Author Topic: SpaceX COTS Demo 2/3 Updates (THREAD 2) (Read 787773 times)

Ben the Space Brit · « **Reply #1400 on:** 03/01/2012 01:40 pm »

Has someone jacked down the brightness on the feed or is it just very cloudy at SLC-40 today?

ugordan · « **Reply #1401 on:** 03/01/2012 01:44 pm »

Can't be that cloudy given the specular reflection off the sea and the backlit plume. My guess is a heavily filtered feed - the vehicle is at about the same direction as the sun so atmospheric haziness is a problem.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #1402 on:** 03/01/2012 01:48 pm »

Good that there's some images all the same....as much as it would be nice if SpaceX webcast this. There's clearly interest in it. Anyway, good work folks, keep em coming.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #1403 on:** 03/01/2012 02:04 pm »

NASA KSC:

"The SpaceX Falcon 9 has been fully loaded with refined kerosene and liquid oxygen by the SpaceX launch team."

ugordan · « **Reply #1404 on:** 03/01/2012 02:11 pm »

Strongback moving away now.

Note: there is live video from that camera on another site.

jabe · « **Reply #1405 on:** 03/01/2012 02:11 pm »

strong back is going back now
edit: got beaten to the punch..

ugordan · « **Reply #1406 on:** 03/01/2012 02:24 pm »

Slight improvement in contrast. I don't imagine anything interesting happening from now on.

Confusador · « **Reply #1407 on:** 03/01/2012 02:25 pm »

Me too, Jabe.

Ugordon is on top of this!
Video quality has improved dramatically, I suspect it was related to the position of the sun.

ugordan · « **Reply #1408 on:** 03/01/2012 02:43 pm »

Vapor from the flame trench is visible, I wonder if M9 are in chilldown or something. IIRC, that starts at T-10 min so we *may* be getting close. Last visible step would then be vehicle press with GOX venting disappearing and pad water deluge.

Ben the Space Brit · « **Reply #1409 on:** 03/01/2012 02:46 pm »

Quote from: ugordan on 03/01/2012 02:43 pm

Vapor from the flame trench is visible, I wonder if M9 are in chilldown or something.

Running a test of the water torrent system?

ugordan · « **Reply #1410 on:** 03/01/2012 02:50 pm »

Perhaps, there was spray (?) visible at the base of the rocket as well.

Jim · « **Reply #1411 on:** 03/01/2012 03:00 pm »

LOX dump

ugordan · « **Reply #1412 on:** 03/01/2012 03:04 pm »

There is was again, just now. What is the purpose of that LOX dump? First seen as a cloud around the engines and then out the flame trench as well.

mr. mark · « **Reply #1413 on:** 03/01/2012 03:08 pm »

here you go. A little better pic.

ugordan · « **Reply #1414 on:** 03/01/2012 03:16 pm »

Venting from the 2nd stage changed from continuous to periodic puffs.

Jim · « **Reply #1415 on:** 03/01/2012 03:19 pm »

Quote from: ugordan on 03/01/2012 03:04 pm

There is was again, just now. What is the purpose of that LOX dump? First seen as a cloud around the engines and then out the flame trench as well.

When loading is complete, the LOX in the ground lines has to go somewhere. Usually, it is the flame trench

Jim · « **Reply #1416 on:** 03/01/2012 03:20 pm »

Quote from: ugordan on 03/01/2012 03:16 pm

Venting from the 2nd stage changed from continuous to periodic puffs.

Flight pressurization, which would coincide with LOX topping termination and LOX dump.

Robotbeat · « **Reply #1417 on:** 03/01/2012 03:20 pm »

ugordan · « **Reply #1418 on:** 03/01/2012 03:21 pm »

Vapor from the flame trench again, this time it *has* to be M9 chilldown, right on time.

Robotbeat · « **Reply #1419 on:** 03/01/2012 03:22 pm »

Closer