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#260
by
oldAtlas_Eguy
on 13 Feb, 2017 13:20
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#261
by
Hankelow8
on 13 Feb, 2017 13:29
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A bit of nostalgia for you, me standing in the flame trench at LC 39A in 1972.
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#262
by
Ben the Space Brit
on 13 Feb, 2017 14:08
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How thoroughly is the flame trench cleaned, post-flight? I was wondering how much SRB exhaust residue was blown out by the Falcon-9 test fire!
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#263
by
atsf90east
on 13 Feb, 2017 14:13
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How thoroughly is the flame trench cleaned, post-flight? I was wondering how much SRB exhaust residue was blown out by the Falcon-9 test fire!
I think I read somewhere that much of the flame trench refractory brick had to be replaced, in which case there would not have been accumulated residue. Besides, anything loose would be considered FOD, and cleaned up as part of the pad activation.
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#264
by
ChrisGebhardt
on 13 Feb, 2017 14:26
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How thoroughly is the flame trench cleaned, post-flight? I was wondering how much SRB exhaust residue was blown out by the Falcon-9 test fire!
I think I read somewhere that much of the flame trench refractory brick had to be replaced, in which case there would not have been accumulated residue. Besides, anything loose would be considered FOD, and cleaned up as part of the pad activation.
Indeed. FOD was always cleared after each launch and before each launch. However, if the question is about washing down the flame trench after each Shuttle launch, the highly corrosive elements of the SRB exhaust was washed down/away from the entire pad after each Shuttle launch as part of an effort to keep the pad from corroding. But the trench wasn't given a scrubbing per se.
And the brick was largely replaced in large sections at 39A after STS-124 blew a lot of the bricks off and out of the trench at SRB ignition.
Reference:
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/07/investigation-confirms-vertical-debris-events-during-sts-124-launch/(Edited to include reference link)
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#265
by
PahTo
on 13 Feb, 2017 14:33
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How thoroughly is the flame trench cleaned, post-flight? I was wondering how much SRB exhaust residue was blown out by the Falcon-9 test fire!
I think I read somewhere that much of the flame trench refractory brick had to be replaced, in which case there would not have been accumulated residue. Besides, anything loose would be considered FOD, and cleaned up as part of the pad activation.
Indeed. FOD was always cleared after each launch and before each launch. However, if the question is about washing down the flame trench after each Shuttle launch, the highly corrosive elements of the SRB exhaust was washed down/away from the entire pad after each Shuttle launch as part of an effort to keep the pad from corroding. But the trench wasn't given a scrubbing per se.
And the brick was largely replaced in large sections at 39A after STS-124 blew a lot of the bricks off and out of the trench at SRB ignition.
Reference: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2008/07/investigation-confirms-vertical-debris-events-during-sts-124-launch/
(Edited to include reference link)
Correct on all counts (thanks for the link as well, Chris).
For those interested in the new material used in the trench, google "fondue fyre".
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#266
by
mdeep
on 13 Feb, 2017 14:46
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And for accredited media peeps - do you know yet where you will be able to set up your unattended cameras for the launch yet? Interested to hear what fields of view will be available to you.
Unfortunately, no. We haven't even gotten our schedule yet from KSC.
At SLC-40 SpaceX keeps us outside the perimeter fence on the East side. I would hope they don't repeat that policy at 39A, as it would put us about 1/3 of a mile away and possibly leave us with an obstructed view (Depending on how the TEL and various utility poles line up).
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#267
by
bdub217
on 13 Feb, 2017 15:06
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Unfortunately, no. We haven't even gotten our schedule yet from KSC.
At SLC-40 SpaceX keeps us outside the perimeter fence on the East side. I would hope they don't repeat that policy at 39A, as it would put us about 1/3 of a mile away and possibly leave us with an obstructed view (Depending on how the TEL and various utility poles line up).
Have they ruled in/out media access to the LC39 press site?
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#268
by
DOCinCT
on 13 Feb, 2017 15:22
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SFN reported in their article 1.7 million pounds. If correct that is ~188klbs for the M1DFT+ engines. That would be the fuller thrust versions.
The question is the reported value correct?
article
http://spaceflightnow.com/2017/02/12/fire-returns-to-flame-trench-at-apollo-era-launch-pad-in-florida/
I think they are using the numbers (7,607kN 1,710,000 lbf) from the SpaceX Falcon 9 info page. This is may be based on the Merlin 1-D promised for Block 5 or the current flying Full Thrust version.
EDIT - Revision 2 of the Falcon Users Guide lists it as 6,804 kN 1,530,000 lbf which is the often quote 170,00 lbf per Merlin 1-D.
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#269
by
mdeep
on 13 Feb, 2017 15:28
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Unfortunately, no. We haven't even gotten our schedule yet from KSC.
