should be there (waiting for GPS III-1 ?)
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/93ggb2/falcon_9_core_spotted_in_orlando/
1046 was spotted in Waco on its way to Mcgregor not Hawthorne here
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/98yf4p/landed_booster_headed_back_to_hawthorne/e4ou8v6/
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1050 was spotted heading to the Cape here so should be there (waiting for GPS III-1 ?)
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/93ggb2/falcon_9_core_spotted_in_orlando/
1046 was spotted in Waco on its way to Mcgregor not Hawthorne here
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/98yf4p/landed_booster_headed_back_to_hawthorne/e4ou8v6/
The first one could well be B1049 going to the Cape and not B1050. The second one could also be B1052 which is at the test stand right now. I don't see any reason why they would put B1046 through tests there unless it wasn't B1046. Furthermore, putting it through multiple tests will render it useless and they plan to use it again, so I don't think that's the case.
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We know there is at least one FH core somewhere in the build/testing flow, for STP-2, and probably also one for Arabsat 6A, as I doubt that SpaceX have gambled on definitely getting the first FH B5 core back for re-use. So almost certainly either core 1050 or 1052 is the FH centre for STP-2, my guess being 1050.
B1050 didn't have any FH-related hardware. I haven't seen B1052 but it seems it isn't FH-related too.
FH hardware can be installed in florida now. It doesn't have to be installed before transport. The exception is the Center core but some of this can done in Florida.
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We know there is at least one FH core somewhere in the build/testing flow, for STP-2, and probably also one for Arabsat 6A, as I doubt that SpaceX have gambled on definitely getting the first FH B5 core back for re-use. So almost certainly either core 1050 or 1052 is the FH centre for STP-2, my guess being 1050.
B1050 didn't have any FH-related hardware. I haven't seen B1052 but it seems it isn't FH-related too.
FH hardware can be installed in florida now. It doesn't have to be installed before transport. The exception is the Center core but some of this can done in Florida.
The side boosters have to have the nosecones for McGregor testing and the center core would have that thing that connects to the hinges of the side boosters on the interstage and, obviously, the "Falcon Heavy" logo would be painted on the booster. I know that all of the added things are added at Florida, but there are certain things FH-related that are not on every booster and will be once they begin to roll out to McGregor.
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it's not obvious the FH logo would be painted on. SpaceX likes to mess with us, I mean, likes to keep its branding fresh.
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it's not obvious the FH logo would be painted on. SpaceX likes to mess with us, I mean, likes to keep its branding fresh.
It'll get weird when SpaceX uses regular F9 cores as FH side cores, the center core will say "FH" and the two side cores will each say "F9", unless they put some kind of covers over the F9 logos or paint over them.
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it's not obvious the FH logo would be painted on. SpaceX likes to mess with us, I mean, likes to keep its branding fresh.
It'll get weird when SpaceX uses regular F9 cores as FH side cores, the center core will say "FH" and the two side cores will each say "F9", unless they put some kind of covers over the F9 logos or paint over them.
Why bother. It's not like we can't tell the difference between an F9 and an FH after the boosters are mated, and leaving the F9 identifier will keep us all confused just that much longer. The better to mess with our minds.
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We know there is at least one FH core somewhere in the build/testing flow, for STP-2, and probably also one for Arabsat 6A, as I doubt that SpaceX have gambled on definitely getting the first FH B5 core back for re-use. So almost certainly either core 1050 or 1052 is the FH centre for STP-2, my guess being 1050.
B1050 didn't have any FH-related hardware. I haven't seen B1052 but it seems it isn't FH-related too.
FH hardware can be installed in florida now. It doesn't have to be installed before transport. The exception is the Center core but some of this can done in Florida.
The side boosters have to have the nosecones for McGregor testing and the center core would have that thing that connects to the hinges of the side boosters on the interstage and, obviously, the "Falcon Heavy" logo would be painted on the booster. I know that all of the added things are added at Florida, but there are certain things FH-related that are not on every booster and will be once they begin to roll out to McGregor.
initially yes but the side boosters can be converted at the launch site. This was evidenced by the Block-3 side booster cores on the first FH. It will be much easier to do Block-5 onwards.
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We know there is at least one FH core somewhere in the build/testing flow, for STP-2, and probably also one for Arabsat 6A, as I doubt that SpaceX have gambled on definitely getting the first FH B5 core back for re-use. So almost certainly either core 1050 or 1052 is the FH centre for STP-2, my guess being 1050.
B1050 didn't have any FH-related hardware. I haven't seen B1052 but it seems it isn't FH-related too.
FH hardware can be installed in florida now. It doesn't have to be installed before transport. The exception is the Center core but some of this can done in Florida.
The side boosters have to have the nosecones for McGregor testing and the center core would have that thing that connects to the hinges of the side boosters on the interstage and, obviously, the "Falcon Heavy" logo would be painted on the booster. I know that all of the added things are added at Florida, but there are certain things FH-related that are not on every booster and will be once they begin to roll out to McGregor.
initially yes but the side boosters can be converted at the launch site. This was evidenced by the Block-3 side booster cores on the first FH. It will be much easier to do Block-5 onwards.
That would make sense if the boosters were being reused but these are new so they'll leave Hawthorne with the nosecones already installed. I know they can convert them at the launch site, B1025 was converted there after CRS-9, but these will be leaving directly from Hawthorne to McGregor and the same will happen with the center core.
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The side boosters have to have the nosecones for McGregor testing and the center core would have that thing that connects to the hinges of the side boosters on the interstage and, obviously, the "Falcon Heavy" logo would be painted on the booster. I know that all of the added things are added at Florida, but there are certain things FH-related that are not on every booster and will be once they begin to roll out to McGregor.
initially yes but the side boosters can be converted at the launch site. This was evidenced by the Block-3 side booster cores on the first FH. It will be much easier to do Block-5 onwards.
That would make sense if the boosters were being reused but these are new so they'll leave Hawthorne with the nosecones already installed. I know they can convert them at the launch site, B1025 was converted there after CRS-9, but these will be leaving directly from Hawthorne to McGregor and the same will happen with the center core.
I'm not sure the boosters would have the nosecone installed at the factory. At least some tests at McGregor require the load device on top (presumably this is the long duration tests - otherwise as the tanks empty the rocket might overstress the hold-downs.). So it might make sense to build the boosters with no cap, install the load device and perform the test at McGregor, then install the nosecone at McGregor or the launch site.
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The side boosters have to have the nosecones for McGregor testing and the center core would have that thing that connects to the hinges of the side boosters on the interstage and, obviously, the "Falcon Heavy" logo would be painted on the booster. I know that all of the added things are added at Florida, but there are certain things FH-related that are not on every booster and will be once they begin to roll out to McGregor.
initially yes but the side boosters can be converted at the launch site. This was evidenced by the Block-3 side booster cores on the first FH. It will be much easier to do Block-5 onwards.
That would make sense if the boosters were being reused but these are new so they'll leave Hawthorne with the nosecones already installed. I know they can convert them at the launch site, B1025 was converted there after CRS-9, but these will be leaving directly from Hawthorne to McGregor and the same will happen with the center core.
I'm not sure the boosters would have the nosecone installed at the factory. At least some tests at McGregor require the load device on top (presumably this is the long duration tests - otherwise as the tanks empty the rocket might overstress the hold-downs.). So it might make sense to build the boosters with no cap, install the load device and perform the test at McGregor, then install the nosecone at McGregor or the launch site.
How much extra length do the nosecones add to the basic F9 first stage? Would the FH boosters with nosecones attached still be transportable on the existing "over the road" transporters?
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The side boosters have to have the nosecones for McGregor testing and the center core would have that thing that connects to the hinges of the side boosters on the interstage and, obviously, the "Falcon Heavy" logo would be painted on the booster. I know that all of the added things are added at Florida, but there are certain things FH-related that are not on every booster and will be once they begin to roll out to McGregor.
initially yes but the side boosters can be converted at the launch site. This was evidenced by the Block-3 side booster cores on the first FH. It will be much easier to do Block-5 onwards.
That would make sense if the boosters were being reused but these are new so they'll leave Hawthorne with the nosecones already installed. I know they can convert them at the launch site, B1025 was converted there after CRS-9, but these will be leaving directly from Hawthorne to McGregor and the same will happen with the center core.
I'm not sure the boosters would have the nosecone installed at the factory. At least some tests at McGregor require the load device on top (presumably this is the long duration tests - otherwise as the tanks empty the rocket might overstress the hold-downs.). So it might make sense to build the boosters with no cap, install the load device and perform the test at McGregor, then install the nosecone at McGregor or the launch site.
How much extra length do the nosecones add to the basic F9 first stage? Would the FH boosters with nosecones attached still be transportable on the existing "over the road" transporters?
None. They are actually shorter with nose cone than with the usual interstage attached.
Edit: autocorrect typo
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The side boosters have to have the nosecones for McGregor testing and the center core would have that thing that connects to the hinges of the side boosters on the interstage and, obviously, the "Falcon Heavy" logo would be painted on the booster. I know that all of the added things are added at Florida, but there are certain things FH-related that are not on every booster and will be once they begin to roll out to McGregor.
initially yes but the side boosters can be converted at the launch site. This was evidenced by the Block-3 side booster cores on the first FH. It will be much easier to do Block-5 onwards.
That would make sense if the boosters were being reused but these are new so they'll leave Hawthorne with the nosecones already installed. I know they can convert them at the launch site, B1025 was converted there after CRS-9, but these will be leaving directly from Hawthorne to McGregor and the same will happen with the center core.
I'm not sure the boosters would have the nosecone installed at the factory. At least some tests at McGregor require the load device on top (presumably this is the long duration tests - otherwise as the tanks empty the rocket might overstress the hold-downs.). So it might make sense to build the boosters with no cap, install the load device and perform the test at McGregor, then install the nosecone at McGregor or the launch site.
How much extra length do the nosecones add to the basic F9 first stage? Would the FH boosters with nosecones attached still be transportable on the existing "over the road" transporters?
They don't add any length, they are actually shorter with them than with the interstage and they have already been transported a few times on those transporters. Also, they don't need to remove the nosecones for testing at McGregor, they already have done the testing with the nosecones and if you remove the nosecone you're left only with the top of the LOX tank, there is no place to attach the load cap on it.
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The side boosters have to have the nosecones for McGregor testing and the center core would have that thing that connects to the hinges of the side boosters on the interstage and, obviously, the "Falcon Heavy" logo would be painted on the booster. I know that all of the added things are added at Florida, but there are certain things FH-related that are not on every booster and will be once they begin to roll out to McGregor.
initially yes but the side boosters can be converted at the launch site. This was evidenced by the Block-3 side booster cores on the first FH. It will be much easier to do Block-5 onwards.
That would make sense if the boosters were being reused but these are new so they'll leave Hawthorne with the nosecones already installed. I know they can convert them at the launch site, B1025 was converted there after CRS-9, but these will be leaving directly from Hawthorne to McGregor and the same will happen with the center core.
I'm not sure the boosters would have the nosecone installed at the factory. At least some tests at McGregor require the load device on top (presumably this is the long duration tests - otherwise as the tanks empty the rocket might overstress the hold-downs.). So it might make sense to build the boosters with no cap, install the load device and perform the test at McGregor, then install the nosecone at McGregor or the launch site.
How much extra length do the nosecones add to the basic F9 first stage? Would the FH boosters with nosecones attached still be transportable on the existing "over the road" transporters?
None. They are actually shorter with nose cone than with the usual interstage attached.
Edit: autocorrect typo
Will Block 5 nosecones be black like the new interstages?
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No, they're white, look at the left side of this picture (https://twitter.com/lorengrush/status/1029142703110377472)
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No, they're white, look at the left side of this picture (https://twitter.com/lorengrush/status/1029142703110377472)
Correct. Current nose cone heating doesn't necessitate the need for the black TPS as the core stage requires. If they ever decide to do ASDS booster landings in the future the black TPS might be needed.
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Finally, a core spotting!
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/9hrxh4/can_we_id_this_booster_parked_at_the_flfl_state/
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It looks more like a pipe to me!
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It looks exactly like a Falcon 9 booster should look in transit. That would be a really big pipe segment.
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The pickup and it's float parked in front of the main rig threw me off for a second....nicely lined up.
:)
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It looks exactly like a Falcon 9 booster should look in transit. That would be a really big pipe segment.
If that were a pipe I wonder why they wouldn't have shipped it in multiple smaller segments, it would be better in almost every way than transporting it fully assembled.
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It looks exactly like a Falcon 9 booster should look in transit. That would be a really big pipe segment.
If that were a pipe I wonder why they wouldn't have shipped it in multiple smaller segments, it would be better in almost every way than transporting it fully assembled.
Speeds up installation. And fewer connections typically increases reliability.
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Well, we know it's not a pipe, it's a booster. Now, which booster it could be and what's more probable? It could be B1050, B1051 or B1052 (B1053 is still probably being tested at McGregor, if not finishing it). B1051 makes sense, as DM-1 is approaching but we know that, if they don't need a booster inmediately, they usually keep them at McGregor and DM-1 is not until December. There's a F9 GTO launch sometime in early November from 39A per the FCC permits, it is most probably Es'Hail 2 and if it doesn't use a flight proven booster I can see them moving its booster now so it can be slowly prepared (so it could be B1050, for example). We have no idea from where B1052 is going to launch or in which missions (My guess is Iridium 8 from SLC-4E, but I have no idea, it's just a mere feeling based on previous movements). We'll know which one it is but at least we know it could only be one of 3 boosters.
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Well, we know it's not a pipe, it's a booster. Now, which booster it could be and what's more probable? It could be B1050, B1051 or B1052 (B1053 is still probably being tested at McGregor, if not finishing it). B1051 makes sense, as DM-1 is approaching but we know that, if they don't need a booster inmediately, they usually keep them at McGregor and DM-1 is not until December. There's a F9 GTO launch sometime in early November from 39A per the FCC permits, it is most probably Es'Hail 2 and if it doesn't use a flight proven booster I can see them moving its booster now so it can be slowly prepared (so it could be B1050, for example). We have no idea from where B1052 is going to launch or in which missions (My guess is Iridium 8 from SLC-4E, but I have no idea, it's just a mere feeling based on previous movements). We'll know which one it is but at least we know it could only be one of 3 boosters.
Isn't B1050 supposed to have been at the Cape for a while now? Reddit's core tracking page has it "en route to the Cape as of July 31", based on this source (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/93ggb2/falcon_9_core_spotted_in_orlando/?st=jmdrdz74&sh=c51b36a6), and currently presumed to be "at LC-39A" (unsourced). Is Reddit's info hogwash/out of date in this case?
Did we ever find out more about that core that was seen going west from the Cape? I know there was a huge range of speculation on that: that it could be B1050 going back for more testing, or the twice-flown B1046, or that it wasn't actually going to McGregor after all and its departure just happened to align with a sighting of another core arriving there from Hawthorne.
Also, I know I read somewhere that B1050 was determined to be for GPS III based on permits or certification documents people saw. Don't know how reliable that was either though.
Is there any chance that B1052 might be a FH center, or has that been categorically disproven (e.g. by seeing a F9 logo on it at McGregor)? The two Telstar boosters sitting around at the Cape seem like a tempting pair to turn into FH side boosters for ArabSat, since they've flown nearly identical mission profiles (if that matters at all, which it may not). They're just missing a center...and of course a satellite. :)
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Well, we know it's not a pipe, it's a booster. Now, which booster it could be and what's more probable? It could be B1050, B1051 or B1052 (B1053 is still probably being tested at McGregor, if not finishing it). B1051 makes sense, as DM-1 is approaching but we know that, if they don't need a booster inmediately, they usually keep them at McGregor and DM-1 is not until December. There's a F9 GTO launch sometime in early November from 39A per the FCC permits, it is most probably Es'Hail 2 and if it doesn't use a flight proven booster I can see them moving its booster now so it can be slowly prepared (so it could be B1050, for example). We have no idea from where B1052 is going to launch or in which missions (My guess is Iridium 8 from SLC-4E, but I have no idea, it's just a mere feeling based on previous movements). We'll know which one it is but at least we know it could only be one of 3 boosters.
Isn't B1050 supposed to have been at the Cape for a while now? Reddit's core tracking page has it "en route to the Cape as of July 31", based on this source (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/93ggb2/falcon_9_core_spotted_in_orlando/?st=jmdrdz74&sh=c51b36a6), and currently presumed to be "at LC-39A" (unsourced). Is Reddit's info hogwash/out of date in this case?
Did we ever find out more about that core that was seen going west from the Cape? I know there was a huge range of speculation on that: that it could be B1050 going back for more testing, or the twice-flown B1046, or that it wasn't actually going to McGregor after all and its departure just happened to align with a sighting of another core arriving there from Hawthorne.
Also, I know I read somewhere that B1050 was determined to be for GPS III based on permits or certification documents people saw. Don't know how reliable that was either though.
Is there any chance that B1052 might be a FH center, or has that been categorically disproven (e.g. by seeing a F9 logo on it at McGregor)? The two Telstar boosters sitting around at the Cape seem like a tempting pair to turn into FH side boosters for ArabSat, since they've flown nearly identical mission profiles (if that matters at all, which it may not). They're just missing a center...and of course a satellite. :)
I think the one seen arriving at the cape back then was B1049, Jakusb thought the same and I, at first, thought about B1050 but thinking it more I think it was B1049 too. There was a booster being moved west and I think it could be B1046. Someone said it was going to McGregor just because another person around the same time saw B1052 entering McGregor. There's L2 info on to what core might be for the GPS mission and pictures of the boosters at McGregor. I don't know if I can tell at least this, but I don't see anything on them that indicates any of them is a center core. It's true what you said that there's a decent chance we might see any of these past boosters being converted into side boosters, but there's nothing that can tell us which boosters are.
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I agree. Most likely 1050, or possibly 1052.
1051 unlikely as it would be very early.
All three unseen since they were tested at McGregor.
1053 likely just finishing its testing at McGregor, 1054 about to leave Hawthorne any day now.
So my money is on 1050 for Es’hail mission.
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Finally, a core spotting!
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/9hrxh4/can_we_id_this_booster_parked_at_the_flfl_state/
Possibly related:
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/9i4lw9/shrinkwrapped_falcon_today_at_ccafs/
Core at CCAFS, located at 28.491781, -80.582790.
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B1047, either at 39A or the LZ-1 hangar :)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DoOLLJUUYAAjPE2.jpg?format=jpg&name=orig)
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A booster just left Hawthorne, it was staged at one of SpaceX's nearby lots for a couple hours. Presumably B1054 unless another core has shipped to McGregor since September 17th.
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A booster just left Hawthorne, it was staged at one of SpaceX's nearby lots for a couple hours. Presumably B1053 unless another core has shipped to McGregor since September 17th.
Presumably this:
https://twitter.com/_tomcross_/status/1048483536917823488
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Yep, I actually happened to be sitting beside Tom :)
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A booster just left Hawthorne, it was staged at one of SpaceX's nearby lots for a couple hours. Presumably B1053 unless another core has shipped to McGregor since September 17th.
B1053? Shouldn't this be B1054?
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A booster just left Hawthorne, it was staged at one of SpaceX's nearby lots for a couple hours. Presumably B1053 unless another core has shipped to McGregor since September 17th.
B1053? Shouldn't this be B1054?
B1053 was in the final assembly line slot (i.e. the end of the line) at the BFR event on Sept 17th. It's possible that 53 already shipped to TX or that it was moved back in line, but moving boosters around on the factory floor is a massive work disruption and the last booster spotted coming from TX was likely B1050.
I'm confused, I thought the booster behind Elon was B1054.
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Entirely my mistake 😩 It was indeed 1054.
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Don't recall this recent NASA photo being discussed (found somewhere on NSF). Anything interesting in the back ground?
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Don't recall this recent NASA photo being discussed (found somewhere on NSF). Anything interesting in the back ground?
On the right in the background, the used interstage that was installed on the "mystery booster" at the BFR event. It says "Booster 570". B1053 is on the center in the background ready to be transported out of the factory and B1054 is on the left before being moved to where B1053 is in that picture and then it was later seen in that position on the BFR event. I guess this picture was taken around mid or late August.
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Ok, I am working on an updated FPIP overlay for L2, and regarding the core leaving Hawthorne, it might also be 1055...
We know the 1054 core was at the factory on sept 17th. And it was almost ready to ship. I had it scheduled for transport on sept 22nd (given earlier reported expected # cores to be produced in 2018)...
Core 1055 was to be shipped around October 12th, according that same logic... ;)
Only other scenario would be a serious reduction of production pace... This could be related to the still unseen FH related cores, but then I would have expected some (leaked) info by now about FH core being seen on route or at McGregor...
So my money is on it being 1055 and we missed another transport... 8)
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Mystery core traveling eastbound through Wilcox (AZ?)...
Seems to only have 5 out of 9 engines...
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/9rw55i/falcon_9_eastbound_through_willcox/ (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/9rw55i/falcon_9_eastbound_through_willcox/)
This transport is close to the Nov 1st prediction for core 1056, but the missing engines is puzzling..
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Mystery core traveling eastbound through Wilcox (AZ?)...
Seems to only have 5 out of 9 engines...
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/9rw55i/falcon_9_eastbound_through_willcox/ (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/9rw55i/falcon_9_eastbound_through_willcox/)
This transport is close to the Nov 1st prediction for core 1056, but the missing engines is puzzling..
This is not B1056, you have to take into account that B1051 took a slot at McGregor's schedule of boosters for re-testing after B1054 passed testing, so this must be B1055, the mystery booster. Make sure to shift your schedule of cores accordingly, this has happened before and once this happens it is a mess to keep track of the boosters, one doesn't know which one is gonna appear next.
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SSO-A booster arrived yesterday at Vandenberg. This looks like more and more that SSO-A booster might be B1046 instead of B1048.
Link to reddit's comment about its arrival (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/9raysi/ssoa_launch_campaign_thread/e8hsd0n?utm_source=reddit-android)
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Assuming this is heading towards McGregor*, it might be because the remaining engines are waiting for it at McGregor.
It would be possible to invent all sorts of reasons for that, eg.
- engines to be installed at McGregor in future
- engines were delayed at McGregor so easier to fit them there than ship them back to Hawthorne, with the delay jamming up the production line
- it's going to have used engines fitted which are at McGregor (there's some evidence that McGregor might be scrapping cores)
- there's been a delay in engine production, so the core has been shipped out to avoid jamming up the production line
Or something else!
* if it's actually heading west, it could be a pre-flown core which has had four engines removed for whatever reason.
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Mystery core traveling eastbound through Wilcox (AZ?)...
Seems to only have 5 out of 9 engines...
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/9rw55i/falcon_9_eastbound_through_willcox/ (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/9rw55i/falcon_9_eastbound_through_willcox/)
This transport is close to the Nov 1st prediction for core 1056, but the missing engines is puzzling..
This is not B1056, you have to take into account that B1051 took a slot at McGregor's schedule of boosters for re-testing after B1054 passed testing, so this must be B1055, the mystery booster. Make sure to shift your schedule of cores accordingly, this has happened before and once this happens it is a mess to keep track of the boosters, one doesn't know which one is gonna appear next.
Is there any public info on 1054 having finished testing? I might have missed it.
I agree it is almost impossible to keep track as no new cores are being flown, so now 5 cores unseen after travelling to McGregor of which some not even seen travelling there..
With 1051 just tested (again?) does not say anything about other cores. It clearly got special treatment.
Might be a queue of untested cores for all we know. Not a problem, not needed for some time still..
For some reason no info whatsoever is being shared from inside, unfortunately. ;)
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Do all cores after 1051 have the new COPVs? Or is 1051 unique for now?
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Falcon 9 spotted in Louisiana with what appears to be some missing engines. Likely the same one that was spotted in Arizona. Maybe B1048 heading east since it bypassed McGregor?
https://youtu.be/V63sNVMCHlQ
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It looks like the normal 9, plus more added behind those (just for transport, presumably).
Edit: never mind, the trailer is different than the other pics I looked at. I was basing that on the overhang distance which varies between trailer layouts.
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Falcon Heavy side booster seen on the road in Maricopa, Arizona.
https://old.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/9vwp7j/is_this_a_booster_i_saw_it_in_maricopa_az/
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Falcon Heavy side booster seen on the road in Maricopa, Arizona.
https://old.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/9vwp7j/is_this_a_booster_i_saw_it_in_maricopa_az/
IMO this is likely 1055, unless 1055 left a while ago without us noticing, in which case this must be 1056.
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The Falcon Heavy side booster was seen earlier today in Coleman, Texas going to McGregor. It will probably arrive there tomorrow.
