SpaceX (general discussion)

https://science.slashdot.org/story/17/02/07/1447221/spacex-plans-to-start-launching-rockets-every-two-to-three-weeks

Hmmm.
 

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Let's hope that nothing serious happens during the hot firing test. Because that was when the explosion happened the last time such a test was attempted.
 
They're not planning on landing this one, correct? (Need all the fuel to get to orbit.)
 
sferrin said:
They're not planning on landing this one, correct? (Need all the fuel to get to orbit.)
Click to expand...

are you kidding ?

That's Dragon CRS-10 flight to ISS
the booster fly and land like Flight-20 and 27 at Cape Canaveral landing zone 1
let's hope Flight 30 make also so good

Flight-20 the day the rocket came back to it launch site
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANv5UfZsvZQ

Flight 27 the second rocket that return to it launch site
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKCU6WfLtjk
 
sferrin said:
They're not planning on landing this one, correct? (Need all the fuel to get to orbit.)
Click to expand...
The launch you're thinking of was pushed back, with this ISS resupply mission moving in front of it; there are more details posted in the thread within the past month.
 
It has been 18'th for a while now, it completed static firing as of few hours ago. Will be first launch from Pad 39A since 2011.
 
Yes, the issue is not a big deal and they believe they have fixed it + they had extra software contingency in place;

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/832788691588296705

Little under 2h to go.
 
Launch aborted due to some concern about a potential issue with the thrust vector control on the 2nd stage Merlin engine; instantaneous window means they have to wait until tomorrow to try again.
 
Disappointed that the rocket never lifted off, but you can't go for launch when there is a potential problem with the rocket. I suppose that we will just need to wait for tomorrow for the rescheduled launch window.
 
Everything was green and Elon himself called it off just to be sure it is not an issue even though it most likely isnt.
 
The Falcon 9 has lifted off successfully. The first stage is currently coming back down to land at Cape Canaveral.
 
Remember that old photo-realistic Disney animation of a rocket take-off and landing at the TWA 'spaceport' from the mid-50's?

The falcon-9 first-stage punching back through the clouds evoked that classic fiction scene, and brought it to life.

Go get 'em, SpaceX! (Robert Heinlein is smiling).

David
 
Perfect flight
they got now 7 booster who return to Earth

and they get in higher gear !
in 10 day next launch of Falcon 9 for GTO on Pad 39 A
and in March first fly of a reused first stage
April again double Launch and if all goes right in May Falcon Heavy

competition start your lamentation, SpaceX is back in Action...
 
oh what glorious day

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnM2uGeZEFs
 
Michel Van said:
Perfect flight
they got now 7 booster who return to Earth

and they get in higher gear !
in 10 day next launch of Falcon 9 for GTO on Pad 39 A
and in March first fly of a reused first stage
April again double Launch and if all goes right in May Falcon Heavy

competition start your lamentation, SpaceX is back in Action...
Click to expand...

8'th landed core. FH is closer to summer and they want to finish LC-40 first.

As to competition, dont worry. Arianespace will continue being arrogant. :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glEvogjdEVY
 
FighterJock said:
Just saw this article on the BBC about the SpaceX Moon shot sometime 2018, don't know what rocket SpaceX would use Falcon 9 or Falcon Heavy?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-39115201
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We've got this discussion in quite a few threads -- it's going to be a Heavy.

  • http://www.spacex.com/news/2017/02/27/spacex-send-privately-crewed-dragon-spacecraft-beyond-moon-next-year

It might really help to clean up the SpaceX threads on this forum. The title of this one is confusing -- we're not just talking about Grasshopper anymore, but SpaceX in general. And there are many SpaceX threads in Space Projects, a couple of which which got a post or two about this announcement:

  • Dragon Capsule thread: http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,6866.165.html

    Falcon Heavy thread: http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,12339.msg301276.html
 
That is a good idea TomS, make this a general SpaceX news thread and have the other two about the rockets themselves.
 
FighterJock said:
Nice one Jemiba. Here is something that I found on Space.com about the SpaceX moonshot mission in 2018.

http://www.space.com/35876-how-spacex-moon-flight-will-work.html
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I think this article is mistaken about actually putting the capsule into orbit over the moon. The mission description from the press conference was that the Dragon will be placed on a free-return trajectory, meaning it will leave Earth orbit, pass by the Moon, loop back and return to Earth. One big loop, not multiple orbts around the moon and then home. There's nothing in the current Dragon II capsule that has enough delta-v for lunar orbit insertion and return to Earth.
 
Upcoming flight 31 of Falcon feature some thing unusual:

No recovery of the first Stage !

Reason is that EchoStar 23 has mass of 5500kg into GTO, max limit of Falcon 9FT
Next launch of heavy Satellite will do SpaceX with Falcon Block 5 or the Heavy variant

Musk on Twitter
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/822926184719609856
 
It appears that SpaceX will be testing a new robot or devices on its drone barge OCISLY soon - not much is known at the moment; nothing official has been stated, but rumour is that the new device being integrated into the barge will be used for autonomously or remotely securing freshly landed Falcon 9s. This won't be used for the next mission (which as mentioned above is expendable), but there's an SES-10 launch currently scheduled for the 27th of March, which will involve the first reuse of a Falcon 9 and another landing. As such, we should expect to see / hear more over the next fortnight.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10155181297956318/
https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/5yv5yn/asds_roomba_pics_courtesy_of_the_fb_group/
 
Can't wait until the Falcon Heavy, and Blue Origin's reusable booster are both up and running. Will be amusing to see the old players continue to tell us how terrible reusability is at that point.
 
Especially Ariane, they just keep sticking their neck deeper and deeper into the sand. Apparently they havent figured out that SpaceX has so far used 5 years on testing and achieving landing starting from grasshopper. And if Arianespace decides to do this type of thing literally tomorrow, they will be using a decade on it as it is fair to say SpaceX moves fast compared to everyone else... At that point we are looking at 2027... Denial denial denial.

A6 will be barely competitive with todays F9, and that was assuming 50% cost cutting vs A5, which they are not aiming for anymore apparently. And if A6 cant compete with *todays* prices on F9 how can they compete with the future ones? Because we are literally weeks away from a reflight of a booster and economics of that will just continue to improve.
 

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