SpaceX Tuesday...

[MartG]

Apparently the landing barge is only 20 miles offshore from Vandenberg and is visible from the shore ( if you're high enough up ) - it's being used purely to remove any risk from the NROL payload sat on a nearby pad

[V8LM]

Beati Dogu said:

Not having a lot of luck with this one, are they?

There’s another Falcon 9 due off from Florida on the 4th, so we might get 2 within 24 hrs.

Edit: CRS-16 Dragon capsule to the ISS - launches at 6.38 pm UK time on the 4th, from SLC-40, Florida. It's an Instantaneous launch window.

Edited by Beati Dogu on Sunday 2nd December 15:20

I am working with scientists who are involved in both launches - one currently debating whether to return home from Vandenberg, and the other stuck in Florida biting his nails.

[RobDickinson]

Looks like an hour and a half until sherpa launch.

[MartG]

Live now https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq8kS6UoOrQ

[Brother D]

And another successful landing : )

[thetrickcyclist]

One of those innocuous moments in Human Space Exploration.

Nailed it Spacex.

[FurtiveFreddy]

Brother D said:

And another successful landing : )

Getting boring now.
























NOT!

[Beati Dogu]

Great job. They've deployed four microsatellites & the two satellite dispensers now, so SpaceX's role is over.

Just awaiting news on Mr Steven's endeavours.

Edit:

"Falcon fairing halves missed the net, but touched down softly in the water. Mr Steven is picking them up. Plan is to dry them out & launch again. Nothing wrong with a little swim." - Elon Musk (on Twitter)

Edited by Beati Dogu on Monday 3rd December 19:52

[RobDickinson]

Falcon fairing halves missed the net, but touched down softly in the water. Mr Steven is picking them up. Plan is to dry them out & launch again. Nothing wrong with a little swim.

[MartG]

RobDickinson said:

Falcon fairing halves missed the net, but touched down softly in the water. Mr Steven is picking them up. Plan is to dry them out & launch again. Nothing wrong with a little swim.

I always figured that making them waterproof would be simpler than trying to catch them

[200Plus Club]

MartG said:

Live now https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq8kS6UoOrQ

Absolutely incredible. Sharing the link later for my flat earth loving FB pal . :-)

[Beati Dogu]

That was the 64th Falcon 9 Launch, so rather fitting it carried 64 satellites.

That was also the 32nd landing and a new SpaceX record of 19 flights (Falcon Heavy & 18 Falcon 9s) in a year. Beating last year's 18.

They have plans for 3 more F9 launches this year though:

4th Dec - CRS-16 (ISS cargo resupply)

18th Dec - GPS III-2 (SV01, Vespucci) (The first of a new generation of GPS satellite for the US Air Force)

30th Dec - Iridium 8 (the last 10 of the 75 Iridium satellites they were contracted to lift)

[MartG]

CRS-16 delayed to tomorrow due to mouldy mouse food

https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/12/04/spacex-cargo...

[MartG]

It seems that JPL may be looking at using Falcon Heavy to launch the Europa Clipper probe instead of SLS...the politics is a bit murky as can be seen in this article

https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/12/will-the-e...

[MartG]

[Polite M135 driver]

I can't believe they made the top of their rocket out of a boat put upside down on top of another boat.

[Eric Mc]

The oars have gone missing.

[FurtiveFreddy]

Doesn't look damaged in any way. Makes you wonder why they thought Mr Steven was going to be the only way. Maybe it splashed down at just the right angle by chance?

[Beati Dogu]

Eric Mc said:

The oars have gone missing.

I think it’s their competitors that are up st creek without a paddle.

Edited by Beati Dogu on Tuesday 4th December 18:25

[MartG]

They may have to swap the worms too...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-464387...