SpaceX McGregor Testing Updates and Discussion THREAD 1

[Robotbeat]

http://www.newspacewatch.com/articles/first-test-of-falcon-9-r-reusable-booster.html

So F9 1.1 is now the same as F9R, which mean the reusable F9?

Sounds like somewhat a PR trick... Or rather, v1.1 is essentially the same as what they will use for the reusable first stage but minus legs. I wouldn't be surprised if the name "v1.1" became deprecated.

[Jcc]

According to this report: http://www.wacotrib.com/blogs/joe_science/spacex-finally-tests-new-rocket/article_0411a902-cc9d-11e2-9b7b-0019bb2963f4.html
The test lasted 10 sec. Which was the original plan, as opposed to jumping straight to a 30 sec test. So, they decided not to rush? Wanted to see if something might break after 10 sec? The data showed a potential issue, and they are working out a fix?

How about we speculate about this stuff instead of what F9-R means?

[Chris Bergin]

Ben: it was a firing on Saturday:

I can confirm via L2 that the photo was from the latest v1.1 test, on Saturday night. Not saying any more in this thread, per that or the other tests so far, for various reasons. In other words, it's for SpaceX to provide to release more info into the mainstream....this public thread being "mainstream" via the amount of readers.

L2 Members refer to: http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=31605.0

And now a report notes the 10 seconds, I can note that per the L2 coverage link above, it was an abort after 10 seconds - they were aiming for up to three minutes. This followed a test the day before, which was also an abort, but at TEA-TEB ignition.

That might help answer a few things for Jcc too.

[Jcc]

Ben: it was a firing on Saturday:

I can confirm via L2 that the photo was from the latest v1.1 test, on Saturday night. Not saying any more in this thread, per that or the other tests so far, for various reasons. In other words, it's for SpaceX to provide to release more info into the mainstream....this public thread being "mainstream" via the amount of readers.

L2 Members refer to: http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=31605.0

And now a report notes the 10 seconds, I can note that per the L2 coverage link above, it was an abort after 10 seconds - they were aiming for up to three minutes. This followed a test the day before, which was also an abort, but at TEA-TEB ignition.

That might help answer a few things for Jcc too.

Thanks, yes it's a good hint.  I think it's fun to guess about what it going on, it's mental exercise.

My speculation is that although the testing has not been smooth so far, there probobly isn't a major show stopper, after all they sucessfully qualified F9 v1.0, they have basic competence at building rockets. They probably are taking a cautious approach.

[cro-magnon gramps]

Thanks, yes it's a good hint.  I think it's fun to guess about what it going on, it's mental exercise.

My speculation is that although the testing has not been smooth so far, there probably isn't a major show stopper, after all they successfully qualified F9 v1.0, they have basic competence at building rockets. They probably are taking a cautious approach.

After there experience with Falcon 1, that is not too bad an assumption to make. They are probably going over everything systematically with a fine tooth comb right now. Not unlike their brethren building the SLS.

[cambrianera]

Some rumor on Flightglobal:
http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/hyperbola/2013/06/what-is-musk-building-in-there.html
"Rumor is that a problem with the gas generator caused an early abort"

[Jcc]

Some rumor on Flightglobal:
http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/hyperbola/2013/06/what-is-musk-building-in-there.html
"Rumor is that a problem with the gas generator caused an early abort"

Hmm. There is a gas generator on each engine, and I thought the Merlin 1D was fully qualified. Failure on any one engine should cause an abort, but do they have to trace down the issue completely before replacing the engine and continuing the stage qualification?

[Paul Howard]

That's such a weak article by Flight International. I've seen better posts on the forum here. It's not even formatted correctly, with different fonts on different paragraphs.

[AndyX]

That's such a weak article by Flight International. I've seen better posts on the forum here. It's not even formatted correctly, with different fonts on different paragraphs.

