Author Topic: SpaceX F9 : Bangabandhu-1 : KSC 39A : May 11, 2018 : Discussion (Read 166614 times)

Bubbinski · « **Reply #320 on:** 05/12/2018 02:43 pm »

Congratulations SpaceX for the successful flight of the first Block 5, the human rated launcher that will fly astronauts into orbit, the launcher that is designed to be flown 10 times w/out major refurbishment. 9 years ago yesterday I was on the causeway watching STS-125 the shuttle Atlantis launch on the last Hubble servicing mission, from the same pad that the F9 Block 5 was launched on yesterday. And congratulations to Bangladesh for the successful orbiting of its first satellite, Bangabandhu-1, and its move into “developing country” status from LDC, it is moving up in the world.

Johnnyhinbos · « **Reply #321 on:** 05/12/2018 06:01 pm »

Just a point of interest - Grimes, Elon’s new friend - was in SpaceX Mission Control with him during the launch. I think she did the final countdown. My wife actually said, “hey, that’s not the usual voice” - and she was barely listening while reading emails on her phone...

IanThePineapple · « **Reply #322 on:** 05/12/2018 06:08 pm »

Quote from: Johnnyhinbos on 05/12/2018 06:01 pm

Just a point of interest - Grimes, Elon’s new friend - was in SpaceX Mission Control with him during the launch. I think she did the final countdown. My wife actually said, “hey, that’s not the usual voice” - and she was barely listening while reading emails on her phone...

The voice sounded an awful lot like the person who counted down the FH launch

ugordan · « **Reply #323 on:** 05/12/2018 06:19 pm »

Quote from: IanThePineapple on 05/12/2018 06:08 pm

The voice sounded an awful lot like the person who counted down the FH launch

And several others.

ngilmore · « **Reply #324 on:** 05/12/2018 06:28 pm »

Quote from: Star One on 05/11/2018 08:42 pm

Can I ask why Bangladesh is having to lease an orbital slot from Russia for this satellite?

Spacenews answered this:

Quote

Bangladesh had orbital slots from the United Nation’s International Telecommunication Union that it considered too far from Bangladesh to ensure reliable satellite services. After years of seeking better orbital locations, the Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC) hired consulting firm Space Partnership International (SPI) of Bethesda, Maryland in 2012 to guide the nation in obtaining a better slot and through the acquisition of Bangabandhu-1. SPI helped BTRC secure an orbital slot closer to Bangladesh at 119.1 degrees east from the Russian company Intersputnik for $28 million.

http://spacenews.com/spacex-launches-bangladeshi-satellite-on-debut-block-5-falcon-9-mission/

TrueBlueWitt · « **Reply #325 on:** 05/12/2018 11:08 pm »

Looking at that video, it appears the water from the two closest rain birds(the ones that soak the TEL) has a reddish color.. could be rust but doesn't really look like it.. maybe they're mixing in some flame retardant? Looks kind of like what's used on Forest Fires.

vaporcobra · « **Reply #326 on:** 05/12/2018 11:35 pm »

Quote from: TrueBlueWitt on 05/12/2018 11:08 pm

Looking at that video, it appears the water from the two closest rain birds(the ones that soak the TEL) has a reddish color.. could be rust but doesn't really look like it.. maybe they're mixing in some flame retardant? Looks kind of like what's used on Forest Fires.

It's sediment/dirt. The water suppression system sat unused since Falcon Heavy, more than three months ago.

cscott · « **Reply #327 on:** 05/13/2018 01:22 am »

Quote from: vaporcobra on 05/12/2018 11:35 pm

Quote from: TrueBlueWitt on 05/12/2018 11:08 pm
Looking at that video, it appears the water from the two closest rain birds(the ones that soak the TEL) has a reddish color.. could be rust but doesn't really look like it.. maybe they're mixing in some flame retardant? Looks kind of like what's used on Forest Fires.

It's sediment/dirt. The water suppression system sat unused since Falcon Heavy, more than three months ago.

Isn't it used for static fires?

mgeagon · « **Reply #328 on:** 05/13/2018 02:20 am »

Quote from: Llian Rhydderch on 05/12/2018 12:01 pm

Was this a new procedure on the use of the rainbirds for Block 5?
It appears to me that, although the two sets of four rainbirds on each side of the rocket (in the launch webcast camera) began flowing a small volume of water at ~T-0:52, and the two end rainbirds came on at high volume at T-0:08,... all eight of the side rainbirds seem to have stayed at low-medium volume all the way through ignition and liftoff.
link

Yes, it was definitely noticeable. Perhaps, since the rainbird system was upgraded for Falcon Heavy, it does not need maximum volume for Falcon 9?

Llian Rhydderch · « **Reply #329 on:** 05/13/2018 03:15 am »

New data on the rainbird question I asked a few posts above. Thanks for others of you weighing in on it.

This video from the update thread, I think, gives the answer.

