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

[QuantumG]

The SpaceX press kit for the mission makes zero mention of orbcomm and no mention of a second stage re-ignition.

It's unrelated to the CRS-1 mission. They also don't mention anything about the other payloads the Dragon is carrying to the ISS.. for example, I don't see anything about the Nanoracks payloads.

[sdsds]

It's unrelated to the CRS-1 mission.

Yeah. And the other SpaceX press kit, the one for the Orbcomm mission which shares the same launch vehicle, is likely really good too. 

[MP99]

Dragon human flights?
Elon: Orbital flight with people on board - about 3 years.  year of margin... 3-4 years.  4 years for manned ISS mission
How long to assemble Falon 9?
Elon:  Takes about a year or so.  12-18 months now.  Aim to 4-6 launches in 2013.  need to accelerate.  Want spaceflight to be routine.

What dark sorcery is this? This sound actually realistic. Noted toned down count from 8 promised by Gwynne.

Elon is learning.

I was amazed when Gwynne said 8 (and listed them all, too). Such a huge ramp-up, while I thought she was less infected with the over-optimism.

Disappointing that has dropped to six already, though she did say FH was tentative, IIRC.

cheers, Martin

[robertross]

Question on Mars exploration:
Bolden: Humans make the real discoveries, not the robots. 
Elon:  Mars colonization the goal.
...

Thanks for the transcription.

[nisse]

Why is there only 450 kg on board when a Dragon can carry 6000 kg according to Wikipedia?

[peter-b]

Why is there only 450 kg on board when a Dragon can carry 6000 kg according to Wikipedia?

This has been discussed previously in this thread. Synopsis: no-one has a definitive answer.

[Space Pete]

Big news: An EVA has been scheduled on the ISS within the next few weeks, possibly to R&R DCSU-3A.

Unknown at this time if it will affect the CRS-1 mission timeline, but if the EVA does occur during the CRS-1 mission, then we should get some very nice photos of Dragon berthed to the ISS from the EVA wide-angle lens.

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=27801.msg961540#msg961540

[psloss]

Big news: An EVA has been scheduled on the ISS within the next few weeks, possibly to R&R DCSU-3A.

Unknown at this time if it will affect the CRS-1 mission timeline, but if the EVA does occur during the CRS-1 mission, then we should get some very nice photos of Dragon berthed to the ISS from the EVA wide-angle lens.

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=27801.msg961540#msg961540

Hopefully the subject will come up in the pre-launch this evening.

[Space Pete]

Big news: An EVA has been scheduled on the ISS within the next few weeks, possibly to R&R DCSU-3A.

Unknown at this time if it will affect the CRS-1 mission timeline, but if the EVA does occur during the CRS-1 mission, then we should get some very nice photos of Dragon berthed to the ISS from the EVA wide-angle lens.

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=27801.msg961540#msg961540

An update: This EVA will be to re-fill/repair an ammonia leak on power channel 2B on the P6 Truss, and will likely occur after Dragon has left the ISS, so it should be no impact to the CRS-1 mission.

Full info on the Expedition 33 thread: http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=27801

[LegendCJS]

Why is there only 450 kg on board when a Dragon can carry 6000 kg according to Wikipedia?

This has been discussed previously in this thread. Synopsis: no-one has a definitive answer.

Feel I should point out that the press kit says that with packaging there is 905 kg cargo mass.  And this should give a hint: if packaging nearly doubles your cargo mass it must all be pretty bulky stuff, so I'm in the volume limited camp.

[guckyfan]

Feel I should point out that the press kit says that with packaging there is 905 kg cargo mass.  And this should give a hint: if packaging nearly doubles your cargo mass it must all be pretty bulky stuff, so I'm in the volume limited camp.

Assuming Dragon is fully packed and the cargo is volume limited. Would this mean that SpaceX have fulfilled their contractual obligations in full despite the lack in cargo mass?

[JBF]

Feel I should point out that the press kit says that with packaging there is 905 kg cargo mass.  And this should give a hint: if packaging nearly doubles your cargo mass it must all be pretty bulky stuff, so I'm in the volume limited camp.

Assuming Dragon is fully packed and the cargo is volume limited. Would this mean that SpaceX have fulfilled their contractual obligations in full despite the lack in cargo mass?

SpaceX's contract is for 12 flights, the cargo on the flights is up to NASA.

[2552]

Not to jinx it but.. so far it seems the launch date for SpaceX CRS-1 has only been pushed back by about a week and a half from the Sep 28 date posted to anik's ISS schedule on June 12. *fingers crossed*

Also, a tiny bit off topic, but is the Falcon 9 for flight 5 at the Cape yet?

[ugordan]

Also, a tiny bit off topic, is the Falcon 9 for flight 5 at the Cape yet?

I think the first stage is still waiting for its acceptance test(s) in Texas.

[MikeAtkinson]

Also, a tiny bit off topic, is the Falcon 9 for flight 5 at the Cape yet?

I think the first stage is still waiting for its acceptance test(s) in Texas.

A first stage was undergoing acceptance tests around the 13th September. It is not clear on what day the video was taken and whether the test(s) had already occurred or not.

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=29476.msg953006#msg953006

[ugordan]

When I say "waiting for its acceptance test(s)", I mean "sitting on top of the test stand"

[yg1968]

During the science press conference, a reporter asks why there was only 1000 pounds going up on Dragon, the response was that the 1000 pounds was only for research, the rest of Dragon is carrying spare parts and supplies. She said that it was a full load.

http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7882:iss-science-briefing&catid=1:latest

[ugordan]

That seems at odds with everything that's been reported so far. We'll probably see that same question brought up at the prelaunch briefing in 20 minutes, though.

[sdsds]

Indeed the question was asked and responded to. From the update thread:

Marcia Dunn asks about the low mass of cargo up. Shotwell dodged the question.

Disagree - there was an interesting assertion of 60 metric tons over the contract! (adding up and down - but still!)

I certainly meant no disrespect for Shotwell. To the contrary she does her job excellently well!

In this case the question was essentially, "Couldn't you have carried more up mass on this flight?" And the answer she avoided giving was, "No, for this flight we really couldn't do that while maintaining the margins we want."

Instead of giving that answer she essentially gave us, "No problem getting to 20 tons up mass over the twelve flights," and as a distraction threw in, "Expecting 60 tons combined up and down mass total."

(Of course they will achieve all that, but not using Falcon and Dragon vehicles exactly like those used for this flight.)

[simonbp]

And a reminder that the downmass this time is 2000 pounds, twice the upmass of 1000 pounds. The fact that both are so close to Nice Round Numbers that I'm suspicious that they are numbers that NASA gave to SpaceX as a minimum for the first flight.