SpaceX Falcon 9 : CRS-11 : June 3, 2017 : DISCUSSION

[sanman]

Aliens have to get close-up pics too

[Nomadd]

Any idea what that was? It looks like a bird, but 59 km is a bit too high for them.

Weather balloon.

[Ben the Space Brit]

Any idea what that was? It looks like a bird, but 59 km is a bit too high for them.

Weather balloon.

I know that the balloons have only tiny payloads and are mostly a thin plastic envelope filled with neutral gas but would there be a risk to the spacecraft from a contact at such a high relative velocity?

[gongora]

Congratulations SpaceX and NASA!

Thanks for posting the NASA footage.  Stage separation starts at about 3:00, different cameras than SpaceX webcast.

[gosnold]

Any idea what that was? It looks like a bird, but 59 km is a bit too high for them.

Weather balloon.

Twice? How many weather ballons are there?

Plus obligatory chart:

[mme]

Any idea what that was? It looks like a bird, but 59 km is a bit too high for them.

Weather balloon.

I know that the balloons have only tiny payloads and are mostly a thin plastic envelope filled with neutral gas but would there be a risk to the spacecraft from a contact at such a high relative velocity?

I think that was a joke. The US had a rash of UFO sightings in the 50s and 60s and the explanation was always weather balloons or swamp gas. Mostly weather balloons.

[ChrisGebhardt]

I wonder if we're seeing a Block IV first stage here?

No.  They discussed the stage at the pre-launch press conference.  It's Block III.

[Ronsmytheiii]

Wow, these guys were practically under the landing rocket:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BU5JNxkg6rS/

(NSF language, but cool video)

[Ben the Space Brit]

The NASA TV footage from the upper stage had a "Wow! Cool!" moment. You have to squint to see it but, immediately after they cut to the upper stage cameras, you can see the core flying away from the separation point back towards CCAFS.

SpaceX launches continue to create a whole new standard for reality vs. sci-fi!

[kevinof]

It just never get's old. Wonderful stuff - I know the landing is a bonus and not the main event but it's just great watching it. Great stuff.

The NASA TV footage from the upper stage had a "Wow! Cool!" moment. You have to squint to see it but, immediately after they cut to the upper stage cameras, you can see the core flying away from the separation point back towards CCAFS.

SpaceX launches continue to create a whole new standard for reality vs. sci-fi!

[wannamoonbase]

Congrats SpaceX on a great launch.  It looked smooth like butter!!

[intrepidpursuit]

Any idea what that was? It looks like a bird, but 59 km is a bit too high for them.

No way they just happened to run into something at an altitude where nothing can stay for long. It has to be ablative material from the octaweb or other rocket related debris.

[Rocket Science]

Great article William, thank you! How many of us were around to see launch number 1 from Pad 39A?

[Alastor]

Anyone know what the callouts were at T+8:50, T+11:36 and T+12:12 are ?
Both wording and meaning.

I don't know why but I do not understand a word of what the controller for what I assume is dragon related stuff says. 

[Dao Angkan]

It's outstanding how they've nailed the booster landings. It shouldn't look as easy as it does.

[docmordrid]

It just never get's old. Wonderful stuff - I know the landing is a bonus and not the main event but it's just great watching it. Great stuff.

The NASA TV footage from the upper stage had a "Wow! Cool!" moment. You have to squint to see it but, immediately after they cut to the upper stage cameras, you can see the core flying away from the separation point back towards CCAFS.

SpaceX launches continue to create a whole new standard for reality vs. sci-fi!

This?

[Thorny]

Does anyone know what that boat was doing just offshore at liftoff?

[wardy89]

I have just been re watching the launch footage and one thing that i struck me is just how quickly they restarted the 1st stage for the boost back burn.

Watching the onboard video it appears they restart the 1st stage during the re orientation flip not after it. is this just me seeing things? I remember watching the NROL launch being impressed at how fast they flipped and restarted but this seemed faster and more aggressive.

[Alastor]

Watching the onboard video it appears they restart the 1st stage during the re orientation flip not after it. is this just me seeing things? I remember watching the NROL launch being impressed at how fast they flipped and restarted but this seemed faster and more aggressive.

It's not just you seeing things. It might just be that due to the trajectory requirement to do RTLS, starting the burn while reorienting is actually helping by combining maneuvers and thus gives them more margin.

[gongora]

I have just been re watching the launch footage and one thing that i struck me is just how quickly they restarted the 1st stage for the boost back burn.

Watching the onboard video it appears they restart the 1st stage during the re orientation flip not after it. is this just me seeing things? I remember watching the NROL launch being impressed at how fast they flipped and restarted but this seemed faster and more aggressive.

It was mostly flipped around when they restarted.  If you haven't watched the NASA feed you should check it out, stage separation is at 3:00.  https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=42972.msg1686164#msg1686164