SpaceX F9 : CRS SpX-19 : December 5, 2019 - DISCUSSION

[king1999]

Just before the video cut off, it appears that the camera on the second caught the Dragon on its separate course.

Looks to me the second stage had rotated 180 degrees.

[Rocket Science]

Enjoyed the NSF live-feed, thanks to all on the team!

[Hankelow8]

Was I hearing things right when the guy commentating on the launch mentioned the launch abort would not happen until Feb 2020?
   

[Steven Pietrobon]

Congratulations to SpaceX and NASA for the successful launch!

Thankyou NSF for Chris's livestream!

[spacebleachers]

Was I hearing things when the guy commentating on the launch mentioned the launch abort would not happen until Feb 2020?
 

You didn't, but then in the IFA thread, there is a post indicting he mis-spoke,

[Comga]

Just after the "boost-back" burn at T+3:49, a large curved item comes off the first stage and slowly falls away, rotating as it goes.
It looks particularly large.
It doesn't look like the "snowflakes" we have seen from the second stage.
It's obviously not important for the entry burn or landing.  (Another bulls-eye!)
Any idea what it could be?

[Vettedrmr]

There was a ring similar to that on a past mission that was attributed to frost/ice buildup around a port on the first stage. 

[Pete]

There was a ring similar to that on a past mission that was attributed to frost/ice buildup around a port on the first stage.

Given the size+shape,  timing and location it originated from, I'd guess ice on the joint around the gridfin hinge.

Also not particularly large or heavy, as when the top coldgas thruster engages, it blows the object away in under 1 frame of video. This shows both its location (right by the gridfin), and relatively low mass.

[flyright]

Just before the video cut off, it appears that the camera on the second caught the Dragon on its separate course.

I don't recall seeing this view before of a Dragon with arrays deployed - seen from stage 2.

[EspenU]

Just before the video cut off, it appears that the camera on the second caught the Dragon on its separate course.

I don't recall seeing this view before of a Dragon with arrays deployed - seen from stage 2.

Second stage was probably in a PTC spin to keep temps in range for the long coast test.

[StuffOfInterest]

I know it is silly, but I really wish they would spray paint "Kilroy was here" on the back of that solar panel before a launch.  That would be a site to behold when the panel opened up.

[shooter6947]

Any word on the 2nd stage coast/restart experiment?  Will we know anything?

[Alexphysics]

It's sad NASA removed the post-launch press conferences, they were good moments for extra questions and comments about how the mission had gone...

[Norm38]

https://twitter.com/trevormahlmann/status/1202643983207407616

Beautifully clear weather today for #CRS19! Here’s a long exposure I made on my iPhone with the @NightCapApp from the roof of the Vehicle Assembly Building! GO Dragon!

⚙️/⬇️/🖼: tmahlmann.com/photos/Rockets…

I do not recall ever seeing a launch image like this before, it's fascinating.  Is that the exhaust gases falling back down into the atmosphere?  There wouldn't be anything holding them up, so it's clouds gently raining down from the sky.

[edkyle99]

I do not recall ever seeing a launch image like this before, it's fascinating.  Is that the exhaust gases falling back down into the atmosphere?  There wouldn't be anything holding them up, so it's clouds gently raining down from the sky.

I suspect it is the contrail that forms around Max-Q, slowly drifting and dispersing in this time-lapse.

 - Ed Kyle

[edkyle99]

Any word on the 2nd stage coast/restart experiment?  Will we know anything?

Maybe the experiment is still underway …

 - Ed Kyle

[Herb Schaltegger]

Congrats to SpaceX, NASA and of course NSF

Did I see correctly that for the 1st time ever, the F9S2 M1DVac Nozzle stiffener ring decided it wasn't done yet and rode the hot nozzle all the way to orbit?

Usually it comes off a few seconds after ignition, but I'm pretty sure I saw it remain all the way to SECO this time.

Can anyone confirm that? Is it really the first time it does that?

cheers

No, you can clearly see the ring separate. Look at about 17:48 in the archived live stream.

[CorvusCorax]

No, you can clearly see the ring separate. Look at about 17:48 in the archived live stream.

Thanks, definitely, yeah. I was looking at a feature further down. Makes me wonder if they did change the stiffener ring design after all. Not that it really matters.

It's so long since the last launch, my memory is playing tricks we need more launches.

[Herb Schaltegger]

So why did the SpaceX commentator say today's booster recovery was the 20th? Per the first two posts of the manifest, there have been over 40.

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=43418.0

[Norm38]

Ignoring FH boosters, 20 landings ago was Koreasat5A on 10-30-17.  Nothing exciting enough to create a breakpoint.
Counting FH landings, 20 goes back to 1/2 of the FH demo launch.

No idea.