SpaceX Falcon 9 CRS/SpX-10 Dragon - Feb. 19, 2017 - Discussion

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Presumably the LRR was ok apart from the leak, as Elon said they'll launch if the leak is ok?

What I'm not clear about is what will have been loaded on S2 to leak since the static fire?

[MarekCyzio]

I wonder if this will be a showstopper.

F9 should have significantly more hellium than required. Lots of hellium is used to chill second stage engine and this flight does not have second engine burn. But who knows if the leak will stay "tiny" during flight....

[MarekCyzio]

Presumably the LRR was ok apart from the leak, as Elon said they'll launch if the leak is ok?

What I'm not clear about is what will have been loaded on S2 to leak since the static fire?

All tanks are constantly pressurized. A little, but pressurized. I guess something in stage 2 started to show dropping pressure.

[deruch]

...Lots of hellium is used to chill second stage engine...

I believe LOX, not helium, is used to chill down the engines prior to ignition (for both 1st stage and 2nd stage engines). 

[edkyle99]

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/832647116816150530
@elonmusk

Investigating a (very small) leak in the upper stage. If ok, will launch tomorrow.

Guessing helium?

Possibly. Possibly the stage pressure relief valve.

I wonder if this will be a showstopper.

After September 1, it should be, IMO.  Is there such a thing as a "very small" leak in a rocket that can disappear in a fireball and destroy a launch pad in a fraction of a second?

 - Ed Kyle

[mdeep]

Just wrapped remote camera setup

[mdeep]

LC39A briefing about to begin

[Herb Schaltegger]

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/832647116816150530
@elonmusk

Investigating a (very small) leak in the upper stage. If ok, will launch tomorrow.

Guessing helium?

Possibly. Possibly the stage pressure relief valve.

I wonder if this will be a showstopper.

After September 1, it should be, IMO.  Is there such a thing as a "very small" leak in a rocket that can disappear in a fireball and destroy a launch pad in a fraction of a second?

 - Ed Kyle

Everyone seems to be presuming this is a helium leak. Is that confirmed? It could be a leaking pressure relief valve, umbilical connector or stage itself (not likely). But until SpaceX says what it is, everyone should just keep the catastrophizing to a minimum.

[Olaf]

Confirmation on why the launch was delayed to the 18th...

http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=98934#.WKb9MVdPwiQ.facebook

 FCET Success: SSBN Launches Fleet Ballistic Missiles

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- An Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine assigned to Submarine Group 9 completed a Follow-on Commander's Evaluation Test (FCET) Feb. 16, resulting in four successful test flights of Trident II D5 missiles. Designated FCET-53, the operation spanned a three-day period.

Only a question from someone, who is far away from the US.
The Submarine Group 9 is part of the Pacific Fleet, why they are launching their rockets from the Atlantic Ocean?

[Jim]

Only a question from someone, who is far away from the US.
The Submarine Group 9 is part of the Pacific Fleet, why they are launching their rockets from the Atlantic Ocean?

Because that is where the test range is.

[rockets4life97]

The 2nd stage spin system is the payload separation system correct? That is where the Helium leak supposedly is.

[Jim]

The 2nd stage spin system is the payload separation system correct? That is where the Helium leak supposedly is.

No, that is what starts up the Merlin

[Ilikeboosterrockets]

The 2nd stage spin system is the payload separation system correct? That is where the Helium leak supposedly is.

No, that is what starts up the Merlin

Presumably the turbopumps?

[edkyle99]

Everyone seems to be presuming this is a helium leak. Is that confirmed? I

Yes.  Gwynne Shotwell just confirmed.  She said it was in the "spin system", which Jim noted was for engine starting.  Obviously, that engine's gotta start!

 - Ed Kyle

[IanThePineapple]

Wow, the helium system is the cause for so many problems...

[northenarc]

 Gwynne Shotwell finds destinations outside the solar system more interesting than Mars, (Elon maybe building secret Project Orion Bond villain style?    )   

[IanThePineapple]

The Falcon getting late payloads loaded on 39A in the background is a beautiful backdrop for the Q&A

[edkyle99]

The Falcon getting late payloads loaded on 39A in the background is a beautiful backdrop for the Q&A

I think this may be the most informative SpaceX press conference I've seen.  Really good questions and answers.

 - Ed Kyle

[georgegassaway]

This was posted in the CRS-10 Updates thread:

Update on upper stage leak from Nasa TV 39A: Helium leak in the spin system on the second stage, "I believe we found it...as far as I know we're going to proceed into the count"

What is the "spin system" being referenced?  I did some googling to try to find out and only found a reference to  "spin start support systems" when LC-40 was being prepared for F9 launches.  Spin-up of pumps, or what?

[Herb Schaltegger]

Wow, the helium system is the cause for so many problems...

Helium is a tiny molecule and very difficult to contain. Not the same issue at all as the COPV failure.