Quote

UP CLOSE Pad camera views from the Bangabandhu Satellite 1 launch

AmericaSpace
Published on May 12, 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axF6sbdtchA

The side rainbirds do stay at low volume during ignition and liftoff; then pickup to full/high volume only one to two seconds AFTER liftoff.

This seems quite new. Was it used on Falcon Heavy launch and we just did not notice it?

Seems they intentionally want to keep this water OFF of the new Block 5 engines during startup, etc.

Lars-J · « **Reply #330 on:** 05/13/2018 03:45 am »

Quote from: Llian Rhydderch on 05/13/2018 03:15 am

The side rainbirds do stay at low volume during ignition and liftoff; then pickup to full/high volume only one to two seconds AFTER liftoff.

This seems quite new. Was it used on Falcon Heavy launch and we just did not notice it?

Seems they intentionally want to keep this water OFF of the new Block 5 engines during startup, etc.

No, that's normal - at least for 39A - although they might have tweaked the timing of when the different flows start. The full flow might damage the rocket, so it is only turned on when the rocket has cleared the launch hold downs.

CorvusCorax · « **Reply #331 on:** 05/13/2018 11:51 am »

Quote from: FutureSpaceTourist on 05/13/2018 04:52 am

Images from SpaceX, I believe by Ben Cooper (@LaunchPhoto on Twitter)

This is really a nice transsonic condensation ring around the stage. Perfect conditions for a "full scale test in the really large wind-tunnel above the florida coast" I am sure if needed they really wanted, they could verify their aerodynamic modeling of the rocket's ascent through the sound barrier by just looking where these form and how.

Then again, judging by SpaceX experience and how smooth these condensation clouds are, I'd assume the air flows just as predicted. But its still nice to have nature make this visible for everyone.

JimO · « **Reply #332 on:** 05/13/2018 12:13 pm »

Report from Perth about observing fuel dump from stage 2. https://www.facebook.com/groups/AustralianMeteorReports/permalink/851651691705477/?hc_location=ufi

compare with
http://satobs.org/seesat_ref/misc/zuma_vs_falcon9-stage2_clouds_plumes_overview.pdf

Paul_G · « **Reply #333 on:** 05/13/2018 05:35 pm »

Quote from: JimO on 05/13/2018 12:13 pm

Report from Perth about observing fuel dump from stage 2. https://www.facebook.com/groups/AustralianMeteorReports/permalink/851651691705477/?hc_location=ufi

compare with
http://satobs.org/seesat_ref/misc/zuma_vs_falcon9-stage2_clouds_plumes_overview.pdf

In the webcast, SpaceX mentioned that the 2nd stage was spun up to a rotation of 1.5' per second prior to spacecraft separation - would this small spin cause the 'Zuma' like spiral fuel dump that Grahame captured in his photos, or is it more likely that this spiral fuel dump pattern is standard behaviour when bleeding down the propellant lines and tanks?

Paul

SciNews · « **Reply #334 on:** 05/14/2018 07:40 am »

Some have missed this part during the live broadcast, so here is Michael Hammersley explaining the aborted launch

AncientU · « **Reply #335 on:** 05/14/2018 11:17 am »

Here is the clarification of that 300 launches quote:

Quote

SpaceX will prob build 30 to 40 rocket cores for ~300 missions over 5 years. Then BFR takes over & Falcon retires. Goal of BFR is to enable anyone to move to moon, Mars & eventually outer planets.

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/995462943079723008

Lots of wiggle room there for BFR arriving a bit late -- something like a factor of 10 more flights available from 'the fleet' than required. 300 flights in five years... hhhmmmmmm. Must include the constellation finally.

joncz · « **Reply #336 on:** 05/14/2018 11:59 am »

Quote from: SciNews on 05/14/2018 07:40 am

Some have missed this part during the live broadcast, so here is Michael Hammersley explaining the aborted launch

Initialize your variables!

The Roadie · « **Reply #337 on:** 05/14/2018 02:23 pm »

Quote from: joncz on 05/14/2018 11:59 am

Quote from: SciNews on 05/14/2018 07:40 am
Some have missed this part during the live broadcast, so here is Michael Hammersley explaining the aborted launch

Initialize your variables!

1] Even the hardware ones
2] Run an early pre-check routine before the 2-hour poll to catch these things

San Diego had a famous incident in 2012 where the pyro vendor for 4th of July ran the wrong program at the start of the show. Instead of the synced-to-music program, they ran a wiring continuity check. The diagnostic program was written with minimum timing delays, and should have been run only with shorting plugs at the far ends of the wiring runs instead of the actual mortar igniters. 7000 shells, 4 barges, 30 seconds.

Lesson: Make sure the pre-check routine follows the Hippocratic Oath and does no harm.

octavo · « **Reply #338 on:** 05/15/2018 01:59 pm »

Does anyone here have the first stage apogee for this flight?

OneSpeed · « **Reply #339 on:** 05/15/2018 09:38 pm »

Quote from: octavo on 05/15/2018 01:59 pm

Does anyone here have the first stage apogee for this flight?

From the sim posted here: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=42389.msg1821429#msg1821429 I get about 113kms.