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

[Coastal Ron]

They looked liked the old aluminum grid fins to me while watching deployment during the landing sequence and left me raising my brow thus-sly ala Spock

The new grid fins don't have the two stringers running along them - the ones for OTV-5 did have the stringers.

Unless these are titanium fins cast to the same pattern as the 1st generation fins, they're aluminium.

The new titanium ones also have scalloped edges, and these were flat. Also, the new one ones deploy slower, are larger, and are not painted white.

[Rocket Science]

The fact that all we have to talk about is how the host misspoke=flawless mission... Gets another attaboy SpaceX from me!

[rockets4life97]

I expect we'll be seeing the "old" gridfins on RTLS missions for some time. I expect they have a stockpile and are willing to do some slight refurbishment on used ones as this is likely more cost effective then throwing them away (in favor of the titanium ones on all missions).

[macpacheco]

I expect we'll be seeing the "old" gridfins on RTLS missions for some time. I expect they have a stockpile and are willing to do some slight refurbishment on used ones as this is likely more cost effective then throwing them away (in favor of the titanium ones on all missions).

IF Al Grid Fins need refurb at all from LEO missions ! Just because they do need refurb on higher energy missions does NOT mean any refurb at all is needed on all missions.

[Star One]

The next launch of the X-37B OTV-6 is slated for a 2019 launch on the Atlas V.

At least one more X-37B flight, OTV-6, is on the books for liftoff on an Atlas 5 rocket in 2019 on the so-called Air Force Space Command-7 launch.

Source link below.

https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/09/07/spacex-beats-hurricane-with-smooth-launch-of-militarys-x-37b-spaceplane/

[Archibald]

Congrats to SpaceX. Both first stage and X-37 are reusable. With the fairing soon to be reused.

Now only the second stage is expendable. 

[HVM]

Any word if SpX had time to secure B1040.1?

[octavo]

Any word if SpX had time to secure B1040.1?

L2

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=43611.msg1720877.msg#1720877

[rockets4life97]

Any word if SpX had time to secure B1040.1?

L2

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=43611.msg1720877.msg#1720877

Take that as a yes. If SpaceX didn't, it would be news worthy and likely find its way into an article on the main site.

[gongora]

Any word if SpX had time to secure B1040.1?

L2

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=43611.msg1720877.msg#1720877

Take that as a yes. If SpaceX didn't, it would be news worthy and likely find its way into an article on the main site.

That post said they're working on it, we haven't had anything posted yet saying they're complete.

[john smith 19]

Superb news that it's lifted off.

[Coastal Ron]

This story says that SpaceX "was moving quickly to secure" the first stage. 
http://spacenews.com/cape-canaveral-facilities-prepare-for-hurricane-irma/
My guess is that means lifting it onto the work stand.  I don't see how they could do more. I could be wrong.

They are trying to get the core inside a building before the storm. We'll see if they can do it, otherwise I would imagine they have a plan for lashing it down in some way.

[kevin-rf]

They are trying to get the core inside a building before the storm. We'll see if they can do it, otherwise I would imagine they have a plan for lashing it down in some way.

Half fill the RP-1 tank with water?

[Herb Schaltegger]

They are trying to get the core inside a building before the storm. We'll see if they can do it, otherwise I would imagine they have a plan for lashing it down in some way.

Half fill the RP-1 tank with water?

I'd set it onto the booster mount, use the lifting beanie cap the crane uses and guy wires bolted to the surrounding concrete. I wonder if the current stand was designed with this in mind? If so, there could be recessed padeyes set into the concrete already.

[rocketguy101]

The thought just struck me: it is strange to see discussion about securing a rocket booster after it landed before a hurricane hits the area when a few years ago it would be at the bottom of the Atlantic and nobody would give it a second thought...wow! 

[john smith 19]

Half fill the RP-1 tank with water?

Neat idea.

But I think those legs are designed to cope with landing a near empty stage, not anything close to full weight. 

Best to get inside a building ASAP.

[topopesto]

Is state to recover the fairing in this mission?

[john smith 19]

Super-smooth launch and landing, top work by SpaceX and great commentary here at NSF, for which thanks.

The grid fins (which I want to call feathers) seemed to be making light work of steering; gentle adjustment rather than big rotations, which is how you want it. Maybe the first two burns did a good enough job of putting everything on target.

SX have talked about improving the flight software to get a narrower dispersion on the landing angles, but I think that's meant to be part of the Block 5 upgrade.

This sounds very academic but it's got huge payoffs if they can do this every time.

More controlled thermal environment means less TPS erosion.

Less landing propellant for for landing process

Possibly less mass for the grid fin power package.

Bottom line. More mass to the US for either propellant or payload.

The later nudges up the payload figure a bit more, although it already exceeds the payload to LEO of every Atlas V variant that has flown so far (until the double engine centaur variant flies) and the straight Delta IV Medium to LEO.

Leaving the US payload the same and increasing the propellant load gives you more scope for escape missions or any US recovery attempts.

[Herb Schaltegger]

Half fill the RP-1 tank with water?

Neat idea.

But I think those legs are designed to cope with landing a near empty stage, not anything close to full weight. 

The first thing they do is set it on the booster mount to remove the legs. We're discussing options *IF* there should be a situation with insufficient time to remove the legs, get it on the transporter and back to a hanger. In such a case, a ballasted stage isn't a bad idea, but you might not want to fill with water in a structure not meant to hold it. You'd have to carefully clean and dry the tanks and plumbing to remove water before reuse.

I still think guy wires tied off to the beanie cap 90 or 120 degrees around the booster mount is a viable approach to this kind of contingency.

[cscott]

Is state to recover the fairing in this mission?

The Go Quest/Go Searcher support ships did not leave port, according to our ASDS tracking thread, and are currently tied up further inland than usual to ride out the storm.  So very unlikely there was any fairing recovery attempt, as I believe the Go * ships need to be over the horizon to collect fairing telemetry for even unsuccessful or "water landing" attempts.