Tuesday, December 07, 2010

SpaceX going for Wednesday morning launch

SpaceX will proceed with a Wednesday morning attempt to launch a NASA demonstration flight after repairing a cracked rocket engine nozzle, according to NASA.

The launch of the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station is targeted for 9:03 a.m., with a window extending to 12:22 p.m.

There's an 80 percent chance of favorable weather.

At Launch Complex 40 today, SpaceX teams cut off four feet of the bell-shaped nozzle on a Merlin vacuum engine that powers the rocket's upper stage, removing an area where two cracks were found Monday. Final inspections are in progress.

The company said the nine-foot nozzle provided performance margin that wasn't needed to launch the Dragon on its first operational flight. Nine first-stage Merlin engines don't use the nozzle.

The company is expected to issue a notice confirming its plans late this evening.

IMAGE: SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket at sunset from Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Photo credit: Chris Thompson/SpaceX

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is just awesome!! NASA would still coping with analysis paralysis over a similar situation. SpaceX analyzes, makes a decision, and fixes the problem. Let's light this candle! Go SpaceX!!! Wish you guys nothing less than success tomorrow!!

thepegasuswing said...

Cut the Nozzle down by 4'!?!

Hell yea that's my type of program...
Don't get me wrong I understand nozzle expansion ratios and all the stuff typically called rocket science.

This is absolutely cool and the type of rocketry I want to see.
At this point this is exquisite relief from the death sounds of Shuttle/Orion...

Go Space X,
Go Dragon,
Out of the blue and into the black.
GO, GO, GO !!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

This feels like what spaceflight used to be about... sticking to the basics, adventure, making tough yet intelligent decisions, taking risks, getting the job done. I haven't been so excited about a mission for as long as I can remember. Can't wait to watch this shiny new spacecraft spread her wings on orbit, and then safely come home.

Anonymous said...

....cause shortcuts and cutting corners has always been the best solution...regardless of the result?

Anonymous said...

@7:42, I'm sure they didn't just hack off the nozzle extension without performing some analysis. The difference is, they likely didnt go off to generate gigabytes worth of power point presentations, then run through a chain of management meetings. Most likely, their best and brightest engineers examined the problem, and came up with a solution... you know... they were allowed to be engineers rather than chart monkeys.

thepegasuswing said...

God... they are on it.

I can see they understand lines of jet separation.

They get it...Do you also see that they understand how to get to space.

They are rare and are the ones.

Wow.

Go go go !

Anonymous said...

Of course the whole thing could be self-serving media hype....the cracks ever existed....and the nozzle was never modified. Anyone seen the pictures?

Anonymous said...

Oh, here come the nut jobs w/ their conspiracy theories... :/

Anonymous said...

SpaceX will need astronauts, willing or reluctant.
p-bo wants to do something with Gitmo.
Bolden as been directed to reach out to Muslims.

Solution: Gitmo becomes an astronaut training facility for SpaceX astronauts.

Stephen C. Smith said...

Go SpaceX!

Anonymous said...

Why should Gitmo detainees get that honor?

thepegasuswing said...

Oh, I am going to go out on a limb here...

The assumption is that there are persons that have the capacity to understands what is going on here...
After all, we are on the Coast that has launched a few vehicles since "Bumper".

Then there are those that may not have the capacity,(for whatever reason), the understanding of a fundamental shift.

Is there a reporter at Florida Today that has the ability to look beyond the staid way and see the path that may very well be opening up.

But then again, this also may be one of those "going out on a limb things".

Anonymous said...

@8:46, too funny. In a near-related story on this website, it appears that one of those SpaceX astronauts run his sailboat aground in the Banana River at Cape Canaveral this morning. Great timing!

Anonymous said...

Some time ago, there was a totally new approach developed for Military support. The old school did not like it at all, and were quick to throw stones and hoped we would fail. Over time, with successes they became reluctant supporters. They were just uncomfortable when their box was taken. Anyone ever read "Who moved my cheese"?

Just let Space X do the job, sniping accomplishes nothing. For the hard corps believers remember Mark Twain's comment "I never argue with a fool, people will not be able to tell us apart".

Anonymous said...

There are only three countries that have put humans into space at this time and there is a HUGE reason this is the case.


IT’S BLOODY HARD TO DO WITHOUT GETTING SOMEONE KILLED!


The Ares 1 and Constellation would be overkill by free market and commercial enterprise standards, BUT… in the end it is safety that would and is considered to be overkill and at this point it has to be.


The Ares 1 and Ares V are not systems with the goal of making access to space cheaper, but SAFER, this is because as soon as people start dyeing, as happened with the Space Shuttle… Twice…the public shuts down, and shuts down immediately. I’m not saying that this shouldn’t be but what it ultimately does is create HUGE gaps of time in human spaceflight.


So… that lends itself… if not begs this next question.


How long do you think SpaceX would survive if a disaster such as Challenger or Columbia were to happen under their watch?


Remember how long it was before the U.S. started sending humans back to LEO?


Three or four years???


Look… I’m all for the free market and commercial enterprise along with all the innovations that go along with it… but to put all of our proverbial eggs in one basket and then have to bail their collective butts out if they run into trouble… at that point they can no longer be considered as being a commercial entity.


Too basically throw away what was gleaned through the Challenger or Columbia investigations just blows my mind completely…


And the Augustine was what by comparison… come on… give me a break… they were hand selected by an administration, not put together due to a horrific tragedy.


The Ares 1 and Ares V separated cargo from crew… a no brainer right?


NOPE… Now we are on a path of going right back to the OLD ways...


Heavy lift??? You mean we are sticking with putting EVERYTHING or most everything on one rocket? You’re kidding right?


Throw everything at commercial? OMG…


Safety is the tangible that not many seem to get… that’s what the Ares system is, and that is why NASA, a government agency is needed… to fund the things that are not easily done… to fund the things that are too costly and un-profitable for the private sector… and for the betterment and advancement of our country.


Go commercial… Go SpaceX... but with the caveat… let the buyer beware…


In my opinion this could be a disaster in the making…


All it will take is one BOOM and we are again back to square one…

thepegasuswing said...

just for a moment...
just for a second...
Discard what you have seen and look ahead.

ok...thanks

Anonymous said...

The return of the Steely Eyed Missile Men! Go Space X!

Bruce said...

I hope these guys end one of the last and most expensive of government handouts. Maybe there'll be some good deals on California property, if all of this works.

Anonymous said...

Hold on to your hats. These guys could really pull it off!