LA rocket company maiden launch Friday

[DanS]

Originally posted by Zkribbler
More precisely:
Satillites which are to go into polar orbits are fired south out of Vandenberg.
Satillites which are to go into orbits which occilate across the Equator are fired southeast out of Cape Canaveral.

You can launch most payloads from either of the two ranges.

[DanS]

The instant post-mortum analysis from the company...

Preliminary Fault Analysis
The good news is that all vehicle systems, including the main engine, thrust vector control, structures, avionics, software, guidance algorithm, etc. were picture perfect. Falcon's trajectory was within 0.2 degrees of nominal during powered flight.

However, at T+25s, a fuel leak of currently unknown origin caused a fire around the top of the main engine that cut into the first stage helium pneumatic system. On high resolution imagery, the fire is clearly visible within seconds after liftoff. Once the pneumatic pressure decayed below a critical value, the spring return safety function of the pre-valves forced them closed, shutting down the main engine at T+29s.

It does not appear as though the first stage insulation played a negative role, nor are any other vehicle anomalies apparent from either the telemetry or imaging. Falcon was executing perfectly on all fronts until fire impaired the first stage pneumatic system.

Our plan at this point is to analyze data and debris to be certain that the above preliminary analysis is correct and then isolate and address all possible causes for the fuel leak. In addition, we will do another ground up systems review of the entire vehicle to flush out any other potential issues.

I cannot predict exactly when the next flight will take place, as that depends on the findings of this investigation and ensuring that our next customer is comfortable that all reasonable steps have been taken to ensure reliability. However, I would hope that the next launch occurs in less than six months.

It is perhaps worth noting that those launch companies that succeeded also took their lumps along the way. A friend of mine wrote to remind me that only 5 of the first 9 Pegasus launches succeeded; 3 of 5 for Ariane; 9 of 20 for Atlas; 9 of 21 for Soyuz; and 9 of 18 for Proton. Having experienced firsthand how hard it is to reach orbit, I have a lot of respect for those that persevered to produce the vehicles that are mainstays of space launch today.

I am very encouraged and grateful that our launch customers took the time to call and express their support of SpaceX when their reaction could easily have been the opposite. We will stand by them as they have stood by us. SpaceX is in this for the long haul and, come hell or high water, we are going to make this work.

As SpaceX is a company that believes in maximum disclosure (within the boundaries of proprietary data and ITAR restrictions), I will try to post as much as possible about this launch attempt over the coming weeks.

--- Elon

[Eli]

However, I would hope that the next launch occurs in less than six months.

[DanS]

Here's a video of the launch from the webcast. It looks like it was flying great... until it wasn't. Then it looks like it hit the water.

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/docs/spacex.wmv

[Winston]

What a ride!

I imagine they got an initial indication that something was amiss around T+10 seconds, and decided to cut the live webcast.

Interesting to finally see the whole thing.

[Winston]

Also,

Originally posted by Winston on 27.11.2005
Is there still time to launch chegitz guevara on that thing?

I do have to wonder why people won't listen to me?

[DanS]

Actually, the webcast continued to about T+40, according to the video. It looks like the camera continued until impact with the ocean.

[DanS]

Here's a photo of the rocket as it cleared the treeline. If you look closely, you might be able to pick out the anomaly that led to the demise of the rocket.

[DanS]

The rocket landed only about 250 feet from the pad on a dead reef, so they should be able to do a full autopsy.

On impact, the satellite was thrown high up in the air and crashed through the roof a machine shop on the small island, and represents the only damage to the pad. The satellite was mostly intact. Kudos to the Air Force Academy cadets for building a solid satellite.

[DanS]

And here's a closeup of the anomaly.

[Winston]

Originally posted by DanS
Actually, the webcast continued to about T+40, according to the video. It looks like the camera continued until impact with the ocean.

The camera continued, as can be witnessed now from the video, but the webcast was terminated at T+10. We all experienced it, and I believe it even said so on the site itself.

Anyways, they did better than some of the early launch attempts by NASA that I've seen..

[TCO]

Go Navy! Beat Army (and Air Force)!

[Az]

rofl wtg private sector

[Eli]

Originally posted by Az
rofl wtg private sector

... only 5 of the first 9 Pegasus launches succeeded; 3 of 5 for Ariane; 9 of 20 for Atlas; 9 of 21 for Soyuz; and 9 of 18 for Proton.

I'll buy you a beer in 2010 if their success rate will be lower than 80%.

[Az]

and the comparison is fair, because they're trying wholly new technology. :beer: