LIVE: SpaceX Falcon 9 (Flight 2) - COTS-1 - Launch Updates - December 8, 2010

[Chris Bergin]

LIVE UPDATE thread for SpaceX's Falcon 9 (Flight 2) - COTS-1 Demo.

ARTICLE: SpaceX set to launch Falcon 9 with Dragon on COTS demo - by William Graham:

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/12/live-spacex-launch-falcon-9-dragon-cots-demo/

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/

L2 SpaceX Section (now building nicely as we head into NASA's COTS/CRS):
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?action=tags&tags=SpaceX


Please note this is a live update thread. All posts must be updates and useful to help people arriving late to quickly find updates. Several moderators will be keeping the thread tidy

[joshcryer]

Hey Chris. NASA TV Media Channel is about to show the rocket.

edit: huge png made to tiny jpg

[joshcryer]

There she is.

Here's the order of events from the Press Kit:

***Actual timing will vary with specific mission requirements.

Countdown:
T-02:35:00 Chief Engineer polls stations. Countdown master autosequence proceeds with Liquid Oxygen (LOx) load, RP-1 fuel load, and vehicle release.
T-01:40:00 Allow countdown master autosequence to proceed into lowering the strongback
T-00:60:00 Allow the master autosequence to proceed with stage 2 fuel bleed, stage 2 thrust vector control bleed. Verify all sub-autosequences in the countdown master autosequence have been performed, except for terminal count.
T-00:13:00 SpaceX Launch Director polls readiness for launch.
T-00:11:00 Logical hold point if launch point.

TERMINAL COUNT (begins at T-10min)
T-00:09:43 Open prevalves to the nine first stage engines and begin chilling Merlin engine pumps

T00:0-6:17 Command flight computer to enter alignment state
T-00:05:00 Stop loading of GN2 into ACS bottle on stage 2
T-00:04:46 Transfer to internal power on stage 1 and stage 2
T-00:03:11 Begin arming flight termination system
T-00:03:02 Terminate LOx propellant topping, cycle fuel trim valves
T-00:03:00 Verify movement on stage 2 thrust vector control actuators
T-00:02:30 SpaceX Launch Director verifies GO
T-00:02:00 Range Control Officer (Air Force) verifies range is GO
T-00:01:35 Terminate helium loading
T-00:01:00 Command flight computer state to startup
T-00:01:00 Turn on pad deck and Niagara water
T-00:00:50 Flight computer commands thrust vector control actuator checks on stage 1
T-00:00:40 Pressurize S1 and S2 propellant tanks
T-00:00:03 Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start
T-00:00:00 Liftoff

T+0:02:58 1st Stage Shut Down (Main Engine Cut Off)
T+0:03:02 1st Stage Separates
T+0:03:09 2nd Stage Engine Start
T+0:09:00 2nd Stage Engine Cutoff
T+0:09:35 Dragon Separates from Falcon 9 and initializes propulsion

T+0:13 On-Orbit Operations
T+2:32 Deorbit Burn Begins
T+2:38 Deorbit Burn End
T+2:58 Reentry Phase Begins (Entry Interface)
T+3:09 Drogue Chute Deploys
T+3:10 Main Chute Deploys
T+3:19 Water Landing


Links to streaming video (work in VLC/mplayer/Windows Media player):

December 8, Wednesday
6:30 a.m. - Live Shot of Space X Falcon 9 Dragon Spacecraft on Launch Pad - KSC (Media Channel)
8:55 a.m. - Live Coverage of NASA’s Commercial Orbital Transportation Services 1, Space X Falcon 9 Demonstration Launch of the Dragon Spacecraft (launch is scheduled for 9 a.m. EST.) - KSC (Public and Media Channel)

See ya'll in a few hours.

[butters]

EDIT: I had posted the incorrect streams for today's SpaceX webcast.

The streams do not seem to have changed from last time:

http://bglive-a.bitgravity.com/spacex/highquality/native
http://bglive-a.bitgravity.com/spacex/testing/native

Neither of them play in my version of VLC (1.1.5).

They do seem to have changed or re-skinned their flash player, though.

[Chris Bergin]

Good links guys. To our live coverage people (or anyone before they arrive) feel free to add shots from both the NASA and SpaceX feeds

[joshcryer]

Oh, I couldn't resist, we have color now.

[FinalFrontier]

Check of the weather at the launch site: Need more specifics to be sure, but it appears temperatures were a bit above freezing overnight. Additionally, there appears to be no shower activity on radar with little forecast. Wind forecast is for 5-10 mph.

[Mapperuo]

From another angle. 

[Chris Bergin]

Tanking has begun according to NASA.

[Chris Bergin]

Looks like a nice morning breaking out over the Cape so far.

Not hearing any feeds yet, though they keep raising the volume, so I assume we might get something soon.

[arkaska]

Looks like a nice morning breaking out over the Cape so far.

Not hearing any feeds yet, though they keep raising the volume, so I assume we might get something soon.

The Trunked System has some audio.

[rdale]

Check of the weather at the launch site: Need more specifics to be sure, but it appears temperatures were a bit above freezing overnight.

Correct, mid-upper 30s carried the night. My forecast hasn't changed with a warmup starting after 9. no rain or notable clouds of concern.

[collectSPACE]

...feel free to add shots from both the NASA and SpaceX feeds

Not video grabs but some photos taken yesterday and last night at the pad...
http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-120710a.html

[joshcryer]

Thanks for those lovely shots collectSPACE. Thought I'd post a new pic because the sun is coming up.

Around 45 minutes until SpaceX begins their coverage.

[butters]

Umbilical tower is retracting now.

EDIT: Just the upper stage gripper for now.

[ChefPat]

Is NASA TV streaming the launch? Can anybody post a link if they are?

[rdale]

Is NASA TV streaming the launch? Can anybody post a link if they are?

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=11070.0

[Chris Bergin]

Is NASA TV streaming the launch? Can anybody post a link if they are?

It's current streaming on the media channel, as noted in the second post on this thread. That'll continue through to launch, one can assume.

[ChefPat]

Is NASA TV streaming the launch? Can anybody post a link if they are?

It's current streaming on the media channel, as noted in the second post on this thread. That'll continue through to launch, one can assume.

Sorry Chris, I went straight to the bottom of the thread.

[butters]

OK, now the strongback has been retracted to the launch position.

They may be about 20 minutes behind the nominal timeline.