Apparently the second block 5 booster is on the test stand in Texas.

https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-reu...xas-may-debut/

There's not really anything new or surprising in the article, but it points out a kind of cool possibility: This booster is likely going to the west coast, where they only launch once every couple of months. In theory, it needs no refurbishment between launches. That means that this may be the ONLY booster to launch off of the west coast for the next couple of years. Would be crazy if that works out.

First block 5 booster is ready to fly, though it sounds like the date pay push back a bit from that in the OP.

https://i.imgur.com/E3HDLce.jpg

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">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.</p>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/992571214265765890?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Bump for today's launch. Big story is the first block 5 launch. Barge landing, and I believe they're still working on fairing recovery.

The bigger story may be how long we go before seeing this booster back on the pad again. In theory, it might only be a month or two (and maybe even faster once they get the process down).

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Falcon 9 Block 5 and Bangabandhu Satellite-1 went vertical on Pad 39A in Florida this morning. Now targeting liftoff at 4:42 p.m. EDT, 20:42 UTC – vehicle and payload look good, completing final check outs at the pad. <a href="https://t.co/gtC39uBC7z">https://t.co/gtC39uBC7z</a> <a href="https://t.co/ML81qpl76g">pic.twitter.com/ML81qpl76g</a></p>&mdash; SpaceX (@SpaceX) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/994632986006978560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Time is bumped back an hour.

Webcast is live.

They must be excited about this launch. The last launch they had a team doing the webcast was FH.

Random notes from Elon in a conference call today via reddit:

• Really the 6th iteration of F9
• Last major revision
• Up to 300 more flights with block 5
• 2nd stage has block 5 engine but will operate like a block 4 for this flight
• The interstage looks cool
• Re-flying same block 5 core within 24 hours next year
• Leg 2.0
• No more aluminum grid fins
• Elon confident that full reusability of the Second Stage is achievable.
• Gaining data about 2nd stage entry now. They transmit to the Iridium constellation
• Will add thermal protection system to 2nd stge
• Fuel costs $300,000-400,000. Still hoping to get the marginal cost of a Falcon 9 launch down to $5-$6 million.
• first stage 60 percent of cost, 2nd stage 20, fairing 10, everything else 10
• Expecting no unnecessary action between flights. Fold up legs, attach 2nd stage and go.
• First block 5 to 10 flights most likely next year. Big milestone Elon says.
• Need to take this booster apart after this flight since it's the first Block 5
• Human rated rockets must be overdesigned by 40% for crew safety
• Boca Chica will be re-dedicated to BFR
• 30 to 50 Block 5 cores planned
• SpaceX charging $50 million for flight proven flight, instead of $62 million for a new one.
• NASA can be a pain in the ass sometimes
• Load and Go issue has been overblown. CAN load fuel and then have astronauts board
• Massive amount of research and testing in COPV 2.0. Most advanced pressure vessel ever developed by humanity.

Boo. Aborted. Probably scrubbed for today.

Ye ole Thursday curse.

T- 00:15:00 now.

Window closes at 6:22 Eastern, so they don't have much time left to restart. Seems like they almost never get off the ground if it doesn't go on the first attempt.

Welp...

New(ish) vehicle must have some bugs. Hopefully it's minor.

Whoops - forgot the bump. But hooray success!