-
#320
by
JamesH
on 14 Oct, 2015 14:46
-
Im afraid that if SLS fails on it's 19th flight none of us will still be here to see this.
It's not -that- far into the future.
Ambitious prediction time....19 flights, 2 a year, starting in 2020's or something. Might still be a few people still alive to witness it.
On the other hand, will SLS ever fly 19 times, or will an alternative private sector launcher be in place before then?
-
#321
by
Chris Bergin
on 14 Oct, 2015 16:00
-
Don't you just hate it when every SpaceX thread turns into a SLS thread
Oh wait a minute....However:
-
#322
by
feynmanrules
on 14 Oct, 2015 20:41
-
thanks for the net updates chris.
it's been a slow couple of months in spacex fan ville
-
#323
by
gadgetmind
on 15 Oct, 2015 13:52
-
couldn't help but "Like" this members first post.. has a perfect record now. 1 post, 1 like!
I'm sure it won't last! I've been lurking for a few months, slowly learning things (like what "NET" means!) but you guys know 50x more than me, so I haven't really had anything of value to contribute and hadn't even created a login!
-
#324
by
Herb Schaltegger
on 15 Oct, 2015 17:44
-
There's a countdown clock here, and SpacePharma are rumoured to be on the next Falcon launch.
http://www.space4p.com/
That would suggest Dec 1st.
couldn't help but "Like" this members first post.. has a perfect record now. 1 post, 1 like!
Don't just go by a "Likes/Post" ratio - some of us were here years before "Likes" became a thing at NSF, and for years before that on the sci.space.* Usenet groups, where an "I Corrected Henry" t-shirt was the biggest "Like" there was.
-
#325
by
Danderman
on 15 Oct, 2015 19:02
-
They need to conduct the full duration static fire at McGregor. They are about to tie up the CRS-7 investigation (paperwork).
Around this time I suspect we'll get a good idea of the NET.
They then need to ship the vehicle to the Cape. Then they need to hit the nominal flow, set up a hot fire date on SLC-40....and even then it can still move.
Where we stand is end of November, into December - ish
It should be noted that the estimate above assumes that the start date for these activities is now. If the full duration test at McGregor is delayed, then the RTF date would be delayed.
Since I am the loser who picked 5 successful launches for SpaceX in this year's poll, every day that slips now makes my prediction closer to being accurate.
More importantly, getting it done right is more important than getting it done quickly.
-
#326
by
Chris Bergin
on 15 Oct, 2015 19:14
-
More importantly, getting it done right is more important than getting it done quickly.
Concur and you can assume the customers are all keeping a close eye on that.
Worth noting we can't line up the update/discussion etc threads for the specific RTF mission yet, because it hasn't been officially selected (could be one of two...as much as everyone has been thinking it's SES-9. Might not be).
-
#327
by
gadgetmind
on 16 Oct, 2015 08:45
-
Concur and you can assume the customers are all keeping a close eye on that.
I can't find the quote now, but didn't Musk also say that he was making changes so that anyone in SpaceX could now contact him directly if they had any concerns about a forthcoming launch?
That also rings of Doing It Right, rather than doing it fast.
-
#328
by
Chris Bergin
on 16 Oct, 2015 15:04
-
More importantly, getting it done right is more important than getting it done quickly.
Concur and you can assume the customers are all keeping a close eye on that.
Worth noting we can't line up the update/discussion etc threads for the specific RTF mission yet, because it hasn't been officially selected (could be one of two...as much as everyone has been thinking it's SES-9. Might not be).
And yep, they've gone with ORBCOMM as RTF. Officially.
SpaceX:
“As we prepare for return to flight, SpaceX together with its customers SES and Orbcomm have evaluated opportunities to optimize the readiness of the upcoming Falcon 9 return-to-flight mission. All parties have mutually agreed that SpaceX will now fly the Orbcomm-2 mission on the return-to-flight Falcon 9 vehicle.
“The Orbcomm-2 mission does not require a relight of the second stage engine following orbital insertion. Flying the Orbcomm-2 mission first will therefore allow SpaceX to conduct an on-orbit test of the second stage relight system after the Orbcomm-2 satellites have been safely deployed. This on-orbit test, combined with the current qualification program to be completed prior to launch, will further validate the second stage relight system and allow for optimization of the upcoming SES-9 mission and following missions to geosynchronous transfer orbit.
