Author Topic: LIVE UPDATES, SpaceX Falcon 1, Launch Feb 8 (Read 35375 times)

braddock · « **Reply #20 on:** 02/08/2006 08:42 pm »

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braddock - 7/2/2006 5:16 PM
SpaceX finally gave a time for their Friday launch window: The launch window on Friday is 1- 7 p.m. (California time).

If you're very astute, you will notice that SpaceX has just changed the time for the beginning of their launch window on their web site from 1pm to noon.

New launch window is now Friday Feb 10th from Noon to 7pm California time (3 - 10pm East coast time)!

Crispy · « **Reply #21 on:** 02/08/2006 09:09 pm »

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braddock - 8/2/2006 9:42 PM

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braddock - 7/2/2006 5:16 PM
SpaceX finally gave a time for their Friday launch window: The launch window on Friday is 1- 7 p.m. (California time).

If you're very astute, you will notice that SpaceX has just changed the time for the beginning of their launch window on their web site from 1pm to noon.

New launch window is now Friday Feb 10th from Noon to 7pm California time (3 - 10pm East coast time)!

That's 2000-0300 GMT for us europeans.

Fingers crossed they'll wait till the pubs shut...

Crunch · « **Reply #22 on:** 02/08/2006 10:24 pm »

Why the delay? they said the 8th would be "early" for them?? and give times in GMT or Z, jeesh we are not on the same cont.

A 2 day delay is a lost window for the sat?

braddock · « **Reply #23 on:** 02/08/2006 11:45 pm »

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Crunch - 8/2/2006 6:24 PM
Why the delay? they said the 8th would be "early" for them??

Welcome to the site. The delay was explained here a couple posts back: they had a power distribution board issue and needed to get upgraded capacitors from the states.

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A 2 day delay is a lost window for the sat?

I don't believe this satellite has any particular window requirements, it's a pretty simple little satellite which I think is mainly an excuse to buy a Falcon I launch. I think SpaceX's only real time constraints are arranging schedules with the other activities at the Army test site.

possum · « **Reply #24 on:** 02/09/2006 04:29 pm »

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DaveS - 7/2/2006 8:27 AM
Yes. All orbiters have done it prior to their maiden flights. These test firings is usually known as Flight Readiness Firings or FRFs for short.

There is one HUGE difference. The SSME's are replaced after FRF because an SSME is only good for one firing before it needs overhaul. SpaceX is test firing one day and launching the next with the same engine. Whenever you see a Shuttle mission have an on-pad abort after SSME start-up, you're looking at a 3-week delay to remove and install all three SSME's.

braddock · « **Reply #25 on:** 02/09/2006 05:09 pm »

Reminder that SpaceX is due to be performing their wet rehearsal and test fire sometime in the next few hours. Hopefully we'll know the results soon (and more importantly know if we'll have a launch tomorrow!).

Launch Fan · « **Reply #26 on:** 02/09/2006 05:58 pm »

Cool. Good luck SpaceX!

Crispy · « **Reply #27 on:** 02/09/2006 09:05 pm »

Just a note for those who don't already have it bookmarked, but Elon's brother is giving blow-by-blow coverage of the test fire on his blog http://kwajrockets.blogspot.com/ - They've had three countdowns so far, and have got to T-60s, but they're stopping the count for every little warning. It might be some time

Avron · « **Reply #28 on:** 02/09/2006 09:15 pm »

Looks like they get to T-0 and auto-sequence abort.. round three maybe?

braddock · « **Reply #29 on:** 02/09/2006 10:08 pm »

They are really working that system. Still haven't made fire.

dmc6960 · « **Reply #30 on:** 02/10/2006 01:35 am »

Just in from SpaceX updates page.....

"After analyzing data from the static fire countdown, we decided to postpone the launch. The vehicle is being lowered for further investigation.

Once we have thoroughly checked out all systems, I will post an update on what was found and when the next countdown attempt will occur. Based on range availability and logistics constraints, a rough guess would be two to four weeks."

Bummer! I wanna see that baby fly!

braddock · « **Reply #31 on:** 02/10/2006 02:45 am »

Ah well, I guess we get Friday night on the town then.

Seems like they might have hit more electrical issues.

Article should go up in the morning.
They have their first court date Monday with Boeing and Lockmart. The court will consider Boeing and Lockheed's motion to dismiss the case. I'm sure it would have helped them if they could have launched.

Avron · « **Reply #32 on:** 02/10/2006 03:59 am »

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dmc6960 - 9/2/2006 9:35 PM

Just in from SpaceX updates page.....

"After analyzing data from the static fire countdown, we decided to postpone the launch. The vehicle is being lowered for further investigation.

Once we have thoroughly checked out all systems, I will post an update on what was found and when the next countdown attempt will occur. Based on range availability and logistics constraints, a rough guess would be two to four weeks."

Bummer! I wanna see that baby fly!

Its not the easiest business to be in this spaceflight gig... SpaceX, will have its day, but they need to do the right thing, and I guess if the engine don't start, its not going anywhere fast... Two weeks if there are no conflicts at the range.. my guess...

