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Mark Hake
Mark Hake is a financial analyst, investor, and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). He writes about US and foreign stocks as well as cryptos, hedge funds, and private equity. He previously ran his own hedge fund, investment research firm, and acted as CFO for a fintech startup. He focuses on finding value, arbitrage, and hidden asset opportunities.
http://mrhake.medium.com
Firearms Sales Have Skyrocketed in 2021 Compared to Previous Years
Mark Hake 2021-11-22
Large numbers of people are buying firearms, according to recent FBI data. This activity in 2021 has skyrocketed in 2021 compared to previous years.
The NICS database, which stands for the National Instant Criminal Background System, established by the FBI, has a report on the top 10 highest days of NICS checks since 1998. This is the check that people who want to own a firearm must pass before buying a firearm at a store licensed as a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL).
The most recent report shows that of the top 10 highest check days in the last 22 years, 6 of them have occurred during 2021. The other four were for 2 days during 2020, and 1 day each in 2019 and2017.
This implies that people are applying to own firearms at record levels during 2021. To have 6 of the top 10 days in the last 23 years occur during 2021 means that people are flocking to buy firearms.
The same thing occurs in the database for the top 10 highest check weeks. The report shows that 6 of the top 10 weeks in the last 23 years from Nov. 30, 1998, to Oct. 31, 2021, were during 2021. The other highest weeks were in 2020 and 2012.
This data started showing up in late March 2021. For example, March 27, 2021, was the largest day, when 236,295 background checks were sent through the NICS system.
National Public Radio wrote that "First-time gun owners, young and old from across the country, are helping to push record levels of gun sales."
The article quoted a number of gun store owners, including one that said that they are facing an "avalanche" of buyers. The NPR article said that the pandemic and "civil unrest have pushed customers to feel they must take control of their families protection."
Firearms Manufacturers Sales Up
Another indication of this boom in firearms sales is the fact that two of the largest firearms manufacturers are experiencing huge sales gains. The two include Sturm, Ruger & Company, listed on the NYSE under symbol RGR, and Smith & Wesson Brands, listed on NASDAQ under symbol SWBI. Their market capitalizations are $1.3 billion, and $1.1 billion, respectively.
For example, during Q3, Sturm, Ruger & Co experienced a 22.3% gain in sales over last year, in spite of a one-week shutdown during July. The CEO, Christopher J. Killoy, said that the company shipped all the firearms it built during the quarter without the need to aggressively promote or discount their firearms.
Similarly, Smith & Wesson reported that for its most recent quarter ending July 31 sales rose 19.5% year-over-year. In the last two years, its compounded sales growth was 170%.
Both of these companies are also very profitable now. Analysts surveyed by Seeking Alpha show that Sturm, Ruger is forecast to make $8.57 per share in earnings. This will be 69.9% higher than the $5.09 in earnings per share made last year. Smith, Wesson is forecast to make 11.5% higher earnings, according to Yahoo! Finance analyst surveys.
Culver City, CA - gun store - people lined up to buy firearmsNPR
Firearms Checks Up 40% Year over Year
According to the latest October data from the NICS, so far this year 33.06 million people have applied for background checks. This is 2.8% higher than the same figures as of last year when 32.13 million went through checks.
Moreover, this puts 2021 on a path to exceed the 39.695 million who received checks last year. It is important to keep this in perspective. For example, in 2019, only 28.369 million went through NICS background checks, and 26.181 million in 2018. In fact, in 2010, only 14.409 million went through checks.
In other words, in the past 2 years, background checks have skyrocketed 39.9% over 2019 and up 51.6% over 2018. This assumes that background checks will equal the high levels in 2020, but we have already shown that as of Oct. 31, they are up 2.8%.
The bottom line here is that people are flocking to buy firearms.
Also, you might want to follow me - don't forget to fully "Follow" me and make sure to download the Newsbreak app to become a Registered Follower. This way you can also see all my articles in the past. Click on the Follow link underneath my profile name.
This is not financial advice and you should not rely on my analysis to buy or sell any stock, security, or crypto, as I am not undertaking to induce you to buy or sell securities.
I am relying on the "publisher's exclusion" in the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 to provide this information without any personalized or individualized investment advice.
This represents my analysis of Sturm, Ruger (RGR), and Smith & Wesson Brands (SWBI) and it is not meant to provide you with specific advice in your own situation. I do not own either stock right now, but I may buy it in the near future. Your own situation could be different and this is not a recommendation to purchase the stock.
# Firearms guns background check
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Falcon 9 v1.1 & F9R Launch Vehicle Overview
This page describes the retired Falcon 9 v1.1 Launch Vehicle, see the Falcon 9 FT Overview for details on the current vehicle.
Photo: SpaceX
Falcon 9 v1.1 is a two-stage medium-lift launch system designed, manufactured and operated by Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX).
The launcher is based on the Falcon 9 v1.0 version that has successfully flown 5 missions. Falcon 9 is capable of delivering payloads to a variety of orbits including Low Earth Orbit and Geostationary Transfer Orbit.
Falcon 9 is operated from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, and SLC-4 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California to allow the vehicle to target a number of orbital inclinations and decrease the number of range conflicts.
Notable payloads lifted by the Falcon 9 Fleet include the Dragon Spacecraft that has begun flying regular cargo delivery missions to the International Space Station. SpaceX holds a contract under NASA's Commercial Resupply Services Program and the company has been selected to develop and operate a crewed version of Dragon as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program.
Under Commercial Resupply Services, the Falcon 9 – Dragon Combination will perform a total of 12 resupply missions to ISS. Falcon 9 was designed from the beginning to perform crewed launches with built-in robustness and redundancy. As part of Commercial Crew, Dragon aims to restore the United States' human launch capability and deliver astronauts to the International Space Station. Falcon 9 will also launch DragonLab missions, but the bulk of launch business will occur on the Geostationary Communications Satellite market.
The v1.1 version of the Falcon 9 is based on the Falcon 9 v1.0 version – improving its payload capacity, increasing reliability and further decreasing launch cost by implementing easier manufacturing processes.
