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#300
by
octavo
on 14 Dec, 2017 03:57
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No idea if this actually belongs in this section, but...
I was taking a sponsored community college kid on a bus tour at KSC a few days back on the 8th.
We got stopped by the escort vehicles for... this.
Headed to 39A as far as I could tell...
That looks like a payload fairing... Zuma?
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#301
by
Jarnis
on 14 Dec, 2017 07:31
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More like for FH?
Zuma is supposed to go from 40, no?
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#302
by
ludovic_f
on 14 Dec, 2017 12:37
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But the core + S2 are still in LC39A HIF, are they not?
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#303
by
gongora
on 14 Dec, 2017 12:41
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Is the item in the picture even big enough to be a fairing?
It would be unusual for a fairing without a payload already in it to go to LC-39A. There isn't a payload processing facility at that pad.
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#304
by
Johnnyhinbos
on 14 Dec, 2017 13:46
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I'd say it's about the size of a Gen 1 Roadster, possibly red, and associated bits (whatever those are)...
(I know this comment isn't non-payload, but I actually think I may be right :-) )
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#305
by
envy887
on 14 Dec, 2017 14:04
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I'd say it's about the size of a Gen 1 Roadster, possibly red, and associated bits (whatever those are)...
(I know this comment isn't non-payload, but I actually think I may be right :-) )
As gongora just noted, there's no payload processing facility on the pad. Why would the payload go there unencapsulated, instead of going through the normal process like every other SpaceX payload?
Are the compression bridges already installed? The bottom half of that looks like one, although the top profile doesn't. Maybe it's covered with something under the tarp.
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#306
by
rockets4life97
on 14 Dec, 2017 14:13
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Static fire with the payload on? Seems like losing the car is part of the PR deflection in case of a failure.
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#307
by
Nomadd
on 14 Dec, 2017 14:21
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Is the item in the picture even big enough to be a fairing?
It would be unusual for a fairing without a payload already in it to go to LC-39A. There isn't a payload processing facility at that pad.
Not even close. That thing's about half the diameter of a fairing.
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#308
by
Jim
on 14 Dec, 2017 18:45
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No idea if this actually belongs in this section, but...
I was taking a sponsored community college kid on a bus tour at KSC a few days back on the 8th.
We got stopped by the escort vehicles for... this.
Headed to 39A as far as I could tell...
Maybe it should be in the Blue Origin LC-36 section?
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#309
by
Chris Bergin
on 14 Dec, 2017 19:33
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Heavy breathing!
HAWTHORNE, Calif. – Dec. 14, 2017. Media accreditation is now open for Falcon Heavy’s Demonstration Mission from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The launch is targeted for January 2018.
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#310
by
Jim
on 14 Dec, 2017 19:41
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No idea if this actually belongs in this section, but...
I was taking a sponsored community college kid on a bus tour at KSC a few days back on the 8th.
We got stopped by the escort vehicles for... this.
Headed to 39A as far as I could tell...
Where exactly was this?
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#311
by
jimvela
on 14 Dec, 2017 20:21
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Where exactly was this?
Just up the road from 39A, in the KSC tour bus.
I thought I recognized that transporter as one of the ones that SpaceX bought as surplus from NASA, but I'm not certain.
I wasn't able to watch it actually enter 39A as shortly after it passed, the tour bus went back on its way.
The door at 39A was open just before as we passed it, but as is my practice did not shoot photos into the building nor of the escort (security) vehicles.
Just prior to this I did grab a few shots of the TE that was out at 39A.
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#312
by
jimvela
on 14 Dec, 2017 20:32
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Looks like something on casters on the flatbed, under a tarp, which is on top of tubed ribbing to keep from giving away shape otherwise.
It would be kinda dumb to not process a payload in "payload processing", but it's not supposes to be an active payload but a peculiar mass simulator, possibly bolted to the payload adapter? So one presumes in this case, it's CG has been located, contents have been prepared/passivated, and all that remains is to bolt it in position to the payload adapter, then the mated pair of fairing secured? Goofy but possible.
Yes, my thoughts were that this was something on a transport cart of some kind. That white transport cart looks similar to countless others I've seen over the years.
I couldn't decide if the "arms" under the tarp were structure or possibly just straps securing something to the transport cart below, with the tarp just hastily thrown over.
I mulled about in my head whether perhaps it was something for the Transproter/Erector, strapped to a transport cart, but it didn't really have that sort of feel to it as I watched it go by.
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#313
by
JoerTex
on 15 Dec, 2017 13:13
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Go to the payload discussion for talk about a Red Tesla.
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#314
by
Inoeth
on 15 Dec, 2017 15:19
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I'm sure you guys noticed, we did get to see both landing pads, with the second one looking fully completed with a new paint job as F9 came in for a landing during this morning's CRS 13 mission. Very happy to see that looking finished as to me that's one more point in favor of this rocket launching sooner than later.
Any word on when they''ll be doing the wet dress rehearsal and the static fire (I know they said before the end of December) but id love to see this beast vertical on the pad- it'll make it that much more real after all the years of delays.
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#315
by
karki
on 15 Dec, 2017 17:01
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I'm sure you guys noticed, we did get to see both landing pads, with the second one looking fully completed with a new paint job as F9 came in for a landing during this morning's CRS 13 mission. Very happy to see that looking finished as to me that's one more point in favor of this rocket launching sooner than later.
Any word on when they''ll be doing the wet dress rehearsal and the static fire (I know they said before the end of December) but id love to see this beast vertical on the pad- it'll make it that much more real after all the years of delays.
I'm interested to know why they painted the new one white? I believe the black paint on the main landing pad helps with sensors that determine distance (radar?) so did they figure out how to make the same sensors work just as well with white paint or is there something different about these updated boosters?
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#316
by
cscott
on 15 Dec, 2017 17:50
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There is radar-reflective paint on the first pad, but perhaps it comes in multiple colors? Alternatively, we're seeing a base coat, and the radar-reflective stuff will be added on top of that.
A bunch of other options, too: since they knew they'd need the additional radar-reflectivity before the started work on the pad, perhaps the radar-reflective layer is below the surface top coat. Or (as I seem to recall hearing somewhere in NSF) they could have integrated the radar-reflective materials into the concrete (maybe just extra rebar?) and not need the paint.
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#317
by
Johnnyhinbos
on 15 Dec, 2017 19:05
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No idea if this actually belongs in this section, but...
I was taking a sponsored community college kid on a bus tour at KSC a few days back on the 8th.
We got stopped by the escort vehicles for... this.
Headed to 39A as far as I could tell...
Whatever that thing is - it's sitting on a wheeled dolly - like the kind of thing you see when moving a payload around on a nice clean level floor (there is very little clearance beneath the carriage for anything other than a concrete floor)
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#318
by
gongora
on 15 Dec, 2017 19:17
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We don't actually know that the thing in the picture has anything to do with SpaceX.
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#319
by
Lar
on 15 Dec, 2017 19:18
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We don't actually know that the thing in the picture has anything to do with SpaceX.
Like that's gonna stop us.