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#500
by
woods170
on 23 Dec, 2017 17:44
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Because Ariane 5 doesn't care about recovering the side boosters?
Ariane 5 boosters are recovered.
Not quite correct Chuck. The booster for Ariane 5 have been recovered only a few times. It was for post-flight inspection to validate the design.
Standard MO for Ariane 5 boosters is to fall into the drink and sink.
But not reused?
The possibility of refurbishing and reusing the recovered boosters has, however, been rejected. It is currently considered a non-cost-effective option because of the specific design and reliability complications that this would incur. It is currently planned to recover four boosters per year.
(from http://www.esa.int/esapub/bulletin/bullet85/gigo85.htm cited above by nacnud.)
Why bother? Seriously. There might be some minor learnings but if you're not even going to TRY to reuse them, it's just a big boondoggle. Some contracts must have been let and then found to be too expensive to cancel, or something.
Recovery of the boosters proved to be extremely troublesome. The ELS package was experimental and unreliable. The very first recovery attempt failed completely because of that.
Even the planned four retrievals per year went away quickly after the first successful recovery validated the basic design of the boosters.
The fact that no humans were going to fly on Ariane 5 (after Hermes was cancelled) also aided the decision to not recover the boosters after the initial sets.
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#501
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 26 Dec, 2017 15:31
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#502
by
IanThePineapple
on 26 Dec, 2017 15:56
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#503
by
Johnnyhinbos
on 26 Dec, 2017 16:13
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Wow - FH payload picture on the update thread. That’s a First I believe! You can see the TEL inside. Does this mean a static fire with payload attached??
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#504
by
dnavas
on 26 Dec, 2017 16:18
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https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/943420026593337344
@elonmusk
Falcon Heavy at the Cape
As a tinker-toy construct, it seemed so obvious, but faced with the reality, I wonder how I ever thought this was going to work. Imagining the staging is giving me the heebie jeebies. Perhaps particularly after having reviewed Falcon 1 launches....
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#505
by
IanThePineapple
on 26 Dec, 2017 16:24
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Wow - FH payload picture on the update thread. That’s a First I believe! You can see the TEL inside. Does this mean a static fire with payload attached??
Possibly!
Either that or they're moving it there to free up space in the integration facility.
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#506
by
dnavas
on 26 Dec, 2017 16:29
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Does this mean a static fire with payload attached??
Maybe just pictures before WDR? Particularly if you can nab Zuma and FH on pads at the same time?
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#507
by
WH2OPaddler
on 26 Dec, 2017 17:16
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Now that the 1st FH is assembled, any word on when the static fire is planned?
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#508
by
tvg98
on 26 Dec, 2017 17:18
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Now that the 1st FH is assembled, any word on when the static fire is planned?
NET early January.
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#509
by
russianhalo117
on 26 Dec, 2017 17:32
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Now that the 1st FH is assembled, any word on when the static fire is planned?
First rollout may occur before the end of the year for a dry systems test with the fully integrated stack.
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#510
by
pospa
on 26 Dec, 2017 19:06
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Great find. Higher res attached.
I would say we can also see for the first time FH integrated to TEL in the background darkness of HIF.
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#511
by
douglas100
on 26 Dec, 2017 19:43
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Looks like there's another single core as well, parked to the right of the FH/TEL.
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#512
by
douglas100
on 26 Dec, 2017 19:47
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Does this mean a static fire with payload attached??
Maybe just pictures before WDR? Particularly if you can nab Zuma and FH on pads at the same time?
No reason why they can't do the static fire fully assembled. It's not like it's a customer's payload or anything. If they lose the vehicle on the pad then the loss of the Tesla is the least of their worries.
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#513
by
cro-magnon gramps
on 26 Dec, 2017 20:06
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I created a rough time line on Friday. The TEL integration was pre CHRISTMAS day with TEL fit check happening after boxing day. That led into a roll out around the weekend before NewYears Day. The static fire won't happen before ZUMA launches because they will be into pad Fit checks and the danger posed by an explosion on the pad at 39A. That leads to a Net of Jan 11th to 15th for launch. AT LEAST that's my rationalization:
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#514
by
pospa
on 26 Dec, 2017 20:08
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Looks like there's another single core as well, parked to the right of the FH/TEL.
That light ring is assembly jig only. No other boosters then FH in HIF right now.
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#515
by
RocketLover0119
on 26 Dec, 2017 20:17
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Also tried my attempt at removing the darkness from the photo
Great find. Higher res attached.
I would say we can also see for the first time FH integrated to TEL in the background darkness of HIF.
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#516
by
Flying Beaver
on 26 Dec, 2017 20:37
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Yeah.. Not getting any better than this
.
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#517
by
clongton
on 26 Dec, 2017 21:16
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Now that the 1st FH is assembled, any word on when the static fire is planned?
First rollout may occur before the end of the year for a dry systems test with the fully integrated stack.
Elon said in a tweet (I'll have to look for it now) that **IF** the WDR goes all the way without a hitch that they would proceed immediately to the static fire.
That's a big if for a new vehicle.
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#518
by
russianhalo117
on 26 Dec, 2017 21:22
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Now that the 1st FH is assembled, any word on when the static fire is planned?
First rollout may occur before the end of the year for a dry systems test with the fully integrated stack.
Elon said in a tweet (I'll have to look for it now) that **IF** the WDR goes all the way without a hitch that they would proceed immediately to the static fire.
That's a big if for a new vehicle.
yep Tweets are a bit behind L2.
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#519
by
Norm38
on 27 Dec, 2017 17:28
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It is a new vehicle and it isn't. They have to fuel the three cores separately, procedures for that should be the same as for F9. Did they build two extra tank farms, meaning the three cores are completely separate? Or one big farm? Triple flow that splits three ways adds complexity over separate feeds. But once the vehicle is fueled they should be able to quickly static fire. What would prevent that?
available as high res prints anytime soon 
.