SpaceX Tuesday...
Discussion
I believe it's 19 landings total, but 15 in a row so far. The last landing failure was back in June last year, when it ran out of fuel above the deck.
So far there have been 44 Falcon 9 launches & 24 attempted landings. Three rockets this year alone weren't able to attempt a landing; Filling in for F9 Heavy.
Only three Falcon 9s have re-flown, although that could increase to 7 within two months. The current generation is only capable of a single re-use. The forthcoming "block 5" ones will take on the lessons they've learned and should hopefully be capable of 8-10 flights each. They'll also have quicker turn round times. Get that right and get F9 Heavy going and they can really dominate on price & timetable. Even a conservative organisation like NASA is OK for them to use pre-flown Dragon capsules and rockets now too.
So far there have been 44 Falcon 9 launches & 24 attempted landings. Three rockets this year alone weren't able to attempt a landing; Filling in for F9 Heavy.
Only three Falcon 9s have re-flown, although that could increase to 7 within two months. The current generation is only capable of a single re-use. The forthcoming "block 5" ones will take on the lessons they've learned and should hopefully be capable of 8-10 flights each. They'll also have quicker turn round times. Get that right and get F9 Heavy going and they can really dominate on price & timetable. Even a conservative organisation like NASA is OK for them to use pre-flown Dragon capsules and rockets now too.
MartG said:
Looks like they are trying to squeeze Falcon Heavy in before New Year
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/11/spacex-aim...
bks, if those dates are accurate I'll miss it (I'm back in the UK for Christmas and New Year), oh well, hopefully I'll get to see the 2nd one go up. But I'll try and watch this one live via the internet.https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/11/spacex-aim...
It appears SpaceX had a rapid unscheduled disassembly of a development Block 5 Merlin engine earlier this week
https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/11/an-experim...
https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/11/an-experim...
Here's a nice promo video of SpaceX's McGregor test facility in Texas:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXYh4re0j8M&t=...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXYh4re0j8M&t=...
SpaceX is targeting launch of the Zuma spacecraft from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Florida. The two-hour primary launch window opens at 8:00 p.m. EST on Thursday, November 16, or 1:00 UTC on Friday, November 17. A backup two-hour launch window opens at 8:00 p.m. EST on Friday, November 17, or 1:00 UTC on Saturday, November 18.
Following stage separation, Falcon 9’s first stage will attempt to land at SpaceX’s Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.
Following stage separation, Falcon 9’s first stage will attempt to land at SpaceX’s Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.
MartG said:
Curious as to what the payload might achieve - but a little late to watch it all live sadly MartG said:
Literally just opened that article an apparently Zuma is delayed until tomorrow.In the article Lon Rains, communications director for Northrop Grumman’s space division said.
“As a company, Northrop Grumman realizes that this is monumental responsibility and have taken great care to ensure the most affordable and lowest risk scenario for Zuma,”
I think this could be something far more interesting or important than just another Intelligence satellite launch.
Edited by AshVX220 on Thursday 16th November 19:48
SpaceX has issued a statement on the launch delay:
“We have decided to stand down and take a closer look at data from recent fairing testing for another customer. Though we have preserved the range opportunity for tomorrow, we will take the time we need to complete the data review and will then confirm a new launch date.”
“We have decided to stand down and take a closer look at data from recent fairing testing for another customer. Though we have preserved the range opportunity for tomorrow, we will take the time we need to complete the data review and will then confirm a new launch date.”
Caruso said:
It seems to have the larger payload fairing, could it be an X-37 launch?
That's built by Boeing & it can use SpaceX's standard 5.2 m wide fairing (although designed for the Atlas V's 5.4 m wide fairing).The US Air Force is known to have at least two of them though, so maybe the Northrop Grumman thing is subterfuge.
No government agency is owning up to this one. Even the secretive NRO is denying it's theirs.
Maybe it's Tesla "launching" the Model 3 or their new truck.
"SpaceX has postponed its next launch from the Kennedy Space Center indefinitely to examine data from a recent payload fairing test for another customer."
https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/11/16/spacex-delay...
https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/11/16/spacex-delay...
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