[QUOTE=Spherical Cow;446989]Arggghh. Good article. And what if it did indeed operate for a while, but was unable to send back the data that would indicate life on Mars. Perhaps we've already found life on another planet, but just don't know it. Sort of like that last Mersenne prime that was discovered but went un-reported for months.

Norm[/QUOTE]
Good point. Let's go and see... :razz:

For those of you who more passively follow SpaceX, their return to flight following the September anomaly is [URL="https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown/generic?iso=20170114T095453&p0=4438&msg=Falcon+9+Flight+30&font=sanserif"]scheduled[/URL] for 24 hours from now (subject to weather).

Looking for another successful first stage landing at sea; the second stage will also be doing 3 different burns as it deploys 10 satellites into various polar orbits. Should be a fun one, even without the Return To Flight drama.

[QUOTE=Dubslow;450892]Looking for another successful first stage landing at sea.[/QUOTE]

Indeed. In this case on "Just read the instructions" in the Pacific, rather than on "Of course I still love you" in the Atlantic.

Humour is such a subjective thing....

[QUOTE=chalsall;450898]Indeed. In this case on "Just read the instructions" in the Pacific, rather than on "Of course I still love you" in the Atlantic.

Humour is such a subjective thing....[/QUOTE][i]A distinct lack of gravitas[/i] is to be located in the Gulf. Or so I heard.

Nailed it.

(The 3 burn second stage fact apparently wasn't.)

Congressional analysts worry SpaceX engines are prone to cracks
 

[url]https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/02/report-congressional-analysts-worry-spacex-engines-are-prone-to-cracks/[/url]

Turbine blade cracks, to be exact. Interesting discussion of SpaceX and Boeing's different shortcomings, in the eyes of the US Government Accountability Office.

SpaceX launch
[QUOTE]NASA > Public Feb 17, 6:11 PM

Saturday is launch day! A SpaceX Falcon 9 is being prepped to launch the company’s Dragon spacecraft into orbit carrying about 5,500 pounds of equipment and experiments to the International Space Station. Live coverage begins at 8:30 a.m. EST leading up to liftoff, which is scheduled for 10:01 a.m. Watch: [url]http://www.nasa.gov/live[/url][/QUOTE]

[QUOTE]San Diego Air & Space Museum > Public

SpaceX is hoping to launch from pad 39A in Cape Canaveral for the first time this weekend. In the meantime, watch historical launches from this launchpad! [url]http://ow.ly/zIhG3097uWo[/url][/QUOTE]
[QUOTE]Elon Musk Fan Club > Public Feb 17, 7:21 PM

Elon Musk @elonmusk
Looks like we are go for launch. Added an abort trigger at T-60 secs for pressure decay of upper stage helium spin start system.
[url]https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/832788691588296705[/url]

Spin start system is used to get the turbopump up to speed before the propellant valves are opened and TEA/TEB injected to ignite it.

[URL="https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/37lr29/turbopump_startup_sequence/"]Turbopump Start-up Sequence • r/spacex[/URL][/QUOTE]

Launch aborted a little more than 10 seconds to go. Abort phrase "Hold Hold Hold."

Something about the 2nd stage thrust vector control.

The next launch opportunity is tomorrow.
[QUOTE]The Elon Musk Fan Club >Public
Elon Musk ‏@elonmusk

- All systems go, except the movement trace of an upper stage engine steering hydraulic piston was slightly odd. Standing down to investigate.
- If this is the only issue, flight would be fine, but need to make sure that it isn't symptomatic of a more significant upstream root cause
[url]https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/832970849791537152[/url]

[url]http://jasc-controls.com/jasc-news/jasc-hardware-plays-important-role-in-space-x-launch-to-iss/[/url][/QUOTE]

Ah well. Better an abundance of caution. Remember Challenger. :sad:

Musk later tweeted that the system was green but that he personally called the abort to investigate.

[QUOTE=Dubslow;453186]Musk later tweeted that the system was green but that he personally called the abort to investigate.[/QUOTE]
Finding out what was going on is much easier before any possible disaster. Small signs might point to larger faults, as Musk tweeted.

There's more than the cost of the vehicle to lose. Image and reputation are at stake, as well.