The main differences between the v1.0 and v1.1 include the use of the more powerful Merlin 1D engine, a new engine layout on the first stage and stretched propellant tanks on the first and second stage.
In its F9R configuration, the launcher has all characteristics of the Falcon 9 v1.1 with the addition of four landing legs, a cold gas attitude control system and four grid fins to the first stage.
Photos: SpaceX
Falcon 9 Specifications
Type Falcon 9 v1.1
Reusable Version F9R
Height 68.4m
Diameter 3.66m
Launch Mass >505,846kg (F9R)
Stages 2
Boosters None
Mass to LEO 13,150kg
Mass to GTO 4,850kg
Launch Cost $61.2M
Falcon 9 v1.1 is a two-stage launch vehicle that stands 68.4 meters tall, is 3.66 meters in diameter with a liftoff mass of 505,846 Kilograms when flying in its F9R version with re-usable first stage. The launcher can deliver payloads of up to 13,150 Kilograms to Low Earth Orbit and 4,850kg to Geostationary Transfer Orbit.
Aiming to become a re-usable launcher, Falcon 9's first stage is modified with a reaction control system, four grid fins for steering and four deployable landing legs. Dropping the second stage off on its way to orbit, the first stage goes through a series of complex propulsive maneuvers before guiding itself through the atmosphere towards a target landing site for a soft touchdown under the power of one of its Merlin engines to be re-used on a future flight.
Type Falcon 9 v1.1 Stage 1
Length 41.2m (without Interstage)
Inert Mass ~23,100kg (F9R: ~25,600kg)
Propellant Mass 395,700kg
Fuel Rocket Propellant 1
Oxidizer Liquid Oxygen
LOX Mass 276,600kg
RP-1 Mass 119,100kg
LOX Tank Monocoque
RP-1 Tank Stringer & Ring Frame
Material Aluminum-Lithium
Interstage Length 6.5m
Guidance From 2nd Stage
Tank Pressurization Heated Helium
Propulsion 9 x Merlin 1D
Engine Arrangement Octaweb
The first stage of the Falcon 9 v1.1 is largely based on the first stage used on the v1.0 version featuring stretched propellant tanks and a modified engine compartment.
The v1.1 first stage stands about 41.2 meters tall and is 3.66 meters in diameter featuring the standard design with the oxidizer tank located above the fuel tank. Monocoque structure is utilized on the oxidizer tank while the fuel tank features a stringer and ring-frame design that adds strength to the vehicle.
The first stage tank walls and domes are made from aluminum lithium alloy and utilize reliable welding techniques to provide maximum strength. The first stage uses Liquid Oxygen oxidizer and Rocket Propellant-1 as fuel which is highly refined Kerosene. The LOX feedline is routed through the center of the fuel tank to supply oxidizer to the engines.
According to official FAA documentation, the first stage of Falcon 9 v1.1 is capable of holding 119,100 Kilograms of Rocket Propellant 1 and 276,600kg of Liquid Oxygen. The empty mass of the first stage is not known, but can be estimated at around 23 to 26 metric tons, depending on the version used (earlier estimates ranged from 18 to 25 metric tons).
Like the v1.0, the v1.1 version of Falcon 9 features nine Merlin engines on its first stage, but v1.1 no longer uses the Merlin 1C used on the v1.0.
Falcon 9 v1.1 sports nine Merlin 1D engines which are more powerful than the 1C version. Merlin 1D uses improved manufacturing and quality control techniques to enable SpaceX to produce a greater number of engines per year while reducing overall risk. The M1D design is simplified over the M1C by removing no-longer-needed subassemblies. Electro-plating of a nickel-cobalt alloy on the chamber to create the jacket that endures the primary stress of the pressure vessel was replaced by using an explosively formed metal jacket. These changes provide the Merlin 1D with an increased fatigue life and greater thermal margins for the chamber and nozzle.
Engine Merlin 1D
Engine Type Gas Generator, Open-Cycle
Propellant Feed Turbopump
Merlin 1 D Thrust Sea Level: 654kN – Vac: 716kN
Engine Diameter ~1.0m
Engine Dry Weight 450 to 490kg
Burn Time 180s
Specific Impulse 282s (SL) 311s (Vac)
Chamber Pressure 97 bar
Expansion Ratio 16
Throttle Capability 70% to 100% (Possibly Deeper)
Restart Capability Yes (Partial)
Ignition TEA-TEB
Attitude Control Gimbaled Engines (pitch, yaw, roll)
Cold Gas Nitrogen RCS
4 Grid Fins (S1 Interstage)
Shutdown Commanded Shutdown
Stage Separation Pneumatically actuated
mechanical collets
Merlin 1D is an open-cycle gas generator engine. The gas generator operates fuel-rich, burning a small fraction of the LOX and RP-1 flow from the turbopumps to generate a hot high-pressure gas that drives a single turbine with the two turbopumps being driven by a single shaft. High-pressure RP-1 from the fuel turbopump is used in the hydraulic actuators that gimbal the nine main engines for thrust vector control. Generator gas flows through a heat exchanger which heats up Helium gas for tank pressurization in flight before being dumped overboard through an exhaust.
The Kerosene flow from the pump is directed to the combustion chamber and nozzle where it passes through heat exchangers as part of the regenerative cooling scheme of the engine. After passing through the heat exchangers, the fuel is pumped into the combustion chamber where is comes into contact with the oxidizer.
Merlin 1D operates at a high chamber pressure of 97bar to generate a sea level thrust of 654 Kilonewtons (66,700kg) and a vacuum thrust of 716kN (73,000kg) – giving Falcon 9 v1.1 a total liftoff thrust of 5,886kN (600,200kg). Vehicle control is provided by gimbaling the nine Merlin Engines.
The engine has an increased expansion ratio of 16 while the M1C engine had an expansion ratio of 14.5. Merlin 1D achieves the a thrust to weight ratio of 155 – the highest thrust-to-weight ratio in the liquid-fueled engine world. Merlin 1D uses a pyrophoric mixture of Triethylaluminium-Triethylborane (TEA-TEB) as igniter that is injected into the gas generator and combustion chamber to initiate the combustion process that is sustained as LOX and RP-1 flows into the GG/Chamber once turbopumps spin up, initially using high-pressure helium for spin-up.
