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#320
by
abaddon
on 15 Dec, 2017 19:48
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Given this is the non-payload discussion thread, unless anyone thinks it's a part of the rocket (seems like the general consensus is "no"), this is off-topic and should be discussed elsewhere, no?
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#321
by
Rocket Science
on 15 Dec, 2017 20:13
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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.
Back in the early days at the Cape people would stare at the lighthouse from far away thinking it was a rocket sitting on the pad...
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#322
by
MATTBLAK
on 15 Dec, 2017 20:21
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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.
Come for a visit and cover it here! Well put you up for a few days Chris!
The launch I want to be at with Accreditation is the FH/Dragon with lunar tourists -
if and
when they do it (2018-2020)
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#323
by
MATTBLAK
on 15 Dec, 2017 20:30
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#324
by
Michael Baylor
on 16 Dec, 2017 01:46
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I measured the distance between the two landing zones using the new Planet Labs measuring tool. They are only ~300 meters apart from center to center. The landing is going to be even more epic than I thought! I knew they would be close, but less than 1/5 of a mile close?
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#325
by
Jcc
on 16 Dec, 2017 13:51
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I measured the distance between the two landing zones using the new Planet Labs measuring tool. They are only ~300 meters apart from center to center. The landing is going to be even more epic than I thought! I knew they would be close, but less than 1/5 of a mile close?
I'm kind of curious about why one pad it black and the other white. If the black paint is radar reflective to make landings more precise, did they find radar reflective white paint, or integrate equivalent or better reflectivity in the concrete?
Or just to make it look cool.
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#326
by
meekGee
on 16 Dec, 2017 14:26
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I'm guessing the radar reflective paint is an underneath, and what were seeing is just a weather and heat resistant overcoat.
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#327
by
Saabstory88
on 16 Dec, 2017 15:30
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I'm kind of curious about why one pad it black and the other white. If the black paint is radar reflective to make landings more precise, did they find radar reflective white paint, or integrate equivalent or better reflectivity in the concrete?
Or just to make it look cool.
Well, if you wanted to test different coatings, then having two boosters landing at the same time would control for weather conditions and time of day.
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#328
by
CuddlyRocket
on 16 Dec, 2017 15:31
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I'm kind of curious about why one pad it black and the other white. If the black paint is radar reflective to make landings more precise, did they find radar reflective white paint, or integrate equivalent or better reflectivity in the concrete?
Perhaps there's a difference in the radar reflectivity of the two pads to enable the individual boosters to distinguish between the two, thereby reducing the chances of one booster getting confused and both attempting to land at the same pad?
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#329
by
cscott
on 16 Dec, 2017 15:35
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I think it's just refinement of pad construction using lessons learned. If we see a third pad built, I bet it looks just like the second pad.
Unless, of course, it has a cradle for BFR. Then all bets are off and it's unexplored R&D territory again.
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#330
by
pb2000
on 16 Dec, 2017 15:38
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Could also be the pads will be colour coded. If a third one is built for 3 core RTLS, I wouldn't be surprised if it was painted blue with a white X. Makes a it a lot easier to understand where each core is suppose to go and reduce the likelihood of one core thinking it was a second stage and trying to land on the interstage of the other
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#331
by
Nomadd
on 16 Dec, 2017 15:49
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I'm kind of curious about why one pad it black and the other white. If the black paint is radar reflective to make landings more precise, did they find radar reflective white paint, or integrate equivalent or better reflectivity in the concrete?
Perhaps there's a difference in the radar reflectivity of the two pads to enable the individual boosters to distinguish between the two, thereby reducing the chances of one booster getting confused and both attempting to land at the same pad?
I'm pretty sure radar is just for the altimeter.
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#332
by
IanThePineapple
on 16 Dec, 2017 15:52
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Maybe they made a white radar-reflective paint, or they're just happy with its accuracy without the special paint.
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#333
by
shuttlefan
on 16 Dec, 2017 16:03
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Have the strap-ons been mated to the core?
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#334
by
Lar
on 16 Dec, 2017 17:27
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Have the strap-ons been mated to the core?
I think the preferred term is side booster? Strap-ons? Mating? Might be a different forum you're thinking of?
That said I think they have been but we haven't seen any public pics yet IIRC.
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#335
by
TaurusLittrow
on 16 Dec, 2017 18:23
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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.
Wouldn't media accreditation/badging be through NASA/KSC given that the launch is from 39A?
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#336
by
shuttlefan
on 16 Dec, 2017 18:23
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Have the strap-ons been mated to the core?
I think the preferred term is side booster? Strap-ons? Mating? Might be a different forum you're thinking of?
That said I think they have been but we haven't seen any public pics yet IIRC.
Even though I thought you were too critical of my wording, thanks for the answer!
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#337
by
clongton
on 16 Dec, 2017 18:27
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Have the strap-ons been mated to the core?
I think the preferred term is side booster? Strap-ons? Mating? Might be a different forum you're thinking of?
That said I think they have been but we haven't seen any public pics yet IIRC.
The term in longest use in the industry is strap-on boosters. I remember this term from back in the 60's and 70's. But there are many variations and almost any of them are readily identifiable for what they are.
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#338
by
the_other_Doug
on 17 Dec, 2017 03:45
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Have the strap-ons been mated to the core?
I think the preferred term is side booster? Strap-ons? Mating? Might be a different forum you're thinking of?
That said I think they have been but we haven't seen any public pics yet IIRC.
The term in longest use in the industry is strap-on boosters. I remember this term from back in the 60's and 70's. But there are many variations and almost any of them are readily identifiable for what they are.
It's been an AWFUL long time since some members of this forum have thought about
anything except in terms of rockets, it appears.
C'mon, guys -- humans are animals too, y'know...
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#339
by
Nomadd
on 17 Dec, 2017 04:49
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Have the strap-ons been mated to the core?
I think the preferred term is side booster? Strap-ons? Mating? Might be a different forum you're thinking of?
That said I think they have been but we haven't seen any public pics yet IIRC.
The term in longest use in the industry is strap-on boosters. I remember this term from back in the 60's and 70's. But there are many variations and almost any of them are readily identifiable for what they are.
At least they don't look like New Shepard.
