SpaceX Falcon 9 : CRS-16 (Dragon SpX-16) : December 5, 2018 - UPDATES

• #140 by Johnnyhinbos on 05 Dec, 2018 21:41
• Chase (orange boat) aboat about to pass line to tug Eagle.
• #141 by Johnnyhinbos on 05 Dec, 2018 21:56
• Great updates to give of marine recovery, but can’t until I get home. Hands freezing!
• #142 by eriblo on 05 Dec, 2018 21:59
• Paraphrasing the radio:
  
  We got a line to the hold down post(s), it's the strongest part on the rocket. Take it easy, anything else like the legs will rip right off...
  
  They'll try and keep it north of the channel.
• #143 by Johnnyhinbos on 05 Dec, 2018 22:14
• To add - a small boat (orange RIB) from SpaceX was the first boat. Chase boat. The Eagle has taken the line (small gauge chain - I think 3/8") from the RIB and is going to station keep the booster until "they figure out what to do with it". 
  
  
  RIB cautioned against reattaching line to anything but the hold down - where the line is now. The legs will rip off it attached there. RIB heading in - but GoQuest will probably run SpaceX ops out to Eagle in a while. Sea state outside is 6-8', but more like 3-4' by booster.
  
  
  Meanwhile, pilot boat chatter among each other is a bit grumbly and cautionary about the hazard to navigation presented by booster in the channel - "I hope everybody is careful with that thing out there tonight".
  
  
  GoQuest is telling Eagle that SpaceX wants to bring someone from Ft Lauderdale out, but to bring GoQuest alongside Eagle in "these conditions wile attached to the rocket" seems a bit dangerous. Will probably run him out in the RIB.
• #144 by FutureSpaceTourist on 05 Dec, 2018 22:23
• https://twitter.com/_tomcross_/status/1070455962845278209
  
  

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  Falcon 9 rainbirds gushing sound suppression water at liftoff of CRS-16. #spacex #falcon9 #CRS16 @Teslarati @SpaceX  @elonmusk
• #145 by FutureSpaceTourist on 05 Dec, 2018 22:25
• https://twitter.com/johnkrausphotos/status/1070455668694491138
  
  

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  A few shots from SLC-40 of this afternoon’s successful #SpaceX launch of #Falcon9 and #CRS16!
• #146 by theinternetftw on 06 Dec, 2018 04:33
• Quote from: John44 on 05 Dec, 2018 20:23

  SpaceX CRS-16 Post-Launch News Conference
  http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6648
  

  
  Post-Launch Presser Transcript: https://gist.github.com/theinternetftw/a6e5bec64f6dc8c3084a38f3c5788f4c
• #147 by eeergo on 06 Dec, 2018 06:18
• https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/status/1070468634869407748
• #148 by FutureSpaceTourist on 06 Dec, 2018 06:34
• More launch photos from SpaceX

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• #149 by FutureSpaceTourist on 06 Dec, 2018 12:38
• https://twitter.com/WeReportSpace/status/1070662571781472257
  
  

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  A crew of three aboard the GO Navigator in Port Canaveral worked in the 48-degree pre-dawn hours with a welding torch to fabricate a long bar which we presume will be used to grapple the #CRS16 #Falcon9 from the choppy Atlantic Ocean. Photos: @MrExcel / @WeReportSpace
• #150 by FutureSpaceTourist on 06 Dec, 2018 14:32
• Booster still seems to be floating happily:
  
  https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/status/1070702026814877697
  
  

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  Hawk and our wayward booster. The line is currrently attached around the leg and anchored to a hold down point. #SpaceX #SpaceXFleet @elonmusk
• #151 by mlindner on 06 Dec, 2018 15:04
• https://twitter.com/Cygnusx112/status/1070707896059613184
  
  https://twitter.com/julia_bergeron/status/1070707656459997186
  
  I just heard Logan Diving contacting Eagle and GO Quest as well on frequency. That makes 5 4 boats on site now including coast guard.
  
  Edit: 4 boats, not 5. Fishing boat is not related and was stopped by coast guard from getting too close.
• #152 by mlindner on 06 Dec, 2018 15:44
• Just heard that they're pulling the line taught on the booster for some reason, perhaps starting to move it.
• #153 by Swoopert on 06 Dec, 2018 15:44
• As per Port radio, divers going into the water now. Asked the tug to put some strain on the line to steady the booster.
  
  Correction: divers preparing to go into the water, not in yet. Will be diving from the Logan vessel, not the RIB.
• #154 by Swoopert on 06 Dec, 2018 16:10
• Logan: Divers going in to do "Bottom survey"? Will need other boat (RIB?) to ferry bags over. Eagle is to keep the booster in a lean, holding it still best she can.
  
  Logan is happy with how Eagle has been keeping the booster still til now.
• #155 by Lars-J on 06 Dec, 2018 16:31
• The landing, combined from several sources:
  
  
• #156 by Swoopert on 06 Dec, 2018 16:46
• Logan reports to Eagle: Divers are clear, but there are some "guys around the leg on the surface"
• #157 by Swoopert on 06 Dec, 2018 16:58
• Logan requests Eagle to maintain whilst divers are wrapping a sling around the booster.
  
  I'm LoS now, those interested can keep an ear on: https://www.broadcastify.com/listen/feed/21054/
• #158 by DigitalMan on 06 Dec, 2018 17:26
• Some mention of a problem with valves on a bag that is losing air I think.
• #159 by DigitalMan on 06 Dec, 2018 17:54
• I already miss swoopert.  I'm having a hard time figuring out what is relevant.
  
  heard:  There is nowhere to put his feet to pull it up on the other side.
  
  I wish I could suggest them to throw a rope over the top or something.