Go SpaceX ...Go..

Jim · « **Reply #33 on:** 02/10/2006 05:05 am »

I have mixed feelings about SpaceX. I want them to succeed, just like the new companies stood up to the "Big 3" of Detroit. Yet, since I have been a employee of the USAF, NASA, and various aerospace contractors, I didn't like how they trash talked and made it sound like anybody could do it. After all, it is rocket science. One thing, we all are learning is how to make a little fortune in the launch business, start with a large one.

Carl G · « **Reply #34 on:** 02/10/2006 05:45 am »

They aren't having any luck at all!

DaveS · « **Reply #35 on:** 02/10/2006 07:11 am »

According to the blog, they have three issues at hand:

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1. We've figured out what caused the sequence to stop, but now we need to fix it. It has something to do with the timing of the ignitors, which is measured in milliseconds. I'd tell the problem in detail, but I'm not sure if you have time for me to go get a Phd in Engineering.
2. We want to lower the rocket and check the fuel tanks in the 2nd stage. The readings indicated the pressure was acting incorrectly. Until we lower and see for ourselves, we can't really know what the problem is.
3. The Freakin' LOX! Yes, the same painful problem we experienced in the first launch. Being in the middle of nowhere is really annoying. Doing a second hold-down fire means that we won't have enough LOX for a launch attempt. Even though we are out of the launch window, this is still infuriating.

They're gearing up for an another attempt at the holddown firing today at 1 pm PST(3 pm EST, 2000 UTC), if they can solve the ignition timing problem.

dmc6960 · « **Reply #36 on:** 02/10/2006 08:52 pm »

Alright, today's hold-down firing test should have reached T-0 approximately 45 minutes ago according to Elon's brother's blog post last night. However that has not been updated at all today. Anyone know the status of today's attempt? Perhaps they decided not to do it.

publiusr · « **Reply #37 on:** 02/10/2006 10:27 pm »

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1. We've figured out what caused the sequence to stop, but now we need to fix it. It has something to do with the timing of the ignitors, which is measured in milliseconds. I'd tell the problem in detail, but I'm not sure if you have time for me to go get a Phd in Engineering.
2. We want to lower the rocket and check the fuel tanks in the 2nd stage. The readings indicated the pressure was acting incorrectly. Until we lower and see for ourselves, we can't really know what the problem is.
3. The Freakin' LOX! Yes, the same painful problem we experienced in the first launch. Being in the middle of nowhere is really annoying. Doing a second hold-down fire means that we won't have enough LOX for a launch attempt. Even though we are out of the launch window, this is still infuriating.

Ha! Ha! LOL. I'm starting to wonder if they even HAVE a rocket.

Imagine waking up to a Drudge Report that the Falcon rocket was a big drainage pipe filled with some dry ice buckets inside it to get a nice bit of frost and vapor for all the idiot reporters to see smoking off it. Put a flame thrower at the bottom and there you have it. Then show some static test shots from the 1960s that nobody remembers.

When its time to launch "We have a problem--by the way, here is the latest lawsuit--where I'm **really** going to get my money."

What a great sit-com moment.

Avron · « **Reply #38 on:** 02/10/2006 11:19 pm »

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publiusr - 10/2/2006 6:27 PM

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1. We've figured out what caused the sequence to stop, but now we need to fix it. It has something to do with the timing of the ignitors, which is measured in milliseconds. I'd tell the problem in detail, but I'm not sure if you have time for me to go get a Phd in Engineering.
2. We want to lower the rocket and check the fuel tanks in the 2nd stage. The readings indicated the pressure was acting incorrectly. Until we lower and see for ourselves, we can't really know what the problem is.
3. The Freakin' LOX! Yes, the same painful problem we experienced in the first launch. Being in the middle of nowhere is really annoying. Doing a second hold-down fire means that we won't have enough LOX for a launch attempt. Even though we are out of the launch window, this is still infuriating.

Ha! Ha! LOL. I'm starting to wonder if they even HAVE a rocket.

Imagine waking up to a Drudge Report that the Falcon rocket was a big drainage pipe filled with some dry ice buckets inside it to get a nice bit of frost and vapor for all the idiot reporters to see smoking off it. Put a flame thrower at the bottom and there you have it. Then show some static test shots from the 1960s that nobody remembers.

When its time to launch "We have a problem--by the way, here is the latest lawsuit--where I'm **really** going to get my money."

What a great sit-com moment.

It ain't that easy, you know it... I am ready to take back my words i.r.t Mr Hale and management if we fly in May, will you do the same when Spacex does fly?

josh_simonson · « **Reply #39 on:** 02/10/2006 11:34 pm »

Todays test fire worked, from the blog:

Rocket fired at T-Zero.

It went into auto-sequence, and fired the engines. After 1 second, system aborts to
prevent the rocket from leaving its stand.

I have a short video, and will post it when I can get it online.

K

Now if they'd just released the rocket instead of shutting it down.... I guess an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of insurance premiums.