SpaceX COTS Demo 2/3 Updates (THREAD 2)

[Halidon]

LOL, It's all part of a careful process. The launch will come soon enough.

That's not soon enough!

[stockman]

we seem to be zoomed in a little bit closer this morning..

[ugordan]

You can see that this stack is noticeably taller than the C1 stack due to the 2nd stage extension for the pontoons/separation mechanism.

[ChefPat]

You can see that this stack is noticeably taller than the C1 stack due to the 2nd stage extension for the pontoons/separation mechanism.

Anybody got a pic of C-1 so we can do a side by side comparison?

[stockman]

You can see that this stack is noticeably taller than the C1 stack due to the 2nd stage extension for the pontoons/separation mechanism.

Anybody got a pic of C-1 so we can do a side by side comparison?

snipped this from the SpacexC1 thread - not the same angle but best I can find with only a quick search... posted next to a current view of C2/3

[mr. mark]

Someone in Florida near the Cape have some time on their hands and a zoom lens?

[Lars_J]

You can see that this stack is noticeably taller than the C1 stack due to the 2nd stage extension for the pontoons/separation mechanism.

You must have might good eagle eyes... The comparison above certainly makes it far from obvious from this far away. Yes, we know the 2nd stage has a slight extension (2 ft at most?), but the strongback has apparently been slightly tweaked as well.

[russianhalo117]

Is anyone from NSF going to attend the press event/tour at the pad on Thursday (date ?)?
If someone is please take a bunch of photos of the strongback.

[ugordan]

Best zoom on the vehicle so far. You can make out the pontoon in this one.

[baldusi]

You can see that this stack is noticeably taller than the C1 stack due to the 2nd stage extension for the pontoons/separation mechanism.

You must have might good eagle eyes... The comparison above certainly makes it far from obvious from this far away. Yes, we know the 2nd stage has a slight extension (2 ft at most?), but the strongback has apparently been slightly tweaked as well.

If you can draw a line from one know height of one of the lightning tower to the same height to the one on the diagonal (like, eight segments, for example), you could have a pseudo height to compare.

[corrodedNut]

You can see that this stack is noticeably taller than the C1 stack due to the 2nd stage extension for the pontoons/separation mechanism.

You must have might good eagle eyes... The comparison above certainly makes it far from obvious from this far away. Yes, we know the 2nd stage has a slight extension (2 ft at most?), but the strongback has apparently been slightly tweaked as well.

I think it's a little of both. The umbilical mast (for lack of a better word, the section above the gripper arms) has been shortened, reducing the overall length of the moblie transporter.

[stockman]

As per plan the falcon has been lowered...

[ugordan]

Looks like there was a purge of the tanks or something just now. Probably in preparation for tanking.

[kirghizstan]

Where are U getting these images?

[corrodedNut]

Where are U getting these images?

http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/countdown/video/video45lh.html

[Ben the Space Brit]

Where are U getting these images?

http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/countdown/video/video45lh.html

Go to Channel 14 - Shuttle Processing

[corrodedNut]

Thar she blows...

[Ben the Space Brit]

Thar she blows...

So that means LOX loading is underway?

[ugordan]

So that means LOX loading is underway?

The venting still seems sporadic so I'm going to guess no. I would imagine the strongback would nominally move back before loading prop.

[ugordan]

The venting is now continuous, from both stages as well as vapors under/in front of the vehicle. Strongback still hasn't retracted.

Via @NASAKennedy:

The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is being loaded with liquid oxygen as part of a test countdown.  Liquid oxygen is minus-297 degrees F.