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Upgraded Falcon 9 Demonstration Flight 2013-09-29

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aronth5

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May 8, 2010
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Falcon 9 v1.1 stacked and on the pad at VAFB!

Primary goal is to deliver Cassiope to orbit but the secondary goal which most people are more interested in is the expected
goal of a powered water splash in the ocean! Lots for SpaceX to prepare for with a new pad, new rocket and first cargo launch for the 9 v1.1
Latest date appears to be Sept 14th but that could change again.

At the heart of the rocket’s upgrades are its nine Merlin 1D engines, arranged in their new octagonal placement on the core stage.
The additional performance from these engines – which have been undergoing testing since 2011 – will increase the payload capability of the Falcon 9 to over 29,000 pounds to Low Earth Orbit (LEO).

Good luck SpaceX!

casiopiea.PNG
 
I was reading through the FAA waiver granted to SpaceX to launch from Vandenberg. I found it interesting that the U.S. Air Force only gave the new Falcon rockets a 50 percent chance of success for their first 2 missions.
 
I was reading through the FAA waiver granted to SpaceX to launch from Vandenberg. I found it interesting that the U.S. Air Force only gave the new Falcon rockets a 50 percent chance of success for their first 2 missions.

Musk Says SpaceX Being “Extremely Paranoid” as It Readies for Falcon 9’s California Debut

“Just before we hit the ocean, we’re going to relight the engine and see if we can mitigate the landing velocity to the point where the stage could potentially be recovered, but I give this maybe a 10 percent chance of success,” Musk said.

Will be very interesting to see if SpaceX releases the video of the ocean "encounter".

http://www.spacenews.com/article/launch-report/37094musk-says-spacex-being-%E2%80%9Cextremely-paranoid%E2%80%9D-as-it-readies-for-falcon-9%E2%80%99s
 
Merlin flight will be on livestream
http://new.livestream.com/spacex/F9-6

Very significant flight for Spacex
*Will use new Grasshopper system to "crash/land" first stage onto the ocean surface. First time trying multiple engine restarts.
*Both stages will carry more fuel.
*Merlin1D engine replaces Merlin1C
*First flight at Vandenberg
*First use of payload fairing

Good Luck!!!
 
Merlin flight will be on livestream
http://new.livestream.com/spacex/F9-6

Very significant flight for Spacex
*Will use new Grasshopper system to "crash/land" first stage onto the ocean surface. First time trying multiple engine restarts.
*Both stages will carry more fuel.
*Merlin1D engine replaces Merlin1C
*First flight at Vandenberg
*First use of payload fairing

Good Luck!!!

The increase in size and fuel use is interesting. I wonder what's driving it. Required for reusability? Larger market for the extra payload? Preparation for Falcon Heavy?

Oh, I really hope they get something from the re-usability test.
 
Merlin flight will be on livestream
http://new.livestream.com/spacex/F9-6

Very significant flight for Spacex
*Will use new Grasshopper system to "crash/land" first stage onto the ocean surface. First time trying multiple engine restarts.
*Both stages will carry more fuel.
*Merlin1D engine replaces Merlin1C
*First flight at Vandenberg
*First use of payload fairing

Good Luck!!!


So I take the site to mean that there will be launch coverage from noon - 3pm on Sunday. Awesome! Cant wait to see it. If I was not so busy at work, I'd probably have driven down to spend the weekend on the coast and take Monday off incase of a delay. Definitely my plan for when they launch the Heavy from Vandenberg.