Author Topic: SCRUB: SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 - SES-8 - Nov. 25 - LAUNCH UPDATES (Read 110939 times)

Chris Bergin · « **on:** 11/25/2013 12:19 am »

This is an UPDATE ONLY thread for launch coverage of the second launch of the F9 v1.1 with the SES-8 spacecraft from SLC-40, Cape Canaveral.

Webcast: http://www.spacex.com/webcast/
Window opens at 17:37 local (22:37 UTC)

Specific Articles:

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/10/ses-8-florida-next-falcon-9-v1-1-launch/

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/10/spacex-realign-falcon-9-missions/

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/11/spacex-falcon-9-v1-1-hot-fire-slc-40/

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/11/spacex-falcon-9-v1-1-milestone-ses-8-launch/

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/11/falcon-9-aiming-thanksgiving-launch-ses-8/

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For those who wish to follow this flow as closely as is viable (non-proprietary, etc.), join L2 and click this link:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=32768.0 (dedicated for F9 v1.1 SES-8 mission)

--
Resources:

SpaceX GENERAL Forum Section:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=45.0 - please use this for general questions NOT specific to this mission.

SpaceX MISSIONS Forum Section:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=55.0 - this section is for everything specific to SpaceX missions.

SpaceX SES-8 General Thread:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=24469.0

SpaceX SES-8 Flow UPDATE Thread:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=32783.0

SpaceX SES-8 Party Thread:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=33079.0

SpaceX SES-8 Viewing Thread (Going to the launch)
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=33075.0

SES-8 Spacecraft thread:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=32990.0

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Additional News Site Resources:

SpaceX News Articles from 2006 (Including numerous exclusive Elon interviews):
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=21862.0

SpaceX News Articles (Recent):
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/tag/spacex/

=--=

L2 Members:

L2 SpaceX Section - now a dedicated full section:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=24469.0

One Stop Shop Update Area for L2 Level F9 v1.1/SES-8 Updates:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=32768.0 - Flow.
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=33333.0 - Launch.

=--=

PLEASE NOTE THAT WE FULLY EXPECT THE SITE TO BE VERY BUSY ON LAUNCH DAYS FOR SPACEX MISSIONS. WE WILL LIKELY RESTRICT IT TO FORUM MEMBERS ONLY - WITH NO ACCESS TO THE FORUM FOR GUESTS - WHEN THE SITE BECOMES TOO BUSY. READ THIS: http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=31697.0)

Go SpaceX! Go Falcon 9! Go Upper Stage (twice!) Go SES-8!

Rhyolite · « **Reply #1 on:** 11/25/2013 04:11 am »

The launch vehicle was rolled out to the pad when the SES viewing party visited around 10:00 PM EST.

Lee Jay · « **Reply #2 on:** 11/25/2013 11:00 am »

From NWS:

Today...surface high pressure near the NC coast today will continue breezy to windy onshore flow with isolated showers moving onshore from the Atlantic. Windy conditions have continued along the immediate coast overnight...and although the pressure gradient will not be quite as tight as Sunday when winds gusted to 30 to 40 miles per hour across east central Florida...expect winds to continue at 15 to 20 miles per hour and gusty for the coastal counties where a lake Wind Advisory will be in effect. Mostly cloudy skies are expected as stratocu layer holds firm across the area. East/east-southeast winds into tonight across the Atlantic will continue high surf at the beaches and have extended advisory through high tide cycle this afternoon and tonight. High temperatures will range from the lower 70s northern areas to upper 70s across the south. Tonight...strengthening low level warm air advection tonight should induce areas of rain and showers to develop after midnight and lift across northern portions of east central Florida toward Tuesday morning. Will continue likely shower chances...mainly after midnight. Lows will range from the middle 60s across Lake County to the lower to middle 70s along the St Lucie/Martin County coast.

psloss · « **Reply #3 on:** 11/25/2013 11:37 am »

The USAF 45th Weather Squadron forecast is focused on launch conditions; ugordan posted this link in the previous thread:
http://www.patrick.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070716-028.pdf

