SpaceX Falcon 9 : X-37B OTV-5 : September 7, 2017 : DISCUSSION

[guckyfan]

The commentator at the SpaceX webcast mentione titanium grid fins.

[Rocket Science]

Mam, those clouds looked pretty menacing in the video feed... Did make for a dramatic image though at T-0!

[abaddon]

Typically, how long after launch does the USAF release confirmation of spacecraft separation?

I would guess about 20 minutes after launch if it was an LEO mission.

They will, I would imagine, wait until some time after insertion into orbit, so as not to give away the ascent time.

[NX-0]

Upon landing at LZ-1, there is always a cloud.
Is this:
A. Dust on the pad itself being kicked up
B. Exhaust from RP-1/LOX
C. Burning off the fancy SpaceX logo paint job.
D. Hope and dreams of SLS going up in smoke
E. Something else

[Ben the Space Brit]

Given that the re-entry of the upper stage is in the sea in between Australia and Antarctica, I'm imagining that the upper stage would have performed a northerly dog-leg of some kind.

[whitelancer64]

Upon landing at LZ-1, there is always a cloud.
Is this:
A. Dust on the pad itself being kicked up
B. Exhaust from RP-1/LOX
C. Burning off the fancy SpaceX logo paint job.
D. Hope and dreams of SLS going up in smoke
E. Something else

Mostly B, some A, with a small amount of C

[Jet Black]

Burning Russian Trampolines.

[abaddon]

I suppose if this isn't a direct injection, we might have a while to wait for a circularization burn?

[Ben the Space Brit]

We probably won't ever hear of it; all we'll know is 'spacecraft deployed' and then, around three years from now, OTV-5 landing at the SLF!

[kdhilliard]

The commentator at the SpaceX webcast mentione titanium grid fins.

At T+3:43 (23:39 in the video): "There you saw the grid fins just opened up.  These grid fins are recently moved to be made out of titanium.  Which is a much higher temperature material than aluminum and thus better able to stand the high temperatures of reentry."

I don't know if he wasn't aware that they were using old stock, or if he only meant to state that they have started manufacturing new grid fins out of titanium without meaning to imply that they were using the new design on this flight.

~Kirk

[ZachS09]

We probably won't ever hear of it; all we'll know is 'spacecraft deployed' and then, around three years from now, OTV-5 landing at the SLF!

You make a good point. For each OTV mission, the United States Air Force tends to push the limits further and further. So, I'm going to agree with your opinion and believe that OTV-5 will land at the Shuttle Landing Facility a little less than three years from now.

Maybe during August 2020.

[whitelancer64]

The commentator at the SpaceX webcast mentione titanium grid fins.

At T+3:43 (23:39 in the video): "There you saw the grid fins just opened up.  These grid fins are recently moved to be made out of titanium.  Which is a much higher temperature material than aluminum and thus better able to stand the high temperatures of reentry."

I don't know if he wasn't aware that they were using old stock, or if he only meant to state that they have started manufacturing new grid fins out of titanium without meaning to imply that they were using the new design on this flight.

~Kirk

That's a bit of an ambiguous statement, but it has to be referring to the fact that they are going to move to titanium. It's visibly clear that the grid fins were the old aluminum design with the ablative material that fouls that camera during reentry.

[Rocket Science]

We probably won't ever hear of it; all we'll know is 'spacecraft deployed' and then, around three years from now, OTV-5 landing at the SLF!

You make a good point. For each OTV mission, the United States Air Force tends to push the limits further and further. So, I'm going to agree with your opinion and believe that OTV-5 will land at the Shuttle Landing Facility a little less than three years from now.

Maybe during August 2020.

Would be pretty cool to see it towed up to a ramp beside Dream Chaser for a "photo-op"!

[JMS]

It is a bit confusing. The commentator did say say these were titanium grid fins though they clearly appear to be the aluminum fins.

[obi-wan]

Did anybody notice the terminal countdown seems to have switched from a "call and response" format to a "scripted call"? e.g., you used to hear the launch director call "(console designation), verify vehicle in startup" and get a reply "vehicle is in startup". This time you just hear the "vehicle is in startup" call, and it seemed like many of the calls were by the person I'm assuming is the launch director. Comments?

[Ben the Space Brit]

It is a bit confusing. The commentator did say say these were titanium grid fins though they clearly appear to be the aluminum fins.

No, the commentator said that SpaceX is now using titanium grid fins for vehicles currently in production, not that this particular booster was equipped with them. It's a subtle difference but it's there.

[gongora]

We probably won't ever hear of it; all we'll know is 'spacecraft deployed' and then, around three years from now, OTV-5 landing at the SLF!

You make a good point. For each OTV mission, the United States Air Force tends to push the limits further and further. So, I'm going to agree with your opinion and believe that OTV-5 will land at the Shuttle Landing Facility a little less than three years from now.

Maybe during August 2020.

Well, if the mission of X-37B is really responsive testing and return of experiments there has to be a point of diminishing returns on mission duration.

[Star One]

We probably won't ever hear of it; all we'll know is 'spacecraft deployed' and then, around three years from now, OTV-5 landing at the SLF!

You make a good point. For each OTV mission, the United States Air Force tends to push the limits further and further. So, I'm going to agree with your opinion and believe that OTV-5 will land at the Shuttle Landing Facility a little less than three years from now.

Maybe during August 2020.

Well, if the mission of X-37B is really responsive testing and return of experiments there has to be a point of diminishing returns on mission duration.

Isn't OTV-6 meant to be launching in 2018 on Atlas V, I am sure there was something about a launch in 2018 when OTV-4 landed earlier this year.

[Helodriver]

After that successful LZ-1 landing we will now get to see just how fast a landed booster can be de-erected and stowed.  Nothing like an approaching C5 hurricane to impel the ground crew to run their procedures sharply and efficiently.

[Kansan52]

Isn't OTV-6 meant to be launching in 2018 on Atlas V, I am sure there was something about a launch in 2018 when OTV-4 landed earlier this year.

Could be the reason they switched to the Falcon. They got an earlier ride. Just a guess.

The more likely explanation is the quote came from someone that wasn't informed about the change.

Would be interesting to have both OTV's in orbit at once. Guess it would depend if ground support could handle receiving data from both.