Falcon Heavy Demo Mission: NET early 2018 :Updates/Relevant Discussion

[cscott]

The blame and I-told-you-so game is boring the rest of us.

[JamesH65]

You should have seen the static I was sent privately when I reported info (coming from SpaceX-ers no less), in september this year, that FH was fully expected to slip into 2018.

But in the end those SpaceX sources turned out to be correct.

Actually no, they did not. Without the Zuma problems they might well have made it this year. Sources saying months ago that it can not happen this year were missing important developments like working in parallel on LC-40 and LC-39A.

Even myself, a world class optimist, expected it to be delayed to 2018. And I don't even work at SpaceX.

[deruch]

Any time SpaceX schedules something right at the end of the calendar year like that, I pretty much automatically assume it will roll over into the next year.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Falcon Heavy's 3 cores are shown in the lower left corner at Aerospace Corp's launch-control room display, awaiting test fire <span class="emoji-outer emoji-sizer"><span class="emoji-inner" style="background: url(chrome-extension://immhpnclomdloikkpcefncmfgjbkojmh/emoji-data/sheet_apple_32.png);background-position:55.99294947121034% 10.047003525264394%;background-size:5418.75% 5418.75%" data-codepoints="1f525"></span></span>

https://twitter.com/sandymazza/status/936407173772353536



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[su27k]

Falcon Heavy's 3 cores are shown in the lower left corner at Aerospace Corp's launch-control room display, awaiting test fire 🔥

So why would Aerospace Corporation have access to SpaceX's hangar cameras? And why do they have a launch control room anyway, I thought AC just do analysis for the Air Force?

[IanThePineapple]

I love the 39A pad shot cams, I could stare at live versions of those all day, just watching them work on the TEL...

Reminds me of the camera shot of Pad 0A at Wallops that they have inside the visitor center, if any of you have been there.

Looks like this, but zoomed in slightly.

[deruch]

Falcon Heavy's 3 cores are shown in the lower left corner at Aerospace Corp's launch-control room display, awaiting test fire

https://twitter.com/sandymazza/status/936407173772353536

Edit: added cropped & slightly rotated version. Note TEL at pad too.

Given that the launch trajectory on the right is showing Oct. 15th which was the date of the NROL-52 launch (Atlas V 421 out of CCAFS) there's a good chance that this pic isn't recent.  Though strangely, it also shows an Atlas V still in the barn.  So, I'm not sure what's up with that.  It can't be a current live shot because the next Atlas launch from SLC-41 (SBIRS-GEO 4 on Jan. 19th) is an Atlas V 411 and this one has at least 2 SRBs.  Weird.  Maybe the trajectory is a simulation prior to the launch?  Or just not live pictures of the Atlas?

Oops.  Actually Delta IV, not Atlas V in the corner.  Thanks Thorny. That's embarrassing.

[Thorny]

Though strangely, it also shows an Atlas V still in the barn.  So, I'm not sure what's up with that.  It can't be a current live shot because the next Atlas launch from SLC-41 (SBIRS-GEO 4 on Jan. 19th) is an Atlas V 411 and this one has at least 2 SRBs.  Weird. 

Isn't that a Delta IV?

[hernick]

Today is the 334th day of the year 2017. The on-screen display is reading 334 17:57:09; it seems to me like that photo was taken today.

[Michael Baylor]

Though strangely, it also shows an Atlas V still in the barn.  So, I'm not sure what's up with that.  It can't be a current live shot because the next Atlas launch from SLC-41 (SBIRS-GEO 4 on Jan. 19th) is an Atlas V 411 and this one has at least 2 SRBs.  Weird. 

Isn't that a Delta IV?

It's the Delta IV at Vandenberg for NROL 47 on December 13. Now lets shut up before the off-topic police arrive on the scene.

[russianhalo117]

Though strangely, it also shows an Atlas V still in the barn.  So, I'm not sure what's up with that.  It can't be a current live shot because the next Atlas launch from SLC-41 (SBIRS-GEO 4 on Jan. 19th) is an Atlas V 411 and this one has at least 2 SRBs.  Weird. 

