LIVE: Falcon 9 Flight 1 Maiden Flight - June 4, 2010

[jcopella]

This actually cropped up during the Taurus T-8/OCO countdown. One of the FTS receivers was showing an odd fluctuating AGC voltage, which turned out to be caused by the geographic location of one of the range transmitters. Once off the pad the signal steadied up just fine.

Is this something that is not tested in the launch configuration until the actual countdown?

Shuttle tests this in launch configuration 

(S0017)

/runs

[Chris Bergin]

Getting a bit tight on the 1pm target, given they'd need to come out of the hold in 15 minutes time.

[Kim Keller]

Is this something that is not tested in the launch configuration until the actual countdown?

In the case of T-8, the range had performed the end-to-end with a portable transmitter located at a different site than the one used during launch. Had they used the fixed transmitter during testing, the problem would have manifested itself. Fortunately, we had a very good idea of what was causing our problem.

[Chris Bergin]

Strongback has moved back again. So let's see if the FTS is showing a normal config now.

[Kim Keller]

If they restored signal strength with the tower in the vertical, I wonder how they would decide whether the retracted tower is an interference that might go away after liftoff or that the vertical tower acts as signal-boosting antenna that was masking an inherent lack of signal strength during previous testing.

They would compare the launch day data of both receivers with the end-to-end test data. If the test data was good and matches the "healthy receiver, they could conclude that the structure is the problem.

I now hear that the range is switching transmitters, so we'll see if that clears the problem. The other transmitter will have a different look angle at the rocket.

[Ben the Space Brit]

Clock reset to -00:27:30 and holding.

[Halidon]

T-27:30 now. No T-0 time yet

[Chris Bergin]

Now T-27:30, but still holding. No new T-0.

[Ronsmytheiii]

[arkaska]

Back to T-15

[Halidon]

Now it show T- 15:00 again  and BOTH clocks stopped

[Nick L.]

Hold clock appears to have stopped counting up.

[Ben the Space Brit]

Something's up.  Either a 'go' or a scrub.

[Chandonn]

I think the feed is having issues.  It switched to T-15, but the hold timer stopped.  And there is still venting appearing, indicating a live shot.

[Chris Bergin]

Hold clock appears to have stopped counting up.

Hmmmm! I wonder if they are just playing with the clocks on the webcast, as opposed to the reality.

[Nick L.]

Heard they are going to pick up the count!

[joncz]

KSC Scanner says targeting 1:00PM T-0

[Ronsmytheiii]

sounds like they might pick up at 13:00 (1:00 pm EDT)

[ugordan]

I wonder if they are just playing with the clocks on the webcast, as opposed to the reality.

Based on previous webcasts, I'd say that's a hack job at Hawthorne instead of actual time being fed from LCC.

BTW, is the webcast breaking up for others as well?

[Chris Bergin]

Update:

RESUME COUNT IN FIVE MINUTES!