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

[Tass]

No more riskier than the Falcon 1 Flight 4 launch. They launched that mission live, had some assembly pics and they betted the farm on that one. 

Therefore they had nothing to lose. Had that failed they would have been out, and wouldn't have cared about bad publicity.

This one is risky, but they'll still be in business if it fails.

[Paul Howard]

I notice Chris edited the opening post on the update thread about two hours ago from NET 9-10 September, to "mid-September".

[Andy USA]

Members have already been warned, this is NOT a Mars trajectory thread, this is a thread about the Cassiope mission. You will lose your posts if you are not on topic.

I notice Chris edited the opening post on the update thread about two hours ago from NET 9-10 September, to "mid-September".

He'll be adjusting title threads from L2 information.

[ugordan]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomcatphotography1/9625736164/

"As the Delta IV rises into clear blue skies, also visible just down the hill and to the right is SpaceX's Falcon 9 launch vehicle on the pad at SLC-4E."

[Lars_J]

That's a great find!

[GBpatsfan]

Aha!!!! It actually exists! 

[uko]

Yeah! Someone must have ta ken better pics from that nice vantage point.

[ugordan]

I think this vid may show it directly in front of the Delta, but it's also too fuzzy to make anything out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5hWrDbhnoI

[aero]

It is fuzzy. If someone tried, I could be convinced that I'm seeing oxygen boil-off in the fuzz.

[douglas100]

There doesn't appear to be anything on top of the second stage as the T/E is taller than the rocket. Which is exactly what you would expect for WDR.

[Robotbeat]

There doesn't appear to be anything on top of the second stage as the T/E is taller than the rocket. Which is exactly what you would expect for WDR.

Or a dry dress rehearsal.

[douglas100]

Indeed.

[QuantumG]

First stage separation happens around 61 miles (100 km).

Whether you need an additional license for reentry has more to do with how much time has passed from launch.. for example, they needed one for Dragon because it was days later. They'd need one for the second stage, if they thought anything significant was going to reach the ground, because it would at least be hours.

[Robotbeat]

I must have accidentally said second stage instead of first. Sorry about that!

[guckyfan]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomcatphotography1/9625736164/

The Delta 4 Heavy rises from the pad. But see what the men in uniform are looking at. Anybody here noticed that detail?

[Lars_J]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomcatphotography1/9625736164/

The Delta 4 Heavy rises from the pad. But see what the men in uniform are looking at. Anybody here noticed that detail?

Already noted in the previous page in this thread: http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=31429.msg1090049#msg1090049

[AJW]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomcatphotography1/9625736164/

The Delta 4 Heavy rises from the pad. But see what the men in uniform are looking at. Anybody here noticed that detail?

I checked with the photographer to see if he might have a closer shot of the SpaceX pad and that was the best one he had.

[guckyfan]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomcatphotography1/9625736164/

The Delta 4 Heavy rises from the pad. But see what the men in uniform are looking at. Anybody here noticed that detail?

Already noted in the previous page in this thread: http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=31429.msg1090049#msg1090049

I noticed the Falcon on the pad. Really a great find. But I specifically referred to the photo where the men in uniform look at the Falcon instead of the rising Delta. I don't see that in this thread before

[malu5531]

I noticed the Falcon on the pad. Really a great find. But I specifically referred to the photo where the men in uniform look at the Falcon instead of the rising Delta. I don't see that in this thread before

Yes, I noticed that too. They seem to be more excited about the Falcon doing a WDR / Dry rehearsal than a ascending Delta IV heavy. Some would say they have their priorities right.

[Lars_J]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tomcatphotography1/9625736164/

The Delta 4 Heavy rises from the pad. But see what the men in uniform are looking at. Anybody here noticed that detail?

Already noted in the previous page in this thread: http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=31429.msg1090049#msg1090049

I noticed the Falcon on the pad. Really a great find. But I specifically referred to the photo where the men in uniform look at the Falcon instead of the rising Delta. I don't see that in this thread before

I think you are misinterpreting the photo. Or do you really think that a rocket is launching right in front of them, but instead they are looking at pad with no activity?  The picture is much more of a telephoto capture than it looks, which tweaks the perspective.