LIVE: Space Falcon 9 Flight 2 Static Fire - December 4, 2010

[Cog_in_the_machine]

Cape Canaveral is Air Force.

Same difference

[Hunts Villain]

Agree, doesn't seem like the trunk would separate from the stage. Doesn't prevent anything inside to be ejected after Dragon separation, though.

This take is correct.  AIUI, there are PPODs or some other nano-sats on it.

[Lars_J]

Yeah, but that blows my theory about the trunk not seperating from the 2nd stage on this flight.  I still can't find any seperation fittings in any of the latest pictures.

Agree, doesn't seem like the trunk would separate from the stage. Doesn't prevent anything inside to be ejected after Dragon separation, though.

Note that the trunk separation from 2nd stage is supposed to be quite different from the 1st/2nd interstage separation, where lots of pneumatic  pushing is involved.

According to their videos, Dragon w/Trunk separates from the 2nd stage by being slowly pulled away by Draco thruster firings. So just just because we don't see signs of a heavy separation mechanism, that does not by itself mean that the trunk is bolted to the upper stage.

It still might be for this flight, but I wouldn't jump to conclusions yet.

[jongoff]

Cape Canaveral is Air Force.

Same difference

Well, the Air Force used to be the Army Air Corps....  ;-)

~Jon

[notherspacexfan]

Agree, doesn't seem like the trunk would separate from the stage. Doesn't prevent anything inside to be ejected after Dragon separation, though.

This take is correct.  AIUI, there are PPODs or some other nano-sats on it.

Reported a while back, but would put an army cubesat on this flight.

http://www.spacenews.com/military/100408-nro-taps-boeing-next-cubesats.html

[Chris Bergin]

Now have cross confirmation this static fire didn't go to plan.

Aborted due to high chamber pressure on one engine (around 1.5 seconds). Trying to recycling for another attempt today. 3pm is the range limit.

[Cog_in_the_machine]

I used military as a general term, meaning "armed forces, be they land, sea or air". I probably should have been more specific. Could someone enlighten me about what's the significance of a logo on the vehicle? Does it signify that the organisation to which it belongs has something to do with the rocket's mission?

Edit to add - Thanks notherspacexfan and welcome to the forum
Mystery solved I guess.

[ugordan]

Edit to add - Thanks notherspacexfan and welcome to the forum
Mystery solved I guess.

Yes, thanks. That clears one logo up. Now for the others...

[DaveJ576]

Yeah, but that blows my theory about the trunk not seperating from the 2nd stage on this flight.  I still can't find any seperation fittings in any of the latest pictures.

Agree, doesn't seem like the trunk would separate from the stage. Doesn't prevent anything inside to be ejected after Dragon separation, though.

Note that the trunk separation from 2nd stage is supposed to be quite different from the 1st/2nd interstage separation, where lots of pneumatic  pushing is involved.

According to their videos, Dragon w/Trunk separates from the 2nd stage by being slowly pulled away by Draco thruster firings. So just just because we don't see signs of a heavy separation mechanism, that does not by itself mean that the trunk is bolted to the upper stage.

It still might be for this flight, but I wouldn't jump to conclusions yet.

I can't think of a reason why SpaceX would want to leave the trunk attached to the 2nd stage. Why conduct this flight and not test all systems? Why not retire all the risk that you can? I believe all-up testing is the way to go, especially to a company concerned with profitability.

[John Macco]

Spacex needs to get their webcast facilities fixed. The webcast kept freezing up then caught up. this was very annoying. I never have a problem with NASA TV.

[Robotbeat]

Now have cross confirmation this static fire didn't go to plan.

Aborted due to have chamber pressure on one engine (around 1.5 seconds). Trying to recycling for another attempt today. 3pm is the range limit.

Ah, there we go!

[arnezami]

Now have cross confirmation this static fire didn't go to plan.

Aborted due to have chamber pressure on one engine (around 1.5 seconds). Trying to recycling for another attempt today. 3pm is the range limit.

You probably mean "high chamber pressure".

“Aborted between 1 and 2 seconds on HIGH chamber pressure on one engine. Trying to recycle for one more attempt today,” noted a NASA memo (L2). ”Will need partial reload and recondition of propellants. Range limit is 3pm local for the last attempt.”

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/12/live-spacexs-second-falcon-9-static-fire/

[corrodedNut]

Edit to add - Thanks notherspacexfan and welcome to the forum
Mystery solved I guess.

Yes, thanks. That clears one logo up. Now for the others...

From the article, they must be from Los Alamos National Laboratory and Army Space and Missile Defense Command.

[Chris Bergin]

Oops, the article is right, I rushed the post on this thread, however

I'll edit the post.

[ugordan]

From the article, they must be from Los Alamos National Laboratory and Army Space and Missile Defense Command.

I tried a quick search for their respective logos and can't say they match up.

[Jim]

That's interesting. We don't exactly know what's inside that trunk, do we... Anyone recognize the other two logos?

That coat of arms logo is familiar but I can't place it.

NRL

[Hunts Villain]

Targeting 20:00Z for a second and final attempt today.  Being conservative about completing data review from the first attempt, so may not make the range-imposed end-of-day.

[ugordan]

That's interesting. We don't exactly know what's inside that trunk, do we... Anyone recognize the other two logos?

That coat of arms logo is familiar but I can't place it.

NRL

... and we have another winner.

[arnezami]

That's interesting. We don't exactly know what's inside that trunk, do we... Anyone recognize the other two logos?

That coat of arms logo is familiar but I can't place it.

NRL

Looks like it.

[corrodedNut]

Maybe the cube sat thing is all just a ruse by the Army, and they've got Bill the Goat stuffed in there.