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And booster prop loading has begun. I assume it starts ahead of loading the ship because the booster has to be able to support the weight of a ship + propellant so it needs to be pressurized and have some mass in the tanks. The ship’s tanks are smaller than the boosters so it can start filling after the booster is partially filled. Will have to watch the frost lines on the booster and the ship to see the sequence and proportions.
I don’t know when they will stop the count, but my guess is that the objective is to reach the point where the internal flight computers take over, which I think on the F9 is at T-1:00. But for this first WDR they may well stop before then. It’s a bit frustrating for interested outsiders like us because SpaceX is not revealing where they are in the count.
Booster prop load looks essentially complete and ship loading is getting close, maybe?
A different view showing the contrast between the loaded booster covered with frost and the TPS side of the loaded ship which does not show frost due to the insulation provided by the tiles.
De-tanking. So hopefully this was a successful WDR but we don’t know unless SpaceX tells us. At least nothing appeared to blow up. 
Seems like it went well.
10 million pounds of propellant
10 million pounds of propellant
Not pure Hydrogen, at least.
Methane is like a rock star carbon atom with a hydrogen molecule on each arm.
(I think original comment was a joke akin to "orange you glad you don't use LH2?")
dhanson865
Well-Known Member
I do believe that was a dig at SLS which had leaks in multiple launch attempts.
Yes. Note my use of the wink emoji.
my nervous self thinks, a full static fire test of all engines... will knock off some concrete from the pad and send the bits hurtling across ...
I actually had a dream the other day (honestly) that SpaceX is doing a full wet rehearsal and then the countdown for some reason does not stop.. keeps going down to T-50 to T-10 and there is extreme panic in the control room. Musk says let it go. And the engines fire.. and I woke up cursing this is going to be a disaster. It took a few seconds for me to realize I was only dreaming..
That is why SpaceX recently completed construction of a huge concrete covered berm between the OLM and the GSE tank farm.
Whatever happens when all 33 Raptors light up, it is going to be spectacular!
Amazing photos by Nic Ansuini of a massive methane vent at the end of the WDR.
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