Falcon I First Flight: 25th November 1pm PDT

[kdavis007]

Just launch the damn thing!!

 

[mikejz]

SFN <br /><br />Countdown clocks remain stopped at T-minus 10 minutes because of unfavorable weather conditions over the launch site. There is no information from officials on the weather forecast or the chances for improvement.

 

[skyone]

Are we aloud to shout, use CAPLOCKS in a flagrent violation of normal forum etiquette, if the launch succeeds?

 

[mattblack]

Actually, more than 2 hours 40 minutes. Here:<br /><br />http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/launches/next_launch.html <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p>One Percent of Federal Funding For Space: America <strong><em><u>CAN</u></em></strong> Afford it!!  LEO is a <strong><em>Prison</em></strong> -- It's time for a <em><strong>JAILBREAK</strong></em>!!</p> </div>

 

[barrykirk]

Plenty of time for them to punch it through a hole in the clouds.

 

[moonmadness]

Thought they were just counting down to the end of the launch window? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>I'm not a rocket scientist, but I do play one on the TV in my mind.</p> </div>

 

[robotical]

<i>SpaceX officials have said their rocket has a four-hour launch window to lift off from its pad on Omelek Island, part of the Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific Ocean's Marshall Islands.</i><br /><br />Two hours and forty minutes would put them at the end of the launch window. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[mikejz]

I bet for the first launch they want optical sighting of the Falcon all the way up.

 

[kdavis007]

Also launching through clouds would not be good.... Espcially storm clouds....

 

[tap_sa]

Bah, this thing is supposed to be more safe than Saturn V and that thing ate storm clouds for breakfast.

 

[yurkin]

wow i completely forgot about this today. <br />Glad to hear I didn't miss it.

 

[mikejz]

They appear to be out of topoff LOX on the Island and are going to go for more. 1-2 Hour Delay

 

[grooble]

They are not going to make it.

 

[skyone]

Awaiting word from Musk himself. May take a few minutes....

 

[tap_sa]

Elon's making an announcement soon.<br /><br />"Suprise! It's already up!" ?

 

[grooble]

What could he possibly announce other than delay for another day?

 

[mikejz]

Still Going to Try for Today

 

[mikejz]

Love this<br /><br />From NSF<br /><br />Q: "How large a support control crew do you have, other than the government people, either there or at Kwajalein?" <br />Larry Williams of SpaceX: "We have about 25 people on the island." ... [Q: Specifically for control of the launch?] "We have 6 people in our launch mission control center."

 

[skyone]

They are sending someone to make manual adjustments to the Lox Tank

 

[mikejz]

The life of an Aerospace Intern <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[mikejz]

At This point only Weather and Lox Boiloff issues; No other launch issues to this point.

 

[skyone]

"Q: Specifically for control of the launch?] "We have 6 people in our launch mission control center.""<br /><br />So Space.com's mission control is bigger than SpaceX's? <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" />

 

[barrykirk]

Just checked the weather for Kwajalein again. It looks like it's cloudy for the rest of the day, but no more rain.<br /><br />Question. Given the current delay until they can finish re-topping off the LOX tanks, how much window will they have left? <br /><br />I'm really glad they didn't try to use LH2 for a fuel. That would evaporate much faster than LOX, unless you use a lot of insulation.<br /><br />Given the temp over there. 31 Degrees C. Evaporation will be quick.

 

[kdavis007]

From spaceflightnow:<br /><br />The team continues to work on the launch pad liquid oxygen tanks. Countdown activities remain on hold. A new launch time hasn't been established.<br />

 

[grooble]

5 minutes until the action begins again. Just enough to cook a bacon sandwich.