Author Topic: SpaceX FH : Falcon Heavy Demo : Feb 6, 2018 : Discussion Thread 2 (Read 598024 times)

Boost · « **Reply #160 on:** 02/02/2018 10:56 pm »

Playalinda beach will be open for the Falcon Heavy launch, I just called them and I think we can take it for granted. So we need to arrive very early before they open the gates at 6 a.m., because they told me they expect to close the gates very rapidly as some dozens of vehicles come in. So if you plan on watching the launch from the closest possible spot for free, it's possible; you just need to arrive there in the middle of the night.
I already know 5 cars coming down from Atlanta to this gate at around 4 am, so I strongly invite you to join us there as early as you can. And I suggest to park in the different loops along the road to the beach, those are the places with the best views.

John Alan · « **Reply #161 on:** 02/02/2018 11:32 pm »

Quote from: KaiFarrimond on 02/02/2018 10:48 pm

Quote from: tvg98 on 02/02/2018 10:12 pm
Just saw a report that OCISLY is being towed to sea right now. Do we have any eyes in that area?

Going off Marine Traffic, it looks like HAWK pulled out of port and then came back in a few minutes later.

My guess is HAWK was just warming up the engines and checking systems before hooking up to OCISLY...

Watching MT the last few minutes...
It looks like HAWK is hooking on to OCISLY now with port tugs EAGLE and FLORIDA standing by to assist with the turn and getting out to open water...

Later edit... looking at MT...
Looks like they hooked HAWK on and then tied up for now...
The other two port tugs then went back to their docks.... Oh well...

NOPE... later info.
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=44376.msg1781484#msg1781484
Took it out and brought it right back... $:-\$
I hope it's not something serious...

50 mins later...
Outbound finally... Woohoo...

deruch · « **Reply #162 on:** 02/03/2018 02:13 am »

Quote from: Raul on 02/01/2018 10:10 pm

M1346 FH Demo Launch Hazard Areas based on issued NOTMAR.

Hazard periods for primary launch day Feb 06 and backup launch day Feb 07 is 18:25 - 21:38 UTC. Preferred T-0 is 18:30 UTC.

EDIT: And NOTAM define much larger hazard area for FH Demo launch. Screenshot update.

Combining the extended hazard zone and the in-close ASDS location, I do believe this is potentially evidence for a boostback burn of the center core. In previous discussions based only on the ASDS position, the consensus has seemed to be that they would launch with a very lofted trajectory, which may still be the case. But even with such, the location for the ASDS seemed too close to me. This wouldn't necessarily mean that there was any actual return, but at minimum truncated downrange travel.

We've seen similar types of NOTAM zones for when they first attempted actual boostbacks with F9 (including one "boostback" burn oriented sideways).

CyndyC · « **Reply #163 on:** 02/03/2018 02:21 am »

Speaking of the hazard zone, has anyone else zoomed in on the full map at https://goo.gl/L9HXtj? It's massive in the populated areas if I'm reading it correctly. Are the green dots & in-fill normally just for boaters, but where there is a risk for anyone at earth level since this one is covering a lot of land too? Are the gray dots and infill a risk to aviators only? Just about everywhere is covered with green or gray except for Fishlips and Jetty Park. Yikes!!

OneSpeed · « **Reply #164 on:** 02/03/2018 03:23 am »

Quote from: deruch on 02/03/2018 02:13 am

Combining the extended hazard zone and the in-close ASDS location, I do believe this is potentially evidence for a boostback burn of the center core.

Yes, the sim at https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=42389.msg1757841#msg1757841 predicted that the core booster would stage at 3040 m/s, with a ballistic trajectory that unchecked would have a 485 km apogee and land about 900 kms downrange, about the extent of the orange area.

Jim · « **Reply #165 on:** 02/03/2018 04:04 am »

Quote from: CyndyC on 02/03/2018 02:21 am

Speaking of the hazard zone, has anyone else zoomed in on the full map at https://goo.gl/L9HXtj? It's massive in the populated areas if I'm reading it correctly. Are the green dots & in-fill normally just for boaters, but where there is a risk for anyone at earth level since this one is covering a lot of land too? Are the gray dots and infill a risk to aviators only? Just about everywhere is covered with green or gray except for Fishlips and Jetty Park. Yikes!!

Grey is likely just stay out for aviators. It is not a danger zone. Green doesn't cover any private property.

Edit:. The grey doesn't cover any private property either.

Private property meaning populated areas.

wannamoonbase · « **Reply #166 on:** 02/03/2018 04:41 am »

Quote from: OneSpeed on 02/03/2018 03:23 am

Quote from: deruch on 02/03/2018 02:13 am
Combining the extended hazard zone and the in-close ASDS location, I do believe this is potentially evidence for a boostback burn of the center core.

Yes, the sim at https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=42389.msg1757841#msg1757841 predicted that the core booster would stage at 3040 m/s, with a ballistic trajectory that unchecked would have a 485 km apogee and land about 900 kms downrange, about the extent of the orange area.

That would really be some hang time. What would the landing time be with a 485 km apogee?

deruch · « **Reply #167 on:** 02/03/2018 05:45 am »

Quote from: wannamoonbase on 02/03/2018 04:41 am

Quote from: OneSpeed on 02/03/2018 03:23 am
Quote from: deruch on 02/03/2018 02:13 am
Combining the extended hazard zone and the in-close ASDS location, I do believe this is potentially evidence for a boostback burn of the center core.

Yes, the sim at https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=42389.msg1757841#msg1757841 predicted that the core booster would stage at 3040 m/s, with a ballistic trajectory that unchecked would have a 485 km apogee and land about 900 kms downrange, about the extent of the orange area.

