Skylon 511 Posted April 28 (edited) It appears the SpaceX thread has been merged with the blue origin and Orion thread (?!), so I thought I would take it upon myself to start a new SpaceX thread. Here it is... The NROL-76 launch is scheduled for the 30th of April, and the static test fire completed. Edited April 28 by Skylon Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frybert 1864 Posted April 28 Please do not start new threads on this at this time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
monstah 2233 Posted April 28 Allright, lets try this out again. It seems like the old threads will stay glued, but we believe the new ones won't give you trouble. *turns thread back on* *steps back cautiously* Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YNM 546 Posted April 28 Wow. Allright... So, to start, is this the only SpaceX thread for now ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CatastrophicFailure 5969 Posted April 28 Fancy that, in after the lock... Getting back on track here, NROL-76 launch this Sunday at waytooflarpingearly:00 AM PDT, your timezone may vary. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tater 5857 Posted April 28 This launch is going to have the shortest ever stage 1 burn... Merlin change? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CatastrophicFailure 5969 Posted April 28 Hmm, where'd you see that? Could the payload just be that light? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tater 5857 Posted April 28 Dunno, it was posted at NSF (not L2). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sevenperforce 1486 Posted April 28 I, for one, suspect uprating of the Merlin 1Ds in anticipation of Block 5. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mad Rocket Scientist 3856 Posted April 28 A couple of handy links: http://bit.ly/2puphXG http://www.patrick.af.mil/Portals/14/documents/Weather/L-2 Forecast 30 Apr Launch.pdf https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/04/25/nrol-76-launch-preps/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheEpicSquared 1887 Posted April 29 https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/04/29/falcon-9-rocket-rolled-to-launch-pad-with-classified-payload/ Progress! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scotius 1577 Posted April 29 Hmm. Maybe this mysterious payload is a spysat aimed at North Korea? On Molniya orbit it will hang above Pyongyang for hours. Considering current tensions about NK's nuclear and rocketry programs, i wouldn't be surprised if NRO wants to keep watchful eye on them. All of this is very "cloak and dagger" stuff Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
magnemoe 912 Posted April 29 5 hours ago, TheEpicSquared said: https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/04/29/falcon-9-rocket-rolled-to-launch-pad-with-classified-payload/ Progress! How is the fairing and payload attached to the rocket? SpaceX uses horizontal assembly like Russia does, but NRO payloads are designed for VAB who spacex don't have, I assume its plenty of assembly to fit fairing with payload on rocket. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ZooNamedGames 2355 Posted April 29 Hope to be there tomorrow. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wumpus 489 Posted April 29 1 hour ago, Scotius said: Hmm. Maybe this mysterious payload is a spysat aimed at North Korea? On Molniya orbit it will hang above Pyongyang for hours. Considering current tensions about NK's nuclear and rocketry programs, i wouldn't be surprised if NRO wants to keep watchful eye on them. All of this is very "cloak and dagger" stuff I think Molniya orbits work with countries with significant East-West width. Like Russia, USA, Canada (possibly China, but they manage with a single time zone). Not so much with North Korea, but you could claim a China-watching Molniya was supposed to look at North Korea (and indeed spends plenty of time doing so). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CatastrophicFailure 5969 Posted April 29 1 hour ago, Scotius said: Hmm. Maybe this mysterious payload is a spysat aimed at North Korea? On Molniya orbit it will hang above Pyongyang for hours. Considering current tensions about NK's nuclear and rocketry programs, i wouldn't be surprised if NRO wants to keep watchful eye on them. All of this is very "cloak and dagger" stuff North Korea is at about the same latitude of northern California, no need for a Molniya orbit, those are for high-latitude locations like a big chunk of Russia and the poles. I'm quite NK already has it's own dedicated satellite in GSO run by the NSA and the rest of the security alphabet soup. Which also happens to be a good place to watch Russia, China, etc. Whatever this bird is, it's been in the pipes for quite a while, probably long before Lil' Kim popped up and started waving his big rubber sabre around. Most of the articles I've seen say it's probably just a high-latitude comm relay, anyway. 1 hour ago, magnemoe said: How is the fairing and payload attached to the rocket? SpaceX uses horizontal assembly like Russia does, but NRO payloads are designed for VAB who spacex don't have, I assume its plenty of assembly to fit fairing with payload on rocket. There was video of the rocket being raised this morning, so this payload was definitely the standard horizontal integration. IIRC SpaceX actually has plans to modify 39A (b?) specifically for vertical integration of future NRO payloads. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Codraroll 298 Posted April 29 Sad to see the old thread go, but I welcome a thread title without any brackets. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
StrandedonEarth 1996 Posted April 29 I wonder if they'll try any fairing recovery on this one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
insert_name 626 Posted April 30 (edited) Seems to be a circular high inclination orbit on the payload faring. Could the booster do that within reason based on the current launch azimuth? Edited April 30 by insert_name Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CatastrophicFailure 5969 Posted April 30 8 minutes ago, insert_name said: Seems to be a circular high inclination orbit on the payload faring. Could the booster do that within reason? @tater said that NSF said that it's gonna be the shortest 1st stage burn ever, and I also read the second stage is going to re-enter "right away" over the Indian ocean, so I'm guessing the payload has its own boost stage and the whole thing is very light, lighter than a Dragon. 2 hours ago, StrandedonEarth said: I wonder if they'll try any fairing recovery on this one. We won't get to see separation, so..... Maybe the fairing IS the payload.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mad Rocket Scientist 3856 Posted April 30 Got an alarm set, time to get some sleep. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mitchz95 624 Posted April 30 (edited) Only one webcast this time? Interesting... maybe not enough people watching the technical-only. I won't be watching this one live, sadly. Gotta catch up on my sleep. Edited April 30 by Mitchz95 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CatastrophicFailure 5969 Posted April 30 2 hours ago, Mitchz95 said: Only one webcast this time? Interesting... maybe not enough people watching the technical-only. I won't be watching this one live, sadly. Gotta catch up on my sleep. Or maybe it's because... this time, it's the people who are being watched... ...and... ...they see you when you're sleeping, they know when you're awake... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheEpicSquared 1887 Posted April 30 (edited) Spoiler Pics from here: https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/04/29/photos-falcon-9-rocket-poised-for-first-national-security-flight/ Also this: Edited April 30 by TheEpicSquared Adding stuff Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skylon 511 Posted April 30 15 minutes ago, CatastrophicFailure said: Or maybe it's because... this time, it's the people who are being watched... ...and... ...they see you when you're sleeping, they know when you're awake... ...they know if you think the Earth is flat ...but it's round for goodness sake!... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