Also, the engine has a deep throttling capability which allows Falcon 9 to fly a more flexible mission profile. The baselined throttle capability ranges from 70 to 100% of rated performance, however, there are strong indications that M1D can throttle down to 40 or even 30%. Merlin 1C had no throttle capability and Falcon 9 v1.0 had to shut two Merlin engines down to limit stress on the vehicle as the launcher approached first stage cutoff.
Another major change to the Falcon v1.0 is the engine arrangement. Falcon 9 v1.0 used a 3×3 tic-tac-toe pattern; the v1.1 uses an "Octaweb." Eight engines are arranged in a circle – clustered around a single Merlin 1D in the center that is installed slightly lower with its nozzle protruding the others. The gas generator exhaust pipes of the individual engines installed on the perimeter of the first stage are arranged toward the inboard direction, their flow passing through the gap between the center and the outer engines, transporting excess heat out of the engine compartment.
The skin of the launcher is the primary load path for the launch vehicle and arranging most of the engines on the perimeter of the skin eliminates a lot of structure that needs to be installed to carry loads from the engines to the skin. The original tic-tac-toe engine pattern required these load-transferring structures, adding to the overall mass of the vehicle. The new engine arrangement also improves thermal properties as it avoids hot spots.
Just like the v1.0, the Falcon v1.1 launcher provides engine-out capability for a large portion of its first stage flight. All nine engines are ignited on the ground, about three seconds before launch. All must reach operational conditions and liftoff thrust for the launch release command to be issued.
The engines are monitored constantly in flight and computers can shut down any engine at any time to prevent RUD (rapid unplanned disassembly). Following the unplanned shutdown of an engine, the flight computer would re-plan the ascent trajectory to reach the cutoff target with the remaining engines by extending their burn.
Flying nine Merlin engines on the first stage provides engine-out capability and it also allows Merlin 1D to quickly build up flight heritage as each mission provides performance data on nine engines instead of a single engine that competing launchers are using.
The first stage is equipped with a cold-gas Reaction Control System using Nitrogen for three-axis control during coast phases and during single-engine burns.
The Falcon 9 v1.1 first stage employs an S-Band communications system to transmit performance telemetry throughout the flight and after stage separation. It is equipped with a Flight Termination System consisting of two strings of transmitters, receivers and safe and arm devices. The FTS works with C-Band Communications and can be used to terminate the flight in case of any major anomalies.
The first stage has a primary burn time that varies depending on the mission design. Flights using the full performance of the first stage without propulsive return maneuvers burn the first stage for up to 185 seconds while missions that include a first stage return require the stage to shut down its engines after 155 to 165 seconds of powered flight to leave sufficient propellants for the descent to a landing site.
The first stage of the Falcon 9 is connected to the second stage via a carbon fiber aluminum core composite structure acting as interstage adapter, housing the MVac engine of the second stage. Stage separation is accomplished via separation collets and pneumatic pushers in three interfaces connecting the two stages. SpaceX tries to avoid using pyrotechnics for separation events.
First Stage Re-Use
Landing Legs deployed ahead of Ocean-Landing Attempt – Photo: SpaceX
The overall goal of SpaceX is to make the first stage of Falcon 9 (and the three cores of Falcon Heavy) fully re-usable by returning them to a landing site through a series of complex maneuvers performed after separation from the launcher using a small portion of leftover propellant. To rapidly re-use the first stage of the vehicle, Falcon 9 is ultimately planned to fly the stage back to the launch site after separation and land it vertically on deployable landing legs. Initial attempts of demonstrating the return flight were made by soft-landing stages in the ocean before upgrading to landing the first stage boosters on a floating platform.
The re-usable version of Falcon 9 is known as F9R which itself does not represent a fully different launcher and is more of an add-on to the v1.1 version in the form of the Nitrogen Cold Gas Attitude Control System, the four deployable landing legs and four grid fins used for three-axis control during atmospheric flight, especially during non-propulsive flight phases.
The overall design driver for the landing legs was mass since adding significant weight to the first stage would have resulted in a significant payload penalty. Safety was also a major concern – the leg design had to be such that no premature deployment during powered ascent was possible which would result in a certain loss of the entire vehicle and payload. Made of aluminum honeycomb and carbon-composite materials, the four legs have a total mass of around 2,100 Kilograms consisting of a single-load bearing strut and aerodynamic fairing assembly. The central struts of the legs interface with the load-carrying structure of the first stage while the fairings have two structural interfaces at the base of the engine compartment heat shield and one interface on the lower portion of the leg.
During flight, the legs are stowed against the rocket body, covered by the fairings that ensure no additional aerodynamic disturbance is introduced by the legs. Deployment is accomplished by a pneumatic system using high-pressure helium. When deployed, the legs have a span of about 18 meters, capable of supporting the forces of landing and the mass of the nearly empty first stage.
Falcon 9 Landing Legs – Photos: SpaceX
Leg deployment occurs in the late stages of the descent to the landing site, during the landing burn. When deployed, the legs provide additional aerodynamic stability. In the next stage of Falcon 9 evolution, the design of the legs will be modified to support an early deployment to allow the additional drag from the legs to contribute to the deceleration of the booster on its way to a soft landing.
Falcon 9 with Grid Fins – Photo: SpaceX
Fin System during F9R Test – Photo: SpaceX
The four grid fins are launched in a position stowed against the uppermost section of the first stage near the interstage before being deployed when Falcon 9 re-enters the atmosphere. The four fins can be individually controlled in a two-degree of freedom type design, rotating and tilting at the same time, allowing for complex guidance and control during atmospheric flight.
