SpaceX FH: STP-2 : LC-39A : June 25, 2019 - DISCUSSION

[georgegassaway]

Theory: Core reached zero velocity above deck, going back upwards (can't throttle low enough). Software realizing a hopeless situation and ditched the core away from the ASDS.

[MATTBLAK]

In the Web cast coverage we seem to seeing a lot of 'debris' wobbling around the forward view from the upper stage - oxygen ice?

[1]

I'm not saying the spin caused the aborted landing.

I don't think the center core is spinning at all. IMO. The large surrounding exhaust plume is from the central core, which doesn't shut off its engines that early. The spinning object looks to have been liberated from one of the side boosters; possibly one of the nose cones.

I think the center core just came in a bit hotter than they knew how to control; simple as that.

[Asteroza]

Hard to tell, but did all 4 legs deploy properly? I could see it aborting if a leg didn't come down and lock.

[catdlr]

I'm not saying the spin caused the aborted landing.

I don't think the center core is spinning at all. IMO. The large surrounding exhaust plume is from the central core, which doesn't shut off its engines that early. The spinning object looks to have been liberated from one of the side boosters; possibly one of the nose cones.

I think the center core just came in a bit hotter than they knew how to control; simple as that.

Yes, I'm now in full agreement (noSpin).  and I agree with the above post.

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=30544.msg1959911#msg1959911

[CorvusCorax]

Hard to tell, but did all 4 legs deploy properly? I could see it aborting if a leg didn't come down and lock.

We're going to have to see. Could be a throttle issue, could be legs, could be a sensor issue. Most likely cause is the hot entry, but I don't think we are going to hear anything more until Elon tweets

Important thing is that the mission's succeeds, although the SpaceX FH center-core-bad-luck-streak is starting to get a wee bit annoying.

[MATTBLAK]

I'm loving the Earth views from the upper stage! The high-Def views of Madagascar and the clouds above the Indian Ocean as I'm writing this are really cool.

[flyright]

Almost had a heart attack seeing the infra-red startup of the booster. For a second it looked like the stage had exploded.... Phew..

Glad I wasn't the only one that thought it had exploded. It took a while to calm down and realize all was cool with both side boosters!

[Grandpa to Two]

PPOD 8 has deployed LEO and StangSat (top of view).

This was the first time I heard the air supply launching this satellite. Very nice.

[1]

Watching the replay, I love how gleeful SpaceX HQ sounded after the center core splashed. Initial disappointment, then immediate cheers and applause.

[CorvusCorax]

Yayyyyyy  Go Miss Treeee :-)     Kite got caught :-)

[Draggendrop]

https://twitter.com/SpaceXFleet/status/1143424741514125312

[eeergo]

[They caught the fairing!]

Had they succeeded in avoiding that last-second issue with the center core, this launch would have meant the world's most powerful rocket in service to be recovered for reuse! Extraordinary every time I stop to reflect about it.

[HeartofGold2030]

[They caught the fairing!]

Had they succeeded in avoiding that last-second issue with the center core, this launch would have meant the world's most powerful rocket in service to be recovered for reuse! Extraordinary every time I stop to reflect about it.

None of this rocket is getting reused, the next launch is a classified mission for the airforce in over a years time and will require a clean sheet booster.

[kevinof]

Huh? What you smoking? What about re-using on OTHER flights? This is what SpaceX does month after month.

[They caught the fairing!]

Had they succeeded in avoiding that last-second issue with the center core, this launch would have meant the world's most powerful rocket in service to be recovered for reuse! Extraordinary every time I stop to reflect about it.

None of this rocket is getting reused, the next launch is a classified mission for the airforce in over a years time and will require a clean sheet booster.

[CorvusCorax]

Huh? What you smoking? What about re-using on OTHER flights? This is what SpaceX does month after month.

[They caught the fairing!]

Had they succeeded in avoiding that last-second issue with the center core, this launch would have meant the world's most powerful rocket in service to be recovered for reuse! Extraordinary every time I stop to reflect about it.

None of this rocket is getting reused, the next launch is a classified mission for the airforce in over a years time and will require a clean sheet booster.

FH side boosters are almost identical to Falcon9 single sticks and can be converted by swapping the nosecone for an interstage. Those sideboosters each have 2 FH flights on their belt, which are effectively low energy return to launchsite trajectories, making them prime candidates for reuse.

If the next FH flight is so long away, I think reuse as single sticks is more likely than keeping them in storage for that long.

[Star One]

[They caught the fairing!]

Had they succeeded in avoiding that last-second issue with the center core, this launch would have meant the world's most powerful rocket in service to be recovered for reuse! Extraordinary every time I stop to reflect about it.

None of this rocket is getting reused, the next launch is a classified mission for the airforce in over a years time and will require a clean sheet booster.

Is that an NRO mission?

[HeartofGold2030]

[They caught the fairing!]

Had they succeeded in avoiding that last-second issue with the center core, this launch would have meant the world's most powerful rocket in service to be recovered for reuse! Extraordinary every time I stop to reflect about it.

None of this rocket is getting reused, the next launch is a classified mission for the airforce in over a years time and will require a clean sheet booster.

Is that an NRO mission?

AFSC-152 for the Airforce Space Command, it’s a direct to GEO mission.

[HeartofGold2030]

Huh? What you smoking? What about re-using on OTHER flights? This is what SpaceX does month after month.

[They caught the fairing!]

Had they succeeded in avoiding that last-second issue with the center core, this launch would have meant the world's most powerful rocket in service to be recovered for reuse! Extraordinary every time I stop to reflect about it.

None of this rocket is getting reused, the next launch is a classified mission for the airforce in over a years time and will require a clean sheet booster.

FH side boosters are almost identical to Falcon9 single sticks and can be converted by swapping the nosecone for an interstage. Those sideboosters each have 2 FH flights on their belt, which are effectively low energy return to launchsite trajectories, making them prime candidates for reuse.

If the next FH flight is so long away, I think reuse as single sticks is more likely than keeping them in storage for that long.

I believe the Airforce would want to preserve the first reused hardware ever flown on a DoD mission instead of reusing it; therefore, it’s more likely imo that the side boosters are put on display at the Cape than reused for a future mission.

[WannaWalnetto]

Thought I just heard them call out on the webcast that the Texas site is now tracking the second stage.  Guess that means Boca Chica?