SpaceX F9 - 4th Reuse - CRS-13 - SLC-40

[Grendal]

Another slip. Static Fire Wednesday. New launch information as follows:

4th Reuse Launch - Booster is Block 3 originally used for CRS-11
Launch Date: NET December 12th, Tuesday
Launch time: 16:46 GMT (11:46 EST)
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
Booster Recovery: RTLS at LZ-1

 

[ecarfan]

CBS Space News reports that the F9 is vertical on SLC-40 for static fire.

 

[macpacheco]

CBS Space News reports that the F9 is vertical on SLC-40 for static fire.

And there has been some purges and recycles in the static fire countdown. Probably getting rid of the final kinks.

 

[Grendal]

Static Fire has occurred. Waiting on confirmation from SpaceX that all is good.

Confirmed by SpaceX that all went fine. Targeting the current launch date.

 

[ecarfan]

SpaceX tweeted that static fire is “complete” and launch is on for Dec 12 at pad 40 and then Zuma launch from pad 40 in “early January”!

 

[oneday]

It sure feels great to have SLC-40 back in action. It’s been years in the making and now we officially have three active pads!

On top of all of this, we have a reused booster and Dragon(CRS-6) for this CRS mission!

 

[jkn]

Static Fire has occurred. Waiting on confirmation from SpaceX that all is good.

Confirmed by SpaceX that all went fine. Targeting the current launch date.

USLaunchReport released video from static test. Again far away, but size of smoke (steam) cloud is visible. Wind pushes it back towards the rocket.

My guess of camera location is Nasa Pkwy E or Port Canaveral.

 

[Grendal]

Space reporters have reported that the CRS-11 booster has not been cleaned as much as previous flight proven boosters. So this booster was been given the nickname "sooty" by one of the reporters. The nickname has been picked up by enthusiasts and other reporters.

 

[Grendal]

Nice and early for the webcast:

80% go for weather.
4th Reuse Launch - Booster is Block 3 originally used for CRS-11
Launch Date: December 12th, Tuesday
Launch time: 16:46 GMT (11:46 EST)
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
Booster Recovery: RTLS at LZ-1

 

[ecarfan]

Launch date is now Dec 13th, it’s been moved out a day. Same time.

 

[macpacheco]

Apparently slipping to Thrusday or Friday. Wait for confirmation from SpaceX or NASA.

 

[bak_phy]

Are these delays going to affect FH launch time frame? Is that still late December?

 

[dhanson865]

Are these delays going to affect FH launch time frame? Is that still late December?

No interaction, Falcon 9 is on pad 40 and Falcon Heavy is on pad 39.

Falcon Heavy Demo Launch Campaign Thread • r/spacex

Liftoff currently scheduled for: January 2018
Static fire currently scheduled for: December 15th 2017
Vehicle component locations: Center Core: LC-39A // Left Booster: LC-39A // Right Booster: LC-39A // Second stage: LC-39A // Payload: Elon's garage?
Payload: Elon's midnight cherry Tesla Roadster
Payload mass: < 1305 kg
Destination orbit: Heliocentric 1 x ~1.5 AU
Vehicle: Falcon Heavy (1st launch of FH)
Cores: Center Core: B1033.1 // Left Booster: B1025.2 // Right Booster: B1023.2
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Landings: Yes
Landing Sites: Center Core: OCISLY // Side Boosters: LZ-1, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
Mission success criteria: Successful insertion of the payload into the target orbit.

 

[dhanson865]

Apparently slipping to Thursday or Friday. Wait for confirmation from SpaceX or NASA.

I recall the press conference saying that Thursday wasn't an opportunity, and Friday is the last day for a month?

So if it's not tomorrow, then it's Friday or bust.

So it won't be Thursday

Friday the 15th is the last day in the window before they have to stand down until Dec. 25.

 

[Grendal]

The reason has been fine tuning being done to SLC-40 in prep for launch.

4th Reuse Launch - Booster is Block 3 originally used for CRS-11 - Capsule was used for CRS-6
Launch Date: December 15th, Friday
Launch time: 15:33 GMT (10:33 EST and 7:33 PST)
Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
Booster Recovery: RTLS at LZ-1

Not 100% official just yet.

 

[ecarfan]

New launch date: Dec 15

Tweet from SpaceX, quote:

Taking additional time for the team to conduct full inspections and cleanings due to detection of particles in 2nd stage fuel system. Now targeting CRS-13 launch from SLC-40 on Dec. 15. Next launch opportunity would be no earlier than late December.

 

[bak_phy]

cleanings due to detection of particles in 2nd stage fuel system.

Did Bezos pour sugar in their fuel tank?

 

[jkn]

There is barley, but hopefully not in fuel tank:

 

[Jeff Hudson]

Space reporters have reported that the CRS-11 booster has not been cleaned as much as previous flight proven boosters. So this booster was been given the nickname "sooty" by one of the reporters. The nickname has been picked up by enthusiasts and other reporters.

The particles were found in the 2nd stage.

 

[jkn]

We know that. But why shiny new stage has dirt in wrong place and sooty old one does not? Advantage of reuse...