The forecast they issued yesterday on their website may not need to be updated, but they'll be updating the launch team during the count on real-time conditions.

deltaV · « **Reply #4 on:** 11/25/2013 12:25 pm »

Quote from: psloss on 11/25/2013 11:37 am

The USAF 45th Weather Squadron forecast is focused on launch conditions; ugordan posted this link in the previous thread:
http://www.patrick.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070716-028.pdf

The forecast they issued yesterday on their website may not need to be updated, but they'll be updating the launch team during the count on real-time conditions.

The important part of that forecast:

Quote

Launch day probability of violating launch weather constraints: 20%
Primary concern(s): Cumulus Cloud Rule, Thick Cloud Rule

24 hour delay probability of violating launch weather constraints: 70%
Primary concern(s): Thick Cloud Rule, Disturbed Weather, Liftoff Winds

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #5 on:** 11/25/2013 02:09 pm »

William Graham's launch preview:

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/11/spacex-falcon-9-v1-1-milestone-ses-8-launch/

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #6 on:** 11/25/2013 03:08 pm »

SpaceX ‏@SpaceX
Falcon 9 went vertical overnight, launch of @SES_Satellites #SES8 TONIGHT 5:37pm EST. http://www.spacex.com/webcast pic.twitter.com/WRLf04DJYj

Misha Vargas · « **Reply #7 on:** 11/25/2013 03:53 pm »

Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 11/25/2013 03:08 pm

SpaceX ‏@SpaceX
Falcon 9 went vertical overnight, launch of @SES_Satellites #SES8 TONIGHT 5:37pm EST. http://www.spacex.com/webcast pic.twitter.com/WRLf04DJYj

Bigger version:

ugordan · « **Reply #8 on:** 11/25/2013 04:48 pm »

https://twitter.com/SES_Satellites/status/405026881717547008

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #9 on:** 11/25/2013 06:33 pm »

OK folks, things now starting to pick up.

RP-1 loading is complete per L2. Note, if there's something of major interest to everyone (especially those in the area viewing the launch) such as a scrub, I'll copy over immediately as much as this isn't like the days of Shuttle where we seemed to get a really big jump on a scrub.

All fine so far.

Also remember there's a Russian Progress launch before the Falcon 9. You can follow that here:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=33292.0

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #10 on:** 11/25/2013 07:07 pm »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 11/25/2013 06:33 pm

OK folks, things now starting to pick up.

RP-1 loading is complete per L2.

And LOX is onboard too.

L-150 mins.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #11 on:** 11/25/2013 07:35 pm »

Latest photo:

SpaceX ‏@SpaceX 3m
Falcon 9 standing tall on the pad, ready to launch #SES8 to 80,000km orbit. Watch @ 5pm: http://www.spacex.com/webcast pic.twitter.com/C3RryK0kRz

Misha Vargas · « **Reply #12 on:** 11/25/2013 07:44 pm »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 11/25/2013 07:35 pm

Latest photo:

SpaceX ‏@SpaceX 3m
Falcon 9 standing tall on the pad, ready to launch #SES8 to 80,000km orbit. Watch @ 5pm: http://www.spacex.com/webcast pic.twitter.com/C3RryK0kRz

Chris, not sure if you know, but you can get the original resolution by changing the ".jpg:large" at the end of a twitter image url to ".jpg:orig".

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #13 on:** 11/25/2013 08:20 pm »

Copy that tip, thanks!

40 mins to live coverage here:
http://www.spacex.com/webcast/

No issues in work as of last check.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #14 on:** 11/25/2013 08:42 pm »

L-55 mins to launch.

corrodedNut · « **Reply #15 on:** 11/25/2013 08:44 pm »

Web cast is up, showing SpaceX logo screen.

http://www.spacex.com/webcast/

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #16 on:** 11/25/2013 08:50 pm »

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #17 on:** 11/25/2013 08:52 pm »

10 mins to the coverage. Now with supermarket music.....a supermarket from the future!

