SpaceX Falcon 9 - EchoStar 23 - March 16, 2017 - DISCUSSION

[rsdavis9]

Does anybody have detailed pics of the base of the TEL?
I am wondering what parts are on the TEL and what parts are on the pad.
For example I know there is hold down clamps(4) that hold down the rocket while engines ramp to full thrust. I also know they attach to the base of falcon 9 S1. So I assume they are part of the pad?

So when the TEL is going vertical is there somebody watching for the alignment procedure of the base of S1 to these clamps?

What other connections are there between the pad and TEL.
Do all fluids and gases first go through the TEL and then the rocket?
Do any fluids go from pad to rocket?

thanks
 

[ugordan]

Pad systems were successfully tested out twice so far (static fire and launch of CRS) so anything that stops it today would be related to the stage itself or something at the pad that was new / replaced after damage from CRS launch.

Why do you think it would be unexpected for something to break with the GSE that had nothing to do with the launch damage? "I don't understand why this lightbulb broke, it worked the last time I turned it on!"

[old_sellsword]

Does anybody have detailed pics of the base of the TEL?
I am wondering what parts are on the TEL and what parts are on the pad.
For example I know there is hold down clamps(4) that hold down the rocket while engines ramp to full thrust. I also know they attach to the base of falcon 9 S1. So I assume they are part of the pad?

So when the TEL is going vertical is there somebody watching for the alignment procedure of the base of S1 to these clamps?

What other connections are there between the pad and TEL.
Do all fluids and gases first go through the TEL and then the rocket?
Do any fluids go from pad to rocket?

thanks

There are three main parts:

1. The TEL.

This is the huge white truss structure that holds the umbilicals and retracts at liftoff. It is completely separate from the reaction frame.

2. The reaction frame.

This is what the launch clamps and TSMs are both attached to. The launch clamps attach to the octaweb and the TSMs carry the RP-1, LOX, and possibly other fluids into the first stage. The reaction frame sits on the flame trench most of the time, but can be lifted off when the TEL picks it up and goes horizontal to pick up a Falcon 9 from the HIF.

3. The flame trench/huge concrete pad.

This is the huge "base" that the FSS and RSS are built upon, it never moves or does anything. It has the flame trench channels cut into it.

[Jim]

Does anybody have detailed pics of the base of the TEL?
I am wondering what parts are on the TEL and what parts are on the pad.
For example I know there is hold down clamps(4) that hold down the rocket while engines ramp to full thrust. I also know they attach to the base of falcon 9 S1. So I assume they are part of the pad?

So when the TEL is going vertical is there somebody watching for the alignment procedure of the base of S1 to these clamps?

What other connections are there between the pad and TEL.
Do all fluids and gases first go through the TEL and then the rocket?
Do any fluids go from pad to rocket?

 

All interfaces (mechanical, electrical, fluid, etc) go through the TEL. 
The hold downs are part of the TEL launch mount.
The TEL launch mount is what is mated to the pad.
The hold downs on the TEL are what supports the vehicle during rollout.  Those and the tail service masts are what are mated and tested in the hangar.

[KaiFarrimond]

Does anybody have detailed pics of the base of the TEL?
I am wondering what parts are on the TEL and what parts are on the pad.
For example I know there is hold down clamps(4) that hold down the rocket while engines ramp to full thrust. I also know they attach to the base of falcon 9 S1. So I assume they are part of the pad?

So when the TEL is going vertical is there somebody watching for the alignment procedure of the base of S1 to these clamps?

What other connections are there between the pad and TEL.
Do all fluids and gases first go through the TEL and then the rocket?
Do any fluids go from pad to rocket?

thanks

The holddown clamps are actually attached to the TEL. They attach to Falcon when the TEL is integrated to it in the HIF.

[Mike_1179]

Pad systems were successfully tested out twice so far (static fire and launch of CRS) so anything that stops it today would be related to the stage itself or something at the pad that was new / replaced after damage from CRS launch.

Why do you think it would be unexpected for something to break with the GSE that had nothing to do with the launch damage? "I don't understand why this lightbulb broke, it worked the last time I turned it on!"

I don't think it would be unexpected, hence the reason I asked if it would be similar to how often GSE caused a static fire or launch scrub at LC-40.

