• SpaceX successfully returns to flight and lands Falcon 9 at Cape Canaveral
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[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/5GjQDb0.png[/IMG] [QUOTE]SpaceX hopes to land next F9 booster on land at "Landing Complex-1" [/QUOTE] [URL="https://twitter.com/flatoday_jdean/status/671690033347354624"]Source[/URL] If they can perform a successful landing on the ground on the RTF that would be both a historical moment for space travel and an amazing feat for SpaceX. Launch Window is Monday at 20:31 Eastern. Air force has given approval for landing, will evacuate nonessential personnel from the base. Still waiting on FAA approval for landing, might not come through until the hour of the launch though. This is the first flight of the upgraded Falcon 9 that uses densified liquid oxygen, cooled to -340 F and is a little bit bigger than the old Falcon 9. This allows them to get more thrust out of the rocket. Live stream: [video=youtube;O5bTbVbe4e4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5bTbVbe4e4[/video] Update: Static fire on the 16th, if all goes well launch on the 19th. Launch window opens at 8:25 PM eastern and lasts for three hours. A good FAQ is available on [URL="https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/3wpjgs/the_orbcomm2_super_faq/"]Reddit[/URL]. Update 2: 90% go on weather for Saturday. Barge is on it's way out in case Cape landing approval isn't granted. Update 3: Static fire scrubbed on 16th, vehicle remained vertical on launch pad. Static fire on 17th in the "early afternoon" Update 4: Static fire didn't happen on the 17th, issues with the deep cryogenic fuel at Cape (-340 F). Unconfirmed reports of standing down until January to work through issues at Cape. Update 5: Launch moved to NET 20th 20:03 Eastern, if they can get the static fire working today (18th) if all is well they should be good to go. Weather is still 90% go for the new window. Update 6: Static fire has occurred, still awaiting SpaceX confirmation on if it was good or not. Update 7: [URL="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/678004229047357440"]Official confirmation on static fire[/URL], initially looks good. Still reviewing data. Goal is to launch on Sunday at 20:29 Eastern. If they do attempt the launch you can watch live at [url]http://www.spacex.com/webcast/[/url] Update 8: Live stream will start at 1 AM UTC 21st / 8PM 20th Eastern. Looks like final FAA approval for ground landing has come through. Update 9: Postponed by 24 hours. Update 10: A little over an hour to go, so far everything looks good. Update 11: Landing successful! [video=youtube;1B6oiLNyKKI]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1B6oiLNyKKI[/video] Update 12: Deployment of all satellites to orbit looks to be successful.
I wasn't aware they were going to land it at the Cape this time around. I thought for sure they would try one more time for the droneship. Excellent news.
Fucked up the title, can a mod correct the spelling on "Caneveral"? Thanks. [editline]1st December 2015[/editline] [QUOTE=OvB;49220692]I wasn't aware they were going to land it at the Cape this time around. I thought for sure they would try one more time for the droneship. Excellent news.[/QUOTE] It looks like they are getting the droneship ready just in case they don't get approval though. The tug for it is [URL="http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/shipid:434560/zoom:10"]moving[/URL] to its dock. SpaceX also did another test last night in McGregor, possibly the booster for SES-9? [video=youtube;QkLXnCPI7zE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkLXnCPI7zE[/video] I bet after Blue Origin tried to pull the crap about their rocket being the first reusable rocket Musk is pushing hard for the land landing.
Hopes for effective reusable rockets. :smile:
[QUOTE=Deathtrooper2;49221426]Hopes for effective reusable rockets. :smile:[/QUOTE] I imagine the first couple of rockets that land will be torn down and analysed in great detail. I would guess it would take at least a year to actually start reusing them.
When should I start my asteroid mining company?
[QUOTE=Morgen;49221451]I imagine the first couple of rockets that land will be torn down and analysed in great detail. I would guess it would take at least a year to actually start reusing them.[/QUOTE] that's actually not the plan believe it or not from what I've heard (everyone assumes they will tear down the booster). they intend to re-fly the first returned stage at Spaceport America (without a payload)
[QUOTE=Morgen;49221451]I imagine the first couple of rockets that land will be torn down and analysed in great detail. I would guess it would take at least a year to actually start reusing them.[/QUOTE] More like several years. A year is nothing in space business.
we choose to go to space, and land the rocket back on the pad in this decade, not because its easy, but because it is cool! [editline]1st December 2015[/editline] its sort of funny how those satellites are just big tinfoil covered lunchboxes
[QUOTE=OvB;49220692]I wasn't aware they were going to land it at the Cape this time around. I thought for sure they would try one more time for the droneship. Excellent news.[/QUOTE] The last rocket was going to attempt a land-landing.. I will just be surprised if they get permission from the USAF.
[QUOTE=Bradyns;49223883]The last rocket was going to attempt a land-landing.. I am just surprised that they got permission from the USAF.[/QUOTE] The last one was going to the droneship. Then the next flight after was to be on land iirc. I'm surprised this one would be on land given they haven't (almost!) done it on the ship yet, and their last flight was a RUD. A lot of faith for them to let the RTF fly [I]back[/I] towards land and infrastructure.
