Frank99 Posted April 16, 2018 Share Posted April 16, 2018 (edited) TESS clears the catenary lightning wires on Pad 40 as it begins NASA's Planet Hunter mission. http://nasatech.net/ntTESS_PAGE.html Edited April 19, 2018 by Frank99 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 Issue is possible contamination of payload sensors when booster retro-fires for landing return. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Frank99 Posted April 17, 2018 Author Share Posted April 17, 2018 When the S1/S2 separation occurs, within a couple of seconds the cold gas (pressurized nitrogen) RCS fires up to rotate the booster ~180°, orienting the engines into the direction of travel for the boostback burn. On exceptionally clear days you can see the nitrogen plume (it's quite extensive and fleeting as it warms up in the sunlight) from the RCS. While there could be a nitrogen gas contamination issue because of the proximity of the separated vehicles, I wonder if that is the case because the payload is still in its fairing and environmentally isolated. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted April 18, 2018 Share Posted April 18, 2018 I’m at the Cape and had breakfast with a group of NASA and SpaceX folks. That’s all I can say. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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