[Jim]

The reaction frame sits on the flame trench most of the time, but can be lifted off

No, the reaction frame (launch mount) now stays with the mast and forms the TEL.  There is no need to separate them anymore.

The mast is useless without the reaction frame.

[old_sellsword]

The reaction frame sits on the flame trench most of the time, but can be lifted off

No, the reaction frame (launch mount) now stays with the mast and forms the TEL.  There is no need to separate them anymore.

So when the mast leans back during launch it doesn't completely detach from the launch mount, only partially?

[Jim]

So when the mast leans back during launch it doesn't completely detach from the launch mount, only partially?

It doesn't detach at all during launch, it has a hinge.  The one at 40 had a hinge too.

[Stefan.Christoff.19]

The Falcon-9 is now upright at LC-39A. What's the likelihood of a hotfire test today?

The Static Fire Is Scheduled For Today.

Is there a Static fire window for this one (I didn't see one published in the update thread). Last time they did it at the very end of the window.

Thanks

[Comga]

The Falcon-9 is now upright at LC-39A. What's the likelihood of a hotfire test today?

Pad systems were successfully tested out twice so far (static fire and launch of CRS) so anything that stops it today would be related to the stage itself or something at the pad that was new / replaced after damage from CRS launch.

Is it a bad assumption to say that likelihood of a static fire today would be best estimated by how often Falcon 9 static fires took place on their first try back at LC-40?

The pad systems were tested three times.
The abort at T-13 sec on the 18th was essentially a wet dress rehearsal, a static fire minus the fire.
My guess, and it is no more than a guess, is that was the reason not to abort when the issue with the second stage TVC was first detected.

[Paul_G]

Does anybody have detailed pics of the base of the TEL?
I am wondering what parts are on the TEL and what parts are on the pad.
For example I know there is hold down clamps(4) that hold down the rocket while engines ramp to full thrust. I also know they attach to the base of falcon 9 S1. So I assume they are part of the pad?

I would expect the hold down clamps to be part of the 'Thrust Structure' or the big flat plate that I think is permanently attached to the TEL now (as opposed to being left at the pad), rather than the hold downs being part of the pad. Presumably there is a mechanism that secures the thrust plate (not sure if that is a real thing, or a term I'm making up) to the pad.

Paul

[rsdavis9]

So what is attachment like between the reaction frame and the pad?
Bolts?

I assume I have seen glimpses of the reaction frame and its a HUGE metal plate.
How much does it weigh?
It must have holes in the center for single S1 and the possible soon 3 S1's?

[mvpel]

So when the mast leans back during launch it doesn't completely detach from the launch mount, only partially?

It doesn't detach at all during launch, it has a hinge.  The one at 40 had a hinge too.

Here's an excellent shot of the hinge mechanism from about two years ago:

[Flying Beaver]

Pic of the booster vertical on the pad via Instagram.

Confirms nether legs or gridfins. I guess there was possibly of high-speed reentry testing, which would of necessitated fins.

Pretty clean rocket.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BRWEYn9BBqP/?tagged=spacex

[ChrisGebhardt]

The Falcon-9 is now upright at LC-39A. What's the likelihood of a hotfire test today?

The Static Fire Is Scheduled For Today.

Is there a Static fire window for this one (I didn't see one published in the update thread). Last time they did it at the very end of the window.

Thanks

1800-0000L < That was the original window.

Now it's 1930-0000L

[Comga]

And there's an issue. Standing down for the day.

With a target T0 time of 7:30 L (EST), this call at ~6:30 L, about T-1 hr, was roughly when fuel and oxidizer loading was targeted to start.

[king1999]

Pic of the booster vertical on the pad via Instagram.

Confirms nether legs or gridfins. I guess there was possibly of high-speed reentry testing, which would of necessitated fins.

Pretty clean rocket.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BRWEYn9BBqP/?tagged=spacex

Poor legless and wingless Falcon! 

[FutureMartian97]

According to u/scriptunasphoto on Reddit Falcon 9 just went horizontal.

https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/5n2e10/echostar_23_launch_campaign_thread/dencops/

[Steve D]

What time does the launch window open on the 12th?