L2 coverage noting good flow, with checks being successful on weather and FTS.

Adonis1 · « **Reply #18 on:** 11/25/2013 08:55 pm »

1920 x 1080

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #19 on:** 11/25/2013 09:00 pm »

And off we go with SpaceX's live broadcast.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #20 on:** 11/25/2013 09:01 pm »

Hi Molly.

T-35 mins.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #21 on:** 11/25/2013 09:03 pm »

Venting is nothing like the Static Fire....but still more than you usually see.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #22 on:** 11/25/2013 09:03 pm »

They confirm they are not working any issues.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #23 on:** 11/25/2013 09:05 pm »

Weather is green.

Comga · « **Reply #24 on:** 11/25/2013 09:06 pm »

Looks like condensation on the engine bells

PahTo · « **Reply #25 on:** 11/25/2013 09:06 pm »

The GOX plume appears to be bigger than past F9 launches, but not as big as the WDR/hot fire.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #26 on:** 11/25/2013 09:07 pm »

T-30 mins.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #27 on:** 11/25/2013 09:07 pm »

Satellite being born at Orbital.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #28 on:** 11/25/2013 09:10 pm »

SES' Martin, walking past "other vehicles"

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #29 on:** 11/25/2013 09:12 pm »

Noted that they are not afraid to putting their satellites on new launchers in the market, just like what they did on the first commercial Proton launch (Astra 1F, April 1996).

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #30 on:** 11/25/2013 09:13 pm »

T-25 mins.

More happy SpaceXers....

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #31 on:** 11/25/2013 09:14 pm »

"The Falcon 9 has 6 back-to-back successful flights." Someone will disagree here....

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #32 on:** 11/25/2013 09:14 pm »

F9 Spray Booth!

More promos.

Targeteer · « **Reply #33 on:** 11/25/2013 09:17 pm »

on board cameras until ~14 minutes

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #34 on:** 11/25/2013 09:17 pm »

Warning about potential loss of video. Expect to LOS at T+14 mins.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #35 on:** 11/25/2013 09:18 pm »

Getting a bit darker at the pad.

Targeteer · « **Reply #36 on:** 11/25/2013 09:19 pm »

spacecraft on internal power

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #37 on:** 11/25/2013 09:20 pm »

Nice little hat tip to the Titan that lived at SLC-40.

Targeteer · « **Reply #38 on:** 11/25/2013 09:22 pm »

Almost 50 launches on the manifest

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #39 on:** 11/25/2013 09:23 pm »

Terminal count readiness poll coming up.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #40 on:** 11/25/2013 09:23 pm »

Valve on the first stage being investigated.

Targeteer · « **Reply #41 on:** 11/25/2013 09:23 pm »

looking at a valve on the first stage

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #42 on:** 11/25/2013 09:24 pm »

May opt to hold at T-13 mins. We'll know shortly.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #43 on:** 11/25/2013 09:24 pm »

Yep. Holding at T-13 mins due to a valve issue on the first stage.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #44 on:** 11/25/2013 09:27 pm »

Nice big purge cycle....

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #45 on:** 11/25/2013 09:28 pm »

We're not hearing the discussions on the net, but that's standard for all.

TrueBlueWitt · « **Reply #46 on:** 11/25/2013 09:29 pm »

Interesting that there was no audio feed for the hold. Or my player glitched.

SpaceX is open... to a point.

Jim · « **Reply #47 on:** 11/25/2013 09:29 pm »

It frustrates NASA too. They don't share all their comm channels

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #48 on:** 11/25/2013 09:29 pm »

Cut to SpaceXers waving and such.....

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #49 on:** 11/25/2013 09:30 pm »

Quote from: TrueBlueWitt on 11/25/2013 09:29 pm

Interesting that there was no audio feed for the hold. Or my player glitched.

SpaceX is open... to a point.

They all do that to be fair. ULA go to an anomaly net and such.

