LIVE: SpaceX Dragon CRS-1 (SpX-1) RNDZ, Capture, Berthing to ISS & Hatch Opening

[robertross]

I posted this question on General Discussion but no-one chose to reply, preferring to speculate, argue and, increasingly, develop deep, personal animosities towards each other regarding the engine #1 early shut-down.  Maybe I'll have more luck here:

I understand that the vehicle will remain berthed until 10/28.  Given the great activity in Harmony and Dragon-1, I would imagine most of the up-mass cargo has been transferred already.  Is the unberth/return date based on traffic control around the station or is it a case that some of the items for return won't be ready for removal from their operational locations and transfer to the Dragon until then?

I understand that some of the cargo to be returned is blood and urine samples from the ISS astronauts.  Maybe those samples will be taken over the next couple of weeks.  That's just speculation on my part, though.

There are always those types of samples to transfer. The biggest issue is to keep the MELFI closed as often as possible to ensure the samples stay within the expected temperature range. If you recall shuttle missions, samples from the MELFI were always transferred to cold bags at the last possible moment before being brought aboard shuttle for storage for the trip home.

[meekGee]

I understand that some of the cargo to be returned is blood and urine samples from the ISS astronauts.

...

There's a steady trickle of ins and outs for the Dragon

eeek.

[Fuji]

October 28, Sunday
7 a.m. – SpaceX/Dragon CRS-1 Unberthing and Release Coverage (Unberthing begins at 7:55 a.m. ET, release scheduled at 9:10 a.m. ET – JSC (All Channels)
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Breaking.html

[iamlucky13]

New photos: http://spacexlaunch.zenfolio.com/p278054961

Maybe I'm just spoiled with the imagery from the C2+ mission, but these latest batch of images (can also be seen here http://www.spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-33/inflight/ndxpage9.html ) are all of pretty bad quality... Either they are sharp but very grainy (very high ISO), or they are blurry or smudged due to long exposures. I would expect this from low-light shots, but Dragon is in the sunlight of most of these. Weird.

Hopefully there will be better shots of the departure.

You got me curious. Looking at the images and their embedded EXIF data, there were some odd choices in camera settings - small apertures and as a result either high ISO's (causes graininess) or long exposures (chance of motion blur) to compensate.

The astronauts do get some instruction in photography, but not certainly not enough to become pros, so naturally those who enjoy it as a hobby are bound to do better than those for whom it's one of the less interesting tasks they perform.

The grainy shots were taken with the older Nikon D2Xs cameras. The newer D3s does far, far better at high ISO. I'd have thought NASA would have taken the older cameras back down by now...maybe on a future CRS mission.

[pargoo]

     Being a keen amateur snapper, I have reluctantly come to realize over the years that you can put the most sophisticated camera in the hands of some people and still run a 50:50 chance of a chimpanzee doing better.  Some folk just don't get how to do it

[dcporter]

     Being a keen amateur snapper, I have reluctantly come to realize over the years that you can put the most sophisticated camera in the hands of some people and still run a 50:50 chance of a chimpanzee doing better.  Some folk just don't get how to do it

...on the other hand, they run a space station.

[Lars_J]

You got me curious. Looking at the images and their embedded EXIF data, there were some odd choices in camera settings - small apertures and as a result either high ISO's (causes graininess) or long exposures (chance of motion blur) to compensate.

The astronauts do get some instruction in photography, but not certainly not enough to become pros, so naturally those who enjoy it as a hobby are bound to do better than those for whom it's one of the less interesting tasks they perform.

Thanks for looking into the EXIF data, that does conform my suspicions. Tweaking all those camera settings is fine if you are an experienced photographer - otherwise you should just leave it in 'P' mode. (or whatever the Nikon equivalent is called) And that probably would have made these shots turn out better.

I realize that all the astronauts do not have the time or interest in learning all fields, so I certainly understand... Or they just goofed. (I have certainly blown quite a few pictures myself by accidentally putting my DSLR in the wrong mode) I just hope they had an off day, and get better shots of the departure.

[manboy]

You got me curious. Looking at the images and their embedded EXIF data, there were some odd choices in camera settings - small apertures and as a result either high ISO's (causes graininess) or long exposures (chance of motion blur) to compensate.

The astronauts do get some instruction in photography, but not certainly not enough to become pros, so naturally those who enjoy it as a hobby are bound to do better than those for whom it's one of the less interesting tasks they perform.

Thanks for looking into the EXIF data, that does conform my suspicions. Tweaking all those camera settings is fine if you are an experienced photographer - otherwise you should just leave it in 'P' mode. (or whatever the Nikon equivalent is called) And that probably would have made these shots turn out better.

I realize that all the astronauts do not have the time or interest in learning all fields, so I certainly understand... Or they just goofed. (I have certainly blown quite a few pictures myself by accidentally putting my DSLR in the wrong mode) I just hope they had an off day, and get better shots of the departure.

Reply posted on SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon CRS SpX-1 MISSION GENERAL DISCUSSION

[Silmfeanor]

https://twitter.com/Astro_Suni/status/258628475722809344

On unloading #Dragon, we found a very thoughful and timely gift from our friends @SpaceX - fall apples! http://twitpic.com/b5164y

[Chris Bergin]

Following posts about apples have nothing to do with a live update thread. Split and merged into general discussion. Think before posting, as a few of you clearly did not.

I'm writing up a Dragon article for today, by the way.

[Chris Bergin]

And here's the Dragon article. Heavy with L2 content (info and images)

Dragon enjoying ISS stay, despite minor issues – Falcon 9 investigation begins:

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/10/dragon-iss-stay-minor-issues-falcon-9-investigation/

[Prober]

And here's the Dragon article. Heavy with L2 content (info and images)

Dragon enjoying ISS stay, despite minor issues – Falcon 9 investigation begins:

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/10/dragon-iss-stay-minor-issues-falcon-9-investigation/

yeah but I thought the apples were being investigated...heheh

[Lars_J]

A mission update video from SpaceX:



It also contains some new footage from the C2+ mission, including opening the hatch on the barge for early cargo unload. (@ 1:13)

[Space Pete]

Twitter/@NASA_Johnson:

We have some very talented pumpkin carvers here at NASA...check out the salute to our SpaceX friends.

[robertross]

Twitter/@NASA_Johnson:

We have some very talented pumpkin carvers here at NASA...check out the salute to our SpaceX friends.

I really like that!!

[Robotbeat]

Clearly unprofessional.

[kevin-rf]

Clearly unprofessional.

Only if they hide the seeds on CRS-2

[ChefPat]

Twitter/@NASA_Johnson:

We have some very talented pumpkin carvers here at NASA...check out the salute to our SpaceX friends.

Outstanding!!!

[corrodedNut]

October 28, Sunday
7 a.m. – SpaceX/Dragon CRS-1 Unberthing and Release Coverage (Unberthing begins at 7:55 a.m. ET, release scheduled at 9:10 a.m. ET – JSC (All Channels)
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/MM_NTV_Breaking.html

Also: 10 minute de-orbit burn at approx 2:30 p.m. EDT (1830 GMT), splashdown at approx 3:20 p.m. EDT (1920 GMT), roughly 500 miles west of Baja California.

[mr. mark]

Last half is dedicated to Dragon return prep.