Author Topic: SpaceX COTS Demo 2 Updates (Read 448909 times)

joertexas · « **Reply #720 on:** 07/22/2011 08:36 pm »

Can this be mitigated if Dragon does a couple of burns before getting to ISS's orbit? In other words, if the second stage puts it in enough of a different orbit initially (one which doesn't intersect ISS's orbit) then Dragon moves to the correct orbit on its own?

***

A couple of questions:

1. Can the Dragon generate enough Dv to change orbits and rendezvous with the ISS after being dropped off by the second stage, and,

2. Can the second stage operate long enough to circularize a higher orbit to deploy the secondary sats?

JR

Antares · « **Reply #721 on:** 07/22/2011 10:29 pm »

Quote from: Norm38 on 07/22/2011 06:33 pm

if NASA were to ban secondary payloads from an ISS flight, then NASA should have to pay more to cover that lost revenue.

Uh, no. In the RFP, which was the last publicly available and complete contract, there were safety documents levied as requirements on the contractors. Unless SpaceX got NASA to agree to a contract without that requirement, NASA is totally within its rights.

mr. mark · « **Reply #722 on:** 07/24/2011 02:42 pm »

NASA most likely combining COTS 2/3 mission, another report. This information now seems to be coming from multiple NASA sources, Bill Gerstenmaier-Joshua Buck.

"The current plan calls for SpaceX to launch a Dragon capsule aboard a Falcon 9 rocket on Nov. 30. Dragon would then rendezvous and berth with the space station on Dec. 7, NASA spokesman Joshua Buck told Space News July 22".

http://www.spacenews.com/civil/110722-nasa-combining-spacex-flights.html

dsmillman · « **Reply #723 on:** 07/24/2011 05:40 pm »

Quote from: mr. mark on 07/24/2011 02:42 pm

NASA most likely combining COTS 2/3 mission, another report. This information now seems to be coming from multiple NASA sources, Bill Gerstenmaier-Joshua Buck.

"The current plan calls for SpaceX to launch a Dragon capsule aboard a Falcon 9 rocket on Nov. 30. Dragon would then rendezvous and berth with the space station on Dec. 7, NASA spokesman Joshua Buck told Space News July 22".

http://www.spacenews.com/civil/110722-nasa-combining-spacex-flights.html

Note that the MSL launch period is Nov. 25 to Dec. 18. During that period MSL will have absolute priority over any other launch.

Norm38 · « **Reply #724 on:** 07/24/2011 07:46 pm »

Quote from: Robotbeat on 07/22/2011 06:59 pm

Can this be mitigated (intersecting ISS) if Dragon does a couple of burns before getting to ISS's orbit? In other words, if the second stage puts it in enough of a different orbit initially (one which doesn't intersect ISS's orbit) then Dragon moves to the correct orbit on its own?

I just assumed that would be the standard mission architecture. Dragon has to get from the ISS back to a reentry orbit anyway, so it should also be able to get to ISS from a safe parking orbit for the second stage and any secondary payload. Otherwise the second stage, microsats or no, is always being hurled into ISS's orbit. I don't understand why the microsats would be a bigger risk than the second stage itself?

RocketEconomist327 · « **Reply #725 on:** 07/25/2011 03:01 am »

Quote from: dsmillman on 07/24/2011 05:40 pm

Quote from: mr. mark on 07/24/2011 02:42 pm
NASA most likely combining COTS 2/3 mission, another report. This information now seems to be coming from multiple NASA sources, Bill Gerstenmaier-Joshua Buck.

"The current plan calls for SpaceX to launch a Dragon capsule aboard a Falcon 9 rocket on Nov. 30. Dragon would then rendezvous and berth with the space station on Dec. 7, NASA spokesman Joshua Buck told Space News July 22".

http://www.spacenews.com/civil/110722-nasa-combining-spacex-flights.html
Note that the MSL launch period is Nov. 25 to Dec. 18. During that period MSL will have absolute priority over any other launch.

Jim,

You said 24 hours to reconfigure the range? Or is it 48 hours? I remember you speaking to this but I forgot. Forgive me, I've been busy.

VR
RE327

SpacemanInSPACE · « **Reply #726 on:** 07/25/2011 06:36 am »

Alright, now.. I know i'm getting ahead of myself here, but bare with me, :p

I read that since SpaceX's december launch they have been producing a Dragon spacecraft every 3 months. Where does this place the Dragon C3/CRS1 development status

tigerade · « **Reply #727 on:** 07/25/2011 06:40 am »

Quote from: SpacemanInSPACE on 07/25/2011 06:36 am

Alright, now.. I know i'm getting ahead of myself here, but bare with me, :p

I read that since SpaceX's december launch they have been producing a Dragon spacecraft every 3 months. Where does this place the Dragon C3/CRS1 development status

I think on paper it's going to be Q1 2012.