The fins are an essential part of Falcon's return sequence to provide control in atmospheric flight without active propulsion. Grid-fins have been widely used as a stabilizer on missiles & bombs and are shaped like miniature wings consisting of a lattice structure. The Russian Soyuz employs grid-fins in its launch abort system which would deploy when the launch escape rockets start firing in an abort scenario to stabilize the vehicle, but the fins used by SpaceX take it one step further as they can be moved independently to actively control the vehicle's flight and not only act as a stabilizer.
Grid-fins perform well in all velocity ranges including supersonic and subsonic speeds with the exception of the trans-sonic regime due to the shock wave enveloping the grid. These properties make them ideally suitable for the Falcon 9 first stage that starts out at supersonic speeds and returns to subsonic velocity as it travels through the atmosphere, en-route to the landing site. The four fins are rotated and tilted independently by an open hydraulic system that uses pressurized hydraulic fluid supplied from a pressurized tank that is dumped overboard after flowing through the hydraulic actuators of the fin system. The design was also driven by overall mass considerations.
The addition of the grid fins was expected to improve the accuracy of Falcon's landing by three orders of magnitude – previous landing attempts in the ocean had a ten-Kilometer targeting accuracy while the return to a platform or a pad on land requires the stage to land within a few meters of its bulls-eye target.
Before attempting to land first stages on land, SpaceX commissioned a floating platform that can be deployed in the ocean, downrange from the launch site to provide a landing pad for the first stage boosters.
Known as the Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship, the floating landing platform was built at a Louisiana shipyard and measures 91 meters by 52 meters with a prominent Space"X marks the Spot" logo in the center. The ship sports four diesel-powered azimuth thrusters – similar to those on oil rigs – provided by Thrustmaster, a marine equipment manufacturer that also provided power modules and controls to outfit the ship with a Portable Dynamic Positioning System. Processing GPS data, the Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship will be able to keep its assigned position with an impressive accuracy of three meters.
A high accuracy is required since Falcon 9 will have to land on the platform with all four of its legs that span approximately 18 meters, leaving just over 30 meters for GPS errors between the two craft and position errors of the drone ship, sea swell as well as errors by Falcon 9, making its fast-paced hoverslam landing under the power of one of its nine Merlin 1D engines with a thrust to weight ratio greater than one.
The ASDS is outfitted with a water deluge system that dumps water onto the deck to protect it from the heat of the engine of the arriving booster. Numerous attachment fixtures are part of the deck structure that would allow the securing of the first stage after landing on the platform.
Image: NASA/SpaceX
The return flight of the first stage booster starts at the moment of separation from the Falcon 9 second stage that is delivered to a trajectory from where it can boost the payload into its desired orbit. First stage burn duration in missions that include a propulsive return is on the order of 160 seconds.
Separating the second stage at about 80km in altitude at a speed of Mach 10, the first stage heads on to an apogee altitude of around 140 Kilometers. Initially, the first stage uses its cold gas thrusters for attitude control – starting with a maneuver to depart the engine plume of the second stage before re-orienting to an engines-first position that is maintained past the point of apogee.
Around T+4.5 minutes into the mission, the first stage re-lights a subset of its engines for a boost-back maneuver that slows the vehicle down and controls the downrange travel distance of the stage, beginning to target the planned landing site – either on land or in the ocean. The duration of the boost-back burn depends on the target landing site and is also driven by propellant availability for the return which varies depending on payload mass and insertion orbit.
Heading back into the dense layers of the atmosphere, the first stage completes its supersonic retro propulsion burn using three engines that are fired for about 20 seconds starting at an altitude of 70 Kilometers. This burn in combination with drag in the atmosphere slows the first stage down from 1,300m/s to about 250m/s.
The first stage aft section has been outfitted with shielding material to be able to withstand the re-entry environment and during atmospheric flight, the stage can maintain an engine-forward position by its low center of gravity caused by the heavy engine compartment in the aft.
Beginning at re-entry, the first stage starts using its four grid fins for roll, pitch and yaw control, especially during periods of flight when the engines are not running. Covering the final 40 Kilometers to landing, the booster uses its grid fins to maintain a pitch-trim to continue refining the course towards the landing platform while maintaining stable yaw and roll rates.
Homing in on its landing spot, the first stage ignites its center engine to begin slowing down to a landing speed of just about two meters per second and make the final cross-track and range adjustments to land on the platform. Ten seconds into the landing burn, the four landing legs are deployed to put the stage into its final landing configuration with touchdown just a few seconds later.
Second Stage
Image: SpaceX
Length 13.8m (Separated Length)
Inert Mass 3,900kg
Propellant Mass 92,670kg
LOX Mass 64,820kg
RP-1 Mass 27,850kg
RP-1 Tank Monocoque
Guidance Inertial
Propulsion 1 x Merlin 1D Vac
Engine Type Gas Generator
Thrust 801kN
Specific Impulse 340s (Est: ~345s)
Chamber Pressure 9.7MPa (1,410psi)
Expansion Ratio >117
Throttle Capability Yes
Restart Capability Yes
Ignition TEA-TEB, Redundant
Pitch, Yaw Control Gimbaled Engine
Roll Control Reaction Control System
Reaction Control S. Cold-Gas Nitrogen Thrusters
The second stage of the Falcon 9 v1.1 is based on the design of the v1.0 second stage which is essentially a smaller version of the first stage. SpaceX has always followed a policy of choosing simple solutions to reduce cost and risk in order to manufacture a robust launch system. Using the same materials, tools and manufacturing techniques for the two stages is a perfect example of that policy.
As with the first stage, the exact dimensions of the second stage have not yet been disclosed by SpaceX. The second stage matches the first stage's diameter of 3.66 meters. Documentation shows the stage to be 13.8 meters in length without payload adapter and 1st Stage Interstage with an inert mass just under four metric tons. The second stage can hold 64,820kg of LOX and 27,850kg of RP-1 giving it a launch mass of 96,600kg.
Comparing it with the v1.0, the second stage of the v1.1 features stretched propellant tanks that are also built using Aluminum-Lithium Monocoque structure for both tanks. The second stage also uses Rocket Propellant 1 as fuel and Liquid Oxygen as oxidizer.