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B1049.2 left Florida last week, passed through Texas on Friday and it has arrived today at Vandenberg in preparation for Iridium 8
https://twitter.com/nothingbutnico1/status/1062364024292012032
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Booster seen on the road going eastbound in the AL/FL state line. I'd say that, given the timeline, this may well be B1054 for GPS III SV01
Link to the reddit post: https://old.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/9xq1yo/f9_booster_parked_at_alfl_state_line_eastbound/
Pictures:
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https://twitter.com/Cygnusx112/status/1067446452828413952
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I assume that would be the GPS-III launch vehicle?
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I assume that would be the GPS-III launch vehicle?
Looks sooty to me....
Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk
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I assume that would be the GPS-III launch vehicle?
Looks sooty to me....
I don't think it looks sooty, and the next two boosters being prepared (for GPS-III and DM-1) should both be new.
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To me it looks sooty too but it may be just an illusion. It doesn't have grid fins and we know a booster arrived recently at the Cape and my best bet was B1054. I think this may well be B1054 with no grid fins (and most likely with no legs) as expected since it is an expendable flight.
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I assume that would be the GPS-III launch vehicle?
Looks sooty to me....
I don't think it looks sooty, and the next two boosters being prepared (for GPS-III and DM-1) should both be new.
Agreed, it does not look sooty at all to me. What some are seeing as sooty patterns is reflections of the interior of the HIF - the pattern is too regular. And the interstage looks pretty clean as well..
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That picture was taken through a tinted bus window so I think that has something to do with it. Here is the full size picture along with a couple of other shots of things sitting around.
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That picture was taken through a tinted bus window so I think that has something to do with it. Here is the full size picture along with a couple of other shots of things sitting around.
What is the hardware in the fourth picture? cropped here:
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What is the hardware in the fourth picture?
Looks like a payload adaptor to me.
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What is the hardware in the fourth picture?
Looks like a payload adaptor to me.
Makes sense now. This would go on top the second stage, inside the fairing. ThanX
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99% certain that is the GPS booster. No grid fins, soot is an illusion from the windows on the bus as the soot patterns do not match what we usually see. Not sure why it's at LC-39A though.
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99% certain that is the GPS booster. No grid fins, soot is an illusion from the windows on the bus as the soot patterns do not match what we usually see. Not sure why it's at LC-39A though.
It is at LC-39A because there is no space for it at SLC-40 since there is another rocket being prepared there. This booster will be moved once CRS-16 launches.
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That picture was taken through a tinted bus window so I think that has something to do with it. Here is the full size picture along with a couple of other shots of things sitting around.
What is the hardware in the fourth picture? cropped here:
looks like the cap placed on the second stage for the static fire tests.....
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Another Falcon Heavy side booster has been spotted in Arizona going east to McGregor. This should be B1056.
Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10157133968721318/
Copy of the post here for those that can't access facebook:
Not sure what it was......but it looked like a booster. It just rolled through Maricopa AZ.
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I'll post this as well, spotted on (I believe) Nov. 27 in Wekiva, FL by Instagram user @giamaz000. Headed East per the sunset and evening post time.
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I'll post this as well, spotted on (I believe) Nov. 27 in Wekiva, FL by Instagram user @giamaz000. Headed East per the sunset and evening post time.
That may well be B1051 for DM-1 given the timeline they usually work.
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I'll post this as well, spotted on (I believe) Nov. 27 in Wekiva, FL by Instagram user @giamaz000. Headed East per the sunset and evening post time.
That may well be B1051 for DM-1 given the timeline they usually work.
Yep. 99% chance it's either B1051 or B1054. I'd guess B1054 given Hans' DM-1 comments today and the new booster recently spotted inside the 39A hangar
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I'd guess B1054 given Hans' DM-1 comments today and the new booster recently spotted inside the 39A hangar
Neither of those is really inconsistent with it being 1051.
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That picture was taken through a tinted bus window so I think that has something to do with it. Here is the full size picture along with a couple of other shots of things sitting around.
What is the hardware in the fourth picture? cropped here:
looks like the cap placed on the second stage for the static fire tests.....
It is.
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Just to summarize the core spottings today, B1051 & S2, B1048, and Dragon C201 & trunk are all in the 39A hangar as of Dec 18.
Attached photo is from Emre Kelly/Florida Today.
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Just to summarize the core spottings today, B1051 & S2, B1048, and Dragon C201 & trunk are all in the 39A hangar as of Dec 18.
Attached photo is from Emre Kelly/Florida Today.
How sure are we that this Dragon is getting the C201 number instead of that going to some of the structural or other test articles? For example, what was the number for the article which was used for the Pad Abort?
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Just to summarize the core spottings today, B1051 & S2, B1048, and Dragon C201 & trunk are all in the 39A hangar as of Dec 18.
Attached photo is from Emre Kelly/Florida Today.
How sure are we that this Dragon is getting the C201 number instead of that going to some of the structural or other test articles? For example, what was the number for the article which was used for the Pad Abort?
I'm building off of /r/SpaceX's very well-maintained core and capsule lists, which tend to be based off of real internal numbering. Just like Cargo Dragon and Falcon, vehicles only tend to get their own numbers if they are flightworthy, which rules out STAs and other partial fidelity test articles.
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Just to summarize the core spottings today, B1051 & S2, B1048, and Dragon C201 & trunk are all in the 39A hangar as of Dec 18.
Attached photo is from Emre Kelly/Florida Today.
How sure are we that this Dragon is getting the C201 number instead of that going to some of the structural or other test articles? For example, what was the number for the article which was used for the Pad Abort?
Olaf and gongora have you covered on this, as always ;) It is on this thread for the NAC meeting from March 2018 (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=45328.msg1803088#msg1803088). Slides 9 and 10 on this presentation (https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/ccp_presentation_for_nac_public_session.pdf) is where the serial number is for both capsules for DM-1 (C201) and DM-2 (C203). IIRC, C202 is the one that was used for the ECLSS testing.
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Just to summarize the core spottings today, B1051 & S2, B1048, and Dragon C201 & trunk are all in the 39A hangar as of Dec 18.
Attached photo is from Emre Kelly/Florida Today.
How sure are we that this Dragon is getting the C201 number instead of that going to some of the structural or other test articles? For example, what was the number for the article which was used for the Pad Abort?
I'm building off of /r/SpaceX's very well-maintained core and capsule lists, which tend to be based off of real internal numbering. Just like Cargo Dragon and Falcon, vehicles only tend to get their own numbers if they are flightworthy, which rules out STAs and other partial fidelity test articles.
Just as a reminder. Falcon Heavy Center Core STA was B1027.
And now that I'm talking about Falcon Heavy. The first FH Block 5 side booster, B1055, was spotted on the road in Louisiana, probably going to Florida to join her sisters B1048 and B1051 at LC-39A.
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/a7quuj/fh_booster_xpost_looked_like_a_sub_seen_in_rural/
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Just to summarize the core spottings today, B1051 & S2, B1048, and Dragon C201 & trunk are all in the 39A hangar as of Dec 18.
Attached photo is from Emre Kelly/Florida Today.
How sure are we that this Dragon is getting the C201 number instead of that going to some of the structural or other test articles? For example, what was the number for the article which was used for the Pad Abort?
I'm building off of /r/SpaceX's very well-maintained core and capsule lists, which tend to be based off of real internal numbering. Just like Cargo Dragon and Falcon, vehicles only tend to get their own numbers if they are flightworthy, which rules out STAs and other partial fidelity test articles.
Just as a reminder. Falcon Heavy Center Core STA was B1027.
And now that I'm talking about Falcon Heavy. The first FH Block 5 side booster, B1055, was spotted on the road in Louisiana, probably going to Florida to join her sisters B1048 and B1051 at LC-39A.
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/a7quuj/fh_booster_xpost_looked_like_a_sub_seen_in_rural/
Until someone can convince me this actually is 1055, I am strongly considering this first FH-side might as well be 1056... ;)
Thusfar I have asked for comments openly several times, but no solid info, PM or other signals have reached me to take out this possibility...
Still unseen (No hard evidence as in photo of coreNr or confirmation by people in the know) and very much uncertain of their targeted mission:
- 1052
- 1053
- 1055
- 1056 (until other info reaches me: first FH-side)
- 1057 (unless serious delays in production, currently at McGregor as second FH-side)
- 1058 (should be ready any day now... FH-center??)
Of course, I also do consider the obvious situation that their production pace did delay significantly and they have produces one less core then expected. In that case, 1055 is this first FH-side, 1056 the second, and 1057 is about to leave Hawthorne..
Also to figure out:
- Which core to fly DM-2?
- Which core to fly Inflight Abort?
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Just to summarize the core spottings today, B1051 & S2, B1048, and Dragon C201 & trunk are all in the 39A hangar as of Dec 18.
Attached photo is from Emre Kelly/Florida Today.
How sure are we that this Dragon is getting the C201 number instead of that going to some of the structural or other test articles? For example, what was the number for the article which was used for the Pad Abort?
I'm building off of /r/SpaceX's very well-maintained core and capsule lists, which tend to be based off of real internal numbering. Just like Cargo Dragon and Falcon, vehicles only tend to get their own numbers if they are flightworthy, which rules out STAs and other partial fidelity test articles.
Just as a reminder. Falcon Heavy Center Core STA was B1027.
And now that I'm talking about Falcon Heavy. The first FH Block 5 side booster, B1055, was spotted on the road in Louisiana, probably going to Florida to join her sisters B1048 and B1051 at LC-39A.
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/a7quuj/fh_booster_xpost_looked_like_a_sub_seen_in_rural/
Until someone can convince me this actually is 1055, I am strongly considering this first FH-side might as well be 1056... ;)
Thusfar I have asked for comments openly several times, but no solid info, PM or other signals have reached me to take out this possibility...
Still unseen (No hard evidence as in photo of coreNr or confirmation by people in the know) and very much uncertain of their targeted mission:
- 1052
- 1053
- 1055
- 1056 (until other info reaches me: first FH-side)
- 1057 (unless serious delays in production, currently at McGregor as second FH-side)
- 1058 (should be ready any day now... FH-center??)
Of course, I also do consider the obvious situation that their production pace did delay significantly and they have produces one less core then expected. In that case, 1055 is this first FH-side, 1056 the second, and 1057 is about to leave Hawthorne..
Also to figure out:
- Which core to fly DM-2?
- Which core to fly Inflight Abort?
I'm still on the side (pun intended) that this is B1055 because of the testing schedule at McGregor left a gap to retest B1051 at the test stand after B1054 left it, that means delaying the next booster to arrive and that means that when B1055 should have left, it didn't and it left around the time B1056 should have left. I'm still on that thinking but until we see the boosters on the launchpad we won't know. That or someone with good sources throws something here. Until then, it is still somewhat risky to tell if it is one number or the other. I will be happy anyways to see a Falcon Heavy at LC-39A again :)
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FH-side (1055 or 1056) arrived at LC39A-HIF:
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/a8mf59/possible_arabsat6a_booster_arriving_in_ksc_florida/
Regarding the FH-center.. I most definitely do not rule out a 1052 or 1053 being a FH-center core...
Arguments Pro:
- No clear mission in near future for 2 brand new cores..
Arguments Against:
- Why not then ship the center core first?
- No obvious delay in production pace? 1051-1054 have left Hawthorne in 60 days, thus 20 days between each..
- No tweet claiming all hardware for next FH at McGregor.. Would have been a nice media moment..
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Drove by McGregor facility today. Didn't see any boosters vertical. Rain, low ceiling, but surface vis was OK to see the cranes, test area, etc.
Test stand may be empty which could mean the next booster should go out very soon from Hawthorne. Let's hope we get another round of spottings on the road
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And just as expected, a new booster has arrived at McGregor. Bump on the interstage indicates it is the next Falcon Heavy Center Core. This should be B1057.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BsFkuNyI9jm/
Edit: Changing the link. The content creator, Abby Garrett, took down the other post and edited her video to add credits to it citing lack of them either on facebook and reddit and because I don't want to get on another dicussion with her here too about what is the difference between taking credit of content and sharing something that someone made, I edit this post in respect to her decision. The screenshot with the arrow will stay the same as I'm on mobile and I don't really want to make this more annoying than it is.
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Just read the whole discussion, and it was a bit of a mess. Thanks for sharing, though!
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2nd FH side seen heading East to Cape
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/ah0pbp/2nd_falcon_sidecore_makes_florida_photo_by_my/?st=JR16Q169&sh=5c0363ab
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We don't usually see a lot of pictures of boosters on the test stand at McGregor outside of L2 but here we have two from instagram user Ryan Gardner who overflew the test site recently and posted a few pictures of that on his instagram account.
This is the link to his post: https://www.instagram.com/p/BsedWS7h2CZ/
Booster on the test stand should be B1057, the next FH Center Core. One thing that can be clearly seen: it has no SpaceX logo on it
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Booster on the test stand should be B1057, the next FH Center Core. One thing that can be clearly seen: it has no SpaceX logo on it
It looks like it has a white interstage, too. Perhaps this could be that mystery "block 5 with white interstage" core that was seen at Hawthorne during the #dearMoon announcement?
Omitting the SpaceX logo makes sense because it'll always be paired with two side cores that have the logo. But the white interstage is a fascinating change because it suggests they're using the old Block 4 TPS (cork painted white for water resistance, IIRC) instead of the new Pyron Zoltec material that debuted on Block 5.
They switched to the Zoltec stuff because it can last many more flights without replacement, but the Block 4 interstages were clearly good for at least two flights without having to replace the TPS (most pre-B5 reflights had toasty-looking interstages indicating the TPS hadn't been replaced), maybe three or four in theory. So, a Block-4-style interstage should be enough for their near-term plans for B1057, but it suggests that they aren't expecting to get a lot of flights out of this core.
That brings to mind a few possibilities:
1. Since FH is expected to fly infrequently (only once or twice a year), this booster may not get many opportunities to fly before Starship replaces it, particularly if they build a second center core to join it in the rotation (a backup would be wise to have, especially since they are planning to stockpile F9/FH cores and shut down production). If Falcon Heavy turns out to be more popular than expected, they can just replace the cork TPS every few flights. It'll be more expensive but probably not too bad.
2. They might be planning to expend this core after 2-3 flights. As far as we know, both Arabsat-6A and STP-2 are going to allow recovery of all three cores, but maybe they know something we don't about the flights they have planned after that? According to the Reddit manifest, the next two FH flights will be AFSPC-22 (Sept. 2020) and ViaSat-3 (H2 2020). AFSPC-22 is listed as GTO with a mass of ≤6350 kg, which should permit 3x recovery even if they go significantly supersynchronous. ViaSat-3 has a similar mass (~6400 kg) but IIRC, they are flying an "almost direct insertion" profile which partially circularizes the orbit*. That could definitely account for an expended center core. If the Block 4 TPS is good for (say) 3 flights, they wouldn't need to replace it if the fourth is going to be expended, since that TPS only exists to preserve the interstage for re-use.
3. Given how challenging it was to rework the Falcon 9 design for center cores so they can take the side loads from boosters, it's possible they just aren't structurally capable of the same number of reuses as a regular Falcon 9. If they know internally that the Block 5 FH center core design (in its current iteration as of 1057's production) is only able to handle a few flights, there's no reason to put the Zoltec TPS on it.
*(I'm not actually positive that it was announced that ViaSat-3 would be "almost direct insertion", but since ViaSat's Atlas V order around the same time is doing that, and Falcon Heavy could offer similar performance, it seems logical.)
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Booster on the test stand should be B1057, the next FH Center Core. One thing that can be clearly seen: it has no SpaceX logo on it
It looks like it has a white interstage, too. Perhaps this could be that mystery "block 5 with white interstage" core that was seen at Hawthorne during the #dearMoon announcement?
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It may just have a white wrapping on the interstage. See here for an example:
https://www.teslarati.com/new-spacex-falcon-9-booster-cape-canaveral-florida/s1-stand-and-booster-071818-aero-photo/
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It may just have a white wrapping on the interstage. See here for an example:
https://www.teslarati.com/new-spacex-falcon-9-booster-cape-canaveral-florida/s1-stand-and-booster-071818-aero-photo/
Ah, I'd forgotten about that picture, thanks. So much for my complicated theories. ;)
Now I'm curious all over again what the deal is with that white interstage we saw in the factory. If not for this, then what... ???
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Booster on the test stand should be B1057, the next FH Center Core. One thing that can be clearly seen: it has no SpaceX logo on it
It looks like it has a white interstage, too. Perhaps this could be that mystery "block 5 with white interstage" core that was seen at Hawthorne during the #dearMoon announcement?
...
It may just have a white wrapping on the interstage. See here for an example:
https://www.teslarati.com/new-spacex-falcon-9-booster-cape-canaveral-florida/s1-stand-and-booster-071818-aero-photo/
And also: that booster at Hawthorne had the SpaceX logo painted on it so it can't be the one seen on these pictures
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It may just have a white wrapping on the interstage. See here for an example:
https://www.teslarati.com/new-spacex-falcon-9-booster-cape-canaveral-florida/s1-stand-and-booster-071818-aero-photo/
Ah, I'd forgotten about that picture, thanks. So much for my complicated theories. ;)
Now I'm curious all over again what the deal is with that white interstage we saw in the factory. If not for this, then what... ???
I really thought about it back then and I just think it is just a simple fit check interstage. It is used and before being integrated on that booster, there is a picture from SpaceX's twitter account where you can see it just standing on a random corner of the factory. I don't think it even is intended to fly. Also the interstages are usually installed after the engines (at least that's what they usually have done, but things could change) and I saw the Everyday Astronaut livestream and I noticed there were no engines installed on the booster yet, the booster is clearly a Block 5 but the interstage could have just simply been a fit check article taken from an old previously flown booster.
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I really thought about it back then and I just think it is just a simple fit check interstage. It is used and before being integrated on that booster, there is a picture from SpaceX's twitter account where you can see it just standing on a random corner of the factory. I don't think it even is intended to fly. Also the interstages are usually installed after the engines (at least that's what they usually have done, but things could change) and I saw the Everyday Astronaut livestream and I noticed there were no engines installed on the booster yet, the booster is clearly a Block 5 but the interstage could have just simply been a fit check article taken from an old previously flown booster.
That makes sense. Now that you mention it I do believe I've seen the picture to which you refer, wherein the mystery interstage is standing by itself in the factory. With all the recovered hardware they have lying around, using the not-quite-suitable-for-reflight pieces as dummies is a smart move. Who needs purpose-built boilerplate pieces for fit checks when you're awash in genuine surplus parts that have been to space? ;-)
I suppose I should be getting over this by now, but it still defies intuition to realize that the era of routine reflight has given us, for the first time in history, "junk" that has been to space. Only ten years ago that interstage would've been considered a museum piece (or at least would fetch a pretty penny on eBay)... ;D
So I guess it's black interstages all the way from here, then. It does seem strange that they bother to put the fancy black TPS on cores they're going to expend on their first flight, like 1054, but as others have speculated before, perhaps that'd be enough of a configuration change to throw off their Air Force certification. And/or maybe the Zoltec just isn't all that expensive in the grand scheme of things.
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It was noted that the depiction of Falcon Heavy in the January 2019 version of the User's Guide has a white interstage, rather than black. It does have black raceways. The raceways on the centre core are in the same position as the PY (+Y, left-side) side booster. It could be that they've decided not to - or can't - paint the logo over the raceway as was done for the demo mission. Instead the logo in that rendering has been moved to the interstage.
The resolution of the photo isn't quite good enough to be certain, but it doesn't look to me like the interstage is all-white. There could be a logo there. I'm not certain of the orientation of the booster, but there's a darker vertical line down the middle of it which could be the raceway.
This is getting a bit off-topic for this thread, though. Perhaps a general FH thread?
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It was noted that the depiction of Falcon Heavy in the January 2019 version of the User's Guide has a white interstage, rather than black. It does have black raceways. The raceways on the centre core are in the same position as the PY (+Y, left-side) side booster. It could be that they've decided not to - or can't - paint the logo over the raceway as was done for the demo mission. Instead the logo in that rendering has been moved to the interstage.
The resolution of the photo isn't quite good enough to be certain, but it doesn't look to me like the interstage is all-white. There could be a logo there. I'm not certain of the orientation of the booster, but there's a darker vertical line down the middle of it which could be the raceway.
This is getting a bit off-topic for this thread, though. Perhaps a general FH thread?
You can't see on those pictures if the interstage is white or not because the interstage is covered in white wrapping. Unless you go there and squeeze your nose through a hole on the wrapping you can't know if it is white, black, if it has any logo on it or things like that.
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Booster seen in Valencia, California on the I-5. Judging by the location this one should be a booster going to Vandenberg and most probably the one for RADARSAT.
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/aip20g/just_spotted_the_falcon_at_a_weighstation_on_i5n/
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Booster seen in Valencia, California on the I-5. Judging by the location this one should be a booster going to Vandenberg and most probably the one for RADARSAT.
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/aip20g/just_spotted_the_falcon_at_a_weighstation_on_i5n/
Any guesses which booster this is?
Based on where it was spotted, I'm guessing this is going straight from Hawthorne to Vandenberg (as opposed to coming from McGregor), right? (I'm not especially familiar with California geography, the answer to this question will likely be obvious to others here...)
If it's coming from Hawthorne, it's got to be a used booster, which makes sense since that's what RADARSAT is contracted to fly on. It was originally earmarked for 1050 but that booster had...other plans. ::)
There are only two used boosters on the west coast right now: 1046(.4) and 1049(.3). 1049 just landed on JRTI a week and a half ago; it's probably back in the factory by now but they've had precious little time to examine and refurbish it. So there are a couple of possibilities:
1. This is 1046.4, in which case we're in for our first .4 flight. Cool! 1046 last flew in December so they've had a plausible amount of time to refurbish it (assuming the .4 prep doesn't entail special difficulties). They might also be able to continue doing refurb work at Vandenberg, which may or may not be preferable to doing it at Hawthorne depending on how they're feeling about floor space right now. Given that RADARSAT isn't until March, I see no reason to ship it out this early unless either a) they're done refurbishing it, or b) they desperately need the floor space in Hawthorne.
2. If it's 1049.3, they must either be a) done with the refurbishment already (which would be a huge triumph for Block 5!), or b) planning to do essentially all of the refurb on-site at Vandenberg, which would be a new twist AFAIK.
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I agree with the booster being B1046.4. Another option could be B1047.3 but this booster wasn't spotted anywhere else in the US.
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2. If it's 1049.3, they must either be a) done with the refurbishment already (which would be a huge triumph for Block 5!), or b) planning to do essentially all of the refurb on-site at Vandenberg, which would be a new twist AFAIK.
I agree with the booster being B1046.4. Another option could be B1047.3 but this booster wasn't spotted anywhere else in the US.
99% chance that B1047 is assigned to PSN-6, no real alternative aside from B1048. B1046 was being refurbished at Hawthorne as of Dec 17, while B1049 was no longer at Berth 52 as of Jan 22 and likely shipped out anywhere from 1-24 hours before.
50:50 chance between B1046.4 and B1049.3, imho. B1048 is the wildcard right now.
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2. If it's 1049.3, they must either be a) done with the refurbishment already (which would be a huge triumph for Block 5!), or b) planning to do essentially all of the refurb on-site at Vandenberg, which would be a new twist AFAIK.
I agree with the booster being B1046.4. Another option could be B1047.3 but this booster wasn't spotted anywhere else in the US.
99% chance that B1047 is assigned to PSN-6, no real alternative aside from B1048. B1046 was being refurbished at Hawthorne as of Dec 17, while B1049 was no longer at Berth 52 as of Jan 22 and likely shipped out anywhere from 1-24 hours before.
50:50 chance between B1046.4 and B1049.3, imho. B1048 is the wildcard right now.
I think it's 50:50 between B1047 and B1048 for PSN-6 but I'm leaning more towards B1048. Reasoning is that B1048 was in the LC-39A hangar as of December 18. We know FH boosters are arriving to the LC-39A hangar, so B1048 was probably moved after the GPS launch to the SLC-40 hangar.
https://twitter.com/EmreKelly/status/1075066770124365824
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Teslarati says "It’s probably safe to bet that B1052, B1053, and B1055 will be the next three boosters to support a Falcon Heavy launch." Does anyone here think this is a possibility? (https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-falcon-9-booster-highway-spotted-radar-satellite-launch-slip/)
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Meanwhile, I finally went through and tabulated all 2018 core spottings in a spreadsheet! Everything looks great and fits together except for the fact that some contributors seem to have totally forgotten about B1052 and B1053, neither of which has been spotted at or around any SpaceX facilities. B1052 and beyond (excluding B1054) are also the only cores thus far unaccounted for.
At this point, I'm nearly certain that - if they weren't skipped outright - 1052 and 1053 are the next two FH side boosters. Both are now in FL. If we extrapolate numerically, the wrapped-interstage booster spotted in McGregor on Jan 10 would thus be B1055, while B1056 is likely nearing completion in Hawthorne. From the perspective of Occam's Razor, one would have to explain what happened to 1052 and 1053 if they wanted to argue that SpaceX has already completed cores beyond B1054 (imho).
