https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1842333550974247407
Teams encapsulated @NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft into Falcon Heavy’s fairing earlier this week ahead of next week’s Falcon Heavy launch from pad 39A in Florida
https://x.com/SpaceX/status/1842333550974247407
Teams encapsulated @NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft into Falcon Heavy’s fairing earlier this week ahead of next week’s Falcon Heavy launch from pad 39A in Florida
The fairing looks spotless. I guess they’re using a new one, at least partly for reasons of cleanliness? (Planetary protection and all that.)
With boosters we’re at the point where “flight proven” is no longer just a euphemism for “second hand”. I’ve felt that way myself for a few years. And NASA basically confirmed they agree a couple of months ago, when the brand new booster intended for Crew-9 was given a Starlink mission first, increasing confidence in it after a minor problem during transport. (IIRC)
But I’m not sure if we’re at that point with fairings. Or even if we’ll ever be.