If they get the stage back, would that delay the next launch so they'd have time to ship it back to CA to go through it with a fine toothed comb in search of any issues?
If they get the core back I would be surprised if it ever used again. The first core that returns I would expect it would be taken apart a d analyzed for the effects of the stresses of the launch on the vehicle.
Elon confirms on Twitter that they're aiming for an 8pm local launch and landing at Cape Canaveral.
Quote from: vanoord on 12/19/2015 09:10 amElon confirms on Twitter that they're aiming for an 8pm local launch and landing at Cape Canaveral. Yup, and given that Elon explicitly mentions rocket landing at the Cape it also means that FAA has approved this.
Elon Musk @elonmusk 1h1 hour agoCurrently looking good for a Sunday night (~8pm local) attempted orbital launch and rocket landing at Cape Canaveral
Quote from: Lee Jay on 12/19/2015 02:10 pmIf they get the stage back, would that delay the next launch so they'd have time to ship it back to CA to go through it with a fine toothed comb in search of any issues?Given that the next scheduled launch is a different version of F9, you have to wonder how useful it would be to delay it pending inspection of the returned core.
Well, I'd say what's going on with the ASDS is telling on its own.
The FAA has signed off on it but Elon nor SpaceX made a statement about it.
I think FAA did have to sign off on the failure report conclusions and corrective actions identified.
Quote from: ugordan on 12/19/2015 05:23 pmI think FAA did have to sign off on the failure report conclusions and corrective actions identified.That's my thought as well. I don't want to belabor the point but the FAA was/is the point agency on the report and I would have expected someone during at least the last couple of weeks as F9/FT was getting close to tomorrow's launch (possible landing) to make some mention of it. I haven't seen any articles or tweets or reporters pose the question either. It just seems odd, that's all. Edit: Ok, I see AndrewM updated his post. I guess the FAA doesn't need to comment publicly.
Quote from: rcoppola on 12/19/2015 06:09 pmQuote from: ugordan on 12/19/2015 05:23 pmI think FAA did have to sign off on the failure report conclusions and corrective actions identified.That's my thought as well. I don't want to belabor the point but the FAA was/is the point agency on the report and I would have expected someone during at least the last couple of weeks as F9/FT was getting close to tomorrow's launch (possible landing) to make some mention of it. I haven't seen any articles or tweets or reporters pose the question either. It just seems odd, that's all. Edit: Ok, I see AndrewM updated his post. I guess the FAA doesn't need to comment publicly. Indeed, they don't. And they don't need to either when approving a Cape Canaveral rocket landing. The fact that there was no formal anouncement from FAA about the approval does not mean there is no approval. The tweet by Elon is clear enough however. You don't go about announcing an attempt to do a rocket landing, just a few days in advance, when not having FAA approval. IMO, SpaceX already has the blessing of the FAA.