Just my $0.02 :)
Edit: lol mjsuarez, I probably clicked "post" 30 seconds after you :D
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Meanwhile, I finally went through and tabulated all 2018 core spottings in a spreadsheet! Everything looks great and fits together except for the fact that some contributors seem to have totally forgotten about B1052 and B1053, neither of which has been spotted at or around any SpaceX facilities. B1052 and beyond (excluding B1054) are also the only cores thus far unaccounted for.
At this point, I'm nearly certain that - if they weren't skipped outright - 1052 and 1053 are the next two FH side boosters. Both are now in FL. If we extrapolate numerically, the wrapped-interstage booster spotted in McGregor on Jan 10 would thus be B1055, while B1056 is likely nearing completion in Hawthorne. From the perspective of Occam's Razor, one would have to explain what happened to 1052 and 1053 if they wanted to argue that SpaceX has already completed cores beyond B1054 (imho).
Just my $0.02 :)
Edit: lol mjsuarez, I probably clicked "post" 30 seconds after you :D
Looking back in this topic, it seems like the first side booster arrived at the Cape just as 1054 was launching, and so it was assumed that it was 1055. This would make 1051, 1052, and 1053 the CommCrew boosters reserved by NASA and stored at McGregor. 1055, 1056, and 1057 would then be the FH boosters. This thinking also agreed with a reasonable production rate. If at this point we are at 1056 about to leave Hawthorne, booster production is way down. Would like to hear Alexphysics thoughts.
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Meanwhile, I finally went through and tabulated all 2018 core spottings in a spreadsheet! Everything looks great and fits together except for the fact that some contributors seem to have totally forgotten about B1052 and B1053, neither of which has been spotted at or around any SpaceX facilities. B1052 and beyond (excluding B1054) are also the only cores thus far unaccounted for.
At this point, I'm nearly certain that - if they weren't skipped outright - 1052 and 1053 are the next two FH side boosters. Both are now in FL. If we extrapolate numerically, the wrapped-interstage booster spotted in McGregor on Jan 10 would thus be B1055, while B1056 is likely nearing completion in Hawthorne. From the perspective of Occam's Razor, one would have to explain what happened to 1052 and 1053 if they wanted to argue that SpaceX has already completed cores beyond B1054 (imho).
Just my $0.02 :)
Edit: lol mjsuarez, I probably clicked "post" 30 seconds after you :D
Looking back in this topic, it seems like the first side booster arrived at the Cape just as 1054 was launching, and so it was assumed that it was 1055. This would make 1051, 1052, and 1053 the CommCrew boosters reserved by NASA and stored at McGregor. 1055, 1056, and 1057 would then be the FH boosters. This thinking also agreed with a reasonable production rate. If at this point we are at 1056 about to leave Hawthorne, booster production is way down. Would like to hear Alexphysics thoughts.
Yep. The problem I have with that line of thinking is that I'm not aware of an actual source for the idea that CCP boosters were produced back to back. SpaceX has never stockpiled entire stages (AFAIK) and that would thus be a NASA request or requirement that would have been brought up at some point in an ASAP or NAC meeting. Previous CCP presentations (like at the March 2018 NAC HEO meeting) have specifically referred to Falcon production when applicable, but nothing has been mentioned about the status of F9 builds for DM-2 or any mission beyond it.
Perhaps I've just forgotten a crucial sentence or presentation from 2018, but the core spottings and production slack just aren't there to support the idea that two extra boosters were completed and shipped in the last ~10 months (Feb-Dec). B1046 was shipped in mid-Feb 2018 and we have enough observations since then to account for at least ten boosters shipped in that period (B1046-B1051, B1054, FH: 2 side, 1 center), or an average of one booster shipped out of Hawthorne every ~30 days. It would be hard to ask for a better production pace for such a new vehicle.
It basically becomes more of a question of whether SpaceX has reserved core numbers 52 and 53 for Commercial Crew, as they clearly haven't built the boosters for DM-2 or PCM-1 yet.
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I would leave part of my thoughts here but part of them would be based on L2 info so... *zips mouth* :)
All I can say is that all what I thought was true these past months it is not and that we will have to wait for these boosters to be unwrapped and sitting on the pad to... *drumroll* DISCOVER THE TRUTH /j
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I would leave part of my thoughts here but part of them would be based on L2 info so... *zips mouth* :)
All I can say is that all what I thought was true these past months it is not and that we will have to wait for these boosters to be unwrapped and sitting on the pad to... *drumroll* DISCOVER THE TRUTH /j
OK. So I'll change my spreadsheet to 1052-55-53 for FH and 1056 for DM-2.
I think L2 silence is silly once this sort of unsourced, yet all-but-certain, press speculation appears.
I am not saying the Teslarati info has anything to do with L2. I don't even know what's on L2---I stopped paying because I disliked its secrecy aspect. But the whole thing does leave me scratching my head.
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I would leave part of my thoughts here but part of them would be based on L2 info so... *zips mouth* :)
All I can say is that all what I thought was true these past months it is not and that we will have to wait for these boosters to be unwrapped and sitting on the pad to... *drumroll* DISCOVER THE TRUTH /j
OK. So I'll change my spreadsheet to 1052-55-53 for FH and 1056 for DM-2.
I think L2 silence is silly once this sort of unsourced, yet all-but-certain, press speculation appears.
I am not saying the Teslarati info has anything to do with L2. I don't even know what's on L2---I stopped paying because I disliked its secrecy aspect. But the whole thing does leave me scratching my head.
As one of the people paying close attention to core movements and predicting which core is where and when, mainly for L2, I have to stress that all is pure speculation, except for some tid-bits of which some were not meant to even go to L2... ;)
Earlier thinking was heavily based on a statement that SpaceX was effectively producing cores every 20 days..
There were some signs that did seem to collaborate this production pace, hence we kept using it. Even when some cores were not seen being transported..
We are now moving our thinking to a much lower and less predictable production pace and that no core has reached McGregor unseen...
This last assumption would collaborate the theory that 1052 and 1053 actually were never moved to McGregor prior to 1054... between 1051 and 1054 was a big gap and it seems that actually was a production gap.
It is uncertain if cores were moved and parked internally at Hawthorne, which could explain the gap...
For now most of us seem to be getting more and more convinced that the next FH indeed is 1052-1055-1053...
1056 would then be the next out of Hawthorne any time now.
Regarding the value of L2 and it 'secrecy'.. L2 is meant to be a source of information that Chris and others can use to compose articles from. It is indeed not to be disclosed to public domain, but anyone can join, so in some sense still open to the public.
The fact that this sub-community is impressively self-managing, gives several sources the confidence to share small pieces of interesting information not shared in the public domain. Leaking from L2 would greatly harm this trust and stop these sources from sharing.
The money being payed for L2 is going directly to maintaining the servers of NSF, public and L2... And we all benefit greatly from this service, especially on launch days or when something else spectacular happened. ;)
So paying for L2 is your way of enabling NSF to keep providing the amazing service they are providing us all..
As a nice bonus you get access to a lot of information that is not yet shared (and sometimes never shared) in public domain..
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I would leave part of my thoughts here but part of them would be based on L2 info so... *zips mouth* :)
All I can say is that all what I thought was true these past months it is not and that we will have to wait for these boosters to be unwrapped and sitting on the pad to... *drumroll* DISCOVER THE TRUTH /j
OK. So I'll change my spreadsheet to 1052-55-53 for FH and 1056 for DM-2.
I think L2 silence is silly once this sort of unsourced, yet all-but-certain, press speculation appears.
I am not saying the Teslarati info has anything to do with L2. I don't even know what's on L2---I stopped paying because I disliked its secrecy aspect. But the whole thing does leave me scratching my head.
As one of the people paying close attention to core movements and predicting which core is where and when, mainly for L2, I have to stress that all is pure speculation, except for some tid-bits of which some were not meant to even go to L2... ;)
Earlier thinking was heavily based on a statement that SpaceX was effectively producing cores every 20 days..
There were some signs that did seem to collaborate this production pace, hence we kept using it. Even when some cores were not seen being transported..
We are now moving our thinking to a much lower and less predictable production pace and that no core has reached McGregor unseen...
This last assumption would collaborate the theory that 1052 and 1053 actually were never moved to McGregor prior to 1054... between 1051 and 1054 was a big gap and it seems that actually was a production gap.
It is uncertain if cores were moved and parked internally at Hawthorne, which could explain the gap...
For now most of us seem to be getting more and more convinced that the next FH indeed is 1052-1055-1053...
1056 would then be the next out of Hawthorne any time now.
Regarding the value of L2 and it 'secrecy'.. L2 is meant to be a source of information that Chris and others can use to compose articles from. It is indeed not to be disclosed to public domain, but anyone can join, so in some sense still open to the public.
The fact that this sub-community is impressively self-managing, gives several sources the confidence to share small pieces of interesting information not shared in the public domain. Leaking from L2 would greatly harm this trust and stop these sources from sharing.
The money being payed for L2 is going directly to maintaining the servers of NSF, public and L2... And we all benefit greatly from this service, especially on launch days or when something else spectacular happened. ;)
So paying for L2 is your way of enabling NSF to keep providing the amazing service they are providing us all..
As a nice bonus you get access to a lot of information that is not yet shared (and sometimes never shared) in public domain..
I should add that, given the fact that they have been moving a few boosters back and forth we can't even ensure that the next booster to leave the factory will be indeed B1056 or if even this booster has already gone to McGregor or something like that. It is really a challenge but it is one that I accept happily as these surprises make the "game" more funny and enjoyable. I always say I like surprises and SpaceX really knows how to surprise me.
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Focusing solely on what info that's readily available to the public, we can see that, for CRS missions, NASA only tends to reuse B5 boosters that have flown on previous NASA missions. My bet is CRS-17 will utilize B1052 as there probably won't be enough of a turnaround to reuse B1051.
This precedence may have changed since CRS-15 and, if so, then all bets are off on core assignments: B1048 is likely the PSN-6 booster, so B1047 might be the CRS-17 booster then, but I do not think this is likely.
We know B1054 was reserved for GPS III and was expended, and we can count 3 FH boosters that have left Hawthorne and arrived at McGregor. My bet's that these boosters are B1053, B1055, and B1056, but we do not know which-is-which.
From the FCC filing for the next FH mission, OCISLY is located nearly 1,000 km downrange. This will be an intensely challenging landing with a higher chance of failure. STP-2 is to reuse the ArabSat 6A boosters, so it's a safe guess that a backup will be available. My guess is that this is B1057 or B1058.
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Focusing solely on what info that's readily available to the public, we can see that, for CRS missions, NASA only tends to reuse B5 boosters that have flown on previous NASA missions. My bet is CRS-17 will utilize B1052 as there probably won't be enough of a turnaround to reuse B1051.
This precedence may have changed since CRS-15 and, if so, then all bets are off on core assignments: B1048 is likely the PSN-6 booster, so B1047 might be the CRS-17 booster then, but I do not think this is likely.
We know B1054 was reserved for GPS III and was expended, and we can count 3 FH boosters that have left Hawthorne and arrived at McGregor. My bet's that these boosters are B1053, B1055, and B1056, but we do not know which-is-which.
From the FCC filing for the next FH mission, OCISLY is located nearly 1,000 km downrange. This will be an intensely challenging landing with a higher chance of failure. STP-2 is to reuse the ArabSat 6A boosters, so it's a safe guess that a backup will be available. My guess is that this is B1057 or B1058.
I am beginning to think that the strange production gap might have to do with them producing two FH centers. Both taking much longer then normal cores. So indeed 1055 and 1056 or 1057 being FH centers.
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Focusing solely on what info that's readily available to the public, we can see that, for CRS missions, NASA only tends to reuse B5 boosters that have flown on previous NASA missions. My bet is CRS-17 will utilize B1052 as there probably won't be enough of a turnaround to reuse B1051.
This precedence may have changed since CRS-15 and, if so, then all bets are off on core assignments: B1048 is likely the PSN-6 booster, so B1047 might be the CRS-17 booster then, but I do not think this is likely.
I recall that the deciding criteria was the return profile of the core. If the core has a gentle descend, its a candidate for a NASA mission. In the past, that was mostly dragon missions, hence the (in my opinion) misconception that NASA only wants cores from previous NASA missions.
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Focusing solely on what info that's readily available to the public, we can see that, for CRS missions, NASA only tends to reuse B5 boosters that have flown on previous NASA missions. My bet is CRS-17 will utilize B1052 as there probably won't be enough of a turnaround to reuse B1051.
This precedence may have changed since CRS-15 and, if so, then all bets are off on core assignments: B1048 is likely the PSN-6 booster, so B1047 might be the CRS-17 booster then, but I do not think this is likely.
I recall that the deciding criteria was the return profile of the core. If the core has a gentle descend, its a candidate for a NASA mission. In the past, that was mostly dragon missions, hence the (in my opinion) misconception that NASA only wants cores from previous NASA missions.
Yup, it's mostly this. Things can change but I doubt they'll start reusing GTO boosters on a twice flown one. They'll get there... I hope
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Focusing solely on what info that's readily available to the public, we can see that, for CRS missions, NASA only tends to reuse B5 boosters that have flown on previous NASA missions. My bet is CRS-17 will utilize B1052 as there probably won't be enough of a turnaround to reuse B1051.
This precedence may have changed since CRS-15 and, if so, then all bets are off on core assignments: B1048 is likely the PSN-6 booster, so B1047 might be the CRS-17 booster then, but I do not think this is likely.
I recall that the deciding criteria was the return profile of the core. If the core has a gentle descend, its a candidate for a NASA mission. In the past, that was mostly dragon missions, hence the (in my opinion) misconception that NASA only wants cores from previous NASA missions.
You're right, I forgot NASA's Grace-FO flew on a booster that hadn't previously flown on a NASA mission just last year. Still though, this precedence rules out any available booster.*
*Unless the assumption that I made that B1048 is flying on PSN-6 is incorrect and NASA is ready to fly a booster on its third flight, which isn't impossible.
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Falcon spotted enroute to Cape Canaveral, likely FH center stage.
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Falcon spotted enroute to Cape Canaveral, likely FH center stage.
Link to the post on Reddit, picture below, can't tell of any bumps on the interstage....
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/apit4c/j_murrahs_photo_of_a_first_stage_heading_east_at/
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Falcon spotted enroute to Cape Canaveral, likely FH center stage.
Link to the post on Reddit, picture below, can't tell of any bumps on the interstage....
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/apit4c/j_murrahs_photo_of_a_first_stage_heading_east_at/
More than a little tenuous but this does look very much like a rectangular component in the right place to be FH-specific. It's definitely not a normal feature of F9 boosters in transport.
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Elon has just stated B1048 will refly again in April. Also was a FCC filing for an unknown April launch with a high inclination from the Cape, so I'm going to guess it's for that mission.
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Elon has just stated B1048 will refly again in April. Also was a FCC filing for an unknown April launch with a high inclination from the Cape, so I'm going to guess it's for that mission.
Maybe? Their environmental docs for the test said flat out it would be expendable, but SpaceX tends to change things.
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Elon has just stated B1048 will refly again in April. Also was a FCC filing for an unknown April launch with a high inclination from the Cape, so I'm going to guess it's for that mission.
Maybe? Their environmental docs for the test said flat out it would be expendable, but SpaceX tends to change things.
Looks like I was wrong! B1048 will fly the inflight abort test per Elon:
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1098768310844313601
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B1048 is on its way to a SpaceX hangar :)
https://www.instagram.com/nightmareonnelmstreet/p/BuZN3IuHgZe/
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There are two boosters visible inside HIF in the new Crew Dragon video. I'm guessing they're the Arabsat sideboosters?
https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1101180975663407105
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There are two boosters visible inside HIF in the new Crew Dragon video. I'm guessing they're the Arabsat sideboosters?
From observations, I believe we can say for sure that at least one of them is a side core. The other could be a center (presumed) or side core.
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There are two boosters visible inside HIF in the new Crew Dragon video. I'm guessing they're the Arabsat sideboosters?
From observations, I believe we can say for sure that at least one of them is a side core. The other could be a center (presumed) or side core.
I would guess that all three are in the HIF based on the placement of the one closest to 1051 in the rollout video, but thats only a wild guess.
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There are two boosters visible inside HIF in the new Crew Dragon video. I'm guessing they're the Arabsat sideboosters?
From observations, I believe we can say for sure that at least one of them is a side core. The other could be a center (presumed) or side core.
I would guess that all three are in the HIF based on the placement of the one closest to 1051 in the rollout video, but thats only a wild guess.
A brilliant idea. Then let's have a look at the integration building at LC-39A. According to OSM and Google Maps, it's about 93-94 m long. And if this (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=41947.msg1625598#msg1625598) is correct, a Falcon 9 v1.2 booster incl. interstage has a total length of ~ 47 m. (Afaik there was no substancial change with Block 5). Now, from that video, I guess that there is ~ 5 m space in front of the booster to the left. Do the math, and you find out that - unfortunatly - there is not enough space to store a third booster in the back.
(Note that the integration hangar is less wide than the outline on that OSM map - there is some lower building attached to the left. Therfore I left the space to the left.)
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A brilliant idea. Then let's have a look at the integration building at LC-39A. According to OSM and Google Maps, it's about 93-94 m long. And if this (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=41947.msg1625598#msg1625598) is correct, a Falcon 9 v1.2 booster incl. interstage has a total length of ~ 47 m. (Afaik there was no substancial change with Block 5). Now, from that video, I guess that there is ~ 5 m space in front of the booster to the left. Do the math, and you find out that - unfortunatly - there is not enough space to store a third booster in the back.
(Note that the integration hangar is less wide than the outline on that OSM map - there is some lower building attached to the left. Therfore I left the space to the left.)
Nah, I just mean 2 boosters on the left. Theres room in the HIF for 5 across if they want to do it, the TEL makes it very very tight.
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https://twitter.com/mike_seeley/status/1101542709330890752
During remote camera setup for the #SpaceX #DM1 launch, we were photobombed by a second stage...
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A while back a new thread was started "SpaceX Core Reuse Schedule" in Missions section which I thought was a great idea. The first post had a chart which I expected the thread's creator to keep up, but he didn't. I don't think it really belonged in the Missions section as it functionally duplicated info here. However I really like the idea of the first post being a chart and maintained so you can always go to one place to view current status.
Two things, I have created a chart and would like your input both on what it shows and Current Status. and second, do you think it is worth starting a new thread? Or is this already being done somewhere, link please.
Edit: Just to clarify, is somebody doing this on nasaspaceflight.
Edit: Added to definitions.
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A while back a new thread was started "SpaceX Core Reuse Schedule" in Missions section which I thought was a great idea. The first post had a chart which I expected the thread's creator to keep up, but he didn't. I don't think it really belonged in the Missions section as it functionally duplicated info here. However I really like the idea of the first post being a chart and maintained so you can always go to one place to view current status.
Two things, I have created a chart and would like your input both on what it shows and Current Status. and second, do you think it is worth starting a new thread? Or is this already being done somewhere, link please.
Edit: Just to clarify, is somebody doing this on nasaspaceflight.
I created that thread and I still keep an updated schedule, but didn't seem like there was enough interest to keep updating the thread. I will post an update tonight. I'm glad you found it useful.
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What does the A in the available column mean?
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What does the A in the available column mean?
I was planning on following Stephan.Christoff's design having A= Available, R= being Refurbished, N= Not available.
Unless of course there are others here with a better suggestion.
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FWIW. I use this site for core info
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/wiki/cores (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/wiki/cores)
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Now that we know CRS-17 will use a new core (1056) when should we expect it to head to McGregor? The flight is scheduled for NET April 25th as of now.
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Now that we know CRS-17 will use a new core (1056) when should we expect it to head to McGregor? The flight is scheduled for NET April 25th as of now.
So has this been confirmed? I thought CRS-17 might use DM1's 1051 core.
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And I thought it had been confirmed that 1051 would be S1 for the In-Flight Abort test.
corrected spelling error
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Now that we know CRS-17 will use a new core (1056) when should we expect it to head to McGregor? The flight is scheduled for NET April 25th as of now.
So has this been confirmed? I thought CRS-17 might use DM1's 1051 core.
Yes, it was confirmed on good sourcing in a recent article here at NSF, in addition to the facts that 1051.2 will be used for RADARSAT, and STP-2 will reuse ArabSat's 1052/1053 side boosters but not its center core (1057 is being newly constructed for that): https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/03/falcon-heavy-starlink-headline-spacexs-manifest/
The article also revealed the first dedicated Starlink launch, which is scheduled for NET May. No word on which core it'll use. My guess would be 1046.4, simply because SpaceX has every incentive to use their own flights for envelope-pushing, and we know 1048.4 is earmarked for IFA, but who knows. :)
I too was surprised to hear about CRS-17 going on a new core instead of 1051.2. 1051 seemed like the obvious choice because it would have (I'd thought) fit NASA's criteria perfectly. I wouldn't be surprised if that was indeed the original plan. But we're likely seeing the ongoing scheduling impacts of 1050 taking a bath, since 1050.2 had been slated for RADARSAT. It seems the RADARSAT people contracted for a .2 booster, and ended up sticking to that instead of relaxing their reuse standards to avoid a delay. Since SpaceX doesn't currently have any .2's in stock besides 1051, they'd either have to bump RADARSAT to a new core (assuming the contract would even allow that, although it probably would), or bump CRS-17 to a new core. Either way a new core has to enter the mix. They appear to have chosen the latter.
The article did mention that "this is subject to change", so it may be a subject of ongoing negotiations. Perhaps one or both of the customers may yet be willing to relax their reuse standards and accept a booster of more advanced age.
The news of STP-2 now being planned as 1052.2/1057.1/1053.2 is also quite interesting, although not surprising in retrospect. As the article notes, the center core recovery on ArabSat-6A (1055.1) is going to be quite challenging, because FH center cores reach a higher velocity than F9s and it'll be landing very far downrange. Presumably it'll have far less of a margin to scrub that extra velocity with a boostback burn than the FH-Demo mission (with its very tiny payload) did. Even if they do get it back without a problem, the odds are still distinct that it may require extra refurb time since it'll have been through a lot and they haven't had experience refurbing a center core yet. So it makes sense to build a second one to ensure STP-2 isn't delayed.
Having a total of two FH center cores in permanent rotation long-term would make a lot of sense. There aren't a lot of FH flights, so they don't need a lot of them, but having at least two is wise so their whole schedule isn't at the mercy of one thing going wrong. No such problem exists with side boosters since they can be converted from F9s on (apparently) short notice, and they've got tons of those.
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And I thought it had been confirmed that 1051 would be S1 for the In-Flight Abort test.
corrected spelling error
So did most of us (including me)! :) Apparently 1048 (and maybe some/all of the other pre-1051 boosters) has been upgraded to COPV 2.0 standards during one of its refurbs.
1048.4 being assigned for IFA is straight from the horse's mouth (er, Elon's Twitter) so it's definitely legit news.
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Yes, it was confirmed on good sourcing in a recent article here at NSF, ...
Dang, I even read that article. Just can't keep the numbers in my skull straight!
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Updated with above info.
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Does anyone even know of what became of Core 1050?
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Does anyone even know of what became of Core 1050?
It was recovered, towed into Port Canaveral, and taken to an undisclosed SpaceX facility at CCAFS. No additional info has been provided (else it would be here or at least in L2).
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I was expecting core 1051 to been seen traveling West by now. It is supposed to launch RadarSat mission next month..
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In the video in the following tweet, there is a sooty booster to the West (right) side of LC-39A hangar. I assume that is B1048, waiting for the in-flight abort test in June. You can see people working on that core, even rotating it.
On the East (left) side, there seems to be an incomplete, wrapped-up booster.
https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1114611309180411905
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On the East (left) side, there seems to be an incomplete, wrapped-up booster.
Air conditioning vent on the ceiling ;)
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In the video in the following tweet, there is a sooty booster to the West (right) side of LC-39A hangar. I assume that is B1048, waiting for the in-flight abort test in June.
It may be 1046 for Starlink, since it is early May.
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B1048 or B1046 would look A LOT sootier, both have completed 3 flights. That one seems to have been used once which would make it B1051 being refurbished for RADARSAT.
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B1048 or B1046 would look A LOT sootier, both have completed 3 flights. That one seems to have been used once which would make it B1051 being refurbished for RADARSAT.
Good point! So they are getting it ready for the trip. Presumably we will see it soon.
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Heh, it seems I was right ;)
https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1114932861478395905
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Core spotted near FL state-line:
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/batw93/core_spotted_by_the_state_line_in_fl_on_my_way_to/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app
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Core spotted near FL state-line:
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/batw93/core_spotted_by_the_state_line_in_fl_on_my_way_to/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app
Most seem to think it is 1056 although 1046 is a good possibility. The main argument against 1056 is that it should already be at LC40, is there any indication this is true?
