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

[Chris Bergin]

PENDING OFFICIAL GO FOR SPX-1 (Will realign in the highly unlikely event of NASA calling for another COTS Demo).

FOR SPECIFIC PRE-LAUNCH/PROCESSING UPDATES, SEE THIS THREAD:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=29131.0

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

Resources:

Other Threads for SpX-1:
SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon CRS SpX-1 PROCESSING/Pre-LAUNCH UPDATES
SpaceX Falcon 9/Dragon CRS-1 (SpX-1) LAUNCH UPDATES
SpaceX Dragon CRS-1 (SpX-1) RNDZ, Capture, Berthing to ISS & Hatch Opening
SpaceX Dragon CRS-1 (SpX-1) (EOM) Unberthing, Entry, Splashdown
SpaceX CRS-1 Software/Computer Design Discussion Thread
Dragons for everyone! It's another SpaceX Party Thread (CRS-1)
Year In Review (Part IV - Covering SpaceX Missions COTS 2+ and CRS-1)

SpaceX GENERAL Forum Section:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=45.0 - please use this for general questions NOT specific to SpX-1.

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

L2 SpaceX Dragon C2+ Mission Special (Exclusively acquired pre-launch and Mission Coverage, Presentations, Graphics, Videos, Updates) - in the new L2 Commercial Crew and Cargo Section:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=54.0
(The above is now moving to SpX-1 Coverage).

[Bubbinski]

Is there a launch time/window set for this?  I see the Spaceflightnow.com schedule says 9/24 for launch date.

And will the window be instantaneous like the last flight or will there be a few minutes in it like there was with shuttle?

[docmordrid]

2 more flights this year (another is penciled in for Dec. 15)?

[ArbitraryConstant]

2 more flights this year (another is penciled in for Dec. 15)?

It would represent a significant quickening in SpaceX's operations for them to get both of those flights this year.

[oiorionsbelt]

From tests to operations?

[ArbitraryConstant]

From NET to actual launch. 

[baldusi]

Is there a launch time/window set for this?  I see the Spaceflightnow.com schedule says 9/24 for launch date.

And will the window be instantaneous like the last flight or will there be a few minutes in it like there was with shuttle?

I think they stated the windows are instantaneous, but the launch opportunities are daily, for the CRS flights. BTW, that's a NET flight. The LV is already at the cape, but the Dragon should arrive by August. I guess when the Dragon is shipped we'll know how close to launch we'll be. There's also the WDR rehearsal. As SPX approaches continuous operations, we'll start to see more fixed patterns (things like LV shipement T-90 days, Dragon shipment T-45days, WDR T-6 days, etc.)

[stockman]

Is there a launch time/window set for this?  I see the Spaceflightnow.com schedule says 9/24 for launch date.

And will the window be instantaneous like the last flight or will there be a few minutes in it like there was with shuttle?

I think they stated the windows are instantaneous, but the launch opportunities are daily, for the CRS flights. BTW, that's a NET flight. The LV is already at the cape, but the Dragon should arrive by August. I guess when the Dragon is shipped we'll know how close to launch we'll be. There's also the WDR rehearsal. As SPX approaches continuous operations, we'll start to see more fixed patterns (things like LV shipement T-90 days, Dragon shipment T-45days, WDR T-6 days, etc.)

Was there a slip in Dragon delivery?? I know this is not official but the SFN artical on June 2 said it would be delivered as early as next month (implying early July.)...

SpaceX's next launch to the space station is tentatively scheduled for Sept. 24. The Falcon 9 rocket for the flight is being checked out in a hangar at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., and the Dragon payload will be shipped to the Florida launch site as soon as next month, according to SpaceX officials

[FinalFrontier]

2 more flights this year (another is penciled in for Dec. 15)?

If they are able to do it, and its a big if, would be positive because it would mean flight rates finally ramping up as they have been trying to do for years now.

Big difference between now and then is previously, despite their wildly optimistic schedules in past years they were still in the development phase of their systems, now, for F9 standard anyway, they are moving past that with  F9V1.1 representing the final step.

So in theory now they should be able to ramp up.

[simonbp]

They also have the motivation that SpX-1 and SpX-2 are the only remaining v1.0 flights, so they've got to get them off the pad before they can modify it for all future flights. Hopefully SpX-1/2 don't become a bottleneck for everything else...

[Prober]

2 more flights this year (another is penciled in for Dec. 15)?

If they are able to do it, and its a big if, would be positive because it would mean flight rates finally ramping up as they have been trying to do for years now.

Big difference between now and then is previously, despite their wildly optimistic schedules in past years they were still in the development phase of their systems, now, for F9 standard anyway, they are moving past that with  F9V1.1 representing the final step.

So in theory now they should be able to ramp up.

F9V1.1 has yet to be flown.  Would NASA put expensive cargo on an untested launcher?

[Jason1701]

2 more flights this year (another is penciled in for Dec. 15)?

If they are able to do it, and its a big if, would be positive because it would mean flight rates finally ramping up as they have been trying to do for years now.

Big difference between now and then is previously, despite their wildly optimistic schedules in past years they were still in the development phase of their systems, now, for F9 standard anyway, they are moving past that with  F9V1.1 representing the final step.

So in theory now they should be able to ramp up.

F9V1.1 has yet to be flown.  Would NASA put expensive cargo on an untested launcher?

No, CASSIOPE will be first.

[Ronsmytheiii]

F9V1.1 has yet to be flown.  Would NASA put expensive cargo on an untested launcher?

Doesn't matter, NASA doesn't care about LV operations as long as the range is ok with it and SpaceX delivers its cargo commitment. Crew will be a different story.

[Prober]

F9V1.1 has yet to be flown.  Would NASA put expensive cargo on an untested launcher?

Doesn't matter, NASA doesn't care about LV operations as long as the range is ok with it and SpaceX delivers its cargo commitment. Crew will be a different story.

seem to recall one of the Q&A before Congress was this "insurance", Responsibility issues.

[Dave G]

2 more flights this year (another is penciled in for Dec. 15)?

It would represent a significant quickening in SpaceX's operations for them to get both of those flights this year.

We've not seen SpaceX's operations pace yet.  We've only seen their development pace.  With the exception of Falcon 1 Flight 5, all launches have been test flights with a lot of development in the critical path.

Now that the development and testing is done, we'll see SpaceX's operations potential, both in terms of pace and success rate.

To be clear, I'm not saying SpaceX will have phenomenal operations, I'm just pointing out that we haven't seen this side of SpaceX yet, so nobody knows.

[kevin-rf]

Now that the development and testing is done, we'll see SpaceX's operations potential, both in terms of pace and success rate.

Cough, Cough,... v1.1, Heavy, Vadenberg Pad, Fairing...

Though to be fair, CRS-1 and CRS-2 are are v1.0 Falcon's.

[Ben the Space Brit]

Now that the development and testing is done, we'll see SpaceX's operations potential, both in terms of pace and success rate

This actually raises a valid question.  Does anyone know how similar the CRS-1 launch vehicle will be to the COTS-2+ one? If the Falcon-9 Block-1 is considered an essentially finalised design now, it should be easier to meet the schedule for the first two CRS launches; if not there is more potential for delays.

[mr. mark]

I'd say Falcon 9 block 1 is a done deal, they only have 2 more launches proposed with this variant. There is an upgrade for flight 6.

[Halidon]

A full month berthed at the station as opposed to a week, won't have that new car smell by the time it gets back.

[mr. mark]

Any more news as to assembly of the launch vehicle? I'm wondering how work flow is progressing. For me, this and Orbitals upcoming Cygnus /Antares launches are the real story. Mars and reuse can wait for me.