Jul 19, 2016
Falcon 9 coming in for a landing following the launch of CRS-9 on July 18, 2016. P/c: SpaceX.
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Falcon 9 coming in for a landing following the launch of CRS-9 on July 18, 2016. P/c: SpaceX.
Falcon 9 landing at LZ-1, eight minutes after launch from SLC-40. View from the NASA Causeway around 4.3 miles away. Shortly after the first stage landed, the second stage of the rocket successfully deployed the Dragon spacecraft in orbit, bound for the International Space Station.
In a rare freak of scheduling, members of the news media got to witness an operation SpaceX usually does not allow viewing of - the erection of a Falcon 9 rocket on SLC-40. SpaceX integrates their rockets in the Horizontal Integration Facility at SLC-40, and then rolls the vehicle to the pad via a Transporter/Erector. The T/E, also known as a strongback, then raises the rocket to vertical.
Normally, this operation takes place while media crews are elsewhere, but today’s schedule inadvertently meant we witnessed this event. The whole process took about 12 minutes. Launch is slated for 12:45am EDT Monday, July 18. Eight minutes later, the first stage will return for a landing at LZ-1, 9 kilometers south of SLC-40.
Tonight’s flight profile for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket on the CRS-9 mission will follow a similar trajectory to Orbcomm OG2′s in December. Liftoff from SLC-40 will occur at 12:45am EDT, with landing at LZ-1 9 kilometers to the south around eight minutes later.
The launch will be broadcast live beginning around 12.25am here.