SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon COTS Demo (C2+) GENERAL DISCUSSION

[Chris Bergin]

THIS IS NOW A GENERAL POST THREAD.

FOR SPECIFIC PRE-LAUNCH UPDATES, SEE THIS THREAD:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=28586.0

Please note the difference between this thread and the update thread.

Resources:

Thread 1 (1000 posts, 150,000 reads):
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=23538.0

Thread 2 (1700 posts, 280,000 reads):
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=26616.0


Links:
SpaceX Forum Section:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=45.0 - please use this for general questions, non updates.

SpaceX News Articles from 2006 (Including numerous exclusive Elon interviews):
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=21862.0

SpaceX News Articles (Recent):
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/tag/spacex/


Recent COTS2/3 Specific articles:

NASA managers aligning to combine final Dragon COTS test missions:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/05/nasa-aligning-combine-final-dragon-cots-missions/

ISS managers evaluating SpaceX via safety reviews ahead of debut arrival:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/08/iss-managers-spacex-test-safety-reviews-ahead-debut-arrival/

ISS Managers Conduct Expedition 29 FRR, Prepare Station for Post-Shuttle Ops - by Pete Harding:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/08/iss-managers-expedition-29-frr-prepare-station-post-shuttle-operations/

ISS partners prepare to welcome SpaceX and Orbital in a busy 2012 - by Pete Harding:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/10/iss-partners-welcome-spacex-orbital-busy-2012/

ISS Community reviews Station Progress, Anomalies, and Upcoming Flights - by Chris Gebhardt:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/10/iss-community-reviews-station-progress-anomalies-upcoming-flights/

SpaceX Dragon ISS flight to slip further, pending combined mission approval:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/12/spacex-dragon-flight-slipping-further-combined-approval/

NASA managers announce February 7 launch date for Dragon ISS mission:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/12/nasa-february-7-launch-date-dragon-iss-mission/

ISS performs hardware and software upgrades to support inaugural Dragon visit - by Pete Harding:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/01/iss-hardware-software-upgrades-support-inaugural-dragon-visit/

Dragon ISS flight slips – SpaceX determined to return US crewed access to LEO:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/01/dragon-slips-spacex-determined-return-us-crewed-access-leo/

SpaceX team conduct successful Falcon 9 WDR ahead of Dragon’s ISS debut:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/03/spacex-successful-falcon-9-wdr-dragons-iss-debut/


L2 SpaceX Section:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?action=tags&tags=SpaceX

L2 SpaceX Dragon C2/C3 Mission Special (NEW - Exclusively acquired pre-launch and Mission Coverage, Presentations, Graphics, Videos, Updates):
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=54.0

[Paul Howard]

This ATV issue won't impact will it?

[Chris Bergin]

This ATV issue won't impact will it?

No, but as much as that situation is improving already, if anything it shows how much Dragon (and Cygnus) are required. They've all got a lot to make up for via the lack of those big winged ladies that used to launch from KSC.

[Orbiter]

COTS-2/3 required 2 update threads and a processing to launch thread and will have a launch day thread plus On Orbit updates.

STS has got nothing on that for NSF.com.

Anyways, looking forward to this launch. Does anyone know how many days before hand the F9 will be raised vertical for launch? Also, the launch time is instantaneous right? Meaning no 10 minute window like for Shuttle?

L-30 days everyone!

Orbiter

[psloss]

COTS-2/3 required 2 update threads and a processing to launch thread and will have a launch day thread plus On Orbit updates.

STS has got nothing on that for NSF.com.

Not as much arguing and speculation about STS (or anything else) here.

[daver]

  I hope someone has a video camera on the recovery vessel this time.   Would love to watch video of the splashdown.

[Space Pete]

From the image of Dragon's interior linked below, I think I have figured out what the hardware shown in the attached image might be - a camera, to provide internal views of the Dragon hatch opening.

I just can't think of anything else that it might be, other than a lens. Anyone got any other ideas? I hope it is a camera!

http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/634899main_mm-dragon.jpg

[Jason1701]

That would make for some amazing video.

[docmordrid]

PR heaven -

CC: US Congress

[Hootz]

PR heaven -

CC: US Congress

**like**

[Robotbeat]

PR heaven -

CC: US Congress

A successful COTS 2/3 demo (before, say, June) is probably the only shot for getting commercial crew more fully funded by Congress (and keeping the schedule from slipping) this year. Lots of people apparently distrust SpaceX, which is also the de facto standard bearer for commercial crew, and the only way to counter that is with a clear, spectacular success.

[cro-magnon gramps]

From the image of Dragon's interior linked below, I think I have figured out what the hardware shown in the attached image might be - a camera, to provide internal views of the Dragon hatch opening.

I just can't think of anything else that it might be, other than a lens. Anyone got any other ideas? I hope it is a camera!

http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/634899main_mm-dragon.jpg

Hi Pete, enlarged the image to see behind the clear bubble, which appears to be a cover, and behind in the middle is a circular object between two round edged rectangular shapes, the circular object has a blue chromatic reflection, and I am going to go out on a limb and say it is a lens of some sort; whether for a camera or a sensor that is up for grabs;

Gramps

[Jim]

Fire detector is an option

[AnalogMan]

Fire detector is an option

I was thinking some sort of IR sensor given the dark nature of the lens/cover (IR transmitting but visible blocking).  Looks like its convex on the outer surface to me.

Also looks a bit scruffy to me - is this an actual flight unit?

[Mapperuo]

Was looking at the NASA TV schedule and notice the launch coverage for April 30th has vanished?

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Breaking.html

A mistake I assume