Author Topic: SpaceX COTS Demo 2/3 Updates (THREAD 2) (Read 787807 times)

Jorge · « **Reply #280 on:** 10/12/2011 05:10 am »

Quote from: Comga on 10/12/2011 05:08 am

Quote from: Antares on 10/12/2011 05:01 am
Don't forget the one on Spirit of St. Louis.... I'll be over here muttering comparisons between CB and Lindbergh.

Precisely my thought!
(About The Spirit of St. Louis, I mean. I have no idea who CB refers to.)

JSC mailcode for the astronaut office.

Lurker Steve · « **Reply #281 on:** 10/13/2011 02:25 am »

Quote from: peter-b on 10/11/2011 10:26 pm

Quote from: Robotbeat on 10/11/2011 06:53 pm
Quote from: Lurker Steve on 10/11/2011 06:14 pm
... I guess this goes with their plan of treating passengers like any other cargo. No need for a window or even manual controls if the passengers have no control over the process. ...
What a load of baloney, the very first flight of Dragon included windows. Not necessarily in exactly the spot the astronaut corp might want them (they'll need to be moved for the later versions), but they're there and have been since the beginning, exactly because they knew they wanted Dragon to be manned.

I still don't understand the astronaut corps' fixation with windows for piloting, when periscopes are entirely adequate even if you assume your electronics have failed.

Submarines are towed into port by a barge. They do not use periscopes for close navigation. In deep water, I would assume they use sonar for navigation more than the limited view from a periscope.

I know that I always look thru my windows when I am driving my car. I like to see where I am going. I also check my blind spots by turning my head and looking out the window. I look out the rear window when backing up. I have driven cars/vans with backup cameras, but I prefer the full view. Perhaps some people prefer just to ride the bus, or expect other people to get out of their way. I hope they stay off the highways in Illinois.

Look at the taper of the dragon capsule. Where would you place a window, so that you could actually see the docking targets on the ISS or Bigelow station during approach ? That's not going to work with the window on the door, is it ?

Robotbeat · « **Reply #282 on:** 10/13/2011 02:29 am »

Soyuz uses a periscope.

Comga · « **Reply #283 on:** 10/13/2011 03:08 am »

Quote from: Lurker Steve on 10/13/2011 02:25 am

Look at the taper of the dragon capsule. Where would you place a window, so that you could actually see the docking targets on the ISS or Bigelow station during approach ? That's not going to work with the window on the door, is it ?

Orion is (was?) going to have a window in the forward hatch. Wouldn't that be an option for the manned Dragon?

Oops! Let myself get dragged OT again. There are other threads for this particular discussion. It has nothing to do with COTS-2/3.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #284 on:** 10/13/2011 03:12 am »

Quote from: Comga on 10/11/2011 04:28 am

More discussion of ISS software upgrades, their delayed schedules, and the potential impacts on COTS Demo-2/3 in Pete Harding's excellent article.

Thanks for linking Pete's article!

AnalogMan · « **Reply #285 on:** 10/13/2011 08:01 pm »

I notice that GSFC have just changed the date of the Demo 2/3 launch to January 12, 2012 in their schedule (this morning it was still "TBD NET February 2012" which was originally posted Sep 15).

http://msdb.gsfc.nasa.gov/launches.php

For what its worth, I have also seen the date changed on another launch schedule (2 days ago) to December 19, 2011 - but this has not always been a reliable source (especially in this case since it was changed from the very long-standing Nov 30, 2011 date).

joek · « **Reply #286 on:** 10/13/2011 08:18 pm »

A check of the source in the GFSC change log provides an indication of the reliability of the posted data. In this case it appears to be from a reliable source.

mr. mark · « **Reply #287 on:** 10/13/2011 08:25 pm »

The fact that a NASA based website is mentioning the launch as a combined mission is alone very good news. If they can hold that date of January 12th, that really is not that far away. Let's hope that the next Progress cargo and Soyuz launches are a complete success.

