NSF Threads for Falcon Heavy Demo : Updates /
Discussion Thread 1 /
Discussion Thread 2 /
Member Meetup /
Cape Canaveral Launch Viewing /
FH Demo Mission Payload Discussion /
FH Demo Discussion and Speculation /
FH Demo Payload Speculation / L2 Coverage
November-December -
January-February /
ASDS /
PartyNSF Articles for Falcon Heavy Demo : [April 12, 2017]
Falcon Heavy build up begins; SLC-40 pad rebuild progressing well [April 25, 2017]
SpaceX Static Fire spy sat rocket and prepare to test Falcon Heavy core [Nov. 1, 2017]
SpaceX aims for late-December launch of Falcon Heavy [Dec. 30, 2017]
Falcon Heavy preparing for Static Fire test [Jan. 24, 2018]
Falcon Heavy comes to life as SpaceX conduct Static Fire test [Feb. 5/6, 2018]
SpaceX successfully debuts Falcon Heavy in demonstration launch from KSC [Feb. 9, 2018]
Falcon Heavy success paves the way for open access to space beyond EarthSuccessful launch Feb 6th at 1545 EST/2045 UTC from LC-39A at KSC carrying Tesla Roadster with Starman mannequin (mass around 1200 kg?). Launch vehicle used a new center booster (1033) and reused side boosters (1023.2, 1025.2). The side boosters successfully landed back at LZ-1 and LZ-2 at CCAFS. The center core crashed into the ocean very close to the ASDS.
Now that we're starting to see hardware flow for the first FH, let's keep discussion in this new mission thread a bit more focused. Discussion here should be about stuff we actually know about the mission. Any speculation about Dragons carrying school buses made of cheese will be deleted.
There is still a thread you can use for speculation.
We're waiting for photos, but Gary for L2 McGregor is reporting FH side booster on the test stand! 
Other SpaceX resources on NASASpaceflight: SpaceX News Articles (Recent) /
SpaceX News Articles from 2006 (Including numerous exclusive Elon interviews) SpaceX Dragon Articles /
SpaceX Missions Section (with Launch Manifest and info on past and future missions) L2 SpaceX Section
Hi Res set from Gary Blair (taken from a public area...as always) going into L2 over the coming hours, but this is a big milestone, so passing on at least a preview as "Conehead" is cool.
We believe this is 1023 (formerly the leaning Tower of Thaicom-8). One of the two flight proven S1's that will be with the Falcon Heavy debut.
"Conehead" Very good. "We're NOT from France!"
It is interesting that the guy wires are attached outside of the cone.
Would this make for more rapid processing, not needing to take off the cone for test firing?
Can they transport the stage from Hawthorne and to Florida with the cone attached?
Isn't it said that the first stage is already at the length limit for transport?
If they have to take off the cone for transport, why not use the standard (or slightly modified) cap for test firing?
Why build this capability into flight hardware?
"Conehead" Very good. "We're NOT from France!"
It is interesting that the guy wires are attached outside of the cone.
Would this make for more rapid processing, not needing to take off the cone for test firing?
Can they transport the stage from Hawthorne and to Florida with the cone attached?
Isn't it said that the first stage is already at the length limit for transport?
If they have to take off the cone for transport, why not use the standard (or slightly modified) cap for test firing?
Why build this capability into flight hardware?
Does the first stage normally transports with an interstage? If so, it might be that the cone replaces the interstage and doesn't add to the overall length of the rocket for transport. There is no reason for the nosecap to be easily removable since it isn't coming off inflight so it makes some sense to attach it semi-permanently at the factory and design a rig for testing with the cone already in place.
Just my 2 cents.
"Conehead" Very good. "We're NOT from France!"
It is interesting that the guy wires are attached outside of the cone.
Would this make for more rapid processing, not needing to take off the cone for test firing?
Can they transport the stage from Hawthorne and to Florida with the cone attached?
Isn't it said that the first stage is already at the length limit for transport?
If they have to take off the cone for transport, why not use the standard (or slightly modified) cap for test firing?
Why build this capability into flight hardware?
I believe it was transported from Hawthorne to McGregor with the nose cone attached, so presumably it could also be transported to Florida.
*Edit Attached Image
https://imgur.com/a/Vbxrx#zPdInH5
Does the first stage normally transports with an interstage?
Yes.
If so, it might be that the cone replaces the interstage and doesn't add to the overall length of the rocket for transport.
The nose cone replaces the interstage, and it appears to be quite a bit shorter.
"Conehead" Very good. "We're NOT from France!"
It is interesting that the guy wires are attached outside of the cone.
Would this make for more rapid processing, not needing to take off the cone for test firing?
Can they transport the stage from Hawthorne and to Florida with the cone attached?
Isn't it said that the first stage is already at the length limit for transport?
If they have to take off the cone for transport, why not use the standard (or slightly modified) cap for test firing?
Why build this capability into flight hardware?
I believe it was transported from Hawthorne to McGregor with the nose cone attached, so presumably it could also be transported to Florida.
I didn't "fix" your quote. Just colored it.
I had forgotten that photo. Thanks
So what are people's opinion of having the hold-down's as part of the "conehead"?
So what are people's opinion of having the hold-down's as part of the "conehead"?
I don't think there are hard connections from the wires to the cone. It looks like there is just the gray metal ring that "sits" on/around the cone and the wires attach to the ring. Since the ring sits nearly all the way down where the cone attaches to the stage it should be able to carry the load into the stage without fixed attachment points. Think of it as a crown for the conehead. That's my impression from the photo anyway.
In light of reports that a core stage may have been set to static fire last week, I browsed the SpaceX tag on Instagram and came across this. Photo posted (not sure if taken) Saturday of the McGregor test site, and strongly suggests that 1023.2 did indeed have an apparently successful SF.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BS6nzBPDwed/
It appears that it 'consumed mass quantites' of propellant indeed.
In light of reports that a core stage may have been set to static fire last week, I browsed the SpaceX tag on Instagram and came across this. Photo posted (not sure if taken) Saturday of the McGregor test site, and strongly suggests that 1023.2 did indeed have an apparently successful SF.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BS6nzBPDwed/
Wrong stand. You can see the old tripod stand to the right, the booster stand is right beside it, further to the right out of frame.
This test's vapor plume is better placed for Raptor, as it's stand is a ways to the north of the booster, as well as Merlin, testing areas.
In light of reports that a core stage may have been set to static fire last week, I browsed the SpaceX tag on Instagram and came across this. Photo posted (not sure if taken) Saturday of the McGregor test site, and strongly suggests that 1023.2 did indeed have an apparently successful SF.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BS6nzBPDwed/
Wrong stand. You can see the old tripod stand to the right, the booster stand is right beside it, further to the right out of frame.
This test's vapor plume is better placed for Raptor, as it's stand is a ways to the north of the booster, as well as Merlin, testing areas.
With the water tower on the right of the tripod, this is likely looking south-ish, not north. Meaning the plume is probably coming from the small site where they test Merlins.
1023.2 has been taken off the McGregor stand and look who's taken its place, 1033.
(The bit you want to see from Gary Blair's L2 McGregor set:)
Five days from Hawthorne to on stand at McGregor.
Nice.
I've never been so excited by the letter 'H' before. Makes it seem suddenly very real.
Oh, that's a beautiful sight. Love seeing where the core connections are.
