Author Topic: SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon COTS Demo (C2+) PRE LAUNCH UPDATES  (Read 240098 times)

Offline Chris Bergin

THIS IS THE SPECIFIC UPDATE THREAD.

FOR SPECIFIC NON UPDATES AND GENERAL DISCUSSION, SEE THIS THREAD:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=28486.0

Please note the difference between this thread and the discussion thread.


Resources:

Thread 1 (1000 posts, 150,000 reads):
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=23538.0

Thread 2 (1700 posts, 280,000 reads):
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=26616.0


Links:
SpaceX Forum Section:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=45.0 - please use this for general questions, non updates.

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/


Recent COTS2/3 Specific articles:

NASA managers aligning to combine final Dragon COTS test missions:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/05/nasa-aligning-combine-final-dragon-cots-missions/

ISS managers evaluating SpaceX via safety reviews ahead of debut arrival:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/08/iss-managers-spacex-test-safety-reviews-ahead-debut-arrival/

ISS Managers Conduct Expedition 29 FRR, Prepare Station for Post-Shuttle Ops - by Pete Harding:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/08/iss-managers-expedition-29-frr-prepare-station-post-shuttle-operations/

ISS partners prepare to welcome SpaceX and Orbital in a busy 2012 - by Pete Harding:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/10/iss-partners-welcome-spacex-orbital-busy-2012/

ISS Community reviews Station Progress, Anomalies, and Upcoming Flights - by Chris Gebhardt:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/10/iss-community-reviews-station-progress-anomalies-upcoming-flights/

SpaceX Dragon ISS flight to slip further, pending combined mission approval:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/12/spacex-dragon-flight-slipping-further-combined-approval/

NASA managers announce February 7 launch date for Dragon ISS mission:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/12/nasa-february-7-launch-date-dragon-iss-mission/

ISS performs hardware and software upgrades to support inaugural Dragon visit - by Pete Harding:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/01/iss-hardware-software-upgrades-support-inaugural-dragon-visit/

Dragon ISS flight slips – SpaceX determined to return US crewed access to LEO:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/01/dragon-slips-spacex-determined-return-us-crewed-access-leo/

SpaceX team conduct successful Falcon 9 WDR ahead of Dragon’s ISS debut:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/03/spacex-successful-falcon-9-wdr-dragons-iss-debut/


L2 SpaceX Section:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?action=tags&tags=SpaceX

L2 SpaceX Dragon C2/C3 Mission Special (NEW - Exclusively acquired pre-launch and Mission Coverage, Presentations, Graphics, Videos, Updates):
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=54.0
« Last Edit: 04/17/2012 10:33 am by Chris Bergin »
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Offline dsobin

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon COTS Demo (C2+) PRE LAUNCH UPDATES
« Reply #1 on: 04/09/2012 04:30 pm »
Thanks Chris. I hope the presence of a discussion thread will keep this update thread on track.

I just looked through the available Dragon photos and I still am not certain about whether there is or is not a window in the capsule. Does anyone know for sure about this?

Edit: By "the capsule", I'm referring to the one about to be launched. (update thread, you know).
« Last Edit: 04/09/2012 04:32 pm by dsobin »

Offline Jason1701

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon COTS Demo (C2+) PRE LAUNCH UPDATES
« Reply #2 on: 04/09/2012 04:43 pm »
The pressure vessel has windows, but they were covered up.

Offline Orbiter

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon COTS Demo (C2+) PRE LAUNCH UPDATES
« Reply #3 on: 04/09/2012 06:52 pm »
For anyone who's wondering -

04/16/12 - Flight Readiness Review (FRR)
04/25/12 - Static fire.
04/30/12 - Launch at 12:22 p.m. EDT
  - Next Launch opportunity if no launch on the 30th, May 3rd, 2012.
  - Launch opportunities consist of a 3 day pattern, so after May 3rd would be May 6th, 2012.
05/02/12 - Dragon approaches the International Space Station.
05/03/12 - Berthing to Node 2 - "Harmony" Module nadir port.
05/04/12 - Spacecraft opening.
05/21/12 - Undocking and Landing.

Orbiter
« Last Edit: 04/09/2012 06:54 pm by Orbiter »
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Offline Jim

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon COTS Demo (C2+) PRE LAUNCH UPDATES
« Reply #4 on: 04/09/2012 07:12 pm »

  - Launch opportunities consist of a 3 day pattern, so after May 3rd would be May 6th, 2012.


Not entirely true, there are other range users, and hence Spacex does not get to repeat indefinitely.

Offline apace

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon COTS Demo (C2+) PRE LAUNCH UPDATES
« Reply #5 on: 04/09/2012 07:17 pm »
Not entirely true, there are other range users, and hence Spacex does not get to repeat indefinitely.

So, can you give more informations? How many 3 day patterns, which blocked dates?

Offline ugordan

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon COTS Demo (C2+) PRE LAUNCH UPDATES
« Reply #6 on: 04/09/2012 07:19 pm »
How many 3 day patterns, which blocked dates?

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=8184.msg881649#msg881649

May 5 - AEHF-2 - Atlas V 531 - Canaveral SLC-41 - 18:38-20:38

Add in time for range reconfig and draw your own conclusion.

Offline Orbiter

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon COTS Demo (C2+) PRE LAUNCH UPDATES
« Reply #7 on: 04/09/2012 08:18 pm »

  - Launch opportunities consist of a 3 day pattern, so after May 3rd would be May 6th, 2012.