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Most seem to think it is 1056 although 1046 is a good possibility. The main argument against 1056 is that it should already be at LC40, is there any indication this is true?
Given that Starlink-1 is scheduled for some time in May, it does seem like 1046 should be heading East around now. If it's the one just seen at the state line it'd be right on schedule for a mid/late-May launch.
If we see another booster heading to the Cape within the next week or so, it's almost certain that one of them will have been 1046 and the other 1056. Either we'll see that soon, or we missed one of them, or CRS-16 has been delayed substantially. "We" seem to be doing a good job not missing any lately (the last time we thought we missed some, we incorrectly assumed that 1052 and 1053 were F9 boosters being stockpiled at MacGregor; we later learned we hadn't, in fact, missed anything and SpaceX took their time making the FH cores), so I'm hesitant to conclude that. In particular, the Florida/Alabama weigh station is a known bottleneck that quite a few folks have the opportunity to consistently watch these days. It'd take some doing to escape all those watchful eyes.
I'd be really surprised if they use any booster other than 1046(.4) for Starlink-1. It's the obvious choice given that it's difficult (and perhaps costly, in terms of extra discounts or other motivating concessions) to find customers willing to "push the envelope" with reflight beyond what's been demonstrated before. It's true that this first Starlink flight is extremely important for their future business plans (the FCC deadlines make it crucial that they get the constellation up on schedule), so on that token, they shouldn't be any more willing to take any unnecessary risks with this flight than their average comsat customer would. However, demonstrating the safety of reuse is also critical to their future plans, so they likewise can't afford to certify a booster for reflight at all unless they're confident it will be safe and reliable. (A RUD on a reflight, even if it's "just" one of their own Starlink flights, would be devastating to customer confidence in reuse. Not to mention that it would ground the fleet for likely months during an investigation, something they can't really afford.) Thus, with only themselves to convince, they should be quite willing to "push the envelope" by flying Starlink-1 on the inaugural .4 flight.
Not flying Starlink-1 on 1046.4 would be a telling tacit admission of unconfidence in their ability to push to a fourth flight. It would indicate that either a) they don't trust 1046 to fly a fourth time, or b) they haven't had sufficient time to inspect and refurbish it and are concerned about schedule risk for the (rather time-critical) Starlink-1 mission. Either case would not look great for them, and would run counter to the impression we've been given publicly, which is that the boosters are largely in great shape and that they're getting better and better at turning them around quickly. 1046 last flew in December, so by mid-May they'll have had 6 months to inspect and refurbish, which should, at this point, be plenty even if they had to replace a lot of key parts.
Here're my current educated guesses (combined with known info) as to what the upcoming manifest will look like:
* 1052.1 + 1055.1 + 1053.1: Arabsat-6A (known)
* 1056.1: CRS-17 (known)
* 1051.2: RADARSAT (known)
* 1047.3: AMOS-17
* 1046.4: Starlink-1
* 1052.2 + 1057.1 + 1053.2: STP-2 (known)
* 1048.4: Crew Dragon IFA (known)
* 1056.2: CRS-18
1047.3 for AMOS-17 is a total guess, but I think it seems likely given that it's a) on the right coast already; b) wouldn't "push the envelope", as expected for a common comsat customer; and c) has been waiting the longest of the twice-flown boosters since its last flight. We know that AMOS-17 is supposed to fly on a flight-proven boosters, so it's either that or 1049.3, with which it is tied for "flight age". 1049 was flown more recently so, per their standard practice, it should refly after 1047. (They only seem to break that practice when there's a compelling reason, like not having to ship a booster cross-country or fulfilling a customer's preference for a less-flown booster.)
1056.2 for CRS-18 is also an educated guess but, I think, a very likely one. NASA seems to still be keen on sticking to "its own" (or at least, the government's) previously-flown boosters which have only flown one gentle mission. The fact that they are ordering a new booster (1056.1) for CRS-17 is evidence of this - otherwise the logical move would be to grab 1049, which clearly isn't needed anywhere else in the near future (barring unannounced flights). 1056.2 would be within the established norms for CRS reflight acceptability. If they can avoid using 1056 for any non-NASA flights after CRS-18, I think it is quite likely we'll see CRS-19 flying on 1056.3. It's high time NASA took that next step to .3 and a "CRS-only" booster would be the most attractive option for doing so.
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Could we maybe keep the reuse speculation in the "SpaceX Core Reuse Schedule" thread at https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=45247.0, and keep this thread dedicated to actual core sightings?
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Could we maybe keep the reuse speculation in the "SpaceX Core Reuse Schedule" thread at https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=45247.0, and keep this thread dedicated to actual core sightings?
Ah, I wasn't aware of that thread, thanks. Sorry about that.
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Personally, I don't think there should be two threads that overlap this much. Core spotting is an integral part of guessing about reuse scheduling. This thread has been going a lot longer and I think more appropriate. Also is core reuse scheduling a Mission? I don't think so.
I think this should be the only one used, and let the other one die. Maybe the title of this one should be changed to "SpaceX Core Spotting and Reuse Scheduling".
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A booster was spotted passing through Tucson heading East.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10157450656301318/ (https://www.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10157450656301318/)
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A booster was spotted passing through Tucson heading East.
I am guessing 1046 or 1049 going to Cape for Starlink or the center core of STP2 going to McGregor.
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A booster was spotted passing through Tucson heading East.
I am guessing 1046 or 1049 going to Cape for Starlink or the center core of STP2 going to McGregor.
I thought 1057 for STP-2 was already spotted at McGregor. Looks like the legs are attached, first time I have seen this.
Edt: I take back my statement about 1057 spotted at McGregor it was 1055 some time ago.
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I don't know where you see legs, it is all bulges here and there at the base but nothing concrete I really can't say too much about them. If the booster is a new booster it'll go to McGregor and there we'll know if it is center core or not (remember those don't have the SpaceX logo so it's very easy to identify them on the test stand). If it is a used booster it'll go directly to Florida and we'll know too as there is a very cool guy on the facebook that always posts about cores passing through the weight station at the state line and he will probably post something if he sees the booster.
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I thought 1057 for STP-2 was already spotted at McGregor.
I missed that! Can you point me to it.
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I thought 1057 for STP-2 was already spotted at McGregor.
I missed that! Can you point me to it.
My mistake, thinking about FH core and it was the previous 1055 for Arabsat.
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No worries.
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First post. Please let me know if I've done anything wrong.
So family and I were coming back from Grand Canyon and we think we saw a core. Wish we'd gotten a picture but it wasn't until it was driving by that we figured we were looking at a core rather than a wind generator tower.
The route was wacky though. A road that's not well traveled. Route 238 between Gila Bend AZ and Maricopa AZ.
It was wild. Minimum of 4 police cars, two wide load trucks, and two unmarked SUV's plus the core itself. The road is only two lane so the police made us pull off the road onto the shoulder.
Any chance they'd travel such a wacky road?
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From the Spacex lounge Reddit, a core has been spotted heading west, was spotted in Louisiana. My guess is this is B1051 heading to Vandy for the Radarsat mission.
https://www.reddit.com/r/SpaceXLounge/comments/bdvi3d/dont_know_which_core_this_could_be_was_in/
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A booster has been seen on the road going through Florida headed to KSC. I wouldn't rule out this being the booster seen in Tucson 4-5 days ago. The user that posted the picture thought it might have been the next FH center core but there is not the noticeable bump on the interstage from the center core longeron, so this looks like a normal Falcon 9 booster. If it is indeed the one seen in Tucson, this is most probably a flight proven booster which is something I wouldn't rule out considering they have Starlink-1 and Amos 17 coming up next month and for Starlink-1 it would be tight but since it is their own mission they may want to go faster, for Amos-17 the schedule matches with other missions we've seen. If it is a new booster that has come from McGregor... I don't even think there's any near term F9 mission that will use a new booster that shouldn't already be at the cape. Might be for CRS-18 if they don't reuse the booster from CRS-17 but who knows, it would be too early to move it to the cape... So my bet is on this being a reused booster going to the Cape for Amos-17 (which would mean this could be B1049 or B1046).
https://www.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10157461757136318/
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A booster has been seen on the road going through Florida headed to KSC. I wouldn't rule out this being the booster seen in Tucson 4-5 days ago. The user that posted the picture thought it might have been the next FH center core but there is not the noticeable bump on the interstage from the center core longeron, so this looks like a normal Falcon 9 booster. If it is indeed the one seen in Tucson, this is most probably a flight proven booster which is something I wouldn't rule out considering they have Starlink-1 and Amos 17 coming up next month and for Starlink-1 it would be tight but since it is their own mission they may want to go faster, for Amos-17 the schedule matches with other missions we've seen. If it is a new booster that has come from McGregor... I don't even think there's any near term F9 mission that will use a new booster that shouldn't already be at the cape. Might be for CRS-18 if they don't reuse the booster from CRS-17 but who knows, it would be too early to move it to the cape... So my bet is on this being a reused booster going to the Cape for Amos-17 (which would mean this could be B1049 or B1046).
https://www.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10157461757136318/
Or it is the booster for 1st Starlink mission.. My money is on this being 1046-4 for that mission.
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Sorry I left out a crucial piece of information.
If it was heading East. Coming from Gila Bend towards Maricopa AZ.
Also, it was at 7:30 am (if that helps at all).
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Sorry I left out a crucial piece of information.
If it was heading East. Coming from Gila Bend towards Maricopa AZ.
Also, it was at 7:30 am (if that helps at all).
Heading East is what we assumed.. and correlates with the other sighting of likely same core in FL.
Almost certainly either 1046-4 or 1049-3
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Another booster spotted in Willcox, AZ. The user wrote the direction wrong (as usual...) and it was not going westbound but eastbound. Booster has the white wrapping that we usually see for new boosters coming out of Hawthorne and going to McGregor. So this is most likely a new booster and if you look closer at the interstage, you'll notice there is a noticeable bump that correlates very well with the shape and position of the FH center core longeron (I did a very poor edit to remark it, I hope it's good enough hehe...). So... I would 100% bet this is B1057, the next FH center core.
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/bdznvn/westbound_booster_in_willcox_az/
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I would 100% bet this is B1057, the next FH center core.
Didn't you say recently that B1057 was already at the Cape? I found that hard to believe at the time, but maybe I'm confusing you with somebody else.
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I would 100% bet this is B1057, the next FH center core.
Didn't you say recently that B1057 was already at the Cape? I found that hard to believe at the time, but maybe I'm confusing you with somebody else.
Mmmm I don't remember saying that, I might have been talking about B1056 which should have already been at the cape for at least a month if they were wanting to launch it by April 25/26. B1057 being moved now to McGregor sounds about right, give them about 3-4 weeks for testing and then they'll move it to the Cape around mid-to-late May which is also nice for a June 22nd launch (as they're currently planning, things might change, of course).
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Sorry I left out a crucial piece of information.
If it was heading East. Coming from Gila Bend towards Maricopa AZ.
Also, it was at 7:30 am (if that helps at all).
Heading East is what we assumed.. and correlates with the other sighting of likely same core in FL.
Almost certainly either 1046-4 or 1049-3
Lottomunch, welcome to NSF. No you didn't do anything wrong in your first post!
As I understand it, the route used may sometimes go in unexpected ways because of clearance issues... not all freeway underpasses are the same height, and sometimes 13' 4" isn't quite enough.
If this is an interchange, routing up the exit and then back onto the freeway via the onramp works, but if it's just some crossing that isn't an interchange, you may have to route around that segment of freeway. And if your first route itself has clearance issues, that can cascade.
Bridge clearances are not the only problem, there may be construction using narrow lanes that needs to be avoided as well. These are harder to "exit-reenter" avoid.
Finally there may be dynamic issues. If a routing is on a twolane, if there is another wide load coming the other way, that segment may not be usable as there is no way to pass each other safely.
So each movement may need to be planned separately, or worse, replanned, if it slips a few days.
That's all as I understand it.
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If the newly spotted core is of a FH core, doesn't that indicate another FH on the manifest this year after STP-2? That would be news to me.
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If the newly spotted core is of a FH core, doesn't that indicate another FH on the manifest this year after STP-2? That would be news to me.
No, it would be the STP-2 center core.
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Julia B spotted an S2 waiting to enter the cape yesterday, with all the missions coming up it would be impossible to know for sure which mission this is for..... Could either be for AMOS-17, Starlink, or STP-2.....
https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/status/1120034748619984898
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Booster seen going out of Florida on the I-10. There was a previous sightning of a booster on a road very close to Cape Canaveral and moving in the opposite direction from the base (ie it was leaving the cape) so maybe two sightnings of the same booster. This is most probably B1051 going to Vandenberg for RADARSAT.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10157480717931318/
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At least two people reported seeing black smoke over the McGregor test facility earlier today. One of them included a video and it left clear it was a booster firing as it can be seen around the center of the frame. SpaceX later confirmed it was B1057, the next and third ever FH center core (not counting STA), firing up and being tested at McGregor in preparation for STP-2, this also matches previous sightning of that booster on the road a week or so ago.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10157486005936318/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10157485894741318/
https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1121974223566561281
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Spotted in Maricopa, Arizona yesterday by my brother and posted with his permission.
https://youtu.be/B2IyNXXGQLE (https://youtu.be/B2IyNXXGQLE)
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Spotted in Maricopa, Arizona yesterday by my brother and posted with his permission.
Going west?
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Spotted in Maricopa, Arizona yesterday by my brother and posted with his permission.
Going west?
He speculatively thought so, but I didn't press him on details. He just discovered rocketry, and he's been asking me questions ever since. "What kind of propusion does the Blue Origen 4 have? Ion, Plasma?" I suppose I could ask a few more of my own.
He talked to those guys making adjustments on the carriages, and was told it was for the purpose of making the turn directly ahead.
Should I ask him? I could probably get the exact spot, and maybe which way they were turning.
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Spotted in Maricopa, Arizona yesterday by my brother and posted with his permission.
Going west?
He speculatively thought so, but I didn't press him on details. He just discovered rocketry, and he's been asking me questions ever since. "What kind of propusion does the Blue Origen 4 have? Ion, Plasma?" I suppose I could ask a few more of my own.
He talked to those guys making adjustments on the carriages, and was told it was for the purpose of making the turn directly ahead.
Should I ask him? I could probably get the exact spot, and maybe which way they were turning.
Most likely 1051 on its way to Vandenberg.
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Updated table, as always please report any errors or omissions.
Edit: updated per scr00chy, rhardy, pm3 and DatUser14 below.
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Updated table, as always please report any errors or omissions.
B1046 is assigned to IFA and B1048 to Starlink:
According to the Environmental Assessment for the test, the launch vehicle will be destroyed after Crew Dragon performs its abort.
While Musk previously stated that the test would be the fourth flight of the first stage booster B1048, it is now understood that plans have changed and the launch will instead feature the fourth flight of B1046 – the first ever Block 5 booster.
It is believed that B1048 has instead been manifested for the first dedicated mission of SpaceX’s Starlink internet constellation scheduled for no earlier than May.
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/04/spacexs-crew-dragon-spacecraft-anomaly-static-fire-testing/
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Updated table, as always please report any errors or omissions.
B1046 is assigned to IFA and B1048 to Starlink:
According to the Environmental Assessment for the test, the launch vehicle will be destroyed after Crew Dragon performs its abort.
While Musk previously stated that the test would be the fourth flight of the first stage booster B1048, it is now understood that plans have changed and the launch will instead feature the fourth flight of B1046 – the first ever Block 5 booster.
It is believed that B1048 has instead been manifested for the first dedicated mission of SpaceX’s Starlink internet constellation scheduled for no earlier than May.
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/04/spacexs-crew-dragon-spacecraft-anomaly-static-fire-testing/
Thank you, table corrected.
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Updated table, as always please report any errors or omissions.
The above Arizona sighting was on 29 Apr, two days earlier.
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B1056.2 confirmed for CRS-18, pending recovery
https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF/status/1124589567577870337
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Been a while since we've seen any cores on the move...
Do we know if 1057 is still at McGregor? The June 22 date for STP-2 is looking pretty serious now - we're close enough to it that if it was going to slip a lot, we'd probably have heard something. But if it is indeed going to launch June 22, they should be assembling the three cores at the Cape right about now.
Have any core static fires been reported at McGregor lately? I know I read a week or two ago that there's an engine test every day or two as usual, but full core firings should be a lot noisier.
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Been a while since we've seen any cores on the move...
Do we know if 1057 is still at McGregor? The June 22 date for STP-2 is looking pretty serious now - we're close enough to it that if it was going to slip a lot, we'd probably have heard something. But if it is indeed going to launch June 22, they should be assembling the three cores at the Cape right about now.
Have any core static fires been reported at McGregor lately? I know I read a week or two ago that there's an engine test every day or two as usual, but full core firings should be a lot noisier.
Reddit et al tracked it from Hawthorne through McGregor to the cape over the past few weeks. USAF announced it was at 39A today. https://twitter.com/AF_SMC/status/1136065718250643456
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Reddit et al tracked it from Hawthorne through McGregor to the cape over the past few weeks. USAF announced it was at 39A today. https://twitter.com/AF_SMC/status/1136065718250643456
Ah that makes sense, I must have missed the earlier reporting at Reddit in the rush of posts following the Starlink launch. USAF tweet just got submitted there an hour ago. :-)
Has anyone seen 1058 leave Hawthorne yet? They've certainly been taking their sweet time with that one, though I suppose that's not surprising given the slowdown in demand (and especially if 1058 is for DM-2 as is commonly speculated).
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not a core but "parts" spotting...
https://twitter.com/w00ki33/status/1136834075388502016 (https://twitter.com/w00ki33/status/1136834075388502016)
neat...
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Note that the one Tom saw was leaving the Cape, so maybe recovered one from Starlink launch?
https://twitter.com/Andrewhoonigan/status/1136939909363707905
You what’s crazy is followed behind that on 528 LEAVING the cape. Coming from the port. Had police escort and all.
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There is an F9 booster visible in the recent FH photo from the HIF. Does anyone know which one it is? I'm guessing it's the booster that will fly on Amos-17 so probably B1047?
It's not B1056 (because that one had legs folded, not removed).
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It's not B1056 (because that one had legs folded, not removed).
I wouldn't consider that conclusive. I'd bet they have the ability to remove the legs somewhere other than at the port if they want to.
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I wouldn't consider that conclusive. I'd bet they have the ability to remove the legs somewhere other than at the port if they want to.
Yeah, I guess so, but this one looks too worn to be B1056 anyway.
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It's not B1056 (because that one had legs folded, not removed).
I wouldn't consider that conclusive. I'd bet they have the ability to remove the legs somewhere other than at the port if they want to.
Not conclusive, but why would SpaceX go to so much trouble to fold up legs if they were going to remove them anyway.
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Not conclusive, but why would SpaceX go to so much trouble to fold up legs if they were going to remove them anyway.
The question is mostly rhetorical, I'm sure, but one answer might be that the leg folding process is still evidently experimental. They might want to find out how well their latest hardware modifications work out, even if (say) the next use of the core was slated to be an expendible launch.
Not saying I think this is what's happening, necessarily. Just that the leg mechanisms are still experiments, you might see them being used in a not fully efficient manner.
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It's not B1056 (because that one had legs folded, not removed).
I wouldn't consider that conclusive. I'd bet they have the ability to remove the legs somewhere other than at the port if they want to.
Not conclusive, but why would SpaceX go to so much trouble to fold up legs if they were going to remove them anyway.
It would be a pretty bad day if those legs didn’t open back up on the next reuse. It’s too late at leg opening to do a divert - though a nine-nozzle balancing attempt _would_ make for some pretty awesome video...
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I had more of a vision if one leg failed to open. Best hope it is on the upwind side. ;D
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It's not B1056 (because that one had legs folded, not removed).
I wouldn't consider that conclusive. I'd bet they have the ability to remove the legs somewhere other than at the port if they want to.
Not conclusive, but why would SpaceX go to so much trouble to fold up legs if they were going to remove them anyway.
It would be a pretty bad day if those legs didn’t open back up on the next reuse. It’s too late at leg opening to do a divert - though a nine-nozzle balancing attempt _would_ make for some pretty awesome video...
Kick the nose in a safe direction, throttle up to max and run to depletion. Intentional or not, it looks like B1057 just did a post leg deploy abort.
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It would be a pretty bad day if those legs didn’t open back up on the next reuse. It’s too late at leg opening to do a divert - though a nine-nozzle balancing attempt _would_ make for some pretty awesome video...
Presumably they can test that with the legs on the booster. How does removing the legs and reinstalling them make it less likely this happens?
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A used booster was spotted next to the LC-39A hangar today. Looks like it's B1048.
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Another copy of core tracker table with some minor updates. My intention is to put one on each page so people don't have to go back pages to refer to it. As always any updates and corrections appreciated.
Edit: Decided to add my guess at Starlink launches. I think SpaceX will launch the first 10 Starlink flights on the same booster to prove their re-usability claims.
Updated 1051 status via Vaporcobra.
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SpaceX Falcon 9 booster spotted in Southern California on journey to Florida..
By Eric Ralph Posted on August 22, 2019
https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-falcon-9-booster-spotted-california-eastbound/
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*snip*
I think SpaceX will launch the first 10 Starlink flights on the same booster to prove their re-usability claims.
IMO, almost certainly not, because if they lose that one, then the rest of the launches for Starlink are delayed. Cycling between two or three cores seems much more likely to me.
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SpaceX Falcon 9 booster spotted in Southern California on journey to Florida..
By Eric Ralph Posted on August 22, 2019
https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-falcon-9-booster-spotted-california-eastbound/
These were the aforementioned spottings on July 29th and August 20th.
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/cjhwyp/passed_this_beauty_on_i10_east_today_became/
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/cjhwyp/passed_this_beauty_on_i10_east_today_became/evdm4lf/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10157798908571318/
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Not sure where else to stick this, as its a distinct lack of a core as of 09/10/19 (or 10/09/19 for those who prefer). I asked the staff at Space Center Houston and they had no idea when it was actually going to be ready for display. The two dudes you can see were watching some poor sucker in the hole who appeared to be exposing utility lines by hand.
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Booster coming through Maricopa, Arizona: https://www.facebook.com/CityOfMaricopaAZ/photos/a.926782984000491/2686488894696549/
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so 1051, 1059, or something else?
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Maybe 1046.4 with the CCiCap IFA being NET October?
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Maybe 1046.4 with the CCiCap IFA being NET October?
IFA is NET November 23 according to FCC filings.
Also, the core was likely going from Hawthorne to McGregor (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/d8ovgl/eastbound_f9_core_spotted_and_it_survived_a/) so it's probably a new booster.
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Maybe 1046.4 with the CCiCap IFA being NET October?
IFA is NET November 23 according to FCC filings.
Also, the core was likely going from Hawthorne to McGregor (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/d8ovgl/eastbound_f9_core_spotted_and_it_survived_a/) so it's probably a new booster.
1046 was also getting refurbished at Hawthorne. It did the SSO flight from Vandy. It's been close to 300 days since that flight and it should be ready.
If it's a new core that would mean JCSAT or Sirius XM. Both of those are Net November per the Manifest thread. The Starlink flights will probably not use a new core and SpX 19 was going to use 1056 as far as we know.
I'm just happy to see a core on the road 🙂
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Booster coming through Maricopa, Arizona: https://www.facebook.com/CityOfMaricopaAZ/photos/a.926782984000491/2686488894696549/
If it's a new booster then it's probably for the next GPS mission.
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We don't have much solid and recent information on booster assignments right now other than Commercial Crew related flights.
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Notice the wrap on the interstage is white, to date only new boosters have been seen with that and then they go to McGregor and the white wrap is left on the booster even when they are on the test stand. Then they leave McGregor without it, just with the usual black wrap. My bet is this is a new booster and most likely B1059 which should be for the GPS mission if SpaceX has enough boosters for use on the other missions...
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Instagram post shows a core showing up to the LC-39A HIF:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B2_73tWh0Mn/
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Instagram post shows a core showing up to the LC-39A HIF:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B2_73tWh0Mn/
Wild guess here -- B1051.
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Two more pictures from the Instagram post mentioned above.
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Instagram post shows a core showing up to the LC-39A HIF:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B2_73tWh0Mn/
Wild guess here -- B1051.
Just curious, what's your reasoning behind this wild guess?
I'm not sure what they'd be using 1051 for at 39A in the near future. Being one of the three (counting the FH side boosters which can be converted) twice-flown cores in the fleet, it's particularly valuable for commercial missions, since .3 flights seem to have achieved general acceptance at this point. I suspect it'll be used for either JCSAT-18 or ANASIS-II. But both of those are to launch from pad 40. Perhaps they could be preparing it in the 39A hangar, though, since it's got more space.