Yeah, and we knew that here, "L2 Members refer to: http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=31605.0" then it shows up on Flight, but we know a some more on L2.

[Chris Bergin]

Hey, watch your mouths guys. Zach's a good guy and a good writer.

Remember, he's a reporter. We all get information and we report it as we see fit. He's got his own information and reported it as he sees fit (and it's actually useful to all of us as you know I've been mulling over how to report such things, so we'll probably get to see how SpaceX PAO react on potential clarifications, etc.)

[docmordrid]

http://www.kwtx.com/ourtown/home/headlines/McGregor--SpaceX-Plans-To-Rumble-210601331.html?device=phone

MCGREGOR (June 7, 2013)—Residents accustomed to the daily roar of tests at the SpaceX facility in McGregor may do a double-take when the private space exploration company conducts a test it says will be significantly louder.

The test could occur as early as Friday afternoon and could last for as long as several minutes, the company said.

[Jcc]

http://www.kwtx.com/ourtown/home/headlines/McGregor--SpaceX-Plans-To-Rumble-210601331.html?device=phone

MCGREGOR (June 7, 2013)—Residents accustomed to the daily roar of tests at the SpaceX facility in McGregor may do a double-take when the private space exploration company conducts a test it says will be significantly louder.

The test could occur as early as Friday afternoon and could last for as long as several minutes, the company said.

This is pretty much a repeat of the announcement last week, but the "as long as several minutes" part hadn't occurred yet. Maybe this time's the charm?

[Ben the Space Brit]

This is pretty much a repeat of the announcement last week, but the "as long as several minutes" part hadn't occurred yet. Maybe this time's the charm?

I think it was pointed out up-thread that whenever SpaceX are preparing to do the test, they're obliged to send out the warning.  It gets repetitive after a while, I agree, but from the stories of what happened to local livestock during the F-1 tests in the Saturn program, maybe it's better to be safe than sorry.

[Chris Bergin]

I should note that per the L2 thread (http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=31605.0) they did have another test last night. Was a long one, but we're checking to see if it was another abort during the firing.

[ugordan]

Also, the new flame deflector on VTS-3 seems to be working out nicely for them. Hardly any reports of noise.

[Jason1701]

Also, the new flame deflector on VTS-3 seems to be working out nicely for them. Hardly any reports of noise.

Good point. It directs the flames almost 180 degrees away from McGregor.

[Lar]

..., but from the stories of what happened to local livestock during the F-1 tests in the Saturn program, maybe it's better to be safe than sorry.

That sounds like a fun story (but offtopic) ... do you have a link?

All I found was this

http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4206/ch3.htm

which speaks of rounding up strays.

Also, the new flame deflector on VTS-3 seems to be working out nicely for them. Hardly any reports of noise.

Good point. It directs the flames almost 180 degrees away from McGregor.

Good for the residents but not so great for us who want to know all about it

[Ben the Space Brit]

..., but from the stories of what happened to local livestock during the F-1 tests in the Saturn program, maybe it's better to be safe than sorry.

That sounds like a fun story (but offtopic) ... do you have a link?

Deborah Cadbury's "Space Race" speaks of stampedes, chickens that wouldn't lay and milk curdled-in-the-cow.  Of course, that's the F-1 which is how many times more powerful than the Merlin-1D?

From ugordan's comments, though, it looks like SpaceX might have mitigated the sound pollution issue pretty effectively.

[Rocket Surgeon]

I should note that per the L2 thread (http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=31605.0) they did have another test last night. Was a long one, but we're checking to see if it was another abort during the firing.

Any non-L2 word on this test yet?

[mlindner]

Elon Musk
‏@elonmusk
1st long duration firing of the new generation Falcon 9 rocket ~1.5 million pounds of vac thrust

"long duration" rather than "full duration." We're getting there. I think this one was supposed to got 3 minutes?

Awesome video though. That probably woke the town.

What are the large sparks that are falling from the engines on shutdown?