Author Topic: SpaceX Falcon 9 : CRS-15 : June 29, 2018 : Discussion (Read 65652 times)

vandersons · « **Reply #60 on:** 06/28/2018 02:45 am »

Question regarding viewing this launch in person (never seen one in person, first time in Florida). How early would I have to be on the A1A between the bridges to still be able to park up amd get a reasonable viewing spot?

If I understand it right all the other places will be closed including Playlandia beach and Jetty Park.

leetdan · « **Reply #61 on:** 06/28/2018 06:55 am »

http://launchphotography.com/Delta_4_Atlas_5_Falcon_9_Launch_Viewing.html is the definitive reference. Since it's an early morning launch without a booster landing, the crowd should be on the small side. An hour should be more than enough margin.

I recommend Route 401 on the north side of the port. You'll have a view of the rocket on the pad, and still be close enough to get a good auditory experience. Scheduled T-0 is less than an hour before sunrise, so the view should be awesome

e of pi · « **Reply #62 on:** 06/28/2018 02:21 pm »

Quote from: ChrisGebhardt on 06/28/2018 02:09 pm

Launch attempt schedule:

Friday - 05:42 EDT (09:42 UTC)
Saturday - NO ATTEMPT
Sunday - 04:54 EDT (08:54 UTC)

Yesterday, it was reported:

Quote from: ChrisGebhardt on 06/27/2018 03:12 pm

L-2 day launch weather outlook. Unchanged from yesterday. 90% change of good weather on Friday. 70% chance of good weather on the backup day on Saturday.

Did the backup day change from Saturday to Sunday (and if so do we know a reason) or did the weather report just get misunderstood? I note that it doesn't specifically list the backup day's date, only the chance of violating weather constraints on the unlisted date, which means it might have meant Sunday all along.

Billium · « **Reply #63 on:** 06/28/2018 05:07 pm »

I noticed on the F9 2nd stage reusable page that they are going to deorbit after "4 revolutions". The track on that final revolution looks like it is over my city (mid North America), maybe around sunrise but I'm not too sure. I have an app which tracks the space station, but I don't really know when the S2 might be overhead. Does anyone one have a ruff idea of how long a revolution for S2 would be? I thought it might be interesting to see if I can find it pass over. I don't know where they will do the deorbit burn and if I might see anything other than a dot, but I thought it might be fun to keep an eye out.

wannamoonbase · « **Reply #64 on:** 06/28/2018 05:19 pm »

Quote from: vandersons on 06/28/2018 02:45 am

Question regarding viewing this launch in person (never seen one in person, first time in Florida). How early would I have to be on the A1A between the bridges to still be able to park up amd get a reasonable viewing spot?

If I understand it right all the other places will be closed including Playlandia beach and Jetty Park.

At that time of day, probably anytime before launch. I always liked being on the earthen bridge ramp on 528 / A1A just west with a clear view of the river toward the pad. Makes for a great light show and being elevated helps.

Comga · « **Reply #65 on:** 06/28/2018 08:04 pm »

Quote from: e of pi on 06/28/2018 02:21 pm

Quote from: ChrisGebhardt on 06/28/2018 02:09 pm
Launch attempt schedule:

Friday - 05:42 EDT (09:42 UTC)
Saturday - NO ATTEMPT
Sunday - 04:54 EDT (08:54 UTC)
Yesterday, it was reported:
Quote from: ChrisGebhardt on 06/27/2018 03:12 pm
L-2 day launch weather outlook. Unchanged from yesterday. 90% change of good weather on Friday. 70% chance of good weather on the backup day on Saturday.
Did the backup day change from Saturday to Sunday (and if so do we know a reason) or did the weather report just get misunderstood? I note that it doesn't specifically list the backup day's date, only the chance of violating weather constraints on the unlisted date, which means it might have meant Sunday all along.

Yes
The backup day is now Sunday
The basis is discussed in the SpaceX Missions section.

