SpaceX launch today
Discussion
Launch tonight http://spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/010/status.html
Just been delayed 54 mins
"NEW LAUNCH TIME. The launch team has reset liftoff for the end of tonight's launch window at 7:01 p.m. EDT (2301 GMT) to give engineers time to study spurious readings involving a potential leak from the Falcon 9 rocket. Falcon 9 product manager John Insprucker says the decision to take time to study the readings was a precaution.
SpaceX has provided no further details on the nature of the problem."
"NEW LAUNCH TIME. The launch team has reset liftoff for the end of tonight's launch window at 7:01 p.m. EDT (2301 GMT) to give engineers time to study spurious readings involving a potential leak from the Falcon 9 rocket. Falcon 9 product manager John Insprucker says the decision to take time to study the readings was a precaution.
SpaceX has provided no further details on the nature of the problem."
Edited by MartG on Friday 20th June 23:01
tstorm going on over SpaceX cancelling the webcast with flimsy excuses ) and now looks to have been pushed back to JulyA lot on Facebook, various other places, various blogs e.g. http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/space-flight-new...
"After landing, the vehicle tipped sideways as planned to its final water safing state in a nearly horizontal position. The water impact caused loss of hull integrity, but we received all the necessary data to achieve a successful landing on a future flight. Going forward, we are taking steps to minimize the build up of ice and spots on the camera housing in order to gather improved video on future launches.
At this point, we are highly confident of being able to land successfully on a floating launch pad or back at the launch site and refly the rocket with no required refurbishment. However, our next couple launches are for very high velocity geostationary satellite missions, which don’t allow enough residual propellant for landing. In the longer term, missions like that will fly on Falcon Heavy, but until then Falcon 9 will need to fly in expendable mode.
We will attempt our next water landing on flight 13 of Falcon 9, but with a low probability of success. Flights 14 and 15 will attempt to land on a solid surface with an improved probability of success."
At this point, we are highly confident of being able to land successfully on a floating launch pad or back at the launch site and refly the rocket with no required refurbishment. However, our next couple launches are for very high velocity geostationary satellite missions, which don’t allow enough residual propellant for landing. In the longer term, missions like that will fly on Falcon Heavy, but until then Falcon 9 will need to fly in expendable mode.
We will attempt our next water landing on flight 13 of Falcon 9, but with a low probability of success. Flights 14 and 15 will attempt to land on a solid surface with an improved probability of success."
"After landing, the vehicle tipped sideways as planned to its final water safing state in a nearly horizontal position. The water impact caused loss of hull integrity, but we received all the necessary data to achieve a successful landing on a future flight. Going forward, we are taking steps to minimize the build up of ice and spots on the camera housing in order to gather improved video on future launches.
At this point, we are highly confident of being able to land successfully on a floating launch pad or back at the launch site and refly the rocket with no required refurbishment. However, our next couple launches are for very high velocity geostationary satellite missions, which don’t allow enough residual propellant for landing. In the longer term, missions like that will fly on Falcon Heavy, but until then Falcon 9 will need to fly in expendable mode.
We will attempt our next water landing on flight 13 of Falcon 9, but with a low probability of success. Flights 14 and 15 will attempt to land on a solid surface with an improved probability of success."
At this point, we are highly confident of being able to land successfully on a floating launch pad or back at the launch site and refly the rocket with no required refurbishment. However, our next couple launches are for very high velocity geostationary satellite missions, which don’t allow enough residual propellant for landing. In the longer term, missions like that will fly on Falcon Heavy, but until then Falcon 9 will need to fly in expendable mode.
We will attempt our next water landing on flight 13 of Falcon 9, but with a low probability of success. Flights 14 and 15 will attempt to land on a solid surface with an improved probability of success."
Tomorrow's planned commercial launch postponed indefinitely - I guess they are quite rightly playing it safe
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/012/status.h...
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/012/status.h...
SpaceX one of the two finalists in NASA's CCV, though only half the funding of Boeing's CST100
http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/190282-nasa-awa...
http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/190282-nasa-awa...
They may attempt to land a Falcon 9 on a floating platform this December
http://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/spa...
http://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/spa...
scubadude said:
I assume with most of the fuel spent this wouldn't be as top heavy as it looks? I've spent alot of time on boats and things fall over at the slightest hint- always the expensive things, so I assume SpaceX has some kind of automated grab/velcro pads/net etc to keep it upright once it touches down.
Interns with rolls of gaffer tape will rush out to secure it once it lands 
Brother D said:
MartG said:
X marks the spot
Pic just tweeted by Musk shows the Autonomous spaceport drone ship. Thrusters repurposed from deep sea oil rigs hold position within 3m even in a storm.
I thought there was a Maratime law preventing ships in international waters without a crew/captain? (Sure I read that tankers/cargo 'drone' ships were not allowed due to this)? Pic just tweeted by Musk shows the Autonomous spaceport drone ship. Thrusters repurposed from deep sea oil rigs hold position within 3m even in a storm.
SpaceX wants to hire a farmer for its Texas site - I suspect the land tax exemption is the real driver here 
http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/business/20141202/...
http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/business/20141202/...
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