Not entirely true, there are other range users, and hence Spacex does not get to repeat indefinitely.

Good point, I've forgotten that the Atlas V now is on the range for May 5th.

Orbiter
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Offline mr. mark

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon COTS Demo (C2+) PRE LAUNCH UPDATES
« Reply #8 on: 04/10/2012 12:47 am »
Interesting NASA billboard at KSC Visitor Complex. Kind of brought out the kid in me. It reminds me of something else from years past. Only this time it's very real. Definitely an E ticket attraction.
« Last Edit: 04/10/2012 01:11 am by mr. mark »

Offline Chris Bergin

First pre-launch article will be tomorrow (at the pre-FRR meeting mark). Next will be on FRR day next week.
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Offline racshot65

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon COTS Demo (C2+) PRE LAUNCH UPDATES
« Reply #10 on: 04/12/2012 02:23 pm »
Cross post from the ISS section ...

Some video of the crew practicing the SpaceX robotic operations on this ISS update. (Starts at 3:55 ish)


Offline corrodedNut

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon COTS Demo (C2+) PRE LAUNCH UPDATES
« Reply #11 on: 04/12/2012 06:02 pm »
From the same exercise, probably:

http://twitter.com/#/astro_andre/status/190350643427426304

"Practicing on the ISS simulator for the arrival of the 1st commercial spacecraft, SpaceX's Dragon, early May."

Offline Space Pete

From the same exercise, probably:

http://twitter.com/#/astro_andre/status/190350643427426304

"Practicing on the ISS simulator for the arrival of the 1st commercial spacecraft, SpaceX's Dragon, early May."

That's the ROBoT - the Robotics On Board Trainer. It's basically a lower fidelity Robotics Workstation (RWS - used to control the real arm), but instead of controlling the real arm, it controls a virtual arm on a laptop screen.
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Offline Chris Bergin

First of the prelaunch articles via L2's Dragon Mission Special Section:

ISS translates robotic assets in preparation to greet SpaceX’s Dragon:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/04/iss-robotic-arm-preparation-greet-spacexs-dragon/

Will give it a standalone thread.
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Offline mr. mark

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon COTS Demo (C2+) PRE LAUNCH UPDATES
« Reply #14 on: 04/13/2012 05:21 pm »
NASA April 16th Mission Briefing

Briefing participants include:
-- William Gerstenmaier, NASA associate administrator for Human Exploration and Operations
-- Michael Suffredini, International Space Station program manager
-- Alan Lindenmoyer, Commercial Orbital Transportation Services program manager
-- Elon Musk, SpaceX chief executive officer and chief designer
-- Holly Ridings, NASA flight director

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/news/releases/2012/release-20120402b.html

Offline Ben the Space Brit

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon COTS Demo (C2+) PRE LAUNCH UPDATES
« Reply #15 on: 04/13/2012 05:48 pm »
Is this activity based on an assumption that the mission flies as scheduled, or has the decision already been made and NASA are simply waiting for the appropriate committees to rubber-stamp it?
« Last Edit: 04/13/2012 05:49 pm by Ben the Space Brit »
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Offline mr. mark

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon COTS Demo (C2+) PRE LAUNCH UPDATES
« Reply #16 on: 04/13/2012 06:03 pm »
Up until the press conference April 30th is still a NET time. I would suspect a basic go no go though at this time. Either way unless something is way wrong or Dragon simply needs more testing, I would think that the BASIC time frame will hold. There is no accounting for last minute delays. Although I'm not a L2 subscriber, I'm hearing rumors about stressing the NET portion. I hope to join up this next week just in time for pre launch activities. Tax issues for me have had to come first, unfortunately.
« Last Edit: 04/13/2012 06:07 pm by mr. mark »

Offline Robotbeat

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon COTS Demo (C2+) PRE LAUNCH UPDATES
« Reply #17 on: 04/13/2012 06:06 pm »
Yeah, have to wait for the FRR to be sure, but even if April 30th stays, the launch window is instantaneous (and weather is not always cooperative, neither are sailors), so there's a pretty good chance of a scrub and launching in early May anyway.
« Last Edit: 04/13/2012 06:06 pm by Robotbeat »
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Offline mr. mark

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon COTS Demo (C2+) PRE LAUNCH UPDATES
« Reply #18 on: 04/13/2012 06:40 pm »
This just in....

Elon Musk on NASA approval of Dragon -" it has to go through a very rigorous set of safety and reliability requirements and pass all those, WHICH WE JUST GOT OUR APPROVAL LAST WEEK. That was the toughest thing."

http://www.space.com/15267-elon-musk-private-space-challenges.html

Offline iamlucky13

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Re: SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon COTS Demo (C2+) PRE LAUNCH UPDATES
« Reply #19 on: 04/13/2012 09:39 pm »
Is this activity based on an assumption that the mission flies as scheduled, or has the decision already been made and NASA are simply waiting for the appropriate committees to rubber-stamp it?

I would assume it moving the SSRMS into position, since it is something that needs to be done, was simply convenient to do now, and that they don't have any other high priority robotic ops planned that would require it to position elsewhere. There's little reason not get simple tasks like this out of the way early

The final launch decision is, as always, dependent on the reviews, both at NASA and less formally at SpaceX. It's not a rubber-stamping formality, but part of everyone involved making sure everything is really ready.

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