The CRS-5/SpX-5 - Godspeed, Rocket CATS - Party Thread

[Chris Bergin]

Another Party Thread, so as to keep the main threads free of chit chat!

[Kabloona]

Rocket Cat is honored to be your Party Thread mascot.

[411rocket]

Leak checks          DONE
Prop flow check     DONE

Now lets launch this Kitty, IGNITION........... 

[TripD]

Fur covered grid fins? What will they think of next?

[xanmarus]

Fur covered grid fins? What will they think of next?

Grapple devices on landing legs.

[Jakusb]

Hopefully this one will land on all fours...

[Dudely]

Hopefully this one will land on all fours...

That would be too purrfect.

[wannamoonbase]

Has anyone seen an estimate for how long after T-0 that we'd expect to see the first stage return to the barge/platform?

I know it depends on where the landing target is located, hopefully as close to the cape as possible to prove it's ability to return to site.  But it seems to me that we should be able to figure it out within a small margin of error.

[rpapo]

Has anyone seen an estimate for how long after T-0 that we'd expect to see the first stage return to the barge/platform?

I know it depends on where the landing target is located, hopefully as close to the cape as possible to prove it's ability to return to site.  But it seems to me that we should be able to figure it out within a small margin of error.

Based on what we have seen so far, it looks like from launch to landing no more than 15 minutes pass, and it could be as short as 10-12 minutes.

[Heinrich]

I guess we'll have a pre-party opportunity. Anyone heard on whether there will a webcast of the pad abort test?

[CraigLieb]

Yes the mice will have to play quickly before the cats are no longer away!

[Mader Levap]

I am surprised party for 12 dec starts so early...

[TripD]

I am surprised party for 12 dec starts so early...

Well, when the mice are away, the cats do play. 

[oiorionsbelt]

I am surprised party for 12 dec starts so early...

yeah but you're all ready to party on a bet that doesn't expire until 2025

[wannamoonbase]

I am surprised party for 12 dec starts so early...

I think it's smart of the Moderators to provide a place for us to ramble and speculate.  I think the claim earlier this year that there would be a landing on a solid surface makes this launch extremely interesting.

A jack up barge not far off the coast of the cape would be a fantastic Christmas present to us space nuts.

Maybe SpaceX should paint the booster in Christmas colors?

[JasonAW3]

Has anyone seen an estimate for how long after T-0 that we'd expect to see the first stage return to the barge/platform?

I know it depends on where the landing target is located, hopefully as close to the cape as possible to prove it's ability to return to site.  But it seems to me that we should be able to figure it out within a small margin of error.

If they plan to land on a bardge, it will.  Afterall, most CATS hate getting wet!

[JasonAW3]

I am surprised party for 12 dec starts so early...

I think it's smart of the Moderators to provide a place for us to ramble and speculate.  I think the claim earlier this year that there would be a landing on a solid surface makes this launch extremely interesting.

A jack up barge not far off the coast of the cape would be a fantastic Christmas present to us space nuts.

Maybe SpaceX should paint the booster in Christmas colors?

And why not hang LEDs all over it as well?  Christmas lights!  Do it with their own local watch batteries and it shouldn't add more than 5 lbs!

[northenarc]

  They should hang a Santa hat and beard right on the rocket, I mean what could possibly go wrong 

[Zardar]

Has anyone seen an estimate for how long after T-0 that we'd expect to see the first stage return to the barge/platform?

I know it depends on where the landing target is located, hopefully as close to the cape as possible to prove it's ability to return to site.  But it seems to me that we should be able to figure it out within a small margin of error.

If they plan to land on a bardge, it will.  Afterall, most CATS hate getting wet!

We just need a really big laser pointer. Any SBL stuff still left orbiting around after the cold war?

[Joffan]

Has anyone seen an estimate for how long after T-0 that we'd expect to see the first stage return to the barge/platform?

I know it depends on where the landing target is located, hopefully as close to the cape as possible to prove it's ability to return to site.  But it seems to me that we should be able to figure it out within a small margin of error.

If they plan to land on a barge, it will.  After all, most CATS hate getting wet!

Unfortunately for that hypothesis, the CATS will have departed to orbit at that point, so the miraculous feline landing skill will have to be replaced with great engineering instead