Current (Dec 2013, Jan 2014) status of specific SpaceX hardware (esp F9)

[Jason1701]

The free-standing first-stage-like object looked a lot like Grasshopper to me, including the little blunt nose cone on top.  Not far away from it was the big crane we saw in a tweet from Elon.  It's possible it was F9R1 (aka Grasshopper 2), but if so they've fitted it with Grasshopper-like legs.

Actually, after zooming in on the legs in the picture of the Grasshopper-like thing, I'm now less convinced the legs are actually like the original Grasshopper legs.  The picture quality makes it hard to tell (sorry, it was a long way away!), but the legs look more bluish and differently shaped than the old Grasshopper legs.  Maybe this really is F9R-1?

Thanks for the pictures!

Based on the aspect ratio of the tank, I'm certain that's the original Grasshopper. Where was it in relation to the crane?

[ChrisWilson68]

Based on the aspect ratio of the tank, I'm certain that's the original Grasshopper. Where was it in relation to the crane?

The crane wasn't very close.  See the picture below.  They were only close in that both the crane and the Grasshopper-like object were a lot closer to each other than they were to the big tripod test stand with the other visible core.

[Robotbeat]

Looks /just/ like the original Grasshopper to me.

The stuff at McGregor may start with simply testing it like any other Falcon 9 first stage on the test stand.

[ChrisWilson68]

Looks /just/ like the original Grasshopper to me.

The stuff at McGregor may start with simply testing it like any other Falcon 9 first stage on the test stand.

Yeah, that would make sense.  So is the stage on the tripod F9R-1?  Or the CRS-3 first stage?

[aero]

It could be that SpaceX plans to test the leg deployment mechanism using the Grasshopper while the proven Grasshopper legs (or something similar) are still attached. That way they won't loose the Grasshopper if the legs fail to deploy or if they collapse. So the legs could be different enough to allow flight legs to deploy but still look similar in the views we've seen.

[Robotbeat]

Looks /just/ like the original Grasshopper to me.

The stuff at McGregor may start with simply testing it like any other Falcon 9 first stage on the test stand.

Yeah, that would make sense.  So is the stage on the tripod F9R-1?  Or the CRS-3 first stage?

You're asking me? I have no idea! But I'd bet it's the CRS-3 stage if only because they need to ship that thing out to the Cape pretty soon if they want to be able to fly in February.

[corrodedNut]

Moreover, they need new building in McGregor - to assemble FH prior to testing.

They've already built one, it's roughly the same size as the Vandenberg hangar, in addition to the Cape-sized one near the big tripod stand.

[ClaytonBirchenough]

So what's the original Grasshopper still doing hanging around?

[guckyfan]

Moreover, they need new building in McGregor - to assemble FH prior to testing.

They've already built one, it's roughly the same size as the Vandenberg hangar, in addition to the Cape-sized one near the big tripod stand.

So they can hold a total of four first stages there? That should be quite some buffer.

[Ben the Space Brit]

So what's the original Grasshopper still doing hanging around?

Is it's program complete? It's possible that there are still a few flights pending. Either that or they may be using its fuel system and the like to test configuration changes for GH2.

[newpylong]

The free-standing first-stage-like object looked a lot like Grasshopper to me, including the little blunt nose cone on top.  Not far away from it was the big crane we saw in a tweet from Elon.  It's possible it was F9R1 (aka Grasshopper 2), but if so they've fitted it with Grasshopper-like legs.

Actually, after zooming in on the legs in the picture of the Grasshopper-like thing, I'm now less convinced the legs are actually like the original Grasshopper legs.  The picture quality makes it hard to tell (sorry, it was a long way away!), but the legs look more bluish and differently shaped than the old Grasshopper legs.  Maybe this really is F9R-1?

Look again. Same legs as before. Same height too. It's G1.