SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 DISCUSSION AND UPDATES (THREAD 3)

[Robotbeat]

Can we unlock the McGregor thread, or should we create a new one?

[mlindner]

Can we unlock the McGregor thread, or should we create a new one?

I reported the above posts asking for re-open. Lots of deaf mods lately.

[Soralin]

You Have Made It Rain:

http://www.spacex.com/launch_manifest.php

Still not right! Shows CRS-2 under past launches (good!) but with the date ... "2012" not March 2013. Sigh.

Looks like that's been fixed already.

[mr. mark]

I was told that the Mcgregor thread was a update only thread and not a discussion thread. So you won't be able to discuss anything there. I am wondering what the hold up with the 9v1.1 test is all about.

[Prober]

Can we unlock the McGregor thread, or should we create a new one?

me thinks Chris is keeping a lid on trolls.

[Ben the Space Brit]

I was told that the Mcgregor thread was a update only thread and not a discussion thread. So you won't be able to discuss anything there. I am wondering what the hold up with the 9v1.1 test is all about.

There was a tweet from on SpaceX employee that said the first test attempt was aborted because a dust cover was left on somewhere in the works.  Naturally, they would have to carry out a thorough check of the stage after such a problem to ensure that none of the piping or tanks were damage by vacuums forming inside the fuel/oxidiser system.

Does anyone know what was the test Padrat reported on Twitter earlier this week?

[edkyle99]

I was told that the Mcgregor thread was a update only thread and not a discussion thread. So you won't be able to discuss anything there. I am wondering what the hold up with the 9v1.1 test is all about.

There was a tweet from on SpaceX employee that said the first test attempt was aborted because a dust cover was left on somewhere in the works.  Naturally, they would have to carry out a thorough check of the stage after such a problem to ensure that none of the piping or tanks were damage by vacuums forming inside the fuel/oxidiser system.

Does anyone know what was the test Padrat reported on Twitter earlier this week?

The SpaceX employee tweet was not specific.  It did not specifically mention a test at McGregor.

Whatever the reported test was, SpaceX hasn't put out a press release describing, for example, a successful qualification test.  Simultaneously, there haven't been reports of any nasty failures.  This is all consistent with challenges presented by pushing brand new stage designs through qualification.

 - Ed Kyle

[Silmfeanor]

I was told that the Mcgregor thread was a update only thread and not a discussion thread. So you won't be able to discuss anything there. I am wondering what the hold up with the 9v1.1 test is all about.

There was a tweet from on SpaceX employee that said the first test attempt was aborted because a dust cover was left on somewhere in the works.  Naturally, they would have to carry out a thorough check of the stage after such a problem to ensure that none of the piping or tanks were damage by vacuums forming inside the fuel/oxidiser system.

Does anyone know what was the test Padrat reported on Twitter earlier this week?

The SpaceX employee tweet was not specific.  It did not specifically mention a test at McGregor.

Whatever the reported test was, SpaceX hasn't put out a press release describing, for example, a successful qualification test.  Simultaneously, there haven't been reports of any nasty failures.  This is all consistent with challenges presented by pushing brand new stage designs through qualification.

 - Ed Kyle

...which doesnt mean something didn't happen, of course. We are deep in guessing territory here ( unless you have L2  )

[Robotbeat]

I was told that the Mcgregor thread was a update only thread and not a discussion thread. So you won't be able to discuss anything there. I am wondering what the hold up with the 9v1.1 test is all about.

There was a tweet from on SpaceX employee that said the first test attempt was aborted because a dust cover was left on somewhere in the works.  Naturally, they would have to carry out a thorough check of the stage after such a problem to ensure that none of the piping or tanks were damage by vacuums forming inside the fuel/oxidiser system.

Does anyone know what was the test Padrat reported on Twitter earlier this week?

The SpaceX employee tweet was not specific.  It did not specifically mention a test at McGregor.

Whatever the reported test was, SpaceX hasn't put out a press release describing, for example, a successful qualification test.  Simultaneously, there haven't been reports of any nasty failures.  This is all consistent with challenges presented by pushing brand new stage designs through qualification.

 - Ed Kyle

...which doesnt mean something didn't happen, of course. We are deep in guessing territory here ( unless you have L2  )

I'm fairly certain her tweet could simply have been in response to seeing Star Trek.

[russianhalo117]

Those SES and AsiaSat flights surely all have backups, they want SpaceX to bring in competition, they'll stay on the manifest how long it may take.
Iridium really might be in trouble, though.

Iridium's backup is launching on the Dnepr.

