SpaceX COTS Demo 2/3 Updates (THREAD 2)

[Space Pete]

So, we are in the "two months to launch" phase once again...

Yes, but a more realistic two months this time. All Falcon/Dragon physical components are at the Cape now. All that's left is the final Dragon software iteration, not that that's a minor thing.

I see from the SFN launch schedule that a Progress is earmarked for launch on Jan 25, a HTV on Feb 18, a Cygnus on Feb 23 and an ATV on March 7. That's a lot of cargo missions in such a short time span, though I imagine those dates do not take into account the recent delays.

Would any further slips in the COTS 2/3 launch cause it to be pushed out by several months due to conflicts with the other cargo missions?

Both HTV and Cygnus have moved to June now.

[iamlucky13]

So, we are in the "two months to launch" phase once again...

Yes, this time courtesy of NASA not having it's ISS software in order.

Please read the article before making conclusions based on it:

According to a senior NASA manager, SpaceX has not delivered the final version of software for the mission. In addition to testing of the software itself, some of the hazard reports can't be finished until the software is delivered and studied, the manager told Spaceflight Now.

Josh Byerly, a NASA spokesperson, said the SpaceX software is due to NASA by Nov. 27 and integrated testing is scheduled to begin the next day.

Also, even if the launch date ends up being determined by waiting for NASA to finish evaluating the software rather than waiting on SpaceX to be ready themselves, it is not reasonable to judge NASA if they don't receive the software in a timely manner. That's simply one of the myriad constraints SpaceX and everyone else has to work with.

Regardless, things are gradually moving forward for SpaceX. I'm looking forward to this launch whenever it may come.

[Robotbeat]

BTW, the software is due by November 27, and it's not November 27th, yet. If I were on SpaceX's software team, I'd be combing over the code, running corner-case analysis, etc, right until November 26th.

[Chris Bergin]

Gerst with a short update from the post Soyuz TMA-22 docking Russian presser:

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=25229.msg829840#msg829840

[mr. mark]

Congrats to NASA astronaut Dan Burbank and Russian cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Anatoly Ivanishin who are now safely aboard the ISS! Burbank (2nd from the right) visited SpaceX in Sept 2010 for Dragon training and should be aboard the ISS when the upcoming Dragon mission arrives:- SpaceX Facebook site.

[mrhuggy]

Spaceflight Now has some photos of the Dragon and trunk been mated up in the hangar.

Assembling Dragon - Spaceflightnow.com

[clarkeo]

Better Res photo here http://space.flatoday.net/2011/11/spacex-connects-dragon-to-its-trunk.html

[iamlucky13]

Better Res photo here http://space.flatoday.net/2011/11/spacex-connects-dragon-to-its-trunk.html

I almost forgot I was looking at SpaceX hardware when I saw workers wearing clean-room garb.

Neat pictures to see. I think I see the trunk umbilical port just to the right of the grapple fixture hatch, with what may be the retracted umbilical just below it.

Just one of several functional details visible compared to the COTS 1 Dragon. A few COTS 1 images available here for comparison:

http://spacefellowship.com/news/art22800/spacex-cots-demonstration-flight-1.html

[majormajor42]

Spaceflight Now has some photos of the Dragon and trunk been mated up in the hangar.

Assembling Dragon - Spaceflightnow.com

Does the trunk have any unpressurized cargo features this time? such as the door in the trunk for access? actually, is there going to be a door at all or will unpressurized cargo be accessed by going around to the open tail end of the trunk?

[Robotbeat]

The Spaceflightnow has an error in their article:
"The upcoming test flight will [be] the first Dragon mission with the trunk, which contains propulsion tanks, thrusters and holds the craft's solar panels."
Pretty funny that they don't know the trunk has neither thrusters nor propulsion tanks (they lie in the Dragon capsule itself). Tsk, tsk.

[Lars_J]

Spaceflight Now has some photos of the Dragon and trunk been mated up in the hangar.

Assembling Dragon - Spaceflightnow.com

the the trunk have any unpressurized cargo features this time? such as the door in the trunk for access? actually, is there going to be a door at all or will unpressurized cargo be accessed by going around to the open tail end of the trunk?

The only reason for a trunk door would be for pad access. When in orbit, the trunk cargo area is open to space.

BTW, here is the higher-res version of the mate picture in embedded form:

[butters]

the the trunk have any unpressurized cargo features this time?

Dragon will be carrying two ORBCOMM satellites in the trunk...

[Robotbeat]

the the trunk have any unpressurized cargo features this time?

Dragon will be carrying two ORBCOMM satellites in the trunk...

Well, sort of... I believe they'll be attached to the upper stage and when Dragon and the upper stage separate, the satellites will be left behind by Dragon. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[SpacexULA]

Dragon will be carrying two ORBCOMM satellites in the trunk...

Well, sort of... I believe they'll be attached to the upper stage and when Dragon and the upper stage separate, the satellites will be left behind by Dragon. Correct me if I'm wrong.[/quote]

Correct, 2nd stage will reignite after dragon departs to put them in a different orbit.

[Comga]

the the trunk have any unpressurized cargo features this time?

Dragon will be carrying two ORBCOMM satellites in the trunk...

Well,  sort of... I believe they'll be attached to the upper stage and when  Dragon and the upper stage separate, the satellites will be left behind  by Dragon. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Correct, 2nd stage will reignite after dragon departs to put them in a different orbit.

   Is there a plan, and the capability, to do a deorbit burn of the second stage after it separates the Orbcomm payload?

If not, will they keep a low perigee and let the natural drag act on the low ballistic coefficient empty stage to effect the deobit?

[woods170]

Yes, this time courtesy of NASA not having it's ISS software in order.

That's not the impression I got from reading that article.

C2/C3 was originally to fly to be compatible with the CCS R11 release of ISS software. However, ISS has had some software and hardware issues recently. C2/C3 will now fly to be compatible with an updated CCS R9 release. This required late changes to Dragon's software.

On another note: the article is now out of date. SpaceX delivered the final flight software to NASA about three days after the article was published, 11 days before the november 27 deadline.

[demorcef]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/11/17/spacex_delay_funding_cut/


Delayed to at least April 2012

[Jason1701]

What shoddy reporting. The Register's information is taken from a Wall Street Journal article by (guess who?) our friend Mr. Pasztor. He's putting forward April as a NLT date, but trying to insinuate it's actually NET (it worked on demorcef).

[ugordan]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/11/17/spacex_delay_funding_cut/


Delayed to at least April 2012

Hardly a credible source, and it gives off hints of not understanding CRS-1 and C2/C3 are not the same mission.

[mr. mark]

I would put more faith in the late February estimate. The British press is generally flamboyant and outrageous always going for maximum shock effect. They generally treat stories like an episode of the X factor.