SpaceX Falcon 9 first launch

ceauke · 03-06-2010 9:24am #1

Hi guys

Seems like we're finally there. SpaceX (www.spacex.com) plans to launch their largest rocket, the falcon 9 for the first time this Friday.

Spaceflightnow has a text update on the status: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/001/status.html

and SpaceX said they will have the launch live on their website.

Launch window is 15:00 to 19:00 GMT.

If this launch is successful it may show that NASA is on the right track with their commerical gambles.

Beeker · 03-06-2010 2:00pm

ceauke wrote: »

Hi guys

Seems like we're finally there. SpaceX (www.spacex.com) plans to launch their largest rocket, the falcon 9 for the first time this Friday.

Spaceflightnow has a text update on the status: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/falcon9/001/status.html

and SpaceX said they will have the launch live on their website.

Launch window is 15:00 to 19:00 GMT.

If this launch is successful it may show that NASA is on the right track with their commerical gambles.

Looking forward to this launch. Hope all goes well.

ynotdu · 03-06-2010 11:43pm

Hi ceauke and thank You for the post!:)

Since their is no choice left but for some sort of private sector craft to make the US return to manned missions,and like it or not that is just something We will have to accept.I hope this test will go well.

SpaceX owner has refused to promise anything in terms of timeline for a fully ready Launch Spaecraft.

He has also emphasised Safety as his main concern.

He amongst the others vying for 'the new direction' Is the one i would trust the most!

ynotdu · 04-06-2010 12:41am

after a quick check and despite the long launch window.
I see Launch is scheduled for 4PM {Irish time}
and Spaceflight now intend to start their coverage at 3PM{IST}
{Me must get some sleep now,It has been a long trek back from Baikonour since the recovery crew left me behind.:o}

[FONT=VERDANA, ARIAL, HELVETICA, SANS-SERIF][SIZE=+2]Falcon 9 demo launch will test more than a new rocket[/SIZE][/FONT]

Friday's launch of the first Falcon 9 rocket will not only be a shakedown of a brand new booster, it will test the fortitude of the space community at the dawn of an uncertain new chapter in human spaceflight. Liftoff from Cape Canaveral is scheduled for 11 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT) Friday. Our live webcast with Miles O'Brien, David Waters and astronaut Leroy Chiao begins one hour before launch.

ynotdu · 04-06-2010 3:03pm

SpaceX have a Countdown clock up finally now. They seem to be aiming for a 4.20 PM Launch now.They are giving very little away!

It is a bit of a disappointment how Weather dependant this vechicle is considering Apollo and Soyuz were designed to launch in almost all Weathers over forty Years ago!

Beeker · 04-06-2010 3:09pm

ynotdu wrote: »

SpaceX have a Countdown clock up finally now. They seem to be aiming for a 4.20 PM Launch now.They are giving very little away!

It is a bit of a disappointment how Weather dependant this vechicle is considering Apollo and Soyuz were designed to launch in almost all Weathers over forty Years ago!

Coverage on spaceflightnow is crap. Signal is breaking up all the time:mad:
Seems fin on the spacex site:)

Dont forget Apollo 12 had some bad experience with weather in Nov 69:eek:

ynotdu · 04-06-2010 3:11pm

Beeker wrote: »

Coverage on spaceflightnow is crap. Signal is breaking up all the time:mad:
Seems fin on the spacex site:)

Dont forget Apollo 12 had some bad experience with weather in Nov 69:eek:

Lightning never strikes twice beaky;):D

Yes both sites are buffering all the time for me as well:(

Sponge Bob · 04-06-2010 3:14pm

Good coverage here. Countdown frozen at 15mins before launch but she is all gassed up.

http://www.spacex.com/webcast.php

Beeker · 04-06-2010 3:25pm

Coverage just started here aswell.

http://www.spacevidcast.com/

ynotdu · 04-06-2010 3:31pm

All a Mystry as to why went into a hold at the T-!5 mark and is not saying why or how long for:(

Oh for the openess of NASA, Who even tell ya if ya have a screw loose!

Update to that it seems everything is green for GO except for a weak signal to the Range safety officer who's job is to send a signal to explode falcon if it veered off course

Beeker · 04-06-2010 3:48pm

ynotdu wrote: »

All a Mystry as to why went into a hold at the T-!5 mark and is not saying why or how long for:(

Oh for the openess of NASA, Who even tell ya if ya have a screw loose!

Update to that it seems everything is green for GO except for a weak signal to the Range safety officer who's job is to send a signal to explode falcon if it veered off course

NASA....NASA.....NASA.....Yeah, yeah, yeah...always the best for coverage:D:D:D

lord lucan · 04-06-2010 4:55pm

Lol. The range went red just as they were getting ready to resume the countdown.:pac:

Edit: It's a boat in the exclusion zone keeping the range red!

ynotdu · 04-06-2010 5:13pm

lord lucan wrote: »

Lol. The range went red just as they were getting ready to resume the countdown.:pac:

Edit: It's a boat in the exclusion zone keeping the range red!

