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SpaceX Falcon Update With Pictures

Posted by timothy on from the thanks-for-the-rockets dept.

Toren Altair writes "SpaceX made good progress with their Falcon 9 rocket. Check the progress with pictures. 'Today we fitted the F9 skirt to the fuel tank end of the 1st stage. Also had movement on the erector, with the upper aluminum truss just coming back from being painted. Activity on the floor is constant and will remain so throughout the week and weekend as we prepare the F9 structures for shipping to Texas for testing before they head to the Cape.'"

3 of 30 comments (clear)

  1. Update the schedule while you're at it. by QuantumG · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Activity on the floor is constant and will remain so throughout the week and weekend as we prepare the F9 structures for shipping to Texas for testing before they head to the Cape.

    Which you're going to get done by Dec 31 right? No? They update the launch manifest which says Falcon 9 Maiden Flight, Cape Canaveral, target date: Q4 2008, where "target date" is curiously defined as "vehicle arrival at launch site" which is a very strange term to use on a launch manifest, but hey.

    --
    How we know is more important than what we know.
    1. Re:Update the schedule while you're at it. by rufty_tufty · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I see your point, but I guess from their view once they deliver it their work is done. Things are then totally in someone else's hands. For a deliverable on a project timescale it kind of makes sense. Their target date is the thing they can effect. Misleading yes, but understandable.

      Well apart from the mission control stuff they'll eventually start to do, but according to the videos on their site they haven't built that bit yet so I guess they're relying on someone else for that at the moment.

      --
      "The weirdest thing about a mind, is that every answer that you find, is the basis of a brand new cliche" -
  2. I didn't see this on slashdot by sleeponthemic · · Score: 3, Interesting

    They tested the falcon9 thrust last saturday. This is a news blog that some of the local residents used to vent their frustrations regarding lack of communication. I've chosen to link to one of the better, amusing posts.

    http://www.wacotrib.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/communities/breakingnews/entries/2008/11/23/massive_rocket_test_shakes_up.html#comment-207370303

    --
    I record my sleeptalking