Dragon's pressurized upmass is volume constrained. The main reason for that is because the volume has to fit in a cone behind the heatshield in order to get downmass, while Cygnus can simply get longer. And unlike Cygnus, Dragon has to provide both thermal and aerodynamic protection in an aerodynamic shape, which is why it's much heavier for the volume it contains. Cygnus rides up in a fairing and never sees the atmosphere.
Does anyone have insight into these numbers on the first stage?"2TRS2S1.8"My Guess: "2" (unknown meaning, maybe version 2 with RD181 engines?), Taurus 2, Stage 1 Serial No. 8 - Ed Kyle
Quote from: envy887 on 11/10/2017 01:54 pmDragon's pressurized upmass is volume constrained. The main reason for that is because the volume has to fit in a cone behind the heatshield in order to get downmass, while Cygnus can simply get longer. And unlike Cygnus, Dragon has to provide both thermal and aerodynamic protection in an aerodynamic shape, which is why it's much heavier for the volume it contains. Cygnus rides up in a fairing and never sees the atmosphere.To add, Dragon has an unpressurized truck and can carry various external payloads to the ISS. Cygnus has just a service module and a pressurized module.It's not that one spacecraft is good and the other bad. NASA needs both. Dragon provides transport for external components and it is able to return experiments from the ISS, while Cygnus can bring to the ISS large volume of internal cargo.
New Small Satellite Missions Launching To SpaceNASA's Ames Research CenterPublished on Nov 9, 2017On November 11, 2017, NASA will launch four new small satellite missions to space from the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Each mission will demonstrate critical new capabilities for small spacecraft. More info: https://go.nasa.gov/2isTr8qVideo credit: NASA's Ames Research Center NASA's Ames Research Center is located in California's Silicon Valley. Follow us on social media to hear about the latest developments in space, science and technology. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW811ouhJeU?t=001
Quote from: edkyle99 on 11/09/2017 01:42 pmDoes anyone have insight into these numbers on the first stage?"2TRS2S1.8"My Guess: "2" (unknown meaning, maybe version 2 with RD181 engines?), Taurus 2, Stage 1 Serial No. 8 - Ed KyleAlmost perfect, but the leading 2 was used for the earlier Antares too. This is a Zenit-program-style designator from Yuzhmash I guess.Antares #2 (Orb-D) was 2TRS2S1.3Antares #5 (Orb-3) was 2TRS2S1.5I don't have similar designators for the other Antares launches.
OA-8 Pre-launch Press Conference Round-upThe pre-launch press conference for tomorrow’s launch has concluded. Systems tests this morning went well, and weather conditions remain green.Orbital ATK will launch its Cygnus spacecraft into orbit to the International Space Station, targeted for 7:37 a.m. EST Nov. 11, 2017, from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The launch window is open for about five minutes.Systems tests this morning went well, with one nitrogen regulator on the ground being changed out with a replacement this afternoon. Orbital ATK’s minimum temperature constraint for Antares is 20 degrees F, so currently forecast launch temperatures (and the overall weather) are not expected to pose a problem. At launch time, temperatures are expected to be about 25 to 30 degrees.The countdown clock begins at 1:22 a.m. EST Nov. 11. Fueling begins roughly 90 minutes before launch. Live NASA TV coverage and commentary will begin at 7 a.m., and Wallops will play live views of the launch pad on Ustream beginning at 1:15 a.m.Sunrise occurs not long before the launch window opens, which may negatively influence the ability for viewers outside the local area to see the launch.The journey from launch to orbit takes about nine minutes, with Cygnus then scheduled to rendezvous with the International Space Station on Nov. 13.
This time lapse shows Orbital ATK’s Antares rocket rolling out of the HIF (the Horizontal Integration Facility) at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia on Nov. 9. Credit: NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility/Patrick Black
The mile-long journey from the HIF to the launch pad takes about two hours to complete. This time lapse covers the latter part of that journey. Credit: NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility/Patrick Black
Once the tilt begins, the total time to go from horizontal to vertical alignment takes roughly 20 minutes. Credit: NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility/Patrick Black
Henry Martin, NanoRacks: for first time we’re flying full set of 14 cubesats on Cygnus external deployers; will release at 500 km altitude after Cygnus departs ISS. #OA8