SpaceX F9 : CRS SpX-20 : March 6/7, 2020 : Discussion

[Herb Schaltegger]

The time zone confusion really should be easier than it is, especially after years of watching launches online. Yet here we are.

Here’s a suggestion for any Mods who round these threads up once in awhile: can the first post in any Mission Update thread either contain any updated launch date/time info as it changes, or better yet, can the thread subject line include that info?

[marsbase]

And to add even more confusion, the SpaceX Webcast page now says that the backup date is Saturday, March 8 (Saturday is March 7) or in UTC time Sunday, March 9 (Sunday is March 8 ).  Is nobody in that office paying any attention at all?    https://www.spacex.com/webcast

[Wolfram66]

Umm. Not going to launch into a bomb cyclone nor’easter
Mid level shear got even worse.

Sat will be better

[edkyle99]

And to add even more confusion, the SpaceX Webcast page now says that the backup date is Saturday, March 8 (Saturday is March 7) or in UTC time Sunday, March 9 (Sunday is March 8 ).  Is nobody in that office paying any attention at all?    https://www.spacex.com/webcast

Yes they are, as it now reads correctly.  BTW, I've seen similar date-slip issues recently on space news sites.

 - Ed Kyle

[DigitalMan]

The discussion of testing in the CRS-20 pre-launch conference was good to hear.  Particularly how Hans described even testing the HITL to make sure it was configured correctly.

[ZachS09]

From musk, they are going to push the envelope with landing tonight in high winds:

https://mobile.twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1236116600245256192

Oh man. This is gonna be amazing.

[DigitalMan]

Based on that tweet this landing could be amazing to watch, it's reasonably clear out there at the moment.  Perhaps the fact it is coming back to LZ-1 will make it easier to keep eyes on it after the entry burn completes.

[DigitalMan]

I don't see a mission control audio feed for this launch, I suppose there isn't one unless I'm not looking in the right place?

[kdhilliard]

I don't see a mission control audio feed for this launch, I suppose there isn't one unless I'm not looking in the right place?

Good question.  It was promised by the press kit https://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/crs-20_mission_press_kit.pdf

MISSION CONTROL AUDIO
Approximately 45 minutes before liftoff, audio from mission control will be available at youtube.com/spacex.

[DigitalMan]

I don't see a mission control audio feed for this launch, I suppose there isn't one unless I'm not looking in the right place?

Good question.  It was promised by the press kit https://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/crs-20_mission_press_kit.pdf

MISSION CONTROL AUDIO
Approximately 45 minutes before liftoff, audio from mission control will be available at youtube.com/spacex.

Unfortunately the link from Reddit takes me to the regular feed.

[jamesh9000]

It's here:

[ZChris13]

It's here:

It's live.

[Prettz]

I just can't believe they don't go full screen with that night view of the booster approaching the cape.

[DigitalMan]

it was cool to see the 2nd stage jellyfish.  quite stunning.  the 1st stage boostback was interesting because 1st and 2nd stages were going in different directions out of the FOV of my binoculars.  They didn't help to see it after the burn stopped.

[JimO]

ANY information on time of stage-2 deorbit burn?

[ZChris13]

Beautiful, clear views of the launch from Hilton Head Island! Had a wonderful interaction with some random bystanders enjoying a toke and stroll as well as a man and his father who were also out on the beach for the launch.
Was stage separation up high enough to be in sunlight or was it too late for that, because we had clear views of the second stage and first stage plumes interacting as well as the second stage jellyfish.

[Draggendrop]

ANY information on time of stage-2 deorbit burn?

This tweet may help...

https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/1236156978755440641

Bob Christy
@Zarya_Info
 has done a very nice analysis of the expected stage 2 deorbit burn at https://zarya.info/Diaries/US/SpaceXCRS-20Launch.php

[su27k]

At T+10:11 (webcast ~30:08), you can see Dragon fires all thrusters briefly, probably priming them, I don't remember seeing this clearly before.

[ZachS09]

Beautiful, clear views of the launch from Hilton Head Island! Had a wonderful interaction with some random bystanders enjoying a toke and stroll as well as a man and his father who were also out on the beach for the launch.
Was stage separation up high enough to be in sunlight or was it too late for that, because we had clear views of the second stage and first stage plumes interacting as well as the second stage jellyfish.

The stage sep was lit up by the moon. The sun already set five hours prior.

[RocketLover0119]

I am in Kissimmee for the weekend staying with friends, but managed to get a streak shot of the launch and boostback from their house!! This is the second time I have achieved a streak shot, pretty proud of myself.