{"id":38074,"date":"2019-04-05T21:31:08","date_gmt":"2019-04-05T13:31:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/spacex-conducts-static-fire-on-falcon-heavy-ahead-of-arabsat-6a-launch\/"},"modified":"2019-04-05T21:31:08","modified_gmt":"2019-04-05T13:31:08","slug":"spacex-conducts-static-fire-on-falcon-heavy-ahead-of-arabsat-6a-launch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/spacex-conducts-static-fire-on-falcon-heavy-ahead-of-arabsat-6a-launch\/","title":{"rendered":"SpaceX conducts Static Fire on Falcon Heavy ahead of Arabsat 6A launch"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Over a year after its previous flight, SpaceX conducted the Static Fire test on its second Falcon Heavy. This rocket \u2013 the first Block 5 Falcon Heavy \u2013 will launch Arabsat 6A to a Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO) from LC-39A. The static fire took place on Friday, with the test occurring at 12 pm local time, 2 hours into the six-hour test window. The launch date target is now set for April 10.\n<\/p>\n<p>Unlike that of the first Falcon Heavy, this rocket\u2019s pre-launch schedule has been much smoother despite some small slips to the right on the schedule. While the first rocket had several Wet Dress Rehearsals (WDRs) \u2013 involving fueling the tanks and readying the rocket, but not igniting the engines \u2013 this rocket has only its since-conducted static fire planned.<\/p>\n<p><em>(NSF Videos Live Stream timestamped to the event, hosted by Chris Gebhardt (@chrisG_NSF) With thanks to Das at KerbalSpaceAcademy and LiveU for their help and assistance).<\/em><\/p>\n<p><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-1\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" class=\"\" style=\"position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 671px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;\" title=\"X Post\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=ianpineapple&amp;dnt=true&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-1&amp;features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1114196272934789120&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasaspaceflight.com%2F2019%2F04%2Fspacex-arabsat-6a-falcon-heavy-static-fire%2F&amp;sessionId=b106432ceda8e439a8984bd1ca64d0a0652d0d43&amp;siteScreenName=NASASpaceflight&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-14=\"true\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-21=\"true\" data-tweet-id=\"1114196272934789120\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>The static fire test is essentially a WDR \u2013 with a quick test burn of the 27 Merlin 1D first stage engines added on to the end. Along with the Falcon Heavy, the Falcon 9 also performs its own static fire.<\/p>\n<p>For the Falcon Heavy Demo mission, the rocket performed a 12-second static fire \u2013 over three times the regular duration of Falcon 9\u2019s. For this mission, it is unknown how long the burn will be, although visually it appeared to be slightly shorter than the first FH Static Fire.<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-54825\" class=\"size-full wp-image-54825\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Falcon-Heavy.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2538\" height=\"1408\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Falcon-Heavy.jpg 2538w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Falcon-Heavy-350x194.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Falcon-Heavy-630x350.jpg 630w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Falcon-Heavy-768x426.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Falcon-Heavy-1920x1065.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/Falcon-Heavy-1170x649.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2538px) 100vw, 2538px\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-54825\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Falcon Heavy Demo rocket performing its 12-second static fire at LC-39A on January 24, 2018.<\/p>\n<p>Another difference between the two rockets is their engine startup sequence. For the Falcon 9, all 9 Merlin engines ignite at once. Igniting all 27 Merlin engines at one time on Falcon Heavy would create extreme loads on the rocket and launch mount, so the ignitions are staggered. Only two engines are ignited at one time, each pair a fraction of a second apart, until all 27 engines are firing.<\/p>\n<p>This specific rocket is made up of three new Block 5 boosters, and a Block 5 second stage. The two side boosters are B1052 and B1053, while the center core is B1055.<\/p>\n<p>Aerospace industry analysis<path d=\"M7.59009 18.59L9.00009 20L17.0001 12L9.00009 4L7.59009 5.41L14.1701 12\" style=\"animation: initial !important; background: initial !important; border: 0px !important; box-shadow: none !important; color: inherit !important; cursor: inherit !important; direction: inherit !important; display: inline !important; fill: currentcolor !important; filter: initial !important; float: none !important; margin: 0px !important; opacity: initial !important; outline: 0px !important; overflow: initial !important; padding: 0px !important; stroke: initial !important; transform: initial !important; vertical-align: initial !important; visibility: inherit !important;\"><\/path>Astronomy<path d=\"M7.59009 18.59L9.00009 20L17.0001 12L9.00009 4L7.59009 5.41L14.1701 12\" style=\"animation: initial !important; background: initial !important; border: 0px !important; box-shadow: none !important; color: inherit !important; cursor: inherit !important; direction: inherit !important; display: inline !important; fill: currentcolor !important; filter: initial !important; float: none !important; margin: 0px !important; opacity: initial !important; outline: 0px !important; overflow: initial !important; padding: 0px !important; stroke: initial !important; transform: initial !important; vertical-align: initial !important; visibility: inherit !important;\"><\/path>Technology News<path d=\"M7.59009 18.59L9.00009 20L17.0001 12L9.00009 4L7.59009 5.41L14.1701 12\" style=\"animation: initial !important; background: initial !important; border: 0px !important; box-shadow: none !important; color: inherit !important; cursor: inherit !important; direction: inherit !important; display: inline !important; fill: currentcolor !important; filter: initial !important; float: none !important; margin: 0px !important; opacity: initial !important; outline: 0px !important; overflow: initial !important; padding: 0px !important; stroke: initial !important; transform: initial !important; vertical-align: initial !important; visibility: inherit !important;\"><\/path>\n<p>     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/p>\n<p>Similar to the Falcon Heavy Demo mission, the two side cores will perform Return-To-Launch-Site (RTLS) landings at SpaceX\u2019s Landing Zones 1 and 2 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The center core \u2013 since it is moving much faster at its separation \u2013 will land 967km downrange on SpaceX\u2019s Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship <em>Of Course I Still Love You.