Blogger Note, 3:21 p.m.: SpaceX just released a statement on today's test-firing, and we are hoping to get photos and video later today. Here's the statement: Today, SpaceX successfully completed a test firing of the inaugural Falcon 9 launch vehicle at Space Launch Complex 40 located at Cape Canaveral. Following a nominal terminal countdown, the launch sequencer commanded ignition of all 9 Merlin first stage engines for a period of 3.5 seconds.
Just prior to engine ignition, the pad water deluge system was activated providing acoustic suppression to keep vibration levels within acceptable limits. The test validated the launch pad propellant and pneumatic systems as well as the ground and flight control software that controls pad and launch vehicle configurations. The completion of a successful static fire is the latest milestone on the path to first flight of the Falcon 9 which will carry a Dragon spacecraft qualification unit to orbit.
Blogger Note: Click the images to enlarge them.
SpaceX test-fired its Falcon 9 rocket at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station today, clearing a major milestone in the run-up to the inaugural launch of the new vehicle on April 12.
Nine Merlin 1C engines appeared to ignite just before 12:30 p.m., sending up a small gush of white smoke that can be seen rising just above a support building in the top photo. The bottom photo shows black smoke pouring out of the flame trench at the bottom left of the image.
Stephen C. Smith reports that a faint roar could be heard on North Merritt Island near the intersection of Courtenay Parkway and Hall Road.
The 3.5-second "hot fire" was designed to verify the operation of ground systems and demonstrate flight readiness. SpaceX has requested an April 12 launch date on the Eastern Range.
SpaceX provided no countdown commentary and no real-time status updates. So we have no information at this time about the duration of the test-firing or the preliminary results of the test.
The 180-foot-tall rocket will likely be drained of liquid oxygen and RP-1 kerosene over the next hour or so.
The Falcon 9 will fly with a qualification model of the Dragon spacecraft the company is developing to deliver cargo, and one day astronaut crews, to the International Space Station.
21 comments:
Congratulations SpaceX!
YAWN!
Todd, we heard a faint roar over here on Merritt Island near Courtenay/Hall Road.
Stephen:
Thanks for the report. Are you a resident of Merritt Island? Tell me more....
Todd, you can e-mail me at wordsmithfl@gmail.com if you need more ... Basically, we opened the windows at just before 12:30 PM to see if we could hear anything. We heard a very faint roar for about 3 1/2 seconds. We live near Courtenay and Hall Road in north Merritt Island. I don't think you would have noticed it if you weren't listening for it. I knew it was coming thanks to your excellent blog!
Stephen:
That's great. Thanks so much!
No press releases, no onsite cameras, solid secrecy....kind've reminds me of the old Soviet launches of the 60's.
No, it tells me that SpaceX doesn't have confidence in their abilities nor do they care about public speculation.
Thanks Todd,,Good Job!!Go SpaceX,, come on down to Tico Air Show,We"d love to have you ,,, the Old Guys at Valiant Air Command, Col.K
Only it wasn't a launch it was just a systems test. All of their launches have been broadcast live on the internet. If you want updates on SpaceX including live streaming video of their launches check their website. www.spacex.com
Anonymous at 6:27 pm: That's a real borderline post. In fact I should have rejected it because of the language. I'm going to leave this up for about two minutes so people can see what type of language is NOT allowed in the discourse here in The Flame Trench. And then I'm going to delete it. Try posting the same message with more respectable language.
We could hear the roar all the way to Houston! Way to go, SpaceX.
CharlesHouston
A couple days ago, people were bashing SpaceX because the Tuesday test aborted due to a valve problem. Now STS-131 may have to roll all the way back to the pad due to a valve leak, and we hear nothing from those critics.
Personally, I wish nothing but the best to all space endeavours, but I have no respect for hypocrites.
www.spaceksc.com
GO ARES !!!
Let the Paypal anti-gun anti AMERICAN FAIL !!!
TheAntiCrist said:
All the naysayers against SpaceX are all wet.
Go Falcon 9!
Let's type in all caps and call people anti-American when they don't agree with us!
Great argument.
Competition (aka SpaceX and Virgin Galactic etc) does several good things for NASA (shuttle, ARES, whatever manned program) Inspires innovation, cost savings, and drives a reduction of dead weight. Come on guys (the negative naysayers) look for a way to seriously compete, adapt and evolve using the experience and professionalism that NASA should be known for and SpaceX will be a neat little brother not the replacement step dad. If those of you in NASA arent careful you run the risk of ending up in the same place that Battleships went post world war II. They became museums and a piece of history replaced with smaller, meaner, fast ships and planes with more capability that operated with smaller crews and reduced cost... Something to consider and I am a BIG NASA FAN!
BRING BACK CONSTELLATION ! STAND UP TO OBAMA !!
It's not very often that a democratic president gets ripped for privatizing an outdated, inefficient, money sucking government jobs program.
Congrats. to Space X. Hell of a Headstart.
But I still Think That at the very least, orion devellopement shoud be continued. Put it atop a stronger Ares 5, and perhaps even on top of the Falcon 9 rocket.
From Montreal.
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