Launch News SpaceX Falcon Heavy Demo Mission (1330-1630 EST 6th Feb. 2018)

[Nicholas Kang]

It is still far from the launch date. But the first image has appeared. :thumbup:

This is the converted Falcon 9 booster that launched ThaiCom-8 back in May 2016, Booster B1023, one of the 2 boosters that will be with the Falcon Heavy debut.

It will be launched from LC-39A at Cape Canaveral.

 

[Kyle]

Going to be important to get SLC-40 up and running by the end of the summer for FH to happen by October.

 

[MaverickSawyer]

Isn't LC-39 configured for FH?

 

[Urwumpe]

Isn't LC-39 configured for FH?

Should be so. But the primary customer for the FH wants Vandenberg.

 

[Kyle]

Should be so. But the primary customer for the FH wants Vandenberg.

Not necessarily so. Most of the customers that'll utilize FH will be GTO comsats (payloads that have been utilizing expendable F9's would fly on FH in the future). SpaceX's mantra is reusability and would much rather launch a 6,000kg payload on reusable FH versus an expendable F9. Not many payloads requiring FH that'll need to fly from VAFB anyways, although I do expect there will be some eventually if SpaceX wants to keep going after DoD contracts. DIVH doesn't even fly from VAFB that often.

SpaceX was rushing to get LC-39A up ASAP after the AMOS-6 failure to keep up with their manifest for F9, thus they had to neglect FH a bit. SpaceX doesn't want further LC-39A mods to interfere with F9 manifest, so they're waiting on getting F9 launching again from SLC-40 so they can focus on LC-39A again.

 

[Nicholas Kang]

Core stage static fire!

[ame="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/862017305911320577"]SpaceX on Twitter: "First static fire test of a Falcon Heavy center core completed at our McGregor, TX rocket development facility last week. https://t.co/tHUHc1QiKG"[/ame]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSAWd-b5uhU"]Falcon Heavy Center Core Test Firing - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Kyle]

A FH side booster, apparently 1023 again, was spotted on the test stand this morning.

 

[Nicholas Kang]

Elon Musk mentioned that FH's maiden launch will see a Tesla Roaster heading towards Mars.

(It is a Gen 1 Roadster, not the new one.)

[ame="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/936782477502246912"]Elon Musk on Twitter: "Payload will be my midnight cherry Tesla Roadster playing Space Oddity. Destination is Mars orbit. Will be in deep space for a billion years… https://t.co/clunBATxJr"[/ame]

 

[MeDiCS]

Don't know about anyone else, but I went from "interesting news" to obnoxius fangirling after the announcement that they would launch a Tesla car to Mars with that test launch. I hope it goes according to plan.

:hail:

 

[MaverickSawyer]

I'll believe it when I see it getting put into the fairing. :dry:

 

[Kyle]

I'll believe it when I see it getting put into the fairing. :dry:

Belief not required. Multiple sources have also confirmed the payload, including SpaceX employees on Twitter.

 

[Andy44]

He's doing it wrong. It should be a Corvette with a spacesuit in the driver's seat and Radar Rider playing.

 

[Notebook]

Ther's only one--->

N.

 

[Urwumpe]

Belief not required. Multiple sources have also confirmed the payload, including SpaceX employees on Twitter.

So, another huge piece of space debris more... but hey, it is a Tesla.

 

[Kyle]

So, another huge piece of space debris more... but hey, it is a Tesla.

You make it sound like one can't go a few kilometers without hitting space junk between Earth and Mars :lol:

 

[Urwumpe]

You make it sound like one can't go a few kilometers without hitting space junk between Earth and Mars :lol:

Well, lets put it like that: Should the first manned Mars Mission be hit by it or any fragment of it, I seriously doubt they will appreciate this kind of marketing.

 

[Andy44]

Nobody's going to hit this car. What would be really cool is if they landed it on Mars. It's an electric car, right? Should be able to modify it to drive on the Martian surface; just need to charge it up when you get there and make sure the tires are set up right.

 

[boogabooga]

I'll be annoyed if it's true. I think there are more worthy payloads out there in need of a cheap launch.

EX:
https://www.orbiter-forum.com/showthread.php?t=27790

Another idea:
Pack it full of cubesats and give a free launch for lots of university students that otherwise would not get one.

 

[MaverickSawyer]

Musk has come out saying it was a joke.

 

[Artlav]

What would be really cool is if they landed it on Mars. It's an electric car, right? Should be able to modify it to drive on the Martian surface; just need to charge it up when you get there and make sure the tires are set up right.

Well, for one it's not even going to go into orbit, just a flyby. A lot of missing dV here.

For two, there are large problems with a consumer electric car on Mars - it's cold enough there that rubber would crumble, and i don't think li-ion cells can survive either. Most automotive-grade electronics are also rated only to -55*C.