The IFA is the next planned mission from 39A, and we know they're planning to use a thrice-flown core (i.e. a .4 flight) for that. After that it's just DM-2 going from 39A, and we know that'll be a new core (1058).
So I can guess four possibilities for what just showed up at 39A:
1. B1046, for the IFA. Most likely IMO because it's the one they've publicly stated before they plan to use for that mission, and since it's going to be expended, might as well let it be the oldest one in the fleet (with how they incrementally improve each successive core).
2. B1048, for the IFA. This is also a possibility, but it would mean they'd rather throw away 1048 than the older 1046, which is unlikely IMO. I suspect that whichever of these two thrice-flown cores doesn't get thrown away on the IFA is going to stick around as a Starlink mule, where it'll get its flight count rapidly pushed up (which they've stated is what they plan to do for Starlink).
3. One of the twice-flown, non-FH cores (B1051 or B1056), being refurbished at 39A because they have space there, which will be moved to pad 40 when it's time to fly. I suppose it could be one of the twice-flown FH side cores (B1052 or B1053) if it's already had its nosecone removed and replaced with an ordinary interstage, though if they're moving it to the 39A hangar for refurbishment, I imagine they'd plan to do that there. Who knows, though...
4. B1048, for Starlink-2. Again, this would assume they're refurbishing at the 39A hangar for a mission that'll ultimately fly from pad 40. This would be a surprising move, though, considering they don't have a lot of time between now and when it's supposed to fly (October 17). I'd expect this one to be refurbished at pad 40 because although they do have enough space there for the core that's going to fly on the next mission, which is in fact Starlink-2.
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Perhaps they could be preparing it in the 39A hangar, though, since it's got more space.
They often do this.
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Reddit just reported a booster eastbound at the AL/FL line:
https://old.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/dbd27n/falcon_9_booster_eastbound_from_alfl_line_maybe/
(see attached copy of picture)
This one has the interstage wrapped in white plastic and the rest in black. Trying to remember what that usually signifies...does that mean it's straight from Hawthorne or that it's coming from McGregor? I seem to remember that it means it came from Hawthorne, but I'm not confident in that recollection...
Possibilities speculated over there have (so far) included that it might be a) 1058 for DM-2 (in which case it would be coming from McGregor), or b) 1046 for IFA (in which case it would be coming from Hawthorne after refurbishment post SSO-A at Vandenberg).
Another possibility is that it could be 1051 (also coming from Hawthorne after refurbishment post RADARSAT).
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Reddit just reported a booster eastbound at the AL/FL line:
https://old.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/dbd27n/falcon_9_booster_eastbound_from_alfl_line_maybe/
We now have solid confirmation that:
1) This is indeed the IFA booster;
2) It's in transit directly from Hawthorne to the Cape;
3) It's been flown "five times" [sic]
Source:
https://old.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/dbroea/ifa_booster_moving_from_hawthorne_to_cape/
The person who posted it got this information from speaking directly to the truck driver during a refueling stop in Perry, FL. (permalink to relevant comment (https://old.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/dbroea/ifa_booster_moving_from_hawthorne_to_cape/f23jjqh/?context=30))
The "flown five times" remark is clearly an error, but it almost certainly confirms this to indeed be 1046 (which has flown three times), not 1051 (which has flown only twice and is the other possibility for a used booster coming from Hawthorne). Since SpaceX has previously stated that they intend to use 1046 for the IFA, I would consider this positive confirmation that this is indeed 1046.
Edit: added picture from Reddit.
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https://twitter.com/spacecoast_life/status/1179153569389453313
The wife and I decided to go get a few photos of MK2 today. After taking our pics I talked her into going to the Port to get some photos of Ms. Chief getting her arms put on. Cruising down A1A my wife spots flashing lights. Its a Falcon 9 booster to my surprise.
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https://twitter.com/Commercial_Crew/status/1179748212963528705
Okay, so from left to right, B1046, not sure, maybe B1048, not sure
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Second from left (the one with "SpaceX" visible) seems to have a second stage lined up with it? That should be for one of the next couple flights?
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I'm trying to determine which booster is which in the HIF photo. One of the ways I'm figuring it out is by looking at the soot patterns on each of them.
The booster in the left might be B1048 because I've heard many times that it's the one being used on the IFA mission. But I can't tell what its soot pattern is because of the black wrapping.
I think the second from the left is B1056 because it has the pointed white section just above the SpaceX logo.
Finally, I think the third from the left is B1049 because I counted four white rectangles on the middle section.
The downside is I couldn't find any daytime pics of B1052 and B1053 after they landed following STP-2.
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I think you are right, except the IFA booster is 1046.
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I think you are right, except the IFA booster is 1046.
Thanks for bringing that up. B1046 made its third spaceflight (SSO-A) from Vandenberg, so it makes sense why it has the black wrapping.
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I think the second from the left is B1056 because it has the pointed white section just above the SpaceX logo.
This is quite interesting because it means B1056 is the one that's apparently paired with a second stage. As gongora noted, this would suggest it's for a soon-upcoming mission.
Everything we've heard to date has been that NASA intends to fly CRS-19 on B1056.3. But CRS-19 isn't scheduled until early December. There are quite a few missions scheduled to happen sooner than that. Which would suggest that they might be planning to fly something else on B1056.3.
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I think the second from the left is B1056 because it has the pointed white section just above the SpaceX logo.
This is quite interesting because it means B1056 is the one that's apparently paired with a second stage. As gongora noted, this would suggest it's for a soon-upcoming mission.
Everything we've heard to date has been that NASA intends to fly CRS-19 on B1056.3. But CRS-19 isn't scheduled until early December. There are quite a few missions scheduled to happen sooner than that. Which would suggest that they might be planning to fly something else on B1056.3.
More likely SpaceX is just working ahead of schedule for CRS-19 and that it'll fly from LC-39A in December. Not totally impossible.
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I think the second from the left is B1056 because it has the pointed white section just above the SpaceX logo.
This is quite interesting because it means B1056 is the one that's apparently paired with a second stage. As gongora noted, this would suggest it's for a soon-upcoming mission.
Everything we've heard to date has been that NASA intends to fly CRS-19 on B1056.3. But CRS-19 isn't scheduled until early December. There are quite a few missions scheduled to happen sooner than that. Which would suggest that they might be planning to fly something else on B1056.3.
They have been going with a pattern on the manifest where only FH and Dragon launch from 39A. They have had a relatively low launch cadence for a couple months, so it makes sense that they are ahead, no reason they couldn't integrate the second stage early, they have to put it somewhere.
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Were B1052 and B1053 exclusively built for Falcon Heavy missions only, or will they be converted to regular F9 boosters like all FH side boosters were made to be?
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Were B1052 and B1053 exclusively built for Falcon Heavy missions only, or will they be converted to regular F9 boosters like all FH side boosters were made to be?
SpaceX has said that FH side boosters and F9 cores are a common design that's easily convertible. Only the center core is unique. With Block 5's bolted octaweb, they've said it's as simple as removing one of the octaweb sections and replacing it with the other type (i.e., with or without the attachments by which it would connect to the center core). That, and the interstage needs to be switched, although that's theoretically straightforward as well.
They've sort of done the conversion once before - the initial FH demo mission had side boosters that were converted from single-stick F9s. Those, of course, were pre-Block 5, so their conversion surely required a great deal of hands-on cutting and welding.
AFAIK we haven't heard anything specifically about their plans for 1052 and 1053, but it would make a lot of sense for them to convert them to single-stick given that there is a huge gap until the next FH mission on the manifest. Otherwise they're two valuable capital assets that are just sitting around gathering dust. Being cores that have only flown twice (on relatively "light", RTLS-class missions), they're quite valuable as they're in the sweet spot where flying them again won't be "pushing the envelope" in terms of flight count, i.e., they shouldn't have trouble getting customers to accept them.
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twitter.com/harrystoltz1/status/1185623462770921472
Falcon 9 header tank seen entering @SpaceX’s Hawthorne headquarters!
https://twitter.com/harrystoltz1/status/1185624158199140354
*header tank top.
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I believe "tank dome" may be the words he was searching for? What's with "solution" spray painted on that one.
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I believe "tank dome" may be the words he was searching for? What's with "solution" spray painted on that one.
Incremental upgrade. Somewhere on here someone said changes were still being incremented to meet all of the NSSL reqs. Could be related to that.
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My first core spot. It's kind of small (Falcon 1) but it counts. 13 miles west of Boca Chica.
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Just noticed something interesting in the background of the McGregor panel in this Veterans' Day montage SpaceX recently posted on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1193953111213105153
The McGregor team is standing in front of two shiny new Falcon 9 boosters.
I'm guessing this must be a relatively recent picture, in order to represent their current cadre of veterans on staff at McGregor.
...which means this strongly suggests there are two shiny new boosters at McGregor right now. Presumably 1059 and 1060.
So, I suppose we should be seeing 1059 on the road any day now from McGregor to the Cape, since there's less than a month until CRS-19.
I wonder what 1060 might be for? USCV-1 perhaps, or maybe GPS III SV03 since that's supposedly happening in January (assuming it doesn't slip)? In theory all the GPS missions are supposed to fly on new cores (and expendable at that) but since STP-2 was supposed to be the final step in certifying reflown cores for the Air Force, who knows if they might not insist on a new core this time. If they are willing to use a flight-proven core for GPS III SV03, my personal guess would be that they might try converting one of the FH side boosters (1052 or 1053) to single-stick config, since those have already been under Air Force scrutiny for STP-2. If that's the case then I suppose 1060 is most likely for USCV-1.
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but since STP-2 was supposed to be the final step in certifying reflown cores for the Air Force, who knows if they might not insist on a new core this time.
STP-2 was not the final step in certifying reflown cores. It was an initial step, and it was not done under the EELV contract.
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Great video:
https://twitter.com/derrolnail/status/1228081613470420993
Returned from space, and bearing the scars of re-entry... A SpaceX Falcon 9 booster on the move out here at the rocket ranch
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Booster is vertical at McGregor. Possibly B1061?
https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1228822562500726784
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Updated table. As always corrections and additions appreciated.
Now added faring tracking.
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I don't believe we've seen B1060 on the stand yet, so I'm guessing this is the GPS booster.
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I don't believe we've seen B1060 on the stand yet, so I'm guessing this is the GPS booster.
Presumably, this USAF post from early January (https://www.facebook.com/SpaceandMissileSystemsCenter/posts/2933925223304839) was about B1060 and it said that the booster had already been sent to McGregor. It's not impossible that they're only now test firing it, but it would be a really long time after it was delivered. Seems more likely to me that the booster currently at McGregor is the next one in line.
Gwynne said SpaceX would make 10 new boosters this year so if the first one was done in early January, it's about the right time for another one to be ready at McGregor.
We've missed a lot of booster activity recently (for example, nobody captured B1060 in transit, or B1059 on the stand, AFAIK). So I wouldn't consider not seeing B1060 on the stand as much of an argument for it not being test fired yet.
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Looks like I was wrong. The booster in the photos above was indeed the one meant for GPSIII-SV03 (presumably B1060). It was test fired on Feb 13.
https://twitter.com/AF_SMC/status/1230619712066768897
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Looks like I was wrong. The booster in the photos above was indeed the one meant for GPSIII-SV03 (presumably B1060). It was test fired on Feb 13.
https://twitter.com/AF_SMC/status/1230619712066768897
Still means there is a another booster apart from B1058 at the cape which hasn't flown. We're told that there were 11 boosters at cape in early Feb. Two are B2 Side boosters from FH demo. B1056 is now gone bringing down to 8 B5 boosters. Counting all boosters including B1058 means 7 there, so there has to be another one, B1060/61 already there.
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Looks like I was wrong. The booster in the photos above was indeed the one meant for GPSIII-SV03 (presumably B1060). It was test fired on Feb 13.
https://twitter.com/AF_SMC/status/1230619712066768897
Two are B2 Side boosters from FH demo.
Nope. At least one of them was scrapped and cut in pieces.
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Looks like I was wrong. The booster in the photos above was indeed the one meant for GPSIII-SV03 (presumably B1060). It was test fired on Feb 13.
https://twitter.com/AF_SMC/status/1230619712066768897
Two are B2 Side boosters from FH demo.
Nope. At least one of them was scrapped and cut in pieces.
Then that just makes it more confusing as there are more unaccounted for boosters.
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Here’s a retired core
https://twitter.com/johnpisaniphoto/status/1236319232171933696
https://twitter.com/adastrabranan/status/1236316891532181510
@SpaceX booster 1021 at Hangar E in CCAFS. This booster will be turned over the USAF for display at the @afspacemuseum .
This is the first booster to have flown multiple missions, and the first to land on the "Of Course I Still Love You" drown ship.
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Video and some more fab shots of B1021
twitter.com/johnkrausphotos/status/1236360285759381508
Take a walk through Hangar E at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, where Falcon 9 B1021 is on display. This booster launched CRS-8 and SES-10, and was the first to land on a droneship, and first to be re-flown.
https://twitter.com/johnkrausphotos/status/1236361255193108482
Some photos of Falcon 9 B1021, which launched CRS-8 and SES-10, and is now on display in Hangar E at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. This booster was the first to land on a droneship and the first to be re-flown.
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Falcon 9 rocket spotted today southbound on 85 just south of phoenix. Where could it be headed? Maybe El Paso to Texas or Florida? (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/gipno9/falcon_9_rocket_spotted_today_southbound_on_85/)
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Cores in the LC-39A HIF.
From the right: B1060, B1058, B1059, B1051.
Edit: Sorry, it's B1060, not B1061.
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Relevant article:
For SpaceX, Falcon 9 reuse is now essential (https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/06/for-spacex-falcon-9-reuse-is-now-essential/) | Ars Technica
"SpaceX has gotten good enough at reuse that it's building fewer rockets."
Relevant quote:
The success of the Block 5 rocket means that SpaceX has had to devote less time and resources to building Falcon 9 first stages. Since May 2018, it has launched 31 times on a Block 5 version of the Falcon 9 rocket—while using just 10 cores. Put another way, reuse has saved SpaceX the cost of 189 Merlin rocket engines, dozens of fuel tanks, and many complex avionics systems.
Of course each Falcon 9 launch requires a new 2nd stage, which is the same general design as the first stage, and built on the same production line, so it is not like SpaceX is losing its ability to build new Falcon 9 1st stages if they needed them, just that they don't need too many of them right now.
I think there could be an argument to be made that lifetime testing of the 1st stage has not progressed as fast as SpaceX wanted, but that may be because of a number of factors, including the fact that Falcon 9/H are really in planned obsolescence mode right now with the Starship in active development.
Still, every stage they recover is likely significant money recovered for SpaceX, especially for Starlink launches. So I'm sure they are still pressing forward to find out how many reuses they can depend upon for Falcon 9 1st stages as they are currently built.
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Booster spotted yesterday in Tucson, Arizona, around 9am. It was eastbound. No pictures tho but the person who saw it clearly identified it as a Falcon 9 booster (although if it was, say, the next FH center core, it could have been mistaken since it also has interstage and the difference with all that wrapping around it is very minimal).
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Booster spotted yesterday in Tucson, Arizona, around 9am. It was eastbound. No pictures tho but the person who saw it clearly identified it as a Falcon 9 booster (although if it was, say, the next FH center core, it could have been mistaken since it also has interstage and the difference with all that wrapping around it is very minimal).
Nice! Finally a new sighting!
This almost certainly must be FH hardware. As it requires 3 brand new cores and that takes time.
Eager to see some pictures...
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https://twitter.com/felixschlang/status/1278796366102355969
We have a @SpaceX Falcon 9 booster on the way to KSC right now. Spotted an hour agou in Snyder, Texas.
Might this be Anasis 2?
Thanks go to a friend of the channel for sending the video my way! ❤️🚀
@julia_bergeron @bluemoondance74 @MarcusHouseGame @Erdayastronaut @elonmusk
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https://twitter.com/felixschlang/status/1278796366102355969
We have a @SpaceX Falcon 9 booster on the way to KSC right now. Spotted an hour agou in Snyder, Texas.
Might this be Anasis 2?
Thanks go to a friend of the channel for sending the video my way! ❤️🚀
@julia_bergeron @bluemoondance74 @MarcusHouseGame @Erdayastronaut @elonmusk
Since Snyder is west and north of McGregor this sounds like a new booster being delivered
from Hawthorne to McGregor, rather than a tested booster heading to Florida from McGregor.
If I remember correctly don't we have reports of 1061 and 1062 being at McGregor and being tested.
Maybe I'm misremembering and it was 1060 and 1061 that were reported on the test stand at McGregor.
Can anyone clarify.
Carl
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https://twitter.com/felixschlang/status/1278796366102355969
We have a @SpaceX Falcon 9 booster on the way to KSC right now. Spotted an hour agou in Snyder, Texas.
Might this be Anasis 2?
Thanks go to a friend of the channel for sending the video my way! ❤️🚀
@julia_bergeron @bluemoondance74 @MarcusHouseGame @Erdayastronaut @elonmusk
Since Snyder is west and north of McGregor this sounds like a new booster being delivered
from Hawthorne to McGregor, rather than a tested booster heading to Florida from McGregor.
If I remember correctly don't we have reports of 1061 and 1062 being at McGregor and being tested.
Maybe I'm misremembering and it was 1060 and 1061 that were reported on the test stand at McGregor.
Can anyone clarify.
Carl
Was in Arizona the day before.
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Yep this is the one that I mentioned yesterday. Fits nicely with the usualy time they take to get to McGregor. White wrap on the interstage also usually indicates new booster out of Hawthorne going to McGregor (could not be the case of course, but as of today the trend has been that)
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Someone mentioned in L2 that the latest Google imagery for SpaceX McGregor is quite recent.
And indeed it is.
Is it known what core this might be?
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Someone mentioned in L2 that the latest Google imagery for SpaceX McGregor is quite recent.
And indeed it is.
Is it known what core this might be?
Imagery date of 2020-10-20
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Imagery date of 2020-10-20
Also known as the future. ;D
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Imagery date of 2020-10-20
Also known as the future. ;D
Good lord *facepalm* 2019
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https://twitter.com/falcon9block5/status/1296505658758455296
Glorious shot of a #SpaceX #Falcon9 Booster in transport towards the Florida coast. I'm thinking it is either B1062 or B1063! Any ideas @bluemoondance74? The photo was taken outside Menard, TX. Photo credit: @SpeedyPatriot13
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It was going to the west not to Florida, btw. Talked with the one who posted that picture originally and they said they were heading towards DFW and the booster was going the other way to the west on Highway 190. Booster going out of McGregor and going to California.
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It was going to the west not to Florida, btw. Talked with the one who posted that picture originally and they said they were heading towards DFW and the booster was going the other way to the west on Highway 190. Booster going out of McGregor and going to California.
Interesting! So very likely B1063 for Sentinel 6A or SARah 1. Or, in a far less likely scenario, a booster that needs substantial rework in Hawthorne after an issue arose during acceptance testing.
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It was going to the west not to Florida, btw. Talked with the one who posted that picture originally and they said they were heading towards DFW and the booster was going the other way to the west on Highway 190. Booster going out of McGregor and going to California.
Interesting! So very likely B1063 for Sentinel 6A or SARah 1. Or, in a far less likely scenario, a booster that needs substantial rework in Hawthorne after an issue arose during acceptance testing.
I could imagine this core to be a higher number. With 1063, 1064 & 1065 likely being FH hardware.
At some point they need to be constructed and assigned a number.
So this core could be 1066.
Although really early if for a November launch, so t his being a used core returning to Hawthorne for refurb, as refurb capacity at cape is at max?
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Same core, some few hundred miles more to the west in the CA-AZ state line. From there it might be a day drive to Hawthorne or Vandenberg
https://twitter.com/spacecoastpix/status/1297674057102422016
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Just spotted exiting on Industry Road in Cocoa, headed from the Cape.
edit/gongora: looks like a fairing on truck
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I haven't seen this booster spotting mentioned here. Should be a new booster, I'm guessing B1065, but I'm honestly not sure if we can say with certainty that B1064 is/was in McGregor already. So maybe this is actually B1064?
https://twitter.com/DarkSideSince77/status/1298007313379282948
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I haven't seen this booster spotting mentioned here. Should be a new booster, I'm guessing B1065, but I'm honestly not sure if we can say with certainty that B1064 is/was in McGregor already. So maybe this is actually B1064?
https://twitter.com/DarkSideSince77/status/1298007313379282948
I must admit I posted about this booster leaving Hawthorne on L2 and didn't tell after it arrived McGregor. Number might be one of those yep
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https://twitter.com/uslaunchreport/status/1304487463767998465
#SpaceX As one Booster 62 or 63 arrived last night around 11PM to Cape Canaveral, Booster 60.2 returned to Cape Canaveral just 12 hrs later at 11AM this morning.
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https://twitter.com/uslaunchreport/status/1304487463767998465
#SpaceX As one Booster 62 or 63 arrived last night around 11PM to Cape Canaveral, Booster 60.2 returned to Cape Canaveral just 12 hrs later at 11AM this morning.
My recollection is that we recently discussed the booster leaving McGregor for Vandenberg.
There was discussion for a day or two but I believe that we concluded that was B1063 for launching
Sentinel 6A in November.
Consequently, I would have thought that a new booster arriving at the Cape from McGregor
would be 1064. It seems a little late for B1062 to be arriving at the cape for GPS III SV04
launching on September 30.
It seems more likely that the recent arrival at the cape was a refurbished booster coming from
McGregor or Hawthorn for a Starlink launch next month.
But these are all guesses on my part.
Carl
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Should be 1062 for next GPS launch end of this month. They likely kept it stored at McGregor as Cape already is pretty crowded.
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B1049 was spotted in KSC on October 16. I'm guessing it's going to launch on Starlink v1.0 L15 in November.
Source: Reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/jcwqaa/working_at_ksc_yesterday_means_i_got_up_close_to/g97h093/) (I cropped the image)
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For easy overview of all Block 5 boosters, ElonX.net is now hosting an infographic by @SpaceNosey with details about each booster. It will be updated after each launch or new booster spotting.
I won't keep posting it here because that would be spammy, so just bookmark the website or something.
https://www.elonx.net/overview-of-falcon-boosters/
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For easy overview of all Block 5 boosters, ElonX.net is now hosting an infographic by @SpaceNosey with details about each booster. It will be updated after each launch or new booster spotting.
I won't keep posting it here because that would be spammy, so just bookmark the website or something.
https://www.elonx.net/overview-of-falcon-boosters/
I like this overview better: https://spacex.niwax.de/
It's less shiny, but has a way higher information density and gives a better representation of the time between booster uses.
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For easy overview of all Block 5 boosters, ElonX.net is now hosting an infographic by @SpaceNosey with details about each booster. It will be updated after each launch or new booster spotting.
I won't keep posting it here because that would be spammy, so just bookmark the website or something.
https://www.elonx.net/overview-of-falcon-boosters/
I like this overview better: https://spacex.niwax.de/
It's less shiny, but has a way higher information density and gives a better representation of the time between booster uses.
which one is more up to date?
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For easy overview of all Block 5 boosters, ElonX.net is now hosting an infographic by @SpaceNosey with details about each booster. It will be updated after each launch or new booster spotting.
I won't keep posting it here because that would be spammy, so just bookmark the website or something.
https://www.elonx.net/overview-of-falcon-boosters/
I like this overview better: https://spacex.niwax.de/
It's less shiny, but has a way higher information density and gives a better representation of the time between booster uses.
FWIW, the infographic also contains information about time between flights.
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For easy overview of all Block 5 boosters, ElonX.net is now hosting an infographic by @SpaceNosey with details about each booster. It will be updated after each launch or new booster spotting.
I won't keep posting it here because that would be spammy, so just bookmark the website or something.
https://www.elonx.net/overview-of-falcon-boosters/
I like this overview better: https://spacex.niwax.de/
It's less shiny, but has a way higher information density and gives a better representation of the time between booster uses.
which one is more up to date?
The website pulls the newest data from r/spacex API (https://github.com/r-spacex/SpaceX-API/blob/master/docs/v4/README.md) when you visit it - in theory it should always be up-to-date. Usually they'll post launch results within an hour or so. I've noticed some weirdness with the very early landing attempts sometimes being listed as success, I'll look into that when I get to it.
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I make out the boosters directly adjacent to B1061 to be B1049 and B1058. I'd guess that the third booster is either B1051 (more likely) or B1059.
https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1325931233784680448
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I make out the boosters directly adjacent to B1061 to be B1049 and B1058. I'd guess that the third booster is either B1051 (more likely) or B1059.
That is B1051. B1059 is prepping at SLC-40 for NROL-108.
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I make out the boosters directly adjacent to B1061 to be B1049 and B1058. I'd guess that the third booster is either B1051 (more likely) or B1059.
