Falcon 9 launch progress thread...

[Dr Mordrid]

Full flight duration 1st stage test video...

(note: the test tower is over 200 feet tall and news reports are buildings shook and windows broke over 40 miles away)

Looks to be integrated after October and launched before the end of the year. Delay rumored because the flight will carry a delayed DoD payload.

Falcon 9 being SpaceX's 9 engine launcher that now looks to be one of the US cargo and manned launchers for NASA/ISS, commercial satellite orbit/de-orbit and DoD satellite interception/inspection. (satellite ops using Dragon's newly announced grappler arm)

Falcon 9 Heavy will use 3 of the engine packs above in just the first stage, 27 engines total, and loft 30 metric tons to LEO using the Kestrel LOX/kerosene 2nd stage. Rumored to be as much as 40-50 metric tons when used with the Raptor LOX/liquid hydrogen second stage.

SpaceX News Release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Emily Shanklin | Director, Marketing and Communications
media@SpaceX.com
310.363.6733

SPACEX COMPLETES QUALIFICATION OF FALCON 9 FIRST STAGE TANK AND INTERSTAGE

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

McGregor, TX (July 29, 2009) – Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) announces the successful completion of qualification testing for the Falcon 9 launch vehicle first stage tank and interstage. Testing took place at SpaceX's Texas Test Site, a 300 acre structural and propulsion testing facility, located just outside of Waco, Texas.

The first stage tank and interstage hardware were subjected to a proof test of 1.1 times the maximum expected operating pressure (MEOP), and a burst pressure proof test of 1.4 MEOP; qualifying both articles with a 1.4 factor of safety. The 1.4 factor of safety designation means that the first stage tank and the interstage can withstand 140 percent the maximum internal pressure expected during flight, and qualifies both pieces of hardware to meet human rating safety requirements, as defined by NASA. The first stage also passed this human rating milestone when subjected to structural bending tests.

The testing regimen included over 150 pressurization cycles, exceeding the number of required life cycles by more than 100. In addition, the first stage and interstage were subjected to stiffness tests, maximum dynamic pressure loading and main engine cutoff conditions; all at expected values, as well as ultimate loads.

"Falcon 9 continues to pass qualification testing in preparation for its first flight, scheduled for 2009," said Elon Musk, CEO and CTO of SpaceX. "All hardware was designed to be man-rated, and these tests confirm that SpaceX is one step closer to flying humans on the Falcon 9/Dragon system."

Falcon 9's first stage and interstage also passed ground wind qualification tests, critical for when the vehicle is vertical on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Both components were designed, built and tested by SpaceX.

For more information about the Falcon family of vehicles, and to watch a video tour of SpaceX's Texas Test Site, please visit http://www.spacex.com.

[Dr Mordrid]

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n0908/24falcon9/

SpaceX making steady progress on new rocket

BY STEPHEN CLARK
SPACEFLIGHT NOW
Posted: August 24, 2009

SpaceX continues to plan to debut the new Falcon 9 rocket by the end of this year, but company engineers are still qualifying some parts of the vehicle for the rigors of launch.

"We're not down to an exact date, but we are targeting the end of the year. And so far, so good," said Tim Buzza, SpaceX's vice president of launch operations.

Buzza said last week most of the 180-foot-tall launcher has passed qualification testing. A handful of components, including the second stage's Merlin vacuum engine, must still complete the extensive checks.

Everything should be qualified for flight in about two months, Buzza said.
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The first stage tagged for the rocket's maiden flight is already in Texas after proof testing earlier this summer. The stage's aft section, which contains the Falcon 9's nine Merlin engines, will soon arrive in Texas for a series of ignition tests.
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Kerosene and liquid oxygen tanks at the pad are already being filled with propellant and gaseous helium and nitrogen plumbing is currently being added to the launch mount.

"We're heading toward the finish line very quickly," Buzza said.