Author Topic: LIVE: SpaceX Falcon 1 Launch 5 (RazakSat) - July 13/14 (Read 361267 times)

R.Simko · « **Reply #800 on:** 07/14/2009 05:04 pm »

I hope SpaceX posts engine restart and deployment of the sat., if it's possible on their website.

Almurray1958 · « **Reply #801 on:** 07/14/2009 05:12 pm »

Quote from: R.Simko on 07/14/2009 05:04 pm

I hope SpaceX posts engine restart and deployment of the sat., if it's possible on their website.

Posted July 13, 2009 - 22:20 PDT

Second burn and satellite separation nominal. Falcon 1 has successfully deployed RazakSAT into the correct orbit.

from here: http://www.spacex.com/webcast.php

Jim · « **Reply #802 on:** 07/14/2009 05:12 pm »

Quote from: ugordan on 07/14/2009 04:57 pm

Slightly related to that - inaugural Atlas V launch, video after 6:00 shows noticeable RL-10 gimballing. Hard to judge from two different cameras and FOVs, but I'd say more gimballing than Kestrel for most of the flight. By the same token that affects performance, does it not?

The vehicle isn't moving

Norm Hartnett · « **Reply #803 on:** 07/14/2009 05:21 pm »

Given that this is the fifth launch of a new launch system built by a new constructor with no background in the field, SpaceX must be very proud that the only thing that the quibblers here can find wrong is a minor, off nominal, "wiggling".

I just hope that this success brings SpaceX a lot of new Falcon 1 contracts.

(Army on the ground = 24)

ugordan · « **Reply #804 on:** 07/14/2009 05:35 pm »

Quote from: Jim on 07/14/2009 05:12 pm

The vehicle isn't moving

Which means slight cosine losses anyway each time the engine gimbals to maintain vehicle control. No doubt something already accounted for in the vehicle performance margin. I don't see why that couldn't be the case with F1 as well, the wobble seems confined enough.

It might not be implausible to suggest the reduction in performance is less this way than what would be brought about by adding more mass to baffles. But then again, I'm just an enthusiast. The real question is whether the slosh motion still has a chance to get into a positive feedback loop with the guidance and spiral out of control. These last two flights kept it at bay, definitely different than Demo 2 but you never know. I'd also rather have a steady vehicle. Maybe on F1e with more capability...

corrodedNut · « **Reply #805 on:** 07/14/2009 05:52 pm »

SpaceX now has a "highlights" video of flight5 on their video page:

http://www.spacex.com/multimedia/videos.php?id=40&cat=recent

Includes second burn, but no footage of spacecraft sep.

stockman · « **Reply #806 on:** 07/14/2009 05:58 pm »

Quote from: corrodedNut on 07/14/2009 05:52 pm

SpaceX now has a "highlights" video of flight5 on their video page:

http://www.spacex.com/multimedia/videos.php?id=40&cat=recent

Includes second burn, but no footage of spacecraft sep.

Nice.. even showed the restart of kestral for circularizing the orbit (certainly is a short burn). The only thing missing is the satellite deploy

robertross · « **Reply #807 on:** 07/14/2009 06:00 pm »

Quote from: stockman on 07/14/2009 03:52 pm

Here are a few pictures of the sequence in question... Hope it is not too many - I just wanted to show the sequence...

Thanks stockman for posting that sequence, as I can't watch YouTube yet (maybe this fall).

ugordan · « **Reply #808 on:** 07/14/2009 06:05 pm »

Quote from: stockman on 07/14/2009 05:58 pm

The only thing missing is the satellite deploy

In pitch darkness, I'd venture a guess you wouldn't see much.

stockman · « **Reply #809 on:** 07/14/2009 06:06 pm »

Quote from: ugordan on 07/14/2009 06:05 pm

Quote from: stockman on 07/14/2009 05:58 pm
The only thing missing is the satellite deploy

In pitch darkness, I'd venture a guess you wouldn't see much.

Good point..

nooneofconsequence · « **Reply #810 on:** 07/14/2009 06:10 pm »

Wouldn't have been too hard to have a few "white light" LED's on the camera to see payload sep with. Bigger issue probably was supporting the video downlink with the telemetry.

ugordan · « **Reply #811 on:** 07/14/2009 06:18 pm »

Where would you put the LEDs? Between 2nd stage and the payload was the SoftRide vibration dampener.

As they say, better is the enemy of good enough. Keeping it simple and light. We should be grateful they make it standard practice to put onboard cameras on such a small vehicle at all.

yg1968 · « **Reply #812 on:** 07/14/2009 06:39 pm »

Ascension reacquires signal from the SpaceX highlights video:

Yegor · « **Reply #813 on:** 07/14/2009 06:44 pm »

Congratulations to all with the first successful commercial flight of SpaceX!!!

Avron · « **Reply #814 on:** 07/14/2009 07:07 pm »

Very nice , congrats, wonder if the 1st stage was tracked back to earth... I guess all the recovery stuff was taken off to reduce load for this launch

cheesybagel · « **Reply #815 on:** 07/14/2009 07:07 pm »

Contact has been made with the satellite:
http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v5/news_lite.php?id=425261

gospacex · « **Reply #816 on:** 07/14/2009 07:10 pm »

Congratulations Elon!

pippin · « **Reply #817 on:** 07/14/2009 07:12 pm »

Quote from: stockman on 07/14/2009 04:45 pm

Quote from: edkyle99 on 07/14/2009 04:40 pm
Here's an on-board video of an Ariane 5 launch. Notice the horizon "wiggling" as the ascent proceeds, about 3:30-4:00 and later into the video.

I'm going to look for some comparable on-board Centaur and Delta upper stage video.

- Ed Kyle

Good find Ed... Next to that the Falcon looks rock steady.... I think even the shuttle stack has some wiggle to it (I seem to recall people mentioning it in the STS125 launch from the Tank perspective). Not as much but definitely it occurs..

No wonder.
This isn't realtime but double speed.

marsavian · « **Reply #818 on:** 07/14/2009 07:15 pm »

Quote from: cheesybagel on 07/14/2009 07:07 pm

Contact has been made with the satellite:
http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v5/news_lite.php?id=425261

He also announced that SpaceX has agreed to launch the two micro-satellites CubeSAT and InnoSAT, meant for educational purposes, next year on Falcon 9.

stockman · « **Reply #819 on:** 07/14/2009 07:24 pm »

Quote from: cheesybagel on 07/14/2009 07:07 pm

Contact has been made with the satellite:
http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v5/news_lite.php?id=425261

NOW can we call this a successful flight!!