NASASpaceFlight.com Forum
SpaceX Vehicles and Missions => SpaceX Falcon Missions Section => Topic started by: Chris Bergin on 04/14/2014 02:29 am
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LIVE LAUNCH DAY UPDATE THREAD FOR SPACEX'S FALCON 9 V1.1 LAUNCH OF CRS-3 Dragon.
THIS THREAD IS FOR UPDATES ONLY. ALL NON UPDATES WILL BE REMOVED.
Webcast: http://www.spacex.com/webcast/
http://www.spacex.com/webcast/
Window is instantaneous at 20:58 UTC (16:58 local time).
Resources:
Specific Articles for F9/CRS-3
Numerous articles on this page:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/tag/dragon/
Specific Launch Day Article:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/04/spacex-crs-3-dragon-new-milestones/
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/
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SpaceX GENERAL Forum Section:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=45.0 - please use this for general questions NOT specific to this mission.
SpaceX MISSIONS Forum Section:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=55.0 - this section is for everything specific to SpaceX missions.
SpaceX CRS-3 General Thread:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=31513.0
SpaceX CRS-3 LAUNCH UPDATE Thread:
You're in it.
SpaceX CRS-3 Party Thread:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=34006.0
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L2 Members:
L2 SpaceX Section - now a dedicated full section:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=24469.0
L2 Level F9 v1.1/CRS-3 Pre Launch:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=31562.0
L2 Level F9 v1.1/CRS-3 Launch Day:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=34475.0
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PLEASE NOTE THAT WE FULLY EXPECT THE SITE TO BE VERY BUSY ON LAUNCH DAYS FOR SPACEX MISSIONS. IT IS POSSIBLE WE WILL RESTRICT IT TO FORUM MEMBERS ONLY - WITH NO ACCESS TO THE FORUM FOR GUESTS - IF THE SITE BECOMES TOO BUSY. READ THIS: http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=31697.0)
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Ok, off we go, starting with another awesome overview article by William Graham:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/04/spacex-crs-3-dragon-new-milestones/
Remember to use the discussion threads. This is only for updates.
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SpaceX @SpaceX
Falcon 9 and Dragon have gone vertical in advance of today’s launch to the ISS! Liftoff @ 4:58pm ET.
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Looks like the strongback is retracted early for Dragon missions on the F9 v1.1, unlike on commercial missions with the fairing were it stays upright until T-6 minutes.
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Press kit time:
Today, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft are set to launch the CRS-3 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) for NASA. Liftoff is targeted for 4:58pm EDT from SpaceX’s Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Dragon will be loaded with nearly 5,000 pounds of supplies and science experiments bound for the ISS, and if all goes according to plan, the spacecraft will berth with the station around 7:00am EDT on Wednesday April 16th. A full mission press kit is attached.
SpaceX’s live launch webcast will begin at 4:20pm EDT at www.spacex.com/webcast.
Photos are available at www.spacex.com/media, and videos will be made available after the launch at vimeo.com/spacexlaunch.
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Same feed on a couple of the one-frame-per-minute "channels"...didn't check for a full feed.
http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/countdown/video/
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Launch forecast for today, courtesy of our servicemembers at Patrick AFB:
http://www.patrick.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070716-028.pdf (http://www.patrick.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070716-028.pdf)
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Launch forecast for today, courtesy of our servicemembers at Patrick AFB:
http://www.patrick.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070716-028.pdf (http://www.patrick.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070716-028.pdf)
Thanks for that, unfortunately it's currently unavailable (too many NSF people trying to access?!)
Could someone who's already downloaded it attach here?
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Launch forecast for today, courtesy of our servicemembers at Patrick AFB:
http://www.patrick.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070716-028.pdf (http://www.patrick.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070716-028.pdf)
Today's issued forecast attached; no major change from yesterday, 20% chance of a weather violation at liftoff time. Deeper into the count today the weather rules will be green/red.
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A number of pictures have been/are being uploaded to the KSC gallery
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=262
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RP-1 loading has begun.
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SpaceX has just posted a video of the rocket being raised on the pad:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzEsXL3S_mc
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Did I just see the launch constraint forecast on the last weather briefing being raised to 60%?