That is B1051. B1059 is prepping at SLC-40 for NROL-108.
We don't actually know that for sure, LC-40's hangar was only really cleared four days ago. It's likely that SpaceX already moved B1059 to LC-40 to make a Nov 18 launch opportunity, but that's just speculation without sourced info or public core spottings.
Edit: Definitely not B1059 per the telltale grey swoop on the X and B1051 is the only alternative.
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There was a lot of booster testing at McGregor during October/November. Did anybody get a good enough look to identify some serial numbers?
B1064-B1066 should’ve been there, maybe even B1067.
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I don't know if anyone knows but there's a new booster going down to McGregor. It was spotted during the weekend parked outside the factory in Hawthorne and it was seen yesterday in Maricopa, AZ going east. Should already be there by the end of this week
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There was a lot of booster testing at McGregor during October/November. Did anybody get a good enough look to identify some serial numbers?
B1064-B1066 should’ve been there, maybe even B1067.
There's been no sightning of any new booster since B1064 apart from the one I mentioned so I see it very unlikely to have even up to three boosters arrive there and not have any sightning even if they could test three boosters in one month.
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I don't know if anyone knows but there's a new booster going down to McGregor. It was spotted during the weekend parked outside the factory in Hawthorne and it was seen yesterday in Maricopa, AZ going east. Should already be there by the end of this week
Are there pics?
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There was a lot of booster testing at McGregor during October/November. Did anybody get a good enough look to identify some serial numbers?
B1064-B1066 should’ve been there, maybe even B1067.
There's been no sightning of any new booster since B1064 apart from the one I mentioned so I see it very unlikely to have even up to three boosters arrive there and not have any sightning even if they could test three boosters in one month.
https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1309509655874408449
https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1313274276196290562
https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1318357266303655938
https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1325910117741637635
https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1327468139475578881
As you can see from the dates, there have been a series of tests over the past couple of months. There are more but I don’t want to flood this post with too many tweets.
Some of these might’ve been Starship tests. I’m just trying piece things together. But based on production we should’ve seen more movement by now.
I’m not convinced that booster movements weren’t missed. I don’t think B1062 was spotted when it moved back for testing.
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As you can see from the dates, there have been a series of tests over the past couple of months. There are more but I don’t want to flood this post with too many tweets.
Some of these might’ve been Starship tests. I’m just trying piece things together. But based on production we should’ve seen more movement by now.
I’m not convinced that booster movements weren’t missed. I don’t think B1062 was spotted when it moved back for testing.
At McGregor they test Merlin 1D and MVacD engines, they test Raptors, Dracos and SuperDracos, and also complete second stages. I follow Reagan and know of her tweets, not all big tests heard from her are from boosters. Moreoever, she usually goes close to the facility to take pictures of activity and it's been a month since the last booster tested there was vertical. It would be reeeeally weird for them to test not one but THREE boosters and not have seen ANY of them vertical - no, not just on the road, but vertical right there in McGregor. And when did B1062 move back to McGrgeor for testing?!
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I don't know if anyone knows but there's a new booster going down to McGregor. It was spotted during the weekend parked outside the factory in Hawthorne and it was seen yesterday in Maricopa, AZ going east. Should already be there by the end of this week
Are there pics?
Yup, and links!
Booster parked next to the factory: https://www.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10159465990166318/
Booster on the road to McGregor: https://www.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10159467455826318/
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I don't know if anyone knows but there's a new booster going down to McGregor. It was spotted during the weekend parked outside the factory in Hawthorne and it was seen yesterday in Maricopa, AZ going east. Should already be there by the end of this week
Are there pics?
Yup, and links!
Booster parked next to the factory: https://www.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10159465990166318/
Booster on the road to McGregor: https://www.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10159467455826318/
Anyone seen anything in the last couple of days?
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It must have arrived there but they don't always go vertical on the stand on the first few days and with the upcoming holidays it might take a little while for it to get vertical
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I figured someone would’ve seen it arrive on the trailer. Would be nice to have a live feed cam there lol
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https://twitter.com/CAJunket/status/1326314553630748672
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There was a lot of booster testing at McGregor during October/November. Did anybody get a good enough look to identify some serial numbers?
B1064-B1066 should’ve been there, maybe even B1067.
There's been no sightning of any new booster since B1064 apart from the one I mentioned so I see it very unlikely to have even up to three boosters arrive there and not have any sightning even if they could test three boosters in one month.
So we’ve got at least 2 boosters at McGregor. The one from Nov 10 and another that should’ve arrived Nov 20.
Not a lot of sightings reported in the last couple of months. I wonder if they all arrived in the middle of the night or something. 😂
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There was a lot of booster testing at McGregor during October/November. Did anybody get a good enough look to identify some serial numbers?
B1064-B1066 should’ve been there, maybe even B1067.
There's been no sightning of any new booster since B1064 apart from the one I mentioned so I see it very unlikely to have even up to three boosters arrive there and not have any sightning even if they could test three boosters in one month.
So we’ve got at least 2 boosters at McGregor. The one from Nov 10 and another that should’ve arrived Nov 20.
Not a lot of sightings reported in the last couple of months. I wonder if they all arrived in the middle of the night or something. 😂
"That should've arrived Nov 20" ??? ???
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"That should've arrived Nov 20" ??? ???
I think he is referring to this booster you talked about.
Booster on the road to McGregor: https://www.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10159467455826318/
It must have arrived there but they don't always go vertical on the stand on the first few days and with the upcoming holidays it might take a little while for it to get vertical
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"That should've arrived Nov 20" ??? ???
I think he is referring to this booster you talked about.
Booster on the road to McGregor: https://www.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10159467455826318/
It must have arrived there but they don't always go vertical on the stand on the first few days and with the upcoming holidays it might take a little while for it to get vertical
Then I don't understand what they meant. I understood it as them saying that another booster was shipped to McGregor on November 20th when there's no proof of it nowhere.
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"That should've arrived Nov 20" ??? ???
I think he is referring to this booster you talked about.
Booster on the road to McGregor: https://www.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10159467455826318/
It must have arrived there but they don't always go vertical on the stand on the first few days and with the upcoming holidays it might take a little while for it to get vertical
I don't know if anyone knows but there's a new booster going down to McGregor. It was spotted during the weekend parked outside the factory in Hawthorne and it was seen yesterday in Maricopa, AZ going east. Should already be there by the end of this week
Yes, Alex mentioned that it should have arrived by the end of that week, which was Nov 20.
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"That should've arrived Nov 20" ??? ???
I think he is referring to this booster you talked about.
Booster on the road to McGregor: https://www.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10159467455826318/
It must have arrived there but they don't always go vertical on the stand on the first few days and with the upcoming holidays it might take a little while for it to get vertical
I don't know if anyone knows but there's a new booster going down to McGregor. It was spotted during the weekend parked outside the factory in Hawthorne and it was seen yesterday in Maricopa, AZ going east. Should already be there by the end of this week
Yes, Alex mentioned that it should have arrived by the end of that week, which was Nov 20.
Yeah, but we don't get to know until it is vertical on stand and it hasn't gone vertical so it is clearly taking time to get it ready for testing
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So we’ve got at least 2 boosters at McGregor. The one from Nov 10 and another that should’ve arrived Nov 20.
Not a lot of sightings reported in the last couple of months. I wonder if they all arrived in the middle of the night or something. 😂
It’s been a month, and no updates. I’m hearing that access is not as open as it used to be, so it’s harder for people to get close enough for good pictures.
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So we’ve got at least 2 boosters at McGregor. The one from Nov 10 and another that should’ve arrived Nov 20.
Not a lot of sightings reported in the last couple of months. I wonder if they all arrived in the middle of the night or something. 😂
It’s been a month, and no updates. I’m hearing that access is not as open as it used to be, so it’s harder for people to get close enough for good pictures.
Unless you overfly it (See L2 and if you don't have L2, get it).
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https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1346612368860729350?s=21
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Finally..
https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1346612368860729350?s=21
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More photos of the FH center core.
Question is, is it the booster that was sent to McGregor back in November (that would make it B1065, I think), or did we miss a booster somewhere and this is actually B1066?
https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1346751508138876934
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Reagan spots a booster on the test stand at McGregor. No logo in view (unless angle/quality of photo in play). Maybe Gary can get a better pic, not that we expect him to be flying over there as much as RGV does at Boca Chica :)
https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1346751508138876934
It's likely an FH core. It has an interstage (i.e. not an FH side booster) and this interstage is white (i.e. not an F9 booster).
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Reagan spots a booster on the test stand at McGregor. No logo in view (unless angle/quality of photo in play). Maybe Gary can get a better pic, not that we expect him to be flying over there as much as RGV does at Boca Chica :)
https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1346751508138876934
It's likely an FH core. It has an interstage (i.e. not an FH side booster) and this interstage is white (i.e. not an F9 booster).
On the other hand, if it's an FH core, why are there no signs of the booster attachment points on the interstage and why is there a SpaceX logo applied clocked 90 deg away from the raceways, where it would be obscured by the side boosters anyway?
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The interstage doesn't necessarily have to stay with that booster.
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That's a FH side booster. Just one SpaceX logo and on the side and attachment points for recovery hardware (next FH core isn't supposed to be recovered). Also, the interstage is clearly a test one, it doesn't have any FH logos and instead it seems to say something with "booster" on it. The earlier FH booster passing by McGregor was also a FH side booster, the only differece being the test interstage was sooty instead of painted white.
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That's a FH side booster....
Hmm, I wonder why they're not reusing the existing side boosters?
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That's a FH side booster....
Hmm, I wonder why they're not reusing the existing side boosters?
This has been discussed at length and is public info. The USSF explicitly requested brand new cores for their certification proces.
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More photos of the FH center core.
Question is, is it the booster that was sent to McGregor back in November (that would make it B1065, I think), or did we miss a booster somewhere and this is actually B1066?
B1064 left around Oct 15
A horizontal booster was spotted Nov 10, possibly B1065
Another booster was spotted leaving Hawthorne and should have arrived around Nov 20, possibly B1066
There may have been additional boosters that weren’t spotted. So it is possible that this is B1067 or higher based on production cadence.
The lack of markings indicates a side booster, so it could be B1065 with a three month gap in testing.
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For what it's worth, that's a side booster not a center core.
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A horizontal booster was spotted Nov 10, possibly B1065
Another booster was spotted leaving Hawthorne and should have arrived around Nov 20, possibly B1066
These sound like the same booster.
The lack of markings indicates a side booster, so it could be B1065 with a three month gap in testing.
Yeah, this might be the likeliest possibility. It's just strange that there was such a long gap between B1064 and B1065.
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That's a FH side booster. Just one SpaceX logo and on the side and attachment points for recovery hardware (next FH core isn't supposed to be recovered). Also, the interstage is clearly a test one, it doesn't have any FH logos and instead it seems to say something with "booster" on it. The earlier FH booster passing by McGregor was also a FH side booster, the only differece being the test interstage was sooty instead of painted white.
Good points. I agree with you now.
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More photos of the FH center core.
Question is, is it the booster that was sent to McGregor back in November (that would make it B1065, I think), or did we miss a booster somewhere and this is actually B1066?
B1064 left around Oct 15
A horizontal booster was spotted Nov 10, possibly B1065
Another booster was spotted leaving Hawthorne and should have arrived around Nov 20, possibly B1066
There may have been additional boosters that weren’t spotted. So it is possible that this is B1067 or higher based on production cadence.
The lack of markings indicates a side booster, so it could be B1065 with a three month gap in testing.
Anything is possible, but cores being transported have almost never been unseen and unreported. And never a Falcon Heavy booster has been ninja-ed to McGregor.
Most likely this is booster 1065, a side booster for next Falcon Heavy.
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A horizontal booster was spotted Nov 10, possibly B1065
Another booster was spotted leaving Hawthorne and should have arrived around Nov 20, possibly B1066
These sound like the same booster.
I don’t see how, as the booster spotted on Nov 10 was at McGregor. The second booster left Hawthorne Nov 17.
The lack of markings indicates a side booster, so it could be B1065 with a three month gap in testing.
Yeah, this might be the likeliest possibility. It's just strange that there was such a long gap between B1064 and B1065.
A three month gap in testing would indicate a major issue and point towards a delay for USSF-44 and USSF-52.
Alternatively, the thinking is that production and testing accelerated after the loss of several boosters at sea earlier this year. Booster spotting isn’t perfect and they do get missed. In which case it’s very possible that it is B1067.
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These sound like the same booster.
I don’t see how, as the booster spotted on Nov 10 was at McGregor. The second booster left Hawthorne Nov 17.
Then maybe the Nov 10 booster was B1064 being moved around after being tested or something.
Booster spotting isn’t perfect and they do get missed. In which case it’s very possible that it is B1067.
No way we'd miss that many boosters both during transit and during testing.
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Really? Still debating this? We have literally no pictures of any booster vertical on the stand during the past two months. They don't ship boosters out to launch sites from Hawthorne without being tested at McGregor first. There hasn't been a booster vertical since early November in that test stand. Thinking there's been now like up to three more boosters tested since then and NO ONE has seen ANY of them vertical... that's kind of wishful thinking imo
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My guess is they want to push the turnaround time as low as possible. SpaceX also wants to make sure flight 8 is the same as, say, flight 2. Since B1051 flew such a short time ago its the perfect candidate.
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Looks like one of the USSF-44 side boosters escaped the roost unseen! Spotted in Lafayette, LA at the same parking lot boosters have stopped at before.
https://twitter.com/KLFY/status/1354115544237170690
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Looks like one of the USSF-44 side boosters escaped the roost unseen! Spotted in Lafayette, LA at the same parking lot boosters have stopped at before.
https://twitter.com/KLFY/status/1354115544237170690
Nice!
First side booster on its way to the Cape.
Makes you wonder if we missed one core being shipped from Hawthorn to McGregor.
Also why now already? It will take up a lot of space in the HIF, so will not likely be done other the Just in Time. Right?
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Looks like one of the USSF-44 side boosters escaped the roost unseen! Spotted in Lafayette, LA at the same parking lot boosters have stopped at before.
https://twitter.com/KLFY/status/1354115544237170690
Whoop whoop
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Photos of a new booster going to McGregor. I'm guessing it's B1066 FH center core, but I suppose it could be an F9. I can't really tell.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10159676667686318/
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Photos of a new booster going to McGregor. I'm guessing it's B1066 FH center core, but I suppose it could be an F9. I can't really tell.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10159676667686318/
I just spotted that same booster while passing through Sonora, TX. It had taken the exit off I-10 W and went under the interstate and was heading north on 277, possibly to make a stop. I got some decent video when it passed me when I was parked.
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New Falcon on its way to McGregor! Appears to be B1066 (Next Center Core) due to the presence of side core mounting near the base. Interesting why its wrapped with white on the interstage.
https://m.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10159676667686318/
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New Falcon on its way to McGregor! Appears to be B1066 (Next Center Core) due to the presence of side core mounting near the base. Interesting why its wrapped with white on the interstage.
https://m.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10159676667686318/
AFAIK, all new booster leaving Hawthorne are wrapped with white. That's been true for a while now.
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That center core is now vertical at McGregor and may have already been static fired :)
https://twitter.com/jswartzphoto/status/1364773659097899010
https://twitter.com/jswartzphoto/status/1364988818038874112
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F9 spotted in Tucson at I-10 and Kolb:
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/m2xqks/falcon_9_spotted_in_tucson_at_i10_and_kolb
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F9 spotted in Tucson at I-10 and Kolb:
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/m2xqks/falcon_9_spotted_in_tucson_at_i10_and_kolb
More pics here (https://imgur.com/a/6W8QkEw), although I don't think it's a FH center core as the album title states.
It's been confirmed the booster was eastbound, but it's missing several engines and doesn't have the white cover at the front that new boosters coming from Hawthorne usually have. So I'm thinking it might not be a new booster.
It could be B1063 coming from VAFB to Florida, now that DART was delayed to November. SARah 1 seems to be delayed also and Transporter-2 can launch from SLC-40, so the next VAFB launch might be WordView-1 in September. Would make sense to make some use of B1063 in the meantime.
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F9 spotted in Tucson at I-10 and Kolb:
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/m2xqks/falcon_9_spotted_in_tucson_at_i10_and_kolb
More pics here (https://imgur.com/a/6W8QkEw), although I don't think it's a FH center core as the album title states.
It's been confirmed the booster was eastbound, but it's missing several engines and doesn't have the white cover at the front that new boosters coming from Hawthorne usually have. So I'm thinking it might not be a new booster.
It could be B1063 coming from VAFB to Florida, now that DART was delayed to November. SARah 1 seems to be delayed also and Transporter-2 can launch from SLC-40, so the next VAFB launch might be WordView-1 in September. Would make sense to make some use of B1063 in the meantime.
I tend to agree. My money is on this being 1063 to support the busy East coast
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https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1370400469479161860
Falcon booster B1063 is being moved east to help with the launch cadence from Florida.
This will help with the recent loss of B1059. B1063 has been freed up after the extended delay to the DART mission from Vandenberg.
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A friend of mine just called to say that he is behind B1063 eastbound on Florida Hwy. 20 just west of Blountstown. He will get a photo if he can. Time of sighting was 14:08 EDT on March 15, 2021
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My friend reports that B1063 apparently did not continue on Hwy 20 into Tallahassee. May have turned onto Hwy 267 toward Hilliardville. Officials were raising traffic lights to allow the truck to pass under. No passing was allowed in either direction. Here is the only photo he was able to take.
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With this progress looks like arrival possible at the Cape tomorrow.
If they are going in the direction you believe. Looks to be headed down to 98 and then to possibly 27 then through Ocala and skirt Orlando area possibly on the North side.
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With this progress looks like arrival possible at the Cape tomorrow.
If they are going in the direction you believe. Looks to be headed down to 98 and then to possibly 27 then through Ocala and skirt Orlando area possibly on the North side.
Yes, the reason I was mentioning the most likely route is that I was hoping we could figure out the usual route for future spotting. This is the second time my friend, who lives in Apalachicola, has seen an F9 in transit eastbound on Hwy 20 so I think that must be a regular route. He managed to get in front of the truck on Hwy 20 and waited to get a better photo but the B1063 never came through. The only other reasonable route would be down Hwy 267. I agree that it would be going to 98 and then east. Has an F9 been seen previously on 27 and in north Orlando?
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Looks like B1067 reached McGregor undetected. :)
https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1375665823377805315
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Looks like B1067 reached McGregor undetected. :)
https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1375665823377805315
I suspect quite a few have been missed.
It’s possible that is B1068, based on production timelines. Hasn’t been any official word from SpaceX since we saw B1064 six months ago.
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It's 1067
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https://twitter.com/wordsmithfl/status/1394069505710731269?s=21
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Likely B1067 arriving for CRS-22!
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https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1393365781157658624
https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1393365990377988097
https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/status/1394076512710766595
We’ve been tracking it on the CRS-22 thread.
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https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1397992486954422273
https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1397997294314684417
B1049 began its career in Florida (Telstar 18V), moved to Vandenberg for its second flight (Iridium-8), went back to Florida for seven Starlink missions, and is once again returning to the best coast.
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/nmd6as/falcon_9_booster_arriving_at_vandenberg_space/
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https://www.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10160024996231318/(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210617/fc861b6b108cb224ed941aadcce67945.jpg)
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https://www.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10160024996231318/
Wondering if it’s B1051 or another booster.
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https://www.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10160024996231318/
Wondering if it’s B1051 or another booster.
Must be 1051 heading to Vandenberg to support Polar Starlink
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Wait a sec, they're sending 1051 to Vandenberg as well? In addition to 1049 which is (I think?) already there? 😲 Has this been reported before and I just missed it?
It certainly makes sense that they'd want two boosters there, because with one droneship and one pad they should be able to sustain a cadence of more or less two flights a month. Two boosters should be sufficient to maintain that cadence assuming turnarounds continue to average ~1 month. That might be a challenge for 1049 though since (at least historically) it's always been a bit of a laggard in turnaround time, even when it wasn't the fleet leader. (My working theory on that continues to be that this is due to design idiosyncrasies from 1049 being the only remaining pre-crew-spec booster in the fleet.)
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Wait a sec, they're sending 1051 to Vandenberg as well? In addition to 1049 which is (I think?) already there? 😲 Has this been reported before and I just missed it?
Both B1049 and B1051 had their legs removed after their previous flights so once B1049 went west, it was assumed B1051 would go too.
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Somehow missed this: presumably B1051 arriving at Vandy.
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/o705i3/booster_arrival_at_vsfb_i_got_to_overtake_an/
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New B1069 core spotted at McGregor by Reagan Beck.
https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1410331058151870469
https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1410333391841599492
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Is it really B1069? Did they skip B1068, or did we somehow miss it entirely?
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Is it really B1069? Did they skip B1068, or did we somehow miss it entirely?
Reagan hasn't mentioned B1068 on twitter, so its possible unless she has inside information.
EDIT: B1068 is apparently still in Hawthorne.
https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1410365471749283840
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https://twitter.com/jswartzphoto/status/1410430631851565057
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Booster was spotted on Florida State Road 20, according to OP it is travelling towards Cape. Redditors speculate that it might be B1066, FH center core.
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/obqya3/just_spotted_on_rt_20_near_bruce_fl/
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https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1383532514468265993
B1066 left in April, and B1067 in May. I believe this might be B1068.
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https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1383532514468265993
B1066 left in April, and B1067 in May. I believe this might be B1068.
That's clearly a side booster, so likely B1065.
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You're totally right but the fact remains that the latest Falcon Heavy center core arrived at McGregor in mid-February and SpaceX hasn't traditionally stored qualified boosters for months at McGregor (at least not as far as I can remember). But the latest booster definitely has what looks like the telltale mid-interstage bar of a center core so who knows.
The only other likely explanation aside from B1066 is that it's FH center core B1068 and SpaceX snuck it past us.
https://twitter.com/jswartzphoto/status/1364988818038874112
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SpaceX hasn't traditionally stored qualified boosters for months at McGregor (at least not as far as I can remember).
It's not that unusual. For example, B1064 was fired on September 25 and didn't leave McGregor until January 27.
Assuming the booster in the tweet above is B1065, it was erected on January 6 and left McGregor 3 months later.
B1061 was fired on April 25 and left McGregor in mid July.
So B1066 being fired in late March and only leaving now is not that strange.
The only other likely explanation aside from B1066 is that it's FH center core B1068 and SpaceX snuck it past us.
That seems like an extremely unlikely possibility.
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https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1412571119350075395
And @julia_bergeron… there was a certain new booster captured by a redditor on Friday that should be in your neck of the woods very soon- if not already safely stored w/in a hangar 👍🚀🌦
I wish I could have seen its departure from #McGregorTX, but this is believed to be B1066!
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https://twitter.com/SciGuySpace/status/1417811117900980225
https://twitter.com/SciGuySpace/status/1417815771762372618
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This booster was also spotted leaving Hawthorne on July 18th.
https://twitter.com/kolbyratigan/status/1416866984046723073
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Nice find! Can anyone tell from the photo if it's a FH center core or a regular F9? It would help determine whether it's B1068 or B1070.
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Nice find! Can anyone tell from the photo if it's a FH center core or a regular F9? It would help determine whether it's B1068 or B1070.
I wouldn't be surprised if there's a third FH center core in the pipeline too
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Nice find! Can anyone tell from the photo if it's a FH center core or a regular F9? It would help determine whether it's B1068 or B1070.
I'm not seeing the rectangular interstage bumps indicative of a center core so this looks like a F9 booster.
Edit: Hmm, those aft-end protuberances are a bit more pronounced than I'm used to and the place those FH center core interstage bits would be visible from this view are obscured by shadows, so I'm not very confident without better photos. SpaceX also transported both of the newest FH side cores to McGregor with temporary interstage adapters so even that's not a guarantee these days 😭
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https://www.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10160024996231318/(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210617/fc861b6b108cb224ed941aadcce67945.jpg)
So we thought this was B1051 being transported to Vandenberg but according to this post (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=45813.msg2266196#msg2266196), B1051 was still at the Cape as of June 29, so this must have been a different booster. I have no idea which one, though. B1058 seems most likely, other options are B1061 and B1063.
I guess we'll find out soon enough since it seems like that booster will be used on Starlink 2-1 (B1049.10 was expected originally, but Next Spaceflight has reported that's not the plan anymore). Unless they use B1051.11 first (although we haven't seen it transported).
