Author Topic: SpaceX Falcon 9 - EchoStar 23 - March 16, 2017 - DISCUSSION  (Read 1919770 times)

Offline old_sellsword

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 - EchoStar 23 - March 14, 2017 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #380 on: 03/14/2017 12:01 pm »
Following up on a suggestion from Chris B (on Twitter) to spot the number on the Falcon (really small number just about the engines), I looked for the mounting points for the legs and grid fins. Found the latter, it's a small porthole looking spot on the interstage, but not sure about the legs. Is that black dot just to the right of the "C" the location? along with a rectangular item below it?

All of the black dots on the lower portion of the first stage are leg release mechanisms, or at least where leg release mechanisms would go. The legs hinge from the octaweb, those hinges are built in to the structural and will always be there.

Offline Confusador

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 - EchoStar 23 - March 14, 2017 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #381 on: 03/14/2017 12:02 pm »
Following up on a suggestion from Chris B (on Twitter) to spot the number on the Falcon (really small number just about the engines), I looked for the mounting points for the legs and grid fins. Found the latter, it's a small porthole looking spot on the interstage, but not sure about the legs. Is that black dot just to the right of the "C" the location? along with a rectangular item below it?
Core number 30: https://i.redd.it/7kf772eqw9ly.jpg
Also clearly visible in one of SpaceX's Twitter images

Offline edkyle99

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 - EchoStar 23 - March 14, 2017 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #382 on: 03/14/2017 01:56 pm »
I notice that SFN is now listing payload mass at about 5,600 kg.

 - Ed Kyle
« Last Edit: 03/14/2017 01:58 pm by edkyle99 »

Offline dmc6960

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 - EchoStar 23 - March 14, 2017 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #383 on: 03/14/2017 02:54 pm »
....
We are leaving Thursday evening a few hours before new launch time. Perhaps next Orlando vacation.

??? You do realize that the backup launch date for this flight is Thursday, March 16, at 1:35 am EDT.

Like really early Thursday morning.

Hot damn. Can't believe I overlooked that. Guess I'm going back for attempt 2!

Offline Brian45

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 - EchoStar 23 - March 14, 2017 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #384 on: 03/14/2017 05:38 pm »
Does anyone know why they planned a 2 day attempt delay for this launch?

Offline Jim

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 - EchoStar 23 - March 14, 2017 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #385 on: 03/14/2017 05:42 pm »
Does anyone know why they planned a 2 day attempt delay for this launch?

Likely has to do with LOX conditioning.

Offline wolfpack

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 - EchoStar 23 - March 14, 2017 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #386 on: 03/14/2017 05:43 pm »
Does anyone know why they planned a 2 day attempt delay for this launch?

Range has to approve the requests.

Offline old_sellsword

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SpaceX Falcon 9 - EchoStar 23 - March 14, 2017 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #387 on: 03/14/2017 05:56 pm »
Does anyone know why they planned a 2 day attempt delay for this launch?

Likely has to do with LOX conditioning.

What's the difference between conditioning LOX for a CRS mission and for a GTO mission? And is conditioning the LOX basically just cooling it down?
« Last Edit: 03/14/2017 05:56 pm by old_sellsword »

Offline manoweb

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 - EchoStar 23 - March 14, 2017 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #388 on: 03/14/2017 06:45 pm »
Range has to approve the requests.

I read recently (not on this link but I cannot find the original, so I report a similar story):
http://www.parabolicarc.com/2017/02/26/air-force-eastern-range-innovates-autonomous-flight-safety-system/

According to the article, range resources, especially personnel, should be much less of an issue with this system?

Hopefully yes, if a company (and more with BO in the future) want to pick up regular launches they should not need so many external people involved

Offline russianhalo117

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 - EchoStar 23 - March 14, 2017 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #389 on: 03/14/2017 06:56 pm »
Range has to approve the requests.

I read recently (not on this link but I cannot find the original, so I report a similar story):
http://www.parabolicarc.com/2017/02/26/air-force-eastern-range-innovates-autonomous-flight-safety-system/

According to the article, range resources, especially personnel, should be much less of an issue with this system?

Hopefully yes, if a company (and more with BO in the future) want to pick up regular launches they should not need so many external people involved
AFSS is not the primary FTS on this flight so above does not apply.

Offline manoweb

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 - EchoStar 23 - March 14, 2017 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #390 on: 03/14/2017 07:08 pm »
What does FTS mean?

Offline old_sellsword

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 - EchoStar 23 - March 14, 2017 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #391 on: 03/14/2017 07:09 pm »
What does FTS mean?

Flight Termination System.

Offline manoweb

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 - EchoStar 23 - March 14, 2017 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #392 on: 03/14/2017 07:21 pm »
Oh I thought it was a technology for all their flights in future, do you have any info on when it will be implemented regularly?

Offline gongora

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 - EchoStar 23 - March 14, 2017 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #393 on: 03/14/2017 07:22 pm »
Oh I thought it was a technology for all their flights in future, do you have any info on when it will be implemented regularly?

This is the last flight with the old system.

Offline macpacheco

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 - EchoStar 23 - March 14, 2017 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #394 on: 03/14/2017 07:25 pm »
Even on flights with the new system as primary, isn't the radar system kept as a secondary for a number of flights ?
Or flying as a secondary for that many flights was enough to make the new system not just primary but the sole system every time its primary ?
Would love the clarification.
Looking for companies doing great things for much more than money

Offline old_sellsword

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 - EchoStar 23 - March 14, 2017 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #395 on: 03/14/2017 07:26 pm »
Oh I thought it was a technology for all their flights in future, do you have any info on when it will be implemented regularly?

It will be primary on all future flights, but the EchoStar booster (1030) is older than the CRS-10 booster (1031) that just flew before it.

Offline manoweb

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 - EchoStar 23 - March 14, 2017 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #396 on: 03/14/2017 07:26 pm »
This is the last flight with the old system.

Makes sense because this flight was scheduled before CRS-10

Quote
It will be primary on all future flights, but the EchoStar booster (1030) is older than the CRS-10 booster (1031) that just flew before it.

But at the same time, it should have all the AFSS hardware and software, as many rockets before had it, so I am still uncertain why this does not have it
« Last Edit: 03/14/2017 07:28 pm by manoweb »

Offline gongora

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 - EchoStar 23 - March 14, 2017 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #397 on: 03/14/2017 07:37 pm »
But at the same time, it should have all the AFSS hardware and software, as many rockets before had it, so I am still uncertain why this does not have it

The AFSS system may not actually be "secondary" on the old configuration, it may not be hooked up to the charges at all.  It could just be reporting status values in the telemetry.  The analysis for the launch license and range approval would also depend on the type of flight termination system.  It could be that they'd have to redo a whole bunch of analysis and paperwork to switch the type of system used for this flight, which could negate the benefits (and maybe delay the flight).

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 - EchoStar 23 - March 14, 2017 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #398 on: 03/14/2017 07:41 pm »
Makes sense, but Delta IV is scheduled on Friday and I thought two days were needed to reconfigure the range? (At least if AFSS isn't being used on Thursday)
« Last Edit: 03/14/2017 07:43 pm by FutureSpaceTourist »

Offline solartear

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9 - EchoStar 23 - March 14, 2017 - DISCUSSION
« Reply #399 on: 03/14/2017 08:23 pm »
Makes sense, but Delta IV is scheduled on Friday and I thought two days were needed to reconfigure the range? (At least if AFSS isn't being used on Thursday)

It is 2 "work days", since it is about 2 am Thursday and 7 pm Friday. Unless the rule is "48 hours", it shouldn't be a problem.

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