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Did I just see the launch constraint forecast on the last weather briefing being raised to 60%?
That was probably for later in the week (anybody get an image/images from the most recent Wx briefing?)...there will be at least one weather briefing during live coverage...attaching a cap from earlier of the weather loop showing the launch (and landing) areas...
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Patrick AFB Launch Hazard Area attached.
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Prop loading complete.
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Under two hours to launch. No issues that we know of being worked.
Site's getting busy (remember, *if* we get too busy, we will remove guests, so make sure you're logged in).
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There's an ISS pass in the UK at 2151BST (2051UTC) and the Dragon is expected to go over 20 minutes later. Do you think the second stage will be visible? If so, roughly what time? If I've missed this already posted, apologies and please point.
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And of course, this is a CRS mission, so NASA TV is covering too. Coverage begining shortly. I'll stay on NASA TV, if others want to add the SpaceX coverage when it begins, so as to give the Occupy Mars T-shirt kids some smiley exposure! ;D
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5 min till webcast...
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Here we go, boys and girls!
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Live....
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launch scrubbed
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SCRUB!
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Well that was an anti-climax. Will be asking sources what happened.
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NASA TV signed off--that was quick
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NASA TV signed off--that was quick
Likely to be a little bit before there's much to report on...wonder if SpaceX will do an webcast announcement or not.
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That came late too, as I had a "no issues" not long after prop loading was complete. Working it.
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Reports of a helium leak on 1st stage
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they use helium for turbopump spin up, right? Or was this for the helium tanks for the legs?
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CRS-3 Update
Today’s launch has been scrubbed due to a Helium leak on Falcon 9’s first stage. A fix will be implemented by the next launch opportunity on Friday April 18, though weather on that date isn’t ideal. Check back here for updates.
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What's the next launch date if Friday is scrubbed because of the weather?
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It's every 4 days, isn't it? So 4/22?
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It's every 4 days, isn't it? So 4/22?
I believe so too. Will check.
Ok, so this thread is no longer a live thread. We'll set up a new one for the next attempt. However, posts must be specific to this scrub. If not, use the discussion threads.
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they use helium for turbopump spin up, right? Or was this for the helium tanks for the legs?
Fuel pressurization. Secondary function is leg deployment.
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they use helium for turbopump spin up, right? Or was this for the helium tanks for the legs?
Fuel pressurization. Secondary function is leg deployment.
And stage separation, which happens to be today's culprit, I'm hearing.
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Update thread, people.
Expressions of dismay, questioning people's sources, refuting reports, etc... all off topic.
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It's every 4 days, isn't it? So 4/22?
I believe so too. Will check.
Ok, so this thread is no longer a live thread. We'll set up a new one for the next attempt. However, posts must be specific to this scrub. If not, use the discussion threads.
Do we have any updates on whether the leak was on GSE side or in/on the rocket itself?
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Long look ahead to Friday weather posted by the 45th Weather Squadron:
http://www.patrick.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070716-028.pdf
Synoptic Discussion:Weather will begin to deteriorate Tuesday as a cold frontal system moves into the area with widespread clouds, rain and isolated thunderstorms. There is also a slight chance for hail and severe winds. The front should clear south of the Spaceport on Wednesday, allowing clouds to diminish. Temperatures will struggle to reach the mid 70’s as strong northeasterly surface winds remain through Thursday. On Friday, models indicate a wave developing in the Gulf of Mexico and moving over Central Florida. Thick cloud cover and periods of rain and isolated thunderstorms are typical with these systems. Maximum upper level winds will be 70 knots from the west-northwest at 43,000 feet.
Launch day probability of violating launch weather constraints: 60%
Primary concern(s): Thick Cloud Rule, Lightning Rule, Flight Through Precipitation
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Here is a replay of the NASA TV coverage of the scrub:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oy2nHvDDssY
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Forecast 40 Percent 'Go' if SpaceX-3 Aims for Friday Launch
April 15, 2014 - 9:20 AM EDT
If NASA and SpaceX officials decide to attempt to launch SpaceX-3 to the International Space Station on Friday, April 18, there is a 40 percent chance of favorable weather. The U.S. Air Force 45th Weather Squadron issued its L-3 forecast, which predicts a chance of showers and thunderstorms that could result in violating the Thick Cloud, Lightning and Flight Through Precipitation rules.
