Falcon Heavy Assembly Underway

Oldfart1939 · 2018-01-05 10:31:55

SpaceX just announced a delay (again!) in the launch of the mystery "Zuma" payload to evening of 7 January--presumably due to the extremely cold weather at Cape Canaveral. The Falcon heavy will be moved to the launch site after launch of the Zuma mission and a 27 engine test fire conducted. The much anticipated launch of the Falcon Heavy is now scheduled for late January.

elderflower · 2018-01-06 06:04:23

If the propellant is produced automatically it can start at once. Then you have approx. 4 years to accumulate a return ship fuel load. The personnel would just transfer to the refuelled ship after their time on the surface is up.

louis · 2018-01-06 08:09:21

3015 pointed out that isn't the Space X plan. Propellant production begins with the arrival of the human transport.

elderflower wrote:

If the propellant is produced automatically it can start at once. Then you have approx. 4 years to accumulate a return ship fuel load. The personnel would just transfer to the refuelled ship after their time on the surface is up.

louis · 2018-01-06 08:47:49

F9H looking good:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWe_hg_g9Kw

Oldfart1939 · 2018-01-06 10:07:12

Launch now listed as 29 January on www.spaceflightinsider.com

SpaceNut · 2018-01-06 22:26:45

SpaceNut wrote:

How would I scale the ship size if we are looking to only return to orbit with a few tons at most of payload? Fuel used to land the ship needs to only land a full payload for the return to orbit condition.
Zubrin's original sums gave an energy input of 17 MwHs per tonne of propellant. If BFR requires 1500 tonnes of the propellant, that would imply an energy input of 25500 MwHs or, over 660 sols, an input of 38.64 MwHs or about 1.6 Mw constant.
say a more modest payload landed is support for crew of 10 ton possibly does the fuel required scale to 100 ton to launch the ship back to orbit

Found a scaled down version of the BFR: http://toughsf.blogspot.com/2017/10/spa … ocket.html

louis · 2018-01-16 09:18:36

Could be static firing the engines today.

https://www.cnet.com/news/spacex-falcon … elon-musk/

Oldfart1939 · 2018-01-16 13:14:07

Falcon Heavy test firing postponed to Friday.

louis · 2018-01-24 14:08:38

The monster breathes fire and smoke...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PcfsF9BPn8

Well done Space X!

Oldfart1939 · 2018-01-24 16:04:57

The first launch is now scheduled for next week sometime! The hot firing was successful! Reports from the test facility indicate that the test firing lasted approximately 10 seconds. Musk subsequently tweerted to watch for the launch in about a week.

I timed the test run at approximately 4 to 5 seconds while watching the SpaceX video on YouTube.

Last edited by Oldfart1939 (2018-01-24 17:46:54)

SpaceNut · 2018-01-24 21:21:15

SpaceNut · 2018-01-25 20:09:54

I know that there is a lot of eggs in this basket riding on a perfect launch and transision to production level launches just like the falcon 9 has been and hope will remain.

BBIjvQF.img?h=768&w=1366&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f

Oldfart1939 · 2018-01-28 13:08:13

I just watched a YouTube video which stated there was an announcement by SpaceX for a 6 February targeted launch date.

Here is the link to this announcement on SpaceNews.com: http://spacenews.com/spacex-sets-first- … ign=buffer

Last edited by Oldfart1939 (2018-01-28 14:19:23)

SpaceNut · 2018-01-28 21:29:11

The launch window on Feb. 6 would run from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. ET (10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. PT), with a backup window during the same hours on Feb. 7.

SpaceX's First Falcon Heavy Rocket Test Launch Set for Feb. 6

The heavy-lift rocket stands 230 feet tall (70 meters) and is designed to launch payloads of up to 119,000 lbs. (57 metric tons) into space. It can carry twice the load of its nearest rival: the Delta IV Heavy built by the United Launch Alliance.

BBIjtmw.img?h=768&w=1080&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f

The Falcon Heavy's sticker price is $90 million, which is 45% more expensive than the Falcon 9, Once the Falcon Heavy has proven it can fly, the rocket can start doing its real job: sending satellites and other payloads into orbit.

The rocket is already signed up to carry three hefty telecommunications satellites into orbit -- one each for Arabsat, a Saudi Arabia-based firm; Inmarsat, a British company; and Viasat, which is based in California.

The U.S. Air Force also plans to use a Falcon Heavy to launch a payload dubbed STP-2, which will include some weather forecasting satellites, later this year.

RobertDyck · 2018-01-29 00:08:49

SpaceNut wrote:

The heavy-lift rocket stands 230 feet tall (70 meters) and is designed to launch payloads of up to 119,000 lbs. (57 metric tons) into space. It can carry twice the load of its nearest rival: the Delta IV Heavy built by the United Launch Alliance.

I'm amazed, and concerned. Falcon 9 got larger and larger. That makes it more expensive. Falcon heavy has done the same. The SpaceX website originally claimed it would lift 53 metric tonnes to LEO, then 54, now you're saying 57, but the SpaceX website as I write this says...

