SpaceX COTS Demo 2/3 Updates (THREAD 2)

[rdale]

The March 30 Soyuz flight may have to be delayed due to an air leak -

Link....

Soyuz is not a SpaceX launch platform.

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=27678.0

[Orbiter]

The March 30 Soyuz flight may have to be delayed due to an air leak -

Link....

Soyuz is not a SpaceX launch platform.

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=27678.0

True, however a crew rotation delay might/might not have an effect on the launch date of COTS-2/3.

Orbiter

[docmordrid]

The March 30 Soyuz flight may have to be delayed due to an air leak -

Link....

Soyuz is not a SpaceX launch platform.

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=27678.0

True, however a crew rotation delay might/might not have an effect on the launch date of COTS-2/3.

Orbiter

precisely my point.

[rdale]

precisely my point.

Well, I think it's the point of Space Pete's post from yesterday that is sitting just above yours...  I think that was my point

[beancounter]

The March 30 Soyuz flight may have to be delayed due to an air leak -

Link....

Does that mean they have to use a completely new vehicle?  That's the impression I get anyway.

[anik]

Does that mean they have to use a completely new vehicle? That's the impression I get anyway

No, the same spacecraft with new descent module.

[Space Pete]

Looking at the notional schedule for Soyuz launches and landings in light of the recent troubles, April is once again free for the C2/C3 mission.

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=27678.msg856574#msg856574

Maybe Dan Burbank will get to fly inside Dragon after all.

[corrodedNut]

"The #SpaceX Dragon has to get a new paint job to address thermal issue for #ISS docking ... one reason for delay."

https://twitter.com/#/b0yle/status/165176988846395393

[beancounter]

Does that mean they have to use a completely new vehicle? That's the impression I get anyway

No, the same spacecraft with new descent module.

Sorry, that was what I meant however I was not sufficiently accurate in my wording.  Thanks for the correction.  Seems the module was overpressurised.

[Ben the Space Brit]

"The #SpaceX Dragon has to get a new paint job to address thermal issue for #ISS docking ... one reason for delay."

'Twill be interesting to see how this alters the 'look' of the spacecraft.  Maybe more reflective silver or gold instead of the current white?

[pippin]

Isn't white more reflective across the spectrum? I remember they painted the Apollo CMs white on one side for Skylab extended exposure to have better thermal control than the usual silver coating.

It's probably also more than just what one sees in the optical range, IR may be more important here and maybe that's where TiO2 excels.

[apace]

Perhaps it's more thermal issue for the ISS? So Dragon getting a dark paint shop?

[robertross]

"The #SpaceX Dragon has to get a new paint job to address thermal issue for #ISS docking ... one reason for delay."

https://twitter.com/#/b0yle/status/165176988846395393

Interesting.

And people think that building a spacecraft is easy. Anyhoo...

[anik]

No, the same spacecraft with new descent module

Thanks for the correction

They have decided to replace the whole spacecraft.

[Antares]

"The #SpaceX Dragon has to get a new paint job to address thermal issue for #ISS docking ... one reason for delay."

https://twitter.com/#/b0yle/status/165176988846395393

Interesting.

And people think that building a spacecraft is easy. Anyhoo...

The way I read this morning's Florida Today article is that the thermal issue is with keeping the propellant tanks happy.

Space is hard, but finding a basic thermal issue like this at this point in the game is a little disheartening.  The only mitigating circumstance is if something changed from NASA, like shadowing or ISS attitude or something.

[Ronsmytheiii]

View of LC-40 this morning

[apace]

View of LC-40 this morning

Is there something which I don't see?

[notsorandom]

Its not a historically unprecedented issue. The Apollo CSMs were given a different paint job when they used in the Skylab program for thermal reasons. Here is a thread about it. http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=19449.0

[marsman2020]

The way I read this morning's Florida Today article is that the thermal issue is with keeping the propellant tanks happy.

Space is hard, but finding a basic thermal issue like this at this point in the game is a little disheartening.  The only mitigating circumstance is if something changed from NASA, like shadowing or ISS attitude or something.

The ISS attitudes and corresponding sun angles and earth/sun views are highly unlikely to have changed significantly.

Someone didn't think ahead.  This is a basic analysis that should have been done years ago. 

Kind of like the F9-F1 delay because of the FTS.

[Prober]

Can’t NASA & SpaceX use this as an opportunity?   Launch the full COTS 2 mission and get real space data.

Make the April mission Cots 3 mission.