SpaceX Falcon 9 / Dragon 2 : SpX-DM1 : March 2, 2019 : DISCUSSION

[hkultala]

Why barge and not land landing for the first stage?

I thought it would have enough performance for coming back to cape canaveral on this kind of payload.

This kind of payload? What do you expect with a +12 metric ton spacecraft on top of the rocket?

It's not a 12+-tonne spacecraft. I'ts closer to 11 tonnes.

So it should be about 11.5 tonnes.

This is the heaviest thing a Falcon 9 has ever launched to ANY orbit.

This is the EASIEST orbit of practically any F9 launches. Most other orbits have been either GTO or polar, which both require more delta-v.

[GWH]

This is the EASIEST orbit of practically any F9 launches. Most other orbits have been either GTO or polar, which both require more delta-v.

It's all related to trajectory. In order to maintain abort capabilities F9 (and Atlas V for that matter) need to fly flatter trajectories than the typical lofted ones so that an aborted capsule doesn't come slamming down into the atmosphere.

That puts the rocket further downrange and much harder to do RTLS.

[spacenut]

So, what's that in the cabin with Starman-2? A plushie of some sort? Didn't Elon want him getting 'lonely up in space' or something?

Think of it the same as the plush toys the Russians bring along on the Soyuz flights, a zero G indicator.

So where does one go online to buy one of these for the grandchildren?

Can't find anything quite like it on Amazon. 

Probably can't find it on Amazon since it wasn't a Blue Origin capsule. 

[abaddon]

It's not a 12+-tonne spacecraft. I'ts closer to 11 tonnes.

Wrong, it's a shade over 12 tonnes docked at the station, so it is easily 12+ tonnes when you consider the fuel expended to reach the station.

[kevinof]

Well aware of that. She had time to rehearse her prepared speech so why not ad-lib it.  Something like " this is really great, 7 years hard work by so many people and we're finally here. We love the new car smell and may even take it out for a burn later". Think of how many TV stations would run something funny and relaxed as their headline instead of a formal, stiff page of rubbish that everyone instantly forgot.

Opportunity missed.

I thought she was the worst. Instead of reciting a prepared speech on how wonderful this is for humanity etc etc why not just ad lib it and show some personality and passion. Thought it was terrible.

On the Dragon itself - I think it's one sexy spacecraft and the difference between it and Soyuz is massive. but then again they are generations apart and we'd expect that.

I liked Anne’s speech although personally I prefer “Earthers.”  I’m struck by how roomy it is in the Dragon 2.  Definitely the new order, but Russians don’t need to feel bad as Soyuz has been the standard bearer for so long.

Keep in mind these people have to actually work and deal with whatever happened on the Russian side. Not like she was sitting around sipping lattes and getting psyched her speech for hours prior.

[marsbase]

What a REALLY boring welcome. Do they really have to have it so formal?

They like to have a little ceremony.  You know, they don't get out much. 

[John.bender]

FYI on the Amazon comment, I went to Blue Origin in Kent to see their facility and they told me that whenever SpaceX had a big launch or rendezvous the BO crew would all get together in front of a big screen and watch. They would cheer enthusiastically on SpaceX’s success. I thought that was great.

[Khadgars]

What a historic mission, well done SpeceX!

[rcoppola]

The inside of Dragon is truly stunning, I love that the designers and engineers worked together to not only provide a capable and safe vehicle but also the nicest looking and comfortable interior of any space vehicle.

Of course they want a safe ride first and foremost, but come on, which Astronaut, Cosmonaut isn't thinking, "Damn, I have GOT to get a ride in that!"

Seeing buttons, switches, exposed steel and seats on the floor will be viewed as legacy, dated, obsolete. Dragon is the spacefaring design promise fulfilled from Sci-Fi of old.

Congratulations to the deign teams. You have done us all extremely proud.

[loekf]

Houston just asked David for an estimate of the temp on Dragon to confirm the readings they have on console I assume. They asked if the temp felt like it was around 82-ish, David confirmed that it felt warmer in Dragon than in Node 2. (I was listening to the feed on https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/iss_ustream.html which has audio)

What is the temp supposed to be ? 22 celsius ? 82 fahrenheit is 28 celsius.

Is air heated in a spacecraft btw ? Guess you do not want heated surfaces for convection.

[Star One]

I wonder how long before the microgravity indicator ends up stuck somewhere with duct tape.

At least he’s on a leash...

He just wants attention

And he'll probably be selling by much higher numbers this week:

https://www.amazon.com/Celestial-Buddies-Earth-Plush/dp/B005ESB6PG

That's the scalpers. Original price is much better https://www.celestialbuddies.com/store/c2/Celestial_Buddies_.html

"EARTH - TEMPORARILY OUT OF STOCK DUE TO HIGH DEMAND $21.99"

No Kidding.....

Someone on Reddit emailed the site and the VP responded that they're sold out till April, and that was yesterday.

That VP is probably going to send a gold-plated one over to SpaceX for quadrupling Celestial Buddies' revenue in a single day...

You can’t even get it in the UK for pre-order.

[joseph.a.navin]

The 82-ish guess was in Fahrenheit i believe

[spacebleachers]

Its supposed to be between 68 and 80 degrees. At least that was what they indicated during the launch broadcast. So, the request for temperature readings could be an indication that NASA controllers think the air system isn't cooling correctly in Crew Dragon. Or its was just part of the normal reading taking that is suppose to occur.

[Rocket Science]

That’s the youth of today for you. Don’t seem to appreciate the value of silence.

Yes, that was annoying me as well. We seem to live in a society where silence is abhored. If this was 1969 I bet they would play music during quiet periods of lunar EVAs!

Keith

"In space no one can hear you scream" hear music or chat... thankfully...

Ok old timers... soon you’ll all be yelling “get off my lawn!!” too to those music loving youngsters. ;-)

Anyways, I really enjoyed the docking. (Woke up in the middle of night to see it) Dragon 2 looks even sleeker and cooler in real life than renderings. So cool.

I like music songs about silence...

[joseph.a.navin]

Crew is currently searching for the source of an odor, my guess is that it's dragon

[Khadgars]

Crew is currently searching for the source of an odor, my guess is that it's dragon

Curious, what kind of odor?

[joseph.a.navin]

They dont know, I was listening to the feed on https://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/iss_ustream.html.  They dont know if it is station or Dragon which is causing this, but no alarms are noticing anything.

[HVM]

They are checking CFCs (Freon).

Chemical smell, not a burnt smell. Failed oxidizer?

[butters]

Anne reports the odor is strongest in the Zvezda service module. Chemical type smell. Talking about an Elektron oxygen generator which is shut down due to recent issues.

[HVM]

The odor is dissipating and Freon meter shows zero...

(So Dragons only release emissions on outside...)
"The scent of a brand new space ship"