LIVE: SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 - CASSIOPE - Sept. 29 - LAUNCH UPDATES

[mr. mark]

The fact that they were able to attempt a first stage relight must mean that the first stage velocity reduction burn and reentry orientation went smoothly.

[anton_P6]

http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/default.aspx?mmsi=367035570&centerx=-120.3313&centery=29.25173&zoom=10&type_color=9

American Islander changed course

[Ben the Space Brit]

Very strange coverage! It seemed like the loss of signal happened everytime they went to the infrared view of the engine.

Indeed, and why would the audio signal also cut out ?

Probably some kind of freaky channel splice arrangement where the audio is added upstream of the filter that switches to the 'please stand by' screen in case of video signal loss so that it cuts off the audio too.  They seemed to work out that was happening about half-way through the flight and rectified it.

SUCCESS!! Via L2 we have confirmation from the Cassiope folk S/C Sep and a healthy sat!!

Hoorah! Well done to SpaceX and all the team at VAFB, MacGreggor and Hawthorne for brining the F-9 v.1.1 to life!

[A12]

SUCCESS!! Via L2 we have confirmation from the Cassiope folk S/C Sep and a healthy sat!!

Whew, good to know; I got concerned because didn't see , during the ascent streaming, the fairing falling back.
Someone noticed them ?

[JimO]

How many of the Merlins were supposed to relight during 1st stage descent? The vehicle is a whole LOT lighter, don't forget!

[PreferToLurk]

The fact that they were able to attempt a first stage relight must mean that the first stage velocity reduction burn and reentry orientation went smoothly.

Could the 1st stage have coasted until that call out?  It seems possible to me that the relight WAS the velocity reduction burn. 

Probably need to wait for the press conference. 


Do we have an ETA for the presser?

[psloss]

SUCCESS!! Via L2 we have confirmation from the Cassiope folk S/C Sep and a healthy sat!!

Whew, good to know; I got concerned because didn't see , during the ascent streaming, the fairing falling back.
Someone noticed them ?

Yes, fairing sep was shown during the live broadcast.

[cambrianera]

How many of the Merlins were supposed to relight during 1st stage descent? The vehicle is a whole LOT lighter, don't forget!

Three for the braking burn, one for the final burn.

[Steven Pietrobon]

Very strange coverage! It seemed like the loss of signal happened everytime they went to the infrared view of the engine.

Indeed, and why would the audio signal also cut out ?

There's a box where they combine the video with the audio. That box might have been programmed to cut the audio if the video goes. So if the vehicle exploded, none of us would be any the wiser.

[Ronsmytheiii]

Elon's Jet heading out to chase the first stage on the way back:

http://uk.flightaware.com/live/flight/N887XF

[chad1011]

Way to go SpaceX!

[PreferToLurk]

SUCCESS!! Via L2 we have confirmation from the Cassiope folk S/C Sep and a healthy sat!!

Whew, good to know; I got concerned because didn't see , during the ascent streaming, the fairing falling back.
Someone noticed them ?

Yes, fairing sep was shown during the live broadcast.

I think it cut out for the fall away view,  but the actual separation forward view from inside the fairing was live.

[rcoppola]

http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/default.aspx?mmsi=367035570&centerx=-120.3313&centery=29.25173&zoom=10&type_color=9

American Islander changed course

Hmmm. There must be something out there worth seeing...

[Zaran]

How many of the Merlins were supposed to relight during 1st stage descent? The vehicle is a whole LOT lighter, don't forget!

First slowdown burn is three engines, final decent and landing uses only the middle engine.

[psloss]

Probably need to wait for the press conference. 

Do we have an ETA for the presser?

I missed that...did they say there would be a post launch press conference during the webcast?

[ugordan]

Probably need to wait for the press conference. 

Do we have an ETA for the presser?

I missed that...did they say there would be a post launch press conference during the webcast?

Not that I know of.

[Herb Schaltegger]

Probably need to wait for the press conference. 

Do we have an ETA for the presser?

I missed that...did they say there would be a post launch press conference during the webcast?

Right before sign off, they mentioned there would be a media event later in the afternoon, but no details were given as to time or whether it would be webcast or anything.

[PreferToLurk]

Probably need to wait for the press conference. 

Do we have an ETA for the presser?

I missed that...did they say there would be a post launch press conference during the webcast?

Not that I know of.

I was pretty sure they mentioned it just before signing off.

[MP99]

Very strange coverage! It seemed like the loss of signal happened everytime they went to the infrared view of the engine.

Indeed, and why would the audio signal also cut out ?

There's a box where they combine the video with the audio. That box might have been programmed to cut the audio if the video goes. So if the vehicle exploded, none of us would be any the wiser.

Yeah - damned annoying (and scary until it came back first time), but agree they probably did it on purpose so launch loop not broadcast in case of failure.

Cheers, Martin

[jcm]

OK, good news on the Cassiope and CUSAT separations - congrats to those teams and to SpaceX.
We still need to get confirmation on DANDE and POPACS.