[QUOTE=OvB;49223897]The last one was going to the droneship. Then the next flight after was to be on land iirc. I'm surprised this one would be on land given they haven't (almost!) done it on the ship yet, and their last flight was a RUD. A lot of faith for them to let the RTF fly [I]back[/I] towards land and infrastructure.[/QUOTE] i mean, if they can already prove they are good enough at aiming the returning stage, (they always hit the drone ship) than the risk of infrastructure damage is lessened because even if they don't stick the landing they would just be blowing up a concrete pad.
[QUOTE=OvB;49223897]The last one was going to the droneship. Then the next flight after was to be on land iirc. I'm surprised this one would be on land given they haven't (almost!) done it on the ship yet, and their last flight was a RUD. A lot of faith for them to let the RTF fly [I]back[/I] towards land and infrastructure.[/QUOTE] well its not the actual launch pad, its some concrete pad near by with nothing important around it. space-x has been able to hit their target every time
[QUOTE=Sableye;49224117]well its not the actual launch pad, its some concrete pad near by with nothing important around it. space-x has been able to hit their target every time[/QUOTE] LC1 is built at the old LC13. [img]http://i.imgur.com/pPBLOnY.jpg[/img] It's not in the immediate range of anything super important, but important things still lie directly downrange from it when the stage is flying back towards it. Exploding rockets at the cape always looks bad, regardless of damage done. [I]I'm confident[/I] they'll nail it, but it's still a maneuver they've never tried yet, immediately after their biggest failure. NASA is a stickler for safety, and it surprises me they would give the go-ahead for it immediately after a RUD.
[QUOTE=OvB;49224367]LC1 is built at the old LC13. [img]http://i.imgur.com/pPBLOnY.jpg[/img] It's not in the immediate range of anything super important, but important things still lie directly downrange from it when the stage is flying back towards it. Exploding rockets at the cape always looks bad, regardless of damage done. [I]I'm confident[/I] they'll nail it, but it's still a maneuver they've never tried yet, immediately after their biggest failure. NASA is a stickler for safety, and it surprises me they would give the go-ahead for it immediately after a RUD.[/QUOTE] those pads themselves are no stranger to explosions, if anything a RUD would be much less severe than many of the explosions from the early days of the cape
RTF is pushed back to NET 19th due to a payload issue, Air Force approved the land landing attempt but still waiting for final approval from FAA. But static fire test should be this coming week still.
one hopes cygnus doesn't delay that even further though, currently they are waiting to launch that off, and if the windows this weekend don't work out then they might have to push back everything else
Static fire test on Wednesday, if all goes well launch on Saturday evening. Final permission for attempting a landing at Cape Canaveral will be given on the day of launch but it's looking like they will get it.
Payload of 11 sats is ready to go: [IMG]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CWNuUv_XIAARpMT.jpg:large[/IMG]
Musk bringing the fire after Blue Origin
[QUOTE=Morgen;49316303]Payload of 11 sats is ready to go: [IMG]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CWNuUv_XIAARpMT.jpg:large[/IMG][/QUOTE] Mmm peiple sized lunchboxes
[QUOTE=cody8295;49223271]When should I start my asteroid mining company?[/QUOTE] Unless SpaceX builds a space elevator and cuts the price of space travel to nothing, which would make them the only option in space travel then not in your life time unless you've got an good amount of money.
So far weather the forecast for the launch window looks good. Drone ship is on its way out to sea now just in case approval for Cape landing isn't given: [url]http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/shipid:434560/zoom:10[/url] If the launch is scrubbed due to weather though the launch could be pushed into the new year. Days around it aren't as good looking and Cape Canaveral will be closing a few days later for the holidays.
[QUOTE=cody8295;49223271]When should I start my asteroid mining company?[/QUOTE] first you must figure out how to land a profitable size chunk of w/e you have mined back on earth without killing everyone
[QUOTE=Sableye;49330059]first you must figure out how to land a profitable size chunk of w/e you have mined back on earth without killing everyone[/QUOTE] Adapt SpaceX's BFR :P [thumb]http://i.imgur.com/MBMZDaj.jpg[/thumb] [thumb]http://i.imgur.com/n2mJI8s.jpg[/thumb] In all seriousness though asteroid mining probably won't be financially viable for a long long time. [editline]16th December 2015[/editline] [URL="http://www.patrick.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070716-028.pdf"]Also weather has a 90% go for Saturday.[/URL]
You can start one now but you'll basically be in hibernation for decades. [url=http://www.planetaryresources.com/#home-int]Planetary Resources[/url] already exists. (though funded by billionaires)
Drone ship with it's two tugs caught on Camera going past Mayport: [thumb]http://i.imgur.com/9H4LndX.jpg[/thumb] More pictures: [url]http://imgur.com/a/JIBGb[/url]
i kind of hope its not needed
[QUOTE=Sableye;49330341]i kind of hope its not needed[/QUOTE] Me to, but they are probably wanting to do sea trials with it anyway. Test if it communicates with the F9 okay during the static fire test or whatever.
The Falcon 9 is now vertical on the pad. Static fire should be soon. [IMG]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CWYW54MWEAA1RIi.jpg[/IMG]
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