SpaceX Falcon 9 Flight 1 Launch, June 4, 2010

[shuttle_guy]

Re: Upcoming SpaceX Falcon 9 Flight 1 Launch

Today I was told that the static test is set for Feb 23 and the newest launch day target is March 22.

 

[mj1]

Re: Upcoming SpaceX Falcon 9 Flight 1 Launch

This just in from floridatoday.com
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/201 ... ing+rocket


SpaceX's scheduled events at Launch Complex 40:
•Feb. 18, tanking test
•Feb 22, engine test
•March 8, tentative launch

Boy, just read the responses to the article. The 'haterade for Space X is flowing BIG time! I mean sheesh, can people really be that jealous that they actually WANT SpaceX to fail?!? People need to look beyond their own parochial wants and needs. The reason I'm such a big fan of SpaceX (and it's competitiors, by the way) is that I know that the only way we are really going to explore space in any meaningful way is if private companies get involved. I don't understand why people don't get that. I just hope that when the Falcon 9 sucessfully lifts off that launchpad in a few weeks, SpaceX can begin to shut some of these critics up. Probably not though.

 

[mr_mark]

Re: Upcoming SpaceX Falcon 9 Flight 1 Launch

The Spacex nay- sayers have bought into a idea that Space has to be done by big government agencies. Now, that is just not true anymore. Times have changed. Now, instead of one spacecraft going up every couple of months, we could eventually see several different spacecraft from different companies flying in one month and that's just to start if you are not counting Virgin Galactic, who plans to eventually fly suborbital point to point several times a week. We are about to enter a new age away from the thinking that states socialist government job programs can solve everything for everybody approach. That's a good thing. NASA should be thinking about places to go and let companies build those rockets. ULA, LOCKHEED MARTIN, BOEING, SPACEX, VIRGIN GALACTIC and ORBITAL SCIENCES now have launched or have been a part of launching sattelittes into orbit. With the governments help and guidance these companies will mature and develop their own independent programs allowing humanity to go farther and faster into the future.

 

[nimbus]

Re: Upcoming SpaceX Falcon 9 Flight 1 Launch

Times haven't changed yet. SpaceX and a few others still need to make it happen. We're seeing history being made, no doubt about it.

 

[docm]

Re: Upcoming SpaceX Falcon 9 Flight 1 Launch

Wanna see vitriol? Browse around nasaspaceflight.com for a while - some of those guys have spacexitis real bad :roll:

I'm sure some feel their jobs ebbing before them and SpaceX getting into "their" business hit's 'em where it hurts, but jezzzz....

 

[job1207]

Re: Upcoming SpaceX Falcon 9 Flight 1 Launch

"The White House gave a
major boost to the commercial aerospace industry last week, canceling the post-shuttle Constellation moon rocket program and offering an additional $6 billion over five years toward the development of commercial rockets for human flights."

From that article. That much money over five years would ONLY be enough for Spacex to research and build it's human version. It cost almost that much for Ares1X.

Essentially, ULA is out of the human business unless they can deliver at SpaceX prices.

 

[job1207]

Re: Upcoming SpaceX Falcon 9 Flight 1 Launch

The Spacex nay- sayers have bought into a idea that Space has to be done by big government agencies. Now, that is just not true anymore. Times have changed. Now, instead of one spacecraft going up every couple of months, we could eventually see several different spacecraft from different companies flying in one month and that's just to start if you are not counting Virgin Galactic, who plans to eventually fly suborbital point to point several times a week. We are about to enter a new age away from the thinking that states socialist government job programs can solve everything for everybody approach. That's a good thing. NASA should be thinking about places to go and let companies build those rockets. ULA, LOCKHEED MARTIN, BOEING, SPACEX, VIRGIN GALACTIC and ORBITAL SCIENCES now have launched or have been a part of launching sattelittes into orbit. With the governments help and guidance these companies will mature and develop their own independent programs allowing humanity to go farther and faster into the future.

I would look at it this way. Literally ALL post Edison modern technologies started with a Government
grant. Edison picked off the easy things. The US govt started funding for the rest. ( the automobile predated Edison ). And MOST of it is a direct offshoot of the space program, the rest started as a war time investment.

Also, we are still benefiting from Einstein's work. We need the next guy to come along or to have his work proven.

 

[newsartist]

Re: Upcoming SpaceX Falcon 9 Flight 1 Launch

You miss the fact that the present companies with experience are probably goners.

Without income they downzize or go out of business. Goodbye trained human resources in either case.

