Author Topic: SpaceX COTS Demo 2 Updates (Read 448923 times)

grr · « **Reply #220 on:** 04/23/2011 04:33 pm »

Quote from: Lee Jay on 04/22/2011 07:29 pm

Quote from: Nomadd on 04/22/2011 07:26 pm
Uh....How do you 100% prove it without docking? Build a phony space station for it to practice on?

You don't 100% prove anything.

You do ground analysis and testing, and flight testing before docking until you are satisfied you've done about all you can practically do and that the probability of failure given that analysis and testing has been reduced to an acceptable level.

You also do the first half of the routine in space away from the station, but make it the same as though it was docking. Do a few more routines that would be involved in backing off from the station. Then study the results by a team of experts that includes all partners esp. NASA and RSA, and if no real anomaly, allow it to go forward.

I am sure that this is nothing. Russian media is no different than others in the west.

jongoff · « **Reply #221 on:** 04/24/2011 01:32 am »

Quote from: jabe on 04/22/2011 11:02 pm

with the # of possible commercial crew vehicles being developed LM should set up a side business to rent it out..or make it an adult game room
jb

Actually, while I can't speak for them, LM seemed perfectly willing to rent it out to anyone...for legitimate space purposes.

~Jon

Hungry4info3 · « **Reply #222 on:** 04/25/2011 09:30 am »

You guys would be better at gauging the credibility of this article than I, but I found this:

No ISS docking permission for SpaceX unless safety proven Says Roscosmos
http://www.space-travel.com/reports/No_ISS_docking_permission_for_SpaceX_unless_safety_proven_Says_Roscosmos_999.html

Dapholine · « **Reply #223 on:** 04/25/2011 10:09 am »

Quote from: Hungry4info3 on 04/25/2011 09:30 am

You guys would be better at gauging the credibility of this article than I, but I found this:

No ISS docking permission for SpaceX unless safety proven Says Roscosmos
http://www.space-travel.com/reports/No_ISS_docking_permission_for_SpaceX_unless_safety_proven_Says_Roscosmos_999.html

Just go back to this post in this very thread and read the discussion that followed.

edkyle99 · « **Reply #224 on:** 04/25/2011 02:28 pm »

I've still found no confirmation of a successful 90 second static test of the third Falcon 9 first stage at McGregor. SpaceX has been trying to complete this test for more than a month now while suffering a series of aborts.

- Ed Kyle

spacetraveler · « **Reply #225 on:** 04/25/2011 05:01 pm »

Quote from: mr. mark on 04/22/2011 05:47 pm

Any fool can see this is not about safety because NASA's word should be as good as gold when it comes to that. NASA would never intentionally subject astronauts to undo risk if it could be avoided. This is clearly about money plain and simple. You find a way to keep competition away especially if that competition affects your bottom line.

There would only be competition if the additional upmass needed for station maintenance could alternatively go to Progress instead of the COTS partners. It cannot as they are already at the maximum flight rate. So it is clearly not that.

QuantumG · « **Reply #226 on:** 04/27/2011 11:46 am »

For some reason, I feel the need to mention that the ISS will be berthing Dragon using the station's robotic arm - it won't be docking.

Ya know?

Jorge · « **Reply #227 on:** 04/27/2011 02:31 pm »

Quote from: QuantumG on 04/27/2011 11:46 am

For some reason, I feel the need to mention that the ISS will be berthing Dragon using the station's robotic arm - it won't be docking.

Ya know?

Yeah, I've tried to get people to make that distinction; it's a lost cause. Many people use "docking" as shorthand for either docking or berthing.

It's also irrelevant in this case - both NASA and Roskosmos get a vote on any visiting vehicle approaching inside the Approach Ellipsoid, regardless of whether the VV uses docking or berthing at the end.

I don't know why this news story got people riled up - the ISS partnership has worked like that since the beginning.

edkyle99 · « **Reply #228 on:** 04/28/2011 03:39 am »

Quote from: edkyle99 on 04/25/2011 02:28 pm

I've still found no confirmation of a successful 90 second static test of the third Falcon 9 first stage at McGregor. SpaceX has been trying to complete this test for more than a month now while suffering a series of aborts.

