SpaceX Falcon 9 : Hispasat 30W-6 (1F) : March 6, 2018 - DISCUSSION

[Bubbinski]

If they do go expendable on Tuesday morning, would they be able to remove the titanium grid fins and legs beforehand in the HIF building?

[Brusion]

Many folks think that they need this booster back as they don't have a lot of block 4s to reuse and it will be a while before they have enough block 5s... It is a very interesting situation they find themselves in if that speculation is correct.

You really think SpaceX will now relaunch boosters flown to GTO ?
Unless there are some significant tricks or this launch goes into a substantially sub GTO, this is very likely a super hot landing test to gather more data.
Doesn't SpaceX has plenty of boosters that flown to GTO but with lighter payloads (even considering the extra Block IV vs Block III performance) ?

BTW, SpaceX has already flown a core from a GTO mission: B1023, Thaicom 8, then on FH as a side booster.

[macpacheco]

BTW, SpaceX has already flown a core from a GTO mission: B1023, Thaicom 8, then on FH as a side booster.

That wasn't a refurb but rather a re manufacturing. They might have replaced far more than any recent refurbs. I don't consider it the same.
Given that all FHs will be Block V, this path is no longer expected.

[RocketLover0119]

I can confirm HAWK has attached (or however you want to say this) to OCISLY

[CorvusCorax]

I can confirm HAWK has attached (or however you want to say this) to is towing OCISLY

better?

[RocketLover0119]

Shouldnt say tow as they have not moved yet.

I can confirm HAWK has attached (or however you want to say this) to is towing OCISLY

better?

[RocketLover0119]

Watching the unnamed webcam and there is a lot of activity on GO pursuit and GO quest.

[Jakusb]

I can confirm HAWK has attached (or however you want to say this) to OCISLY

Such posts qualify, to me, as an update.
@Lar: do you agree. If so should these be posted in (moved to) update thread?

[Rebel44]

If ASDS planned location posted on Google maps is correct, its +-400 miles from the port(and launch site), so either ships depart very soon and reach the location with the average speed around 11 knots, or SpaceX will have to delay launch if they want to land this 1st stage.

[Michael Baylor]

If ASDS location posted on Google maps is correct, its +-400 miles from the port(and launch site), so either ships depart very soon and reach the location with the average speed around 11 knots, or SpaceX will have to delay launch if they want to land this 1st stage.

Either Hawk has been turbocharged or that's impossible.

[Michael Baylor]

MISS ERIN IS AROACHING OCISLY.

You mean just driving past?

Don't worry, I've gotten excited for false alarms numerous times today. 

[RocketLover0119]

I think so, everytime I see a tug go by my heart starts going to extreme measures.

MISS ERIN IS AROACHING OCISLY.

You mean just driving past?

Don't worry, I've gotten excited for false alarms numerous times today. 

[cscott]

If ASDS location posted on Google maps is correct, its +-400 miles from the port(and launch site), so either ships depart very soon and reach the location with the average speed around 11 knots, or SpaceX will have to delay launch if they want to land this 1st stage.

Either Hawk has been turbocharged or that's impossible.

We've heard from sailors that tug captains like to go as slow as possible whenever they can to save fuel and reduce wear and tear on their boats.  Given the weather forecast (bad but getting better) this might be an occasion where they wait until the last possible moment to leave then sail at their highest possible speed to arrive "in the nick of time".  The later they arrive on station the better the sea state will be.

[Michael Baylor]

If ASDS location posted on Google maps is correct, its +-400 miles from the port(and launch site), so either ships depart very soon and reach the location with the average speed around 11 knots, or SpaceX will have to delay launch if they want to land this 1st stage.

Either Hawk has been turbocharged or that's impossible.

We've heard from sailors that tug captains like to go as slow as possible whenever they can to save fuel and reduce wear and tear on their boats.  Given the weather forecast (bad but getting better) this might be an occasion where they wait until the last possible moment to leave then sail at their highest possible speed to arrive "in the nick of time".  The later they arrive on station the better the sea state will be.

The tug is not capable of pulling OCISLY at that speed to make a Tuesday launch.

[meekGee]

fascinatinger and fascinatinger.

[CJ]

Given the hull speed of OCISLY (you get enormous drag if you try to exceed hull speed on a non-hydroplaning hull) you'd need a massively powerful tug and special towing gar to even attempt going significantly faster than we've seen ASDS towed before. So, I don't think they'll try that.

Another perhaps possible option, were this not a low-margin mission already, would be a partial boostback, thus allowing OCISLY to be closer to shore. But it's incredibly marginal on recovery already, so I don't think this is possible this time.

My speculation is that SpaceX's silence on a launch date is because they are waiting to see what happens with the sea state (and OCISLY's arrival time on station) before committing. If I had to put money where my mouth is, I'd bet on a Wednesday launch if we see an ASDS sortie in the next few hours.   

2nd edit because the first one was wrong; opps, missed the upthread confirmation that something may be going on with OCISLY. I'm still sticking with the Wednesday launch guess.

[Michael Baylor]

Given the hull speed of OCISLY (you get enormous drag if you try to exceed hull speed on a non-hydroplaning hull) you'd need a massively powerful tug and special towing gar to even attempt going significantly faster than we've seen ASDS towed before. So, I don't think they'll try that.

Another perhaps possible option, were this not a low-margin mission already, would be a partial boostback, thus allowing OCISLY to be closer to shore. But it's incredibly marginal on recovery already, so I don't think this is possible this time.

My speculation is that SpaceX's silence on a launch date is because they are waiting to see what happens with the sea state (and OCISLY's arrival time on station) before committing. If I had to put money where my mouth is, I'd bet on a Wednesday launch if we see an ASDS sortie in the next few hours.    

Edit: opps, missed the upthread confirmation that OCISLY is under tow! I'm still sticking with the Wednesday launch guess.

OCISLY is not under tow. It's tied to OCISLY in the port.

[CJ]

OCISLY is not under tow. It's tied to OCISLY in the port.

Oops again, I got the wrong impression. I'll go re-edit my post. Thanks for the correction.

And... I'll add that unless we see an ASDS sortie pretty darn soon, I think a Thursday launch is quite possible (unless they go expendable, but if they're doing that, why the recovery fleet activity - unless they are just after fairings?). 

[RocketLover0119]

The lights on HAWK just went on, not sure if that means anything.

EDIT: there is also some activity on the spacex dock.....

[Michael Baylor]

Still no official word from SpaceX. If they were confident a launch was happening in just over a day, they probably would have confirmed by now. Lets see what happens in regards to SpaceX tweets over the next few hours...