Author Topic: SpaceX Falcon 9 CRS/SpX-10 Dragon - Feb. 19, 2017 - Discussion (Read 418672 times)

woods170 · « **Reply #580 on:** 02/19/2017 02:42 pm »

Quote from: larmeyers on 02/19/2017 02:39 pm

Did anyone notice flame on the TEL (maybe around S2 umbilical) right after liftoff? Did it retract as far and fast as expected?

Yes it did.

Ben the Space Brit · « **Reply #581 on:** 02/19/2017 02:43 pm »

I'm thinking residual fluids coming out of one of the fill or drain lines being ignited by the exhaust heat from the main engines.

ugordan · « **Reply #582 on:** 02/19/2017 02:44 pm »

That's not flame, that's light reflected off of the vapor cloud.

toruonu · « **Reply #583 on:** 02/19/2017 02:49 pm »

Quote from: DOCinCT on 02/19/2017 02:48 pm

At around 3:17 a white spherical object maybe the size of a basketball? entered from frame right and quickly disappeared. Any idea as to what that was?

Look back to page #29 here. It's the dragon's nosecap.

Journeyman · « **Reply #584 on:** 02/19/2017 02:57 pm »

Quote from: padrat on 02/19/2017 02:12 pm

Woohoo! No work tonight or tomorrow! Was getting worried watching the weather. Minus the cloud coverage it was an awesome sight to see! On another note, for me this really brings it full circle. After the last launch from there I was sitting in my jeep in the parking lot there teary eyed writing a post on this forum. Within a month I, along with a few thousand others, was seeking employment elsewhere. Now I can officially say that I have returned and can't wait to add some more history to this piece of sacred ground. I hope that we can do you all proud and it feels great to be back in the launching business (Florida side) and feels great to be back at 39A. Let's keep it going!

P.S. And yes, it will be a double shot of Jack no.22 tonight!

I share your emotions!

I remember watching Atlantis launching for the final time from the NASA causeway... The feeling of sadness as the launch I just had witnessed would be something USA could not do again! The future looked very uncertain for when a crewed mission would again roar off that pad? Today has indeed bring it full circle with the return of launches from 39A.

I got teary eyed on July 8, 2011 and I got teary eyed today with happy tears as we are finally starting the next chapter in space exploration on the back of the Space Shuttle and Apollo missions!

Well done SpaceX, Well done launch team and all the workers that worked on getting 39A ready!

Padrat, next time I visit KSC I will buy you a beer! :-)

vanoord · « **Reply #585 on:** 02/19/2017 03:00 pm »

Quote from: toruonu on 02/19/2017 02:49 pm

Quote from: DOCinCT on 02/19/2017 02:48 pm
At around 3:17 a white spherical object maybe the size of a basketball? entered from frame right and quickly disappeared. Any idea as to what that was?

Look back to page #29 here. It's the dragon's nosecap.

Full image for clarity.

AC in NC · « **Reply #586 on:** 02/19/2017 03:31 pm »

Hella lot of bits of things flying around today:

Herb Schaltegger · « **Reply #587 on:** 02/19/2017 03:33 pm »

Quote from: toruonu on 02/19/2017 02:22 pm

Congrats on the launch. One thing that's also being somewhat wondered on the public side, it looked like the rainbirds only came online at T-0 and even then seemed to be quite low pressure. Is that just a visual misrepresentation or was there some issue with them?

Edit: and any clues as to what the two distinct object were that flew out of the rocket or close to it prior to entry burn?

It occurred pretty much simultaneously with the entry burn startup, so possibly ice or small bits of debris from the base area of the stage - perhaps pieces of cork dislodged by the overpressure of the engine start sequence. Post-landing inspection of the stage would confirm if it's stage debris, but SpaceX may not choose to disclose whatever it was.

Sohl · « **Reply #588 on:** 02/19/2017 03:34 pm »

Quote from: mvpel on 02/19/2017 02:22 pm

Here's the Dragon nosecone visible at T+3:12.

That's no moon.

Stranger · « **Reply #589 on:** 02/19/2017 03:39 pm »

kevinof · « **Reply #590 on:** 02/19/2017 03:43 pm »

Ice ? Hard to figure out it's size given the position of the camera.

Quote from: Stranger on 02/19/2017 03:39 pm

toruonu · « **Reply #591 on:** 02/19/2017 03:44 pm »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 02/19/2017 03:42 pm

Jay is still there asking questions! Asking about schedule. Comes out with one of his usually strange comments. Didn't quiet catch it.

He wanted Jessica to share her phone number to SpaceX party goers so that she can bail them out of jail instead of him

Flying Beaver · « **Reply #592 on:** 02/19/2017 04:00 pm »

"No date but approx two weeks for next launch".

Hmmm. 10 days was the plan. We'll have to see.

AC in NC · « **Reply #593 on:** 02/19/2017 04:01 pm »

Quote from: kevinof on 02/19/2017 03:43 pm

Ice ? Hard to figure out it's size given the position of the camera.

See my sequence above. Initially presents very small and the pair exit top-right of frame about 3 seconds later. I could be being tricked by perspective but I lean toward thinking it not something frome Stage 1. Is that unlikely at the altitude prior to the landing burn?

pb2000 · « **Reply #594 on:** 02/19/2017 04:12 pm »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 02/19/2017 03:37 pm

FAA lady is happy with the safety of the launch.

Her responses sounded like she was reading off a script, and she kept reading it over and over again without actually answering any of the questions. She midaswell not have even bothered showing up.

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #595 on:** 02/19/2017 04:17 pm »

I wrongly posted this in the update thread, don't want to loose it:

Quote

I took this picture looking directly out the window of the @SpaceflightNow office at KSC. First launch from pad 39A in nearly six years.

https://twitter.com/stephenclark1/status/833340909844570113

Herb Schaltegger · « **Reply #596 on:** 02/19/2017 04:24 pm »

Quote from: pb2000 on 02/19/2017 04:12 pm

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 02/19/2017 03:37 pm
FAA lady is happy with the safety of the launch.
Her responses sounded like she was reading off a script, and she kept reading it over and over again without actually answering any of the questions. She midaswell not have even bothered showing up.

She a government administrator charged with enforcing regulations enacted pursuant to federal law in an even-handed and non-discriminatory (*) manner. In what way would you prefer her to have answered any particular question?

(*) Non-discriminatory as to any other applicant for commercial space launch and landing applicants.

laika_fr · « **Reply #597 on:** 02/19/2017 04:28 pm »

I thought she was expecting a question about the pending extra funding for commercial operations.

Jarnis · « **Reply #598 on:** 02/19/2017 04:33 pm »

Is it just me or did the rainbirds activate awfully late?

Visible on this clip: https://streamable.com/v9zjg

flyright · « **Reply #599 on:** 02/19/2017 04:38 pm »

Quote from: Jarnis on 02/19/2017 04:33 pm

Is it just me or did the rainbirds activate awfully late?

Visible on this clip: https://streamable.com/v9zjg

My guess is they have refined the Rainbird startup to be "just in time" rather than to soak down the base of the rocket.