Author Topic: SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 - SES-8 - DISCUSSION THREAD (Read 611276 times)

IRobot · « **Reply #880 on:** 12/03/2013 09:41 pm »

My guess was the rocket flexing... some 30cm at least...

cartman · « **Reply #881 on:** 12/03/2013 09:46 pm »

did you see the first stage doing some course corrections after staging?

Robotbeat · « **Reply #882 on:** 12/03/2013 09:47 pm »

Quote from: cartman on 12/03/2013 09:46 pm

did you see the first stage doing some course corrections after staging?

Looked like it was flipping around, a dress rehearsal for return to launch site and landing, perhaps?

Maciej Olesinski · « **Reply #883 on:** 12/03/2013 09:47 pm »

Quote from: cartman on 12/03/2013 09:46 pm

did you see the first stage doing some course corrections after staging?

Yes!

Best launch from SpaceX. Views were incredible!

Jarnis · « **Reply #884 on:** 12/03/2013 09:49 pm »

Quote from: Robotbeat on 12/03/2013 09:47 pm

Quote from: cartman on 12/03/2013 09:46 pm
did you see the first stage doing some course corrections after staging?
Looked like it was flipping around, a dress rehearsal for return to launch site and landing, perhaps?

AFAIK the plan was to turn it around "bottom first" but there would be no fuel for braking, and use this opportunity to see what kind of loads it'll experience when coming down without braking (it is expected to break up - but at what point it does so is obviously interesting)

Lars_J · « **Reply #885 on:** 12/03/2013 09:53 pm »

For some reason the tracking cameras were all over the place this time... I wonder why.

clegg78 · « **Reply #886 on:** 12/03/2013 09:54 pm »

How long until we know about the relight and SES sep?

JBF · « **Reply #887 on:** 12/03/2013 09:55 pm »

What is that flame to the right?

The_Ronin · « **Reply #888 on:** 12/03/2013 09:55 pm »

Quote from: JBF on 12/03/2013 09:55 pm

What is that flame to the right?

Optical artifact.

Robotbeat · « **Reply #889 on:** 12/03/2013 09:56 pm »

Quote from: JBF on 12/03/2013 09:55 pm

What is that flame to the right?

Lens flare.

SaxtonHale · « **Reply #890 on:** 12/03/2013 09:56 pm »

Ghost Rocket.

Danderman · « **Reply #891 on:** 12/03/2013 09:56 pm »

Quote from: cartman on 12/03/2013 09:46 pm

did you see the first stage doing some course corrections after staging?

Something unusual was definitely happening with the first stage after staging. Very bright exhaust coming out.

QuantumG · « **Reply #892 on:** 12/03/2013 09:57 pm »

Quote from: Robotbeat on 12/03/2013 09:56 pm

Quote from: JBF on 12/03/2013 09:55 pm
What is that flame to the right?

Lens flare.

Swamp gas reflecting off a weather balloon.

The_Ronin · « **Reply #893 on:** 12/03/2013 09:57 pm »

Quote from: Danderman on 12/03/2013 09:56 pm

Quote from: cartman on 12/03/2013 09:46 pm
did you see the first stage doing some course corrections after staging?
Something unusual was definitely happening with the first stage after staging. Very bright exhaust coming out.

RCS thrusters firing to orient the first stage for a bottom first entry.

bioelectromechanic · « **Reply #894 on:** 12/03/2013 09:58 pm »

Time to 2nd stage restart?

Jakusb · « **Reply #895 on:** 12/03/2013 09:58 pm »

Quote from: Danderman on 12/03/2013 09:56 pm

Quote from: cartman on 12/03/2013 09:46 pm
did you see the first stage doing some course corrections after staging?
Something unusual was definitely happening with the first stage after staging. Very bright exhaust coming out.

Yes, clearly visible after sep

Jarnis · « **Reply #896 on:** 12/03/2013 09:58 pm »

Quote from: Danderman on 12/03/2013 09:56 pm

Quote from: cartman on 12/03/2013 09:46 pm
did you see the first stage doing some course corrections after staging?
Something unusual was definitely happening with the first stage after staging. Very bright exhaust coming out.

They were using cold gas thrusters to turn it around. AFAIK they planned to go through the recovery motions, just no relight (no fuel) so it would come in without any braking and break up, but it would still yield useful data for future recovery attempts.

Robotbeat · « **Reply #897 on:** 12/03/2013 10:01 pm »

Quote from: bioelectromechanic on 12/03/2013 09:58 pm

Time to 2nd stage restart?

6:08pm Eastern time, in about 6 minutes.

Danderman · « **Reply #898 on:** 12/03/2013 10:01 pm »

I am presuming that the relight will come as the stage and payload pass over the Equator.

Occupymars · « **Reply #899 on:** 12/03/2013 10:05 pm »

Quote from: SaxtonHale on 12/03/2013 09:56 pm

Ghost Rocket.

Ghost Rockets confirmed! starting new thread ASAP :D