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>On the Demo mission, the two side boosters landed successfully, however the center core crashed into the ocean nearby <em>Of Course I Still Love You<\/em>. The impact on the ocean sprayed debris at the drone ship, damaging two of its engines and littering shrapnel on the deck.<\/p>\n<p>In response to a question about the cause of the center core landing failure on Twitter, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said,<\/p>\n<p><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-2\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" class=\"\" style=\"position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 367px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;\" title=\"X Post\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=ianpineapple&amp;dnt=true&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-2&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=963107229523038211&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasaspaceflight.com%2F2019%2F04%2Fspacex-arabsat-6a-falcon-heavy-static-fire%2F&amp;sessionId=b106432ceda8e439a8984bd1ca64d0a0652d0d43&amp;siteScreenName=NASASpaceflight&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-14=\"true\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-21=\"true\" data-tweet-id=\"963107229523038211\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>It is important to remember that the Falcon Heavy center core is a drastically different design than the side boosters \u2013 which are just plain Falcon 9 first stages. The center core features thicker tank walls, a stronger octaweb, and a modified interstage \u2013 all required to attach and support the side boosters.<\/p>\n<p>The three boosters for this mission individually completed testing at SpaceX\u2019s McGregor, Texas facility from November 2018 to January 2019. 1052 was spotted on November 17 on the first stage test stand. 1053 was never seen directly, but 1055 was seen on the stand \u2013 sporting a white interstage \u2013 on January 6.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-60527\" class=\"wp-image-60527 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/20190105-DSC_2341-Pano.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"5411\" height=\"3669\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-60527\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Falcon Heavy Center Core B1055 on the test stand at SpaceX\u2019s McGregor, Texas test facility. Credit: Gary Blair for NSF\/L2<\/p>\n<p>By February 2019, it was confirmed that all three first stage cores for the Arabsat-6A flight were in the LC-39A Horizontal Integration Facility (HIF). Two of the Falcon Heavy cores were spotted in promo videos for the Crew Dragon Demo Mission 1 (DM-1) launch.<\/p>\n<p>Unlike most past missions, the two side boosters are already booked for a second launch. They \u2013 in addition to the brand new center core B1057 \u2013 will help launch the Air Force\u2019s STP-2 mission, currently No Earlier Than (NET) June.<\/p>\n<p>After DM-1 launched, SpaceX\u2019s pad technicians began the task of converting the Transporter Erector (TE) at 39A to support Falcon Heavy. This involved removing the extra hold-downs that are needed to support Falcon 9, and installing the fueling lines for the Falcon Heavy side cores.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-60889\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/NSF-2019-04-05-17-57-02-726.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"965\" height=\"648\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/NSF-2019-04-05-17-57-02-726.jpg 965w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/NSF-2019-04-05-17-57-02-726-350x235.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/NSF-2019-04-05-17-57-02-726-521x350.jpg 521w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/NSF-2019-04-05-17-57-02-726-768x516.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 965px) 100vw, 965px\"><br \/>\nAfter this was completed, the TE was rolled back into the HIF to have the Falcon Heavy mounted on the launch mounts.<\/p>\n<p>Arabsat 6A Payload<\/p>\n<p>Arabsat 6A is a communications satellite built by Lockheed Martin for their customer Arabsat. It is based off the A2100 satellite bus, and will provide telephone, internet, and television coverage to parts of the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.<\/p>\n<p>Arabsat 6A weighs approximately 6,000 kilograms and will be launched into a Geostationary Transfer Orbit. After it separates from the Falcon Heavy second stage, it will begin to raise its perigee \u2013 the lowest point of its orbit \u2013 to a normal geostationary orbit altitude.<\/p>\n<p>Arabsat 6A features a hypergolic main engine for major maneuvers. Since this engine is fairly powerful compared to the weaker, but more efficient ion engines on other satellites, it should only take a few weeks \u2013 if that \u2013 to reach a geostationary orbit. It also features smaller hydrazine thrusters and ion thrusters to maintain its orbit and keep it correctly oriented.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-58466\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/L2-banner@2x.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"4500\" height=\"2532\">Following the Arabsat 6A launch, SpaceX\u2019s next mission will be CRS-17, a cargo resupply flight on the Falcon 9 to the International Space Station (ISS). This is currently scheduled for April 25, and will likely launch from SLC-40, SpaceX\u2019s other Falcon 9-capable pad at Cape Canaveral. The first SpaceX Starlink internet constellation flight \u2013 also on the Falcon 9 \u2013 will follow in early May, although that date is not set in stone.<\/p>\n<p>The next mission for Falcon Heavy will be the Air Force\u2019s Space Test Program 2 \u2013 or STP-2 \u2013 flight, with 25 small satellites launching at once. This flight will also demonstrate the Falcon Heavy second stage\u2019s ability to deploy multiple payloads to different orbits, and will feature multiple engine restarts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Over a year after its previous flight, SpaceX conducted the Static Fire test on its second Falcon Heavy. This rocket \u2013 the first Block 5 Falcon Heavy \u2013 will launch Arabsat 6A to a Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO) from LC-39A. The static fire took place on Friday, with the test occurring at 12 pm local [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":38075,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[7841,8962,7809,479,678,316],"class_list":["post-38074","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-39a","tag-block-5","tag-falcon","tag-falcon-9","tag-falcon-heavy","tag-spacex"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38074"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38074"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38074\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/38075"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38074"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38074"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38074"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}