Chris Bergin has the story. As he notes, the company is clearing out its inventory of previous-block boosters.
[Update a while later]
Hearing that they’re targeting 13:30 on February 6th for the launch attempt. That’s cutting it close to when I have to fly up to DC.
Chris Gebhart is live streaming it.
[Update a couple minutes later]
Also Florida Today.
[Update a few minutes later]
They fired, right at the opening of the window. Probably have Youtube later today.
[Update a while later]
The fact that it happened right at the beginning of the window is a good sign, indicating that there were no issues with the wet dress rehearsal. I’m curious to know if all twenty-seven engines lit. If they did, they must be very close to being ready for a first flight. Also, they’re past Elon’s initial concern that the pad wouldn’t be able to handle the thrust, or the plume interactions. There should be no proble with lift off, and now probably the biggest uncertainty will be the ability to stage the side cores in flight (and perhaps fly and land three cores simultaneously).
[Update a couple minutes later]
Here’s Robin Seemangal’s raw video.
My raw video of the #SpaceX Falcon Heavy static-fire at Kennedy Space Center. Come for the cloud plumes, stay for the sound.
A French space reporter just yelled "It's like the 4th of July!" pic.twitter.com/vJssukqgIz
— Robin Seemangal (@nova_road) January 24, 2018
[Update a few minutes later]
Falcon Heavy hold-down firing this morning was good. Generated quite a thunderhead of steam. Launching in a week or so. pic.twitter.com/npaqatbNir
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 24, 2018
Looking at tickets for Florida.
[Update a few minutes later]
Here’s the view from SpaceX’s camera.
First static fire test of Falcon Heavy complete—one step closer to first test flight! pic.twitter.com/EZF4JOT8e4
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) January 24, 2018
If I fly in on Monday, I might see two launches. There’s a Falcon 9 flight scheduled for Tuesday.
SpaceX has a new boat.
No, I don’t know what the story is on the name. I’m asking Sandy.
Here is a stupid piece on space.
I don’t even know where to begin.
Example: Try to logically parse this sentence:
"A NASA spokesperson confirmed to Salon that those contracts have a fixed maximum value, yet the companies get their payments when they achieve milestones."
What does "yet" mean in this context?
— Rand Simberg (@Rand_Simberg) January 21, 2018
On the other hand, this is a good antidote to the idiocy.
I haven’t gotten around to reading it, but Bob Zimmerman has, and he’s not impressed.
Just few in from San Jose. May go walk up the hill to see the Delta launch from Vandenberg in half an hour, but I suspect there’s too much moisture in the air. It was fogged in at the beach when we landed.
Light posting because I decided at the last minute to fly up to San Jose for the workshop at NASA Ames. Been listening to lunar stuff all day. Highlight: a talk by Jack Schmitt, the only geologist to walk on the moon, and the second to last to walk on it, a little over 45 years ago. And with the death of John Young a few days ago, only one of five remaining moon walkers. He’s looking pretty good at 82, and I think he stands a good chance of seeing the next person walk on the moon.
France and Germany are studying reusability in rockets. I found this amusing:
The idea for Callisto did come in part as a response to SpaceX, which has now landed 20 boosters and flown five customers on used rockets, but both Astorg and Dittus describe the project as very different.
“It’s not a copy of what SpaceX is doing,” Dittus said. “In some aspects we are also skeptical [about reusability as] the right path, but we will see what is best and then we can come up with ideas of how we proceed.”
Riiiiiiiight.
Meanwhile, Orbital ATK is taking USAF money to try to resurrect Liberty.
When all you have is a hammer…
Did last night’s mission fail? No indication that there was a launch problem.
[Tuesday-morning update]
[Update a few minutes later]
Here’s the story (so far) from Tim Fernholz.
[Update a while ago]
Here‘s a CNBC story. I have trouble believing the satellite cost “billions” of dollars, though I suppose it’s possible; Webb will.