One Merlin 1D Vac engine is powering the second stage. This engine differs from the first stage engines as it is optimized for operation in vacuum featuring an extended nozzle with a high expansion ratio. M1D Vac is also a turbopump-fed gas generator engine, it also operates at a chamber pressure of 97 bar.
Using an extended nozzle creates a high expansion ratio of greater than 117:1. M1D Vac has a high specific impulse of 340s that could be as high as 345s. It generates a total vacuum thrust of 801 Kilonewtons (81,700 Kilograms). The engine can support multiple ignitions to be able to fly a flexible mission profile in order to reach a variety of orbits and trajectories. The second stage TEA-TEB ignition system is fully redundant.
Second Stage Burn time is variable with nominal firings of ~372 seconds.
The second stage is equipped with a Reaction Control System for three axis-control during coast phases and roll control during burns. Falcon 9 v1.0 used four Draco engines installed on the second stage for three axis control with Draco engine providing 400 Newtons of thrust using Nitrogen Tetroxide as Oxidizer and Monomethyl-hydrazine as fuel. The Falcon 9 v1.1 uses a cold-gas attitude control system employing a number of Nitrogen thrusters.
The second stage of the Falcon 9 rocket facilitates the avionics and flight computers that control all aspects of the flight. The avionics of the Falcon 9 feature a number of changes and upgrades from the v1.0 to the v1.1 version. All avionics and controllers are manufactured in-house by SpaceX. The system is fully redundant, constantly checking itself to verify that all GNC components are functioning properly. SpaceX uses commercial off-the-shelf parts that are radiation tolerant instead of radiation hardened (cost reduction). The flight computers run on Linux with software written in C++.
Avionics are triple redundant and the rocket's inertial navigation system uses GPS overlay for additional orbital insertion accuracy.
In addition to the main avionics units of the launch vehicle, each of the Merlin Engines is equipped with three processing units in a single engine controller. The engine controller monitors all parameters of the engine and interfaces with the main avionics units. Each of the three processing units are constantly checking on the others to provide fault-tolerance.
Merlin Engine Controller – Photo: SpaceX
Payload Fairing
Payload Fairing Composite Fairing
Diameter 5.2m
Length 13.1m
Weight ~1,750kg
The Payload Fairing is positioned on top of the stacked vehicle and its integrated spacecraft. It protects the vehicle against aerodynamic, thermal and acoustic environments that the launcher experiences during atmospheric flight. When the launcher has left the atmosphere, the fairing is jettisoned. Separating the fairing as early as possible increases ascent performance.
Falcon 9's standard Fairing is 13.1 meters in length and 5.2 meters in diameter. The fairing consists of an aluminum honeycomb core with carbon-fiber face sheets fabricated in two half-shells. Separation is accomplished via a pneumatic system along the vertical seam that pushes the two halves apart.
Up to three spacecraft access doors or Radio Frequency Windows can be supported by the fairing. A small 3.6-meter fairing is also being developed.
Payload Adapters
Payload Adapters interface with the vehicle and the payload and are the only attachment point of the payload on the Launcher. They house equipment that is needed for Spacecraft Separation and ensure that the payload is secured during powered flight. Electrical and Communication connections are also part of the Adapter and route spacecraft Telemetry to the Flight Computers for downlink. A variety of different adapters is available to suite different spacecraft needs and requirements.
Note: Many specifications of Falcon 9 v1.1 given on this page have risen out of estimations on the initial version of Falcon 9 v1.1 and evolved as documentation and data became available on the v1.1 version and its evolution into F9R. Therefore, a number of parameters on this page have changed over time, in particular the mass and dimensions of the Falcon 9 1st/2nd stages (e.g. the 1st stage was initially estimated to be 42m long with a dry mass of 18,000kg).
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


ATHENS, GA – The Clemson women's tennis team suffered a 4-0 loss to California on Friday night at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex on the campus of the University of Georgia in Athens, GA, ending the Tigers' NCAA tournament run in the round of 16.
Clemson, the #7 seed in the event, concluded its season with a 22-5 record, while the 10th-seeded Golden Bears improved to 22-6 on the year.
California went up, 1-0, in the match after posting victories at the flight two and three doubles positions. The Tigers' 11th-ranked team of Ani Mijacika and Federica van Adrichem upset Susie Babos and Zsuzsanna Fodor, the nation's #5 tandem, at the top position, winning by an impressive 8-1 margin. The Clemson duo completed the dual season with a 15-4 record and will begin competition in the NCAA doubles tournament on May 23.
The Golden Bear team of Nina Henkel and Stephanie Kusano defeated Estefania Balda and Ina Hadziselimovic at flight two, 8-2, to tie the doubles score at 1-1. The Tiger tandem of Maria Brito and Carol Salge then suffered its only loss of the season, falling in a tough battle to Claire Ilcinkas and Bojana Bobusic, 8-6, at the number three position to give Cal the point.
Singles action was delayed nearly an hour and a half, until 8:30 pm, awaiting the conclusion of an earlier match. Cal then quickly took a 3-0 lead, winning in straight sets at the flights two and three positions. Henkel, ranked #22, defeated Clemson's Balda at number three, 6-2, 6-1, while Salge fell to the Golden Bears' 12th-ranked Fodor at the second slot, 6-2, 6-0.
Marion Ravelojaona then clinched the match for California as she defeated Brito at flight five, 7-6(5), 6-1. The final point was scored just after ten o'clock pm.
The Tigers were leading at the flight one, four and six positions when play was suspended. Clemson freshman Mijacika won the first set over defending singles national champion and fourth-ranked Babos at the top slot and was ahead 1-0 in the third frame, while van Adrichem and Hadziselimovic each won her first set at flights four and six, respectively.
Mijacika and van Adrichem will continue their individual seasons next week, as they will begin competition in the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships.


A made-to-measure hotel with a sense of humour in the heart of Vienna.
Der Dachboden rooftop terrace. All images courtesy 25hours Hotels.
