Author Topic: LIVE: SpaceX - Falcon I (Mk.II) NET March 20 (Attempt 2) (Read 265139 times)

Satori · « **Reply #320 on:** 03/21/2007 12:51 am »

Quote

Jim - 20/3/2007 8:46 PM

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

Jim, you want to say T+5:03...

ringshot · « **Reply #321 on:** 03/21/2007 12:52 am »

Quote

Jim - 20/3/2007 7:46 PM

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

I'd have to agree, someone earlier called 'slosh' and someone else speculated the nozzle bang may have induced it.

I think that's a fine theory that I'm willing to sign on to (having seen slosh sims and how they progress).

...are you saying the burn went long? That would be an indication of a first stage under-performance.

Hmmmm.

G'Day...Ron

yinzer · « **Reply #322 on:** 03/21/2007 12:53 am »

Quote

Jim - 20/3/2007 6:46 PM

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

The SpaceX press kit said the second stage burn was to end at T+565s, which is T+9:25. You could hear the speed numbers they were calling out in the two kps range - nowhere near orbit. It might have continued on to orbit after LOS, but that seems unlikely...

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #323 on:** 03/21/2007 12:54 am »

"It's been a very good day for SpaceX. We successfully reached space.

"Stage seperation went well.

"We did experience a roll anamoly late in the second stage flight. But all in all we feel very good about this launch.

braddock · « **Reply #324 on:** 03/21/2007 12:55 am »

Elon is making a statement:
"I would characterize this as a veyr good day for spacex. We successfully reached space, and really retired almost all the risk associated with the rocket. [..] I feel extremely good about having successful satellite launches later this year."

"The customers are very exicted by the results of this test."

"The things we were most concerned about were the first stage ignition and lift off, the trajectory of hte first stage, because that is the most significant portion of the atmosphere where you can have high winds, and potentially have [...] a structural problem." No anomolies on the first stage.

"Stage seperation went very well." ... " Both the stage separation and the fairing sep went flawlessly. Second stage ignition also went [flawlessly]."

[We did see a roll control issue later in the second stage. That seems fairly straightforward to correct.]

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #325 on:** 03/21/2007 12:55 am »

Elon says they didn't achieve the desired orbit. "We got to 300kms"

speez · « **Reply #326 on:** 03/21/2007 12:56 am »

So with an incomplete 2nd stage burn, where then, would the debris come down? What was the inclination on this demo-2 flight?

nacnud · « **Reply #327 on:** 03/21/2007 12:56 am »

second stage burnout should have been at around T+9:12 (minutes : seconds)

DaveS · « **Reply #328 on:** 03/21/2007 12:56 am »

Quote

speez - 21/3/2007 2:56 AM

So with an incomplete 2nd stage burn, where then, would the debris come down? What was the inclination on this demo-2 flight?

9°s.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #329 on:** 03/21/2007 12:56 am »

"It might of re-entered after half an orbit. Second stage shutoff prematurly."

braddock · « **Reply #330 on:** 03/21/2007 12:56 am »

Q: What is the fate of the second stage?
A: I only just came from the command trailer, so it is a bit premature to say anything. We didn't achieve the desired orbit, but at this moment I do not know the state of the second stage."

A: The only thing I can say for sure right now is that it is not in the intended orbit. THe likelihood is that it re-entered after about half an orbit or so.

"The roll control caused the second stage engine to shut off prematurely."

"I would say we have retired about 90% of the risk associated with the rocket. This was a test launch, not a satellite launch."

mr2828 · « **Reply #331 on:** 03/21/2007 12:58 am »

I wonder if they are operating the video feed off of a time delay, to give them time to cut it if they see something bad. Like the seven second delay the use on many live tv events. It did seem based on the countdown clock and announced T-0 launch time that the feed was almost a minute behind I think the other clocks in my house. I know some of that is because of relaying the feed all the way from over there, then over the internet to my PC, but still it seems excessive.

braddock · « **Reply #332 on:** 03/21/2007 01:01 am »

"A pretty nerve racking day, to say the very least."

"The rocket business is definitely not a low-stress business, that is for sure."

"I don't think I'm disappointed, I'm actually pretty happy."

It definitely could have gone a little better today, but we retired most of the risk associated with the rocket, and I think that is a success.

"The feedback we have gotten from our customers, who called immediately afterwards, is extremely positive."

Q: [Could you describe emotionally what went through your head during the final countdown]

A: When I was watching the launch, I was looking at all the data streams so intensely that I don't think I thought anything. I was just rapidly scanning every telemetry stream that I could to see the status of the vehicle. I can say I was really happy to see a clean stage separation, because that is one of the most common failure modes of rockets [...]

"Definitely a good day."

charlieb · « **Reply #333 on:** 03/21/2007 01:01 am »

got to 300KM? Ballistic.... All - go look at the structural ring around the base of the nozzle fail (damage from the first stage contact), note the 'crap' exiting the nozzle at various times - impacting the camera glass - this I bet is ablative chamber materials being ejected (good or bad I do not know) and the roll-moment that shows moments before LOS. Yes - the second stage did recover from the impact and tip-over moments imparted - but the damage was done..

Stargazin2nite · « **Reply #334 on:** 03/21/2007 01:03 am »

Yesterday I also verified the 1 minute delay of the webcast; The explanation given here was that Windows Media Player is always lags a bit, but I doubt it would be 1 minute.

Also, in contrast to Mr. Musk's enthusiam, I am guessing that the engineers who specified, designed, built, verified, and validated the ill-fated payload are likely not thrilled tonight.

William Graham · « **Reply #335 on:** 03/21/2007 01:04 am »

Quote

mr2828 - 21/3/2007 1:58 AM I wonder if they are operating the video feed off of a time delay, to give them time to cut it if they see something bad. Like the seven second delay the use on many live tv events. It did seem based on the countdown clock and announced T-0 launch time that the feed was almost a minute behind I think the other clocks in my house. I know some of that is because of relaying the feed all the way from over there, then over the internet to my PC, but still it seems excessive.

See my post on yesterday's topic. I'll try to find it.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #336 on:** 03/21/2007 01:05 am »

"If we get lucky we will pick up the first stage from the Atlantic"

braddock · « **Reply #337 on:** 03/21/2007 01:06 am »

Q: What is your final thought for cost?

A: I've always ultimately wanted to reduce the cost by a factor of 10. The next lowest cost US launch vehicle from a Falcon 1 is the Pegasus by Orbital sciences, which is about $35 million, while Falcon 1 is about $7 million, so we are 5 times cheaper than I nearest competitor.

Q: You do not know yet if you are in orbit or in the atlantic orbit, is that correct?

A: It is hard to say for sure, but the high likelyhood is that it re-entered before a full orbit. We reached the altitude of 300km, that's what I can say.

We'll be able to confirm this fairly shortly tonight, but I think it is very likely that we did not complete a full orbit.

"We had planned to pick up the first stage, and if all went according to plan the first stage should currently be floating around the pacific ocean, with the recovery ship in persuit."

paulhbell07 · « **Reply #338 on:** 03/21/2007 01:06 am »

SpaceX get 9 out of 10 for turning round the launch. That took guts to launch 1 hour after a scrub.

Jeff Lerner · « **Reply #339 on:** 03/21/2007 01:06 am »

What are the possible reasons for the 1st stage impacting the second on seperation ??...misalignment of the stages ??....and is there any word on the recovery of the 1st stage

...was that planned for this flight ??