SpaceX COTS Demo 2 Updates

[docmordrid]

Trust me, it's everywhere; local TV, Reuters, ABC, FOX, CBS, major papers, Wall Street Journal....

[MarekCyzio]

The SpaceX hype has started and its not even near Nov.
 
Pulled up Yahoo News today and it was on Page 1.

It was on Drudge Report today.

[kevin-rf]

Does anyone know what those little yellow squares are stuck all over Dragon in the latest SpaceX update?

It is the paper trail When the yellow stickies out weigh the Dragon, it will be ready to fly

[Chris Bergin]

The SpaceX hype has started and its not even near Nov.
 
Pulled up Yahoo News today and it was on Page 1.

It was on Drudge Report today.

Which doesn't mean anything, especially when it's all the same story, taken from the wire services.

How many mass media use their AP wire account isn't reflective, given that's what TV news and mass media mainly use now, even for their "breaking news" stories - all from the wire. It's cheaper than paying for a team of in-house writers, and it's all about - in TV news land - talking heads and a localized non-specific (full range subject matter) reporters, not original copy production.

I've worked mass media, so I know how this works.

There are some websites using their own writers (usually subject specific sites), and it was the same for Shuttle. Most of the reports were the same AP feed report.

The only way to judge media interest is when a convoy of TV trucks turn up at the Cape for a launch, at the levels they did for Shuttle.

So the test will be in 2015 when they launch humans. Until then, they won't threaten to get to Shuttle level interest in the media. No one will, and it's highly likely no one will ever get into the levels seen for 133-135. A million people aren't going to turn up for CCDEV's first manned flight as we're no longer talking about iconic and famous named spaceships.

Oh yeah, and Nov. 30 isn't set in stone yet:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=26460.0

[Zed_Noir]

The SpaceX hype has started and its not even near Nov.
 
Pulled up Yahoo News today and it was on Page 1.

It was on Drudge Report today.

Which doesn't mean anything, especially when it's all the same story, taken from the wire services.

How many mass media use their AP wire account isn't reflective, given that's what TV news and mass media mainly use now, even for their "breaking news" stories - all from the wire. It's cheaper than paying for a team of in-house writers, and it's all about - in TV news land - talking heads and a localized non-specific (full range subject matter) reporters, not original copy production.

I've worked mass media, so I know how this works.

There are some websites using their own writers (usually subject specific sites), and it was the same for Shuttle. Most of the reports were the same AP feed report.

The only way to judge media interest is when a convoy of TV trucks turn up at the Cape for a launch, at the levels they did for Shuttle.

So the test will be in 2015 when they launch humans. Until then, they won't threaten to get to Shuttle level interest in the media. No one will, and it's highly likely no one will ever get into the levels seen for 133-135. A million people aren't going to turn up for CCDEV's first manned flight as we're no longer talking about iconic and famous named spaceships.

Oh yeah, and Nov. 30 isn't set in stone yet:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=26460.0

Will SpaceX continued to assigned numbers to their capsules or let the public name them as part of a PR campaign? Hopefully, there will not be a Colbert Flyer anytime soon  (Unless he pony up to sponsor the capsule)

Think the media interest in the first crewed CCDEV flight varies with the makeup of the crew. If a big name celebrity is in the crew. There will be more media coverage.
 

[Chris Bergin]

I think it'd be a great move to give them names. And yeah - if a celebrity flies, the media will be all over it (sadly - and that would be massive).

We all know SpaceX is going to be the first US domestic manned launch out of the Soyuz deal, so that is going to send mass media and public interest way up. The "worst" it'll manage is second only to Shuttle, so it's going to be a big deal regardless.

Flip side is the subject specific sites, like us. The below will keep things slightly busy!

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/04/spacex-falcon-heavy-tag-team-share-20-launches-year/

[robertross]

Does anyone know what those little yellow squares are stuck all over Dragon in the latest SpaceX update?

I believe they are sensor locations to understand disturbances in the airflow for CFD analysis/confirmation. The blue ones are likely temperature transducers/thermocouples.

[mr. mark]

"We all know SpaceX is going to be the first US domestic manned launch out of the Soyuz deal, so that is going to send mass media and public interest way up".

 WOW......  Interesting to hear you say that. That's a bombshell. I thought most bets here were on Boeing's CST-100. 

[sdsds]

This is the worst comparison I have ever heard.

Thanks for this feedback.  I'm sure it's based on a careful reading of the post(s) to which you were responding.  Please be assured I gave the remainder of your message an equally careful read....

[JohnFornaro]

Well, I got the news blurb from SpaceX the other day.  Looks great.  Hope they make it happen on time, and that everything goes smoothly.

[Geron]

Its nice when you get the SpaceX email. So many pictures and nice confirmation that they really are far along. With wet dress rehearsal done it seems like they could launch sooner than 15 weeks if not for the red tape.

It would be nice if they had a launch facility in texas and a commercial destination as I think this would really lower the cost of space access.

The problem with legacy space costs is that if it takes 100 billion to build your space station, (even if you could replace it for 1/20 the price) its still a hugely valuable resource to place in any form of perceived danger.

[Jim]

Its nice when you get the SpaceX email. So many pictures and nice confirmation that they really are far along. With wet dress rehearsal done it seems like they could launch sooner than 15 weeks if not for the red tape.

1.  It isn't red tape, it is necessary analysis
2.  the Dragon isn't ready

[Jim]

It would be nice if they had a launch facility in texas

Why?

[kevin-rf]

It would be nice if they had a launch facility in texas

Why?

Maybe he's a Texas LOX supplier, and the extra boil-off in the Texas heat will put more money in his pocket

[Chris Bergin]

A reminder they have NOT yet combined the two flights:

http://www.newspacejournal.com/2011/08/17/jumping-the-gun/

[corrodedNut]

Does anyone know where the DragonEye will be located on the Dragon itself?  Under the grapple door? Will there be a startracker as well, in the same location?

This video seems to indicate so, but it's over three years old:

http://spacex.com/multimedia/videos.php?id=23

[go4mars]

The problem with legacy space costs is that if it takes 100 billion to build your space station, (even if you could replace it for 1/20 the price) its still a hugely valuable resource to place in any form of perceived danger.

That's just sunk costs.  If a bigger better station can clearly be built and operated for less money than the projected maintainance costs over the life of the current station (unlikely) then it's better to switch paths.  Politics aside. 

[Lurker Steve]

Its nice when you get the SpaceX email. So many pictures and nice confirmation that they really are far along. With wet dress rehearsal done it seems like they could launch sooner than 15 weeks if not for the red tape.

1.  It isn't red tape, it is necessary analysis
2.  the Dragon isn't ready

Is it typical to perform the WDR without the payload on top of the rocket ? I thought the WDR performed all of the steps necessary to launch just shy of actually launching.

Shouldn't they perform this test again once the stack is completely assembled, or is it OK to check off the WDR 3 months before the actual launch date ?

[douglas100]

It is for Atlas. http://www.flickr.com/photos/hansepe/3539031650/

[Comga]

A reminder they have NOT yet combined the two flights:

http://www.newspacejournal.com/2011/08/17/jumping-the-gun/

Absolutely

Can anyone explain this quote from Chris' article:

“SpaceX/Dragon: Phase 3 part 1 safety review tentatively scheduled for end of September 2011. Starting to see easy phase 3 level hazard reports,” added the MOD ISS Presentation. “Some phase 2 level work pushed off to phase 3 (not unusual). Estimate phase 3 complete 2/2012.”

Does that "phase 3" completion relate to the COTS-2 flight, secondary payloads on COTS-2, the CRS flight, or what?