NOTE: This is not about directly about SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1, but the following adds to an existing post by another user and pertains to Iridium's potential backup plan to both Dnepr and Falcon 9 v1.1:

Recently Iridium acknowledged that it has selected both Rockot and Soyuz-2/Fregat-M to form its potential backup plan to both Dnepr and SpaceX if they cannot meet Iridium's firm launch timeline of a first launch in Q1 2015 and the last planned launch of the currently exercised/contracted 81 satellites before end of 2017. Preliminary agreement has already been reached with Eurockot Launch Services and negotiations are said to be underway with Starsem and Arianespace to guarantee the availability of launchers in the event that either ISC Kosmostras (Dnepr) and/or SpaceX cannot fulfill their contracted obligations. Payload adaptor fit check for Rockot backup is slated to be tested early next year with Orbital. Soyuz payload adaptor fit check date is unknown because negotiations are still underway.

[GBpatsfan]

Some website reporting problems with F9 v1.1 
 

CRS-3/SpX-3 is facing delays due to what sources claim are “numerous problems” with the new Falcon 9 V1.1 launch vehicle

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/05/soyuz-tma09-quick-trip-dock-iss/

[butters]

A delay in F9v1.1 flight qualification may impact CRS and the commercial satellite manifest, but I don't see how it could possibly be the long-pole for commercial crew.

[mtakala24]

Was just curious if anyone knew what the delays were specifically caused by - seems the link below citing the 'numerous problems' is inaccessible to me....

Subscribe to L2 and it & information will be available.

[edkyle99]

Was just curious if anyone knew what the delays were specifically caused by - seems the link below citing the 'numerous problems' is inaccessible to me....

The only people who know for sure work for SpaceX, but it would not be unusual for a brand new rocket to encounter development delays.  (Unusual would be no delays.)  It seems likely to me to be multiple issues that have accumulated during qualification testing.  Probably none of those things by themselves are absolute unsolvable show-stoppers, but each must be addressed in turn. 

The fact that the v1.1 first stage has been delayed in firing at McGregor hints that issues may have cropped up either during, for example, power up electrical or gimbal testing, or during wet dress rehearsals, where all sorts of issues (e.g. leaks or structural issues or failed sensors or valves from cryo tanking effects) can appear.  This would not be usual.  Look at histories of Saturn and Centaur and Atlas, etc., for such issues.  The news that a test may soon occur tells us that those issues, whatever they were, may have been resolved.   

Flight software is always going to be a factor.  We don't know how the fairing testing is going.  Merlin 1D Vacuum needs to complete its testing. Some or all of these could have encountered bugs during ground testing, which is where you want the bugs to occur.  And all of this precedes what will likely be an extended inaugural launch campaign at the brand new launch pad.   

 - Ed Kyle

[PreferToLurk]

Was just curious if anyone knew what the delays were specifically caused by - seems the link below citing the 'numerous problems' is inaccessible to me....

There was a vague twitter quote about a remove-before-flight dust cover that was not removed prior to a test. (oops) But that has not been confirmed, and is speculative hearsay at best.  The only confirmed information was in recent article by Chris that SpaceX is working "multiple" issues with the 1.1 right now. There were no specific details in that article. We do know, as EdKyle just pointed out, that SpaceX is optimistic about their "test of unusual loudness" being performed soon.

There is a little L2 chatter about the possibility of getting something more specific.

*crosses fingers* - *knocks on wood* - *throws salt over shoulder* 

L2 is the best spaceflight informational resource on the planet, but (alas) is not a panacea for SpaceX speculations.

[PreferToLurk]

Yeah i guess i wasnt as worried about the engine testing and avionics as i was curious about the rest of the structure.

The structural qualification is already done. I believe that the full stage engine test (the one of unusual loudness) will being performed on the actual Cassiope flight stage.

If I have my facts mixed up, someone please correct me. 

[padrat]

The stage being used for the first stage qual test is the same one to be used for CASSIOPE. After qual testing the engines will be switched for flight ones and then fired again, then shipped to Vandy when all's well.

[guckyfan]

The stage being used for the first stage qual test is the same one to be used for CASSIOPE. After qual testing the engines will be switched for flight ones and then fired again, then shipped to Vandy when all's well.

Great info. Thanks.

[Prober]

The stage being used for the first stage qual test is the same one to be used for CASSIOPE. After qual testing the engines will be switched for flight ones and then fired again, then shipped to Vandy when all's well.

The flight engines get a standard 10 sec test?

[padrat]

Not sure...