SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1/Thaicom-6 Pad Thai Party Thread

[ChefPat]

That's cause you don't have beer bet on it. Failing ISS coolant loops threatening to derail Antares/Cygnus is great news, but it's worthless if SpaceX isn't even pushing for a 2013 launch.

What? You are happy that ISS has problems and may cause Antares launch delays?

And I thought Jim was negative.

Personally I would love to see them fix the ISS and both launches proceed  in the near future...

Obviously you don't have your own priorities properly aligned. We are after all, talking about beer.

[Prober]

I am not overly concerned about when the next launch is right now.

That's cause you don't have beer bet on it. Failing ISS coolant loops threatening to derail Antares/Cygnus is great news, but it's worthless if SpaceX isn't even pushing for a 2013 launch.

Your forgetting Cygnus looks like a keg; she will launch 

[Lourens]

Can I interrupt the beer discussion a moment to submit some more fanboi taglines?

"Get your kicks on 1 Rocket Road"
"Just not on impact"
"Getting Heavy in '14"
"SpaceX: the choice of a new generation"

[kevin-rf]

Can I interrupt the beer discussion a moment to submit some more fanboi taglines?

"Get your kicks on 1 Rocket Road"
"Just not on impact"
"Getting Heavy in '14"
"SpaceX: the choice of a new generation"

So...

1. Orbital's Antares has the on ramp to space
2. We really do not want to scratch any Falcons in 2014
3. Not a good idea, more dry weight will feed the trolls that feel the published numbers don't match what the vehicle can do.
4. I think a few will disagree with you.

[411rocket]

Just Do Mars
Mars Happens
Semper Mars
Got Mars?
Reach for the Mars
Mars is Job 1
It's Mars Time

 Save those, for a launch to Mars (the planet), or a major supply of Mars bars to the ISS. Which I think, is unlikely to happen...... For example, "This flight sponsered by Mars Bars", with image of wrapper on the Dragon 

[QuantumG]

What? You are happy that ISS has problems and may cause Antares launch delays?

I'm not saying I'm happy, I'm saying I *will be* happy.. if I win the beer.

Currently, that's looking unlikely, but there's been so many twists and turns that it's not at all certain who will launch first.

[Jakusb]

What? You are happy that ISS has problems and may cause Antares launch delays?

I'm not saying I'm happy, I'm saying I *will be* happy.. if I win the beer.

Currently, that's looking unlikely, but there's been so many twists and turns that it's not at all certain who will launch first.

Antares launch postponed!
Chances of beer are increasing for QG.
Although I truly hope they can fix the cooling issue ASAP.

[baldusi]

We still need a date for Thaicom-6. But now v1.1 stands a chance. I would love Dec 31th. If the launch window is like before, it might launch on 2013 in USA but 2014 utc. Oh! The arguments about the spacex poll and launches per year will never end! On the other hand, the fireworks will look... Puny.

[Comga]

What? You are happy that ISS has problems and may cause Antares launch delays?

I'm not saying I'm happy, I'm saying I *will be* happy.. if I win the beer.

Currently, that's looking unlikely, but there's been so many twists and turns that it's not at all certain who will launch first.

Antares launch postponed!
Chances of beer are increasing for QG.
Although I truly hope they can fix the cooling issue ASAP.

Antares "next launch attempt, which will occur no earlier than January 13, 2014."
Now it's a horse race again.  Two achievable targets, Dec 31 for those of us who guessed four SpaceX launches this year and Jan 14 for QG to win his beer.    

Other than that, this feels like a bunch of high school guys sitting in someone's living room long into the evening waiting for the owner to arrive with the promised party food, drink, and music.  Maybe we should "go home" until the "party preparation" gets underway.   

[PahTo]

Okay, given that the launch date has apparently been set as Dec 31 in the late afternoon, I must insist that this thread be renamed "Thai 6 On".

I don't expect to be eating pad thai on New Year's eve, but I do plan to tip a few, and in that activity, I imagine I won't be alone...

[Crispy]

So the window opens at 11pm London time, and I will be hosting 20 people for NYE. I wonder if I can force a rocket launch on all of them

[dante2308]

So the window opens at 11pm London time, and I will be hosting 20 people for NYE. I wonder if I can force a rocket launch on all of them

I'm starting to think that SpaceX targets holidays specifically.

[Lars_J]

So the window opens at 11pm London time, and I will be hosting 20 people for NYE. I wonder if I can force a rocket launch on all of them

I'm starting to think that SpaceX targets holidays specifically.

It's all done to upset the people angered by the thanksgiving attempt!

[dante2308]

So the window opens at 11pm London time, and I will be hosting 20 people for NYE. I wonder if I can force a rocket launch on all of them

I'm starting to think that SpaceX targets holidays specifically.

It's all done to upset the people angered by the thanksgiving attempt!

Well this one is a blatant attempt to get every single news agency to make the connection between fireworks, New Year's and SpaceX. I can already see the headlines... They better not scrub.

[AJW]

This will be one heck of a party!  They should get Ryan Seacrest to do the countdown.

[QuantumG]

I expect SpaceX to delay the Thaicom launch until the day after the Cygnus launch, then Cygnus to scrub.

Ya know, for maximum nail biting.

Neck and neck, photo finish.

[Rocket Science]

Let's hope Falcon rises to the occasion...

[DecoLV]

This is not official, but my source says he saw Dick Clark (or his ghost) at Hawthorne within the last few days. It may be that Clark sold himself to Elon and only pretended to pass. SpaceX could have been waiting for the right moment to piggyback on the NYE countdown and maybe save money somehow? Anyway, this is not confirmed so I'm putting it here and not on L2. Well, back to the eggnog...

[Comga]

I expect SpaceX to delay the Thaicom launch until the day after the Cygnus launch, then Cygnus to scrub.

Ya know, for maximum nail biting.

Neck and neck, photo finish.

But nails go better with beer.
Heck.  Most everything goes better with beer.
You may yet win yours.
Isn't it funny that both deadlines, year end and Antares #3, are going right down to the wire?
Fun!

[kevin-rf]

I just realized, all SpaceX dates are for hardware arriving at the launch site, so SpaceX already has four launches under it's belt this year