Monday's launch attempt was scrubbed because of a helium leak in the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket. The next possible launch opportunity would be April 18 at 3:25 p.m. EDT, pending resolution of the issue and a decision by NASA space station and SpaceX managers.
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they use helium for turbopump spin up, right? Or was this for the helium tanks for the legs?
Fuel pressurization. Secondary function is leg deployment.
And stage separation, which happens to be today's culprit, I'm hearing.
Do the pneumatic pushers utilise helium?
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No, F9 uses pneumatic pushers, not helium.
Huh? The pneumatic pushers use helium
Yes sorry just realised my error and asked the question.
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New article today to update where we are, and I'll use William's article for the Friday attempt.
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SpaceX:
NASA and SpaceX have confirmed Friday, April 18 for the next launch attempt for the Falcon 9 rocket to send the Dragon spacecraft on the company's third commercial resupply mission and fourth visit to the space station. Launch is targeted for 3:25 p.m. ET. The launch will be webcast live at www.spacex.com/webcast beginning at 2:45 p.m. ET.
A launch on Friday results in a rendezvous with the space station on Sunday, April 20 and a grapple at 7:14 a.m ET.
During Monday’s launch attempt, preflight checks detected that a helium valve in the stage separation pneumatic system was not holding the right pressure. This meant that the stage separation pistons would be reliant on a backup check valve.
No issue was detected with the backup valve and a flight would likely have been successful, but SpaceX policy is not to launch with any known anomalies. We have brought the vehicle back to horizontal and are replacing the faulty valve, as well as inspecting the whole system for anything that may have contributed to the valve not working as designed.
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http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/launch/index.html
SpaceX Launch Reset for Friday
April 16, 2014 - 8:28 AM EDT
The International Space Station Program and SpaceX have selected Friday, April 18 for the next launch attempt for the Falcon 9 rocket to send the Dragon cargo craft on the company's third commercial resupply mission to the space station. Launch is scheduled for 3:25 p.m. EDT. NASA TV coverage will begin at 2:15 p.m.
A launch on Friday results in a rendezvous with the space station on Sunday, April 20 and a grapple at 7:14 a.m. NASA TV coverage will begin at 5:45 a.m. with berthing coverage beginning at 9:30 a.m.
The U.S. Air Force 45th Weather Squadron forecast predicts a 40 percent chance of favorable weather, with a chance of showers and thunderstorms that could result in violating the Thick Cloud, Lightning and Flight Through Precipitation rules.
SpaceX has settled on a backup launch date of Saturday, April 19 for the best pair of launch dates for the science payloads being delivered to the station. If needed, a Saturday launch would occur at 3:02 p.m. NASA TV coverage would begin at 2 p.m. This would be a three-day transit to the station instead of two days with grapple on Tuesday, April 22.
If SpaceX launches Friday, a contingency spacewalk to replace a failed multiplexer-demultiplexer will be conducted on Wednesday, April 23. If SpaceX scrubs Friday and attempts to launch Saturday, the contingency spacewalk moves earlier to Sunday, April 20.
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If Friday doesn't work out, the backup date is Saturday according to the press release above. Is the weather more favourable on Saturday?
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No issue was detected with the backup valve and a flight would likely have been successful, but SpaceX policy is not to launch with any known anomalies. We have brought the vehicle back to horizontal and are replacing the faulty valve, as well as inspecting the whole system for anything that may have contributed to the valve not working as designed.
Sure, the backup value worked. But if there was a helium leak, would there be enough gas remaining in the system ? Is it just a backup value, or an entire duplicate set of helium lines that are able to maintain pressure when the primary lines have low pressure due to the leak ?
