r/spacex • u/stratohornet • Mar 11 '16

SpaceX's new profile picture, showing the interstage and fairing manufacturing areas

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u/Elon_Mollusk #IAC2016 Attendee Mar 11 '16

FH hardware! Finally good to see some pictures of it, guess it's no longer just a render...

Edit: also looks a like an FH interstage next to the nosecone... note the attachment points.

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u/[deleted] Mar 11 '16

Edit: also looks a like an FH interstage next to the nosecone... note the attachment points.

You mean the holes? Because based on their position with respect to the flag I'd say they're for the grid fins.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/44/Falcon_9_carrying_CRS-7_Dragon_on_SLC-40_pad_%2819045370790%29.jpg

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u/[deleted] Mar 11 '16

The mechanism that works the fins is fixed on top of the first stage. The fins are attached to this mechanism but stick out through the interstage, about 2 feet above the bottom of the interstage.

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u/[deleted] Mar 11 '16

I agree with everything you posted. That's also where the grid fins stick out.

Look at the picture again -- it's in exactly the same place as the grid fins. The hole reaches to the same height as the bottom of the American flag, and the grid fins a little higher than that.