SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon COTS Demo (C2+) PRE LAUNCH UPDATES

[Chris Bergin]

FRR has begun. Expecting April 30, with the only wildcard via L2 being the Range (questions about F9, scrubs, then reconfig for Atlas V, then reconfig again for F9 being a pain). Not expected to be big issue in recent days.

So what are the chances of acceptable weather on April 30

Heh. A bit of a weather watch would be a very nice redux moment for shuttle fans

By the way, Pete Harding's drafted an awesome article for today. Really is meaty!

[Chris Bergin]

NASA Twitter feed now posting periodic live updates from FRR.

http://twitter.com/#/NASA

And that's an actual PAO in the actual meeting (not sure, but could be, Josh Byerly). They started this during the latter Agency FRRs for Shuttle.

[rdale]

So what are the chances of acceptable weather on April 30

Heh. A bit of a weather watch would be a very nice redux moment for shuttle fans

L2 request for launch criteria? I think it's safe to say it won't be as strict as the shuttle's

[Chris Bergin]

Sounds like one, Rob.

Latest @NASA was:

"Holly Ridings still presenting. Station will only have 3 crew on board during SpaceX flight, so she's talking the crew's schedule."

[gregpet]

NASA TV Daily Schedule (All Programs Eastern Time Zone)

April 16, Monday
NET 3 p.m. – ISS SpaceX/Dragon Post-Flight Readiness Review Preflight Briefing – JSC (All Channels)

[Kabloona]

Sounds like one, Rob.

Latest @NASA was:

"Holly Ridings still presenting. Station will only have 3 crew on board during SpaceX flight, so she's talking the crew's schedule."

Should we just call it "The Holly Ridings Show?" 
With guest appearances by a few people from SpaceX.

[Chris Bergin]

Sounds like one, Rob.

Latest @NASA was:

"Holly Ridings still presenting. Station will only have 3 crew on board during SpaceX flight, so she's talking the crew's schedule."

Should we just call it "The Holly Ridings Show?" 
With guest appearances by a few people from SpaceX.

Her show is over.

"International partners now presenting at SpaceX Flight Readiness Review"

[Chris Bergin]

Here we go!

@NASA

NASA Associate Administrator Gerstenmaier is about to poll the Flight Readiness Review board for "go" or "no go" on SpaceX launch.

[Chris Bergin]

Hmm, strange wording:

@NASA

SpaceX demo flight Flight Readiness Review is complete. Post-FRR news conference from JSC is tentatively set for 2:30 pm CDT/3:30 pm EDT.

No launch date, not the usual "Go". Probably teasing

[Chris Bergin]

I understand there's nothing to worry about. Just requires the next steps towards the launch date to be explained in context at the post FRR presser. We'll cover that in here.

It's not the exact same process as shuttle, with its three day launch countdown etc.

Holding Pete's article until then. 

[rdale]

Press conference is 2:30pm Central and it will be on NASA TV.

[Chris Bergin]

Presser in 10 mins. Anyone got a good VLC link, as http://www.nasa.gov/145590main_Digital_Media.asx isn't working.

[ChrisC]

I can't help you with the VLC links (I'm watching HD directly off the C-band satellite) but I do expect that they'll carry the presser on both the public and media channels.  Their breaking news schedule says it'll be on ALL channels, so you could also pick it up (in SD) from their education channel. I'll confirm once they put up a slate.

EDIT 3:28pm EDT: they just went to slate, and it's on all three services.

And the background audio is that cheesy cinematic/operatic crap that you guys love

[Chris Bergin]

Ok, some key quotes from me (anyone else can join in on quotes and screenshots - but no random chatter! ), with Aaron providing a one page summary at conclusion.

Discovery still dominating the face time on NASA TV right now

[Chris Bergin]