Falcon 9 Launch & Recovery Operations Options

[Greg Hullender]

Key info from the article is that the launch will be no sooner than March 22, and Elon, citing the uncertainties that accompany new-vehicle development, is saying "March to May" with perhaps most probability around late April.

They're doing a dress rehersal next week, though, where they'll fuel up the rocket and fire the engines for about four seconds.

--Greg

[ugordan]

They're doing a dress rehersal next week, though, where they'll fuel up the rocket and fire the engines for about four seconds.

Based on previous timelines, I'm skeptical they'll manage to do a wet dress rehearsal and a static test by the end of the week. I'd be surprised if even the wet dress rehearsal happened during that timeframe.

A static firing is the last crucial test of the pad, rocket, the team and countdown sequence before the launch, and actual launch could happen as soon as a week after that. Elon saying he doesn't expect launch happening that soon suggests he also realizes there'll be many bugs to work out and things figured out before getting to that static firing.

EDIT: New images at spaceflightnow.com.

[Littlebit]

Based on previous timelines, I'm skeptical they'll manage to do a wet dress rehearsal and a static test by the end of the week. I'd be surprised if even the wet dress rehearsal happened during that timeframe. ...

Doing anything at Canaveral the first time is quite a culture shock. It can take days to complete even simple tasks. (Did you remember to include water bottles in the itemized tool list for technicians at the assembly site? Plan on three days to get the revised planning approved...and don't forget the safety data sheets for the bottles and the water.)

[Den]

Full inline quote removed. - ADMIN

I sure hope Musk will be able to cut much of that nonsense out.

[Jim from NSF.com]

Doing anything at Canaveral the first time is quite a culture shock. It can take days to complete even simple tasks. (Did you remember to include water bottles in the itemized tool list for technicians at the assembly site? Plan on three days to get the revised planning approved...and don't forget the safety data sheets for the bottles and the water.)

Huh? Not true. You are propagating a myth. Spacex is the only one that has to approved Spacex's planning and Spacex can work at its own speed. The range has little influence/effect on the day to day ops. The only ops that the range is interested in are the hazardous ones.

[ElkGroveDan]

Spacex is the only one that has to approved [sic] Spacex's planning and Spacex can work at its own speed.

I agree about Spacex. If any bunch of newcomers can handle themselves at a launch facility these guys and gals can. What an amazing group of people Elon has working for him!

[Greg Hullender]

Well, the wet dress rehersal did in fact happen on Friday afternoon, and SpaceX said it went very well.

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/001/...ress/index.html

The Static Fire test is planned for "the coming weeks.'

They repeated that launch will be "no earlier than" March 22, and that the launch window opens at 11AM every day. I don't think that means they could just launch any day without notice, though. :-)

--Greg

[ugordan]

More details on the countdown dress rehearsal: http://www.hobbyspace.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=18997

As I'm posting this, the vehicle is horizontal at the pad and technicians appear to be removing all cork from the 1st stage LOX tank as big segments of it peeled off after the wet dress rehearsal. The static fire probably won't happen before a new cork layer is applied, could also require de-mating the vehicle from the transporter/erector which all takes time. With this and the pending range safety approvals, I wouldn't put the chances of launching in March as very high.

[Greg Hullender]

. . . I wouldn't put the chances of launching in March as very high.

My scheduling philosophy is "never say what year."

--Greg :-)

[Greg Hullender]

Firing test was rescheduled for Monday.

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/001/status.html

They're saying to expect an April launch -- more or less.

--Greg

[Greg Hullender]

Make that Tuesday.

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/001/status.html

(For the test, not the launch!) :-)

--Greg

[Greg Hullender]

According to Spaceflight Now, the test-fire is scheduled for 1 PM EST, which is 10 AM PST (1800Z) today.

--Greg

[ElkGroveDan]

Thanks Greg. Almost missed it.

[ugordan]

Abort post ignition, looked pretty scary. Scrub for the day. Hope no damage to the vehicle.

[Greg Hullender]

Here's some info taken from Spaceflight now. Executive Summary: They detected an anomoly in the Spin Start system and decided to take the rest of the day to study that, rather than immediately try again. The rocket never fired at all.

SpaceX has provided the following statement after today's static fire attempt:
"Today SpaceX performed our first Static Fire for the Falcon 9 launch vehicle. We counted down to T-2 seconds and aborted on Spin Start. Given that this was our first abort event on this pad, we decided to scrub for the day to get a good look at the rocket before trying again. Everything looks great at first glance."

"We completed pad preps on time and with good execution. The integrated countdown with the range included holdfire checks, S-band telemetry, C-band, and FTS simulated checks. We completed helium, liquid oxygen (LOX), and fuel loads to within tenths of a percent of T-zero conditions. Tanks pressed nominally and we passed all Terminal count, flight software, and ground software abort checks right down to T-2 seconds. We encountered a problem with the spin start system and aborted nominally."

"As part of the abort, we close the pre-valves to isolate the engines from the propellant tank and purge the residual propellants. The brief flames seen on the video are burn off of LOX and kerosene on the pad. The engines did not ignite and there was no engine fire."

"We detanked and safed the vehicle and launch pad. Preliminary review shows all other systems required to reach full ignition were within specification. All other pad systems worked nominally. Inspections will be complete tonight. Tomorrow will consist of data review and procedure updates. Commodities will be replenished tomorrow including TEA-TEB load, LOX and helium deliveries."

"We'll look to do the next static fire attempt in three or four days."

Since they got all the way to spin-start, one must assume the wash cycle ran without problems. :-)

--Greg