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So, two scenarios then:
Scenario 1:
SpX-3 launch: Friday 18/04 @ 3:25 PM EDT / 7:25 PM GMT
SpX-3 capture: Sunday 20/04 @ 7:14 AM EDT / 11:14 AM GMT
MDM R&R EVA: Wednesday 23/04
Scenario 2:
SpX-3 launch: Saturday 19/04 @ 3:02 PM EDT / 7:02 PM GMT
SpX-3 capture: Tuesday 22/04
MDM R&R EVA: Sunday 20/04
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So, two scenarios then:
Scenario 1:
SpX-3 launch: Friday 18/04 @ 3:25 PM EDT / 8:25 PM GMT
SpX-3 capture: Sunday 20/04 @ 7:14 AM EDT / 12:14 PM GMT
MDM R&R EVA: Wednesday 23/04
Scenario 2:
SpX-3 launch: Saturday 19/04 @ 3:02 PM EDT / 8:02 PM GMT
SpX-3 capture: Tuesday 22/04
MDM R&R EVA: Sunday 20/04
GMT is four hours later than EDT not five. Please adjust the times.
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GMT is four hours later than EDT not five. Please adjust the times.
Oops, right you are! I accidentally adjusted them for British time, forgetting that the UK is now on BST, now GMT. Post adjusted. :)
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So, two scenarios then:
Scenario 1:
Scenario 2:
I thought that there was parts that needed to be delivered on the CRS-3 flight in order for the EVA to be done. But under scenario 2, the EVA is done prior to capture. So I imagine that they will do without these parts if the launch is on Saturday.
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No issue was detected with the backup valve and a flight would likely have been successful, but SpaceX policy is not to launch with any known anomalies. We have brought the vehicle back to horizontal and are replacing the faulty valve, as well as inspecting the whole system for anything that may have contributed to the valve not working as designed.
Sure, the backup value worked. But if there was a helium leak, would there be enough gas remaining in the system ? Is it just a backup value, or an entire duplicate set of helium lines that are able to maintain pressure when the primary lines have low pressure due to the leak ?
It sounds like a leaking check valve that wasn't "checking" sufficiently to hold pressure...ie an internal leak, not an external leak. In which case it was not a question of losing helium to the atmosphere, and thus running out of helium, but of potentially not having adequate helium pressure in one branch of the pusher plumbing.
Check valves are often placed in series for redundancy in case of a leak like this. Don't know, but I'm guessing there are two check valves in series on one high pressure line supplying a pusher, and one of those two valves leaked internally. In that case, the backup valve would have maintained adequate pressure on that line.
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Here's an article I've thrown together:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/04/spacex-nasa-realign-launch-eva-scenarios/
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? what's changed
Thought Dragon could only be launched every 4 days?
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? what's changed
The phasing would be different for a Saturday launch attempt; three days instead of two for Friday. (See the NASA update that yg1968 posted.)
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If Friday doesn't work out, the backup date is Saturday according to the press release above. Is the weather more favourable on Saturday?
The 45th Weather Squadron didn't post a specific forecast for Saturday in this morning's update; however, we may see that going forward given the decision to target Saturday for a backup launch opportunity.
(Which isn't to say that Friday might not work out.)
Edit, here's the synopsis from the 45th from this morning...I don't see much of a change from Monday evening:
Synoptic Discussion: The front that passed through Central Florida yesterday has stalled in Southern
Florida. The front will remain to the south today and Thursday bringing partly cloudy skies and a chance
of isolated rain showers. In addition, an upper-level feature move through Central Florida on Thursday
and will bring a slight chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon. Winds will be strong and gusty from the
northeast both days. On Friday, the frontal boundary will move back to the north into Northern Florida as
a wave develops in the Gulf of Mexico. This wave will move through the Florida Peninsula and off to the
northeast by Saturday morning. Thick cloud cover, with periods of rain and isolated thunderstorms are
expected as this system transits through Florida on Friday.
Maximum upper level winds will be 70 knots from the west-northwest at 43,000 feet.
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The Weather Channel forecast for the Cape is thunderstorms on Friday, 80% chance of rain, and showers on Sat, 40% chance of rain. That's all the resolution there is right now.
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If Friday doesn't work out, the backup date is Saturday according to the press release above. Is the weather more favourable on Saturday?
It would be 70% go on Saturday (if Friday is scrubbed).
https://twitter.com/flatoday_jdean/status/456487028633260032
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But there was this tweet.
Jeff Foust @jeff_foust 1h
Gerst: if Dragon doesn't launch on Friday, go with Cygnus launch on May 6.
https://twitter.com/jeff_foust (https://twitter.com/jeff_foust)
Ultimatum?
