SpaceX May 5th launch: Extreme conditions..low chance of successful landing

[Hamartia Antidote]

http://www.theverge.com/2016/5/4/11...nding-live-stream-falcon-9-jcsat-14-satellite

SpaceX is gearing up for its next launch this week, and this one is taking place well past bedtime (at least for those of us on the East Coast). The company's Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to launch a Japanese communications satellite, JCSAT-14, from Cape Canaveral, Florida at 1:21AM ET on Thursday. As usual, the company will try to land the majority of its rocket on a floating drone ship at sea — but SpaceX does not expect a successful vehicle recovery this time.

"SpaceX does not expect a successful vehicle recovery this time"

The Falcon 9 is meant to deliver the JCSAT-14 satellite to a very elliptical orbit high above the Earth’s surface, called a geostationary transfer orbit. This high orbit is the reason that SpaceX doesn't expect the rocket landing to happen. The company says that "the first-stage [of the rocket] will be subject to extreme velocities and re-entry heating, making a successful landing unlikely." Additionally, getting to GTO uses up a lot more fuel than getting to lower Earth orbit. The rocket has to reach higher speeds to get up to the higher orbit, eating up a lot of fuel on the vehicle's initial ascent. That leaves less leftover fuel for the rocket's return to Earth.

SpaceX finally pulled off its first drone ship landing in April, after many failed attempts over the past year and a half. It was the second time the company has landed a rocket post-launch; the first time was in December, when the Falcon 9 touched down on solid ground at Cape Canaveral after launching a satellite into space. SpaceX has said that land landings are only possible for certain types of missions, while drone ship landings are better for missions that go to higher speeds. The company is going to need to master both landing types if it wants to recover and reuse as many of its rockets as possible.

Despite SpaceX's low expectations for the landing, there is an 80 percent chance of favorable weather conditions for the launch itself, according to Patrick Air Force Base. The JCSAT-14 satellite going up on this mission is meant to provide telecommunications coverage to Japan and Asia-Pacific regions, according to the probe's manufacturer, the JSAT Corporation. Check back here Thursday morning to watch the launch and landing attempt live (if you're not asleep).

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

No CGI this time

 

[jamahir]

okay, at least in landings the 'new shepard' rocket of blue origin is advanced and successful than the falcon 9 ( first stage ), though the spacex dragon v2 capsule/craft is far more advanced than the 'new shepard' capsule, including in the powered descent facility.

why can't both companies collaborate or even merge??

because spacex has the 2018 mars landing objective to keep.

SpaceX has said that land landings are only possible for certain types of missions, while drone ship landings are better for missions that go to higher speeds. The company is going to need to master both landing types if it wants to recover and reuse as many of its rockets as possible.

can anyone explain to me the logic of this??

 

[Beyonder]

okay, at least in landings the 'new shepard' rocket of blue origin is advanced and successful than the falcon 9 ( first stage ), though the spacex dragon v2 capsule/craft is far more advanced than the 'new shepard' capsule, including in the powered descent facility.

why can't both companies collaborate or even merge??

because spacex has the 2018 mars landing objective to keep.



can anyone explain to me the logic of this??

GTO launch vs Leo launch. For GTO launch, like next launch, Rocket travels faster, hence , not enough fuel left for all the boost back burns and Supersonic Retropropulsion required for Land landing. Drone Ship stays relatively closer to the flight path so rocket 1st stage has to travel less distance when it comes back and that creates less heat. In short, it takes less Fuel for Drone Ship Landing with minimal Heat.

GTO launch vs Leo launch. For GTO launch, like next launch, Rocket travels faster, hence , not enough fuel left for all the boost back burns and Supersonic Retropropulsion required for Land landing. Drone Ship stays relatively closer to the flight path so rockets has to travel less distance when it comes back and that creates less heat. In short, it takes less Fuel for Drone Ship Landing with minimal Heat.

No CGI this time

Here's the 2nd Booster (CRS 8) they recovered on 8th April going back to Pad-39A ..you think this is also CGI?

http://www.theverge.com/2016/5/4/11...nding-live-stream-falcon-9-jcsat-14-satellite

SpaceX is gearing up for its next launch this week, and this one is taking place well past bedtime (at least for those of us on the East Coast). The company's Falcon 9 rocket is scheduled to launch a Japanese communications satellite, JCSAT-14, from Cape Canaveral, Florida at 1:21AM ET on Thursday. As usual, the company will try to land the majority of its rocket on a floating drone ship at sea — but SpaceX does not expect a successful vehicle recovery this time.

"SpaceX does not expect a successful vehicle recovery this time"

The Falcon 9 is meant to deliver the JCSAT-14 satellite to a very elliptical orbit high above the Earth’s surface, called a geostationary transfer orbit. This high orbit is the reason that SpaceX doesn't expect the rocket landing to happen. The company says that "the first-stage [of the rocket] will be subject to extreme velocities and re-entry heating, making a successful landing unlikely." Additionally, getting to GTO uses up a lot more fuel than getting to lower Earth orbit. The rocket has to reach higher speeds to get up to the higher orbit, eating up a lot of fuel on the vehicle's initial ascent. That leaves less leftover fuel for the rocket's return to Earth.

SpaceX finally pulled off its first drone ship landing in April, after many failed attempts over the past year and a half. It was the second time the company has landed a rocket post-launch; the first time was in December, when the Falcon 9 touched down on solid ground at Cape Canaveral after launching a satellite into space. SpaceX has said that land landings are only possible for certain types of missions, while drone ship landings are better for missions that go to higher speeds. The company is going to need to master both landing types if it wants to recover and reuse as many of its rockets as possible.

