Author Topic: SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Updates and Discussion Thread 3  (Read 1424254 times)

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Its here! @NASASpaceflight #SpaceX #SpaceXFleet

https://twitter.com/thaerospacegeek/status/987728150363803648

Offline Chris Bergin

Looks like OctaGrabber in action!
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Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Offline pb2000

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Soot deposit looks nice and uniform, without all the usual crispiness imparted by the grid fins.

Edit: Lots of rain in the forecast, so she may get a bath.
« Last Edit: 04/21/2018 04:49 pm by pb2000 »
Launches attended: Worldview-4 (Atlas V 401), Iridium NEXT Flight 1 (Falcon 9 FT), PAZ+Starlink (Falcon 9 FT), Arabsat-6A (Falcon Heavy)
Pilgrimaged to: Boca Chica (09/19 & 01/22)

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Offline ThePonjaX

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We need a video of that octagrabber on action.

Offline Chris Bergin

We need a video of that octagrabber on action.

I'd say now they'll have the videos from the ASDS, there will be a chance!
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Offline Johnnyhinbos

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I thought there was a dedicated Octograbber thread? I couldn’t find one.

Regardless - I find this photo of particular interest. It appears to have a specific camera (and other stuff) on a stalk dedicated to looking at, and possibly doing other actions, on the drain ports.



(Photo credit to @WeReportSpace)

Edit to add - or am I completely insane?
« Last Edit: 04/21/2018 07:37 pm by Johnnyhinbos »
John Hanzl. Author, action / adventure www.johnhanzl.com

Offline Scylla

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General Roomba, AKA Octograbber, thread starts here...
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=42511.0
I reject your reality and substitute my own--Doctor Who

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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#Falcon9 at port Canaveral this afternoon, man on man lift for scale #SpaceX @spaceX #ocisly via @SpaceflightIns

https://twitter.com/timelapsejunkie/status/987797490765266944

Offline deruch

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Regardless - I find this photo of particular interest. It appears to have a specific camera (and other stuff) on a stalk dedicated to looking at, and possibly doing other actions, on the drain ports.

Edit to add - or am I completely insane?

The camera isn't looking at the ports.  It's looking at the "hand" on the end of the Octagrabber's arm that attaches to the booster's hard point.  It's just like the cameras on the LEE at end of the SSRMS.  They look to see that the grabbing element is properly aligned.

The draining ports are connected manually by the crew once they get on board the ASDS.  The Octagrabber is only to secure and stabilize the booster so that there isn't a danger of it moving (in rough conditions) or falling over (in the event of a hard or off angle landing that compromises one or more of the legs but still leaves the booster standing) while the crew is approaching. 
Shouldn't reality posts be in "Advanced concepts"?  --Nomadd

Offline dorkmo

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i wonder if somehwere along the way they decided they only need 3 grabbers instead of all 4? seems like there has been ample time to get the 4th functioning if they had wanted. hmm.

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Online Ronsmytheiii

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The first stage booster of the TESS mission (formally known as B1045) spotted on Of Course I Still Love You in Florida. Following a picture perfect landing, this Block 4 booster is planned to be reused for the next CRS mission later this year. Photo Credit @damato_26

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bh21U-8j4E0/

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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The first stage booster from @NASA_TESS's @SpaceX launch, B1045, is back in port aboard the drone ship Of Course I Still Love You. This is the 24th successful Falcon booster recovery from SpaceX.

https://twitter.com/nasa_tess/status/988129786194210816

Offline DatUser14

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Hawk is up to something :)  destination Tampa.

« Last Edit: 04/22/2018 07:35 pm by DatUser14 »
Titan IVB was a cool rocket

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Offline Slarty1080

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How many ASPDS's are there and what are their names?
My optimistic hope is that it will become cool to really think about things... rather than just doing reactive bullsh*t based on no knowledge (Brian Cox)

Offline e of pi

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How many ASPDS's are there and what are their names?
Three total have existed to date. The first was Marmac 300, known as "Just Read the Instructions". The second was Marmac 304, "Of Course I Still Love You." When the lease on Marmac 300 expired, they acquired Marmac 303, which transited to the Pacific via the Panama canal before final wing installation and inherited the name "Just Read the Instructions".

Apparently a fourth (third active) is to be built or is under conversion, called "A Shortfall of Gravitas", with the base vessel or design unknown.

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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SpaceX's #Falcon9 first stage from the #TESS launch being unloaded at Port Canaveral.  Overhead view from the top of Exploration Tower.  Photo credit: Bill Jelen / We Report Space

https://twitter.com/wereportspace/status/988448129866502144

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