Their main income sources are history. Constellation is gone, F-22 is gone, the Tanker program will probably be scrapped or given to Airbus (Europe.) F-35, cited as the reason for killing F-22, is over cost, over time, and under performing to the point that it will have to be dumped.

Boeing, LockMart and others will have to merge into a sole entity, or fade away. Europe won't allow that either. We have pretty cartoons but no aerospace industry today.

The other startups are nowhere near ready to step up. Virgin Galactic/Scaled Composites are building a Theme Park ride. SpaceX spends money and makes promises, but weren't they saying that they would be supporting the ISS program with manned supply flights by 2009?

I must have missed those flights.

 

[nimbus]

Re: Upcoming SpaceX Falcon 9 Flight 1 Launch

To SpaceX's benefit, Musk is on record saying they'll keep pushing on to the bitter end. Paraphrased but (correct me if I'm wrong) that was the gist of it. Rocket science might be extremely hard. But it's not impossible. Sooner or later we'll make it out there. We just have to give it all we've got.

 

[job1207]

Re: Upcoming SpaceX Falcon 9 Flight 1 Launch

This is great. While the first Falcon launches had trouble, only one required a major overhaul of the design. The other issues were key, but only required a quick fix.

This is a VERY important launch. Even so, they are looking at a March launch. To me, that means they are not finding any major items.

There are $6 Billion reasons for Spacex to go when they are ready, and not before.

One question? There was a note of only a small amount of coolant water? What is the origin of that? This was a working launch site in the past.

Also, I can remember the engineers saying making comments about full tests causing damage pre flight. Any insight on that one?

 

[job1207]

Re: Upcoming SpaceX Falcon 9 Flight 1 Launch

You miss the fact that the present companies with experience are probably goners.

Without income they downzize or go out of business. Goodbye trained human resources in either case.

Their main income sources are history. Constellation is gone, F-22 is gone, the Tanker program will probably be scrapped or given to Airbus (Europe.) F-35, cited as the reason for killing F-22, is over cost, over time, and under performing to the point that it will have to be dumped.

Boeing, LockMart and others will have to merge into a sole entity, or fade away. Europe won't allow that either. We have pretty cartoons but no aerospace industry today.

The other startups are nowhere near ready to step up. Virgin Galactic/Scaled Composites are building a Theme Park ride. SpaceX spends money and makes promises, but weren't they saying that they would be supporting the ISS program with manned supply flights by 2009?

I must have missed those flights.

Capitalism. Constellation is not gone, it will just have a different look. Spacex, more than likely. BHO is following the expert recommendations. As I recall Augustine WAS part of the Main aerospace industry in his time.

The other programs are not part of this thread. Technically, we ONLY need the F16 and F18. Congressmen fly in converted tankers. ( I have flown with them. ) We are ONLY fighting an insurgency. We do NOT need the NEXT generation of nuclear war fighting capacity. We are not facing a superior Air superiority threat, mostly due to electronic war fare.

As far as jobs go, Musk made his own rockets as a kid. If you have an idea, go for it.

The NEXT folks on the Moon will be there as TOURISTS. Book it. They will be Space X tourists, or if it is a Moon orbit insertion it will be a Russian rocket. I would also bet that some X country will insert a module in lunar orbit. There is a RACE to the moon in Asia you know. Soon Virgin galactic will be sending folks POINT TO POINT suborbitally. The MARKET for that is going to be HUGE!!!

Finally, they speak english in India, in addition to other things. There is a serious launch capability oversupply thanks to National pride. You might want to learn another language, as long as you do not sell US secrets, that is.

 

[MeteorWayne]

Re: Upcoming SpaceX Falcon 9 Flight 1 Launch

MOD HAT ON****

Folks, again, this thread is for discussing the Upcoming SpaceX Falcon 9 Flight 1 Launch ONLY!

The whole SpaceX and future of the US space program belongs in one of the other threads in Space Business and Technology.

I will be moving the off topic posts to one of them.

MOD HAT OFF***

 

[mr_mark]

Re: Upcoming SpaceX Falcon 9 Flight 1 Launch

HERE YOU GO FULLY ASSEMBLED AND PAINTED! http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/201 ... -popup.jpg

 

[docm]

Re: Upcoming SpaceX Falcon 9 Flight 1 Launch

Cool

Note the covered tracks on either side of the Falcon 9.....obviously intended for the Falcon 9 Heavy/Heavy H.

Interesting graphics on the interstage....we'll see what they are when it rolls out.

