Poll: Will they land it?

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  1. #1
    The Insane Masark's Avatar
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    SpaceX SES-9 launch

    http://www.spacex.com/webcast

    T-13 minutes to launch.

    Any bets on whether they'll stick the landing this time?

    Warning : Above post may contain snark and/or sarcasm. Try reparsing with the /s argument before replying.
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  2. #2
    The Unstoppable Force May90's Avatar
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    Go, SpaceX! Safe landing.
    Quote Originally Posted by King Candy View Post
    I can't explain it because I'm an idiot, and I have to live with that post for the rest of my life. Better to just smile and back away slowly. Ignore it so that it can go away.
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  3. #3
    Ojou-sama Medusa Cascade's Avatar
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    Go SpaceX!!!!

  4. #4
    Titan I Push Buttons's Avatar
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    I clicked the stream and instantly it was like HOLD HOLD HOLD ABORT LAUNCH!

    What have I done!?

  5. #5
    Pit Lord lokithor's Avatar
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    booo, launch is scrubbed for tonight.

  6. #6
    The Unstoppable Force May90's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by I Push Buttons View Post
    I clicked the stream and instantly it was like HOLD HOLD HOLD ABORT LAUNCH!

    What have I done!?
    You have pushed a few buttons.
    Quote Originally Posted by King Candy View Post
    I can't explain it because I'm an idiot, and I have to live with that post for the rest of my life. Better to just smile and back away slowly. Ignore it so that it can go away.
    Thanks for the avatar goes to Carbot Animations and Sy.

  7. #7
    Stupid wind. I was watching that.
    READ and be less Ignorant.

  8. #8
    This one? Probably not. It's complicated.

    Even SpaceX's pre-launch Press Release material says that landing is unlikely. It is indeed the Falcon 9 v1.1 Full Thrust (sometimes called v1.2).

    SES-9 is both large and has to go to a very high orbit. It is headed to Geostrationary Transfer Orbit, on the way to a GSO.That put's it over 20,000 miles away.

    https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...ion_orbits.svg

    Far higher than ISS or GPS. But very useful for telecommunications.

    SpaceX saying "probably won't land" could be part technical and part PR. One one hand, SpaceX is intentionally trying VERY hard to build launch-provider credibility at the moment. Falcon 9 landing attempts require reserve fuel and reserve mass that SpaceX deducts from the launch capability of a Falcon 9 (which is Falcon 9 has a single-use variant, for higher performance if needed). Being a higher orbit and heavier mass, requires more fuel and a larger margin, for example if a first stage engine goes out and the other 8 have to burn longer. Scenarios like that.

    SpaceX won accolades from SES last month for a particular reason. If SpaceX launched it into a lower orbit and let SES-9 transit to it's higher orbit under it's own power, it would take months longer to bring into service. SES, due to difficulties with another satellite, wanted it sooner. SpaceX, by taking it basically directly there, will allow SES to utilitize it months earlier than otherwise possible.

    Basically SpaceX is demonstrating to it's customers - satellite makers - that it can be counted on to put their needs first. So from a business perspective for SpaceX, very good move.

    Is SpaceX being conservative? Probably, agian for PR purposes towards sattelite makers, and not the general public. A successful landing is something that would be important for a GTO-targeted Falcon 9 first stage to eventually accomplish. SpaceX though probably just wants to wrack up customers in the short term though.

    Considering they just peeled Iridium off Russia, it's working.

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