SpaceX Falcon 9 - 40 Second Test Fire (All Nine Engines - Daytime)

[Davidgojr]

How were you able to watch the test firing? Do you work for SpaceX?

[hartparr]

@Davidgojr No. They are test fired off a public road in McGregor, Texas. The hardest part is just finding out when they are going to fire it....

[Davidgojr]

@hartparr I live in Texas as well and would like to get out there to a test firing. Which public road was it? I've spotted a couple on Google Earth but it looks like your angle was perfect. How did you finally learn the specific time of the firing?

[hartparr]

@Davidgojr The road is called Bluebonnet. I have a friend who works on the Dragon module so he shoots me test updates from time to time. 

[beatlefriend]

Nice test firing, looks like Spacex is headed for a late summer launch. I could have done without that guy saying DO IT, DO IT! sounded like something someone would say at a strip club not at a rocket test firing LOL :p

[SpeedRunner]

Great video. Those engines sound like music to my ears. Lol at the kid saying "but it will be itchy". though.

[docmordrid]

This 1st stage is the one lined up for COTS-1: the first test of a fully capable Dragon spacecraft for ISS cargo missions. Add a few seats, a bit of extra life support hardware and a launch abort system (all in development) and up to 7 crew members can be flown as well.

[Craigthepope]

That was impressive

[ugowar]

Great video, thanks for posting. Any idea on why they went with a 40 second test - have they merged the 10 + 30 second tests into one test only?

[hartparr]

@ugowar Don't know why they changed times, I would think they are inching closer and closer to the time needed for a full burn to break gravity. I know last night they did a 90 second test. I assume they will only get longer and longer. Lots of money going up in flames on a test that long.

[ugowar]

@hartparr The thing is, you don't really want or need to have such long burns for a stage acceptance test - which is what I think these are. The original plans of 10 and 30 second tests corresponded to the durations of the previous stage firings (which ended up flying last month). Then they changed to this. 90 seconds in particular is a really long time, it suggests to me they perhaps found some issues with the stage.

I don't suppose you have video of the 90 second test? :)

[hartparr]

@ugowar Nope...I was headed out there to video it and just as I was turning down the road they fired it off...just didn't make it in time. I'll try and get the next one.

[Nuaetius1]

That's why Texas is great, pull off the side of the road and watch a 1st stage test.

God bless America, your child has been traumatized :)