Prober · « **Reply #50 on:** 11/25/2013 09:31 pm »

Quote from: Jim on 11/25/2013 09:29 pm

It frustrates NASA too. They don't share all their comm channels

how about the AF range?

Lars_J · « **Reply #51 on:** 11/25/2013 09:31 pm »

This is the update thread...

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #52 on:** 11/25/2013 09:32 pm »

Well it's a 66 minute window, so plenty of time. But if it needs hands on, that'll scrub it.

Jim · « **Reply #53 on:** 11/25/2013 09:32 pm »

Range doesn't care

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #54 on:** 11/25/2013 09:33 pm »

Top and bottom.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #55 on:** 11/25/2013 09:34 pm »

Signature on first stage valve. Troubleshooting and expected to press on shortly.

Targeteer · « **Reply #56 on:** 11/25/2013 09:35 pm »

Plan in development and approval to proceed

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #57 on:** 11/25/2013 09:35 pm »

Really nice and calm explanation there.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #58 on:** 11/25/2013 09:36 pm »

Clock reset to T-19 mins.

russianhalo117 · « **Reply #59 on:** 11/25/2013 09:36 pm »

clock on webcast has been reset to T-19:00 and Holding

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #60 on:** 11/25/2013 09:36 pm »

New launch time 22:54 UTC.

Targeteer · « **Reply #61 on:** 11/25/2013 09:36 pm »

LOX stage vent had the anomaly

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #62 on:** 11/25/2013 09:37 pm »

Clock restarting. 22:54 ZULU T-0.

Prober · « **Reply #63 on:** 11/25/2013 09:38 pm »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 11/25/2013 09:36 pm

Clock reset to T-19 mins.

then again reset to 17:24

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #64 on:** 11/25/2013 09:38 pm »

Targeteer · « **Reply #65 on:** 11/25/2013 09:38 pm »

spacecraft on internal power and go for launch

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #66 on:** 11/25/2013 09:40 pm »

Terminal Count at T-13 mins.

Targeteer · « **Reply #67 on:** 11/25/2013 09:41 pm »

polling at 13 minutes

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #68 on:** 11/25/2013 09:41 pm »

Polling is GO to continue with the terminal count.

Targeteer · « **Reply #69 on:** 11/25/2013 09:42 pm »

go to proceed with the count

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #70 on:** 11/25/2013 09:43 pm »

Pretty windy but acceptable for launch, as are upper level winds.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #71 on:** 11/25/2013 09:44 pm »

Hold warnings for the countdown net, as per standard.

T-10 minutes.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #72 on:** 11/25/2013 09:45 pm »

T-9 minutes.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #73 on:** 11/25/2013 09:47 pm »

Unfortunate open mic somewhere.

T-7 mins. Nitrogen purge on the engines.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #74 on:** 11/25/2013 09:48 pm »

ABORT!

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #75 on:** 11/25/2013 09:52 pm »

Wasn't an abort call over the net. The abort was confirmed on the loop. No reason given yet.

Prober · « **Reply #76 on:** 11/25/2013 09:52 pm »

corrodedNut · « **Reply #77 on:** 11/25/2013 09:53 pm »

"LOX load did not abort during terminal count"

russianhalo117 · « **Reply #78 on:** 11/25/2013 09:54 pm »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 11/25/2013 09:52 pm

Wasn't an abort call over the net. The abort was confirmed on the loop. No reason given yet.

Computer system in charge of terminal count was cited in abort call

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #79 on:** 11/25/2013 09:54 pm »

Sequencer caused the hold. Vehicle being safed.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #80 on:** 11/25/2013 09:54 pm »

No decision on the recycled attempt yet.

Targeteer · « **Reply #81 on:** 11/25/2013 09:55 pm »

no update on the specifics of the hold cause. No decision on recycle ability

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #82 on:** 11/25/2013 09:56 pm »

A reminder this is an Update thread. If you have questions, use the discussion thread.