Jim · « **Reply #288 on:** 10/13/2011 09:38 pm »

Quote from: mr. mark on 10/13/2011 08:25 pm

The fact that a NASA based website is mentioning the launch as a combined mission is alone very good news. If they can hold that date of January 12th, that really is not that far away. Let's hope that the next Progress cargo and Soyuz launches are a complete success.

No, that website has no bearing on it. It is not a confirmation. It is only schedule for support

balan h20 · « **Reply #289 on:** 10/13/2011 11:14 pm »

Quote

Submarines are towed into port by a barge. They do not use periscopes for close navigation. In deep water, I would assume they use sonar for navigation more than the limited view from a periscope.

Subs approach the port at night submerged or at least they used to in order to avoid being detected by the USSR as to when they were in port and when they left port. At least the ones using the new base in GA do or did. The new Virginia Class has several different cameras installed on the mast and you look at a bunch of TV screens instead of thru an old fashion scope. The conn has a bunch of screens that show everything in the front back and above the sub and in night vision. That would be better than a scope anyway. HD and blueray recording with 3d cameron vision.

clarkeo · « **Reply #290 on:** 10/22/2011 08:20 am »

Florida Today Reports that the COTS 2/3 dragon left Hawthorne on Wednesday and is due to arrive in Cape Canaveral today

great news seems things are progressing. Haha I finally got in first with some news! Long time lurker

http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20111022/NEWS01/310220015/SpaceX-capsule-arrives-flight-preparations

CAPE CANAVERAL — A capsule that could become the first commercial vehicle to reach the International Space Station was expected to arrive at its Space Coast launch site today.

SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft left its Hawthorne, Calif., production facility Wednesday, setting off on a cross-country journey on a wide-load truck bound for Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

Nomadd · « **Reply #291 on:** 10/22/2011 12:30 pm »

You were first, but the link doesn't work.
Here's a working link, and one about Dragons arrival.
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011310220013
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011310220015

mr. mark · « **Reply #292 on:** 10/22/2011 03:20 pm »

Great news. Can't wait to see the pics of the new Dragon also I wonder when the Orbcomm satellites will arrive.

Robotbeat · « **Reply #293 on:** 10/22/2011 05:31 pm »

Here's a picture for you guys, from SpaceX's facebook page:
4 Dragons!
It shows COTS demo 1 Dragon, the one that just shipped out, and two other Dragons in various stages of assembly.

mr. mark · « **Reply #294 on:** 10/22/2011 06:19 pm »

Great pic. thanks

corrodedNut · « **Reply #295 on:** 10/22/2011 08:24 pm »

Plus this one...

The blue-and-white paint scheme makes me wonder, did SpaceX buy their own truck?

Prober · « **Reply #296 on:** 10/22/2011 08:58 pm »

Quote from: Robotbeat on 10/22/2011 05:31 pm

Here's a picture for you guys, from SpaceX's facebook page:
4 Dragons!
It shows COTS demo 1 Dragon, the one that just shipped out, and two other Dragons in various stages of assembly.

thx for the pic.....does it say when the pic was taken?

Robotbeat · « **Reply #297 on:** 10/22/2011 10:27 pm »

Last time (COTS demo 1), does anyone remember how long it took from Dragon arriving at the Cape until the first launch attempt?

ChefPat · « **Reply #298 on:** 10/22/2011 10:46 pm »

Quote from: Robotbeat on 10/22/2011 10:27 pm

Last time (COTS demo 1), does anyone remember how long it took from Dragon arriving at the Cape until the first launch attempt?

Depending on how long their stops are it shouldn't take more than 3 days.
If they make it really speedy they could do it in around 35 hours.

Robotbeat · « **Reply #299 on:** 10/22/2011 10:53 pm »

Quote from: ChefPat on 10/22/2011 10:46 pm

Quote from: Robotbeat on 10/22/2011 10:27 pm
Last time (COTS demo 1), does anyone remember how long it took from Dragon arriving at the Cape until the first launch attempt?
Depending on how long their stops are it shouldn't take more than 3 days.
If they make it really speedy they could do it in around 35 hours.

That's not really what I asked, but interesting anyway.

I think it was something like 2-3 months last time. Not sure, it could be less. And it may be slightly less or slightly more this time.