Let me emphasize it when I say "on paper" because we know how these things actually are.

paycom · « **Reply #728 on:** 07/25/2011 12:05 pm »

Quote from: Norm38 on 07/24/2011 07:46 pm

I don't understand why the microsats would be a bigger risk than the second stage itself?

They didn't say they are. They just said they have to evaluate the potential risk.

joncz · « **Reply #729 on:** 07/25/2011 12:05 pm »

Quote from: SpacemanInSPACE on 07/25/2011 06:36 am

Alright, now.. I know i'm getting ahead of myself here, but bare with me, :p

"bear with me"

http://public.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/bare.html

Antares · « **Reply #730 on:** 07/26/2011 04:27 am »

Quote from: RocketScientist327 on 07/25/2011 03:01 am

You said 24 hours to reconfigure the range? Or is it 48 hours?

48 hours is the baseline, but it could be tighter depending on what time of day the range is released by the previous customer and what time of day the subsequent customer needs it.

RocketEconomist327 · « **Reply #731 on:** 07/26/2011 04:59 pm »

Quote from: Antares on 07/26/2011 04:27 am

Quote from: RocketScientist327 on 07/25/2011 03:01 am
You said 24 hours to reconfigure the range? Or is it 48 hours?

48 hours is the baseline, but it could be tighter depending on what time of day the range is released by the previous customer and what time of day the subsequent customer needs it.

Thank you... busy times ahead at CCAFS.

VR
RE327

mr. mark · « **Reply #732 on:** 07/27/2011 05:01 pm »

Looks like Dragon will be joining Falcon 9's first and second stages at pad 40 sometime in August - September.

"The first and second stages of the Falcon 9 rocket for SpaceX's cargo flight are already at the company's Cape Canaveral launch pad. The Dragon spacecraft is due to arrive in August or September".

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1107/25cotsdemo/index.html

Comga · « **Reply #733 on:** 07/27/2011 08:03 pm »

Quote from: mr. mark on 07/27/2011 05:01 pm

Looks like Dragon will be joining Falcon 9's first and second stages at pad 40 sometime in August - September.

"The first and second stages of the Falcon 9 rocket for SpaceX's cargo flight are already at the company's Cape Canaveral launch pad. The Dragon spacecraft is due to arrive in August or September".

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1107/25cotsdemo/index.html

I was told that Dragon "should be ready to launch by late September" which agrees with the quote about delivery to the Cape.

mr. mark · « **Reply #734 on:** 07/27/2011 08:34 pm »

Don't know who told you Dragon would "launch" in September. Since NASA is pretty much calling the shots on this one, I would take their "unofficial". word for it. I'm sure as we get closer and get official approval the date may change slightly again as per developments.

Halidon · « **Reply #735 on:** 07/27/2011 08:46 pm »

Quote from: mr. mark on 07/27/2011 08:34 pm

Don't know who told you Dragon would "launch" in September. Since NASA is pretty much calling the shots on this one, I would take their "unofficial". word for it. I'm sure as we get closer and get official approval the date may change slightly again as per developments.

I don't think he said it "would" launch in September, he said it "would be ready to launch by late September." Falcon 9 flight 1 was "ready" for some time awaiting approval to launch.

SpacexULA · « **Reply #736 on:** 07/27/2011 09:14 pm »

Quote from: mr. mark on 07/27/2011 08:34 pm

Don't know who told you Dragon would "launch" in September. Since NASA is pretty much calling the shots on this one, I would take their "unofficial". word for it. I'm sure as we get closer and get official approval the date may change slightly again as per developments.

Just because the Dragon would be "ready to launch" does not mean that the paperwork for the launch is done, or that the windows for Launch/Berthing with the ISS have lined up.

mr. mark · « **Reply #737 on:** 07/27/2011 09:27 pm »

Either way, it's nice to see the hardware will be arriving and vehicle integration will start to take place. Yes, I misread the message. Comga did say ready to launch not launch so my apologies.

Antares · « **Reply #738 on:** 07/28/2011 02:08 am »

[Jack sparrow] Software [/jack sparrow]

Just because hardware is there doesn't mean it's ready to fly. Let alone NASA verifying all of the requirements.

Comga · « **Reply #739 on:** 08/09/2011 04:13 am »

My copy of Av Week for August 1 just arrived by snail mail. It has a short blurb in "The World" where Garret Reisman "head of SpaceX's astronaut safety program" says that "A Nov. 30 launch date has been set", and that "Two mission packages have been combined".

Quite unambiguous
I am surprised this has not been posted. Did I miss it?

And before anyone starts on the "launch date" (their phrase) vs NET or "hardware at the launch site"...
It seems reasonable, given the extensive scheduling for events at the ISS, that the either launch that day for a fixed rendezvous date, or get bumped down the line by weeks or months. (or have to shorten the span between arrival/berthing and unberthing/departure)

edited for clarity