Norm38 · « **Reply #83 on:** 11/25/2013 09:56 pm »

He said if they did retry, clock would reset to 13:00.

Targeteer · « **Reply #84 on:** 11/25/2013 09:59 pm »

issue was apparently on the automated transition to stage 1 internal power

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #85 on:** 11/25/2013 09:59 pm »

Recycling to T-13 mins.

robertross · « **Reply #86 on:** 11/25/2013 09:59 pm »

Going for another try in the window

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #87 on:** 11/25/2013 10:00 pm »

Star One · « **Reply #88 on:** 11/25/2013 10:02 pm »

They need to change the telemetry limit.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #89 on:** 11/25/2013 10:02 pm »

Changing a telemetry limit. Working for a new T-0 shortly.

Targeteer · « **Reply #90 on:** 11/25/2013 10:02 pm »

new t-0 being established. Change in telemetry limit on a power supply required

psloss · « **Reply #91 on:** 11/25/2013 10:02 pm »

Quote from: robertross on 11/25/2013 09:59 pm

Going for another try in the window

They're probably working these in parallel -- get everything recycled to be ready to pick up the terminal sequence (latest to pick up would be right around the bottom of the hour) and work through the issue to any actions necessary and a decision on whether to proceed.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #92 on:** 11/25/2013 10:03 pm »

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #93 on:** 11/25/2013 10:10 pm »

All very quiet at the moment. Still on for within the window. I won't assume if this is the final attempt of the day...but still holding at T-13 mins.

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #94 on:** 11/25/2013 10:11 pm »

New launch time 23:30 UTC.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #95 on:** 11/25/2013 10:11 pm »

Recycle complete. New T-0 is 23:30 Zulu

Star One · « **Reply #96 on:** 11/25/2013 10:11 pm »

Recycling finished launch set at 23:30.

Comga · « **Reply #97 on:** 11/25/2013 10:12 pm »

And counting from T-18:00!

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #98 on:** 11/25/2013 10:12 pm »

This will be the final attempt of the day.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #99 on:** 11/25/2013 10:13 pm »

T-19 mins and counting was the new start point.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #100 on:** 11/25/2013 10:13 pm »

Counting down. Will go with the terminal count poll again for T-13 mins.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #101 on:** 11/25/2013 10:15 pm »

She's venting a lot again now - humidity and winds are a major contributor.

Star One · « **Reply #102 on:** 11/25/2013 10:17 pm »

T-13 polling.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #103 on:** 11/25/2013 10:17 pm »

Polling for terminal count readiness. 14 controllers being polled.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #104 on:** 11/25/2013 10:18 pm »

All go to proceed.

Star One · « **Reply #105 on:** 11/25/2013 10:20 pm »

T-10 terminal count.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #106 on:** 11/25/2013 10:20 pm »

T-10 mins. Into Auto sequence Hold warnings repeated in the event of an issue.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #107 on:** 11/25/2013 10:21 pm »

Launch enable for flight.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #108 on:** 11/25/2013 10:22 pm »

T-8 mins.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #109 on:** 11/25/2013 10:23 pm »

Coming up on the previous hold point.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #110 on:** 11/25/2013 10:24 pm »

T-6 mins.

Tanks into Press

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #111 on:** 11/25/2013 10:25 pm »

She shed a load of ice there!

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #112 on:** 11/25/2013 10:25 pm »

Strong back retraction in work.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #113 on:** 11/25/2013 10:26 pm »

There it goes.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #114 on:** 11/25/2013 10:26 pm »

Four minutes.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #115 on:** 11/25/2013 10:26 pm »

Whoops! HOLD!

Star One · « **Reply #116 on:** 11/25/2013 10:27 pm »

Hold!

Flight computer not started up?

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #117 on:** 11/25/2013 10:27 pm »

Big, big vent caused that I reckon.....no official note.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #118 on:** 11/25/2013 10:27 pm »

She did what she was doing during the Static Fire, although that was officially classed as normal by SpaceX.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #119 on:** 11/25/2013 10:29 pm »

Going to be out of the window for another attempt. No official scrub yet, but I would assume so.

psloss · « **Reply #120 on:** 11/25/2013 10:29 pm »

Quote from: Star One on 11/25/2013 10:27 pm

Hold!

