SpaceX Falcon Heavy : Arabsat 6A : LC-39A : April 11, 2019 - DISCUSSION

[Yazata]

Now, as of tonight, the 7th has become available for a general admission purchase, and the 9th is now blocked off.  So, take it for what it's worth - but maybe the 9th is more "in the works" than any other date at this point.

This morning the FAA issued a NOTAM announcing a fairly extensive flight restriction above and to the east of Cape Canaveral for "Space Operations" from 2201 UTC April 9 to 0125 UTC April 10. (Calculating in my head, that looks like 6pm to 9:25 pm EDT on Tuesday.)

https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/detail_9_7920.html

[Joffan]

Watched the NSF livestream - static fire occurred on time. Did the gas volume/flow rate seem a bit lower than last year’s test? It sure didn’t sound as loud but that could easily be due to different wind direction, camera angles, etc.

Last time was a long-duration hold-down test. This looked more like a normal Falcon-9-type static fire.

Actually my memory may be playing me false, based on the videos above. The two are remarkably similar.

[The Roadie]

Titusville PD just leaked it first: https://twitter.com/TitusvillePD/status/1114202911834288129[/font][/size]

[aero1310]

So with all the latest news and comments from Elon, what are the experts gut feeling on this? Elon's warning isnt too convincing and the forecast doesnt add a good amount of confidence for Tuesday in my opinion... I'm in the debate of an extended stay or go home and fly back for two days...

[gongora]

So with all the latest news and comments from Elon, what are the experts gut feeling on this? Elon's warning isnt too convincing and the forecast doesnt add a good amount of confidence for Tuesday in my opinion... I'm in the debate of an extended stay or go home and fly back for two days...

It's really a crapshoot with that weather forecast.

[vaporcobra]

So with all the latest news and comments from Elon, what are the experts gut feeling on this? Elon's warning isnt too convincing and the forecast doesnt add a good amount of confidence for Tuesday in my opinion... I'm in the debate of an extended stay or go home and fly back for two days...

It's really a crapshoot with that weather forecast.

Regardless of April 9th (a crapshoot, yep), April 10th is dramatically more promising. I'd bet on there not even being an attempt on the 9th unless the static fire went PERFECTLY. Four days from static fire to launch would be fast even for a Falcon 9.

[GWR64]

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1114215249517981702

2550 metric tons? ~ 25,007 kN
That would be a bit higher than the value on the SpaceX page: 24,861 kN.

And that's the vacuum thrust of 27 engines.
At the ground, the thrust is lower, and soon after launch the center core is throttled.
So these 2550 tons thrust only theoretically, right?

[Kasponaut]

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1114215249517981702

2550 metric tons? ~ 25,007 kN
That would be a bit higher than the value on the SpaceX page: 24,861 kN.

And that's the vacuum thrust of 27 engines.
At the ground, the thrust is lower, and soon after launch the center core is throttled.
So these 2550 tons thrust only theoretically, right?

The 2550 tons Elon is talking about is short US tons. It is the same as 2277 long tons or imperial tons 😊

[daedalus1]

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1114215249517981702

2550 metric tons? ~ 25,007 kN
That would be a bit higher than the value on the SpaceX page: 24,861 kN.

And that's the vacuum thrust of 27 engines.
At the ground, the thrust is lower, and soon after launch the center core is throttled.
So these 2550 tons thrust only theoretically, right?

The 2550 tons Elon is talking about is short US tons. It is the same as 2277 long tons or imperial tons 😊

You wouldn't need these conversations and confusions if everyone used the metric system like 95% of the world.

[DatUser14]

Raul just posted these new launch hazard areas. What is the red area for? https://twitter.com/Raul74Cz/status/1114281707694428160

[envy887]

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1114215249517981702

2550 metric tons? ~ 25,007 kN
That would be a bit higher than the value on the SpaceX page: 24,861 kN.

And that's the vacuum thrust of 27 engines.
At the ground, the thrust is lower, and soon after launch the center core is throttled.
So these 2550 tons thrust only theoretically, right?

The 2550 tons Elon is talking about is short US tons. It is the same as 2277 long tons or imperial tons 😊

Could be either. The SpaceX website lists the liftoff thrust as 2565 short tons. However, it also lists the vacuum thrust (which is the real "max" thrust) as 2515 metric tons.

[ChrisGebhardt]

CROSS POSTING - NSF member meet up on Monday (Go Falcon Heavy!)

The official meetup time has been changed (as of 2019-04-05 7:50 pm EST).

Hello all,

NSF will once again be hosting a member & friends meetup to celebrate the next Falcon Heavy launch (NET 2019-04-09).

We had such success at last year’s meetup that we will again be gathering at Fishlips Bar & Grille in Port Canaveral on MONDAY, April 8th from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm.



NSF MEETUP

Monday, April 8th from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm EST

Fishlips Waterfront Bar & Grill
610 Glenn Cheek Dr.
Cape Canaveral, FL 32920
321-784-4533

If you plan on attending or are a strong "maybe", please take a minute to fill out this NSF MEETUP POLL..


NSF HOODIE GIVE-AWAY (to be held at the meetup)

In addition to a few door prizes, we will be giving away a BEAUTIFUL NSF hoodie (suitable for wearing). All you have to do is...

     Guess the closest launch time (day, hours, seconds).
     Tie breaker: Guess the landing time (day, hours, seconds) of the first booster to land.


Please pass the word... the more the merrier! Please let us know if you have any questions.

Thanks!
Chris M.


NOTE:  If the FH launch slips again, we will move the meetup to the night before the launch.

(Original post: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=47723.msg1932295#msg1932295)

[Elthiryel]

The vehicle is still sitting on the launch pad. I expected it to be already rolled back by now.

[ChrisGebhardt]

The vehicle is still sitting on the launch pad. I expected it to be already rolled back by now.

To provide context to what's on the update thread, it's 100% normal to still be on the pad 12hrs after a static fire when there's contingency time in the schedule.  They don't need to roll back to the HIF until tomorrow to mate with ArabSat-6A, conduct interface checks, and then roll late Monday / early Tuesday to the pad for launch.

[Comga]

Mr. Steven has departed port also, the entire fleet is on deck for this FH mission!
   
— SpaceXFleet Updates (@SpaceXFleet) April 6, 2019
https://twitter.com/SpaceXFleet/status/1114557883813957632

So what can Mr Steven do without arms and a net?
Something with the big, round, raft?

[flyright]

Mr. Steven has departed port also, the entire fleet is on deck for this FH mission!
...

So what can Mr Steven do without arms and a net?
Something with the big, round, raft?

They've gotten pretty good at fishing fairings out of the water.

[Arb]

In the booster mate video, the solitary core at the top of the screen is also being worked on (it rotates, scissors lifts move around, etc... ). Is it known what this is to be used for?

[Alexphysics]

My guess it is B1051 being refurbished for RADARSAT. It looks it has been used only once.

[aviators99]

Anyone know when the window would open on Wednesday?

[Alexphysics]

Same window. GTO missions hardly change a lot their launch windows in a matter of days.