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#1200
by
SimonFD
on 20 Jan, 2018 07:56
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This launch is getting closer and closer to being in the Mars Transfer Window....
If that happened, would they have to adjust the trajectory so that the Roadster
wouldn't reach Mars?
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#1201
by
Steven Pietrobon
on 20 Jan, 2018 10:46
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#1202
by
cebri
on 20 Jan, 2018 11:40
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When they are truly ready to light this beast I think SpaceX will tell so to Chris and the other reporters. Until then i think we are going to see a lot of WDR and pad equipment testing.
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#1203
by
Oersted
on 20 Jan, 2018 12:21
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Just a FWIW - From some angles, the FH looks a lot like the early shuttle stacks with the white-painted ET.
Yes it does. And I'm just as excited about this launch as I was in the Spring of '81!
I watched the inaugural Shuttle launch (on TV) as well.
I must say, nothing tops the excitement of seeing a never-flown-before vehicle about to launch with two exceptionally brave test pilots aboard. The FH is quite something, but it doesn't compare. The first Shuttle launch was the ultimate rolling of the dice.
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#1204
by
rsdavis9
on 20 Jan, 2018 12:33
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Just a FWIW - From some angles, the FH looks a lot like the early shuttle stacks with the white-painted ET.
Yes it does. And I'm just as excited about this launch as I was in the Spring of '81!
I watched the inaugural Shuttle launch (on TV) as well.
I must say, nothing tops the excitement of seeing a never-flown-before vehicle about to launch with two exceptionally brave test pilots aboard. The FH is quite something, but it doesn't compare. The first Shuttle launch was the ultimate rolling of the dice.
I saw it in person. I drove up from the florida keys. I had to drive up and back twice because of delays.
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#1205
by
Chris Bergin
on 20 Jan, 2018 13:11
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When they are truly ready to light this beast I think SpaceX will tell so to Chris and the other reporters. Until then i think we are going to see a lot of WDR and pad equipment testing.
My "feeling" is this weekend is more prop loading related tests, hopefully resulting in the Static Fire next week. That's how I see it with everything on the table. Doesn't mean I'm right because.....per the above....
The routine is SpaceX never talk about a Static Fire test until it's done and has passed the Quick Look review. Nothing new for FH, they do that for F9. Just like ULA doesn't promote upcoming WDRs for Delta IVs.
Most of us are working off the KSC employee safety notices that inform KSCers of roadblocks that go into place ahead of prop loading a rocket, be it for a WDR or a Static Fire. The problem is they don't tend to say WDR, they always say "Static Fire test", I've noticed. And getting hold of such notices is becoming increasingly hit and miss for this flow due to KSC being down by hundreds of workers due to a contractor contract renewal foul up over the holidays that has left many of them at home waiting for the phone to ring (remember, KSC is mainly contractors - like it was during Shuttle with USA, Boeing and so on, not NASA). And now there's a government shutdown impacting a lot of the NASA folk who were not originally impacted by the KSC contract mess.
Personally, I'm looking forward to the day where Static Fires pass off like ULA WDRs where people aren't all that bothered and focus on the launch day (speaking as someone who must now be over 1000 messages asking "When's the Static Fire?" these past few days.
) The increasing launch cadence will likely see that become the future. But I understand the obvious interest in this one!
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#1206
by
Rocket Science
on 20 Jan, 2018 14:25
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So I guess the static fire is off...
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#1207
by
Johnnyhinbos
on 20 Jan, 2018 14:46
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So I guess the static fire is off...
Eh? Are you saying that based on previous posts in this thread or on some other source?
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#1208
by
Rocket Science
on 20 Jan, 2018 14:54
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So I guess the static fire is off...
Eh? Are you saying that based on previous posts in this thread or on some other source?
Hey Johnny, I'm just not sure of Cape support operations that are deemed non-essential during this government shutdown... I'm 50/50 on this...
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#1209
by
Inoeth
on 20 Jan, 2018 15:33
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From all the reports on Twitter (space photographers and reporters) it looks like a WDR tonight and the static fire on Monday... They're clearly not that impacted by the gov. shutdown...
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#1210
by
redliox
on 20 Jan, 2018 15:35
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They're clearly not that impacted by the gov. shutdown...
Talk about one advantage in being commercial
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#1211
by
Hankelow8
on 20 Jan, 2018 16:03
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Static fire might not be affected by the government shutdown, but the launch could be a different matter.
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#1212
by
Rocket Science
on 20 Jan, 2018 16:48
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From all the reports on Twitter (space photographers and reporters) it looks like a WDR tonight and the static fire on Monday... They're clearly not that impacted by the gov. shutdown...
I don't believe they can have a static fire without the Cape's permission can someone "in the know" confirm one way or another... I'm happy to be proven wrong!
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#1213
by
Space Ghost 1962
on 20 Jan, 2018 19:22
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Another way to phrase that - "is granting range authority a military function on an Air Force Station when already approved by civilian authority, going to allow a necessary activity?". What do you think the answer will be?
add:
Time's up
Answer - of course yes.
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#1214
by
Steve D
on 20 Jan, 2018 19:34
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The last shutdown did not affect operations.
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#1215
by
Brian Mc
on 21 Jan, 2018 15:24
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Wow! That's a lot of venting and condensation.
Gives a good demonstration of what the ET foam and LOX vent arm did for Shuttle.
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#1216
by
Inoeth
on 21 Jan, 2018 16:02
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https://twitter.com/gpallone13/status/955118574988865536 So i guess SpaceX (and the space community in general is screwed? Kinda odd to hear this now after we had heard otherwise... Additionally, SpaceX did do a WDR yesterday, which is still fueling the rocket completely....
This is really bad luck if it's true. Would be horrible to see SpaceX loose a full month of launches on their manifest due to a gov. shutdown.... not to mention the ever agonizing delay on FH, even if I fully understand not risking 'go fever'
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#1217
by
ChrisGebhardt
on 21 Jan, 2018 16:02
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The last shutdown did not affect operations.
Not sure what this is specifically referencing, but the last shutdown significantly affected ops at KSC and CCAFS.
Also, per the update thread, the 45th has now confirmed that they can't support launch and static fire ops during the shutdown.
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#1218
by
ChrisGebhardt
on 21 Jan, 2018 16:03
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https://twitter.com/gpallone13/status/955118574988865536
So i guess SpaceX (and the space community in general is screwed? Kinda odd to hear this now after we had heard otherwise... Additionally, SpaceX did do a WDR yesterday, which is still fueling the rocket completely....
This is really bad luck if it's true. Would be horrible to see SpaceX loose a full month of launches on their manifest due to a gov. shutdown.... not to mention the ever agonizing delay on FH, even if I fully understand not risking 'go fever'
As with Zuma, WDRs don't require Range support. Static Fires do.
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#1219
by
abaddon
on 21 Jan, 2018 16:05
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Wow! That's a lot of venting and condensation.
Gives a good demonstration of what the ET foam and LOX vent arm did for Shuttle.
Keep in mind SpaceX uses densified LOX that is substantially colder than what Shuttle used. Venting definitely got more "exciting" once they made the switch.
) The increasing launch cadence will likely see that become the future. But I understand the obvious interest in this one!