The Vibe: The modernity of this boutique hotel located in Vienna's 7th district MuseumsQuartier provides a nice contrast against the array of nearby Baroque-style architecture. Its clean-lined, commanding presence on the corner of Lerchenfelder Straße and Museumstraße is welcoming with its slogan "come as you are" as a salutation above the front entrance, reinforcing its acceptance of anyone with a sense of curiosity and adventure.
From the old-school photo booth to the vintage Airstream burger bar, every inch of real estate is Instagram-worthy and you'll definitely catch yourself reaching for your camera on more than one occasion. This place is playful and they aren't shy about it. Not only is the hotel brilliantly designed, but the team behind the brand is funny as hell pushing the envelope with details like Do Not Disturb door hangers proclaiming "Still Naked" or "Please place aspirin in front of the door, and leave" and a restaurant tag line urging people to "F&$# It. Eat Pizza" (now that's a motto we can get behind!).
The young crowd eats up the informal, eccentric vibe and is popular among the locals, attracting film shoots, launch events and hip tastemakers.
The Facts: This 217-room hotel is a stone's throw away from Vienna's cultural hub of museums and galleries. It opened its doors in 2010 and is perfectly situated for culture-seekers wanting to museum hop and walking distance to all of Vienna's major landmarks from the Hofburg to the Opera House. Public transport stops and lines are plentiful and the network easy to navigate.
The rooms and suites are unique and eclectic and pay homage to the tradition-steeped institution that is the circus. From the lush velvet curtains, to the stacks of vintage suitcases and crocheted lampshades, the rooms have wow factor and are fun departure from some of the sterile, cookie-cutter rooms we may be accustomed to.
With a name like the "Mermaid's Cave," you can't help but pay a visit to the spa. Spanning 2691 square-feet, the spa boasts a sauna, steam bath, fitness centre and lounge with hanging rocking chairs set against a backdrop of unique artwork by Berlin illustrator Olaf Hajek.
While indulging in traditional Viennese fare is a must, the 1500 Foodmakers Restaurant serves up some killer Italian cuisine. In the morning it transforms into an incredible breakfast buffet with something to satisfy all palettes and preferences (bonus points for the bottles of local kombucha!). The hotel also boasts a rooftop bar with sprawling terrace and the best views of Vienna, and a summer "burger garden" with refreshments served from an Airstream trailer.
The Experience: The 25hours is more than just a hotel, it's a social hub, a community and a work of modern art. Every corner of the hotel is a feast for the senses. My room was cozy, the bed was comfy and I felt at home overlooking Vienna off my sprawling terrace. The showstopper was the outdoor bathtub, which while appearing oddly placed was pretty darn cool.
As a fan of those who take steps towards reducing their carbon footprint and being more green, we appreciated the natural, organic amenities from Stop the Water While Using Me!, an innovative brand committed to encouraging people to save water.
What was particularly noteworthy is the hotel's attention to the details; from the FREITAG rucksack sitting by the front door to use throughout the duration of your stay, to the yoga mat neatly rolled up on the shelf. They really have thought of everything and go to great lengths to cater to various lifestyles. The "jogging corner" fuel station in the lobby stocked with fresh fruit, grab & go snacks and canteens of lemon and cucumber water was a nice touch. The lobby kiosk (open 24hrs!) chock full of local goodies and wares came in handy as a place to pick up some cool souvenirs to take home.
Stop the Water While Using Me bathroom amenities.
The free multi-device Wi-Fi throughout the hotel made mapping out my sightseeing routes and sending snaps of my cool digs to family back home a breeze while chilling to some tunes on the iHome sound dock.
All of my meals at 1500 Foodmakers were homeruns and the staff made the experiences memorable. Sit at the bar! It's the best seat in the house for some fun chatter and food pairing suggestions from the wait staff. We relished in the European way of taking time to enjoy your meal as an experience. There's no rush to get your check and this is a place you'll want to take your time in.
If a trip to Vienna is in your future, allow this to save you hours surfing the net for hotels and scrolling through TripAdvisor reviews. The 25hours Hotel is a sure thing.
Good To Know: The hotel offers free MINI rentals and bike rentals, so if you're looking for a fun, stylish way to see the city this is the way to go. While cabs are readily available, certain credit cards can be problematic. As a bonus, the hotel offers airport transfers for a flat rate that can be added to your bill, eliminating the headache of fumbling with cash or worrying about credit cards.
Room to Book: Without a doubt go for the XL Room, with a panoramic view of Weghuberpark and the claw-foot soaker tub on a private terrace. Who wouldn't want to chill in the tub with a glass of bubbly taking in the beauty of Vienna at night?
*All photos courtesy Stephan Lemke for 25hours Hotels, stephanlemke.com.


