SpaceX COTS Demo 1 Updates

[beancounter]

I see the mission now has a launch date of 18th August 2010. 

COTS Demo 1 Threads
Space Falcon 9 Flight 2 Static Fire - December 4, 2010
SpaceX Falcon 9 (Flight 2) - COTS-1 - Launch Updates - December 8, 2010

[mduncan36]

I see the mission now has a launch date of 18th August 2010. 

Just wondering where you find that information?

[zaitcev]

I see the mission now has a launch date of 18th August 2010. 

Just wondering where you find that information?

http://msdb.gsfc.nasa.gov/MissionData.php?mission=COTS%20SpaceX%20Demo-1
(http://msdb.gsfc.nasa.gov/launches.php)

-- Pete

[Comga]

I see the mission now has a launch date of 18th August 2010. 

So we will see if the "SpaceX multiplier" continues to decrease.
By my (highly subjective) reckoning, it has been 4.3X, 3.5X, and 2.4X for the first three successful missions. 
A  further reduction to 2X puts it around the middle of October, but we will see.

Don't get me wrong.  I do wish them a lot of good luck, and hope for the best.

[beancounter]

Yep I agree with the timeframes except SpaceX seems to be learning at a faster rate so I'll go with the middle of September. 

The unknowns timewise are the unexpected roll on the 2 stage of the LV and anything regarding processing with the Dragon so allowing an extra month seems reasonable.  Haven't checked the range for any launchings around that time though.

[SpaceX_MS]

I see the mission now has a launch date of 18th August 2010. 

Is later. L2 has accurate information.

[simonth]

I see the mission now has a launch date of 18th August 2010. 

Is later. L2 has accurate information.

Is there a possibility to get a "ballpark" estimate for non-L2 users on here? Is September still possible or has the target date shifted outwards?

Another question would be whether the information provided to NASA that there will be an 8 month gap between COTS Demo 1 and 2 is still accurate or whether that gap is cut down if COTS Demo 1 is shifted significantly to the right?

[ugordan]

Is September still possible

Yes.

[Nate_Trost]

I think it would be fair to presume that the increased delay between COTS1 and COTS2 are due to schedule slips in finishing Dragon. While the COTS1 Dragon is certainly going to be a functioning spacecraft, I would suspect there is some hardware and more software that isn't done yet.

[Robotbeat]

In some ways, COTS demo 1 will be harder than Falcon 9 maiden launch. After all, Falcon 9 is essentially a scale-up of Falcon 1 in many ways. Now, they have a spacecraft to build and launch... and recover!

[ugordan]

There *is* no launch date. Why do people get hung up on provisional NET times? It may happen before September or it may not. I don't think even the guys at SpaceX know at this point.

[kch]

There *is* no launch date. Why do people get hung up on provisional NET times? It may happen before September or it may not. I don't think even the guys at SpaceX know at this point.

As is true of any launch vehicle, "It'll launch when it launches, and not one nanosecond before."  Worrying and jittering about it won't change it.

[Robotbeat]

There *is* no launch date. Why do people get hung up on provisional NET times? It may happen before September or it may not. I don't think even the guys at SpaceX know at this point.

You're right that even SpaceX probably doesn't know when it will launch. Only God knows.






And Jim.

[Jim]

November

[Ben the Space Brit]

Has the mission profile been announced or discussed yet? I'm thinking that this will be a Dragon shake-down - insertion to a stable orbit, operating all in-orbit systems (nav platform, sun tracking for the solar arrays, payload bay cooling etc.) as well as some orbital manoeuvring.  However, I haven't seen any hint about how long they will keep the Dragon in orbit.

[kch]

Has the mission profile been announced or discussed yet? I'm thinking that this will be a Dragon shake-down - insertion to a stable orbit, operating all in-orbit systems (nav platform, sun tracking for the solar arrays, payload bay cooling etc.) as well as some orbital manoeuvring.  However, I haven't seen any hint about how long they will keep the Dragon in orbit.

The latest I've seen is on SpaceX's Dragon page:

Demo 1
Duration: 5 hours
Objectives: Launch and separate from Falcon 9, orbit Earth, transmit telemetry, receive commands, demonstrate orbital maneuvering and thermal control, re-enter atmosphere, and recover Dragon spacecraft

[Ben the Space Brit]

Duration: 5 hours

Just short of four complete orbits, then.  More-or-less the same duration as Friendship-7.  Well, here's hoping it goes a bit smoother than the earlier flight.

[Chris Bergin]

We're up to NET Aug 26th - but too far out for a solid date yet.

[beancounter]

November

Spoilsport!

[ChefPat]

We're up to NET Aug 26th - but too far out for a solid date yet.

Chris, is this inside info or has it been announced somewhere?