Hold is due to extended time needed to cryochill the helium.
Falcon 1 is at 98% helium mass load, but as we all know, that last 2% is a bitch. (Asymptotically approaching the limit of the heat exchanger).
Saturday, August 02, 2008
Holding at T-16min
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12 comments:
Nearly 2am here in the UK. You guys need to hurry it up before I run out of coffee and diet coke :)
Come on! you've got to immerse yourself in Kwaj time. It's only noon there. ;)
Is there a reason they were doing a fuel offload?
No disrespect, eben, but don't EVEN think there's any schedule pressure except getting it right when it's ready.
Kwaj, take all the time you need. I'll pay for the Brit's no-doze.
BTW: Is that 'eben' as in '13th warrior'??
Nothing this cool eve happened on Kwaj when I lived there. We did get to see incoming tests of the MX Cruise missile a few times every year though.
@kdavidian: can't confirm, but I believe the fuel offload is to help manage the helium cooling. The fuel tanks are connected, so if the tanks are full they will warm up the helium tank next to it.
[correction]: defueling to ensure the helium doesn't cool the fuel down too much.
Is Spacex doing anything about the helium shortage? How much helium would a Falcon 9 use compared to a typical Macy's Thanksgiving day balloon?
Another sleepy Brit here, appreciating the inside info. Keep up the good work, Kimbal! :D
@jay: LOL!
No disrespect, eben, but don't EVEN think there's any schedule pressure except getting it right when it's ready.
No kidding. There's a lot of people's hopes riding on this one. One more day won't hurt at all.
BTW: Is that 'eben' as in '13th warrior'??
Heh. Had to Google that one, so no.
@eben: hold out for another 45 minutes. that's the word on the street.
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