Talk:Falcon 9 flight 6
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Notability of the Falcon 9 Flight 6 launch vehicle, quite separate from its CASSIOPE payload
[edit]This particular space launch, the sixth launch of the Falcon 9 launch vehicle, will be the first launch of the substantially upgraded Falcon 9 v1.1 version of the rocket. Therefore the launch will include a number of launch mission firsts, including:<ref name=nsj20130327>
{{cite news |last=Foust|first=Jeff |title=After Dragon, SpaceX’s focus returns to Falcon |url=http://www.newspacejournal.com/2013/03/27/after-dragon-spacexs-focus-returns-to-falcon/ |accessdate=2013-04-05 |newspaper=NewSpace Journal |date=2013-03-27 }}</ref>
- first use of the upgraded Merlin 1D engines, generating approximately 56 percent more sea-level thrust than the Merlin 1C engines used on all previous Falcon 9 vehicles
- first use of the significantly longer first stage, which was lengthened to accommodate the larger propellant talks needed to carry propellant for the more powerful engines
- the nine Merlin 1D engines on the first stage are arranged in an octagonal pattern with eight engines in a circle and the ninth in the center
- first launch from SpaceX' new launch facility, Space Launch Complex 4, at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, and will be the first launch over the Pacific ocean utilizing the facilities of the Pacific test range.
- first Falcon 9 launch to carry a satellite. Each prior Falcon 9 launch was of a Dragon capsule or a Dragon-shaped test article, although SpaceX has previously successfully launched a satellite on the Falcon 1, Flight 5 mission.
- first launch to have a jettisonable payload fairing, which introduces the risk of an additional separation event.
- AND a very unusual propulsive landing test of the first-stage booster AFTER the completion of the boosters' mission of adding altitude and velocity to the second stage/CASSIOPE payload: the first stage of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will conduct a propulsive-return over-water test after the second stage with the CASSIOPE payload separates from the booster. As part of the test program for the SpaceX reusable rocket launching system, the CASSIOPE mission first stage booster will do a burn to slow it down and then a second burn just before it reaches the water. SpaceX intends to conduct such tests on every Falcon 9 v1.1 launch vehicle and "will continue doing such tests until they can do a return to the launch site and a powered landing. ... [They expect several] failures before they 'learn how to do it right.'"
<ref name=nsw20130328> {{cite news |last=Lindsey|first=Clark |title=SpaceX moving quickly towards fly-back first stage |url=http://www.newspacewatch.com/articles/spacex-moving-quickly-towards-fly-back-first-stage.html |accessdate=2013-03-29 |newspaper=NewSpace Watch |date=2013-03-28 }}</ref>
It is, essentially, a new rocket, albeit developed off of the base technology and architecture of the previous Falcon 9 rocket.
As a result, the launch vehicle itself is particularly notable on this mission, arguably more than the satellite payload. Since WikiProject Spaceflight article guidelines generally call for launch vehicle info to be included with the payload article, and that seems appropriate at this point in time, I have:
- added the notable launch vehicle material in a separate section of the CASSIOPE article, and have
- created a REDIRECT for Falcon 9 Flight 6.
But we may want to revisit that later on, as a verifiable and notable exception to the normal guidelines. Cheers. N2e (talk) 02:14, 6 April 2013 (UTC)