Snoopy the Jack Russell was sitting on the lap of his owner Robert Thompson when a neighbour's dog charged up the driveway, grabbed Snoopy in his jaws and viciously shook and mauled the terrified dog leaving him with more than 40 stitches and injuries that have still to fully heal more than three months after the attack. It took Mr Thompson and three others to prise Snoopy, 9, out of the jaws of the other dog, which is believed to have been a Staffordshire terrier-type breed. The attack on Snoopy was one of 137 dog attacks reported to the City of Ballarat last financial year, but council officers believe many more go unreported. "I was sitting with Snoopy on my knee, and the next minute this dog raced up, pulled him off me and was shaking him around like a rag doll," Mr Thompson said. Mr Thompson rushed Snoopy, who was bleeding and in shock, to the vet where he had four hours of surgery to clean out and stitch up his wounds. Snoopy received 44 stitches and Mr Thompson a $1200 vet bill. "It chewed his legs and along his neck and back. Where he had him in his teeth Snoopy had about 44 stitches," Mr Thompson said. Mr Thompson was holding a garage sale at his Wendouree home on April 7 when the unprovoked attack occurred, and Snoopy had spent a happy morning on his owner's lap receiving pats from visitors. "He's our baby. He was sitting on my lap because everyone who comes loves to give him a pat, then this dog came charging up the driveway," Mr Thompson said. After freeing Snoopy from his attacker's jaws, the dog was locked inside the shed and council rangers called. It is believed the dog spent two weeks at the pound before being euthanased. City of Ballarat executive manager of regulatory services Amy Boyd said of the 137 dog attack reports, most involved dogs rushing, menacing, chasing, threatening and scaring other dogs, animals and people. Only about six involved dogs attacking or menacing people, and only two people required medical attention. "Often we find people who are attacked are bitten when they intervene in a situation. Fortunately we haven't had an attack where a dog has just set upon a person," Ms Boyd said. But council believe the true number of dog attacks is massively under-reported. "Attack reports will always come to us but what we don't hear about is dog attacks on private property and we expect those attacks are under-reported. There have been reports commissioned about numbers of people presenting to casualty after dog attacks showing pet attacks on their own family are very much under-reported. "We mainly receive reports on dog attacks in public places or when they get on to other people's property." And there is no one breed responsible for a significant proportion of attacks. "All dogs are capable of attacking … and we need to start showing people we take it really seriously and there is a rigorous process of investigation right through to prosecution if that is needed." In the 2017/18 financial year, council declared 20 dogs "menacing" leaving owners facing higher registration fees and forcing the dogs to be muzzled and always on lead when in public. Council officers are also concerned that only about half of Ballarat's estimated 60,000 pet population is registered. "We have about 30,000 registered but based on other regional cities and our knowledge we think only about half of the pet population is registered, which is in itself an issue," said City of Ballarat director of infrastructure and environment Terry Demeo. "We usually only pick up non-registered animals when they are picked up by a ranger or involved in an attack," he said. Dangerous dogs can be reported to City of Ballarat on the 'dangerous dog hotline' on 1300 101 080. The attack on Snoopy came after The Courier also reported: The death of Jack Russell terrier Rumble who was mauled to death on an evening walk in Sebastopol on the same day in April that Snoopy was attacked. Rumble's distraught owner Irene Sinnott was left heartbroken and vowing never to own another dog again. A 53-year-old woman admitted in Ballarat Magistrates Court last week that her three dogs attacked and killed more than 30 sheep at a Mount Mercer farming property last year. Nineteen pregnant ewes, 12 lambs and one ram died in the deadly attack. Two dogs were voluntarily euthanised while the third – a staffy-cross – was declared a dangerous dog. In February, a heroic palomino horse fought off a large, vicious dog who attacked its rider in Linton. The woman in her 50s was riding alone when the aggressive, large-breed dog bit her leg and dragged her off the horse. The horse chased the dog away but sustained large gashes on its neck from the dog. In October, a woman walking along Daylesford's Smith St was fatally injured when a dog attacked her puppy. During the attack the woman tripped and hit her head and later died. And over the Australia Day long weekend, miniature poodle Ralph was attacked by another dog at Lake Burrumbeet and in trying to save her dog, owner Carly Turner was bitten by the attacking dog, sustaining two puncture wounds on her thigh.
Snoopy the Jack Russell was sitting on the lap of his owner Robert Thompson when a neighbour's dog charged up the driveway, grabbed Snoopy in his jaws and viciously shook and mauled the terrified dog leaving him with more than 40 stitches and injuries that have still to fully heal more than three months after the attack.
It took Mr Thompson and three others to prise Snoopy, 9, out of the jaws of the other dog, which is believed to have been a Staffordshire terrier-type breed.
The attack on Snoopy was one of 137 dog attacks reported to the City of Ballarat last financial year, but council officers believe many more go unreported.
"I was sitting with Snoopy on my knee, and the next minute this dog raced up, pulled him off me and was shaking him around like a rag doll," Mr Thompson said.
Mr Thompson rushed Snoopy, who was bleeding and in shock, to the vet where he had four hours of surgery to clean out and stitch up his wounds. Snoopy received 44 stitches and Mr Thompson a $1200 vet bill.
"It chewed his legs and along his neck and back. Where he had him in his teeth Snoopy had about 44 stitches," Mr Thompson said.
Mr Thompson was holding a garage sale at his Wendouree home on April 7 when the unprovoked attack occurred, and Snoopy had spent a happy morning on his owner's lap receiving pats from visitors.
"He's our baby. He was sitting on my lap because everyone who comes loves to give him a pat, then this dog came charging up the driveway," Mr Thompson said.
After freeing Snoopy from his attacker's jaws, the dog was locked inside the shed and council rangers called. It is believed the dog spent two weeks at the pound before being euthanased.
City of Ballarat executive manager of regulatory services Amy Boyd said of the 137 dog attack reports, most involved dogs rushing, menacing, chasing, threatening and scaring other dogs, animals and people.
Only about six involved dogs attacking or menacing people, and only two people required medical attention.
"Often we find people who are attacked are bitten when they intervene in a situation. Fortunately we haven't had an attack where a dog has just set upon a person," Ms Boyd said.
But council believe the true number of dog attacks is massively under-reported.
"Attack reports will always come to us but what we don't hear about is dog attacks on private property and we expect those attacks are under-reported. There have been reports commissioned about numbers of people presenting to casualty after dog attacks showing pet attacks on their own family are very much under-reported.
Ballarat City Council executive manager of regulatory services Amy Boyd at the Ballarat Animal Shelter with pedigree puppy Fancy.
And there is no one breed responsible for a significant proportion of attacks.
In the 2017/18 financial year, council declared 20 dogs "menacing" leaving owners facing higher registration fees and forcing the dogs to be muzzled and always on lead when in public.
Council officers are also concerned that only about half of Ballarat's estimated 60,000 pet population is registered.
"We have about 30,000 registered but based on other regional cities and our knowledge we think only about half of the pet population is registered, which is in itself an issue," said City of Ballarat director of infrastructure and environment Terry Demeo.
"We usually only pick up non-registered animals when they are picked up by a ranger or involved in an attack," he said.
Dangerous dogs can be reported to City of Ballarat on the 'dangerous dog hotline' on 1300 101 080.
The death of Jack Russell terrier Rumble who was mauled to death on an evening walk in Sebastopol on the same day in April that Snoopy was attacked. Rumble's distraught owner Irene Sinnott was left heartbroken and vowing never to own another dog again.
