Author Topic: SpaceX Falcon 9 - Iridium NEXT - Jan 14, 2017 (17:54 UTC)- UPDATES (Read 224198 times)

ZachS09 · « **Reply #140 on:** 01/14/2017 04:55 pm »

T+25 seconds. Roll and pitch programs have begun to place the Falcon 9 on a 179.2-degree azimuth.

ZachS09 · « **Reply #141 on:** 01/14/2017 04:55 pm »

T+40 seconds. All nine first stage engines are burning symmetrically with good chamber pressures. Approaching the transonic range.

And there's Mach 1. Falcon 9 has broken the sound barrier.

ZachS09 · « **Reply #142 on:** 01/14/2017 04:56 pm »

1 minute into the flight. We're now passing Max-Q, which is the moment of peak mechanical stress on the launch vehicle.

Attitude disturbances at Max-Q were very light.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #143 on:** 01/14/2017 04:56 pm »

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #144 on:** 01/14/2017 04:56 pm »

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #145 on:** 01/14/2017 04:56 pm »

T+1 minute.

ZachS09 · « **Reply #146 on:** 01/14/2017 04:56 pm »

T+90 seconds. The next major event will be MECO-1 at 2 minutes, 24 seconds. There are several more MECO events after this one because the first stage will restart its engines to help guide itself to the JRTI droneship.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #147 on:** 01/14/2017 04:56 pm »

ZachS09 · « **Reply #148 on:** 01/14/2017 04:57 pm »

T+2 minutes. Falcon 9 remains on a nominal trajectory. Coming up on MECO-1 momentarily.

And we've passed the CRS-7 milestone at 2 minutes, 19 seconds. We can now exhale a sigh of relief.

ZachS09 · « **Reply #149 on:** 01/14/2017 04:57 pm »

T+2 minutes, 25 seconds. MECO-1 confirmed. Stage separation is also confirmed.

And we have M-Vac start. The single Merlin Vacuum engine producing 209,994 pounds of thrust for this first burn.

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #150 on:** 01/14/2017 04:57 pm »

T+2 minutes. MVAC chill has started.

ZachS09 · « **Reply #151 on:** 01/14/2017 04:58 pm »

T+3 minutes. The first stage has entered its flip in preparation for the boostback burn.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #152 on:** 01/14/2017 04:58 pm »

Staging.

ZachS09 · « **Reply #153 on:** 01/14/2017 04:58 pm »

And the fairing separation event has occurred. Beautiful images beaming back from the onboard rocketcams.

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #154 on:** 01/14/2017 04:58 pm »

T+3 minutes.

ZachS09 · « **Reply #155 on:** 01/14/2017 04:58 pm »

The first second stage burn will last 6 minutes and 34 seconds from the time of ignition to SECO-1.

ZachS09 · « **Reply #156 on:** 01/14/2017 04:59 pm »

T+4 minutes, 30 seconds. The first stage boostback burn has started, which will null the velocity of the first stage and place its touchdown point over the droneship's center.

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #157 on:** 01/14/2017 04:59 pm »

T+4 minutes. Stage 2 propulsion nominal.

ZachS09 · « **Reply #158 on:** 01/14/2017 05:00 pm »

The boostback burn has shut down. We've got two more to go.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #159 on:** 01/14/2017 05:00 pm »

Booster coming home.