 

[vattas]

Re: Upcoming SpaceX Falcon 9 Flight 1 Launch

One question? There was a note of only a small amount of coolant water? What is the origin of that? This was a working launch site in the past.

Also, I can remember the engineers saying making comments about full tests causing damage pre flight. Any insight on that one?

Since it's launch pad and not a test stand, it's not designed to perform long duration firings. Water is needed just for a few seconds before rocket is released and lifts off.

 

[mr_mark]

Re: Upcoming SpaceX Falcon 9 Flight 1 Launch

Lift of rocket with launch erector and tanking test this sunday. Test fire sometime next week. http://www.hobbyspace.com/nucleus/index ... emid=18718

 

[frodo1008]

Re: Upcoming SpaceX Falcon 9 Flight 1 Launch

Boy, I sure do hope (and even pray) they are totally successful here. I do see that both Elon Musk's and his company's somewhat cocky attitudes that they had before the problems with Falcon 1, have totally disappeared here, and I find that to be a very good sign in itself that they know fully understand this business. And that alone greatly increases their chances of success!!

It might also do some good here to realize that like Boeing and LM, even though they are themselves pure private companies, they now have a great deal of their funding from NASA and the government. But, I would also like to think that the government has learned ITS lesson also, and therefore (like in the early beginnings of the space program itself) IS leaving the details to the company itself, which I also find all to the good (especially for costs)!

So, good luck and God's Speed to them. They are now the leading edge on what we are going to get humanity into space, and have a true space fairing civilization!!!!

Hopefully........

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: Upcoming SpaceX Falcon 9 Flight 1 Launch

Just in case :
New Commercial Rocket Ready to Do NASA's Heavy Lifting

posted: 18 February 2010
05:35 am ET


NASA's space shuttles are flying their final missions this year, but one commercial spaceflight company in California has a new, privately-built rocket standing ready to replace the aging workhorse.

 

[mr_mark]

Re: Upcoming SpaceX Falcon 9 Flight 1 Launch

Roll out as early as tommorrow, Friday...Spacex

 

[docm]

Re: Upcoming SpaceX Falcon 9 Flight 1 Launch

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Falcon-9 ... 5379.shtml

Falcon 9 Ready to Fly

It is integrated at the CCAFS

Representatives at the private company Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) announce that their delivery vehicle, the Falcon 9, has finally been integrated at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, in Florida. Located just a few miles away from the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), the facility will be the primary launch site of the new rockets, which are planned as part of the fleet of spacecraft that will replace the aging space shuttles, when they are retired this September. The maiden flight of the new rocket will most likely take place in the coming months, SpaceX officials say.
>
“One of the most exciting things, to me, about the 2011 NASA budget is that it acknowledges one of the biggest barriers to exploring space, and that barrier is how do you pay for it,” said of the new direction for the space agency former NASA astronaut Ken Bowersox. He is currently the Vice President for astronaut safety at SpaceX. “History shows that the first two flights of any vehicle is a struggle. We're certainly not rushing to the flight line,” Shotwell mentions, adding that the company will launch Falcon 9 only after all systems are deemed flight-worthy.

 

[job1207]

Re: Upcoming SpaceX Falcon 9 Flight 1 Launch

SpaceX has come a long way from when they drove their Falcon I rocket to DC for show and tell. I drove bye it when it was in town. Good luck on the campaign.

 

[mr_mark]

Re: Upcoming SpaceX Falcon 9 Flight 1 Launch

Unconfirmed sources have the Falcon 9 standing up on the pad.... Checking.......

 

[Swampcat]

Re: Upcoming SpaceX Falcon 9 Flight 1 Launch

Falcon 9 rocket will spend next week at launch pad

"SpaceX hoisted the first Falcon 9 rocket atop its Cape Canaveral launch pad on Saturday, beginning several days of compatibility checks to be punctuated by a dramatic ground-shaking engine test next week.

"After emerging from the hangar Friday, the 15-story rocket was rotated vertical around midday Saturday."

 

[job1207]

Re: Upcoming SpaceX Falcon 9 Flight 1 Launch

If you read that, it says they will launch NO EARLIER than March 22nd. Then he goes on to emphasize that fact.

The first THREE Falcon I flights were failures. As I recall, that set back caused Musk to give up some of his company in order to get funding.

Here is the the data on Falcon I, minus one launch last Summer.

I hope that this is a successful flight. It is very important.

 

[mr_mark]

Re: Upcoming SpaceX Falcon 9 Flight 1 Launch

Not even ONE picture of the Falcon 9 launcher on the test stand yet....................... Hope for some in the next couple of days.