SpaceX COTS Demo 1 Updates

[ChefPat]

Does anyone know when we might reasonably expect NASA to make their decision on combining COTS 2 and 3?

After it's already in orbit.

[markododa]

Does anyone know when we might reasonably expect NASA to make their decision on combining COTS 2 and 3?

After it's already in orbit.

Yes, the dragon C2 milestones will be accomplished and dragon will then wait in orbit.

[Nomadd]

Does anyone know when we might reasonably expect NASA to make their decision on combining COTS 2 and 3?

After it's already in orbit.

 That might not be too far off. They could prepare for a combined mission that would depend on all the COTS 2 goals being met before docking is approved. If it's thumbs down for any reason, then COTS 3 is needed.

[kraisee]

If we are very lucky, NASA may publicly indicate a willingness to review, before the flight actually takes place.

They might put a mention into the COTS-2 flight plan to the effect of "if all COTS-2 mission objectives are met, then a review will take place on flight day X to consider proceeding directly into COTS-3 mission objectives before the spacecraft is de-orbited".

I suspect we won't see much, until she's actually up there, having completed all her primary tasks, and Space-X are just waiting for permission to proceed further...

Ross.

[R.Simko]

If we are very lucky, NASA may publicly indicate a willingness to review, before the flight actually takes place.

They might put a mention into the COTS-2 flight plan to the effect of "if all COTS-2 mission objectives are met, then a review will take place on flight day X to consider proceeding directly into COTS-3 mission objectives before the spacecraft is de-orbited".

I suspect we won't see much, until she's actually up there, having completed all her primary tasks, and Space-X are just waiting for permission to proceed further...

Ross.

I guess that if there is any chance of Dragon being allowed to dock with the ISS on the next COTS flight, then they should bring cargo with them.  The cargo would be low cost, so if docking doesn't happen for any reason, there is not much loss.

[ChefPat]

I guess that if there is any chance of Dragon being allowed to dock with the ISS on the next COTS flight, then they should bring cargo with them.  The cargo would be low cost, so if docking doesn't happen for any reason, there is not much loss.

I suggest some crackers & wine to go with another wheel of cheese.

[TimL]

Unless NASA is footing the bill for cargo transport, I hope Elon fills it with SpaceX memorabilia (T-shirts, coffee mugs, little SpaceX flags, coins, etc). Make it a repeat of the mementos the Mercury astronauts were smuggling into orbit. Sell it on Ebay after the landing and fund half the flight!
This is a business after all

[R.Simko]

Unless NASA is footing the bill for cargo transport, I hope Elon fills it with SpaceX memorabilia (T-shirts, coffee mugs, little SpaceX flags, coins, etc). Make it a repeat of the mementos the Mercury astronauts were smuggling into orbit. Sell it on Ebay after the landing and fund half the flight!
This is a business after all

Shirts and mugs are too big, but you could certainly get a pile of one inch tall Dragon Capsules. 

[HOTTOL]

Looking at the latest official SpaceX videos.
Is there anything to be said about the aspect of second stage nozzle at SECO.
It looks a bit "crippled" as if too much heat (or not enough ?!) had been applied. You have to look at nozzle' surface right behind the pump's exhaust.

[RocketEconomist327]

Unless NASA is footing the bill for cargo transport, I hope Elon fills it with SpaceX memorabilia (T-shirts, coffee mugs, little SpaceX flags, coins, etc). Make it a repeat of the mementos the Mercury astronauts were smuggling into orbit. Sell it on Ebay after the landing and fund half the flight!
This is a business after all

Would you pay 100 bucks for a SpaceX tee-shirt that flew into space?  How about 50 bucks for a SpaceX pen?

It certainly sounds good but how many tee's could you pack into a dragon, or pens.  Its peanuts.

VR
RE327

[SpacexULA]

Would you pay 100 bucks for a SpaceX tee-shirt that flew into space?  How about 50 bucks for a SpaceX pen?
It certainly sounds good but how many tee's could you pack into a dragon, or pens.  Its peanuts.
VR
RE327

3 Metric tons return mass
average weight of a Large Tshirt 7oz
Total returnable shirts 15,117
Average case of tshirts is 72 shirts and about .3 cubic meters
Dragon has a pressurized volume of around 10m3 so tshirts would be volume restricted instead of mass restricted.

By volume Dragon could carry around 2400 shirts, considering you would likly be able to just pour them in, or use silk shirts and decrease their volume lets be generous and say you can fit 5000 shirts in there.

Dragon/Falcon together cost around 150,000,000 to launch, so those 5000 shirts are going to cost 30 thousand a piece.

I love SpaceX, but not $30,000 t shirt love.

