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

[Skyrocket]

What else will be on this launch? Seems kinda strange that they'd stand up an F9 for just 510 kg of payload, but CASSIOPE was about the same mass. There's secondary payloads on this flight too, right?

There are no secondary payloads on this flight.

[Jarnis]

What else will be on this launch? Seems kinda strange that they'd stand up an F9 for just 510 kg of payload, but CASSIOPE was about the same mass. There's secondary payloads on this flight too, right?

Launches are about Paying X dollars to put Y up there. If 510kg of "Y" is fine for the specific purpose and the rocket that has 20x that capacity is the most cost-effective solution, then that's that.

This exact bit is the reason why re-use, even with major payload penalties, can work. Oversized rocket is fine as long as it costs less. If the payload is bigger, use even bigger rocket that is still re-usable and cheaper than a smaller expendable one.

[Mader Levap]

What else will be on this launch? Seems kinda strange that they'd stand up an F9 for just 510 kg of payload

As long as customer is fine with price, why anyone could be upset that rocket has many times more theoretical maximum payload than what is actually launched?

[QuantumG]

Just wondering if SpaceX might be planning to use the excess capacity for something.

[Jim]

Just wondering if SpaceX might be planning to use the excess capacity for something.

Its not their excess capacity to use..

[Dante80]

They can definitely not add to the payload (this an exclusive mission, and a well paid one too). Could they use S2 after safe separation of the payload though for some testing?

[Jcc]

They can definitely not add to the payload (this an exclusive mission, and a well paid one too). Could they use S2 after safe separation of the payload though for some testing?

Sure, they can test landing on a barge.

[macpacheco]

Just wondering if SpaceX might be planning to use the excess capacity for something.

Its not their excess capacity to use..

The ESPA payloads on CRS missions, are those payloads NASA is adding to the manifest or SpaceX selling them directly ?

[sdsds]

Could they use S2 after safe separation of the payload though for some testing?

Sure, they can test landing on a barge.

And the M1D-Vac nozzle is so large, it wouldn't even need landing legs! Just cut thrust at precisely the right moment, and the nozzle will be set onto the barge deck by the engine shutdown exhaust....

[CameronD]

And the M1D-Vac nozzle is so large, it wouldn't even need landing legs! Just cut thrust at precisely the right moment, and the nozzle will be set onto the barge deck by the engine shutdown exhaust....

Using the nozzle as a kind-of landing-bag/crumple zone??  Good idea!  Might be some damage to the outer shell when the stage finally topples over and hits the deck though..

[gadgetmind]

Just land the S2 on top of the S1 and save yourself a job later on.

[JamesH]

Just wondering if SpaceX might be planning to use the excess capacity for something.

Its not their excess capacity to use..

I thought customers paid for a launch, not the rocket, do they also pay for the launch to be exclusive?

[guckyfan]

Just wondering if SpaceX might be planning to use the excess capacity for something.

Its not their excess capacity to use..

Source?

[Jet Black]

Just wondering if SpaceX might be planning to use the excess capacity for something.

Its not their excess capacity to use..

I thought customers paid for a launch, not the rocket, do they also pay for the launch to be exclusive?

I expect it depends on the contract, like when SpaceX had to drop Orbcomm's secondary payload, because the primary NASA contract required the fuel margin and that could not be achieved if droppin Orbcomm's satellite in the correct orbit.

[andrewsdanj]

And the M1D-Vac nozzle is so large, it wouldn't even need landing legs! Just cut thrust at precisely the right moment, and the nozzle will be set onto the barge deck by the engine shutdown exhaust....

Using the nozzle as a kind-of landing-bag/crumple zone??  Good idea!  Might be some damage to the outer shell when the stage finally topples over and hits the deck though..

What we need is some kind of superstrong flame-proof net...

(Ducks, runs away).

[Jim]

Just wondering if SpaceX might be planning to use the excess capacity for something.

Its not their excess capacity to use..

I thought customers paid for a launch, not the rocket, do they also pay for the launch to be exclusive?

They can buy the whole capacity.

[ugordan]

Just wondering if SpaceX might be planning to use the excess capacity for something.

Its not their excess capacity to use..

I thought customers paid for a launch, not the rocket, do they also pay for the launch to be exclusive?

They can buy the whole capacity.

Obviously, it has to be more nuanced than that, because there would be no recovery attempt on this flight then.

[abaddon]

I expect it depends on the contract, like when SpaceX had to drop Orbcomm's secondary payload, because the primary NASA contract required the fuel margin and that could not be achieved if droppin Orbcomm's satellite in the correct orbit.

That was an ISS safety rule, no such thing applies here.  There certainly might be other factors that do apply and contractually limit what SpaceX can do on this flight.

[Dante80]

Grabbed this from reddit.

In the original FCC application, the ASDS was to be at 34°16'59.0"N + 121°04'34.0"W. According to google, this is about 74km downrange.

That application expired in December, and the FCC extension application the ASDS will be at 32°07'44.0"N + 120°46'43.0"W According to Google this is about 295 km downrange.

The 295 seems to match a GTO profile (or even a center FH booster profile perhaps) - SpaceX is definitely trying the barge landing over redoing the RTLS test.

[Lars-J]

Grabbed this from reddit.

In the original FCC application, the ASDS was to be at 34°16'59.0"N + 121°04'34.0"W. According to google, this is about 74km downrange.

That application expired in December, and the FCC extension application the ASDS will be at 32°07'44.0"N + 120°46'43.0"W According to Google this is about 295 km downrange.

The 295 seems to match a GTO profile (or even a center FH booster profile perhaps) - SpaceX is definitely trying the barge landing over redoing the RTLS test.

Could they also be hoping for better weather (less waves) further off shore?