6 ms·

> Flights 14 and 15 will attempt to land on a solid surface with an improved probability of success. Anyone know when flight 14 is scheduled?

washedup 12y ago
It is scheduled for October 2014: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Falcon_9_launches http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Falcon_9_launches Flight 15 is scheduled to launch November 2014.
- anovikov 12y ago
  Almost no chance these will fly this year. We will only see 3 more launches this year IMO, and 2 will not attempt stage rescue, 1 will attempt on water as the previous ones. So wait till 2015...
  - namlem 12y ago
    Why do you say that?
    - anovikov 12y ago
      Because the 3 launches are densely packed for August-September, and delay in one means delay of following ones, and delays almost always happen. Then there is a big hole and next launch is for late November. That alone is enough to move the 4th launch after the most recent one into 2015. So nah, we will not see attempt of land recovery this year. I am not a naysayer. I am very enthusiastic about what SpaceX does. Especially the reusability. But i just want to remind that they never stick to their schedule (that's generally hard to do in the rocket business), and their current schedule for the rest of 2014 looks in a way it will be almost certainly broken even if slightest issues arise.
HarryHirsch 12y ago
Where do you find a solid surface to land on except in Russia and China? You would like to fly across water or at least unpopulated areas in case a problem develops during flight and range safety needs to go for self-destruct. The USA, Europe, India and Japan all do that, because no one wants a re-run of the Long March desaster in 1996. Flying back the opposite direction is no good because you are fighting the rotation of the Earth and are paying with extra fuel to carry the fuel needed to go back, besides coastlines are always the most densely settled areas of any country. I can't imagine that the economics will work out, but perhaps someone else has genuine numbers to prove me wrong.
- washedup 12y ago
  SpaceX owns some land in southern Texas. It seems that the initial idea is to have a spaceport in Brownsville, TX, and use Cape Canaveral, FL, as the landing location. In the mean time, they can practice by using floating platforms in the Atlantic. http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/environmental/nepa_docs/review/documents_progress/spacex_texas_launch_site_environmental_impact_statement/media/SpaceX_Texas_Launch_Site_Draft_EIS_V1.pdf http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast...
  - Shivetya 12y ago
    oh I am sure there are a few islands out there both inhabited and not so much that would present some opportunities. Much easier to deal land on something that isn't moving up and down, let alone side to side.
    - washedup 12y ago
      If launched from Texas, would they have to move side to side to land the first stage in Florida?
      - Chronic29 12y ago
        No. The earth moves them..
smackfu 12y ago
Keep in mind they have a very aggressive flight schedule planned, with basically 3 weeks between launches. August 4, August 25, Sept 12. Possible, but not probable. And if those are delayed, then the later ones are too.

washedup 12y ago

It is scheduled for October 2014: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Falcon_9_launches http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Falcon_9_launches Flight 15 is scheduled to launch November 2014.

anovikov 12y ago
Almost no chance these will fly this year. We will only see 3 more launches this year IMO, and 2 will not attempt stage rescue, 1 will attempt on water as the previous ones. So wait till 2015...
- namlem 12y ago
  Why do you say that?
  - anovikov 12y ago
    Because the 3 launches are densely packed for August-September, and delay in one means delay of following ones, and delays almost always happen. Then there is a big hole and next launch is for late November. That alone is enough to move the 4th launch after the most recent one into 2015. So nah, we will not see attempt of land recovery this year. I am not a naysayer. I am very enthusiastic about what SpaceX does. Especially the reusability. But i just want to remind that they never stick to their schedule (that's generally hard to do in the rocket business), and their current schedule for the rest of 2014 looks in a way it will be almost certainly broken even if slightest issues arise.

HarryHirsch 12y ago

Where do you find a solid surface to land on except in Russia and China? You would like to fly across water or at least unpopulated areas in case a problem develops during flight and range safety needs to go for self-destruct. The USA, Europe, India and Japan all do that, because no one wants a re-run of the Long March desaster in 1996. Flying back the opposite direction is no good because you are fighting the rotation of the Earth and are paying with extra fuel to carry the fuel needed to go back, besides coastlines are always the most densely settled areas of any country. I can't imagine that the economics will work out, but perhaps someone else has genuine numbers to prove me wrong.

washedup 12y ago
SpaceX owns some land in southern Texas. It seems that the initial idea is to have a spaceport in Brownsville, TX, and use Cape Canaveral, FL, as the landing location. In the mean time, they can practice by using floating platforms in the Atlantic. http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/environmental/nepa_docs/review/documents_progress/spacex_texas_launch_site_environmental_impact_statement/media/SpaceX_Texas_Launch_Site_Draft_EIS_V1.pdf http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast...
- Shivetya 12y ago
  oh I am sure there are a few islands out there both inhabited and not so much that would present some opportunities. Much easier to deal land on something that isn't moving up and down, let alone side to side.
  - washedup 12y ago
    If launched from Texas, would they have to move side to side to land the first stage in Florida?
    - Chronic29 12y ago
      No. The earth moves them..

smackfu 12y ago

Keep in mind they have a very aggressive flight schedule planned, with basically 3 weeks between launches. August 4, August 25, Sept 12. Possible, but not probable. And if those are delayed, then the later ones are too.