SpaceX launch today

[MartG]

SapceX are going to try and land on the floating platform next week

http://www.space.com/27955-spacex-rocket-ocean-lan...

[Caruso]

MartG said:

SpaceX are going to try and land on the floating platform next week

http://www.space.com/27955-spacex-rocket-ocean-lan...

That will be a huge achievement and step forward for space flight if they manage to pull it off.

[Simpo Two]

Wouldn't they be better off landing on normal ground and saving cleverness for something more essential?

Why land your plane on a carrier when you can find a nice runway?

[MartG]

Simpo Two said:

Wouldn't they be better off landing on normal ground and saving cleverness for something more essential?

Why land your plane on a carrier when you can find a nice runway?

There's a shortage of runways in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean

[CrutyRammers]

Yes, I think that their ultimate aim is to land it on, er, land, but until it's proven, flights have to be over water for safety.

[Soov535]

Caruso said:

MartG said:

SpaceX are going to try and land on the floating platform next week

http://www.space.com/27955-spacex-rocket-ocean-lan...

That will be a huge achievement and step forward for space flight if they manage to pull it off.

It's simply brilliant if they manage it.

[MartG]

Next Friday at the earliest now

http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/december/nasa-space...

[Einion Yrth]

MartG said:

Next Friday at the earliest now

http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/december/nasa-space...

No rush, merely the astronautical equivalent of "measure twice, cut once."

[MartG]

http://justatinker.com/Future/

Illustrated guide to SpaceX recovery plans

[CrutyRammers]

Nice article. I wondered why they weren't using some sort of airbrake, looks like they have decided to after all.

[Eric Mc]

Keeping a plummeting cylinder stable during its descent is the hard past. On the way up, gimballing the rocket motors/engine bells keeps it all pointing the right way.That option is not available on the way back down.

Edited due to strange omission of important sentence in original post.

Edited by Eric Mc on Monday 15th December 13:57

[Caruso]

To remain stable you need the centre of pressure to be behind the centre of gravity relative to the direction of travel. The grid fins move the COP to the opposite end during descent where the direction of travel has reversed. I'm surprised they need them for this reason alone, as with empty tanks the COG must be near the bottom where the engines are, so perhaps they offer some roll stability too?

[scubadude]

Soov535 said:

It's simply brilliant if they manage it.

Yes and potentially ground shaking change in the way to go to space, IF (big if) they can make this work reliably the cost to orbit will reduce considerably (anyone know the projected % saved? The 1st stage is the most costly "bit"), if you reduce that then you can start thinking about doing grander things in space.

[MartG]

Apparently yesterday's static fire ran into problems. While not officially announced, it will likely slip the launch to Saturday.

[MartG]

Now official - won't launch until January

SpaceX Falcon 9 CRS-5 launch has been officially delayed until January. Here is the statement from SpaceX:

"While the recent static fire test accomplished nearly all of our goals, the test did not run the full duration. The data suggests we could push forward without a second attempt, but out of an abundance of caution, we are opting to execute a second static fire test prior to launch. Given the extra time needed for data review and testing, coupled with the limited launch date availability due to the holidays and other restrictions, our earliest launch opportunity is now Jan. 6 with Jan. 7 as a backup.

The ISS orbits through a high beta angle period a few times a year. This is where the angle between the ISS orbital plane and the sun is high, resulting in the ISS being in almost constant sunlight for a 10 day period. During this time, there are thermal and operational constraints that prohibit Dragon from being allowed to berth with the ISS. This high beta period runs from 12/28/14-1/7/15. Note that for a launch on 1/6, Dragon berths on 1/8.

Both Falcon 9 and Dragon remain in good health, and our teams are looking forward to launch just after the New Year."

[MartG]

Second static test completed OK

http://www.spacex.com/press/2014/12/19/crs-5-launc...

[Eric Mc]

NASA have just approved the use of the Falcon 9 for the launch of their next planet hunting spacecraft.