I find it simply amazing that they now can land the 1st stage for re-use.
Things sure has come a long ways since the Apollo Missions.
Things sure has come a long ways since the Apollo Missions.
I love how this picture shows just how big the Falcon 9 is when you look at the people standing under it. When it's landing on the barge it looks much smaller than this.
Now they must be getting quite a collection of used boosters. When are they going to re-fly one?
First re-flght targeted for Feb 22nd, SES-10 satellite. Do not know which booster.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/01/...n-florida-for-launch-on-reused-spacex-rocket/
Also, Falcon Heavy is supposedly to re-use pre-flown boosters for the side boosters. Although the first FH may be 100% new. Also BTW, FH is a sore subject with me, they have said it was going to launch 6 months later..... for 2.5 to 3 years now. They are closer to launching it, but over time it has become obvious to me that they knew every time that they said 6 months in the past, there was no way it would fly in 6 months. Never mind the rocket, the infrastructure (all the stuff involved with 39A). They still do not have construction for the Landing Pads underway (FH needs at least one new landing pad, even if the center core lands on an ASDS barge). And while FH is currently targeted for July 2017, it also was at one time targeted for July 2016, and July 2015. So I doubt it'll fly this year.
First re-flght targeted for Feb 22nd, SES-10 satellite. Do not know which booster.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/01/...n-florida-for-launch-on-reused-spacex-rocket/
Also, Falcon Heavy is supposedly to re-use pre-flown boosters for the side boosters. Although the first FH may be 100% new. Also BTW, FH is a sore subject with me, they have said it was going to launch 6 months later..... for 2.5 to 3 years now. They are closer to launching it, but over time it has become obvious to me that they knew every time that they said 6 months in the past, there was no way it would fly in 6 months. Never mind the rocket, the infrastructure (all the stuff involved with 39A). They still do not have construction for the Landing Pads underway (FH needs at least one new landing pad, even if the center core lands on an ASDS barge). And while FH is currently targeted for July 2017, it also was at one time targeted for July 2016, and July 2015. So I doubt it'll fly this year.
It shows it being chain binded down.
Is their people on that thing when it lands?
Or do they show up from another ship shortly after it lands.
I wouldn't think it could be manned at the time of the landing for safety reasons.
So I totally get why SpaceX are putting up a facade, its a matter of survival at this stage, I would go as far as to say that a lot of it is a necessary strategic business move...but not all of it.
Of course they only have one used booster on the West Coast, and it may only be about a 15-20 mile drive to truck it right back to the SpaceX plant in Hawthorne.
Whoops two used boosters on the West Coast. But the other one is on permanent display at HQ (Orbcomm-2 booster that made the first successful landing, on the RTLS flight back to the Cape, on Dec 22, 2015) So, it is out of the running for reflight and has its own parking spot:
First F9 booster re-flight is targeted for Feb 22nd, launching SES-10 satellite.
Do not know which booster, but may be the one used for CRS-8 last April.
https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/01/...n-florida-for-launch-on-reused-spacex-rocket/
Also, Falcon Heavy is supposedly to re-use pre-flown boosters for the side boosters. Although the first FH may be 100% new. Also BTW, FH schedule/date is a sore subject with me, they have said it was going to launch 6 months later..... for 2.5 to 3 years now, never getting closer than 6 months unless they are "late" in issuing another inevitable 6 month delay. They are closer to launching it, but over time it has become obvious to me that they knew every time that they said 6 months in the past, there was no way it would fly in 6 months. Never mind the rocket, the infrastructure (all the stuff involved with 39A). They still do not have construction for the Landing Pads underway (FH needs at least one new landing pad, even if the center core lands on an ASDS barge). And while FH is currently targeted for July 2017, it also was at one time targeted for July 2016, and July 2015. So I doubt it'll fly this year.
George, could you please tell us how you really feel about FH
So... Falcon Heavy is only about six months out? Give or take?
George, could you please tell us how you really feel about FH
I wonder who those rosy announcements are aimed at? I'm guessing that it's neither investors, nor customers, nor geeky enthusiasts. So whose left that they would need to target with some cheery PR that's full of holes?
SpaceX's LC-39A not quite ready for the Falcon 9 just yet. EchoStar 23 NET Jan 30 (just after midnight local time).
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