Author Topic: SpaceX COTS Demo 2/3 Updates (THREAD 2) (Read 787822 times)

Robotbeat · « **Reply #760 on:** 12/15/2011 05:58 pm »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 12/15/2011 05:50 pm

Quote from: corrodedNut on 12/15/2011 04:46 pm
This is an actual update:

http://www.spacex.com/updates.php

A couple of nice photos, basically. The rest is aimed at people who are brand new to space flight.

...

Or at least those who don't follow spaceflight as religiously as us.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #761 on:** 12/15/2011 06:15 pm »

Quote from: Robotbeat on 12/15/2011 05:58 pm

Or at least those who don't follow spaceflight as religiously as us.

HA, yep! "Those" people! (Shakes fist)

Just annoying that their "media" updates are what they send out to the public (and thus the media are getting their diluted public updates), meaning there's nothing to report. I want to write about spaceships, but it has to be something you'll want to read.

Anyway, we've been over this. Moving on.

kevin-rf · « **Reply #762 on:** 12/15/2011 06:41 pm »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 12/15/2011 06:15 pm

Anyway, we've been over this. Moving on.

Your right, you where dragging us off topic and should have report yourself

Lars_J · « **Reply #763 on:** 12/15/2011 08:02 pm »

Don't worry... This is not the first time Chris has complained about SpaceX press materials, and I have a feeling it won't be the last time either.

Space Pete · « **Reply #764 on:** 12/15/2011 10:12 pm »

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 15/12/2011.

SpaceX Dragon Update:
CUCU (COTS UHF Communication Unit) test sessions for the Dryden Radio Frequency (RF) checkout with the upgraded CUCU on ISS were conducted last night and the night before. A backup capability, with better line-of-sight visibility, exists today. This is in support of the SpaceX Demo Launch planned currently for 02/07 next year. The SpaceX Dragon capsule will deliver pressurized and unpressurized cargo to ISS after launch from Cape Canaveral and then reenter for splashdown off the coast of California. If launched on 02/07, Fly-under will follow on 02/09, Berthing via SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System) on 02/10 and Unberth at 02/23 (work is underway to deconflict Dragon activities from the Russian EVA scheduled for 02/14). Eight demonstration objectives are defined for this mission and documented in Flight Rules. For Rendezvous & Berthing there will be a hold point at both 30m and 10m, with Go/No-go decision. The ISS crew starts monitoring at 1000m and takes action starting at 200m. Dragon has multiple abort capabilities, each made up of 2 types of burns - large delta-V aligned with X-axis and small delta-V in any body direction.

Robotbeat · « **Reply #765 on:** 12/15/2011 10:30 pm »

Quote from: Space Pete on 12/15/2011 10:12 pm

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 15/12/2011.

SpaceX Dragon Update:
CUCU (COTS UHF Communication Unit) test sessions for the Dryden Radio Frequency (RF) checkout with the upgraded CUCU on ISS were conducted last night and the night before. A backup capability, with better line-of-sight visibility, exists today. This is in support of the SpaceX Demo Launch planned currently for 02/07 next year. The SpaceX Dragon capsule will deliver pressurized and unpressurized cargo to ISS after launch from Cape Canaveral and then reenter for splashdown off the coast of California. If launched on 02/07, Fly-under will follow on 02/09, Berthing via SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System) on 02/10 and Unberth at 02/23 (work is underway to deconflict Dragon activities from the Russian EVA scheduled for 02/14). Eight demonstration objectives are defined for this mission and documented in Flight Rules. For Rendezvous & Berthing there will be a hold point at both 30m and 10m, with Go/No-go decision. The ISS crew starts monitoring at 1000m and takes action starting at 200m. Dragon has multiple abort capabilities, each made up of 2 types of burns - large delta-V aligned with X-axis and small delta-V in any body direction.

So, what happened? Did it work?

Comga · « **Reply #766 on:** 12/16/2011 02:54 am »

Quote from: Space Pete on 12/15/2011 10:12 pm

From ISS On-Orbit Status Report for 15/12/2011.

SpaceX Dragon Update:
(snip)
If launched on 02/07, Fly-under will follow on 02/09, Berthing via SSRMS (Space Station Remote Manipulator System) on 02/10
(snip)

Isn't combining COTS 2 & 3 contingent on the verification of all COTS-2 objectives and resolution of all anomalies before the COTS-3 objective of berthing? The baseline plan is to get all that signed off in a day?

