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

[Jarnis]

SpaceX ‏@SpaceX 51s

Falcon 9 has successfully deployed THAICOM 6 into its target orbit

Whew. Got me worried there for a moment.

[Ben the Space Brit]

Just out of interest, what is the likely wait before people like US-STRATCOM start reporting tracking on the U/S and Thaicom-6?

[Jason1701]

It doesn't look like this launch broke the SES-8 record for number of forum viewers, but it did surpass STS-135.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Do we know if the Falcon 9 uses TDRS for communication? (seems not) - this may explain the delay in confirmation of launch status, as the 2nd burn might be done out of ground stations range.

I wonder what station SpaceX et al. uses on the other side of the Atlantic? (Ascension? Somewhere in west Africa?)

[Ben the Space Brit]

I heard 'Antigua' mentioned as a tracking station during the U/S burn but that's on the western side of the Pond.

[Ronsmytheiii]

So now the next question is, what did the first stage do AFTER second stage separation.....

[AncientU]

Any reports of post separation first stage maneuvering like there was for SES-8?

There was this:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=33714.msg1143733#msg114373

Bright spot to right of bell -- was there for many seconds, but obscured soon after this 410s screen shot by something.  Could be a flare in camera or a breaking burn...

[ugordan]

There was this:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=33714.msg1143733#msg114373

Bright spot to right of bell -- was there for many seconds, but obscured soon after this 410s screen shot by something.  Could be a flare in camera or a breaking burn...

Swamp gas.

No, wait, lens flare.  Yeah, that's it.

[Helodriver]

Any reports of post separation first stage maneuvering like there was for SES-8?

There was this:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=33714.msg1143733#msg114373

Bright spot to right of bell -- was there for many seconds, but obscured soon after this 410s screen shot by something.  Could be a flare in camera or a breaking burn...

Because it is in line with the sun and some other bright lens artifacts, I'm inclined to think that is a lens flare too. But who knows. Maybe there was a family vacationing in the Bahamas with a video camera running for this launch too. They got the best images of post staging last time!

[Ben the Space Brit]

Any reports of post separation first stage maneuvering like there was for SES-8?

There was this:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=33714.msg1143733#msg114373

Bright spot to right of bell -- was there for many seconds, but obscured soon after this 410s screen shot by something.  Could be a flare in camera or a breaking burn...

Could it have been a planet?

[AncientU]

Any reports of post separation first stage maneuvering like there was for SES-8?

There was this:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=33714.msg1143733#msg114373

Bright spot to right of bell -- was there for many seconds, but obscured soon after this 410s screen shot by something.  Could be a flare in camera or a breaking burn...

Could it have been a planet?

Nope. Looking down below Earth horizon.

[Lars_J]

Any reports of post separation first stage maneuvering like there was for SES-8?

There was this:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=33714.msg1143733#msg114373

Bright spot to right of bell -- was there for many seconds, but obscured soon after this 410s screen shot by something.  Could be a flare in camera or a breaking burn...

Could it have been a planet?

Pay attention to where Earth is. We had similar discussions during the SES-8 launch, which launched with the sun in the same location. Sometimes a lens flare is just a lens flare.

[AncientU]

Has anyone posted the flight video?  Can't find one that is functional/reviewable.

[Lars_J]

Has anyone posted the flight video?  Can't find one that is functional/reviewable.

This was posted in the update thread:

[AncientU]

thanks

[Lars_J]

Did anyone else notice that they actually had a 1st stage camera installed this time? See the attached image, captured from the webcast today - it matches the angle from the CASSIOPE restart footage.

I would very much like to have seen what that camera broadcast after stage separation.

[Space OurSoul]

So why was there a "FTS safed" call at 8:20 or so in the video? Isn't that kinda late? Is there an FTS on the second stage also? Things that make you go hmm.

[rcoppola]

Did anyone else notice that they actually had a 1st stage camera installed this time? See the attached image, captured from the webcast today - it matches the angle from the CASSIOPE restart footage.

I would very much like to have seen what that camera broadcast after stage separation.

Most definitely would love to see that footage. Looks like they are not ready to start sharing their secret sauce. (For any number of reasons)

Let's hope for CRS-3!!

[Jim]

So why was there a "FTS safed" call at 8:20 or so in the video? Isn't that kinda late? Is there an FTS on the second stage also? Things that make you go hmm.

Yes, there is FTS on the second stage and it isn't safed until the vehicle is orbital

[rcoppola]

So why was there a "FTS safed" call at 8:20 or so in the video? Isn't that kinda late? Is there an FTS on the second stage also? Things that make you go hmm.

Yes, there is FTS on the second stage and it isn't safed until the vehicle is orbital

Darn...I thought it was because they secretly flew the 1st stage back and gently landed it in the water for recovery....HA!