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#1 2017-05-10 11:56:47

Oldfart1939
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Registered: 2016-11-26
Posts: 2,463

Falcon Heavy test firing!

SpaceX test fired the central core of the Falcon Heavy last week at their McGregor, Texas test facility. Finally! Another small step on the way to mars! According to some recent comments from various space websites, the 2 booster stages will be previously flown Falcon 9s.


https://youtu.be/yUo7SQE6ajs

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#2 2017-05-10 12:11:36

louis
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From: UK
Registered: 2008-03-24
Posts: 7,208

Re: Falcon Heavy test firing!

Brilliant news.

Oldfart1939 wrote:

SpaceX test fired the central core of the Falcon Heavy last week at their McGregor, Texas test facility. Finally! Another small step on the way to mars! According to some recent comments from various space websites, the 2 booster stages will be previously flown Falcon 9s.


https://youtu.be/yUo7SQE6ajs


Let's Go to Mars...Google on: Fast Track to Mars blogspot.com

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#3 2017-05-10 17:43:19

SpaceNut
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From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 29,438

Re: Falcon Heavy test firing!

Would have been nice to see the other cores even going off seperately that would be joined together soon... but it is progress....

Any info on the second stage modifications which will be needed for anything beyond LEO?

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#4 2017-05-10 18:45:52

Oldfart1939
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Registered: 2016-11-26
Posts: 2,463

Re: Falcon Heavy test firing!

SpaceNut-

Nothing else. Just that on spaceflight101.com, the first launch date is set for early 4th quarter this year. Also a November launch for a Falcon Heavy with a manifested payload. The Crew Dragon test flight scheduled in July, as well as the Crew Dragon in-flight abort test.

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#5 2017-05-10 19:46:07

Oldfart1939
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Registered: 2016-11-26
Posts: 2,463

Re: Falcon Heavy test firing!

As a corollary to thte original post, Bulgaria and SpaceX announced that the Bulgariasat launching this June will be aboard a previously flown Falcon 9 rocket. The first stage will be the one used earlier this year from Vandeberg AFB in California to launch the Iridium Next satellite constellation.

http://www.space.com/36763-spacex-launc … -june.html

Last edited by Oldfart1939 (2017-05-10 19:46:29)

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#6 2017-05-11 13:07:33

GW Johnson
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From: McGregor, Texas USA
Registered: 2011-12-04
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Re: Falcon Heavy test firing!

I've heard some very loud tests at the McGregor site,  including one yesterday with an anomalous noise signature at shutdown.  There's been no local word on what is being tested,  but I suspect the Falcon Heavy cores.  They sound louder than the usual Falcon-9 first stages,  for some reason.  That test stand is 6 miles as the laser shoots from my house. 

GW


GW Johnson
McGregor,  Texas

"There is nothing as expensive as a dead crew,  especially one dead from a bad management decision"

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#7 2017-05-11 17:35:55

SpaceNut
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From: New Hampshire
Registered: 2004-07-22
Posts: 29,438

Re: Falcon Heavy test firing!

Let me know when you think that more than 1 first stage is being fired up.... as the heavy needs to balance fuel flow to each for even thrust that does not cause it to spin wildly....

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#8 2017-05-11 18:19:07

louis
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From: UK
Registered: 2008-03-24
Posts: 7,208

Re: Falcon Heavy test firing!

The neighbours must love Space X...and they haven't even got on to the ITS yet...

GW Johnson wrote:

I've heard some very loud tests at the McGregor site,  including one yesterday with an anomalous noise signature at shutdown.  There's been no local word on what is being tested,  but I suspect the Falcon Heavy cores.  They sound louder than the usual Falcon-9 first stages,  for some reason.  That test stand is 6 miles as the laser shoots from my house. 

GW


Let's Go to Mars...Google on: Fast Track to Mars blogspot.com

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#9 2017-05-12 16:32:50

GW Johnson
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From: McGregor, Texas USA
Registered: 2011-12-04
Posts: 5,823
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Re: Falcon Heavy test firing!

The big rocket will have to built and tested adjacent to the pad it will fly from.  It is too big to transport,  except by barge perhaps. 

It's my understanding that the first big one may be launched from Canaveral.  However that's at variance with the on-going construction at the south tip of Texas.  No one is talking yet about the factory where the thing will be built.  But there's no way to build it in Hawthorne CA,  because there's no way to move it off site. 

GW


GW Johnson
McGregor,  Texas

"There is nothing as expensive as a dead crew,  especially one dead from a bad management decision"

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#10 2017-05-12 16:47:23

Oldfart1939
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Registered: 2016-11-26
Posts: 2,463

Re: Falcon Heavy test firing!

GW-
The size and transportability of the earlier-proposed Falcon X is probably what stifled it's production. But, it's exactly what is required as that elusive but "necessary" intermediate step between Falcon Heavy and the ITS. I'm banking that the difficulties building the Big Mother of All  Rockets will ultimately resurrect it.

Last edited by Oldfart1939 (2017-05-12 16:49:01)

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