Oldfart1939 · 2018-01-29 10:18:57

Robert-
I believe the lifting capacity has increased as a function of improvements to the Merlin engines, and that early versions only operated at reduced thrust. All these changes have been evolutionary, and come as improvements were integrated into the vehicle. The cost may be more per vehicle, but if they are re-flown--does it matter that much?

kbd512 · 2018-01-29 13:45:14

Oldfart1939,

No, it doesn't matter much. You're also correct. The previous Falcon 9 variants flew at reduced thrust levels. The newer variants are capable of maximum thrust. I can't wait to see her fly. It's gonna be a great day, knock on wood, cross your fingers, and all that stuff. It costs whatever it costs, but reusability certainly changes that cost equation and it's becoming more accepted that these rockets can safely re-fly without complete replacement of the moving parts. I have my popcorn ready.

RobertDyck · 2018-01-29 15:06:56

kbd512 wrote:

I have my popcorn ready.

Oldfart1939 · 2018-01-29 17:06:14

RobertDyck wrote:

kbd512 wrote:
I have my popcorn ready.
http://www.canadaka.net/forums/images/s … opcorn.gif

Popcorn, Hell! I've got my best Single Malt ready!

Last edited by Oldfart1939 (2018-01-29 17:06:35)

SpaceNut · 2018-01-29 18:15:31

The critical part is

Once the Falcon Heavy has proven it can fly, the rocket can start doing its real job: sending satellites and other payloads into orbit.

Which hopefully there will be no unexpected mishaps, explosions, sparklers/fireworks displays..... as that would have a terrible impact delay on these next missions.

The rocket is already signed up to carry three hefty telecommunications satellites into orbit -- one each for Arabsat, a Saudi Arabia-based firm; Inmarsat, a British company; and Viasat, which is based in California. The U.S. Air Force also plans to use a Falcon Heavy to launch a payload dubbed STP-2, which will include some weather forecasting satellites, later this year.

That would really hurt the chances of going to the moon based on the Heavies use in the near future and in the next phase of going to mars once we assemble a mission plan in orbit.

Oldfart1939 · 2018-02-03 09:22:31

The FAA announced that the necessary launch license for the Falcon Heavy has been issued, and that insurance requirements have been fulfilled.

http://spacenews.com/spacex-receives-la … vy-launch/

Last edited by Oldfart1939 (2018-02-03 10:30:54)

elderflower · 2018-02-03 15:01:20

My very, very expensive, birthday present, single malt is also on standby. I hope it gets called upon.

Oldfart1939 · 2018-02-03 15:53:45

If it even clears the tower, I'll peel off the foil. If it clears the launch pad complex, I'll pull the cork. If it makes it through Max Q, I'll start pouring. At MECO, I'll hoist one high! Have seconds if any one of the 3 main stages lands back at the Cape or on OCISLY. Mine is Glenmorangie Nectar d'Or.

Terraformer · 2018-02-03 16:44:46

I don't normally drink alcohol, but you're tempting me to go buy some cider for the launch...

louis · 2018-02-03 18:37:38

I'm going to be passing Florida on 6th Feb (in a plane)...I might even see the launch! lol What was the launch window again?

Oldfart1939 wrote:

If it even clears the tower, I'll peel off the foil. If it clears the launch pad complex, I'll pull the cork. If it makes it through Max Q, I'll start pouring. At MECO, I'll hoist one high! Have seconds if any one of the 3 main stages lands back at the Cape or on OCISLY. Mine is Glenmorangie Nectar d'Or.

New Mars Forums

Announcement

#101 2018-01-05 10:31:55

Re: Falcon Heavy Assembly Underway

#102 2018-01-06 06:04:23

Re: Falcon Heavy Assembly Underway

#103 2018-01-06 08:09:21

Re: Falcon Heavy Assembly Underway

#104 2018-01-06 08:47:49

Re: Falcon Heavy Assembly Underway

#105 2018-01-06 10:07:12

Re: Falcon Heavy Assembly Underway

#106 2018-01-06 22:26:45

Re: Falcon Heavy Assembly Underway

#107 2018-01-16 09:18:36

Re: Falcon Heavy Assembly Underway

#108 2018-01-16 13:14:07

Re: Falcon Heavy Assembly Underway

#109 2018-01-24 14:08:38

Re: Falcon Heavy Assembly Underway

#110 2018-01-24 16:04:57

Re: Falcon Heavy Assembly Underway

#111 2018-01-24 21:21:15

Re: Falcon Heavy Assembly Underway

#112 2018-01-25 20:09:54

Re: Falcon Heavy Assembly Underway

#113 2018-01-28 13:08:13

Re: Falcon Heavy Assembly Underway

#114 2018-01-28 21:29:11

Re: Falcon Heavy Assembly Underway

#115 2018-01-29 00:08:49

Re: Falcon Heavy Assembly Underway

#116 2018-01-29 10:18:57

Re: Falcon Heavy Assembly Underway

#117 2018-01-29 13:45:14

Re: Falcon Heavy Assembly Underway

#118 2018-01-29 15:06:56

Re: Falcon Heavy Assembly Underway

#119 2018-01-29 17:06:14

Re: Falcon Heavy Assembly Underway

#120 2018-01-29 18:15:31

Re: Falcon Heavy Assembly Underway

#121 2018-02-03 09:22:31

Re: Falcon Heavy Assembly Underway

#122 2018-02-03 15:01:20

Re: Falcon Heavy Assembly Underway

#123 2018-02-03 15:53:45

Re: Falcon Heavy Assembly Underway

#124 2018-02-03 16:44:46

Re: Falcon Heavy Assembly Underway

#125 2018-02-03 18:37:38

Re: Falcon Heavy Assembly Underway

Board footer