At SLC-40 SpaceX keeps us outside the perimeter fence on the East side. I would hope they don't repeat that policy at 39A, as it would put us about 1/3 of a mile away and possibly leave us with an obstructed view (Depending on how the TEL and various utility poles line up).
Have they ruled in/out media access to the LC39 press site?
Also unknown. Obviously the press site will be used to coordinate various pre- and post-launch events, but launch/landing viewing is still TBD.
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#270
by
SWGlassPit
on 14 Feb, 2017 15:28
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That seems like an awfully easterly azimuth for an ISS launch. No activation of W158A or W158B?
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#271
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 14 Feb, 2017 18:10
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#272
by
shooter6947
on 15 Feb, 2017 15:19
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F9-032 CRS-10 Launch Hazard Areas Map (Local Notice To Mariners) for February 18th, alternatively 19th.
I don't get it -- since the stage-1 landing is RTLS, and there's no fairing to jettison on this one, what's up with that orange outline? Maybe for if there's an engine failure and the booster burns to depletion to make up for it and then falls into the ocean?
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#273
by
king1999
on 15 Feb, 2017 16:48
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F9-032 CRS-10 Launch Hazard Areas Map (Local Notice To Mariners) for February 18th, alternatively 19th.
I don't get it -- since the stage-1 landing is RTLS, and there's no fairing to jettison on this one, what's up with that orange outline? Maybe for if there's an engine failure and the booster burns to depletion to make up for it and then falls into the ocean?
Hazard areas are based on all possible outcomes including failures.
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#274
by
mdeep
on 15 Feb, 2017 21:53
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Unfortunately, no. We haven't even gotten our schedule yet from KSC.
At SLC-40 SpaceX keeps us outside the perimeter fence on the East side. I would hope they don't repeat that policy at 39A, as it would put us about 1/3 of a mile away and possibly leave us with an obstructed view (Depending on how the TEL and various utility poles line up).
Have they ruled in/out media access to the LC39 press site?
Also unknown. Obviously the press site will be used to coordinate various pre- and post-launch events, but launch/landing viewing is still TBD.
Following up on this now that the schedule is out: They are allowing a limited number of media to setup cameras inside the 39A perimeter. This is a welcome surprise as it signals NASA/KSC will be keeping coverage opportunities similar to shuttle.
Launch viewing opportunities include the usual sites: 39A press site, NASA Causeway, and the VAB roof.
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#275
by
Comga
on 15 Feb, 2017 22:11
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(snip)
Launch viewing opportunities include the usual sites: 39A press site, NASA Causeway, and the VAB roof.
Where did you see this?
As far as I know official viewing will be at the Turning Basin, Kurs Park on the Banana River, and a VIP location.
The Turning Basin is one of the press sites but not one specific to 39A.
Who gets to view from the top of the VAB?
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#276
by
Comga
on 15 Feb, 2017 22:13
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And in the NASA Doppelganger to NSF, where every discussion evolves to include SpaceX, every NASA discussion of anything turns into a discussion of SLS, including this morning's press release:
Friday, Feb. 17 (L-1 Day): Kennedy Director Robert Cabana will take news media on a three-part tour of facilities in the Launch Complex 39 area. Media will depart the Press Site by bus at 8 a.m. and will receive an update from NASA on transition of government facilities to the aerospace industry, and how that approach enables NASA and industry success. Media will then depart for the Vehicle Assembly Building, where they will hear about the extensive work completed in the facility to prepare for the Space Launch System, and how that work enables members of the aerospace industry to use the facility between NASA missions. The last stop will be in Boeing’s Commercial Crew and Cargo Processing Facility, previously a shuttle processing facility, where the company is manufacturing its Starliner spacecraft for flight tests and ultimately crew rotation missions with NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
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#277
by
mdeep
on 15 Feb, 2017 22:51
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(snip)
Launch viewing opportunities include the usual sites: 39A press site, NASA Causeway, and the VAB roof.
Where did you see this?
As far as I know official viewing will be at the Turning Basin, Kurs Park on the Banana River, and a VIP location.
The Turning Basin is one of the press sites but not one specific to 39A.
Who gets to view from the top of the VAB?
I should say LC39 press site (not 'A'); launch viewing there is a given unless otherwise noted.
Causeway and VAB were confirmed in the media advisory that went out this afternoon:
LAUNCH VIEWING
Saturday, Feb. 18 (L-0 Day): News media wanting to view the launch from the NASA Causeway will depart the Press Site by bus at 8:30 a.m.
A sign-up sheet will be available in the newsroom for media desiring to photograph the launch from the roof of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). Space is limited for this activity, so media must sign up in person. At 8:45 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, media selected will depart the Press Site for the VAB.
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#278
by
drnscr
on 16 Feb, 2017 14:44
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#279
by
ryan.riley
on 16 Feb, 2017 14:48
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