Author Topic: LIVE: SpaceX/Falcon 1 - 23rd March: launch coverage thread (Read 118867 times)

braddock · « **Reply #120 on:** 03/24/2006 07:25 pm »

Gwynn Shotwell: WE are currently in an unplanned hold because the first stage recovery ship is in the hazard zone.

DaveS · « **Reply #121 on:** 03/24/2006 07:25 pm »

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Avron - 24/3/2006 9:22 PM
Why would that be an issue now... ?

Maybe they have an unauthorized vessel inside the "off-limits" area. These things are really not that uncommon, they happen from time to time, and can be cleared in a matter of minutes or up to an hour.

braddock · « **Reply #122 on:** 03/24/2006 07:26 pm »

Gwynn doesn't know why they would be there, but they are currently in the hazard zone.

DaveS · « **Reply #123 on:** 03/24/2006 07:26 pm »

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braddock - 24/3/2006 9:25 PM

Gwynn Shotwell: WE are currently in an unplanned hold because the first stage recovery ship is in the hazard zone.

Thanks braddock! I knew this was the issue at hand!

Flightstar · « **Reply #124 on:** 03/24/2006 07:27 pm »

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braddock - 24/3/2006 2:25 PM

Gwynn Shotwell: WE are currently in an unplanned hold because the first stage recovery ship is in the hazard zone.

That's embarassing.

Avron · « **Reply #125 on:** 03/24/2006 07:27 pm »

Quote

DaveS - 24/3/2006 3:26 PM

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braddock - 24/3/2006 9:25 PM

Gwynn Shotwell: WE are currently in an unplanned hold because the first stage recovery ship is in the hazard zone.
Thanks braddock! I knew this was the issue at hand!

Well at least they are not venting LOX like crazy..

braddock · « **Reply #126 on:** 03/24/2006 07:27 pm »

Gwynn: "Let's talk very briefly about what we've done to the vehicle since the last attempt...since the last attempt in December."
The only issue we have right now, as I mentioned earlier, is that we have our recovery boat in the hazard zone.

[CHECK: I'm not certain it is the FIRST STAGE recovery boat or not]

mong' · « **Reply #127 on:** 03/24/2006 07:28 pm »

"braddock - 24/3/2006 2:25 PM "

"Gwynn Shotwell: WE are currently in an unplanned hold because the first stage recovery ship is in the hazard zone."

"That's embarassing."

I wouldn't want to be in this captain's place...

braddock · « **Reply #128 on:** 03/24/2006 07:28 pm »

"We did have about an 18 knot wind constraint in November and December, but now we have nearly a 30 knot wind constraint." [due to new launch pad stands]

hyper_snyper · « **Reply #129 on:** 03/24/2006 07:29 pm »

That's a relief. I was worrying something was wrong with the rocket again.

braddock · « **Reply #130 on:** 03/24/2006 07:30 pm »

"We have swapped out both our first and second stage since December"
"Another glaring deficiency we had in the Nov and Dec attempts was that we were burning off LOX at an unacceptably high rate.
"Put a blanket scheme to cover the first stage" [attached by velcro, with a lanyard to pull it off upon launch]

Avron · « **Reply #131 on:** 03/24/2006 07:34 pm »

Like the blanket scheme, but I cannot see it in the video..

braddock · « **Reply #132 on:** 03/24/2006 07:35 pm »

Yes, I can't see the blanket either. Maybe I'll ask her about it when she comes back. She just went to try to raise Kwaj by phone.

braddock · « **Reply #133 on:** 03/24/2006 07:35 pm »

Is the black band actually the blanket?

Tony T. Harris · « **Reply #134 on:** 03/24/2006 07:36 pm »

I heard them do a check on the LOX tank vent and relief valve and that seemed to be ok, even though it wasn't confirmed on the loop. Now they have to clear the range and we should be in a smooth count.

dmc6960 · « **Reply #135 on:** 03/24/2006 07:37 pm »

No, the black band is the interstage. If you look at some of the new close-ups on the SpaceX website, you can notice a slight increase in diameter in the top half of the first stage when compared to older pictures. This blanket must be pretty thin.

braddock · « **Reply #136 on:** 03/24/2006 07:37 pm »

Gwynn back: "Looks like the boat is on its way out of the hazard zone for now. We are trying to get range safety to go regardless, because we have already updated our analysis based on winds, and the boat seems to be in a low risk area."

New launch time estimated at 5:10pm eastern time.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #137 on:** 03/24/2006 07:39 pm »

That would make it a case of picking up the count in 25 minutes with a launch of 22:10 ZULU.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #138 on:** 03/24/2006 07:41 pm »

Weather still ok for launch:

Current Conditions
Temp: 80°F (26.7°C)
Humidity: 78%
Dew Point: 73°F (22.8°C)
Wind: NE at 17 MPH
Sky: mostly cloudy

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #139 on:** 03/24/2006 07:47 pm »

32 minutes into the unplanned hold. Still trying to get the recovery boat out of the range.