Here's a countdown picture guaranteed to confuse anybody.

What will We do with that drunken Sailor

index.php?action=dlattach;topic=21869.0;attach=233917;image

djhaxman · 04-06-2010 5:16pm

Countdown underway again.

Beeker · 04-06-2010 5:22pm

Fingers crossed:)

lord lucan · 04-06-2010 5:26pm

I think the coverage here on boards is more interesting than what Spaceflightnow are doing!:pac:

Beeker · 04-06-2010 5:27pm

lord lucan wrote: »

I think the coverage here on boards is more interesting than what Spaceflightnow are doing!:pac:

Not for the first time:D

Beeker · 04-06-2010 5:28pm

Go for launch!

index.php?action=dlattach;topic=21869.0;attach=235442;image

Beeker · 04-06-2010 5:29pm

Range is clear and go!

djhaxman · 04-06-2010 5:30pm

Arrrghhhh T -1 and abort.

Dammit, I have to go out :mad:

lord lucan · 04-06-2010 5:31pm

:pac::pac::pac::pac::pac:

Beeker · 04-06-2010 5:31pm

Abort.....oh dear!

ynotdu · 04-06-2010 5:31pm

aborted at T-8 secs:(

Beeker · 04-06-2010 5:33pm

Very bad at keeping the viewing public up to date on whats happening!

thecommander · 04-06-2010 5:37pm

The spaceflightnow feed is brutal in every way.

ynotdu · 04-06-2010 5:39pm

Beeker wrote: »

Very bad at keeping the viewing public up to date on whats happening!

especially as they have already received $1.5 BILLION of the famous "MY tax dollars" with a promise of that again if they make progress.

Still a chance for them to launch today,but i doubt it.

Something to be said for 10 minute launch windows.

If no further updates it has been said they have the same window and launch times tomorrow.

lord lucan · 04-06-2010 5:41pm

I was waiting for it to fall over!:pac:

djhaxman · 04-06-2010 5:42pm

lord lucan wrote: »

I was waiting for it to fall over!:pac:

Or head off sideways somewhere.

thecommander · 04-06-2010 5:46pm

Seeing 1.51pm on twitter, also seeing scrubbed till tomorrow.

ynotdu · 04-06-2010 5:46pm

lord lucan wrote: »

I was waiting for it to fall over!:pac:

Which to fall over now LL? The drunken sailor or the Falcon:p

Mr Benevolent · 04-06-2010 5:48pm

No more launch, but they're going for lunch now.

Beeker · 04-06-2010 5:49pm

ynotdu wrote: »

especially as they have already received $1.5 BILLION of the famous "MY tax dollars" with a promise of that again if they make progress.

Still a chance for them to launch today,but i doubt it.

Something to be said for 10 minute launch windows.

If no further updates it has been said they have the same window and launch times tomorrow.

10 min windows are great.:) It used to drive me mad over the years before the ISS when the Shuttle launch windows could be hours long and all you had was a shortwave radio to follow the action. Drove Mrs Beeker up the wall if we were planning to go somewhere:D:D:D

Beeker · 04-06-2010 5:50pm

Confab wrote: »

No more launch, but they're going for lunch now.

:D

lord lucan · 04-06-2010 5:53pm

ynotdu wrote: »

Which to fall over now LL? The drunken sailor or the Falcon:p

Both. Or for it to spiral off into the Atlantic!:pac:

Beeker · 04-06-2010 5:54pm

Looks like they are going to try again around 19:30 {Irish}:)

ynotdu · 04-06-2010 6:09pm

lord lucan wrote: »

Both. Or for it to spiral off into the Atlantic!:pac:

Always the Mercenary! Once Atlantis is safe,You just love an explosion,don't ya!:pac::pac::pac:

lord lucan · 04-06-2010 6:16pm

ynotdu wrote: »

Always the Mercenary! Once Atlantis is safe,You just love an explosion,don't ya!:pac::pac::pac:

Nah,just hate all the secrecy that surrounds these things. Having being through years of unprecedented access to NASA manned missions it's a bit crap when you have no idea what's going on with this because they're worried about giving too much away to their competitors!

Beeker · 04-06-2010 6:20pm

lord lucan wrote: »

Nah,just hate all the secrecy that surrounds these things. Having being through years of unprecedented access to NASA manned missions it's a bit crap when you have no idea what's going on with this because they're worried about giving too much away to their competitors!

Welcome to the future:(

lord lucan · 04-06-2010 6:21pm

Beeker wrote: »

Welcome to the future:(

Sad but true.:(

ynotdu · 04-06-2010 6:21pm

lord lucan wrote: »

Nah,just hate all the secrecy that surrounds these things. Having being through years of unprecedented access to NASA manned missions it's a bit crap when you have no idea what's going on with this because they're worried about giving too much away to their competitors!

between that and the secrecy about the Military Launch's it just aint gonna be any fun anymore,is it:(

Something i think We all foresaw as soon as Augustine opened his mouth:(