SpaceX F9 : Bangabandhu-1 : KSC 39A : May 11, 2018 : Discussion

[russianhalo117]

From update thread:

We have a Falcon emerging from the barn

Since static fire is supposedly NET Friday can we assume that this is for fit checks for new equipment related to Block 5?

NET Friday is tomorrow.  Bringing the rocket to the pad today doesn't really seem early.

Also I doubt that the interfaces from the ground to the TEL have changed significantly, and the fitting up at the rocket itself has now been done.

Is it me or in the most recent pictures on the updates thread it appears that 4 of the 6 FH side booster hold downs appear to be removed.

[Lars-J]

Is it me or in the most recent pictures on the updates thread it appears that 4 of the 6 FH side booster hold downs appear to be removed.

It looks like they remain to my eyes, but I could certainly be wrong.
(If you are referring to this image - attached below)

As some others have noticed - it looks like the legs are latched to the core in a different way now. All under the legs, nothing is sticking out to the sides of the legs.

[russianhalo117]

Is it me or in the most recent pictures on the updates thread it appears that 4 of the 6 FH side booster hold downs appear to be removed.

It looks like they remain to my eyes, but I could certainly be wrong.
(If you are referring to this image - attached below)

As some others have noticed - it looks like the legs are latched to the core in a different way now. All under the legs, nothing is sticking out to the sides of the legs.

This one: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=45522.msg1817221#msg1817221 and https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=45522.msg1816310#msg1816310
The TSM's are missing to and I also do not see the 4 of the 8 hold downs that should be present during FH launches.

This is a better photo: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=45522.msg1817278#msg1817278

[Scylla]

OCISLY has left port.
Has an ASDS ever left port before a static fire before?
Is spaceX still aiming for  May 7 launch with a 3 day turnaround?
What is the shortest turnaround between static fire and launch so far?

[whitelancer64]

OCISLY has left port.
Has an ASDS ever left port before a static fire before?
Is spaceX still aiming for  May 7 launch with a 3 day turnaround?
What is the shortest turnaround between static fire and launch so far?

Yes, the ASDS has left port before the static fire before.

CRS-8 and CRS-9 both launched 2 days after the static fire.

That is, of course, in the era of "do the static fire with the payload on."

[abaddon]

Seeing pictures of F9 B5 vertical at the pad, with the RSS basically gone and the FSS as clean as we have ever seen it, this feels like quite a milestone.  Here's hoping for a trouble-free maiden flight of the final Falcon 9 block!

[rsdavis9]

Ok here is a stupid question.
I can't seem to see the block number in the photos. I read one comment that said it was under the grid fins. Anybody have a pic with the block number in it?

EDIT:
I meant core number and link below shows it well.
I was looking at the pad photos and now I know where to look I can just barely make out where it is.

[gongora]

Ok here is a stupid question.
I can't seem to see the block number in the photos. I read one comment that said it was under the grid fins. Anybody have a pic with the block number in it?

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=42465.msg1817418#msg1817418

[IanThePineapple]

Ok here is a stupid question.
I can't seem to see the block number in the photos. I read one comment that said it was under the grid fins. Anybody have a pic with the block number in it?

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=42465.msg1817418#msg1817418

I think he meant the core number, which I can't see either.

[Lars-J]

Ok here is a stupid question.
I can't seem to see the block number in the photos. I read one comment that said it was under the grid fins. Anybody have a pic with the block number in it?

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=42465.msg1817418#msg1817418

I think he meant the core number, which I can't see either.

Look closer - the '46' is there in tiny text, just under the grid fins.

[DigitalMan]

Ok here is a stupid question.
I can't seem to see the block number in the photos. I read one comment that said it was under the grid fins. Anybody have a pic with the block number in it?

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=42465.msg1817418#msg1817418

I think he meant the core number, which I can't see either.

Look a couple feet below the grid fin towards the right side. Look for '46' not '1046'

[aero]

Ok here is a stupid question.
I can't seem to see the block number in the photos. I read one comment that said it was under the grid fins. Anybody have a pic with the block number in it?

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=42465.msg1817418#msg1817418

I think he meant the core number, which I can't see either.

Look a couple feet below the grid fin towards the right side. Look for '46' not '1046'

I only saw it on one of the images, I don't think it is under all of the grid fins. But I did see the "46" once.

[Lars-J]

I only saw it on one of the images, I don't think it is under all of the grid fins. But I did see the "46" once.

