SpaceX F9 : CRS SpX-18 : July 25, 2019 - DISCUSSION

[tyrred]

WeatherX made a great show today 

edit: Pad was not the culprit

[jcm]

Which EMU unit will be up, which one will be down?

3003 will be returned.

But sill no word on the upward EMU s/n?

https://oiir.hq.nasa.gov/asap/documents/NASA_ASAP_3rd_qtr_public_meeting_June_6_2019_FINAL_RevB_Signed_tagged.pdf

One EMU (#3003) did have a minor issue with a suit pressure sensor during EVA #52 and is being held in “ready spare” status until it is replaced by SN# 3009 which is manifested on the Space-X 18 cargo flight slated for July. Additionally, a spare Fan Pump Separator Unit will be delivered on SX-18.

ooh thanks-  had missed that

[Prettz]

So ceramic Starship tiles might be back.

I guess it's safe to assume this is not PICA-X v3, but some new material.

[docmordrid]

So ceramic Starship tiles might be back.

I guess it's safe to assume this is not PICA-X v3, but some new material.

Perhaps TUFROC, or an evolution of it. They signed an SAA for it some time ago.

TUFROC page...

[Norm38]

The Bio-Printer experiment looked pretty cool.  It's nice how that experiment architecture - racks, connections, etc. has matured to where a company can do about whatever they want in zero-g as long as they can get their stuff in that box.

[ZachF]

Nice tracking shot of first stage coming back in!

[Vettedrmr]

Gotta admit I was getting a bit queasy when the entry burn marker and the actual event were so far off.  Awesome flight, SpaceX!

[meekGee]

Am I the only one who thought the controls were working extra hard on the way down starting about 20-30 seconds before the landing burn?

Like the divert was larger, and like there was wind buffeting maybe?

[tvg98]

Is it just me or did it look like the first stage was going off course just before the landing burn? I heard a few ohhs from the livestream and got a little worried. Nice job from Spacex nonetheless.

[intelati]

Am I the only one who thought the controls were working extra hard on the way down starting about 20-30 seconds before the landing burn?

Like the divert was larger, and like there was wind buffeting maybe?

To me, it seemed like the rocket wasn't "aimed" properly. It almost seemed as it it was aimed on land past the LZ

[billh]

Am I the only one who thought the controls were working extra hard on the way down starting about 20-30 seconds before the landing burn?

Like the divert was larger, and like there was wind buffeting maybe?

To me, it seemed like the rocket wasn't "aimed" properly. It almost seemed as it it was aimed on land past the LZ

The direction the stage is pointing isn't necessarily where it is going to land.

[ZachF]

Am I the only one who thought the controls were working extra hard on the way down starting about 20-30 seconds before the landing burn?

Like the divert was larger, and like there was wind buffeting maybe?

To me, it seemed like the rocket wasn't "aimed" properly. It almost seemed as it it was aimed on land past the LZ

Higher AoA, they've been doing this for a little while... stage is actually slightly gliding back to the LZ.

[VoodooForce]

If you mean further inland I would agree. Went "vertical" at the end to land on the pad.

[northenarc]

 So, May 4th - July 25th, is this the shortest turnaround to date for booster reuse?

[Vettedrmr]

You can't go by the angle the 1st stage is pointing at, because they fly the stage back at an angle to dissipate energy.  I also thought the "oohs" were from the contrails coming off the stage and grid fins, nothing worse than that.

The quick correction on landing burn I've seen before: when under power the angle of attack is zeroed out (I assume), then they stuck the landing as typical, but never normal!

HTH, and have a good one,
Mike

[whitelancer64]

So, May 4th - July 25th, is this the shortest turnaround to date for booster reuse?

No, it's 10 days longer. Record turnaround time is for booster 1045, 72 days between the TESS and CRS-15 launches.

[eriblo]

Was that the first time we've ever seen the solar array deployment from S2? It was very brief and right at the bottom of the screen.

No, we have seen it before. CRS-5 had a slightly better shot but was in shadow seconds before sunrise while CRS-6 had a well lit and centered profile view.

[AC in NC]

The NASA TV feed showed only the returning booster and missed Dragon deploy... Fail

Success!!!   NASA is all-in on Recovery Fever!!!!  MwuuuuuuaaaaahHaHaHaHa!!!

[whitelancer64]

Note:
I just did the math, and the average turnaround time for Block 5 reuses has now decreased to 102 days. The next scheduled launch, booster 1047.3 for AMOS-17, was most recently launched in November 2018 and that will increase the average a bit, to 115 days if it launches on August 3.

[cwr]

Was that the first time we've ever seen the solar array deployment from S2? It was very brief and right at the bottom of the screen.

No, we have seen it before. CRS-5 had a slightly better shot but was in shadow seconds before sunrise while CRS-6 had a well lit and centered profile view.

I'm confused.
I watched today's CRS-18 launch and saw the Dragon solar panel deploy - shot from a camera
on the dragon underneath the panel cover and folded solar panel.

This is what I've observed on pretty much all prior Dragon launches.
I don't recollect ever seeing a Dragon panel deploy with a camera on S2.
There's a camera switch between watching Dragon separate from S2 and then
watching panel deploy from Dragon.

Carl