Author Topic: SpaceX Falcon 9 FT - ORBCOMM-2 - Dec. 21, 2015 (Return To Flight) DISCUSSION (Read 1360617 times)

Wonger · « **Reply #1520 on:** 12/22/2015 03:48 am »

Great quote from Marc Eisenberg:

"Yay, no one can ever ask me again why I chose the first launch!"

https://twitter.com/Marc944Marc/status/679130564109185025

edkyle99 · « **Reply #1521 on:** 12/22/2015 03:56 am »

Quote from: Robotbeat on 12/22/2015 03:35 am

Quote from: Antilope7724 on 12/22/2015 03:34 am
Did anyone report hearing a sonic boom from the returning stage?
Yup, very many people. Many thought it was the stage blowing up!

I can imagine. The sonic boom seems to have arrived for most observers just moments after the landing.

- Ed Kyle

the_other_Doug · « **Reply #1522 on:** 12/22/2015 03:59 am »

Now we just need to wait patiently to see all of the various high-quality close-up videos of the stage landing SpaceX will leak out over the next few days. The one shot, apparently from a camera drone, that shows the stage descending towards the center of the pad would seem to be a single frame from an HD video.

I really, really want to see that video, as well as the others I am sure were recorded this evening -- like, for example, the rocket cam video of the landing. But they'll be coming along in due time...

somepitch · « **Reply #1523 on:** 12/22/2015 04:04 am »

the_other_Doug · « **Reply #1524 on:** 12/22/2015 04:11 am »

Hey, ask and ye shall receive!

bunker9603 · « **Reply #1525 on:** 12/22/2015 04:13 am »

Quote from: somepitch on 12/22/2015 04:04 am

Now we just need to wait patiently to see all of the various high-quality close-up videos of the stage landing SpaceX will leak out over the next few days.

Great timing! It took about 5 minutes

Antilope7724 · « **Reply #1526 on:** 12/22/2015 04:14 am »

Wow, imagine a Falcon Heavy launch when 3 stages come flying home, (2 at once and 1 a little later).

meekGee · « **Reply #1527 on:** 12/22/2015 04:22 am »

Those legs finish deploying maybe 2 seconds before it touches down...

The helicopter must have been used one of those stabilized super-telephoto systems. My guess is that for whatever reason, the hexacopter was not allowed nearby.

One guy flies the helicopter, another operates the cam, and a third is peering very intently into the sky...

leetdan · « **Reply #1528 on:** 12/22/2015 04:25 am »

Having witnessed many launches over the years, this was by far the most "lofted", in fact we could still faintly hear the engines at MECO. There was a layer of clouds, but it was thin enough to still clearly see a few minutes of second stage flight, as well as all boost-back and landing burns. We were on SR-3 just south of the Visitor's Center, maybe 8 miles from LZ-1, and the booms arrived within seconds of landing.

(apparently my 4 year old is a Blue Origin fan)

Lars-J · « **Reply #1529 on:** 12/22/2015 05:17 am »

Wow, what a great night.

And I suppose this will finally silence the naysayers with their "SpaceX doesn't do anything new" or "SpaceX doesn't innovate or brak new ground" mantra. Well... I can't recall seeing this before. Nor did DC-X ever do anything close to *this*.

The future looks bright, and SpaceX and Blue Origin and pushing us into a brave new world.

meekGee · « **Reply #1530 on:** 12/22/2015 05:20 am »

Quote from: Lars-J on 12/22/2015 05:17 am

Wow, what a great night.

And I suppose this will finally silence the naysayers with their "SpaceX doesn't do anything new" or "SpaceX doesn't innovate or brak new ground" mantra. Well... I can't recall seeing this before. Nor did DC-X ever do anything close to *this*.

The future looks bright!

"proving them wrong" will never happen...

Instead, just kick back and enjoy having been proved right

Comga · « **Reply #1531 on:** 12/22/2015 06:20 am »

Wow
Just Wow

Earlier today I was reading the National Research Council report on Sustainable Enhanced Land Imaging, which ends saying how new LandSats should be built small to rideshare as secondary payloads to save money. I think this landing is a big step to making that concept passe'. With reusable rockets, for which this is the first giant step, you will build your payload to the capacity of the Falcon 9, (or some future competitor who is now WAY behind) get your orbit on your schedule, and be done. How will anything beat that?

dorkmo · « **Reply #1532 on:** 12/22/2015 06:28 am »

spotted one of the yellow aircraft jacks in the short video clip. got a little too excited about it, considering.

tyrred · « **Reply #1533 on:** 12/22/2015 06:55 am »

Anybody know the approximate altitude of S1 passing back to trans-sonic on the return? Those sonic booms got me thinking, how low was she before the boom passed her?

Most folks (like myself) rarely if ever get to hear them booms.

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #1534 on:** 12/22/2015 07:22 am »

There was a lot of information in the SpaceX broadcast that I didn't catch live. Here are screen grabs of what I thought were the interesting points.

Mission Control Hawthorn. There about 14 different screens on the huge main wall.

Video screens showing what I believe to be are the Helium pressure tanks.

Video screens showing propellant tanks on the left.

Maestro19 · « **Reply #1535 on:** 12/22/2015 07:25 am »

What I love is going back to that old press club speech on youtube, which finishes on reusability with the words -
".. I'm not saying we're certain of success here, but we're going to try to do it"

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #1536 on:** 12/22/2015 07:26 am »

Eight Merlin 1D engines lined up with "Do Not Touch. Flight Hardware" signs in front.

Octoweb with engines installed. Falcon Heavy signs are in front.

Octoweb installed on stage (enhanced).

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #1537 on:** 12/22/2015 07:29 am »

Spacecraft Cleanroom where Dragon is assembled.

Workers in cleanroom.

Dragon being assembled. Might be SpX-8.

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #1538 on:** 12/22/2015 07:31 am »

Four cores under assembly.

3D printing shop.

Some of the 3D printed parts on display.

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #1539 on:** 12/22/2015 07:33 am »

Assembling an engine.

Falcon 9 Full Thrust updates.

Liquid oxygen farm.

Liquid oxygen tank.