SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 - Jason 3 - SLC-4E Vandenberg - Jan 17, 2016 - DISCUSSION

[ugordan]

Might as well be called instantaneous for all practical purposes.

[Prober]

I wouldn't read too much into the date and NASA isn't;  How do I know, no NASA social scheduled.

[Jim]

I wouldn't read too much into the date and NASA isn't;  How do I know, no NASA social scheduled.

NASA is fully behind the date and is planning to it.   NASA Social has no bearing on it.  There wouldn't be an announced date without NASA's blessing.

[Prober]

I wouldn't read too much into the date and NASA isn't;  How do I know, no NASA social scheduled.

NASA is fully behind the date and is planning to it.   NASA Social has no bearing on it.  There wouldn't be an announced date without NASA's blessing.

so you don't expect the date to slip?

[DanseMacabre]

I wouldn't read too much into the date and NASA isn't;  How do I know, no NASA social scheduled.

NASA is fully behind the date and is planning to it.   NASA Social has no bearing on it.  There wouldn't be an announced date without NASA's blessing.

so you don't expect the date to slip?

NASA Media is planning for this: http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/media-invited-to-view-launch-of-new-ocean-monitoring-satellite also there's a countdown timer on the nasa.gov homepage too. I'd comfortably say NASA is reading everything into this date!

[abaddon]

so you don't expect the date to slip?

He's saying your premise is false.

[Ben the Space Brit]

Will this still be a v.1.1 launch or will they be using a FT instead?

[DanseMacabre]

Will this still be a v.1.1 launch or will they be using a FT instead?

Still original 1.1 - I believe the FT won't be certified for a few more launches yet if the 1.0->1.1 transition is anything to go by.

[cdleonard]

Will this still be a v.1.1 launch or will they be using a FT instead?

This is the last v1.1. I wonder what will happen if they recover the booster? It's unlikely they'll try to fly it again since it's an old version.

[wannamoonbase]

Will this still be a v.1.1 launch or will they be using a FT instead?

This is the last v1.1. I wonder what will happen if they recover the booster? It's unlikely they'll try to fly it again since it's an old version.

On the surface that's an obvious answer, and I agree.

But if I was SpaceX with a viable booster and had a client with millions of dollars looking for a ride, I'd figure out a way to use it.  Even if it was in expendable mode.

Edit: Do we know if both stages are now at VAFB?

[Saabstory88]

Will this still be a v.1.1 launch or will they be using a FT instead?

This is the last v1.1. I wonder what will happen if they recover the booster? It's unlikely they'll try to fly it again since it's an old version.

On the surface that's an obvious answer, and I agree.

But if I was SpaceX with a viable booster and had a client with millions of dollars looking for a ride, I'd figure out a way to use it.  Even if it was in expendable mode.

Edit: Do we know if both stages are now at VAFB?

Except they may not want to opt for having to manufacture another non-FT second stage. If they recover, this may be the core which gets destructively tested, or completely disassembled.

[obi-wan]

Will this still be a v.1.1 launch or will they be using a FT instead?

This is the last v1.1. I wonder what will happen if they recover the booster? It's unlikely they'll try to fly it again since it's an old version.

On the surface that's an obvious answer, and I agree.

But if I was SpaceX with a viable booster and had a client with millions of dollars looking for a ride, I'd figure out a way to use it.  Even if it was in expendable mode.

Edit: Do we know if both stages are now at VAFB?

Except they may not want to opt for having to manufacture another non-FT second stage. If they recover, this may be the core which gets destructively tested, or completely disassembled.

How about using it for the in-flight abort test? Or is the FT TEL incompatible with the 1.1 vehicle?

[notsorandom]

The original plan I think was to take Jason-3's returned stage out to Spaceport America to do some more testing. Had CRS-7 returned they would have had a booster to inspect and used then next one for flight testing. The Jason-3 booster was likely to be the first one they could do that with. Elon said that this newly recovered Orbcom-2 stage will likely never fly again. They are going to do some static fires with it at 39A to test out the new pad and to see how the returned stage behaves.  In light of yesterday's success SpaceX may not see much utility in continuing the grasshopper type tests. If they do choose to though the Jason-3 Falcon 1.1 stage without needing the densified propellants would be a good option because the support equipment out at the test site could be simpler.

[saliva_sweet]

How about using it for the in-flight abort test? Or is the FT TEL incompatible with the 1.1 vehicle?

They do still have the F9RDev2 that I think was originally intended for that.

[abaddon]

How about using it for the in-flight abort test? Or is the FT TEL incompatible with the 1.1 vehicle?

They do still have the F9RDev2 that I think was originally intended for that.

ISTR that was re-purposed to be used for fit checks at Vandenberg, to be followed by use as the in-flight abort core.  But, could be mixing things up there, and/or plans could change, of course.

[kevin-rf]

Since Orbcomm got such a discount on this launch (due to the withdrawl of the Falcon 1 which they had booked on way back when), how about using the core for the next Orbcomm launch.

If not, doesn't Iridium need like 8 launches? Plenty of opportunity for reuse there...

[andrewsdanj]

How about using it for the in-flight abort test? Or is the FT TEL incompatible with the 1.1 vehicle?

They do still have the F9RDev2 that I think was originally intended for that.

Might be mixing my F9RDev's up, but didn't that one scatter itself over several acres of Texas?

[Kim Keller]

How about using it for the in-flight abort test? Or is the FT TEL incompatible with the 1.1 vehicle?

The in-flight abort vehicle which was used in on-pad testing a couple months ago is still in the SX Hangar alongside F-9-19.

Someone asked up-thread if the S2 was onsite - yes. S1/S2 mate will occur very soon.

[Johnnyhinbos]

The Jason-3 mission is pretty LEO, IIRC it's a circular orbit at ~830 miles, 66 degree inclination. So that should leave plenty of margin for RTLS? I don't recall if the general concensus is a barge landing or a land landing at SLC-4W. Reason I'm asking is because I _believe_ that there's a big honkin tent structure currnetly sitting on SLC-4W...

[rpapo]

Unless I'm awfully mistaken, the situation with regards to RTLS is now quite different from even last week.  RTLS has now been demonstrated, and more to the point has been demonstrated to be absurdly precise.  And I believe that alone deals with most of the objections there may have been to having the Jason booster attempt RTLS.

EDIT: Even more so with that slide-over maneuver they showed at the Cape, keeping the free impact location out to sea until the landing burn started properly.