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But there was this tweet.
Jeff Foust @jeff_foust 1h
Gerst: if Dragon doesn't launch on Friday, go with Cygnus launch on May 6.
https://twitter.com/jeff_foust (https://twitter.com/jeff_foust)
Ultimatum?
I think that Gerst said this weekend (not this Friday).
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But there was this tweet.
Jeff Foust @jeff_foust 1h
Gerst: if Dragon doesn't launch on Friday, go with Cygnus launch on May 6.
https://twitter.com/jeff_foust (https://twitter.com/jeff_foust)
Ultimatum?
I think that Gerst said this weekend (not this Friday).
Ok I just got this sorted out...
From the AP
"If SpaceX isn't flying by Saturday, then Orbital Sciences will move to the front of the launch line, with a shipment in early May, officials said. That would push SpaceX into June."
So do I have this right......If no launch by Sat. then Dragon gets unloaded and some stuff moved to Orbital? Parts like the stuff for the EVA?
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But there was this tweet.
Jeff Foust @jeff_foust 1h
Gerst: if Dragon doesn't launch on Friday, go with Cygnus launch on May 6.
https://twitter.com/jeff_foust (https://twitter.com/jeff_foust)
Ultimatum?
I think that Gerst said this weekend (not this Friday).
Yes, there are the launch opportunities noted on Friday and Saturday; it does sound now like there's only room for one of them to fly a full mission before the high Beta angle cutout (30 May - 9 June) and the other will fly on the other side of that. (Perhaps complicated by the EXT MDM failure.)
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April 16, 2014
SpaceX Launch of NASA Cargo to Space Station Set for Friday, Spacewalk Wednesday
NASA and SpaceX are targeting a 3:25 p.m. EDT launch on Friday, April 18, of SpaceX's third cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. NASA Television coverage will begin at 2:15 p.m.
The company's April 14 launch to the orbiting laboratory was scrubbed due to a helium leak in the Falcon 9 rocket that will launch the Dragon spacecraft to the space station.
Dragon is carrying to the space station almost 5,000 pounds of science and research, crew supplies, vehicle hardware and spacewalk tools -- all to support the crew and more than 150 scientific investigations planned for Expeditions 39 and 40. If needed, another launch attempt will take place at 3:02 p.m. Saturday, April 19.
NASA Television coverage of Dragon’s arrival at the space station will begin at 5:45 a.m. Sunday, April 20. Expedition 39 Commander Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency will use the space station's robotic arm to capture the spacecraft at approximately 7 a.m. NASA's Rick Mastracchio will support Wakata during the rendezvous. NASA Television coverage will resume at 9:30 a.m., as the Dragon is attached to the Earth-facing port of the space station’s Harmony module.
An April 18 launch will allow the space station program to plan for a spacewalk on Wednesday, April 23, to replace a failed multiplexer-demultiplexer (MDM) relay system. The prime MDM, which is operating normally, and the failed backup computer provide commands to some space station systems, including the external cooling system, Solar Alpha Rotary joints and Mobile Transporter rail car.
A separate media advisory providing NASA TV coverage times for the April 23 spacewalk will be issued at a later date.
For the latest information on the SpaceX mission, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/spacex
For NASA TV streaming video, downlink and scheduling information, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/nasatv
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I don't see the full forecast posted online yet, but NASA has Tweeted an update to the Saturday forecast (no change the % for Friday):
https://twitter.com/NASA/status/456795164841746432
Weather for tmw's @SpaceX launch to #ISS is 40% "go." The forecast improves for a Saturday launch attempt to 60% "go" http://www.nasa.gov/spacex
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Here is the update:
http://www.patrick.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070716-028.pdf
SpaceX have now 3 launch opportunities! On April 22 the weather is looking good at 80%.
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Here is the update:
http://www.patrick.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070716-028.pdf
SpaceX have now 3 launch opportunities! On April 22 the weather is looking good at 80%.
Maybe the Range was requested to support that one, doesn't mean NASA will want to go with the 22nd given the shedule juggling involved. So far only 18 and 19 dates were announced.
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Here is the update:
http://www.patrick.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070716-028.pdf
Thanks; attached today's release.
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New thread in the morning for attempt 2.
Now live:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=34502.0