... Is it just my imagination or does it look like the have put the thermal protection foam on the 1st stage again? Hope they did, would LOVE to see the 1st stage get recovered.
The upper section of the tanks does look less glossy, with perhaps a small step outward. However, this is probably no different than the previous flights. Here is a a photo from the assembly of the third flight article. It shows the same section wrapped in something slightly more yellow, but equally diffuse and also slightly projecting.Why do you associate this with first stage recovery? Insulation was installed after the first flight to cut down on LOX boiling, IIRC.
If the Falcon 1 is retired for the Falcon 1e, it might not be worth it to attempt recovery.
Why waste the opportunity if you don't need the extra capacity for the sat?
Quote from: Comga on 03/18/2009 02:41 amThe upper section of the tanks does look less glossy, with perhaps a small step outward. However, this is probably no different than the previous flights. Here is a a photo from the assembly of the third flight article. It shows the same section wrapped in something slightly more yellow, but equally diffuse and also slightly projecting.Why do you associate this with first stage recovery? Insulation was installed after the first flight to cut down on LOX boiling, IIRC.The did not put any thermal protection on flight 4. This was part of getting it ready so quickly. my assumption is that the step out that both you and I see is said thermal protection.
It is almost certainly only LOX tank insulation. Otherwise it would extend to cover the interstage, fuel tank, engine compartment and protrusions.
QuoteQuestion is, are this and other websites like it blocked on the SpaceX computers? Considering Elon Musk's desire to reduce leaks it would make a lot of since.I'm reading this on a SpaceX computer.Lurker
Question is, are this and other websites like it blocked on the SpaceX computers? Considering Elon Musk's desire to reduce leaks it would make a lot of since.
The did not put any thermal protection on flight 4. This was part of getting it ready so quickly. My assumption is that the step out that both you and I see is said thermal protection.
Do you really think they left off the insulation? (Dragon44: Is that true?) Has anyone found a photo of the fourth flight unit from which we could judge whether or not it was insulated?It would actually be worrisome if they modified established procedures, like applying insulation to the tank, to get the rocket to the launch pad sooner. That would be a bad case of "launch fever".Again Nuaetius: Why do you associate this insulation with first stage recovery?
Quote from: Comga on 03/19/2009 04:12 amDo you really think they left off the insulation? (Dragon44: Is that true?) Has anyone found a photo of the fourth flight unit from which we could judge whether or not it was insulated?It would actually be worrisome if they modified established procedures, like applying insulation to the tank, to get the rocket to the launch pad sooner. That would be a bad case of "launch fever".Again Nuaetius: Why do you associate this insulation with first stage recovery? Ok, can't believe that I actually read that much stuff to respond to being called out on something http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon/004/index.html"Musk said engineers did not have enough time to add enough improvements to the first stage thermal protection system to ensure it would survive re-entry. "In the photo from the last update it looked to me that the 1st stage was a little thicker and had a different texture than past launches. I have no quotes stating that this was do to beefed up thermal protection, just guessing at this point.
