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-   -   FH roars at LC-39A! (http://www.oldrocketforum.com/showthread.php?t=17085)

blackshire 01-25-2018 12:42 AM

FH roars at LC-39A!
 
Hello All,

SpaceX's Falcon 9 has passed a major milestone to its first launch, which may occur as soon as next week! Today it successfully completed a static firing test of all 27 of its Merlin engines at Launch Complex 39A. Below are links to articles, photographs, and multiple-views video coverage of the static firing:

http://spaceflightnow.com/2018/01/2...-first-liftoff/

http://spaceflightnow.com/2018/01/2...y-roar-to-life/

http://spaceflightnow.com/2018/01/0...t-preparations/

http://spaceflightnow.com/2018/01/2...ter-press-site/

tbzep 01-25-2018 08:29 AM

3.1 million pound rocket with 4.7 million pounds of thrust. 1.6 million pound difference. IIRC, the Saturn V weighed a tad over 5 million and produced 7.8 million, so a difference of nearly 2.8 million lbs. The Falcon Heavy will creep off the pad if that's any indication. It should be really cool...even if it fails! :cool:

Ltvscout 01-25-2018 11:43 AM

I'm being selfish but I hope the launch gets pushed back to the middle of February. I'll be heading down to FL on 2/13 and would love to see this launch.

tbzep 01-25-2018 03:47 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ltvscout
I'm being selfish but I hope the launch gets pushed back to the middle of February. I'll be heading down to FL on 2/13 and would love to see this launch.

I don't blame you. I'd want the same thing if I had the chance to go. However, I'm going to be selfish too and hope it goes off on time as planned and a used car goes into solar orbit! ;)

Ltvscout 01-25-2018 03:53 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by tbzep
I don't blame you. I'd want the same thing if I had the chance to go. However, I'm going to be selfish too and hope it goes off on time as planned and a used car goes into solar orbit! ;)

Is an actual launch date/time set yet?

tbzep 01-25-2018 04:31 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ltvscout
Is an actual launch date/time set yet?

Not that I know of. They have a regular Falcon 9 launch on Jan 30, which may affect the launch date as far as postponements, personnel etc. Right now they just have it listed as "February".

Ltvscout 01-25-2018 05:08 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by tbzep
Not that I know of. They have a regular Falcon 9 launch on Jan 30, which may affect the launch date as far as postponements, personnel etc. Right now they just have it listed as "February".

Ok, just so they make it after February 13th!

Royatl 01-25-2018 07:36 PM

KSC Visitor Center is selling tickets for $200 with viewing at the Saturn V center. Per mission tickets so good for any launch date for this rocket in case of scrub. Plus an extra day in the next 60 to come back and see all the other stuff.

kapton 01-25-2018 10:30 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by tbzep
3.1 million pound rocket with 4.7 million pounds of thrust. 1.6 million pound difference. IIRC, the Saturn V weighed a tad over 5 million and produced 7.8 million, so a difference of nearly 2.8 million lbs. The Falcon Heavy will creep off the pad if that's any indication. It should be really cool...even if it fails! :cool:


1.6 million pounds vs 2.8 million pounds excess thrust.
Now tell me the lift off mass of the FH vs the liftoff mass of a Saturn V. Then you can compare accelerations.

blackshire 01-25-2018 11:35 PM

A pending Falcon 9 mission that's slated to launch from Launch Complex 40 in a few days may--or may not--come before the Falcon Heavy's debut. Due to KSC/MILA (Merritt Island Launch Area) range equipment & launch scheduling matters and SpaceX personnel commitments (the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch teams share most of the same people), they may launch the Falcon 9 vehicle before they launch “the big ‘un,” but if it goes well, that won’t add many more days to the Falcon Heavy’s schedule, and:

Cloven hooves crossed—if anything goes wrong, my guess is that it might occur around Max Q due to the stress and vibration. Elon Musk said that if it clears the pad far enough to avoid damaging it, that will be good enough for him, for the first try.


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