Quote

Can't launch Saturday because ISS trajectory is too far away in its ground track for Dragon to reach Station in time for science requirements. NO other reason

envy887 · « **Reply #66 on:** 06/28/2018 08:23 pm »

Quote from: Billium on 06/28/2018 05:07 pm

I noticed on the F9 2nd stage reusable page that they are going to deorbit after "4 revolutions". The track on that final revolution looks like it is over my city (mid North America), maybe around sunrise but I'm not too sure. I have an app which tracks the space station, but I don't really know when the S2 might be overhead. Does anyone one have a ruff idea of how long a revolution for S2 would be? I thought it might be interesting to see if I can find it pass over. I don't know where they will do the deorbit burn and if I might see anything other than a dot, but I thought it might be fun to keep an eye out.

4 orbits would be about 6 hours after launch, or around 10:30 Central time. Definitely mid-morning and well after sunrise, so it most likely won't be visible.

toruonu · « **Reply #67 on:** 06/28/2018 08:27 pm »

It's now ca 13h to launch unless I've miscalculated something. Yet still no webcast information? Even spacex.com/webcast still has SES-12 on it...

vandersons · « **Reply #68 on:** 06/29/2018 01:14 am »

Thanks Leetdan and Wannamoombase, alarm is set to 3:30am to get to 401 at around 5am-ish. Now to get some sleep.

Semmel · « **Reply #69 on:** 06/29/2018 08:43 am »

Quote from: ChrisGebhardt on 06/29/2018 08:41 am

This is the 3rd and FINAL Block 4 first stage / Block 5 second stage Falcon 9 configuration.

It is the first time NASA is flying with a Block 5 Falcon 9 Second Stage.

LOL, what a nice way to exclude the in-flight abort test. Tip of the head to who ever came up with it

vandersons · « **Reply #70 on:** 06/29/2018 09:17 am »

Quite a crowd here on the 401. Falcon looking good in the distance.

Pete · « **Reply #71 on:** 06/29/2018 09:50 am »

Why does the second stage engine blanket have a pulse?
There is a very visible pulsing, close to one pulse per second, that slightly puffs out the covering visible in the S2 cameras.

Pete · « **Reply #72 on:** 06/29/2018 09:53 am »

And just after seco, the engine puffs a few times at the same rate, including what really looked like a couple of ?smoke rings?
Gotta love the increased light sensitivity of one of the two engine cameras.

Jakusb · « **Reply #73 on:** 06/29/2018 10:02 am »

Quote from: Semmel on 06/29/2018 08:43 am

Quote from: ChrisGebhardt on 06/29/2018 08:41 am
This is the 3rd and FINAL Block 4 first stage / Block 5 second stage Falcon 9 configuration.

It is the first time NASA is flying with a Block 5 Falcon 9 Second Stage.

LOL, what a nice way to exclude the in-flight abort test. Tip of the head to who ever came up with it

Does not exclude anything, as in-flight abort will:
- not be orbital
- not have a second stage
- not launch anything

Also why waste a perfectly good block-5 unless they are certain they can recover it...?

sanman · « **Reply #74 on:** 06/29/2018 10:03 am »

View from Orlando:

kevinof · « **Reply #75 on:** 06/29/2018 10:09 am »

Don't have a screen grab but it had an extra passenger at Dragon sep. Something from the second stage parted company along with the Dragon.

Edit: Got a screen grab

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #76 on:** 06/29/2018 10:21 am »

Congratulations to SpaceX and NASA for the successful launch!

I'm wondering if all the extra performance from not recovering the first stage, not flying the legs and fins and Block 5 second stage will be used for re-entry test of second stage using an inflatable heat shield.

Star One · « **Reply #77 on:** 06/29/2018 10:25 am »

Congratulations to all concerned.

And how long until we get the UFO reports regarding the launch.

leetdan · « **Reply #78 on:** 06/29/2018 10:25 am »

The launch was stunning, it didn't come out in our video but you could see the ~~nose cap~~ all the way down.

e: whoops, pretty sure that would've been the first stage.

SciNews · « **Reply #79 on:** 06/29/2018 10:27 am »

Main events from SpaceX

Full replay from NASA