SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 - Thaicom 6 - DISCUSSION THREAD

[Norm38]

NWS is forecasting wind gusts of 25-30mph for the Cape this afternoon.  Anyone know what the limit is for launch?

[Thunderbird5]

Here is official Patrick's weather forecast: http://www.patrick.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070716-028.pdf

Those wind speeds look slightly concerning, although I note the combined wind/cloud violation is still only 20%. Do we know what the upper launch thresholds are for wind speed of the F9 v1.1?

Edit: typo

[edkyle99]

Only 3016 kg. I thought it was higher.

Anyway orbit is going to 295x90,000x22.5

90,000 kilometers at apogee? Is this correct? AIUI SES-8 went to Super Synchronous Orbit but Thaicom-6 was going to a standard GSO. If it's going up to 90,000 kilometers, is it going to a Super Synchronous Orbit too?

There is that discrepancy in the press kit. They write GTO and then give these data, which is SSTO.

A super synchronous transfer orbit is used as a type of geosynchronous transfer orbit, so no discrepancy. 

Atlas Centaurs sent satellites to supersync orbits with apogees as high as 130,000 km during the 1990s, so this is nothing new, although 90,000 km is higher than most.

 - Ed Kyle

[TrueBlueWitt]

Is there confirmation that LV is erect on the pad? This is quietest start to a launch day I can remember

[andrewsdanj]

Spaceflight Now's Facebook page has a photograph of the vehicle vertical, partly obscured by fog.

"It's a foggy morning at the pad as SpaceX readies the Falcon 9 rocket for launch today at Cape Canaveral."

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=592826850786718&set=a.131474330255308.25052.123621931040548&type=1&theater

Edit: SpaceX's Facebook updated 15:36Z with a photo of the vehicle vertical minus fog.

[JBF]

So SpaceX posted a picture from this morning, is fog a typical occurrence this time of year and does it usually burn off?

[Comga]

Only 3016 kg. I thought it was higher.

Anyway orbit is going to 295x90,000x22.5
That is a very high SSTO.

SSTO is already in the acronym list for something other than Supra-Syncronous Transfer Orbit.

[edkyle99]

So SpaceX posted a picture from this morning, is fog a typical occurrence this time of year and does it usually burn off?

My recollection is that fog is more likely during the winter months in that area, but it does usually burn off.  The weather issue today is wind and the approaching "Arctic Vortex" cold front that will bring temperatures down to near freezing tonight.  I weep for those Floridians from my position right now in Illinois, days of snow piled high, where it is 14 below zero Fahrenheit (-40 something with wind chill).

 - Ed Kyle

[Chris Bergin]

So SpaceX posted a picture from this morning, is fog a typical occurrence this time of year and does it usually burn off?

Ironically, the F9 v1.1 has shown a habit for creating her own fog during tanking.....although I think that has a lot to do with humidity during SES-8. Biggest venter I've seen.

[Antares]

I wonder how SpaceX is characterizing the onboard fuel temperature today.  There will be a significant thermal transient during loading as the arctic vortex reaches Florida.  The temperature coming out of the storage tanks will not be what lifts off.

[Lar]

From the press kit: (link given above)

An upgraded Falcon 9 with safety and reliability enhancements and greater
lift capability flew for the first time in December 2013, lofting the SES-8
satellite to a geosynchronous transfer orbit , and will fly on this mission.

I was surprised to see that wording since the first v 1.1 was CASSIOPE... are they trying to introduce a second dot in their versioning, so CASSIOPE is 1.1 and SES-8 is 1.1.1   Or is that a typo?

[AS-503]

From the press kit: (link given above)

An upgraded Falcon 9 with safety and reliability enhancements and greater
lift capability flew for the first time in December 2013, lofting the SES-8
satellite to a geosynchronous transfer orbit , and will fly on this mission.

I was surprised to see that wording since the first v 1.1 was CASSIOPE... are they trying to introduce a second dot in their versioning, so CASSIOPE is 1.1 and SES-8 is 1.1.1   Or is that a typo?

I saw that too. I think they are referring to the second stage re-light fix employed after Cassiope. There are probably other things they learned from that first V1.1 flight that prompted some modifications as well.

[Lar]

From the press kit: (link given above)

An upgraded Falcon 9 with safety and reliability enhancements and greater
lift capability flew for the first time in December 2013, lofting the SES-8
satellite to a geosynchronous transfer orbit , and will fly on this mission.

I was surprised to see that wording since the first v 1.1 was CASSIOPE... are they trying to introduce a second dot in their versioning, so CASSIOPE is 1.1 and SES-8 is 1.1.1   Or is that a typo?

I saw that too. I think they are referring to the second stage re-light fix employed after Cassiope. There are probably other things they learned from that first V1.1 flight that prompted some modifications as well.

Nod. I just would have expected them to talk more about the v 1.0 to 1.1 and less about the post CASSIOPE fixes  

Many posters have remarked that today, every rocket will have changes from the last one, every time.   Of course SpaceX will want that not to be the case, introducing changes in batches (as vehicle manufacturers or electronics manufacturers do) for cost reasons.

[Hauerg]

The first burn of the second stage is going to be 335 seconds. The duration of the second burn is unknown. 

Almost true:
"...the second stage will relight for just over one minute"  Presskit, p.4

[Comga]

Looking at the photo linked in this post does anyone think that SpaceX intentionally obsucrred the base of the rocket by takinig the photo where it is just behind the flame trench opening?

[ChrisWilson68]

Looking at the photo linked in this post does anyone think that SpaceX intentionally obsucrred the base of the rocket by takinig the photo where it is just behind the flame trench opening?

I have to admit that thought occurred to me too.  That particular angle makes it impossible to see if there are legs attached.

[newpylong]

No legs.

[Comga]

Looking at the photo linked in this post does anyone think that SpaceX intentionally obsucrred the base of the rocket by takinig the photo where it is just behind the flame trench opening?

I have to admit that thought occurred to me too.  That particular angle makes it impossible to see if there are legs attached.

We have no reason to suspect that there are legs, as their presence on the CRS-3 rocket are still uncertain.
Adding legs would go against the statement of maximizing performance and replicating the SES-8 launch. 

edit: newpylong: Is that a statement of fact from observation, a second hand report from a good source, or your supposition (with which my statement above concurrs)?

[Borklund]

You've gone a little too far with the Kremlinology this time chaps.

[MP99]

From the press kit: (link given above)

An upgraded Falcon 9 with safety and reliability enhancements and greater
lift capability flew for the first time in December 2013, lofting the SES-8
satellite to a geosynchronous transfer orbit , and will fly on this mission.

I was surprised to see that wording since the first v 1.1 was CASSIOPE... are they trying to introduce a second dot in their versioning, so CASSIOPE is 1.1 and SES-8 is 1.1.1   Or is that a typo?

I saw that too. I think they are referring to the second stage re-light fix employed after Cassiope. There are probably other things they learned from that first V1.1 flight that prompted some modifications as well.

SES-8 was first from the Cape, but still surprising to see this listed as second of what sounds like v1.1, rather than third.

cheers, Martin