SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 - CASSIOPE - September, 2013 - GENERAL DISCUSSION THREAD

[Prober]

What is the mass of the primary satellite? Will this launch be a new mass record for Falcon 9?

On the contradictory, it weighs just something around 500 kg.  (It was actually once a Falcon 1e payload)

wonder if the plan is to ballast the rest of the payload?  Even with a non-full fuel load this is over kill.

[Zed_Noir]

What is the mass of the primary satellite? Will this launch be a new mass record for Falcon 9?

On the contradictory, it weighs just something around 500 kg.  (It was actually once a Falcon 1e payload)

wonder if the plan is to ballast the rest of the payload?  Even with a non-full fuel load this is over kill.

Remember SpaceX got their pseudo landing attempt after the 2nd stage departs with the core. Lots of margin with a high fraction of remaining propellants.

Anyone know if the core will attempt some sort of boost back maneuver test before the pseudo landing attempt?

[neoforce]

What is the mass of the primary satellite? Will this launch be a new mass record for Falcon 9?

On the contradictory, it weighs just something around 500 kg.  (It was actually once a Falcon 1e payload)

wonder if the plan is to ballast the rest of the payload?  Even with a non-full fuel load this is over kill.

Remember SpaceX got their pseudo landing attempt after the 2nd stage departs with the core. Lots of margin with a high fraction of remaining propellants.

Anyone know if the core will attempt some sort of boost back maneuver test before the pseudo landing attempt?

No boost back on first attempt.    From the post CRS 2 news conference at http://shitelonsays.com/transcript/crs-2-post-landing-teleconference-2013-03-27

With respect to the recovery, the initial recovery attempts will be from a water landing. The first stage booster will, after separation, continue in a ballistic arc and execute a velocity reduction burn before hitting the atmosphere, just to lessen the impact. Then, right before sort-of splashdown of the stage, it's going to light the engine again. So, there will be two burns after stage separation,

[GBpatsfan]

From Dan Leone(@Leone_SN) on Twitter

@CSA_ASC says notional launch date for #CASSIOPE space weather satellite is Aug. 14 - little later than expected - on @SpaceX Falcon 9 1.1.

 

[SpacexULA]

From Dan Leone(@Leone_SN) on Twitter

@CSA_ASC says notional launch date for #CASSIOPE space weather satellite is Aug. 14 - little later than expected - on @SpaceX Falcon 9 1.1.

Not nearly as bad as many of us feared, but of course like all things, that's a NET number.

[GBpatsfan]

Sounds like the launch date is now targeted for September 5th.  At this point I wouldn't count on any date to hold before the rocket has been successfully integrated with the pad.
http://mertensiana.phys.ucalgary.ca/

[Chris Bergin]

Leave it with me Prober. That's a good point of reference to approach SpaceX with tomorrow.

I guess they'll say prelim, pending acceptance testing etc...so I'll include the questions on that too.

[Jcc]

Leave it with me Prober. That's a good point of reference to approach SpaceX with tomorrow.

I guess they'll say prelim, pending acceptance testing etc...so I'll include the questions on that too.

We haven't really gotten the status of the Vandenburg facilities yet, have we. Last I recall they were still working on it, and it was an open question if it will be ready by the time the rocket is. Chances are better now that the rocket is delayed.

[yg1968]

Leave it with me Prober. That's a good point of reference to approach SpaceX with tomorrow.

I guess they'll say prelim, pending acceptance testing etc...so I'll include the questions on that too.

We haven't really gotten the status of the Vandenburg facilities yet, have we. Last I recall they were still working on it, and it was an open question if it will be ready by the time the rocket is. Chances are better now that the rocket is delayed.

According to an article in AviationWeek, Vandenberg is basically ready:

Cassiope will be the first to launch from SpaceX's new pad at Vandenberg AFB, Calif. Ra says the pad is “in good shape . . . . Vandenberg is basically ready for launch.”

http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/AW_06_17_2013_p56-587359.xml&p=2

[beancounter]

Leave it with me Prober. That's a good point of reference to approach SpaceX with tomorrow.

I guess they'll say prelim, pending acceptance testing etc...so I'll include the questions on that too.

We haven't really gotten the status of the Vandenburg facilities yet, have we. Last I recall they were still working on it, and it was an open question if it will be ready by the time the rocket is. Chances are better now that the rocket is delayed.

According to an article in AviationWeek, Vandenberg is basically ready:

Cassiope will be the first to launch from SpaceX's new pad at Vandenberg AFB, Calif. Ra says the pad is “in good shape . . . . Vandenberg is basically ready for launch.”

http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/AW_06_17_2013_p56-587359.xml&p=2

Just what does 'basically ready' mean?  This is just spin.  Something is ready or it's not.  With a launch pad, I can't see how it can be anything else.  My reading - not yet ready to launch vehicles.  Might be close but that's not 'ready'.

[JBF]

Just what does 'basically ready' mean?  This is just spin.  Something is ready or it's not.  With a launch pad, I can't see how it can be anything else.  My reading - not yet ready to launch vehicles.  Might be close but that's not 'ready'.

In order for the pad to be ready for launch they need to test out the fluid system with a real first stage. Until then it's 'basically' ready pending final check out.  Or at least that is how I read the statements.

[docmordrid]

Don't read too much into the use of "basically." Some Americans (annoyingly IMO) use "basically" as a prefix for "ready" all the time.

[yg1968]

Basically usually means that there is some minor stuff to finish. In other words, it's unlikely to be the pacing item.

[beancounter]

Basically usually means that there is some minor stuff to finish. In other words, it's unlikely to be the pacing item.

It never ceases to amaze me at how often the 'minor stuff' ends up on the critical path.   

edit:  So forgive me for being slightly skeptical.

[spectre9]

If the pad is ready where's the pictures?

I'm guessing it's not ready but not quite a hole in the ground.

Baseless speculation based on the old adage "I'll believe it when I see it".

[JBF]

If the pad is ready where's the pictures?

I'm guessing it's not ready but not quite a hole in the ground.

Baseless speculation based on the old adage "I'll believe it when I see it".

We have pictures from when the NASA Administrator visited the site.  It is far from a hole in the ground. And this was  4 months ago.

[e of pi]

Yeah, especially when you compare that image to that same site 4 months before that when it was basically just a fancy hole in the ground. If they want to send a spokesperson out to tell me that they're "basically ready," I think the evidence to me shows that it's likely at least true in an Obi-Wan sort of way.

[Robotbeat]

I think the rocket is still likely the pacing item.

That structure in the hole is impressive.

[Lurker Steve]

I think the rocket is still likely the pacing item.

That structure in the hole is impressive.

But from the picture, there is still a bunch of stuff missing above the hold in the ground. Maybe it's too far zoomed-out, but that looks like a lot of rebar or some type of short steel beams sticking out of the concrete. Like more concrete needs to be poured to create some above-ground structures, or some type of major construction still needs to occur.

[e of pi]

But from the picture, there is still a bunch of stuff missing above the hold in the ground. Maybe it's too far zoomed-out, but that looks like a lot of rebar or some type of short steel beams sticking out of the concrete. Like more concrete needs to be poured to create some above-ground structures, or some type of major construction still needs to occur.

As I noted, that photo was four months ago. In the four months between it and thephotos I linked that were from October, they turned a hole in thr ground into all that. I think it's likely that the vehicle is the pacing item--they've had plenty of time for the major construction to finish at the pace they were going.