Despite SpaceX's low expectations for the landing, there is an 80 percent chance of favorable weather conditions for the launch itself, according to Patrick Air Force Base. The JCSAT-14 satellite going up on this mission is meant to provide telecommunications coverage to Japan and Asia-Pacific regions, according to the probe's manufacturer, the JSAT Corporation. Check back here Thursday morning to watch the launch and landing attempt live (if you're not asleep).

Oops Launch delayed by 24 hours!

 

[jamahir]

GTO launch vs Leo launch. For GTO launch, like next launch, Rocket travels faster, hence , not enough fuel left for all the boost back burns and Supersonic Retropropulsion required for Land landing. Drone Ship stays relatively closer to the flight path so rocket 1st stage has to travel less distance when it comes back and that creates less heat. In short, it takes less Fuel for Drone Ship Landing with minimal Heat.

thanks.

i too suspected a efficiency background for this so thanks for confirming.

though it is not a aesthetically elegant solution at all - the dragon craft landing on land and the booster on sea and having to be brought back to land.

Here's the 2nd Booster (CRS 8) they recovered on 8th April going back to Pad-39A ..you think this is also CGI?

it is big and heavy !!

and it looks clean enough after its atmospheric journey.

but the path was through a residential area and the denizens didn't seem surprised to see this at all... no people coming out their houses.

and where are the landing legs??

finally, what is the tripod structure at the top??

 

[Beyonder]

thanks.

i too suspected a efficiency background for this so thanks for confirming.

though it is not a aesthetically elegant solution at all - the dragon craft landing on land and the booster on sea and having to be brought back to land.



it is big and heavy !!

and it looks clean enough after its atmospheric journey.

but the path was through a residential area and the denizens didn't seem surprised to see this at all... no people coming out their houses.

and where are the landing legs??

finally, what is the tripod structure at the top??

Elon's plan is to reload the 1st stage with fuel right on the Drone Ship and fly it back to land but that will take few years to work out. That part of Florida is very familiar with this kind of Heavy Load road transports especially rockets..and they regularly see Flacon 9s when it comes from Texas. They removed landing Legs at the Port. And that Tripod is for Crane handling

 

[jamahir]

I think the problem is the launch speed of the rocket depends upon how high the satellite is supposed to be in orbit.

ah, the speed control facilitated by liquid fuel.

i hadn't realized that different speeds are actually set for different heights.

If the satellite is supposed to be far far above the earth (GTO) they will have to expend most of the fuel to get it to a speed necessary to position it. The rocket will then be in a free fall at a very high speed possibly ripping it apart. If it does survive the re-entry it still needs fuel to land. This may be in short supply.

So they are going to see what happens.

in the underlined i assume you are talking about descent from leo to high earth atmosphere.

but i thought those control structures on the booster and the cold gas vents are computer-controlled to stabilized the booster.

and spacex has done booster re-entry, what four times?? plus the success of the 'new shepard' booster.

 

[Beyonder]

Dude,

Elon's plan is to reload the 1st stage with fuel right on the Drone Ship and fly it back to land but that will take few years to work out. That part of Florida is very familiar with this kind of Heavy Load road transports especially rockets..and they regularly see Flacon 9s when it comes from Texas. They removed landing Legs at the Port. And that Tripod is for Crane handling

of course it's big and heavy..it's 70 meters tall with 3.7m diameter. Now, Imagine a 15 m diameter with 130 m tall rocket....SpaceX's Mars Rocket/Spaceship aka MCT(Mars Colonial Transporter) will be something world has never seen before..but it will take at least 10 years..

Please don't compare

ah, the speed control facilitated by liquid fuel.

i hadn't realized that different speeds are actually set for different heights.



in the underlined i assume you are talking about descent from leo to high earth atmosphere.

but i thought those control structures on the booster and the cold gas vents are computer-controlled to stabilized the booster.

and spacex has done booster re-entry, what four times?? plus the success of the 'new shepard' booster.

'new shepard'?! really man! It's a Toy ..goes straight up 100 KM and comes down..can't do shit..Blue Origin is like 6-7 years behind SpaceX...there's a reason we call it Blue Orphan

 

[jamahir]

Elon's plan is to reload the 1st stage with fuel right on the Drone Ship and fly it back to land but that will take few years to work out.

a simpler and natural idea.

is it known how that flight will happen?? attitude and altitude, i mean.

And that Tripod is for Crane handling

oh well, that big booster swinging back and forth in front of the technician looks scary.

Dude,
of course it's big and heavy..it's 70 meters tall with 3.7m diameter.

as one of the comments on that vid said, one doesn't realize the size until it passes in front of you.

Now, Imagine a 15 m diameter with 130 m tall rocket....SpaceX's Mars Rocket/Spaceship aka MCT(Mars Colonial Transporter) will be something world has never seen before..but it will take at least 10 years..

hmm.

but what of the 'mars one' program and its aims of sending off mars colonists by 2024??

'new shepard'?! really man! It's a Toy ..goes straight up 100 KM and comes down..can't do shit..Blue Origin is like 6-7 years behind SpaceX...there's a reason we call it Blue Orphan

nevertheless, they achieved the landing, so what if their rocket doesn't go beyond 100 kms and neither does their capsule.

 

[anon45]

nevertheless, they achieved the landing, so what if their rocket doesn't go beyond 100 kms and neither does their capsule.

It's pointless to compare landings if you don't compare relative level of difficulty. No real point is made on qualitive superiority.