Hi, is there any news for the latest launch? It was West coast, so it's possible to try to catch the fairing, right?
For this particular mission, we're not going to be attempting to recover the fairing, however SpaceX will continue to make ongoing attempts in future launches to recover the fairing for reuse.
Quote from: jee_c2 on 10/08/2018 05:41 amHi, is there any news for the latest launch? It was West coast, so it's possible to try to catch the fairing, right?From @03:21 in the hosted webcast (T-13:38):QuoteFor this particular mission, we're not going to be attempting to recover the fairing, however SpaceX will continue to make ongoing attempts in future launches to recover the fairing for reuse.Mr. Steven was all dressed up for the occasion, but never left port, possible due to heavy seas.Next chance will be SSO-A (Sun Synch Express) in the latter half of November (NET November 19, per Spaceflight Now).Waiting is.
On the SAOCOM-1A webcast the host said there would be no attempt to recover the fairing on this mission. I wonder if that was the plan all along or did something come up?
Quote from: billh on 10/08/2018 08:56 pmOn the SAOCOM-1A webcast the host said there would be no attempt to recover the fairing on this mission. I wonder if that was the plan all along or did something come up?Perhaps they just didn't fancy attempting it in the dark?
Quote from: CuddlyRocket on 10/09/2018 09:32 pmQuote from: billh on 10/08/2018 08:56 pmOn the SAOCOM-1A webcast the host said there would be no attempt to recover the fairing on this mission. I wonder if that was the plan all along or did something come up?Perhaps they just didn't fancy attempting it in the dark?Sunset is marginally[1] more predictable than sea state. So why hustle to put the arms on if they were going to call it on account of darkness?1 - for certain values of marginal.
Quote from: Lar on 10/09/2018 11:30 pmQuote from: CuddlyRocket on 10/09/2018 09:32 pmQuote from: billh on 10/08/2018 08:56 pmOn the SAOCOM-1A webcast the host said there would be no attempt to recover the fairing on this mission. I wonder if that was the plan all along or did something come up?Perhaps they just didn't fancy attempting it in the dark?Sunset is marginally[1] more predictable than sea state. So why hustle to put the arms on if they were going to call it on account of darkness?1 - for certain values of marginal. Mr. Steven doesn't track the fairing half visually, but via radar and transponders. The system is good enough to attempt fairing catch attempts, even in darkness.
Mr. Steven doesn't track the fairing half visually, but via radar and transponders. The system is good enough to attempt fairing catch attempts, even in darkness.
At the most recent launch from Vandenberg, at 19:54 in the video, you can see the fairings fly past the second stage from the view point of the stage. At 19:56, you can see a brief flash at the inside of the fairing, for half a second or so. After that, the fairing rotates such that it presents its outside to the engine exhaust. I have not seen that before.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr_C6LQ7mHc?t=1194
Quote from: Semmel on 10/11/2018 08:05 pmAt the most recent launch from Vandenberg, at 19:54 in the video, you can see the fairings fly past the second stage from the view point of the stage. At 19:56, you can see a brief flash at the inside of the fairing, for half a second or so. After that, the fairing rotates such that it presents its outside to the engine exhaust. I have not seen that before.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr_C6LQ7mHc?t=1194I disagree. IMO that 'flare' looks more like MVac exhaust interacting with the fairing. Because if that was intentional, then it should have fired far earlier since after that the worst effects of the plume have already occurred.
he flare is inconsistent with engine exhaust interaction. I would expect the plume to hit the entire airing surface if it hits. How comes a small element, exactly at the middle of the fairing lights up but not the edges?