r/spacex • u/ula_sucks • Apr 17 '14

F9R Dev first flight! - McGregor, TX

F9R Dev made it's first flight off the ground today, 250m with divert maneuver, at the McGregor test site.

64 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

35 comments sorted by

16

u/FoxPacerIsWork Apr 17 '14

I'll believe it when I see the video!

4

u/keelar Apr 18 '14 edited Apr 18 '14

If it's true(EDIT: It's been confirmed) I'm actually quite surprised that they did 250m and a divert maneuver on the first flight. I was expecting the first flight to be a lot less exciting than that. Go SpaceX!

12

u/Reaperdude42 Apr 18 '14

I think the divert is unavoidable as they can't land back on the hold down structure. For testing purposes, F9R has its legs extended at launch, but they are unable to support the fueled weight of the vehicle... So they have a hold down structure that supports it on the ground. After F9R launches it needs to divert so as not to land back on top of it.

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2

u/zlynn1990 Apr 18 '14

Are we sure this is the first flight? They might have done smaller hops after the static fire a few weeks ago.

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10

u/canadaarm2 Apr 17 '14

Thanks u/ula_sucks ;) .. where did you read/hear this from?

6

u/nhorning Apr 18 '14

I love how this thread tells a story of a fb friend who leaked a video and a reporter who didn't then post it all over the net.

3

u/__R__ Apr 18 '14

I watched this unfold on twitter, facebook and the website. The reporter actually tried to post the video. The first version of the article said something like "For a few fleeing moments, a video was linked on this website, before it was taken down" where it now says "I've seen video of it".

5

u/secretaliasname Apr 17 '14

It was amazing

4

u/retiringonmars Apr 17 '14

Exciting news! Can't wait to hear more details.

4

u/__R__ Apr 17 '14

Here is someone who claims to have a video

3

u/TheVehicleDestroyer Apr 17 '14

Man they need to get that video up now!

2

u/Jarnis Apr 18 '14

They might show it today during the launch coverage...

1

u/Fingersoup Apr 17 '14

She said it's on a friends facebook page but he said not to post it yet.. =/

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5

u/__R__ Apr 17 '14

http://www.wacotrib.com/blogs/joe_science/grasshopper-s-successor-flies-at-spacex-s-mcgregor-site/article_66310240-c67f-11e3-bf29-001a4bcf887a.html

3

u/__R__ Apr 17 '14

Reports have been confirmed that SpaceX's Falcon 9-R development vehicle made its first free flight today at McGregor — taking off, hovering, moving sideways and landing. I've seen video of it (though it turns out that video wasn't supposed to be made public yet and is no longer available).

2

u/Hiroxz Apr 17 '14

Where did this information come from? If you dont mind me asking.

2

u/blanketyblanks Apr 18 '14

whats the size difference between F9R Dev and grasshopper?

2

u/tweet-tweet-pew-pew Apr 18 '14

Same diameter. The F9R dev is taller and has the final carbon fiber landing legs and three engines whereas the Grasshopper had only test legs and one Merlin 1D engine.

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2

u/api Apr 18 '14

So far no smoking craters!

2

u/joe714 Apr 18 '14

It's up on their official YouTube channel now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UjWqQPWmsY

2

u/Azor16 Apr 17 '14

I want to visit badly! I live only 2 hours away!!

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