That would really be some hang time. What would the landing time be with a 485 km apogee?

In his sim he uses the boostback to also lower the apogee by thrusting with a significant downward component, not just backward. So, it would have an apogee of 485km only if allowed to continue ballistically, which he doesn't.

input~2 · « **Reply #168 on:** 02/03/2018 08:12 am »

WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FLORIDA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
061825Z TO 062138Z FEB, ALTERNATE
071825Z TO 072138Z FEB IN AREAS BOUND BY:
A. 28-38N 080-42W, 28-40N 080-41W,
28-49N 080-32W, 28-43N 080-29W,
29-01N 078-31W, 28-37N 078-35W,
28-36N 078-36W, 28-26N 080-18W,
28-25N 080-29W, 28-26N 080-35W.
B. 29-05N 078-30W, 29-24N 071-26W,
29-00N 071-16W, 28-36N 078-35W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 072238Z FEB 18.//

Authority: EASTERN RANGE 262046Z JAN 18.

Date: 010341Z FEB 18
Cancel: 07223800 Feb 18

Boost · « **Reply #169 on:** 02/03/2018 12:48 pm »

It seems like Playalinda will be rushed. I see many people over Reddit, Twitter and Facebook who intend to spend the whole night sleeping in front of the gates to reach this vantage point, apparently the best one: https://www.google.fr/maps/@28.6516625,-80.6359792,145m/data=!3m1!1e3

So if you want to have this front row seats for free, be there on monday evening or before 4 a.m. I would say. This is what you can expect to see:

wannamoonbase · « **Reply #170 on:** 02/03/2018 01:26 pm »

Quote from: Boost on 02/03/2018 12:48 pm

It seems like Playalinda will be rushed. I see many people over Reddit, Twitter and Facebook who intend to spend the whole night sleeping in front of the gates to reach this vantage point, apparently the best one: https://www.google.fr/maps/@28.6516625,-80.6359792,145m/data=!3m1!1e3

So if you want to have this front row seats for free, be there on monday evening or before 4 a.m. I would say.

If I still lived at the Cape I'd watch from HWY 528. Shuttle launches were always nice from there and this time the returning boosters should have a good view from there too.

Thorny · « **Reply #171 on:** 02/03/2018 01:39 pm »

Quote from: wannamoonbase on 02/03/2018 01:26 pm

If I still lived at the Cape I'd watch from HWY 528. Shuttle launches were always nice from there and this time the returning boosters should have a good view from there too.

And with a midday launch, the sun will be at your back from 528. Those at Playalinda will be squinting into the sun.

Boost · « **Reply #172 on:** 02/03/2018 01:43 pm »

There may be more clouds than sun.

jpo234 · « **Reply #173 on:** 02/03/2018 02:02 pm »

Quote from: IanThePineapple on 02/03/2018 02:25 am

https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/status/959624880269479936

Some visual confirmation from the ground of OCISLY leaving, possibly for FH. Hopefully they didn't forget their phone chargers and have to turn around again!

Did this ever happen? Do they even have cell coverage so far out in the Atlantic?

Pete · « **Reply #174 on:** 02/03/2018 03:19 pm »

Quote from: jpo234 on 02/03/2018 02:02 pm

Quote from: IanThePineapple on 02/03/2018 02:25 am
https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/status/959624880269479936

Some visual confirmation from the ground of OCISLY leaving, possibly for FH. Hopefully they didn't forget their phone chargers and have to turn around again!

Did this ever happen? Do they even have cell coverage so far out in the Atlantic?

Now if only someone would invent a phone that works out in the deep ocean, it would be worth its weight in platinum, possibly even in Iridium?

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #175 on:** 02/03/2018 04:29 pm »

I guess this is one way to beat the crowds ...

Quote

Scooplet: Harrison Ford has gotten approval to land his private jet on the Space Shuttle Landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center. He'll arrive Tuesday morning to view the Falcon Heavy demo flight.

Will be tracking your flight, Solo.

https://twitter.com/nova_road/status/959834036272328704

Edit/Lar: any followups belong in this thread: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=42585.0

pb2000 · « **Reply #176 on:** 02/03/2018 06:00 pm »

Not sure if this has been discussed before, but have we gotten any indication when fairing separation will occur? Pre-MECO?

Pete · « **Reply #177 on:** 02/03/2018 08:21 pm »

Quote from: pb2000 on 02/03/2018 06:00 pm

Not sure if this has been discussed before, but have we gotten any indication when fairing separation will occur? Pre-MECO?

Hmm..
The fairing is very much designed to separate in almost vacuum (no problem) while under something like 1g of thrust. maybe even a drop less.

If they want to drop the fairing during the last part of the stage1 core's boost, it will be under *much* more than 1g of acceleration.

So, likely the fairing will drop from S2, very shortly after S2 ignition.

speedevil · « **Reply #178 on:** 02/03/2018 08:24 pm »

Quote from: pb2000 on 02/03/2018 06:00 pm

Not sure if this has been discussed before, but have we gotten any indication when fairing separation will occur? Pre-MECO?

The normal payload fairing sep happens (paraphrasing) 'when free molecular heating falls below 1150W/m^2' or something - this is around sunlights heating, which I suspect is not coincidental.
It also occurs to me that launches into darkness might by this criteria be able to drop the fairing earlier - if the pure reason is thermal.

macpacheco · « **Reply #179 on:** 02/03/2018 09:03 pm »

Assuming the launch goes perfectly, and the 3 boosters are recovered...
Wouldn't it make any sense to refurb the 3 boosters and do a fully expendable launch ?
Be it a fully commercial launch or the first large StarLink satellite load ?
Or is it actually cheaper to retire them ?
I think recovery makes most sense if you fly them again...