Author Topic: LIVE: SpaceX - Falcon I (Mk.II) NET March 20 (Attempt 2) (Read 265144 times)

Cretan126 · « **Reply #301 on:** 03/21/2007 12:35 am »

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braddock - 20/3/2007 7:21 PM 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.

Staying true to form. It's all about the spin - even if their vehicle just spun itself to death. The objective of any space launch is to get to orbit - not just to 'space'. They should at least find out and report what really happened before celebrating - and announcing it to the world.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #302 on:** 03/21/2007 12:36 am »

77mb version of the video (from T-15 minutes) now on L2.

charlieb · « **Reply #303 on:** 03/21/2007 12:36 am »

makes 2 of us.. The RL-10 is cooled by prop (LH) running through the bell vice the strictly radiation cooling we saw during this event. The nutation/coning attitude issue was not what I'd want my payload to deal with...

simonbp · « **Reply #304 on:** 03/21/2007 12:36 am »

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Nick L. - 20/3/2007 8:31 PM

Yes, the RL10 extending nozzle glows, but it glows from the bottom of the bell up, not throughout the bell itself. I hope there wasn't a burnthrough of the nozzle!

The RL-10 nozzle extension is much thicker and ablative; the Kestral nozzle is very thin and NOT ablative. Rather, it is designed to be a "hot structure".

Also, if you've ever seen the nozzle on the ground, it wobbles like a bowl full of jelly; I doubt the first stage could have dented it...

Simon

jimvela · « **Reply #305 on:** 03/21/2007 12:39 am »

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Flometrics - 20/3/2007 7:27 PM
Looks like propellant slosh coupling to the second stage attitude control system, hopefully the propellants will drain out faster than it amplifies.

Hard to say what it might have been. Could be that the impact bent, broke, or shocked various parts setting the stage for whatever went wrong.

Could be classical control loop oscillations. It looked to me like the 2nd stage corrected well for the thump that it took during staging, so there is clearly some good work there by the guidance people. Perhaps the hard thunk set up sloshing in the tanks?

The thing to hope for now is that they have really good telemetry come down and in the days that follow this launch the engineering analysis gives them good data to improve the upper stage. This is the 2nd flight of the 1st stage but just the 1st flight of the upper stage. I'm sure there will be lots of things to keep SpaceX working on it.

Again, Congratulations as they've gotten into space on just the 2nd launch attempt.

Jeff Bingham · « **Reply #306 on:** 03/21/2007 12:39 am »

Sad if they lost the stage and payloads, but an incredible accomplishment at any rate, in my book...Congrats to SpaceX, however bittersweet it might turn out.

silver t · « **Reply #307 on:** 03/21/2007 12:40 am »

was there a parachute on the first stage?

ziggyfro · « **Reply #308 on:** 03/21/2007 12:40 am »

Well done SpaceX!
Got through the atmosphere, separated the stages (almost) perfectly...definitely well done for a second launch!
I just wish the live video feed was better...can't wait to see a distant view of the launch from ground level.
Next time will be perfect

braddock · « **Reply #309 on:** 03/21/2007 12:41 am »

We're still waiting on the press call. Very quiet at the moment.

braddock · « **Reply #310 on:** 03/21/2007 12:43 am »

Elon is being put on the press call now. Stand by.

LIBERTY · « **Reply #311 on:** 03/21/2007 12:44 am »

Can someone tell me how to get to L2 and watch the launch video as I lost the feed shortly after the seperation. Congrats SPACEX. It was quite an experience for me. Thanks for the feed.

braddock · « **Reply #312 on:** 03/21/2007 12:45 am »

"Elon can you hear me?"
apparently not. We have to redial into the press call.

About to take a statement from Elon and get some Q&A.

ringshot · « **Reply #313 on:** 03/21/2007 12:45 am »

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silver t - 20/3/2007 7:40 PM

was there a parachute on the first stage?

The first stage is recoverable... and yeah, I'd like to here the status on that too!

G'Day...Ron

DaveS · « **Reply #314 on:** 03/21/2007 12:46 am »

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LIBERTY - 21/3/2007 2:44 AM

Can someone tell me how to get to L2 and watch the launch video as I lost the feed shortly after the seperation. Congrats SPACEX. It was quite an experience for me. Thanks for the feed.

Just click on the yellow L2 button.

Jim · « **Reply #315 on:** 03/21/2007 12:46 am »

The second stage burn was to last until T+ 5:25. Coverage stopped at approx T+ 5:30. I say it didn't make orbit

JonSBerndt · « **Reply #316 on:** 03/21/2007 12:48 am »

It was interesting at staging, Did the first stage really contact the second stage nozzle!? It seemed to me (and I haven't seen a replay) that the second stage correction at ignition was not in the sense that would have been needed had there been contact at staging. I thought that the clearance was small, but that there was no hard contact. I'd definitely agree with others here though that the appearance was one of a fuel slosh induced oscillation - but that's purely an armchair opinion.

Jon

braddock · « **Reply #317 on:** 03/21/2007 12:49 am »

Waiting on the call for Elon. Two more minutes to set up the call.

LIBERTY · « **Reply #318 on:** 03/21/2007 12:51 am »

Thanks Dave, if was any closer it would have bit me.

harryw · « **Reply #319 on:** 03/21/2007 12:51 am »

The video server got turned off on the first launch failed about the same time as the rocket did too...

Strange that.