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B1068 (possibly FH side booster) is at McGregor:
https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1426238008731348995?s=20
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So now B1068 is a center core for Viasat-3?
https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1428001532952432640
Raptor engine static fire, testing for future Starship launches, alongside Falcon Heavy center core, B1068, installed on its test stand in preparation for next year’s Viasat-3 launch
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https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1432075099415490564
This morning was a *little* foggy around the @SpaceX McGregor facility ;)
…However, while the dense clouds may have caused a bit of a wishful mirage lol, I saw at least two- likely🤞three, Falcon 9 First Stage boosters! 🚀🌫🤩
https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1432075132470763520
https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1432075148912365576
Finding three Falcon 9 First Stage boosters… (Two bright and shiny!) Not a bad way to start the day 🤗☕️🚀🌫
(I hear this particular booster is on the way to California… Having arrived within only the last 12-24 hours from Florida 🤩🚀🌴)
#SpaceX #McGregorTX
Edit to add:
https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1432096914598727689
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https://twitter.com/joroulette/status/1437829469994164234
Spotted a Falcon 9 booster on Kennedy Parkway (looks like a FH side booster)
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https://twitter.com/booster_buddies/status/1437843031097548807?s=21
This was claimed to be B1023 from the Falcon Heavy Demo flight (and before that Thaicom-8 in May 2016), and will be put on permanent display at KSC Visitor Center.
Do we know where is the other one (1025 if this is 1023) and if it’s going to get a new home as well? Someone on the same thread claimed the other one has already been scrapped, but I can’t find any other source claiming that.
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B1023 it is!
https://twitter.com/baserunner0723/status/1437850560204611584?s=21
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Anyone up for some soot matching? 😂 I couldn't find any super detailed photos after a quick scan but I'm not seeing a match with B1061, B1063, or B1067. Can't say I see any resemblance with B1052 or B1053 ahead of STP-2, though we of course don't have any good photos of them after their second launch.
https://twitter.com/inspiration4x/status/1438236070534025218
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Hmmmmmm, that's either B1052 or B1053...
https://twitter.com/stevenyoungsfn/status/1438952749484412931
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The side booster that rolled by ahead of i4 was an older side booster that is going on permanent display at the KSC. This side booster and the other in Hangar X are both being converted to F9. B1052 and B1053, the boosters being converted, flew Arabsat-6A and STP-2.
https://twitter.com/brooklindevil/status/1438963341104398349
I know for a fact they're converting them
https://twitter.com/brooklindevil/status/1439196665320288265
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Makes sense that 52 an 53 would finally see conversion to F9 flights. 2 cores were shipped west, new FH side boosters will be added to the active inventory soon and the next Starlink wave of flights are coming up soon.
I miss the 2 week launch cadence, 52 and 53 can help SpaceX get back to that pace.
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After all this time I finally got to see a Falcon 9 heading thru Tucson on I 10. About 12:30 on sep 22. Headed eastbound. No pics. I was on my motorcycle.
https://www.reddit.com/r/SpaceXLounge/comments/ptld6b/i_finally_saw_a_falcon_9/
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After all this time I finally got to see a Falcon 9 heading thru Tucson on I 10. About 12:30 on sep 22. Headed eastbound. No pics. I was on my motorcycle.
https://www.reddit.com/r/SpaceXLounge/comments/ptld6b/i_finally_saw_a_falcon_9/
Sounds like this could be B1070 heading to McGregor. I wonder if it's a FH side core or an F9. But I'm guessing the former because SpaceX has 3 FH launches planned in the next 6 months and only one set of side boosters available for them. So even if they're counting on reusing the first set, they'll need to manufacture at least one other pair.
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It looks like B1068 finished its test campaign at McGregor.
https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1441779356922257411?s=19 (https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1441779356922257411?s=19)
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After all this time I finally got to see a Falcon 9 heading thru Tucson on I 10. About 12:30 on sep 22. Headed eastbound. No pics. I was on my motorcycle.
https://www.reddit.com/r/SpaceXLounge/comments/ptld6b/i_finally_saw_a_falcon_9/ (https://www.reddit.com/r/SpaceXLounge/comments/ptld6b/i_finally_saw_a_falcon_9/)
Sounds like this could be B1070 heading to McGregor. I wonder if it's a FH side core or an F9. But I'm guessing the former because SpaceX has 3 FH launches planned in the next 6 months and only one set of side boosters available for them. So even if they're counting on reusing the first set, they'll need to manufacture at least one other pair.
It looks like B1070 is already at McGregor ready for action.
https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1441781556796854278?s=19 (https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1441781556796854278?s=19)
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Looks like both mystery boosters likely arrived at KSC within the last 24 hours.
https://www.reddit.com/r/SpaceXLounge/comments/pwv1d4/possible_rocket_part_sighting/
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Current photo of B1061. Presumably taken in Hangar X?
Coast Guard lawyers (and a couple naval engineers) visit #SpaceX: the intersection of maritime law and space!
https://twitter.com/mvlaun/status/1443348871409721346
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Space Scout released a video of how the B1023 booster was transported to the new KSC Visitor Center building.
https://twitter.com/WeAreSpaceScout/status/1444073866628935681?s=19
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Falcon 9 B1070 was put upright on the test stand this afternoon at McGregor.
https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1445202566917378051
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https://twitter.com/DavidNagySFgang/status/1445216643886592000
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Cross-post:
B1049 has apparently left California shortly after Starlink 2-1:
https://twitter.com/TGMetsFan98/status/1447618259390537731
B1049 and B1069 (I’m guessing that B1068 is wrapping up final processing and should be ready to move out soon). [dated September 25]
Since when? It was in California last month and I haven't seen any indications of it being moved back to Florida. [dated October 11]
Spotted passing through McGregor towards FL last month: [dated October 11]
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B1058 has been spotted today:
https://twitter.com/SausseImages/status/1448715054036275203
The worm booster was hanging out outside of HangarX today.
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Falcon 9 booster rolling eastbound I-10 through rural Willcox, AZ early this morning
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/qgbus5/falcon_9_booster_rolling_eastbound_i10_through/
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It appears that the Falcon 9 second stage to be used on the DART mission has arrived at McGregor for its final stage of pre-launch testing.
https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1455623382150664200
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It appears that the Falcon 9 second stage to be used on the DART mission has arrived at McGregor for its final stage of pre-launch testing.
???
Launch is the 23rd
Static fire 16th?
Pad rollout 15th
TE mate 13th?
LV testing
2nd stage mate ?
2nd stage testing?
2nd stage arrival?
Today is the 2nd
2nd stage mate to test stand?
Testing?
static fire?
post static fire cleanup?
2nd stage off stand and prep for shipment
2nd stage Xport (2 days)
It doesn't work. This isn't the Dart 2nd stage
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It appears that the Falcon 9 second stage to be used on the DART mission has arrived at McGregor for its final stage of pre-launch testing.
???
Launch is the 23rd
Static fire 16th?
Pad rollout 15th
TE mate 13th?
LV testing
2nd stage mate ?
2nd stage testing?
2nd stage arrival?
Today is the 2nd
2nd stage mate to test stand?
Testing?
static fire?
post static fire cleanup?
2nd stage off stand and prep for shipment
2nd stage Xport (2 days)
It doesn't work. This isn't the Dart 2nd stage
I agree that there's no obvious reason to assume that the stage Reagan spotted is for any particular mission but Crew-3 sort of threw all preconceptions out the window. While we don't know exactly when it arrived at McGregor, Crew-3's S2 went vertical on the test stand on October 2nd, completed testing, and (likely) arrived at the Cape on October 14th.
I think the fact that Crew-3 took until the 27th to roll out to 39A was more due to crew launch preparations than S2 readiness. But the fact that it took SpaceX just ~2 weeks to proof and deliver a S2 means that it's far from impossible that the stage Reagan spotted is meant for DART. It's probably more likely that the stage she heard tested on Nov 1st is for DART, but still.
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It appears that the Falcon 9 second stage to be used on the DART mission has arrived at McGregor for its final stage of pre-launch testing.
???
Launch is the 23rd
Static fire 16th?
Pad rollout 15th
TE mate 13th?
LV testing
2nd stage mate ?
2nd stage testing?
2nd stage arrival?
Today is the 2nd
2nd stage mate to test stand?
Testing?
static fire?
post static fire cleanup?
2nd stage off stand and prep for shipment
2nd stage Xport (2 days)
It doesn't work. This isn't the Dart 2nd stage
I agree that there's no obvious reason to assume that the stage Reagan spotted is for any particular mission but Crew-3 sort of threw all preconceptions out the window. While we don't know exactly when it arrived at McGregor, Crew-3's S2 went vertical on the test stand on October 2nd, completed testing, and (likely) arrived at the Cape on October 14th.
I think the fact that Crew-3 took until the 27th to roll out to 39A was more due to crew launch preparations than S2 readiness. But the fact that it took SpaceX just ~2 weeks to proof and deliver a S2 means that it's far from impossible that the stage Reagan spotted is meant for DART. It's probably more likely that the stage she heard tested on Nov 1st is for DART, but still.
That's right, I think so too, it seems that the test times for the S2s is reducing in the same way that we have seen some Falcon Heavy boosters take less time, so it may take SpaceX two to three to test an S2.
The times at which Crew-3 S2 was last seen and the arrival at Cape Canaveral coincide, only perhaps because it is a manned mission (which takes extra care) we thought it takes longer since many of us thought that S2 was not for Crew-3 but for Crew-4.
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It appears that the Falcon 9 second stage to be used on the DART mission has arrived at McGregor for its final stage of pre-launch testing.
???
Launch is the 23rd
Static fire 16th?
Pad rollout 15th
TE mate 13th?
LV testing
2nd stage mate ?
2nd stage testing?
2nd stage arrival?
Today is the 2nd
2nd stage mate to test stand?
Testing?
static fire?
post static fire cleanup?
2nd stage off stand and prep for shipment
2nd stage Xport (2 days)
It doesn't work. This isn't the Dart 2nd stage
I agree that there's no obvious reason to assume that the stage Reagan spotted is for any particular mission but Crew-3 sort of threw all preconceptions out the window. While we don't know exactly when it arrived at McGregor, Crew-3's S2 went vertical on the test stand on October 2nd, completed testing, and (likely) arrived at the Cape on October 14th.
I think the fact that Crew-3 took until the 27th to roll out to 39A was more due to crew launch preparations than S2 readiness. But the fact that it took SpaceX just ~2 weeks to proof and deliver a S2 means that it's far from impossible that the stage Reagan spotted is meant for DART. It's probably more likely that the stage she heard tested on Nov 1st is for DART, but still.
12-14 Days doesn’t work. That is my point. The stage has to be at the pad before it arrives
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It appears that the Falcon 9 second stage to be used on the DART mission has arrived at McGregor for its final stage of pre-launch testing.
???
Launch is the 23rd
Static fire 16th?
Pad rollout 15th
TE mate 13th?
LV testing
2nd stage mate ?
2nd stage testing?
2nd stage arrival?
Today is the 2nd
2nd stage mate to test stand?
Testing?
static fire?
post static fire cleanup?
2nd stage off stand and prep for shipment
2nd stage Xport (2 days)
It doesn't work. This isn't the Dart 2nd stage
I agree that there's no obvious reason to assume that the stage Reagan spotted is for any particular mission but Crew-3 sort of threw all preconceptions out the window. While we don't know exactly when it arrived at McGregor, Crew-3's S2 went vertical on the test stand on October 2nd, completed testing, and (likely) arrived at the Cape on October 14th.
I think the fact that Crew-3 took until the 27th to roll out to 39A was more due to crew launch preparations than S2 readiness. But the fact that it took SpaceX just ~2 weeks to proof and deliver a S2 means that it's far from impossible that the stage Reagan spotted is meant for DART. It's probably more likely that the stage she heard tested on Nov 1st is for DART, but still.
12-14 Days doesn’t work. That is my point. The stage has to be at the pad before it arrives
couldn't the time between static fire & launch be more like 4 days? making it 15-17 days for testing?
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couldn't the time between static fire & launch be more like 4 days? making it 15-17 days for testing?
The spacecraft is not on the vehicle for static fire. Going by previous non Starlink VSFB launches
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https://twitter.com/chancebelloise/status/1456273334186831883
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https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1456689462507884556
She's a beauty
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https://twitter.com/chancebelloise/status/1456707380838813697
A brand new #SpaceX #Falcon9 booster without landing gear just passed by LCC heading away from 39A, presumably toward CCSFS.
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https://twitter.com/chancebelloise/status/1456273334186831883
This booster was later identified as B1062.4 based on the soot pattern and these photos (https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/qoh0ov/i_saw_a_falcon_9_in_transport_at_the_kennedy/) showing the serial number.
I'm assuming it's going to be used on the next Starlink launch from Florida (reportedly called 2-2 and planned for Nov or Dec). Another possibility is IXPE.
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Also posted in the Europa Clipper (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=47579.0) discussion thread (there is no discussion thread for this mission in the "SpaceX Missions Section (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=55.0)").
The side boosters that will be used on the Psyche mission in 2022 will be used for the launch of the Europa Clipper mission.
https://twitter.com/RPappalardo/status/1460739675337883662
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The B1052 booster has been seen rolling through KSC as a Falcon 9 and with a second stage, it is ready for its first mission as a Falcon 9, because it has only two launches, it could be used for commercial, government and of course, Starlink missions.https://twitter.com/spacecoast_stve/status/1468617143671480326
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Is its sister 1053 also at the Cape?
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Is its sister 1053 also at the Cape?
Yes, and it will also be converted into a Falcon 9.
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The B1052 booster has been seen rolling through KSC as a Falcon 9 and with a second stage, it is ready for its first mission as a Falcon 9, because it has only two launches, it could be used for commercial, government and of course, Starlink missions.https://twitter.com/spacecoast_stve/status/1468617143671480326
I do not think that it's ready for launch till now you can see the grid fins are missing.
To be clear many are speculating that it is used for Turksat 5B but my conscience says it will be used next year not this year
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The B1052 booster has been seen rolling through KSC as a Falcon 9 and with a second stage, it is ready for its first mission as a Falcon 9, because it has only two launches, it could be used for commercial, government and of course, Starlink missions.https://twitter.com/spacecoast_stve/status/1468617143671480326 (https://twitter.com/spacecoast_stve/status/1468617143671480326)
I do not think that it's ready for launch till now you can see the grid fins are missing.
To be clear many are speculating that it is used for Turksat 5B but my conscience says it will be used next year not this year
Same opinion, if I had to bet, I would say it could be used in Transporter 3, the installation of the grid fins doesn't take that long.
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The B1052 booster has been seen rolling through KSC as a Falcon 9 and with a second stage, it is ready for its first mission as a Falcon 9, because it has only two launches, it could be used for commercial, government and of course, Starlink missions.https://twitter.com/spacecoast_stve/status/1468617143671480326 (https://twitter.com/spacecoast_stve/status/1468617143671480326)
Transporter-3 is expected to be expended, so they probably wouldn't bother installing legs. But maybe it will be used on CSG-2 in January?
I do not think that it's ready for launch till now you can see the grid fins are missing.
To be clear many are speculating that it is used for Turksat 5B but my conscience says it will be used next year not this year
Same opinion, if I had to bet, I would say it could be used in Transporter 3, the installation of the grid fins doesn't take that long.
Transporter-3 is expected to be expended, so they probably wouldn't leave the legs on. But maybe it will launch on CSG-2 in January?
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The B1052 booster has been seen rolling through KSC as a Falcon 9 and with a second stage, it is ready for its first mission as a Falcon 9, because it has only two launches, it could be used for commercial, government and of course, Starlink missions.https://twitter.com/spacecoast_stve/status/1468617143671480326 (https://twitter.com/spacecoast_stve/status/1468617143671480326)
Transporter-3 is expected to be expended, so they probably wouldn't bother installing legs. But maybe it will be used on CSG-2 in January?
I do not think that it's ready for launch till now you can see the grid fins are missing.
To be clear many are speculating that it is used for Turksat 5B but my conscience says it will be used next year not this year
Same opinion, if I had to bet, I would say it could be used in Transporter 3, the installation of the grid fins doesn't take that long.
Transporter-3 is expected to be expended, so they probably wouldn't leave the legs on. But maybe it will launch on CSG-2 in January?
That's a game changer, so yes it could be CSG-2, with this, two boosters are expected to be removed from the fleet, right? B1049 on the SES-18 & SES-19 mission and B1060/58 for Transporter-3?
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That's a game changer, so yes it could be CSG-2, with this, two boosters are expected to be removed from the fleet, right? B1049 on the SES-18 & SES-19 mission and B1060/58 for Transporter-3?
I don't think we know the exact plan yet, but I'd expect B1049.11 on Transporter-3. The other expendable launch is the second O3b mission. I'm not aware of the SES-18 launch flying expendable.
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Transporter-3 is expected to be expended, so they probably wouldn't leave the legs on. But maybe it will launch on CSG-2 in January?
From what was known here in Italy, they agreed, of course, to use a re-flown Booster, but someone said that ASI asked a non extremely-used one, that would be a plausible and fair request.
Yet, alas, ASI denied since the day that was discovered the switch from VEGA to F9, to reply to any questions regarding F9 Booster, fairings, mission profile and recovery...
I sent the last request two weeks ago, no info given.
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4K Falcon 9 booster #52 heads towards launch pads passing in front of the NASA Vehicle Assembly Bldg
https://youtu.be/EWFw3CYhFIk
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I'm not aware of the SES-18 launch flying expendable.
If that mission ends up flying expendable, I think it would be on either B1058 (please no) or B1060.
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I'm not aware of the SES-18 launch flying expendable.
If that mission ends up flying expendable, I think it would be on either B1058 (please no) or B1060.
I think the discussion's solutions end up in SpaceX employees' mind as I don't see too many high performance missions lined up on chart to expend these four boosters B1049/51/60/58 (58 and 60 can be used for 1 more mission before using them on such occasions) in 3 years(if willing to keep booster in storage like B1052/53). My conscience says that I have some of the solutions
1)use them on equatorial launches or high orbit or Heliocentric launcheslike ixpe expendably
2)set them on display (I like only for one booster B1058)
3)add more mass by weight to lead them to be executing expendable launches
4)as said use them till first failure like one occured on B1059(if such plan don't execute till launch 113 to break soyuz u Success streak record to become not in world)
5) convert to Falcon heavy sides like B1023/25 and keep for the first Falcon Heavy expendable launch europa Clipper (pending nasa green light) (not change to Falcon Heavy cores as that's impossible)
6)launch as much Starlinks as needed on an expendable launch (may be worst if thinking this launch killing a gold giving hen for more gold than like waiting for each egg everyday)
7) I am saying maybe a joke but any thing can happen that as they want to use but not give Refurbish costs so do one thing set the droneship in a place where rocket can't land and test them challenge vs experience that do Falcon landing in high missions like the stp-2 or abrasat 6a Falcon Heavy core landing spot if you lose landing nothing can be done but if achieved landing then we can use on others
Any other thoughts please specify I don't think any other options to be possible
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https://twitter.com/alexphysics13/status/1480620949170966528?s=21
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B1049 was seen rolling down the road towards Hangar X on the 21st without recovery hardware (not even the stuff to install it on the booster like pins and so on) and also with a new and white interstage. That booster on the pad is clearly not B1049 and, call me crazy, but 49's next flight is most likely an expendable launch given that sightning.
I forgot to cross post this. Source is private but I've seen video of the booster in this condition (including the number 49 on it)
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Cross-post:
In addition, given the two first stages currently in use at Vandenberg, 1051.12 and 1063.4, I suspect that 1063.4 will be used for the NRO launch; as the NRO is an "external" customer, and 1051 will be the first booster used for the twelfth time.
I therefore suspect 1051.12 will be used for the next Vandenberg Starlink launch (if it's in the near future).
I understand that for the NROL-87 mission the B1071 could be used and it would be its first and only launch.
In addition, it was seen that it was going to California 4 weeks ago.
https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1472740560742010883
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A booster was spotted this morning rolling near the VAB.https://twitter.com/chancebelloise/status/1488920111142653953
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A booster was spotted this morning rolling near the VAB.https://twitter.com/chancebelloise/status/1488920111142653953
Based on soot B1052-3.
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A booster was spotted this morning rolling near the VAB.https://twitter.com/chancebelloise/status/1488920111142653953 (https://twitter.com/chancebelloise/status/1488920111142653953)
Based on soot B1052-3.
It makes sense, I didn't remember that B1052 would be processed so fast.
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Yeah it's B1052, no SpaceX logo on one side of the booster (which is precisely the one we look at in that video)
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https://twitter.com/StephenClark1/status/1489270438438084614 (https://twitter.com/StephenClark1/status/1489270438438084614)
It seems that B1053 is out rolling somewhere at the Cape...
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https://twitter.com/StephenClark1/status/1489270438438084614 (https://twitter.com/StephenClark1/status/1489270438438084614)
It seems that B1053 is out rolling somewhere at the Cape...
It is time for you to start your conversion to Falcon 9.
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A booster was spotted this morning rolling near the VAB. <snip>
Based on soot B1052-3.
It makes sense, I didn't remember that B1052 would be processed so fast.
1052.4
My deduction is it was on its way from LZ-1 to wherever it is to be prepared for its next launch.
Yeah it's B1052, no SpaceX logo on one side of the booster (which is precisely the one we look at in that video)
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Another View of B1053
https://twitter.com/CarstensPete/status/1489384683607666690
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Another View of B1053
https://twitter.com/CarstensPete/status/1489384683607666690
comparing B1052 with B1053, I didn't find that B1053 will launch before July or August as B1052 sent to conversion in September 2021 and launched in January 2022
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https://twitter.com/Alexphysics13/status/1489389338265890819
B1053 now at Hangar X getting ready to finally get its well deserved refurbishment for its next mission. For the past 32 months his booster had donated its grid fins, legs, and some of the engines to other boosters who kindly accepted them.
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B1072 is already on its way to Florida, will be used as side booster for Falcon Heavy.
https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1493759712550080513
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A booster has been spotted on its way to SpaceX launch hangars.https://twitter.com/katebomb/status/1494380821180030990
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A booster has been spotted on its way to SpaceX launch hangars.https://twitter.com/katebomb/status/1494380821180030990 (https://twitter.com/katebomb/status/1494380821180030990)
It appears to be B1062, although it could also be B1061.
https://twitter.com/nujoud/status/1494390653534543874
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Cross-post re: B1051.12 returning to the Cape:
B1060.11 for Starlink 4-9.
https://twitter.com/Alexphysics13/status/1495782892529725443
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B1073 has arrived at McGregor, until we see vertical, we cannot know what it will be used for.https://twitter.com/jswartzphoto/status/1499454638344527873
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B1073 now vertical.https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1499967415274426370
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B1073 now vertical.https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1499967415274426370 (https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1499967415274426370)
In case anyone was wondering, it's a Side Booster for the Falcon Heavy.
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https://twitter.com/StephenClark1/status/1501583435122544642
https://twitter.com/StephenClark1/status/1501585209925554179
https://twitter.com/herrea/status/1501582771361353729
Not sure what this is - seems like it would be a FH center core (B1068/1070) if it's the former and most likely the prestige B1021 (CRS-8, SES-10) IIRC earmarked for CCSFS display for the later? But which one?
-
https://twitter.com/Dr_ThomasZ/status/1501612215450976257
Launch, launch, and launch 🚀
After watching a @SpaceX launch earlier today, we visited @NASA_SLS, @blueorigin, and @SpaceX! Hopefully, next time we can see @Astra, @relativityspace, and others! #LaunchUSA
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B1073 now vertical.https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1499967415274426370 (https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1499967415274426370)
In case anyone was wondering, it's a Side Booster for the Falcon Heavy.
Static fire in a few minutes
https://youtu.be/IUU7EfNxhyI
-
75 second burn so not full duration.
-
https://twitter.com/Harry__Stranger/status/1507899388743483392
https://twitter.com/Alexphysics13/status/1507908131883556878
-
https://twitter.com/gpallone13/status/1508456283388710917
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B1073 has completed its test campaign and is being prepared for shipment to Florida.
https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1509678532368211979
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B1074 FH center core:
https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1515048162444120070
Unknown booster with second stage (EDIT: Based on soot pattern, this looks to be B1060.12 for Starlink 4-14):
https://twitter.com/Kyle_M_Photo/status/1516063840257073155
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Close-ups (https://www.facebook.com/theresa.cross.96592/posts/417825857009743) of the above booster confirm it's B1060.12.
-
B1073 road to Florida; your first mission will be a Starlink mission
https://twitter.com/MatoroIgnika/status/1518725018653446148
-
B1074 completes its static fire at McGregor.
https://twitter.com/jswartzphoto/status/1519305001201549313
-
https://twitter.com/ElonXnet/status/1523410940011503617
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https://twitter.com/ElonXnet/status/1523410940011503617 (https://twitter.com/ElonXnet/status/1523410940011503617)
Your order has been delivered!
https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1524114017303810048
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Side Booster B1064 was taken from Hangar X to Hangar LC-39A to be prepared for the launch of USSF-44.
-
B1075 now vertical
https://twitter.com/jswartzphoto/status/1524761388723355648
-
Cross-post:
B1075 has been spotted on its way to Florida.