- Ed Kyle

Still nothing. My notes say that tests were performed on or about March 18, March 29, and April 9. Another test was announced for April 19, but no report of a success was provided. All but the original test were likely attempts to get a 90 second run that were aborted prematurely. Since the tests have been going every 10 days or so, I would expect another attempt in a few days.

- Ed Kyle

sdsds · « **Reply #229 on:** 04/28/2011 07:09 am »

Quote from: edkyle99 on 04/28/2011 03:39 am

My notes say that tests were performed on or about March 18, March 29, and April 9. Another test was announced for April 19, but no report of a success was provided.

There are two independent reports of the April 19 firing(s) in the comments section of the kwtx article:

http://www.kwtx.com/ourtown/headlines/SpaceX_90_Second_Test_Could_Provide__120174669.html

Quote from: Alicia

Posted by: Alicia Location: Golinda on Apr 21, 2011 at 05:52 AM
You could hear the roar all the way in my town of Golinda, Tx. The engines would start then shut down for awhile & go again.

neilh · « **Reply #230 on:** 04/28/2011 07:41 am »

How long before COTS Demo 1 did the full-length tests for that mission occur?

ugordan · « **Reply #231 on:** 04/28/2011 07:42 am »

Quote from: sdsds on 04/28/2011 07:09 am

There are two independent reports of the April 19 firing(s) in the comments section of the kwtx article:

A comment on a firing says nothing about the actual duration. Same thing happened during the 90-sec abort.

ugordan · « **Reply #232 on:** 04/28/2011 07:45 am »

Quote from: neilh on 04/28/2011 07:41 am

How long before COTS Demo 1 did the full-length tests for that mission occur?

Months, on account of Dragon delays. However, the period between last stage firing and shipping to CCAFS was under 2 weeks.

ugordan · « **Reply #233 on:** 04/28/2011 07:56 am »

Quote from: edkyle99 on 04/28/2011 03:39 am

Still nothing. My notes say that tests were performed on or about March 18, March 29, and April 9. Another test was announced for April 19, but no report of a success was provided.

Don't get your hopes up, they never announce successful completion of these acceptance tests. Either someone from L2 again provides some info (more likely if the test went bad so even this silence could be telling) or we don't know anything until the stage eventually ends up at SLC-40.

Quote

All but the original test were likely attempts to get a 90 second run that were aborted prematurely.

I'm not so sure. It looks like there was a 30 second test after two 90 sec attempts. After that came this 90 sec attempt.

baldusi · « **Reply #234 on:** 04/28/2011 01:48 pm »

What are the chances that they are testing Merlin 1D?

Adaptation · « **Reply #235 on:** 04/28/2011 04:53 pm »

Quote from: baldusi on 04/28/2011 01:48 pm

What are the chances that they are testing Merlin 1D?

Or Raptor.

Robotbeat · « **Reply #236 on:** 04/28/2011 05:05 pm »

Quote from: Adaptation on 04/28/2011 04:53 pm

Quote from: baldusi on 04/28/2011 01:48 pm
What are the chances that they are testing Merlin 1D?

Or Raptor.

Not Raptor. Raptor is still in the "electrons-only stage."

aquarius · « **Reply #237 on:** 04/28/2011 05:19 pm »

Quote from: Jorge on 04/27/2011 02:31 pm

I don't know why this news story got people riled up - the ISS partnership has worked like that since the beginning.
[/quote]

Maybe because it's a taste of things to come from the Russian side.

ugordan · « **Reply #238 on:** 04/28/2011 05:25 pm »

Quote from: Jorge on 04/27/2011 02:31 pm

Yeah, I've tried to get people to make that distinction; it's a lost cause. Many people use "docking" as shorthand for either docking or berthing.

Heh. When you have Reisman saying docking to the Station, you pretty much know it is a lost cause.

stockman · « **Reply #239 on:** 04/28/2011 05:30 pm »

Quote from: ugordan on 04/28/2011 05:25 pm

Quote from: Jorge on 04/27/2011 02:31 pm
Yeah, I've tried to get people to make that distinction; it's a lost cause. Many people use "docking" as shorthand for either docking or berthing.

Heh. When you have Reisman saying docking to the Station, you pretty much know it is a lost cause.

Joe sixpack understands "docking".. Berthing (birthing) is something he would rather NOT think about...