Launch News SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.2 with SES-9 March 4 2016

[ADSWNJ]

I reckon it's just expectation setting, and they are still going full throttle to land it if technically possible. The first stage is doing a ballistic reentry instead of the usual boost-back, as they are right on limits.

Should be a good one again.

 

[Andy44]

The nice thing is that they can afford to try crazy experiments every launch and earn what the limits really are, as long as they deliver the payload.

 

[RisingFury]

I wonder what freaky, non-engine related thing will go wrong this time during the landing :lol:

 

[Urwumpe]

I wonder what freaky, non-engine related thing will go wrong this time during the landing :lol:

A white sperm whale ramming the barge?

 

[Thunder Chicken]

I wonder what freaky, non-engine related thing will go wrong this time during the landing :lol:

I don't know about non-engine related issues, but if fuel is tight and runs out a few seconds before touchdown, the "hover slam" could just become "slam".

 

[RGClark]

Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly alert: SpaceX doesn't expect to stick Wednesday rocket landing.
Posted by Jason Davis
2016/02/23 18:35 UTC
http://www.planetary.org/blogs/jason-davis/2016/20160223-rud-warning-ses-9.html

Bob Clark

 

[kerlix]

That barge is a trooper.

 

[Urwumpe]

Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly alert: SpaceX doesn't expect to stick Wednesday rocket landing.
Posted by Jason Davis
2016/02/23 18:35 UTC
http://www.planetary.org/blogs/jason-davis/2016/20160223-rud-warning-ses-9.html

Bob Clark

Actually, that means nothing about what SpaceX thinks about the landing chances. They simply don't expect a successful landing for later being able to say that the mission was still a success, if it still fails on the next attempt.

Once a barge landing was successful, it will be much harder to keep the expectations so low that easily.

 

[ADSWNJ]

Three hours to the launch. Check https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/4768zw/rspacex_ses9_official_launch_discussion_updates/ for Reddit commentary, and https://spacexstats.com/live for a good side-by-side stream of the launch (technical and non-technical feeds).

 

[RGClark]

Three hours to the launch. Check https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/4768zw/rspacex_ses9_official_launch_discussion_updates/ for Reddit commentary, and https://spacexstats.com/live for a good side-by-side stream of the launch (technical and non-technical feeds).

Hope they release the on board video shots from the stage this time.

Bob Clark

 

[Urwumpe]

Scrub for today.

 

[Thunder Chicken]

Scrub for today.

Rather glad they scrubbed as I had a doctor's appointment and wasn't able to watch at launch time.

Going to try again tomorrow, Thursday February 25th at 18:46 EST (23:46 UTC). OP updated.

Livestream Webcast

http://livestream.com/spacex/events/4862005

Youtube (Full Webcast)

Youtube (Technical Webcast)

 

[ADSWNJ]

Scrub for today.

Interesting mix of weather and LOX cooling. Apparently, they want to launch in the front of the 90 min window, ASAP, to keep the most LOX in the tank, to get the absolute max burn possible for their customer. This whole flight is really stretching the limits of what SpaceX can deliver.

Per SES: if they can get a few more m/s of DV, then they can cut the circularization time from 90 days to 45 days. It'll be fascinating to see the transfer orbit they can achieve if/when they launch today.

 

[boogabooga]

Is SES using ion thrusters to circularize?

 

[ADSWNJ]

Yes - Xenon motor.

---------- Post added at 11:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:15 PM ----------

T-45 mins ... all green so far. Weather is a go.
Interesting links: http://www.flightclub.io/world.php?watch=1&code=SES9
https://spacexstats.com/live

---------- Post added at 11:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:01 PM ----------

T-5. Range go, upper winds go. Apparently they will need a Multi-Engine Landing this time!

 

[Andy44]

Hipsters are go.

 

[ADSWNJ]

Launch abort @ -00:01:41 ... and scrubbed.

Initial comment: "problem appears to have been slow propellant loading". They leave it to the very last second to keep it as cold as possible to get as much in the tank as possible. Looks like some issues with the ground equipment.

No fallback day yet.

 

[Andy44]

Abort at T-1:41

 

[PhantomCruiser]

hmmm, well better to get it right than wrong. :shrug:

 

[Thunder Chicken]

No new date yet, but SpaceX is saying "a couple of days". Stay tuned.