Falcon Heavy

Beeker

The first flight of Falcon Heavy has been set for NET (No Earlier Than) January 25th. It will all depend on the static fire test due to take place tomorrow Wednesday Jan 10th.

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/01/spacex-static-fire-falcon-heavy-1/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ca6x4QbpoM

Beeker

Static fire test now planned for Monday 15 Jan sometime after 2100.

irishgeo

Beeker wrote: »

Static fire test now planned for Monday 15 Jan sometime after 2100.

love to see this live, is it going to be streamed?

Beeker

irishgeo wrote: »

love to see this live, is it going to be streamed?

Live coverage will be here
https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/01/09/falcon-heavy-demo-flight-preparations/

Test has now slipped to Tuesday between 2100 and 0200. The firing will last only about 12 seconds and could take place at any time in this window. Could be a long wait.

irishgeo

Beeker wrote: »

Live coverage will be here
https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/01/09/falcon-heavy-demo-flight-preparations/

Test has now slipped to Tuesday between 2100 and 0200. The firing will last only about 12 seconds and could take place at any time in this window. Could be a long wait.

ill watch the video so.

josip

A little context.

https://newatlas.com/falcon-heavy-saturn-v/53090/

As an Aussie friend's dad once said, "Corr, imagine being strapped onto that and shot into space"

josip

Static firing went ok.
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-42692673

Is the plan for the 3 boosters in the first stage to land together as one, or do they separate and land at different pads?
Will they attempt a landing on this 1st launch or is that for later launches?

xper

josip wrote: »

Is the plan for the 3 boosters in the first stage to land together as one, or do they separate and land at different pads?
Will they attempt a landing on this 1st launch or is that for later launches?

I read that the plan is the two side boosters will return to the Cape landing pads and the central stage will head for the offshore barge. they're gonna need more cameras!

Capt'n Midnight

josip wrote: »

Static firing went ok.
http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-42692673

Is the plan for the 3 boosters in the first stage to land together as one, or do they separate and land at different pads?
Will they attempt a landing on this 1st launch or is that for later launches?

Oh they separate , that's the whole point

Traditionally the way this works is that all the engines go to full throttle for a few seconds just before lift off so ff there is a problem they can shut everything down.

All going well they take off and the central stage throttles right back , so it's actually the boosters doing all the heavy lifting. IIRC for the Angara it's down to 25% thrust so there'll still be 3/4 of the propellant left when the boosters are empty.

This means when the outer ones are empty and separate away the centre still has most of it's fuel and then goes back to full throttle. One huge advantage is that there is no messing around with starting the centre stage half way up plus you've already tested them just before lift off.

It's stage and a half instead of two stages.

The step improvement for this type staging is to have the turbopumps set up so the boosters can keep the central stage topped up, tricky though.

The original Atlas used a variation. One huge tank, built of such thin material that it had to be kept inflated like a balloon , lighter than separate tanks. They dropped off the heavy outboard engines instead on the way up.


If this works out then they'll be recovering 27 of the 28 engines used on the stack.

Beeker

Launch set for Tuesday Feb 6. Fingers crossed

https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/01/28/spacex-schedules-feb-6-target-date-for-falcon-heavy-test-launch/

Capt'n Midnight

Beeker wrote: »

Launch set for Tuesday Feb 6. Fingers crossed

https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/01/28/spacex-schedules-feb-6-target-date-for-falcon-heavy-test-launch/

SpaceX’s new rocket will be able to carry more payload into orbit than any rocket since the Saturn 5 moon rocket

Apart of course from Energia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyus_(spacecraft)

Harambe

This was epic.

Asdee

Its just what we needed right now.

Harambe

Tesla's advertising strategy for the next decade

Harambe

The two side thrusters landing simultaneously was incredible to watch.

josip

When do they expect to know if it's made it through the Van Allen belt ok?

Update: Musk has confirmed in a press conference following the launch the landing of the middle core was unsuccessful, as two of the three engines failed to fire and the booster slammed into the ocean at 300 mph (482 km/h).

Was there anything significantly new about the central core compared to previous times?
The core was a strengthened Falcon 9, but the motors would have been the same?
Was the Delta V higher than for other barge landings?

My 'concern' would be that the failure was due to additional stress on components this time around.
These components may have been close to their design limits in previous launches but not exceeded them and all went ok.
Are the motors on recovered boosters rebuilt between launches and each component inspected (Unit Test) or the motor retested as a single unit (System Test)

ankaragucu

I'm on holiday in Orlando currently and we got to see it go up yesterday from Volcano Bay water park.Even at an hours drive away it was a very impressive sight.Couldnt really discern the actual rocket but the firey tail and massive smoke flume was fantastic.

josip

For anyone who wants to keep an eye on 'Starman'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=22&v=aBr2kKAHN6M