[Sparky]

I love SpaceX, but not $30,000 t shirt love.

They'd better have some PRETTY witty things printed on them to be worth that much.

[Hauerg]

Looking at the latest official SpaceX videos.
Is there anything to be said about the aspect of second stage nozzle at SECO.
It looks a bit "crippled" as if too much heat (or not enough ?!) had been applied. You have to look at nozzle' surface right behind the pump's exhaust.

That is something I mentioned on the live thread on the 8th. But nobody seemed to have seen it ....

[stockman]

Looking at the latest official SpaceX videos.
Is there anything to be said about the aspect of second stage nozzle at SECO.
It looks a bit "crippled" as if too much heat (or not enough ?!) had been applied. You have to look at nozzle' surface right behind the pump's exhaust.

That is something I mentioned on the live thread on the 8th. But nobody seemed to have seen it ....

a couple of pictures to help the discussion - MVAC1 is post first stage separation and MVAC2 is after Stage 2 MVAC shutdown... it does look like some ripples have formed or its a trick of lighting... can't really tell..\

[TrueBlueWitt]

Looking at the latest official SpaceX videos.
Is there anything to be said about the aspect of second stage nozzle at SECO.
It looks a bit "crippled" as if too much heat (or not enough ?!) had been applied. You have to look at nozzle' surface right behind the pump's exhaust.

That is something I mentioned on the live thread on the 8th. But nobody seemed to have seen it ....

a couple of pictures to help the discussion - MVAC1 is post first stage separation and MVAC2 is after Stage 2 MVAC shutdown... it does look like some ripples have formed or its a trick of lighting... can't really tell..\

My guess would be soot..
It's right where the exhaust from the turbine(Gas Generator?) driving the pumps is dumped

[mlorrey]

Looking at the latest official SpaceX videos.
Is there anything to be said about the aspect of second stage nozzle at SECO.
It looks a bit "crippled" as if too much heat (or not enough ?!) had been applied. You have to look at nozzle' surface right behind the pump's exhaust.

That is something I mentioned on the live thread on the 8th. But nobody seemed to have seen it ....

a couple of pictures to help the discussion - MVAC1 is post first stage separation and MVAC2 is after Stage 2 MVAC shutdown... it does look like some ripples have formed or its a trick of lighting... can't really tell..\

My guess would be soot..
It's right where the exhaust from the turbine(Gas Generator?) driving the pumps is dumped

The pump exhaust is itself a small rocket engine, it provides roll control but also provides linear thrust. The area of the nozzle you see that seems "rippled" maybe slightly so from this exhaust hitting it. I read that at the end of the nozzle the niobium alloy is only twice the thickness of a soda can, which is pretty dang thing. A full soda can can withstand over 40 psi but that area of the engine nozzle is most assuredly less than atmospheric pressure (<14 psi).

If it isn't actually being rippled, it is likely a change in the reflectivity due to heating by the pump nozzle exhaust (and yes, maybe some soot as well). Next time you get a chance to play with a soldering or welding torch, let the flame play over the surface of some shiney metal and watch how the reflective properties change.

[e of pi]

Has there been anything out of SpaceX about the LE issues on this flight? Beyond the "little fire," have they dealt with the gripper arm that was...liberated from the erector?

[gospacex]

3 Metric tons return mass
average weight of a Large Tshirt 7oz
Total returnable shirts 15,117
Average case of tshirts is 72 shirts and about .3 cubic meters

.3 m^3 is a volume of 1m x 1m x 30cm. IOW: it's a stack of sixty 1m x 1m x 5mm volume elements. 5mm = 1/5in. IOW: Your 72 "t-shirts" are mightily thick. Real t-shirts can be packed at least 10 times more compact.

[ChefPat]

Simply Smashing Compressed T-Shirts are vacuum sealed down to some pretty small sizes & rather odd shapes.
http://www.simplysmashing.com/index.asp?CatId=1&MainFileName=ClientSubCatListing.asp?HCatId=1

[SpacexULA]

Simply Smashing Compressed T-Shirts are vacuum sealed down to some pretty small sizes & rather odd shapes.
http://www.simplysmashing.com/index.asp?CatId=1&MainFileName=ClientSubCatListing.asp?HCatId=1

Wow that changes the numbers a lot

http://www.simplysmashing.com/index.asp?CatId=1&MainFileName=ClientSubCatListing.asp?HCatId=1 

Post card one looks to be 4.25*6*.25 inches or around 6 cubic inches

(10 (cubic meters)) / (6 (cubic inches)) = 101 706.24

so 125,000,000 / 101 706 = 1 229.0327

Still a $1300 T shirt, but a lot better