“This change does not affect the timeline for SpaceX’s return-to-flight mission which is still targeted to take place in the next 6-8 weeks. The SES-9 launch is currently targeted for late December 2015.”
-
#329
by
Roy_H
on 16 Oct, 2015 15:22
-
I can't find the quote now, but didn't Musk also say that he was making changes so that anyone in SpaceX could now contact him directly if they had any concerns about a forthcoming launch?
That also rings of Doing It Right, rather than doing it fast.
No, you got that wrong. Elon has always encouraged everyone in the company to contact him directly if they had concerns about an up coming launch.
-
#330
by
Chris Bergin
on 16 Oct, 2015 16:45
-
My search fu is clearly poor today, but do we have a thread for this OG2 mission already up and burning? (I see all the others....) Or do we need one setting up?
Going to have an article up for the latest statement shortly.
-
#331
by
wannamoonbase
on 16 Oct, 2015 17:59
-
-
#332
by
Lars-J
on 16 Oct, 2015 21:18
-
-
#333
by
guckyfan
on 16 Oct, 2015 21:35
-
I wonder about that restart test. Even if it is on the extremely cautious side. Maybe there are larger changes than we knew about in the restarting tech? Maybe it is only the new upper stage that is capable of loiter time long enough to do direct GEO insertion? Both Elon Musk and Gwynne Shotwell emphasized Falcon 9 can do it but maybe the ability is there only now? It would be still in time for any Airforce launch.
-
#334
by
Okie_Steve
on 16 Oct, 2015 21:46
-
On the restart, how much propellant is likely to be left and which way will they boost? Forward, backward, sideways? Jim says rockets always launch fully fueled to increase margin and this is a "light" payload so this seems like it might be a useful opportunity to attempt deorbit into the Indian Ocean or somewhere equally large and empty, if possible, and collect some data on even higher speed retro propulsion for future use rather than a short blip and then vent.
-
#335
by
MP99
on 16 Oct, 2015 23:08
-
I wonder about that restart test. Even if it is on the extremely cautious side. Maybe there are larger changes than we knew about in the restarting tech? Maybe it is only the new upper stage that is capable of loiter time long enough to do direct GEO insertion? Both Elon Musk and Gwynne Shotwell emphasized Falcon 9 can do it but maybe the ability is there only now? It would be still in time for any Airforce launch.
It's not possible for SpaceX to do a vacuum test on Merlin at McGregor.
This could simply be to reassure that the Vac still operates as expected.
Cheers, Martin
-
#336
by
daveglo
on 17 Oct, 2015 00:55
-
So, whilst the excitement over a RTF plan is all about, I have not seen any mention of a first stage ASDS landing attempt for this upcoming launch.
I can certainly understand if SpaceX doesn't bother with recovery, since they're so focused on RTF. I did note that the first stage test video does not show any legs or fins mounted, from what I could see.
Anyone out there know the plan for the first stage?
-
#337
by
sdsds
on 17 Oct, 2015 03:56
-
This could simply be to reassure that the Vac still operates as expected.
Could someone please summarize the changes between the RTF MVac and the MVac that most recently performed in space? Are there any?
-
#338
by
douglas100
on 17 Oct, 2015 11:43
-
So, whilst the excitement over a RTF plan is all about, I have not seen any mention of a first stage ASDS landing attempt for this upcoming launch.
I can certainly understand if SpaceX doesn't bother with recovery, since they're so focused on RTF. I did note that the first stage test video does not show any legs or fins mounted, from what I could see.
Anyone out there know the plan for the first stage?
The stage is transported without legs. They are attached at the Cape, so you wouldn't expect to see them at Mcgregor. Don't know about the grid fins. It looks like the answer to your question is open at the moment.
-
#339
by
cmj9808
on 17 Oct, 2015 12:09
-
So, whilst the excitement over a RTF plan is all about, I have not seen any mention of a first stage ASDS landing attempt for this upcoming launch.
I can certainly understand if SpaceX doesn't bother with recovery, since they're so focused on RTF. I did note that the first stage test video does not show any legs or fins mounted, from what I could see.
Anyone out there know the plan for the first stage?
Well，I don't think SpaceX needs to do sth special to make a first stage landing besides following previous approach and making sure this time a stuck valve won't standing in your way.
