posted 05-03-2018 09:37 PM               

Falcon 9 Block 5 rolling out to the launch pad

From Wikipedia:

The largest changes between Block 3 and Block 5 are higher thrust on all of the engines and improvements on landing legs. Additionally, a series of small changes will help streamline recovery and re-usability of first-stage boosters. Alterations are focused on increasing the speed of production and efficiency of re-usability. SpaceX aims to fly each Block 5 booster ten times with only inspections in between, and up to 100 times with refurbishment.

The Block 5 design changes are principally driven by upgrades needed for US government Commercial Crew program and National Security Space Launch requirements. They include performance upgrades, manufacturing improvements, and "probably 100 or so changes" to increase the margin for demanding customers.

posted 05-04-2018 02:22 AM               

...SpaceX has had a singular goal for the Falcon 9 rocket: to build the most perfect and efficient orbital rocket it could. Now, finally, the company seems close to taking a final step toward that goal by closing the loop on first-stage reusability. As soon as next Monday, but more likely a bit later this month, SpaceX intends to launch the "Block 5" variant of the Falcon 9 rocket for the first time. Musk has said this fifth revision of the Falcon 9 should mark the final major change for the booster.

posted 05-04-2018 08:14 PM               

Falcon 9 Block 5 static fire test complete ahead of next week's launch of Bangladesh's first geostationary communications satellite. Vehicle is healthy. Data review will take a few days — will confirm a target launch date once that review is complete.

posted 05-07-2018 05:45 PM               

Targeting Falcon 9 Block 5 launch of Bangabandhu Satellite-1 on May 10 from Pad 39A in Florida.

posted 05-09-2018 04:15 PM               

SpaceX is targeting launch of Bangabandhu Satellite-1 on Thursday, May 10 from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Florida. The launch window opens at 4:12 p.m. EDT, or 20:12 UTC, and closes at 6:22 p.m. EDT, or 22:22 UTC. Bangabandhu Satellite-1 will be deployed into a geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) approximately 33 minutes after launch.

A backup launch window opens on Friday, May 11 at 4:14 p.m. EDT, or 20:14 UTC, and closes at 6:21 p.m. EDT, or 22:21 UTC.

The Bangabandhu Satellite-1 mission will be the first to utilize Falcon 9 Block 5, the final substantial upgrade to SpaceX's Falcon 9 launch vehicle. Falcon 9 Block 5 is designed to be capable of 10 or more flights with very limited refurbishment as SpaceX continues to strive for rapid reusability and extremely high reliability.

Following stage separation, SpaceX will attempt to land Falcon 9's first stage on the "Of Course I Still Love You" droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

posted 05-10-2018 02:52 PM               

New T-0 of 5:47 p.m. EDT—vehicle and payload continue to look good for today's first flight of Falcon 9 Block 5.

posted 05-10-2018 04:55 PM               

Though the cause of the abort is not yet known, SpaceX confirmed the vehicle and payload "are in good health."

posted 05-11-2018 03:48 PM               

The first stage successfully landed on the "Of Course I Still Love You" droneship. According to SpaceX on Twitter:

Final second stage engine cutoff nominal.