It's a Falcon Heavy Side planned to fly on Psyche later this year.
https://twitter.com/DELTA_V/status/1533453523232358401
-
B1069 is back and will be prepared for the Starlink Group 4-26 mission to be launched in August.https://twitter.com/planetdeimos/status/1534973358315556895
-
https://twitter.com/DELTA_V/status/1542138164353056768
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A booster was spotted heading west, presumably to Vandenberg, presumably from McGregor: https://www.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/posts/10160793945856318/
(previous post about the same booster: https://www.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/posts/10160791349436318/)
If that's the case, my theory is that it's B1075 which was originally meant to be a Psyche side booster, but because that launch was delayed by at least a year, SpaceX will now use the booster as an F9 on the west coast, where they've recently increased their launch cadence and the two boosters they have there now would be limiting them.
-
Wouldn't they send it back to Hawthorn to remove the side booster bits and do the other stuff they do when converting to vanilla F9?
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Wouldn't they send it back to Hawthorn to remove the side booster bits and do the other stuff they do when converting to vanilla F9?
The booster was already configured as F9 booster when sent to McGregor. They haven't tested a FH side booster with nosecone at McGregor in a loooooong time
-
1076 or 1077?
Cross-post:
New first stage for Dragon Crew-5? This would be the one with the interstage damaged in transit.
B1076 was also spotted in Maricopa, Arizona by the side of State Route 238. [June 29]
Sources says the booster damaged was B1077.1 and B1076.1 might be another FH core
-
My question stands.
1076 or 1077?
https://twitter.com/jswartzphoto/status/1554527509663956993
New Falcon 9 booster went vertical today @SpaceX McGregor in killer heat haze. I believe it to be B1077, for Crew 5 after having its interstage replaced. Now on to full static fire soon! 🚀🔥
-
Several boosters spotted at Hangar X today.
https://twitter.com/GregScott_photo/status/1554963780911697922
-
https://twitter.com/w00ki33/status/1555223239571300353
It appears a Falcon 9 is wrapped and ready to ship from Port of Long Beach back to Vandenberg SFB. Perhaps this is B1071 which arrived last week after recovery from the Starlink 3-2 mission?
@NASASpaceflight
-
https://twitter.com/w00ki33/status/1555361206461800449
This is what a recovered Falcon 9 looks like shipping out of Port of Long Beach back to Vandy, an elusive sight on the West Coast.
@NASASpaceflight
-
1076 or 1077?
Dragon Crew-5 first stage, from Nextspaceflight (https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/6980), updated August 4:
1077.1
Where is 1076? Still at Hawthorne?
-
Cross-post:
https://twitter.com/tgmetsfan98/status/1555669851821281283
Falcon 9 B1077, the booster slated for Crew-5 that was damaged when it hit a bridge, has been repaired and static fired at McGregor!
twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1555669545075048449
Falcon 9 fires up at McGregor:
youtube.com/watch?v=cOmmvh…
-
Belated cross-post:
I think it's worth pointing out that boosters aren't chosen by the customers but by SpaceX. Even government customers lately are only allowed to do such a thing but at the expense of paying for it or any sort of in-kind deal. Boosters have flights assigned well deep into their flight history. B1073 for example will fly as FH side booster on its 7th flight, pending any potential changes in the way of course, but it's already penciled down for that even before flying for the first time. In short, the customer gets what SpaceX wants and what SpaceX wanted with this upcoming flight is to get a new booster in the fleet to support higher flight rate so... Starlink was the only one available around this time in their manifest.
-
Belated follow-up; it was 1061.10:
A booster was spotted heading west, presumably to Vandenberg, presumably from McGregor:
<snip>
If that's the case, my theory is that it's B1075 <snip>
-
https://www.inmaricopa.com/second-spacex-rocket-to-cruise-through-town-this-weekend/
Booster going from Hawthorne to McGregor this weekend.
-
https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1574256224979271685
Falcon 9 first stage booster seen heading east early Saturday morning, following completion of its full post-production/pre-launch testing at @SpaceX’s McGregor, TX facility
-
https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1574364107146264577
SpaceX booster on the way to the Cape- future Falcon Heavy core
-
B1076 completed a static fire at McGregor today
SpaceX completed today a 77 second static fire test of B1076, a Falcon booster, at their McGregor Test and Development Facility in Texas. If data looks good, it'll be transported to Florida for its first flight.
https://twitter.com/Alexphysics13/status/1574868679803674634
-
The Florida arrival of the booster that recently left McGregor.
https://www.reddit.com/r/SpaceXLounge/comments/xon4f4/finally_caught_one_in_the_wild_florida_i10/
-
https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1578527296687812609
Sooty cylinder on the move at Kennedy Space Center!
nsf.live/spacecoast
-
https://twitter.com/stephenclark1/status/1578532482365894656
At least one Falcon 9 rocket is on the move tonight. On the way home after tonight’s scrub, I crossed paths with this well-used bird and its brand new upper stage heading eastbound at twilight toward SpaceX’s launch pads.
-
twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1583492007321665540
SpaceX Falcon booster on the roll at KSC.
nsf.live/spacecoast
Edit to add:
https://twitter.com/alexphysics13/status/1583522376402100224
B1067 rolling out at KSC. Notice lack of grid fins and no second stage attached so don't expect this one to launch just yet, gonna need a bit more work to get ready for flight. It's likely for one of the launches next month.
-
https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1587201112721047561
As Falcon Heavy rolled out, two Falcon 9 first stage boosters arrived at the hangar
-
As Falcon Heavy rolled out, two Falcon 9 first stage boosters arrived at the hangar. [Oct 31]
Identities, please?
For the next two LC-39A Falcon 9 launches (SpX-26 and ??)?
-
As Falcon Heavy rolled out, two Falcon 9 first stage boosters arrived at the hangar. [Oct 31]
Identities, please?
For the next two LC-39A Falcon 9 launches (SpX-26 and ??)?
https://twitter.com/Alexphysics13/status/1587202260588691457
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https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/1588221646166380544?s=20&t=S5OD6M6JIesU1rS6rau9jA
A grey 2nd stage on left in 1st image for USSF-67 or Viasat 3
-
is there a block 4 interstage spotted at cape or on B1051.14?
Cross post: can we assume that along with stripping B1051.14 before Galaxy 31/32 mission, will spacex swap the costly carbon fiber black interstage with a block 4 one like B1049.11 to save the interstage for a side booster like B1076(like B1049.11's interstage went to B1052)?
-
Possible center core(?) going to 39A as the ML rolls by and Falcon goes vertical this morning.
-
Cross-post; is it B1068.1? B1079 hasn't yet been tested at McGregor?
Time lapse video from earlier:
https://twitter.com/spaceoffshore/status/1600931264286056448
A moment of madness this morning at KSC!
The mobile launcher, a Falcon 9 going vertical and what appears to be a Falcon Heavy center core 😲 all meet at Launch Complex 39! @NASASpaceflight
Highlight from SCL. You'd be be amazed at what you might see: nsf.live/spacecoast
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https://twitter.com/alexphysics13/status/1601278933064089601
Just now on Space Coast Live, a Falcon 9 is rolling down the road to one of SpaceX's launch pads. The booster, B1058-15, is one of the life leaders of the fleet and it is set to perform a record 15th flight next week!
Watch live: nsf.live/spacecoast
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One of @SpaceX’s new Falcon 9 First Stage boosters was seen in rural West TX on its way to Vandenberg SFB, CA, following successful completion of prelaunch-testing at the McGregor, TX facility.
(Imagine trying to maneuver this turn 😳😅)
https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1602337850200145923
Is this B1075 going to Vandenberg before it's used for Psyche next year? Because I think that's the only booster we haven't seen leave McGregor after it finished testing.
Or maybe the tweet is incorrect and the booster is actually coming from Florida?
-
Or maybe the tweet is incorrect and the booster is actually coming from Florida?
I'm gonna put $10 on this. Eyes on the Vandy barge!
Edit: Ooooh I would have lost those $10 if I had done that for real hah! Just checked and it should be B1075 going to Vandenberg for a Starlink launch next month.
-
Cross-post:
https://twitter.com/goaliebear88/status/1614821708698886144
Why hello core 1077
-
https://twitter.com/jennyhphoto/status/1621313464814780416
The difference between B1067 and other boosters is the Falcon 9 logo & flag.
As seen with B1062, the logos have color, but B1067's are black.
I'm not sure why this is, but small details like these make all the boosters unique in their own ways!
📷: Me for @SuperclusterHQ
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https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1622333369831890951
Falcon 9 B1078 was seen leaving the @SpaceX McGregor facility Sunday morning following successful completion of its recent test campaign.
The rocket will travel across the rural, southern roadways to Kennedy Space Center, FL, where it will launch the Crew-6 mission to the ISS.
-
https://twitter.com/alexphysics13/status/1631735815154925585
Two Falcon Heavy side boosters in F9 clothing as seen on Space Coast Live cams at KSC and Port Canaveral.
B1073, lower left cam, heading to SLC-40 for the OneWeb-17 launch next week.
B1076, lower right cam, being processed at Port after Starlink 6-1.
nsf.live/spacecoast
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https://twitter.com/spaceoffshore/status/1633178673867112450
The barge in the below tweet, loaded with two fairing halves and (presumably) B1063, departed the Port of Long Beach overnight for delivery to Vandenberg.
The voyage should take just over a day, can roll directly off the barge to the launch site, avoiding wide loads on the road
-
Identity? Falcon Heavy core or Falcon 9 single stick/Falcon Heavy side booster?
https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1633250483245666305
Shiny, new booster being raised for testing at @SpaceX McGregor, TX 🔥🚀🏗️
📸: @NASASpaceflight; nsf.live/mcgregor
-
Regular Falcon 9 booster.
-
https://twitter.com/thenasaman/status/1633833053947838469
When you get stuck behind a flown fairing going to setup rocket remote cameras...how is this my life?
-
Identity? Falcon Heavy core or Falcon 9 single stick/Falcon Heavy side booster?
They can be identified via their liveries:
When it has a US Flag and Falcon 9 logo it's a regular Falcon 9.
When it has no US Flag and Falcon 9 logo, but does have a vertical SpaceX logo, it's a Falcon Heavy Side Booster (when the booster has a black interstage on the test stand, it will likely debut as a Falcon 9)
When it has no SpaceX branding on the tanks and a white interstage (with Falcon Heavy logo and US Flag) it's a Center Core.
Regular Falcon 9 booster.
Likely B1080 since B1079 is supposed to be a Center Core for USSF-52?
-
Cross-post:
B1067 going to SLC-40 for this launch:
Just another beautiful day in Florida… Oh look, here comes a Falcon 9 with an upper stage attached. Those bus passengers got a thrill!
https://twitter.com/BusKsc/status/1637863376482074624
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https://twitter.com/spaceoffshore/status/1633178673867112450
The barge in the below tweet, loaded with two fairing halves and (presumably) B1063, departed the Port of Long Beach overnight for delivery to Vandenberg.
The voyage should take just over a day, can roll directly off the barge to the launch site, avoiding wide loads on the road
Is it safe to assume that the booster and the fairings on the barge were for the Starlink 2-8 launch?
-
https://twitter.com/systems_zero/status/1646885419752075265
Damn boosters making me late
-
Don't know if it's related, but a vacationing coworker while on the bus tour saw a stage leaving LC-39A today....
B1076 leaving the hangar at LC-39A
-
https://twitter.com/jennyhphoto/status/1651628539991433216
Caught B1069 driving by the VAB on its way to SLC-40!
📷: Me for @SuperclusterHQ
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https://twitter.com/alexphysics13/status/1652399829660598273
I spy with my little eye... FH-related hardware 👀
This is where the aft boosters are connected to the center core so... This is a Falcon Heavy center core!
Should probably be B1079 for Echostar 24. Launch is tentatively scheduled for no earlier than August.
-
https://twitter.com/spaceoffshore/status/1654237704404586500
Hive of activity at SpaceX's West Coast recovery facility.
Falcon 9 (likely B1061) and fairings to be shipped to VSFB. Recovery ship NRC Quest and new ship GO Beyond can be seen.
GO Beyond has gained a lifting A-frame and should take over fairing recovery soon from NRC Quest.
NRC Quest and GO Quest previously supported fairing recovery and droneship support respectively on the West Coast. GO Quest has already exited the fleet with NRC Quest expected to follow.
New ship GO Beyond will take on both roles in a single-ship solution.
twitter.com/lbcairseaspace/status/1654234133663727616
#MayThe4thBeWithYou update from @SpaceX Space Beach dock at the @portoflongbeach. @SpacecoastPix @SpaceOffshore
-
https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1659203814690541575
Busy Falcons.
With the Falcon 9 for Axiom-2 arriving at 39A, another Falcon 9 booster was on the roll ahead of its next SpaceX mission.
nsf.live/spacecoast
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Which first stage is it? Destination?
Busy Falcons.
With the Falcon 9 for Axiom-2 arriving at 39A, another Falcon 9 booster was on the roll ahead of its next SpaceX mission.
nsf.live/spacecoast [May 18]
-
Another booster headed to the pad. Very sooty, probably 1062 if I had to guess.
-
Which first stage is it? Destination?
Busy Falcons.
With the Falcon 9 for Axiom-2 arriving at 39A, another Falcon 9 booster was on the roll ahead of its next SpaceX mission.
nsf.live/spacecoast [May 18]
Guess is B1077 https://twitter.com/Alexphysics13/status/1659206882236723205
-
Another booster headed to the pad. Very sooty, probably 1062 if I had to guess.
Yup, closeup shot shows the 62 on the booster
-
A new Falcon core was raised onto the test stand at McGregor today
-
B1081?
https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1671313699699580931
A new FALCON 9 first stage booster was installed today at @SpaceX McGregor and is now vertical, ready to begin its initial test campaign, as viewed on @NASASpaceflight’s McGregor Live.
🎥: http://nsf.live/mcgregor
A new Falcon core was raised onto the test stand at McGregor today
-
Could this be 1080 for Euclid?
https://twitter.com/BusKsc/status/1673858365221421058?s=20 (https://twitter.com/BusKsc/status/1673858365221421058?s=20)
-
Could this be 1080 for Euclid?
Found it on Space Coast Live just before 11am ET
-
https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/status/1674415621574983680
Booster 1069 is making the trek back to HangarX to be prepared for another launch. Cars for scale.
📷 @NASASpaceflight
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https://twitter.com/harry__stranger/status/1675998650126974976
One Falcon 9 booster and two payload fairings have been loaded onto a barge ready for transport back to Vandenberg Space Force Base.
Imagery taken 2023-07-02 17:51:05 UTC
-
A very sooty booster presumably headed to SLC-40 this morning.
-
A very sooty booster presumably headed to SLC-40 this morning.
Presumably for Starlink 5-15?
-
A very sooty booster presumably headed to SLC-40 this morning.
Presumably for Starlink 5-15?
Apparently B1062.15, assigned to 5-15.
Edit July 12: Maybe it was B1060.16, instead, which is now assigned to Starlink 5-15.
-
What about B1060.16? Is it in Hangar X?
Edit July 12: No, assigned to launch Starlink 5-15.
The question would now ask the current location of B1062.15.
-
https://twitter.com/farryfaz/status/1680241217676664832
What can it be? Seen on US 528 eastbound
-
What can it be? Seen on Florida US 528 eastbound.
B1081 arriving for Crew-7?
Falcon second stage
-
That's a second stage
-
That's a second stage
No due General relativity it just look shorter. ; P
-
Wrapped Falcon beside the hanger at 39A.
https://twitter.com/TaylorHose/status/1685031595739156480?s=20 (https://twitter.com/TaylorHose/status/1685031595739156480?s=20)
https://twitter.com/TaylorHose/status/1685084315288309760?s=20 (https://twitter.com/TaylorHose/status/1685084315288309760?s=20)
-
Cross-post:
https://twitter.com/adamcuker/status/1686558631406268417
A new Falcon booster was lifted today at SpaceX in McGregor, Texas ahead of testing. @Alexphysics13 thinks this is B1084 which should be the next Falcon Heavy center core.
Watch testing LIVE at:
nsf.live/mcgregor
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B1078 spotted yesterday(?) with a second stage. Likely for an upcoming starlink.
https://twitter.com/SaxMike71/status/1687327554942771201?s=20 (https://twitter.com/SaxMike71/status/1687327554942771201?s=20)
-
B1080
https://twitter.com/ExploreSpaceKSC/status/1692567140535349273?s=20 (https://twitter.com/ExploreSpaceKSC/status/1692567140535349273?s=20)
-
https://twitter.com/planetdeimos/status/1693258600708206990
A @SpaceX Falcon 9 second stage spotted on the interstate this morning.
-
Another booster heading past the VAB this morning.
Video from tweet + pic from NSF Space Coast Live.
Not sure if there are any F9 decals on it, could be a FH side booster, 1073 or 76?
https://twitter.com/ABernNYC/status/1694733433883304424?s=20 (https://twitter.com/ABernNYC/status/1694733433883304424?s=20)
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Not sure if there are any F9 decals on it, could be a FH side booster, 1073 or 76?
Well . . .
It was a #SpaceX & #NASA type of day so far! B-1073 rolls by the VAB to LC-39A for integration & media set remote cameras around LC-39A with four locations.
https://twitter.com/SchilkeScott/status/1694842357017870670?s=20 (https://twitter.com/SchilkeScott/status/1694842357017870670?s=20)
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https://twitter.com/davidjdphotos/status/1695216043818455245
As they say, Kennedy Space Center is an active and busy spaceport.
This afternoon, Falcon 9 B1077 made yet another trek out to the launch site ahead of its next mission.
📸: @WeAreSpaceScout
-
Loving the random Block 3 booster in the corner of the last picture. Not sure which one this is, but there aren't a lot of options.
B1021 comes to mind, that one has been at SLC-40 outside on a corner of the pad seemingly not being taken care of and unnattended. Display time?
https://twitter.com/Alexphysics13/status/1707822303294140888
-
https://twitter.com/jacqmans1972/status/1708980471659479080
#SpaceX moved a Falcon-9 rocket for an upcomming #starlink flight to the launchpad this morning.
📸 for @ROOM__Space (taken from #KSC tour bus I was in)
-
B1082
NSF McGregor livestream; attached image:
B1082 is currently on the stand at McGregor, and does have a Falcon 9 livery, so that's a Falcon 9.
B1083 has not been seen yet, but NextSpaceflight has it as a Falcon 9.
B1084 is the center core for USSF-52.
Regressing to October 10:
https://twitter.com/bluemoondance74/status/1711889396033565132
There have been 7 rocket engine tests, along with a new booster raised and prepared for future testing, so far today at @SpaceX McGregor, TX- with 2 1/2 potential hours still to go.
Tests included a Merlin 1D, Merlin Vac, Super Draco, and 4 Raptor engines.
📸:
@NASASpaceflight
McGregor Live
Edited
-
https://twitter.com/saxmike71/status/1712510585357615593
Saw this on my way in this morning:
-
B1082 cross-posts:
https://twitter.com/adamcuker/status/1711788294999040012
A new Falcon 9 booster was lifted this morning ahead of testing at SpaceX in McGregor, TX. @NASASpaceflight
Watch testing LIVE at:
nsf.live/mcgregor
https://twitter.com/adamcuker/status/1713638221224038773
SpaceX booster 1082 completed its testing with a 77-second static test fire yesterday in McGregor, TX.
@NASASpaceflight
Watch testing LIVE at:
nsf.live/mcgregor
-
Likely B1081 passed the VAB this morning. Very likely that this is for CRS-29.
-
https://twitter.com/theeasternrange/status/1718334183964057845
SpaceX Falcon 9 first stage rolling back to HangarX from LC-39A. @SpaceX @NASAKennedy #SpaceX #Falcon9 #Rocket #elon #Kennedy
-
Is this a normal booster transport route?
https://twitter.com/arapahoeso/status/1718403127374762459
Here's something you don't see every day -- a @SpaceX rocket on the roadway! This was being transported through Centennial and Sgt. Dasso, who was working patrol, captured video of it as it was travelling northbound on S. University Blvd.
The 190 ft. rocket was so big, workers had to get out and manually steer the rear axle so it could pivot to make the turns. They even had to lift the streetlight cables at one one point so it could pass through.
Five of our patrol units escorted the rocket through our area then other agencies took over as it travelled through theirs. It was quite the site to see!
#elonmusk #isthisyours
@CherryHills @PoliceEnglewood @LittletonPD @GreenwoodGov
@elonmusk
-
Is this a normal booster transport route?
https://twitter.com/arapahoeso/status/1718403127374762459
Here's something you don't see every day -- a @SpaceX rocket on the roadway! This was being transported through Centennial and Sgt. Dasso, who was working patrol, captured video of it as it was travelling northbound on S. University Blvd.
The 190 ft. rocket was so big, workers had to get out and manually steer the rear axle so it could pivot to make the turns. They even had to lift the streetlight cables at one one point so it could pass through.
Five of our patrol units escorted the rocket through our area then other agencies took over as it travelled through theirs. It was quite the site to see!
#elonmusk #isthisyours
@CherryHills @PoliceEnglewood @LittletonPD @GreenwoodGov
@elonmusk
Nope, a transport for display
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=59644.msg2535563#msg2535563
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https://twitter.com/spaceoffshore/status/1718987110357553236
SpaceX Falcon 9 B1058 seen rolling past the KSC press site this morning. It is easily identifiable thanks to the NASA worm logo under all that soot.
Heading to the launch pad for flight number 1️⃣8️⃣ 🤯
nsf.live/spacecoast
-
https://twitter.com/spaceoffshore/status/1718987110357553236
SpaceX Falcon 9 B1058 seen rolling past the KSC press site this morning. It is easily identifiable thanks to the NASA worm logo under all that soot.
Heading to the launch pad for flight number 1️⃣8️⃣ 🤯
nsf.live/spacecoast
I presume this will fly for 6-26
any idea why they skipped over B1073 and B1078?
-
Whence B1082 after the October 14 Static Fire?
Still at McGregor?
Transported to Florida or Vandenberg? If Florida, intended for Axiom-3?
-
Falcon 9 Second Stage spotted earlier today at the intersection of Industry Rd. and Grissom Blvd.
-
twitter.com/lovemesomemusk/status/1732100208530685986
Drove by SpaceX a few nights ago and saw a Falcon 9 booster being transported! 🤩🚀
https://twitter.com/corbinwilliams/status/1732146382721691712
I took the same video after the unplugged event🥲🤣
-
a new core is now vertical at McGregor
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a new core is now vertical at McGregor
B1083?
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Cross-posts:
https://twitter.com/alexphysics13/status/1732143465834627465
New Falcon 9 booster is being lifted and installed at SpaceX's McGregor Development Facility in Texas. The booster serial number may be B1083 given the recent boosters that have passed by the facility.
Watch its test campaign: nsf.live/mcgregor
https://twitter.com/alexphysics13/status/1734316893929115832
Falcon 9 booster B1083 has performed a static fire test at SpaceX's McGgregor Development Facility in Texas. This is usually the last major test before sending a Falcon booster to the launch site to begin its flight history.
nsf.live/mcgregor
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Any news re: next Falcon Heavy core that would launch GOES-U?
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https://twitter.com/locotexan/status/1749484146085257397
Happened to catch a new F9 booster headed into the Mcgregor site this morning. @NASASpaceflight
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Center core B1087.
https://twitter.com/alexphysics13/status/1750580854215106847
Falcon Heavy center core B1087 is now vertical at its test stand at SpaceX's McGregor Development Facility in Texas. Here it will undergo qualification testing ahead of its support of the launch of NASA's GOES-U satellite no earlier than late April.
nsf.live/mcgregor
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B1085 will be a Falcon 9 single stick?
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https://twitter.com/roughridersshow/status/1756737484673745336
A Falcon 9 rolls past another Falcon 9 over at KSC! The pace never stops at the Space Coast! @NASASpaceflight nsf.live/spacecoast
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(New? or maybe an old) booster in the hanger at 39A as seen during B1060 rollout for IM-1.
https://x.com/Int_Machines/status/1757210909619925371?s=20 (https://x.com/Int_Machines/status/1757210909619925371?s=20)
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(New? or maybe an old) booster in the hanger at 39A as seen during B1060 rollout for IM-1.
https://x.com/Int_Machines/status/1757210909619925371
Booster appears soot-less. It could be B1083-1, launching Crew-8 from LC-39A.
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Another Falcon booster (F9 from what I hear) is being prepared outside of the Hawthorne factory for delivery to McGregor. Should be shipping any day now
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Another Falcon booster (F9 from what I hear) is being prepared outside of the Hawthorne factory for delivery to McGregor. Should be shipping any day now
B1085?
B1085 will be a Falcon 9 single stick?