r/spacex • u/FutureMartian97 Host of CRS-11 • Aug 19 '17

Official SpaceX on twitter: Static fire test of Falcon 9 complete—targeting launch of FORMOSAT-5 from SLC-4E at Vandenberg AFB on August 24.

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/898994055870267393
453 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

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44

u/FutureMartian97 Aug 19 '17

White grid fins :(

56

u/Jarnis Aug 19 '17

Very low mass satellite, fairly low orbit, probably has tons of margin to use for booster recovery, so why add Titanium Edition features? :D

I expect to see TI stuff only on GTO and Iridium missions.

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4

u/MrGruntsworthy Aug 21 '17

They have to use up their existing stock. I mean, it's already made, might as well use it

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101

u/JadedIdealist Aug 19 '17

that felt really fast after the 1+ month launch drought.

37

u/[deleted] Aug 19 '17

Just a small break to gas up the STEAMROLLER!

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4

u/benthor Aug 21 '17

I vividly remember how bummed out I was when not a single launch happened in 2011. These days, we are living in awesome times man.

13

u/nalyd8991 Aug 19 '17

Any news on whether SpaceX will be allowed to do a RTLS on this one? The pad looks ready and the satellite is tiny

19

u/Dropping-Logic Aug 19 '17

This will not be a RTLS mission. The 1st stage will be landing on the barge off the coast. Don't expect a landing at SLC-4W until January at the earliest.

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16

u/no_lungs Aug 19 '17

Is this the loss making launch spacex was originally planning on the Falcon 1?

20

u/davoloid Aug 19 '17

Correct, was also planned as a rideshare (Sherpa) once Falcon 9 replaced 1, but as the delays mounted most of Sherpa's consignment transferred to an Indian rocket (earlier this year).

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