SpaceX launch set for February 9th

[grooble]

Lets hope they get it this time.

 

[shoogerbrugge]

not holding my breath, but lets hope. They must have gathered quite some frequent flyer miles on the USAF C-17s by now, flying LOX, stages and supplies. I wonder who pays the bill, since the USAF is a major supported of this whole expedition. <br /><br />third time charm, or 3 strikes & out, we will soon know.

 

[j05h]

scrubbed launches are cheaper for SpaceX than exploding Falcons. They have very low pad costs, and I seem to remember they shipped most of their LOX in, the c17 flight carried it to supplement the last launch attempt. They have received a shipload of it since. Correct?<br /><br />Man, I want them to fly and succeed. <br /><br />Josh <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div align="center"><em>We need a first generation of pioneers.</em><br /></div> </div>

 

[mikejz]

Musk also owns a private business jet that is being used to shuttle staff and supplies to the island.

 

[teije]

Ah, good, I do not have time to watch on the 8th. Hopefully I will on the 9th. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" />

 

[radarredux]

> <i><font color="yellow">Where did you get that info, mike</font>/i><br /><br />While I don't know about where Mike got the information, I read the same thing in the business section of the New York Times (I think on Sunday).<br /><br />Here is a link of the online version, free registration may be required.<br /><br />http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/05/business/yourmoney/05rocket.html?_r=1&oref=slogin</i>

 

[holmec]

now its the 10th. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[slidelock]

How long has omelek been in use as a launch pad? I worked on kwajalein until 95 and dont remember that island having a launch pad. I would have thought they would use Meck Island instead.. Been out of touch.

 

[space_dreamer]

Have SpaceX said if they going for the Bigalow Prize? <br /><br />Maybe they are waiting for a successful launch before making an announcement? <br />

 

[josh_simonson]

Spacex built their own minimalist pad on omelek.<br /><br />I believe they did a hold down, full duration firing of the first stage at vandenberg about a year ago, that may be the test folks are thinking of. AFAIK they haven't done a brief firing as part of the last few hours to an actual launch though. It's very nice that they've got that ability.

 

[mikejz]

The hold down was at Vandyland prior to the range delays, that forced the first launch to be at omelek.<br /><br />As far as the America's space prize, i would venture to say that its' something in Musk's mind. Given that the Falcon IX is stated as being triple redundant and man-ratted, you would think that he one day wants people riding it. <br /><br />The question I would venture to say is if he feels that SpaceX has the ability to actually design and build the capsule that would be on top of the Falcon IX. That is almost purely a financial matter. <br /><br />Oh course I would not be surprised if SpaceX has an arrangement with another company to launch there manned vehicle.

 

[blairf]

little brother is back<br /><br />http://kwajrockets.blogspot.com

 

[mikejz]

He says they got to T-Zero and then held.<br /><br />Not sure of the reason. <br />

 

[shyningnight]

Performance Anxiety?<br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /><br /><br />Paul F.

 

[mikejz]

T-Minus 15 minutes and counting

 

[spacefire]

T-1minute! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[spacefire]

there's an image from video feed on the blog site. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[spacefire]

stopped again <img src="/images/icons/frown.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[mikejz]

I wonder how long they have the range for....<br /><br />At least they are smart and doing this to work the bugs out. <br /><br />*Edit* Do they even need any support from the range for a hold down firing?

 

[nyarlathotep]

Post deleted by Nyarlathotep

 

[kdavis007]

I thought today was a test launch and tomorrow was the actual launch??

 

[scottb50]

After analyzing data from the static fire countdown, we decided to postpone the launch. The vehicle is being lowered for further investigation.<br /><br />Once we have thoroughly checked out all systems, I will post an update on what was found and when the next countdown attempt will occur. Based on range availability and logistics constraints, a rough guess would be two to four weeks.<br /><br />--- Elon <br /><br />After analyzing data from the static fire countdown, we decided to postpone the launch. The vehicle is being lowered for further investigation.<br /><br />Once we have thoroughly checked out all systems, I will post an update on what was found and when the next countdown attempt will occur. Based on range availability and logistics constraints, a rough guess would be two to four weeks.<br /><br />--- Elon <br /><br />After analyzing data from the static fire countdown, we decided to postpone the launch. The vehicle is being lowered for further investigation.<br /><br />Once we have thoroughly checked out all systems, I will post an update on what was found and when the next countdown attempt will occur. Based on range availability and logistics constraints, a rough guess would be two to four weeks.<br /><br />--- Elon After analyzing data from the static fire countdown, we decided to postpone the launch. The vehicle is being lowered for further investigation.<br /><br />Once we have thoroughly checked out all systems, I will post an update on what was found and when the next countdown attempt will occur. Based on range availability and logistics constraints, a rough guess would be two to four weeks.<br /><br />--- Elon <br /><br />http://www.spacex.com/index.html?section=media&content=http%3A//www.spacex.com/media16.php <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[no_way]

http://kwajrockets.blogspot.com/<br />So unfortunately we will need to run the hold-down fire again (tomorrow Friday 1pm CA time). What that means is that we will lose our window for a real launch....<br />We've figured out what caused the sequence to stop, but now we need to fix it. It has something to do with the timing of the ignitors, which is measured in milliseconds....<br />We want to lower the rocket and check the fuel tanks in the 2nd stage. The readings indicated the pressure was acting incorrectly. Until we lower and see for ourselves, we can't really know what the problem is....<br />The Freakin' LOX! Yes, the same painful problem we experienced in the first launch. Being in the middle of nowhere is really annoying. Doing a second hold-down fire means that we won't have enough LOX for a launch attempt.....<br /><br /><br /><br />tons of problems still left. another month to wait<br /><br />

 

[josh_simonson]

Successful test today, from the blog: <br /><br />Rocket fired at T-Zero.<br /><br />It went into auto-sequence, and fired the engines. After 1 second, system aborts to<br />prevent the rocket from leaving its stand.<br /><br />I have a short video, and will post it when I can get it online.<br /><br />K<br /><br />Thought they had clamps to hold the rocket to the pad? Anyway good news that everything worked out this time, and they should be in good practice for the next attempt.

 

[shyningnight]

I'm guessing that even with BIG bolts, you don't want to keep it at full thrust too long.... or you'll break something.<br />We've waited long enough to see the Falcon fly.. I don't want 'em to break it before it even gets a fair shake!<br /><br /><br />Paul F.<br />