Author Topic: SpaceX core and second stage spotting  (Read 368748 times)

Offline Jakusb

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SpaceX core and second stage spotting
« on: 05/19/2017 07:53 am »
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



Another stage (seemingly 1037) ready for transport outside factory @Hawthorne
« Last Edit: 11/03/2021 01:04 am by zubenelgenubi »

Offline Jakusb

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Re: SpaceX core and second stage spotting
« Reply #1 on: 05/20/2017 08:44 am »
And core 1037(?) seen @Marana, AZ

« Last Edit: 05/20/2017 01:16 pm by gongora »

Offline IntoTheVoid

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Re: SpaceX core and second stage spotting
« Reply #2 on: 05/20/2017 01:02 pm »
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.

Offline envy887

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Re: SpaceX core and second stage spotting
« Reply #3 on: 05/20/2017 01:35 pm »
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.

Offline gongora

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Re: SpaceX core and second stage spotting
« Reply #4 on: 06/10/2017 01:20 am »
Another spotting in Arizona reported on Reddit, presumably 1038.

Offline stcks

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Re: SpaceX core and second stage spotting
« Reply #5 on: 06/29/2017 12:56 pm »
Another core spotted enroute to the cape.

Offline gongora

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Re: SpaceX core and second stage spotting
« Reply #6 on: 06/29/2017 05:55 pm »
Another core spotted enroute to the cape.

I guess that wasn't 1038 after all.  FH side booster.

Reddit thread

Offline Chris Bergin

Re: SpaceX core and second stage spotting
« Reply #7 on: 07/01/2017 07:13 pm »
This will be 1023, right? FH Side Booster arriving at the Cape:

https://twitter.com/theepicspoon223/status/881227686995267585
« Last Edit: 07/01/2017 07:13 pm by Chris Bergin »
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Offline cppetrie

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Re: SpaceX core and second stage spotting
« Reply #8 on: 07/01/2017 08:01 pm »
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.

Offline old_sellsword

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Re: SpaceX core and second stage spotting
« Reply #9 on: 07/01/2017 09:15 pm »
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.

Offline cppetrie

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Re: SpaceX core and second stage spotting
« Reply #10 on: 07/01/2017 09:19 pm »
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!

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: SpaceX core and second stage spotting
« Reply #11 on: 07/02/2017 01:56 am »
More shots:

Quote
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

Offline Ronsmytheiii

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Re: SpaceX core and second stage spotting
« Reply #12 on: 07/08/2017 09:46 am »
I know this isn't a core, but an unidentified upperstage is leaving Hawthorne:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BWRB-4inWr5/
« Last Edit: 07/08/2017 09:56 am by Ronsmytheiii »

Offline Barrie

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Re: SpaceX core and second stage spotting
« Reply #13 on: 07/08/2017 10:00 am »
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?

Offline vaporcobra

Re: SpaceX core and second stage spotting
« Reply #14 on: 07/09/2017 07:09 pm »
What is thought to be 1039 was spotted yesterday headed eastbound in Wilcox, Arizona.

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: SpaceX core and second stage spotting
« Reply #15 on: 07/10/2017 05:22 am »
Quote
CRS11 Falcon 9 first stage 🚀is all cozy and wrapped for its truck trip to Texas? Hawthorne? Florida?

https://twitter.com/sandymazza/status/884250826641883136

Offline docmordrid

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Re: SpaceX core and second stage spotting
« Reply #16 on: 07/10/2017 05:38 am »
CRS stages seem lightly used, and CRS-9 will be an FH#1 booster, so Hawthorne for conversion to a FH #2 booster?
DM

Offline Zucal

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Re: SpaceX core and second stage spotting
« Reply #17 on: 07/10/2017 05:44 am »
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.

Offline Semmel

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Re: SpaceX core and second stage spotting
« Reply #18 on: 07/10/2017 05:45 am »
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.

Offline old_sellsword

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Re: SpaceX core and second stage spotting
« Reply #19 on: 07/10/2017 11:10 am »
Quote
CRS11 Falcon 9 first stage is all cozy and wrapped for its truck trip to Texas? Hawthorne? Florida?

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).
« Last Edit: 07/10/2017 04:51 pm by old_sellsword »

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