Isn't that a Delta IV?

It's the Delta IV at Vandenberg for NROL 47 on December 13. Now lets shut up before the off-topic police arrive on the scene.

Yes.

[old_sellsword]

Falcon Heavy's 3 cores are shown in the lower left corner at Aerospace Corp's launch-control room display, awaiting test fire

So why would Aerospace Corporation have access to SpaceX's hangar cameras? And why do they have a launch control room anyway, I thought AC just do analysis for the Air Force?

The Aerospace Corp does a lot of mission support for a lot of customers, they might be contracted for Zuma or the FH Demo or both.

[woods170]

Falcon Heavy's 3 cores are shown in the lower left corner at Aerospace Corp's launch-control room display, awaiting test fire 🔥

So why would Aerospace Corporation have access to SpaceX's hangar cameras? And why do they have a launch control room anyway, I thought AC just do analysis for the Air Force?

They are involved in both USAF and NASA cert efforts of SpaceX launch vehicles. Access to the cameras in the SpaceX processing facilities is part of the Insight/Oversight agreement between government agencies and SpaceX.

[AncientU]

The screen next to the three booster view is more recognisable as a view of the Heavy. It's pretty clear that there is three aft ends of the boosters together with legs visible there.

Second stage mating in progress.  Right hand picture.

[Swoopert]

The screen next to the three booster view is more recognisable as a view of the Heavy. It's pretty clear that there is three aft ends of the boosters together with legs visible there.

Actually I believe that the left-hand camera is showing L-R - Zuma (with transporter ring above the legs), FH-side, FH-core, and the other FH-side is off camera to right as you can see reversed in the right-hand camera view...the FH-side booster is being supported by the crane and is slightly shifted compared to the core, I'm assuming for better access to the interstage for 2nd stage integration?

I believe that the left-hand camera is mounted on the crane jib? which is visible above the other FH-side booster in the right-hand camera view with the red drop downs in its foreground also visible and matching up, which explains why only the other 3 boosters are visible.

Edited to clarify to which screenshot I was referring and camera positioning.

[Johnnyhinbos]

The outboard boosters both have nosecones. Not Zuma.

[ATPTourFan]

The outboard boosters both have nosecones. Not Zuma.

Photos are shot from opposite sides. There's a S1/S2 integrated F9 alongside the 3 FH cores. When photo angle is reversed to see the aft engine ends, you can see the end of the integrated F9, then side FH and center FH and the other side FH booster is too close and "under" the frame.

[Chris Bergin]

Falcon Heavy's 3 cores are shown in the lower left corner at Aerospace Corp's launch-control room display, awaiting test fire <span class="emoji-outer emoji-sizer"><span class="emoji-inner" style="background: url(chrome-extension://immhpnclomdloikkpcefncmfgjbkojmh/emoji-data/sheet_apple_32.png);background-position:55.99294947121034% 10.047003525264394%;background-size:5418.75% 5418.75%" data-codepoints="1f525"></span></span>

https://twitter.com/sandymazza/status/936407173772353536



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Sandy has deleted her tweet and SpaceX has requested the main areas where SpaceX is discussed to remove attachments/screenshots of the tweet, so we have too.

[Tomness]

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Sandy has deleted her tweet and SpaceX has requested the main areas where SpaceX is discussed to remove attachments/screenshots of the tweet, so we have too.

Understandable, first rule of the NRO club you do not talk about the NRO club..
Pulling a Yoda, "unlearn what you have you have learned"
When they launch this naughty rocket (FH)... people going to go nuts..

[Michael Baylor]

Elon Musk on Twitter:

Payload will be my midnight cherry Tesla Roadster playing Space Oddity. Destination is Mars orbit. Will be in deep space for a billion years or so if it doesn’t blow up on ascent.

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/936782477502246912