SpaceX Tuesday...

[RobDickinson]

Yep not sure who is going to want to launch that kind of weight!


I guess its just a parity number for comparison to other rockets.

[Beati Dogu]

Here's the footage of the actual landing:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSfJDjMFzwR/

[Beati Dogu]

The next launch is penciled in for the 16th April, from LC-39A again. The static fire will likely be on April 12th.

The cargo is a satellite for the US National Reconnaissance Office, so they're not saying what it is. Probably a spy sat, but it's very hush hush you see.

[Eric Mc]

Is this their first launch for the NRO?

Pad 39A has never had such intervals between launches.

[durbster]

Beati Dogu said:

Here's the footage of the actual landing:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSfJDjMFzwR/

Just when you think it couldn't get any more spectacular, they set the fking thing on fire

[Beati Dogu]

I know, right.

Eric Mc said:

Is this their first launch for the NRO?

Yes it is.

The Falcon 9 is accredited for US Air Force missions too & they've contracted SpaceX to put up some of the new generation of GPS satellite from next year.

[MartG]

NROL-76 launch delayed to the 30th of April

[Beati Dogu]

No surprise there really.

These NRO launches do have the best mission patches though:




Some of the others:

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=nrol+mission+pat...

[MartG]

USAF amenable to flying on used Falcons

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-space-spacex-mil...

Also note in the article Gwynne Shotwell stating refurbing an F9 costs less than half of building a new one

[ninja-lewis]

They're also aiming for fairing reuse by the end of the year and Stage 2 reuse by end of 2018 as well as the 24 hour turnaround goal.

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/85045302998791...

Edited by ninja-lewis on Saturday 8th April 16:28

[MartG]

Falcon Heavy side booster spotted under test

[Beati Dogu]

Complete with little stubby nose cone. Nice.

Edit: That rocket is thought to be the one that bent a leg on landing and came back into port on the slant last May (Thaicom-8).



A falcon 9 recently did a cameo performance in an advert:

https://www.facebook.com/SpellFamilySnoBalls/video...

In Springfield, Louisiana boy!

Edited by Beati Dogu on Sunday 9th April 22:05

[Toaster]

MartG said:

USAF amenable to flying on used Falcons
one

Also amenable to used Boeing X-37B's as well, so it not such a mind shift

[MartG]

View from one of the payload fairings of the SES-10 mission

[Eric Mc]

Cracking picture.

[AshVX220]

That picture is just amazing!!

Thanks for posting it.

[p1stonhead]

MartG said:

View from one of the payload fairings of the SES-10 mission

But wait, the earth doesnt look flat in this picture?

Amazing sho

[Einion Yrth]

p1stonhead said:

But wait, the earth doesnt look flat in this picture?

Taken with a fish-eye lens silly

[scubadude]

MartG said:

View from one of the payload fairings of the SES-10 mission

Very cool, anyone know what all the black "pillows" are on the inside of the fairing?

IMpressive to see these being recovered, I would have assumed they were relatively fragile considering the late stage of launch in which they are released they must make a rapid deceleration given their light weight.

[Sylvaforever]

Musk has stated that they have their own GPS guidance thrusters and chutes and are now retrieved from the ocean.
Of course he could have been taking the piss..