Look closer. Here is a crop from Craig_VG's excellent panorama here: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=42465.msg1817418#msg1817418

The '46' is there under both grid fins. So it is likely there under both grid fins on the other side as well.

[mme]

I still wish they'd right write amazing the core number large and vertically in some silly sci-fi font:

Edit: I'm trying to get better at letting my typos live on and not over edit but that is beyond the pale.

P.S. This is not a joke, I really want SpaceX to do this.

[toruonu]

I still wish they'd right the core number large and vertically in some silly sci-fi font:

Nah, they need to be named. Like the shuttles were. They are going to be reused many times afterall.

[Craig_VG]

I still wish they'd right the core number large and vertically in some silly sci-fi font:

Nah, they need to be named. Like the shuttles were. They are going to be reused many times afterall.

See my sig

1046 is "Only Slightly Bent"
1047 is "The Ends of Invention"

(it's silly but fun)

[Tomness]

Falcon 9 Block 5 completes its hold down firing! Totally enveloped itself in exhaust and she’s still standing once it cleared! 🤩 woohoo! 👏 @Teslarati #spacex #falcon9 #Block5

May 4th be with you.  Aparently Force is with Falcon 9 Block V.

[hkultala]

Is there some good reason why this is LC-39A and not SLC-40? Like some equipment updated for block 5 first in LC-39A, later in SLC-40?

Or is it just a "random schedule effect" ?

[deruch]

Is there some good reason why this is LC-39A and not SLC-40? Like some equipment updated for block 5 first in LC-39A, later in SLC-40?

Or is it just a "random schedule effect" ?

I've just assumed that it was part of SpaceX's efforts to demonstrate safety&reliability of the Block 5 for use on Commercial Crew missions.  NASA wants at least 7 flights of it before putting crew on top.  But while most of the discussion around that requirement has focused directly on the Falcon 9 vehicle, it really encompasses more than just the launch vehicle.  Which means that part of what they are looking for is how the new variant interacts with the other parts of the whole Crew Transportation System, i.e. the Ground Segment and Crew Dragon.  It's not that a Block 5 flight from SLC-40 or SLC-4E would be useless, just that those from LC-39A are "more better".  Besides the additional analysis that can be done, launching from there as early as possible also maximizes the schedule margin to make any changes/adjustments needed should launches of Block 5 from LC-39A encounter new issues not seen on launches of previous variants or on those undertaken from SpaceX's other pads. 

[zubenelgenubi]

Forgive the Captain Obvious question, but does this NOTAM mean launch has been delayed from May 7/backup date May 8 to May 8?

NOTAM for launch on May 8

A0737/18 -  EROP X9504 ATTENTION AIRLINE DISPATCHERS, SOME OPS APPEAR TO BE USING THE NOTAM BEGINNING TIME TO START FILING ROUTES AROUND THE LAUNCH OPS. LAUNCH HAZARD AREA TIMES IN THE NOTAM ARE ALT SPECIFIC AND DO NOT AFFECT ALL OPS. THIS NOTAM CONTAINS A BREAKDOWN OF THE TIMES FOR PRE-LAUNCH AND LAUNCH CLOSURES. THE FOLLOWING AIRSPACE IS IN USE FOR A MISSILE LAUNCH/SPLASH DOWN. DURING THESE TIMES KZMA ARTCC/OAC, ZJX ARTCC AND KZNY ARTCC/OAC WILL NOT APPROVE IFR FLT WI 45NM OF THE AFFECTED OCEANIC STNR AIRSPACE RESERVATIONS WEST OF 6000W, 50NM BTN 6000W AND 5500W, AND 60NM EAST OF 5500W OR WI AFFECTED WARNING AREA AIRSPACE. EFFECTIVE: 1805081803-1805082315 W497A WEST OF 80 WEST, SFC-5000FT MSL 1805081803-1805082315 CAPE ATC ASSIGNED AIRSPACE, SFC-FL180 1805081933-1805082315 R2933, 5000FT MSL-UNL 1805081933-1805082315 R2934, SFC-UNL 1805082003-1805082315 LAUNCH HAZARD AREA A WI AN AREA DEFINED AS 2845N08037W TO 2837N08039W TO 2829N08035W TO 2802N07429W TO END PART 1 OF 4. 08 MAY 18:03 2018 UNTIL 08 MAY 23:15 2018. CREATED: 04 MAY 01:07 2018