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#120
by
shuttlefan
on 20 Jun, 2017 01:06
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Maybe something with the engines has arisen just recently and they ARE going to perform another static firing.
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#121
by
sewebster
on 20 Jun, 2017 03:35
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Maybe they want to test their new fairing valve in the vertical orientation or in some more realistic pre-flight scenario?
But the fairing isn't attached...
Heh, makes my idea somewhat less plausible then!
Edit: Umm... I assume this is the same booster...
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#122
by
shuttlefan
on 20 Jun, 2017 03:52
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Maybe it's the booster for the next mission off Pad A after Bulgariasat, and they are going to static fire THAT one to stay on the timeline after the Bulgariasat delays.
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#123
by
TrueBlueWitt
on 20 Jun, 2017 03:53
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Maybe they want to test their new fairing valve in the vertical orientation or in some more realistic pre-flight scenario?
But the fairing isn't attached...
Heh, makes my idea somewhat less plausible then!
Edit: Umm... I assume this is the same booster...
Same booster? that raises an interesting question..
Would they leap frog the static fire of the Intelsat booster to speed up pad flow? Although mating/un-mating probably invalidates the static fire.. right?
Or they possibly swapping boosters for some reason?
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#124
by
shuttlefan
on 20 Jun, 2017 04:00
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Maybe they want to test their new fairing valve in the vertical orientation or in some more realistic pre-flight scenario?
But the fairing isn't attached...
Heh, makes my idea somewhat less plausible then!
Edit: Umm... I assume this is the same booster...
Same booster.. that raises an interesting question..
Would they leap frog the static fire of the Intelsat booster to speed up pad flow? Although mating/un-mating probably invalidates the static fire.. right? Or they possibly swapping boosters for some reason?
That's precisely what I am beginning to wonder, about leapfrogging the static fire for the Intelsat booster!
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#125
by
kevin-rf
on 20 Jun, 2017 10:37
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I thought there was only one strong back. That would require demating and destacking... Seems like a large amount of work to quickly do one test.
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#126
by
woods170
on 20 Jun, 2017 11:01
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Very funny to witness the ongoing discussion about potentially another static fire or leap frogging boosters.
There are more reasons than just static fires and launches for a booster to be present on the launchpad.
Never heard of AS-500F? Or the 1986 Atlantis pad tests? Just sayin...
Edit: Now that Chris has thrown it in the public thread (see post below) I can be more specific: GSE testing. Which has been done in the past with flight(like) hardware. Specifically the AS-500F and 1986 Atlantis tests that I mentioned above.
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#127
by
Chris Bergin
on 20 Jun, 2017 11:08
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So it seems that the Falcon is on the pad right now. Anyone know why?
Asking.
Can't be another static fire. Previous was deemed good and you get notices of roadblocks etc before such an event. We'll find out.
We believe it's just a GSE test opportunity with a booster on the TEL and a launch delay due to the valve R&R. Waiting for confirmation. In other words, a clever use of the opportunity of having a booster sat on the TEL during a delay not relevant to the rocket.
--
Edit: And it was. Rolling back to the HIF.
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#128
by
Herb Schaltegger
on 23 Jun, 2017 13:15
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#129
by
Star One
on 23 Jun, 2017 13:18
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Head of BulgariaSat says satellite project would be impossible without SpaceX
On the eve of the launch of his country’s first communications satellite on a Falcon 9 rocket, the chief executive of BulgariaSat credited SpaceX’s cost-cutting ways with making space accessible for small nations and money-conscious companies like his own.
Maxim Zayakov, CEO of BulgariaSat and its affiliate television provider Bulsatcom, told Spacefight Now that SpaceX’s push to reduce the cost of space transportation has yielded tangible results for his country.
“People don’t realize that, for small countries and small companies like us, without SpaceX, there was no way we would ever be able to even think about space,” Zayakov said. “With them, it was possible. We got a project. I think, in the future, it’s going to be even more affordable because of reusability.”
https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/06/22/head-of-bulgariasat-says-satellite-project-would-be-impossible-without-spacex/
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#130
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 23 Jun, 2017 15:50
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#131
by
Kaputnik
on 23 Jun, 2017 18:10
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Launch pushed back an hour... F9 and payload are healthy... I, however, am not, cos I'll miss the launch now. Boo! Look forward to catching the replays.
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#132
by
gongora
on 23 Jun, 2017 18:16
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Tweet from Elon Musk:Falcon 9 will experience its highest ever reentry force and heat in today's launch. Good chance rocket booster doesn't make it back.
Going for a better orbit, or playing with a booster they don't intend to reuse more than once?
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#133
by
dorkmo
on 23 Jun, 2017 18:18
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Tweet from Elon Musk:
Falcon 9 will experience its highest ever reentry force and heat in today's launch. Good chance rocket booster doesn't make it back.
Going for a better orbit, or playing with a booster they don't intend to reuse more than once?
sounds like play time to me
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#134
by
Lars-J
on 23 Jun, 2017 18:18
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Tweet from Elon Musk:
Falcon 9 will experience its highest ever reentry force and heat in today's launch. Good chance rocket booster doesn't make it back.
Going for a better orbit, or playing with a booster they don't intend to reuse more than once?
Probably mostly the latter, I would think. A chance to see how much damage it can take.
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#135
by
John Alan
on 23 Jun, 2017 18:20
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Tweet from Elon Musk:
Falcon 9 will experience its highest ever reentry force and heat in today's launch. Good chance rocket booster doesn't make it back.
Going for a better orbit, or playing with a booster they don't intend to reuse more than once?
If you don't try to burn one on reentry... you will never know the limits...
I applaud the fact they are taking chances to learn where the corners are in the envelope...
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#136
by
ZachS09
on 23 Jun, 2017 18:21
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Based on how awesome B1021 did during SES-10, I'm going to assume that B1029 makes it back alive.
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#137
by
The_Ronin
on 23 Jun, 2017 18:48
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Is there no technical webcast for this launch?
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#138
by
kevin-rf
on 23 Jun, 2017 18:53
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Based on how awesome B1021 did during SES-10, I'm going to assume that B1029 makes it back alive.
That's how you Jinx it
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#139
by
AC in NC
on 23 Jun, 2017 18:58
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Tweet from Elon Musk:
Falcon 9 will experience its highest ever reentry force and heat in today's launch. Good chance rocket booster doesn't make it back.
Going for a better orbit, or playing with a booster they don't intend to reuse more than once?
Seems like it's gotta be both considering the mass (3669kg by the Manifest Thread)
Chris G and Philip are at the Iridium launch. We're covered 
Chris G and Philip are at the Iridium launch. We're covered 