Flight computer not started up?

After the hold, they go into a recycle that puts everything in a safe configuration -- some of these are callouts to verify that.

Ben the Space Brit · « **Reply #121 on:** 11/25/2013 10:30 pm »

Lots of chat about safeing the vehicle. Any official word on an abort?

DaveS · « **Reply #122 on:** 11/25/2013 10:30 pm »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 11/25/2013 10:27 pm

Big, big vent caused that I reckon.....no official note.

Normal. The stage vented the excess pressure in the LOX tank. It is standard procedure after an abort to relieve the pressures by opening the vent valves as the flight pressures are much higher than the pre-launch tank pressures.

ThereIWas3 · « **Reply #123 on:** 11/25/2013 10:30 pm »

Strongback not moving yet....

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #124 on:** 11/25/2013 10:30 pm »

Easing, very slowly, the strongback back into position.

russianhalo117 · « **Reply #125 on:** 11/25/2013 10:31 pm »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 11/25/2013 10:27 pm

Big, big vent caused that I reckon.....no official note.

she lost more than one umbilical from/near payload section halfway into strongback retraction. It looked like it briefly got caught and was pulled from the vehicle. I do recall that as norm from the last launch.

Ronsmytheiii · « **Reply #126 on:** 11/25/2013 10:31 pm »

Quote from: DaveS on 11/25/2013 10:30 pm

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 11/25/2013 10:27 pm
Big, big vent caused that I reckon.....no official note.
Normal. The stage vented the excess pressure in the LOX tank. It is standard procedure after an abort to relieve the pressures by opening the vent valves as the flight pressures are much higher than the pre-launch tank pressures.

I think I heard that the flight computer did not start, not sure if the reason then.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #127 on:** 11/25/2013 10:32 pm »

Strongback having issues getting back into position.

AJA · « **Reply #128 on:** 11/25/2013 10:33 pm »

Clock is still at T-03:40

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #129 on:** 11/25/2013 10:34 pm »

Yeah, on the big vent, it was more coincidental for me. Big rocket cough, large vent, hold hold hold on the net.

I'm sure we'll get to hear the actual reason soon.

Star One · « **Reply #130 on:** 11/25/2013 10:34 pm »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 11/25/2013 10:32 pm

Strongback having issues getting back into position.

It doesn't look like it's moving at all.

Ben the Space Brit · « **Reply #131 on:** 11/25/2013 10:34 pm »

I'm guessing that's it for tonight? When does the window next open?

spacetraveler · « **Reply #132 on:** 11/25/2013 10:34 pm »

Quote from: Ronsmytheiii on 11/25/2013 10:31 pm

Quote from: DaveS on 11/25/2013 10:30 pm
Quote from: Chris Bergin on 11/25/2013 10:27 pm
Big, big vent caused that I reckon.....no official note.
Normal. The stage vented the excess pressure in the LOX tank. It is standard procedure after an abort to relieve the pressures by opening the vent valves as the flight pressures are much higher than the pre-launch tank pressures.

I think I heard that the flight computer did not start, not sure if the reason then.

No, that was a safeing call, he was saying to verify it was not in startup since a hold had been called.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #133 on:** 11/25/2013 10:35 pm »

Scrub official.

Star One · « **Reply #134 on:** 11/25/2013 10:35 pm »

An off-nominal condition & finished for today. Next window is on Thursday starting one minute later.

robertross · « **Reply #135 on:** 11/25/2013 10:35 pm »

Confirmation that that is it for today

next attempt: 3 days from now

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #136 on:** 11/25/2013 10:35 pm »

Next attempt is Thanksgiving Thursday!

robertross · « **Reply #137 on:** 11/25/2013 10:37 pm »

webcast has ended

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #138 on:** 11/25/2013 10:37 pm »

SpaceX ending their webcast as you'd expect.