People are still talking about anomalies on the COTS-1 flight. I have seen some of the data, and it looks, to my eye, remarkably good. Any problems were either subtle or not in that data. It seems someone will find something to debate, and with ISS safety involved, they will get debated.

jacqmans · « **Reply #767 on:** 12/16/2011 03:18 pm »

MEDIA ADVISORY: M11-252

MEDIA ACCREDITATION NOW OPEN FOR NASA/SPACEX LAUNCH

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., -- Media accreditation for NASA's second
Commercial Orbital Transportation Services demonstration flight is
open. Liftoff of a Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) Falcon 9
rocket from Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force
Station, Fla., is targeted for Feb. 7, 2012.

During the flight, the Dragon spacecraft will conduct a series of
check-out procedures to test and prove its systems in advance of a
rendezvous with the International Space Station. The primary
objectives for the flight include a fly-by of the space station at a
distance of approximately two miles to validate the operation of
sensors and a flight system necessary for a safe rendezvous and
approach. The spacecraft also will demonstrate the capability to
abort the rendezvous.

International news media representatives without U.S. citizenship must
apply for credentials to cover the prelaunch and launch activities by
Jan. 5. The early accreditation deadline is needed because the U.S.
Air Force requires 30 days to process international media
credentials. For U.S. news media, the deadline to apply is Jan. 30.

All media accreditation requests need to be submitted online at:

https://media.ksc.nasa.gov

For questions about accreditation or additional information, contact
NASA Kennedy Space Center's Press Site at 321-867-2468.

For more information on NASA's COTS program, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/cots

JayP · « **Reply #768 on:** 12/16/2011 04:23 pm »

I don't know if it really means anything, but I just got my media access request recieved e-mail. It included the line "COTS 2/3 SpaceX Launch (Feb 7)", so at least the press center is considering this as the combined flight.

robertross · « **Reply #769 on:** 12/16/2011 05:08 pm »

Quote from: JayP on 12/16/2011 04:23 pm

I don't know if it really means anything, but I just got my media access request recieved e-mail. It included the line "COTS 2/3 SpaceX Launch (Feb 7)", so at least the press center is considering this as the combined flight.

That's because it has provisional approval

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/12/nasa-february-7-launch-date-dragon-iss-mission/

AnalogMan · « **Reply #770 on:** 12/16/2011 10:12 pm »

From just issued Commercial Spaceflight 60-day Report, Issue 4:

NASA announced on December 9th that SpaceX’s next COTS demonstration flight is now targeted for February 7th (reference press release 11-413). SpaceX continues to make steady technical progress toward this flight. Currently, all flight vehicle elements are at Cape Canaveral for launch, and all qualification and acceptance testing is complete. SpaceX is in the final stages of the safety review process and has begun International Space Station (ISS) integrated software stage testing with NASA, the final major activities required to clear the way for the Demonstration Mission. A third SpaceX COTS demonstration mission may not be necessary if all ISS rendezvous and berthing objectives are accomplished successfully on the next flight.

http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/610831main_Dec_2011_60_Day_Report-508.pdf

ugordan · « **Reply #771 on:** 12/20/2011 04:13 pm »

SFN is reporting an 8:28 PM EST target launch time for Feb 7.

joertexas · « **Reply #772 on:** 12/20/2011 04:45 pm »

When is the next launch window if they miss the Feb 7th launch date?

PahTo · « **Reply #773 on:** 12/20/2011 04:53 pm »

I would assume the next day about 30 minutes earlier...(EVA or other ISS conflicts nothwithstanding)

In reality, if there's a delay, it'll likely be something technical, and longer than a day.

Quote from: joertexas on 12/20/2011 04:45 pm

When is the next launch window if they miss the Feb 7th launch date?

ugordan · « **Reply #774 on:** 12/20/2011 04:58 pm »

Quote from: PahTo on 12/20/2011 04:53 pm

In reality, if there's a delay, it'll likely be something technical, and longer than a day.

Indeed, weather's very rarely a factor in CCAFS launches.

Rocket Guy · « **Reply #775 on:** 12/20/2011 06:02 pm »

8:28pm...just about on the nose for the estimations.

dsmillman · « **Reply #776 on:** 12/20/2011 06:25 pm »

Quote from: Rocket Guy on 12/20/2011 06:02 pm

8:28pm...just about on the nose for the estimations.

Does anyone know what the duration of the launch window is?

Rocket Guy · « **Reply #777 on:** 12/20/2011 06:28 pm »

Sure to be five minutes or less.

docmordrid · « **Reply #778 on:** 12/20/2011 07:32 pm »

Sunset ~6:07 PM - night launch

SpacexULA · « **Reply #779 on:** 12/20/2011 08:16 pm »

I hope this goes off 1st launch, SpaceX launch videos have always been some of the prettiest, and a SpaceX night launch from the cape is going to be amazing to wach.

I bet those 9 engines will make a huge x in the sky at night.