Author Topic: LIVE: SpaceX - Falcon I (Mk.II) NET March 20 (Attempt 2) (Read 265135 times)

Nick L. · « **Reply #260 on:** 03/21/2007 12:14 am »

Stage separation! Second stage ignition!

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #261 on:** 03/21/2007 12:14 am »

1-2 sep! Seconds stage ignition.

HailColumbia · « **Reply #262 on:** 03/21/2007 12:14 am »

wow. staging was cool to watch

Skinny · « **Reply #263 on:** 03/21/2007 12:14 am »

josh_simonson · « **Reply #264 on:** 03/21/2007 12:15 am »

Looked like staging was a little off. Seemed to bump the kestrel on the way down.

braddock · « **Reply #265 on:** 03/21/2007 12:15 am »

Wow, look at the glow of the ablative chamber.
Black of space.

HailColumbia · « **Reply #266 on:** 03/21/2007 12:15 am »

to most engine bells glow like that?

I have never seen that before.

ringshot · « **Reply #267 on:** 03/21/2007 12:15 am »

Holy Frijolie!!

Did you see the first stage IMPACT the second stage nozzle?!?

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #268 on:** 03/21/2007 12:15 am »

Quote

josh_simonson - 21/3/2007 1:15 AM

Looked like staging was a little off. Seemed to bump the kestrel on the way down.

Yep, I thought that too, but wasn't sure!

braddock · « **Reply #269 on:** 03/21/2007 12:16 am »

"We might have lost telemetry about five minutes into flight. I'm not concerned at this time, I think basically we got out of range"

NotGncDude · « **Reply #270 on:** 03/21/2007 12:17 am »

Staging was a bit off alright. It bumped the engine. And now it's oscillating a little. So coooool.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #271 on:** 03/21/2007 12:17 am »

Problem with the second stage ascent. Finding out.

braddock · « **Reply #272 on:** 03/21/2007 12:18 am »

Gwynne is trying to call Kwaj for status.

Zachstar · « **Reply #273 on:** 03/21/2007 12:19 am »

I saw the nozzle starting to act weird and then it started spinning wildly

jwkatz · « **Reply #274 on:** 03/21/2007 12:20 am »

Please tell me someone captured that video for L2. I really want to see that tip-off again.

wannamoonbase · « **Reply #275 on:** 03/21/2007 12:21 am »

Quote

Chris Bergin - 20/3/2007 9:15 PM

Quote
josh_simonson - 21/3/2007 1:15 AM

Looked like staging was a little off. Seemed to bump the kestrel on the way down.

Yep, I thought that too, but wasn't sure!

I noticed that too and was expecting immediate problems but it kept on going. I also noticed what looked like a ring come off the bottom of the nozzle, but its possible it was something from the fairing jettison. The steady increasing glow had me wondering how long that could last, hopefully that wasn't it.

I hope its still doing its thing properly and that it reaches orbit.

Go Job and Go Luck SpaceX.

braddock · « **Reply #276 on:** 03/21/2007 12:21 am »

SpaceX in DC is celebrating with Champagne since they made it to space. They do not have information about the final outcome of the second stage however.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #277 on:** 03/21/2007 12:22 am »

SpaceX have pulled the webcast.

Media call trying to find out if this is now a launch failure.

jimvela · « **Reply #278 on:** 03/21/2007 12:23 am »

Quote

ianmga - 20/3/2007 7:17 PM
Staging was a bit off alright. It bumped the engine. And now it's oscillating a little. So coooool.

Definately NOT cool. You never want to see ANYTHING bump the engine during flight, in particular the lower stage!

Regardless of what else happens, SpaceX just got a vehicle exoatomoshperic, and no doubt they've added a few lessons learned to make the next one better...

Exci · « **Reply #279 on:** 03/21/2007 12:24 am »

From the Spacex Falcon1 page:

"Kestrel is ablatively cooled in the chamber and throat and radiatively cooled in the nozzle, which is fabricated from a high strength niobium alloy. As a metal, niobium is highly resistant to cracking compared to carbon-carbon. An impact from orbital debris or during stage separation would simply dent the metal, but have no meaningful effect on engine performance. "