Right, so we'll collate what we get to find out via L2 and I'll modify the article with usable details.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #139 on:** 11/25/2013 10:38 pm »

And well done everyone. I know I had an active mod in here keeping it on updates, and very little modding was required, so everyone really did well to keep the relevant threads on the relevant conversations.

Loving our new servers. Wasn't a problem despite being very, very busy.

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #140 on:** 11/25/2013 10:40 pm »

Would be interesting if the next launch attempt is on Friday as the Progress is scheduled to dock to the ISS about 10 minutes before the opening of the launch window (22:28 UTC)!

ThereIWas3 · « **Reply #141 on:** 11/25/2013 10:41 pm »

So did the strongback get fully up? Can they drain the tanks without it in place?
I know many rockets count on the fuel to stabilize the tank walls.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #142 on:** 11/25/2013 10:47 pm »

Quote from: ThereIWas3 on 11/25/2013 10:41 pm

So did the strongback get fully up? Can they drain the tanks without it in place?
I know many rockets count on the fuel to stabilize the tank walls.

A good question. We're collating the events - and that - as we speak.

Rocket Science · « **Reply #143 on:** 11/25/2013 10:50 pm »

Might make sense to attempt launch after the holiday, get some rest and more time to work the problems...

Avron · « **Reply #144 on:** 11/25/2013 10:54 pm »

SES ‏@SES_Satellites
Today's launch has been aborted -- rescheduled for Thursday 28 Nov. Join us again then! #SES8

Rocket Science · « **Reply #145 on:** 11/25/2013 11:09 pm »

More WX coming through in the next few days...

ClaytonBirchenough · « **Reply #146 on:** 11/25/2013 11:19 pm »

Just to clear up, next launch window expected to start at 22:38 UTC (5:38 EST) on Thurs, Nov. 28 (Thanksgiving Day).

sublimemarsupial · « **Reply #147 on:** 11/25/2013 11:52 pm »

Elon tweet, last hold was due to anomalous pressure fluctuations in 1st stage LOX tank, want to be "super careful" thus the scrub:

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/405134552458620928

Jim · « **Reply #148 on:** 11/26/2013 12:01 am »

Quote from: ThereIWas3 on 11/25/2013 10:41 pm

I know many rockets count on the fuel to stabilize the tank walls.

They count on pressure in the tanks. whether is fuel or gas provided, it doesn't matter

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #149 on:** 11/26/2013 12:19 am »

And a statement from SpaceX to follow up the tweet from Elon.

"Statement on tonight’s launch abort:

We observed unexpected readings with the first stage liquid oxygen system so we decided to investigate. The launch vehicle and satellite are in great shape and we are looking forward to the next launch opportunity on Thursday at 5:38 p.m. Eastern time."

Now that's hold three and scrub. Still checking further into hold 1 and 2.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #150 on:** 11/26/2013 12:27 am »

So this is updated, with the three holds and scrub. We're looking further into the first and second holds and will update with any releasable information.

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/11/spacex-falcon-9-v1-1-milestone-ses-8-launch/

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #151 on:** 11/26/2013 01:58 pm »

If the next launch attempt is on Thanksgiving Day, the weather should co-operate with 80% chance of being favorable for launch: http://www.patrick.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070716-028.pdf

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #152 on:** 11/26/2013 02:45 pm »

Oh and I should note, we'll set up another thread for the next attempt, which remains Thursday (although not 100 percent certain right now as they have a lot of work to do).

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #153 on:** 11/27/2013 01:29 am »

So rather than another revision of William's article, I've written up a standalone article to expand on the three holds during the scrub, following collation of information in L2's F9/SES-8 section.

Include's MeekGee's F9 logo redesign to mark the Thanksgiving target

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/11/falcon-9-aiming-thanksgiving-launch-ses-8/

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #154 on:** 11/28/2013 12:37 am »

Second attempt live update thread now live:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=33367.0