Jack Russell Rumble was killed in a dog attack in Sebastopol in April.
A 53-year-old woman admitted in Ballarat Magistrates Court last week that her three dogs attacked and killed more than 30 sheep at a Mount Mercer farming property last year. Nineteen pregnant ewes, 12 lambs and one ram died in the deadly attack. Two dogs were voluntarily euthanised while the third – a staffy-cross – was declared a dangerous dog.
In February, a heroic palomino horse fought off a large, vicious dog who attacked its rider in Linton. The woman in her 50s was riding alone when the aggressive, large-breed dog bit her leg and dragged her off the horse. The horse chased the dog away but sustained large gashes on its neck from the dog.
In October, a woman walking along Daylesford's Smith St was fatally injured when a dog attacked her puppy. During the attack the woman tripped and hit her head and later died.
And over the Australia Day long weekend, miniature poodle Ralph was attacked by another dog at Lake Burrumbeet and in trying to save her dog, owner Carly Turner was bitten by the attacking dog, sustaining two puncture wounds on her thigh.


text:
Ravenscliffe staff win 7-a-side thriller
Staff from Ravenscliffe rounded off Sport Relief with a football match against a team from the St. Augustine's Centre.
The St Augustine's centre works with refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants. After a keenly contested game, with the lead changing hands on a number of occasions, Team Ravenscliffe won by a narrow 9-8 scoreline. Headteacher Martin Moorman said "People often talk about the unifying nature of sport and this was very apparent as the two teams enjoyed a 17 goal thriller, with smiles and high fives aplenty, before, during and after the match. We now plan to play them again after Easter and I would think this is now a relationship which will continue to flourish into the future.
For over 40 years the St Augustine's Centre has been welcoming anyone who needs help, advice or support to their base on Hanson Lane.
To find out more about their incredible work, please visit the St Augustine's website here .


text:
The Pirate Bay Manifesto by Powr.Proccoli-Kopim
Glacius February 25, 2009 181 views
E-Books181 views 0
In the shadow of the culture industry's final crisis of the 20th-century, grows a larger portrait of the POwr, broccoli and Kopimi. Each step of the culture industry's failures is followed by the
uncanny successes of the structurally diffused spread of an Internet elite, spread worldwide. The book you're about to read has no author, no designer, no translators, no distribution channel. Nevertheless, you have it in front of you. How did it happen?
Read the frightening instructions of a loosely coherent core of IT specialists grafted into an unsuspecting generation of youths, and how the group stole the eggs, dollars and jpegs in front of the powerless establishment and strong financial interests. Learn how servers, seeders, trackers, e-mail, company formation, foreign investors, Ikko's weekly allowance, scandalous advertisements, links and search services, infiltrated and destroyed an entire world that had nowhere to run, no one to consult, and no one to trust…
The machine, which operates under the radar frequency is unhindered from the Cambodian jungle to the gay neighborhoods of San Francisco, via the empty beaches of Tel-Aviv, and into the Internet of plain folks in Jönköping suburbs and Gothenburg harbor. It leaves no one unmoved and mangles everything it in its path. Technically superior and physically independent it's constantly transformed, mutated and reappears in new guises and under new codenames. With a stranglehold on its opponents it's completely untouched and even more – incomprehensible.
It has rightly been said that this is the first time Kopimi has freed the world and we can be sure that it's not the last.
kopimimanifestoTPB
Montt Mardie: We're all The Pirate Bay
Glacius May 30, 2009


text:
Mario Party: Star Rush
January 21st, 2019 All Entries, Projects No comments
Game: Mario Party: Star Rush
Start Date: January 5th, 2019
End Date: March 17th, 2019
Mario Party was starting to get stuck in a funk, at least as far as faithful, die-hard fans were concerned and Nintendo didn't really seem to have any interest in going back to the roots of what made Mario Party such hit in the first place. However, when they decided to change things up, remove the car-based gameplay, and try something new with some elements from Mario Party of old…even fans like myself, who were losing hope and interest, took notice of this new change. Say hello to Mario Party: Star Rush!
I was really happy that both Mario Party 10 and Island Tour were over with at this point, because now I could start focusing on some games where I at least had some positivity to share with people, and my first impressions of Star Rush were generally very positive. I don't think I would take it over a majority of the original 8 installments, but it was a pretty interesting take on the Mario Party gameplay and I applaud the effort that Nintendo decided to take with this one.
3DS, Board Games, Boss Battles, Daisy, Diddy Kong, Donkey Kong, Luigi, Mario, Mario Party, Minigames, Nintendo, Peach, Rosalina, Star Rush, Toad, Toad Scramble, Toadette, Waluigi, Wario, Yoshi


Price reduced $20,000! Vaulted ceilings, hardwood floors, stone fireplace and a wet bar in the living and formal dining rooms welcome you to this lovely three bedroom, two and a half bath home with nearly 3000 sf of living area. An eat-in, island kitchen features an abundance of custom cabinets with granite tops, a multi burner gas stove and a walk-in pantry and second refrigerator in the adjoining laundry room. The laundry also has a newer washer and dryer and laundry tub. A larger master suite features a spa bath with dual vanities and separate shower. An adjoining office is also accessible from the living room. Off the Florida room, is a screened patio and pool area. A heated spa warms the swimming pool with its waterfall. A few steps from the patio is an adorable 5-stall horse barn with a large feed and tack room. Three of the stall offer direct turnout. Two wash racks are equipped with hot and cold water. A lighted 20 x 60 meter dressage arena has approximately six inches of compacted clay base and a sand and clay mix for footing. Also included is a 2002 Nobility, two bedroom, two bath, doublewide mobile home with all of its appliances. Other amenities include a workshop, modular office, numerous storage sheds, a whole house generator, two Kinetico water softeners, paved drive and gated entrance. This location is minutes from the Grand Lakes Golf Course and the new, world-class Equiventures' cross country facility. Easily accessible to Highways 441, 301 and I-75. This beautiful home is easily shown by appointment. Call Carol today.