Space stuff thread

I saw this on breakfast TV on a Finnish broadcaster a few weeks ago, an expert from ESA (European Space Agency) told that the risk of a spacecraft hitting a man made object in space is real.

Rocket Launch: SpaceX CRS-10
Feb 18, 2017 10:01 AM EST - 15:01UTC Kennedy Space Center Rocket Launch: SpaceX CRS-10

MISSION

Witness history in the making as SpaceX sends the Falcon 9 rocket on the first launch from Kennedy Space Center’s LC-39A since 2011! This launch pad was the site of the Apollo 11 journey to land humans on the moon and where the first and last space shuttle missions left Earth in the 30-year Space Shuttle Program. Now SpaceX will join in the rich history, as the Falcon 9 rocket launches the Dragon spacecraft on a resupply mission to the International Space Station (ISS) and lands the first stage of the rocket back on the Cape Canaveral landing site.

Clicking on start shows countdown clock



Previously Recorded Coverage on Launch, Live CRS-10 Launch Commentary 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. EST


Live Video streaming by Ustream



Launch Scrubbed! New time 9:38:59am Tomorrow

Good Launch and landing of the Booster!

Second stage sep nominal, payload on its way for rendezvous with the ISS.

Just one question Steve what exactly was all that vapour spewing out of the rocket "fuselage"? I am assuming it was either excess O2 or just cold air that is passing very cold fuel cells.

Do you mean this?
Most rockets will have some venting, I noticed it here and a lot at the base of the rocket right before launch today. the upper venting is where the rocket had valve trouble on their last fueling attempt and it blew.

Actually John it's part of spacex's propellant mixture, liquid oxygen (LOx or lox). In order for oxygen to become liquid it has to be super cooled to -297° and that temperature has to be maintained or else the lox will start to turn back to a gas, and to maintain stability in the rockets fuel system it is allowed to be vented into the atmosphere. Did you ever have plumbing work done and the water spit out of the spigot and made a racket until all the air came out?

Imagine that gas running through the rockets fuel lines before it reached the combustion chamber unless it was vented. I believe Falcon uses a lox and refined petroleum product, lox-rp-1

Thanks Steve I did think of that but wasn't sure it was normal to vent that amount - in the video there was a point where it seemed to gush out.

Yep I worked as a plumbers mate with my father (a plumber and central heating engineer) for ten years before jumping ship (Dad was a brilliant tradesman but an awful business man) so I know what you mean by the escaping air stuff I just didn't think to link it with this rocket.

But have always been in awe at the power of these things eh?

My pleasure John, yea I also thought that was "gushing" a lot, it might have to do with the pre-launch activity and would be something to watch for during the next launch especially with one minute to go when the propellant tanks are pressurized.

Here's what happens an hour and 18minutes before launch, source is from a .pdf direct downlload: http://CRS-10 Dragon Resupply Mission | www.spacex.com/.pdf




The power? That's the attraction!

Thanks Steve and it would be a real buzz to actually be there when those rockets take off.

I think what amazes me a lot besides that these things actually do what they do is how those fellows who design and work out the maths for achieving such stuff. I mean how good is that when they can put a a probe on say a comet because that takes a great deal of accuracy eh?

Retired from that career and become a chef. Go figure.

As one does Duane but envy you meeting those fellows and seeing the sights you have seen. My son is a mad/avid aviation follower and just loves the YouTubes on the latest fighter aircraft especially those low pass ones He would wear your ears out for what you have seen and done.